Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be.

Author's Note: I know it has been forever since I worked on this story. But it seemed I had a problem. The ending I had in mind was not up to what I thought the story deserved, so after taking some time off from it, I have gone back and reread I Sing For You Alone, plus I watched the movie twice and all the commentary on the second disk not to mention that beautiful deleted scene that I wish they had left in the movie. But anyway, now I believe I am in the right state of mind to finish this story with a fitting ending. Okay Soundtrack turned on, and lets see where I go.

The Final Act

As the play ended the next evening Erik waited in the shadows in front of La Fenice. When he saw Anna approaching him he had to control the urge to kill her then and there.

"Are you ready for the final act, Phantom?" She asked smiling brightly.

"Who's final act, yours or mine?" He asked in a deadly icy tone.

"We shall see." She answered with a knowing look in her eyes.

Anna led them around the building to the waterways where a gondola was awaiting them. "This place we go to can be accessed either by land or water, but I've always preferred the water route." She explained as she motioned him into the gondola.

Erik waited for her to step into the small boat but did not offer her a hand. He would be damned if the woman would force him to play the gentleman with her. Even though he certainly looked the part. He had taken advantage of the amenities that the Giry's hotel room provided and looked every bit the gentleman that he normally did while he was haunting the Opera Populaire. He would not let this woman see how warn and frazzled she had caused him to become by taking Lily. That was one psychological advantage he would not allow her to have.

He poled the gondola along the waterways keeping his face hidden by the cloak he wore. It was not long before she instructed him to pull up to the entrance to a rather dilapidated looking warehouse, similar to the one he had been occupying. As he entered the warehouse he could see that they were in a large open room with high ceilings but little else in it and there were several doors leading to what he was sure were offices or storerooms. He knew that Lily, Meg and Antoinette would have to be in one of those rooms.

It did not escape him either that there were two large men waiting for them and they held metal pipes ready to be used if necessary.

"Bring out the nitwits." Anna commanded one of them. The large man went forward to one of the storerooms and disappeared. After several moments the man had not returned. "Must I do everything myself?" She asked exasperatedly to no one in particular.

"Apparently you must." Erik answered smirking slightly.

She gave him a look of contempt. "Bring him." She commanded the other ruffian.

Erik knew that it would not be hard to overpower the man using his quick wits, but he waited biding his time until he knew the others were safe. Anna led the way into a small room and Erik could see another door standing open. There was lamplight shining out the doorway. As they entered his eyes immediately searched for Lily. And there she was, but what she was doing froze him in his tracks.

"Sorry, boss. I had to clobber the Frenchman." The large man that had went to retrieve the women said stepping back away from Anna.

Erik was frozen in time as he watched Lily leaning protectively over a man on the floor. She was dabbing blood from the man's forehead with her skirt and telling him he would be okay. That was not something he would not expect Lily to do for a soul that was hurt. He knew her ability to show compassion for her fellow human was great, but he could clearly see the man she was helping and that is what had frozen him.

The rage that he had been holding under control bubbled to the surface. Before anyone else in the room was able to react he had removed the pipe from one of the men's hands and crossed to where Lily and Pierre were on the floor. Lily looked up to him and could see the murderous rage in his eyes directed at Pierre. She immediately put herself between them and placed both hands against Erik's chest. "No, Erik. He is not Philippe." She insisted trying to draw his attention.

Her reaction confused his exhausted mind and it was a few seconds before her words reached him. But as they did his eyes locked with hers and he could see the way they pleaded for him to understand. "Please, Erik. This is Pierre, and he has been helping me. He stopped her from beating me to death." She said in rushed words.

His eyes took in her face and he could then see the wounds that were beginning to heal. His anger dissipated as his concern for her won out. The pipe fell from his hand and he immediately wrapped his arms around her pulling her to him. An immense wave of joy swept over him as the realization that she was actually alive and in his arms again overtook him. "Lily." His voice was full of emotion as he whispered her name.

Lily too was overjoyed to have him in her arms, but from where she stood she could see the disgusted smirk on Anna's face, which did not allow her the peace of mind enough to completely revel in his presence.

Erik could feel how stiff she was in his arms and then realized his mistake in dropping the metal pipe. He slowly turned to see Anna gloating. To his horror she held a small revolver pointed at his back. "Isn't this touching?" She said with that sneer she constantly wore deepening. "What a beautiful reunion. Too bad it can't last."

"You should have never came, Erik." Lily whispered staring at the mad woman before her. "None of you should have."

"So, shall we finish the final act?" Anna said pleased with herself for having the upper hand. "You take those two women out." She motioned to one of the men who retrieved his pipe and pushed Meg and Antoinette from the room. "We'll bring the Phantom. Lily you will get Pierre on his feet and follow us."

"And if I refuse?" Lily said with a slight bit of rebellion lacing her voice.

"If you refuse, I put a bullet in your lover's back." Anna said in a pleasant voice.

Erik's hand had slipped inside his cloak searching for something in his pockets. Anna moved closer to him very quickly placing the gun barrel to his temple. "I know those tricks, Monsieur Phantom. Leave the cloak here, and please come with us."

Erik slowly removed his cloak letting it drop to the floor and then walked forward. Anna and the other ruffian followed close behind. Lily watched him walk out and felt her heart constrict. She turned back to Pierre and helped him sit up. "We must go."

Pierre looked her in the eyes and smiled broadly. "Do you want to save your Phantom, Lily?" He asked.

Lily looked at him strangely but nodded. "Of course I do."

"At any cost?" He asked.

Lily did not hesitate. "At any cost."

"There is a way. I do believe that I can save us all from this." Pierre said nodding and staring at Erik's cloak on the floor.

"Tell me." Lily insisted letting hope soar through her.

