A/N: Alright, it wasn't that the last chapter sucked, I guess it was just my least-favorite. That and it took forever to write! Thanks for all the kind reviews! I had a bad day and reading those helped quite a bit!

Erickphan24601 – omgsh! I just about died laughing when I read that! That's so true, ALW does have the teeth! I always imagined that he could be the phantom himself; but alas, he would never be as good looking as Gerard Butler!

Rae – I'm trying not to make Christine come off as that dumb, she's just really confused I guess. (Though were I in her position, I most certainly would not be) so we'll see where she goes with that. And I totally agree about Raoul, though I'm trying to be as nice to him as I can :)

Thanks for the continued support! It really means a lot! And now – the long awaited Don Juan chapter! I only hope I can live up to the expectations surrounding it… eek…

Christine de Nuit

Chapter 7: The Point of No Return

Christine grasped her armoire as Madame Giry finished lacing her corset.

This was it, she thought.

With an hour left before the premiere of Don Juan, Christine had no idea what she was going to do. All her doubts concerning Raoul were swirling in her head, mocking her indecisiveness. She loved Raoul, but was it really worth sacrificing her career and that which mattered to her most – music?

"Christine, are you alright?" Meg asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"You're trembling and look, your face is pale!"

Christine smiled weakly at her friend "Yes, of course, Meg. I'm just anxious about the performance."

Meg gave her a reassuring hug. "You'll do fine, Christine! Your voice is amazing, it's like the role was written just for you! Now come on, it's time to go!"

Nodding, Christine took her hand. She shut the door, but not before noticing the object lying upon her bed.

A red rose with a black ribbon tied ever so elegantly around its stem.

The dark sounds of the orchestra could be heard from backstage. The Phantom's Opera had begun.

Christine exhaled slowly, trying to calm down. For some reason she had the strangest feeling that something was amiss. She pushed the thought out of her mind, returning her attention to the performance.

"Passarino, faithful friend, once again recite the plan," Piangi's voice rang out.

Christine's heart beat faster. Soon she would be out there, singing in what could very well be her last performance. She needed to make it count.

She decided right then and there that she would be absolutely perfect, singing from her very soul with the passion and longing that this dark opera deserved. It would be her best moment yet.

"…If I do not forget myself and laugh!" Piangi walked backstage, looking quite pleased with himself. Christine took a deep breath and walked in front of the audience.

"…No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy! No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!" the words slipped gracefully from her lips.

She knelt down in center stage, gently placing a basket of roses down before her. She glanced down and took one in her hand. And then she heard it.

"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge, in pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent… silent…" Erik smirked behind his mask as he walked onto the stage.

Christine glanced up, eyes wide with shock. Erik was on stage with her! It seemed so bold, beyond all reason, and yet; right. It felt so right for him to join her in that duet. His voice mesmerized her, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.

"I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge – in your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me; Now you are here with me, no second thoughts, you've decided… decided…"

She stood up as he walked towards her, succumbing to his voice. Its pure passion invoked a deep warmth within her, much like it had that night in his lair when he had sung of the music of the night. He was so close now, she could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck.

"Past the point of no return, no backward glances; our games of make believe are at an end! Past all thought of 'if' or 'when', no use resisting! Abandon thought and let the dream descend…"

Suddenly he closed all space between them, embracing her from behind, pressing her to him. She leaned into him, her mind having lost all control. She couldn't resist him.

"What raging fires shall flood the soul? Which rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us?"

Christine closed her eyes. His voice was different than it had been in lessons. It was filled with such emotion, igniting passion within her. Yes, this voice was the voice of a lover, not a tutor.

"Past the point of no return; the final threshold! What warm unspoken secrets will we learn, beyond the point of no return…?"

She broke the embrace, facing him with a smile as she burst into song.

"You have brought me to that moment when words run dry, to that moment when speech disappears into silence…silence…"

Erik broke their gaze and glanced up to the box the Vicomte was sitting in. He smiled, wondering what the precious Vicomte was thinking abouttheir passionate performance. The look on his face said it all, and Erik had to suppress a laugh.

"I have come here hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent; now I am here with you, no second thoughts, I've decided… decided…"

Christine nodded her head slightly, never breaking her gaze with the now fiery oceans of green and blue.

"Past the point of no return, no going back now! Our passion play has now at last begun! Past all thought of 'right' or 'wrong'! One final question: how long should we two wait before we're one?"

Christine let her very soul loose as they began to mount the stairs. There was no going back now.

"When will the blood begin to race; the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last consume us?"

They stopped at the top, facing each other, their eyes locked.

Erik was completely entranced. She sang the words with the yearning he felt in the very depths of his soul. It was more than he could have dreamt of! He had never seen her like this. She was so passionate andseductive, so intense. She seemed to believe every word she sang. Could it be possible that she felt the same as he in that heated moment?

Christine drank in the sight of him. The flames danced around them, casting a warm glow on their bodies. She could see the look of longing in his eyes, feeling the desire running throughout her entire body.

Suddenly their voices joined in unison, exploding with such intensity and emotion it was as if their very souls were merging, as they walked towards each other. The audience held its breath, witnessing the scene before them with complete awe.

"Past the point of no return; the final threshold! The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn.."

Erik pressed her firmly against him, running his hands through her hair, around her neck and shoulders, protectively as they sang. Christine leaned in to him, her breathing heavy.

Raoul's eyes brimmed with tears, confusion evident on his face. He had never seen Christine like this, she seemed completely lost in her character. Surely she was only pretending… but was she? Could one really pretend to have such passion and longing which should be reserved for only a husband to see?

"…we've passed the point of no return…"

Christine could feel her heart beating fast, feeling as if her chest would explode at any moment.

Erik continued to caress her neck lovingly as he parted his lips to whisper in her ear.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you want me with you here, beside you…"

She faced him, never leaving his arms. Their eyes locked in a hypnotic trance, conveying unspoken words and emotions. In his pleading eyes, Christine suddenly sensed his loneliness, his needing of acceptance, his passion, his desire, his longing, his love for her.

And she understood.

It was not with Raoul that she belonged. It was with Erik. She belonged to him, mind, body, and spirit. Theirs souls were connected in such a way that they could never truly leave each other. She felt alive when she was with him. He stirred a passion within her. Yes, it was Erik's arms she longed to hold her, not Raoul's. Why had she not realized this before? She felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she realized she was in the arms of her one true love, her angel. She closed her eyes as he pulled her closer. Trembling beneath his touch, she could feel the adrenaline pumping throughout her veins. Reaching up, she took his warm cheeks in between her palms. This was truly the point of no return.

By now the orchestra had stopped playing.

"Anywhere you go let me go too! Christine, that's all I ask of… yo-"

He was silenced as she gently brushed her lips against his. He tensed for a moment, before responding, deepening the kiss. They gave in to their desires, the passion of their duet fusing them together. She had betrayed him twice before, but now she could no longer deny him. She was his.

Pulling slightly from the embrace, he looked lovingly into her eyes, trying to find reassurance. She smiled shyly at him before whispering "Erik, I love you".

Erik was undone. He pulled her in for a tight embrace, still unbelieving at the four words she had uttered with a love he had never known. Breathing in the scent of her curls, he kissed her forehead before whispering into her ear, "Hold on, my love".

Christine grasped hold of his waist as Erik cut a rope.

The audience and the orchestra, which had been stunned into silence, were suddenly in a frenzy as the elegant chandelier began to swing threateningly above their heads.

Erik kicked open a trap door, and embracing Christine, they fell gracefully down below the stage into the welcoming darkness.

A/N: Alright I hope that was as good as I intended it to be! Please review and tell me what you think!