A/N: I'm back! Hooray! -tosses confetti-

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About a month later, Christine announced to Cameron, "Genus's Mistake will go on at the end of the month. Tell everyone that when when you go up there for rehearsal later this morning."

Cmeron nodded. "All right. Let's go on up, then."

So they each put on their cloaks on got onto the gondola. Then she grabbed the rowing rod and rowed away.

When they reached the mirror about fifteen minutes later, he gazed at her intently for a moment. "So I'll see you after rehearsal?"

She nodded and smiled. "Of course."

"Okay." Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head. He smiled a little and closed his eyes for a moment, savoring their embrace.

She let out a contented sigh and wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes. "I love you," she murmured.

"I love you, too," he said softly, letting go of her hesitantly and then stepping through the mirror.

She smiled, waved, and then closed the mirror. Then she made her way back down to the lair.

He gazed at the closed mirror for a moment, then smiled and walked out of the dressing room to the stage, closing the door behind him.

A few minutes later, he arrived at the stage, where everyone in the production was standing around, waiting for him to be present. Then they saw him and instantly started greeting him.

He raised his hands for silence. Everyone grew quiet. "All right, everyone," he said loudly so everyone would hear. "The Phantom has informed me that Genius's Mistake will be performed at the end of the month, therefore reopening the Opera. So let's rehearse now, so that we will have a perfect opening night!"

Everyone applauded and got into their starting places.

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A few hours later, about five minutes before rehearsal was going to be let out for the day, Cameron felt a hand tap him on the shoulder. He turned and saw Emilie.

"Hello, Emilie," he said coolly, nodding. "What is it that you want?"

"Hello, Cameron," she replied, smiling and looking a little nervous. "May I speak to you in private for a few moments? Please?"

He considered for a moment, then nodded. "All right." He walked off of the stage to one of the small private dressing rooms. She followed.

"What is it?" he asked when she closed the door and were sure that they were alone.

She gazed at him for a moment. Then she placed a hand on his arm. "I want you to come back to me, Cameron," she said beseechingly. "I love you, and I know that you still love me. After Genius's Mistake's opening night, let's leave and go somewhere far away from here; a place where you can begin to forget the Opera and all of its residents. We'll go away and get married... don't you still want that, somewhere deep inside of you?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Emilie," he said slowly. "I've got to think about it... and I'm going to tell Christine that I'm thinking about it. It's only fair."

"Why are you going to tell her?" she demanded. "She's just a friend, isn't she?"

"No," he confessed. "No... not any more. I love her. We're courting. Didn't you know that? Of course you didn't... forgive me for the sudden announcement, my dear." He pulled out his pocketwatch and glanced at it. "It's four o'clock," he said. "I'm going. Good bye."

Then he turned and made his way to the dressing room with the mirror to go down to the lair with Christine.

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"Cameron, you look uneasy about something," Christine said some time later as she and Cameron sat in the lair together, drinking tea. "What troubles you, mon amour?"

Cameron sighed and placed his teacup down on the table. "I talked to Emilie during rehearsal today," he began. "She asked me to get back with her. She said that on the opening night of Genius's Mistake, we'd go away together after the performance and get married."

"I see," she murmured, placing her teacup down on the table as well. "And what did you say?"

"I told her that I'd think about it, and that I'd tell you about it."

"Oh," she sighed, rising and picking up their teacups. "Then you'd better decide, hadn't you? It's only two weeks until opening night."

"Christine -"

"Oh, please, don't apologize... none of us can choose where we will love, after all."

Without waiting for a reply, she walked into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Damn you, Emilie Chastain! Damn you!

Cameron loves me, he's with me, and, if you've forgotten, he broke off your engagement!

Quit trying to separate us!