After watching the Final Lair scene very closely one night, I finally came to an opinion on Christine's thoughts in it. And then I just opened MSWord and started typing…and out came this. I donno. Lemme know what ya think.

Oh, and by the by…yes, I know his name is Erik. It's just that this is '04 ALW musical-based, and in the ALW version, we're never told that his name is Erik. So he is "the Phantom".

Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom or any of the characters, lines or songs in the musical, etc. But then that was rather obvious.

"You try my patience. Make your choice." He pulled – hard – on the rope around Raoul's neck. Raoul winced in pain. And I, standing helpless on the shore, was forced to decide. Leave – in essence, choose Raoul – and Raoul was dead. I would stay with the Phantom anyway. Or, I could let Raoul go free, and stay with the monster, whose tattered face was only a reflection of his hideous soul. Finally, sealing my resolve, I did make my choice.

I would let Raoul go. He could no doubt find another girl he loved, and be happy. And I could never live with letting Raoul be hurt. I would stay with the Phantom for Raoul. I love you, I mouthed to Raoul, as a goodbye.

As the Phantom and I had nearly always conversed in song – one more oddity of our otherworldly connection – it was normal for me to sing to him as I walked closer and closer, putting the ring he'd given me on my finger.

Pitiful creature of darkness,

What kind of life have you known?

God give me courage to show you

You are not alone!

Bracing myself, I reached up hesitantly and drew his face to mine, kissing him as passionately as I could.

I was hit with a wave of powerful emotions as I kissed him. I had expected to feel revulsion, understandably. Instead, I felt as though I'd been ripped apart. I knew in that instant that I loved him more than I'd ever thought possible. I also felt a strange hunger – I wanted him. In two different ways; one, in a lustful sense – I'd never wanted anyone in this sense before, not even Raoul. But I also simply wanted him…to be with him at all places, at all times, to hold him, to have him hold me. When I'd kissed Raoul, I had felt a love for him, and a wanting to be beside him – but not so powerful as this.

We broke the kiss, looked into each others eyes for a moment, then, as if by some unknown, unspoken agreement, kissed again. Again, the same wave of emotions overtook me. As we broke this second kiss, I was glad I'd decided to stay with him.

He was almost smiling as I was…but it quickly turned into crying. My smile fell.

He turned, walking back to his lair, pushing me back to Raoul.

"Take her – forget me – forget all of this. Leave me alone – forget all you've seen. Go now – don't let them find you!"

I was so stunned by what had happened – what I'd felt in the kiss, him telling me to go – I was almost simply going through the motions. I knew very well that I was untying Raoul urgently and hugging him quickly…but I felt strangely apart from everything. I felt like a porcelain doll in Raoul's arms. But it was in that moment that I knew I would go with Raoul. And it broke my heart.

"Take the boat, swear to me never to tell – the secrets you know of the Angel in Hell! Go…go now! Go now and leave me!"

He disappeared to a shadowed corner of his lair.

"Christine, hurry," Raoul whispered urgently. "Come, the mob is almost here…come, Christine, we can leave now."

"No," I said, gathering my wits together. "Well, yes. Just give me a moment, Raoul. I need to go back for a moment."

He looked about to protest, but the look on my face must have stopped him. "All right," he said. "But Christine, quickly!"

"Yes," I said, leaving Raoul and walking to the Phantom, who was singing softly.

Masquerade…

Paper faces on parade.

Masquerade…

Hide your face so the world will never find you.

He looked up and saw me.

Christine, I love you.

His voice was quivering and weak, nothing like the first night I was here. Don't make this harder, I thought. I wanted to stay with him…God, how I wanted to stay with him…but I couldn't. We could never be together. It wasn't fair to either of us. We held between us a love so passionate; I couldn't begin to describe it. But we couldn't stay. I didn't know how I knew. But I did.

I tried to convey that to him as I walked to him slowly, taking off my ring and putting it in his hand. I curled his fingers around it. He laid his other hand on top of mine. I stood there for a minute, cherishing that moment, and the feel of his hands in mine. I couldn't speak, for fear of breaking down and crying, asking to stay with him. Finally I walked away, back to Raoul, looking over my shoulder at the Phantom. I hoped he knew I loved him. I hoped he knew how much…and how it felt awful for me to not stay with him.

As I left with Raoul, he and I sang together. I sang my parts trying to convince myself that this was right. Rather unsuccessfully. I knew I'd always be the Phantom's, even if we couldn't possibly stay together. Again…I looked back at him as we rounded a corner, trying to let him know this. I heard him sing as I stood beside Raoul.

You alone can make my song take flight –

It's over now; the music of the night!

I gasped and bit my lip to stop from crying out. I dug my nails into Raoul's shoulder. He looked up at me sharply. I suppose then he knew that I would never truly be his – my heart belonged to another.

Tears came unbidden, dripping down my face. I sniffed and shut my eyes tightly, hoping they would stop.

They did, soon enough. But the ache in my heart grew.

It was always there.