A/N I thank every one who reviewed. I really love reading your reviews. So here you go, enjoy and review please!

Ch. 17♪

Opening Night

Anna was so nervous that she had barely noticed that she was shaking. But the show must go on, and she knew that she would be wonderful. This was Erik's opera. She had to be wonderful. Anna then realized that Andrew would be here soon to wish her good luck. What she was going to do brought tears to her eyes. She knew her choice, now was the time to finally own up to her mistakes.

"Anna may I come in?" Andrew called from behind her door.

Anna wiped the tears away from her eyes so that Andrew would not see her in such a state. "Come in."

Andrew could not help but walk in hesitantly. Anna could sense his anxiety and his fear. He was scared to death of losing her. She knew that and he knew she knew that. He sat down beside her and smiled.

"I just wanted to come and wish you luck." Andrew said as he kissed her forehead.

"Thank you Andrew." Anna said as she embraced him tightly, wanting to remember the way he felt in her arms. "Andrew I need to tell you something."

Andrew pulled away and could see the fear on her face. "It has to do with the other night right."

"Yeah, I just wanted to apologize to you for not saying anything." Anna spoke softly, her eyes pleading at him to forgive her. "But that whole thing was just so much of a shock. I would have never expected Erik to do that. He didn't hurt you or Raoul did he?"

Andrew smiled; she still cared about his well being. "No, he did not hurt us. But I need to ask even though I think I know the answer."

Anna could feel the butterflies in her stomach.

"Anna, are you pregnant?"

Anna turned away and remained silent. Afraid to say anything to Andrew, she had lied and deceived him so many times these past four months.

"So it is true, you are carrying that bastard's heir." Andrew hissed at her.

His words had defiantly struck a nerve and she was not about to let him go on and continue insulting Erik.

"Watch your tongue, Andrew." Anna hissed, the look in her eyes turned from sorrow to anger in an instant. It unnerved Andrew greatly. "You have no right to insult him like such."

Andrew could not believe his ears; she was sticking up for this man. "Oh you are wrong Anna; I have every right in the world. I am your fiancé so I do have every right to criticize you and you actions."

"How do you see me then Andrew?" Anna asked back harshly. "Am I a spoiled good in your eyes now?"

"What are you going to do?" He asked her with such desperation in his voice.

Anna could not believe she was about to leave him, he had been such a constant person in her life and the thought of him not being there was a difficult thing to think about. She knew she did not want to marry him, but he had always been there none the less.

"Anna make your choice, do you end your days with me or do you choose that monster." Andrew asked her commandingly.

"He is not a monster Andrew." Anna cried out knowing she had to defend Erik.

"In my eyes he is. He has stolen the one light in my life, the only real happiness I have ever known. So to me he is a monster." Andrew replied back sorrowfully. "Make your choice."

"I am sorry Andrew, I really am. But I love Erik." Anna cried as her tears finally began to spill.

Andrew felt like he had just been shot. He knew for sure that his heart had just broken in that instant. The woman he loved more than anything was leaving him. She was to have another man's baby. The moment he thought would never happen finally became a reality. Anna was no longer his beloved. She was someone else's.

"Anna, I love you." Andrew told her, his tears falling down his face.

"I'm sorry Andrew, I'm so sorry." Anna cried into his shoulder.

Andrew pulled Anna away from him so that she could see his face. "Anna don't be sorry… I'm not."

"I do love you Andrew." Anna said as she placed one last kiss on his lips. "Always know that I love you. You were my first love and you will always be my first love. No one will ever change that."

Andrew pulled Anna to him once more wishing so much that he would never have to let her go.

OOOO

After Andrew left her dressing room Anna had to redo her make up because she had cried most of it off. But here she was, about to go on stage and perform. But out of all the things that were bothering Anna only one thing seemed to matter. Where was Erik?

"Are you nervous?" Christine asked, startling Anna.

Both girls could not help but laugh.

"Christine you scared me." Anna replied in between giggles.

"Sorry, but tell me are you nervous?" Christine asked again.

"Yes and no." Anna told her. "Why? Are you nervous?"

"To speak the truth, I am terrified." Christine said. "The last time I performed in Erik's opera well let's just say things did not end so well."

"Try not to worry Christine, we will be fine. We are professionals." Anna told her in a motherly tone.

"Raoul just told me that you broke off your engagement to Andrew." Christine said.

"I did, there was no point being with someone when my heart was not there for him to take. The only thing is I have not heard from Erik at all. I don't even know when I will see him again." Anna replied as sadness filled her heart.

Christine embraced Anna and squeezed her tightly. "Do not worry Anna, Erik is never far away."

"I hope you are right." Anna replied.

"Places you two the curtain is about to go up." Madam Burbon said walking up to the two girls. "Anna, wait just a second."

"Maman what is wrong?" Anna asked seeing the tears well up in her mother's eyes.

"Nothing at all my dear it is just that I wanted you to know how much I love you and how proud I am of you. You have made my life so much more meaningful." Madam Burbon told Anna as she pulled her into a hug. "You are going to make a terrific mother."

"I love you too maman." Anna said as she wipe some of her tears away. "Wish me luck."

Madam Burbon just laughed. "You never need it child."

Anna walked onstage and felt a sense of relief flood through her. Nothing could touch her when she was onstage. Anna had this immense feeling of invincibility when she was onstage. They opera was set to take place in an opera house so that meant that the stage had to look like it did in most rehearsals. A complete an utter mess. Anna could feel the butterflies well up in her tummy. She was beginning to feel the nerves.

And then the curtain rose.