"If I do this you must do something for me." He said and she could see the look in his eyes change slightly. She did not like that look.

Anna had ordered that Meg and Antoinette be tied to support beams and then smiled as she gave an order to the two thugs that worked for her. "He's all yours, boys. Have some fun."

Lily had listened to Pierre's plan and as she walked out of the room anyone who knew her could tell something was wrong with the way she stood, and the way she held herself, but no one was paying attention to her as they watched the thugs pummeling Erik across the room.

"Erik, no." Lily screamed when she saw what was happening. She wanted to rush to him but Anna was standing within a few feet of her holding the revolver on him.

"Nice of you to join us." Anna said casually. "Don't you think his performance is stupendous?"

Lily thought she would be sick as Anna began rambling on about Erik's facial expressions and posturing while being beaten as if he was performing on a stage and she was critiquing the performance.

"My Philippe was better though." Anna finally said wistfully. "But the past is the past, and time is drawing near for the final scene. How do you think he should die, Lily?"

Tears were streaking down Lily's face as she watched the spectacle. She knew she could not stop what was happening, so she waited for Pierre to follow through on his plan.

"My dear, Anna. You have made a mistake." Pierre said shaking his head and rubbing his chin in thought.

"Pardon me, Pierre. But what exactly do you speak of?" Anna asked in exasperation.

"Well having these men beat him is entertaining all the same, but it lacks a certain amount of class, don't you think? I'm assuming you plan on shooting him with the revolver to end this all." Pierre said as if he was discussing script ideas.

"Well that was the plan." Anna admitted as her eyes squinted in suspicion over Pierre's seeming advice.

"If you don't mind my saying so, it's too brutal. Not fitting of a grand theatre death. It needs something." Pierre suggested.

The thugs had stopped beating Erik long enough to listen to Pierre and Erik was listening too. He thought how ironic it was that this man that Lily had defended just moments before was now helping to plan his death. "Lily, your choice of friends has become rather lacking." He said from the kneeling position he was in on the cold floor. He did not look up to her.

Lily remained silent, but the words felt like a slap.

"And just how do you think he should die?" Anna asked ignoring both Erik and Lily.

"Well it's too bad we didn't have one of those punjab lassos that was used to kill Philippe. My brother would find it quite enjoyable to know that his killer was done in, the same way he was." Pierre suggested.

Erik looked up at the word 'brother'. He should have realized that fact from the first when Lily said he was not Philippe, but his mind had become fatigued without any sleep for days. He looked to Lily and saw a coldness upon her face as if she was ignoring all of it. It confused him more than anything else. There were tears upon her face but the look in her eyes was distant as if she was just waiting for it all to be over, not really caring what the outcome was. But his Lily would never feel that way. What was wrong with her?

Anna smiled imagining the lasso wrapped around Erik's neck, but the smile faded. "But we don't have one of those, now do we?"

"No…" Pierre paused as if to think. And then his expression changed to one of excitement. "I noticed some of Philippe's belongings in that office. Is his walking stick in there?" He asked motioning to one of the doors off to their right.

This confused Anna even more. "Yes." She nodded.

"Just a moment." Within seconds Pierre had returned from the office carrying an ornately designed walking stick.

"Why exactly do you want that? You're not exactly dressed for the opera, Pierre." Anna said rolling her eyes.

"This is why I wanted it." Pierre said and they watched as he turned the head of stick slightly and pulled it apart. Anna was shocked to see a long sword slide from the stick as if it was a sheath. "Philippe loved this thing. He took it with him everywhere he went." Pierre said looking lovingly at the blade.

"And just what do you propose to do with that, Pierre?" Anna asked skeptically.

"You brought me into this, Anna. Why was I ever a part of it to begin with? Just because I like the girl, doesn't mean I don't want to see my brother avenged." Pierre answered as the smile spread across his face.

"Maybe you are more like your brother than I thought." Anna answered. She stared at Erik who was watching Lily. Lily was staring to the ground with a look of utter hopelessness on her face. "You do the freak for me, and I might consider letting you keep the girl."

A sadistic smile spread across Pierre's face. "My pleasure."

Lily knew that was her cue, but she barely had the stomach to go through with it. But she knew she must. She swung around facing Philippe. "Please Philippe, no." She said throwing herself at him. No one noticed her hand clasp his enfolding something in it. "Please don't do this." She begged and then fell to her knees as he shoved her away and moved forward towards Erik.

Anna trained her gun on Lily. But Lily's performance was not over yet. She looked at Anna with such grief on her face. "Please, Anna. It was not Erik that killed Philippe. It was an accident. If anyone is at fault I am."

Anna was distracted by Lily's pleas as Pierre quickly moved towards Erik. Once Pierre stood before Erik he drew the sword back and the two thugs grasped Erik's arms so he could not get away. At the last moment when the sword began to descend Pierre switched directions and struck to the right stabbing Anna through the stomach. The next moment Pierre's other hand swung forward throwing a hand full of theatre makeup in the eyes of the two thugs, and with in mere seconds they lay bleeding on the ground.

When the cloud of makeup dissipated the only person left standing was Pierre. He was staring down at Erik who was kneeling before him. Lily stood and moved forward to stand next to Pierre.

Erik looked up to the man who had saved his life and actually smiled. "I guess I was wrong about you."

"Maybe." Pierre said but did not return the smile. "Come, Lily. It is time to leave."

Erik looked immediately to Lily who looked down instead of meeting his gaze. "Lily."

Lily sighed heavily. "A long time ago you told me that someday I would find someone and want to leave you." She whispered never looking at him.

Erik looked from Lily to Pierre in confusion. "What are you saying, Lily?"

"I'm leaving here with Pierre. We sail to America tonight." The words were almost a sob. "I'm sorry, Erik."