"There's a whole world out there filled with many wonderful things. You should not pass this opportunity up. Just think of it! Rome, Brazil, London, New York City. You're young, live a little while you still can! When you return you can then chose a wife and start a family...are you listening to me Raoul?" He had barely heard a word his brother had said. His eyes were glued to the window which over looked Paris and more importantly the opera house. Christine had gone missing three days ago and no one knew what had happened to her though he had an idea that Mme. Giry might know. He couldn't stop thinking about Christine and wanting nothing to do with anything except for finding out where she had went.

"Are you listening to me?" his brother repeated. "I'm sorry I've just been out of it for a few days." "I've noticed and that is exactly why this trip will be good for you. It will give a chance to clear your head of..." "Clear my head of what?" Raoul didn't like his brother's tone. "That girl Raoul! The dancer turn Prima Donna and you know all the rumors that are going around about that. If it gets out that you have taken an interest in her, God I can only imagine!" His brother had walked over to him at the window. It took a lot of self restraint for Raoul not to strike him for saying such horrible things about Christine. "You don't know anything about her! She had nothing to do that man's death. Christine has talent, that is how she got the leading role!" His brother sighed seeing that their conversation was going no where. "Of course she had nothing to do with the murder, but as far as getting the leading role...I can't help but wonder if you had anything to do with that. You could have easily swayed the managers." He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He walked across the room and collapsed in a green arm chair with his head in his hands. His brother didn't care about what he wanted, he just wanted him out of the way. All Raoul wanted was to find Christine and take her away from all of the cruel false rumors and lies being spread around. Then an idea struck him, he would take Christine away. "I'll go on one condition." "Name it," his brother said excitedly. "Christine comes with me."

Erik could see that Christine had not yet left the bedroom as he quietly entered the lair. The many candles cast an eerie glow against the cavern walls. He walked over to the kitchen area and began to boil water to make hot chocolate. It had been freezing outside and he had been gone for over two hours. He had bought a beautiful red rose from a homeless man on the street hoping Christine would accept it as a sign that he was sorry. The water began to bubble, so he added the cocoa and poured some of it into two mugs. Carefully he carried them over to the bedroom with the rose under his arm. "Christine are you awake?" "Yes, you can come in." He pushed past the curtain and smiled at her as she uncurled herself and sat up. "How was your walk," Christine asked noticing that he hadn't yet removed him cloak. "It was fine." He too had realized his cloak and began to remove it. She couldn't help but watch him gracefully remove his cloak. He had very broad powerful shoulders to match his strong arms and chest. "What are you looking at?" He had caught her staring. "I just zoned out for a moment" she said unable to come up with anything better, but Erik seemed to accept this answer and sat down on the edge of the bed. They both took a few sips of their hot chocolate in silence. There was a lot of tension in the air between them for more than one reason.

"Do you like it?" Erik asked hoping to break the silence. "Mmm yes its very good. Thank you for making me some, you didn't have to." "I know, but I figured you would like it with it being so cold down here." "It's not that bad here really. After awhile you get use to it I guess. I suppose you already know that though." Christine felt like an idiot. She was babbling about nothing and he knew it. But did she dare bring up what was both on their minds? "Christine I know you are uncomfortable here and I don't blame you. I think it is best that you return to the opera house tonight." She was taken by surprise by his words. Did he not want her there anymore? "I love it here! I wish to stay..." "I do not wish for you to stay Christine."

It wasn't fair, why was he doing this? She could feel her eyes begin to burn with tears. "I don't understand Erik. What have I done?" But as soon as she asked Christine wished she hadn't. She knew exactly what she had done. "Do you seriously need me to explain to you the situation that you and I find ourselves in? I am trying to make this easy for you. I am giving you a way out! It is clear to me that you don't know what you want and I unwilling to be your play thing!" He hadn't meant to say that, but it was too late to take it back. He looked into her eyes and saw the tears brimming them. "Do you mean that? Everything you just said, do you mean it?" Christine's voice was cracking now and her tears could no longer be contained. "Christine, hear me when I say this. I love you more than anything and I never want to lose you, but you cannot lose what you do not already have." With that he left the room afraid to let her see his own tears.

Why, why was this happening? Why couldn't she just tell him that she loved him? She knew that she did, but the words just wouldn't come. Is it possible to love someone, but not be able to say it? Her tears would not stop coming and head was beginning to hurt. Only a few nights ago she had begged him to hold her and never let her go. A few nights ago her body had been on fire from his caresses. She knew that the love was there and she knew that she had to tell him so. The only question remaining was would he still let himself love her? She felt her heart break as she noticed a beautiful red rose resting on the bed where Erik had been sitting. It had to be tonight.