Despite being so dreadfully tired, Christine awoke. Wondering what shook her from her sleep, she listened. Soon, she heard Erik and Nadir's voices mixing from a room below.
Stripping off her sheets, Christine put her feet onto the cold wood floors and crept down the stairs. Hearing that they were in the room the steps descended upon, she sat on the last step that was shielded by a wall and listened to the ongoing debate.
"What can I say to make you believe me, Nadir? What does it take?" Erik asked angrily.
"What could you say? How could you expect me to believe a word you say after you broke your solemn vow to me?"
"I tried to keep it!"
"It was an easy enough task! I would not blame you if men died after attacking you. But none did. You attacked them. All I asked was to stop killing; to act like the civilized, normal human being that you long to be. Why was that so hard?"
"You could not understand."
"Then help me! Is that not what you are here to do?"
She heard Erik let out a deep sigh, then began. "The Opera House was not very cooperative-"
"So kill them off?" Nadir interrupted.
"I thought you wanted me to explain!" Erik snapped.
"I do, but I don't want a ridiculous excuse."
"Perhaps, in hind sight, not all of my decisions were...well, what you would have decided. But think of how you would have done anything to see Rookheeya truly happy. Whatever she wished of you, you did it for her, did you not? When you truly love someone...it's like an obsession begging to be fed. No matter what, you'll be a slave to whatever it is that's going to make your love happy. You did everything for your wife. I did everything I could for Christine. She wanted to sing in honor of her father, and no one was going to stand in my way to making her dreams come true. Of course, I sacrificed some things, my promise to you being one of them - but I know you heard the rave reviews, Nadir! I know you know of her great success, no matter how short."
"What does this have to do with you and her in my home?"
"Everything, Nadir, if you will just listen. Everything was done by me for her. I risked anything and everything I had to so I could get her where she could spread her wings and fly. A few killings were involved, I admit to that, and feel sorry for those unfortunate souls, but I do not regret it. I do, though, understand why I have no chance in being seen innocent by anyone in this latest crime. It is common knowledge by many, what I felt and did for Christine. Why not kill the Vicomte to make sure he is out of the way for good? That is what you think, is it not?"
"What if it is?"
"Then you are a fool like the rest of them. Why should I care what de Changy does now? And I am not heartless. I see that he has let Christine go from his clutches and moved on. He has a family, a nice home. In all rights and in my eyes he is forgiven. Why would I wish to kill him?"
"Do you think it is that easy? Say a few convincing words and I, along with all of Paris, is to believe you?"
"I do not care what all of Paris believes. But you...you're different. We were once friends, you and I. And it would mean more than you could imagine if you'd believe me."
"Why? As Miss Daae pointed out - I am no longer a daroga. Truly, I have just as much power as any other person in this village. What difference would it mean to you if I believed you or not?"
"The world, Nadir."
"How do you explain the mask that he claimed to have seen, then?"
It was clear that Nadir was bending, that he was just grasping for things to hold on to his previous beliefs. He was having little luck with this.
"You know Madame Giry's daughter. She led a large group...a mob...down to my lair. They took many things with them, including every last mask. Yet, not one showed up in the vaults that everyone claimed they put all of my belongings. I wear this one because little Giry gave it to Christine, whom returned it to me. Anyone could be trying to kill the good Vicomte in my name now."
Nadir seemed to be debating whether he should trust Erik's word or not. Before he could convince himself not to, however, Erik leaned close to Nadir.
"Look at me, Nadir. Look at who I am, who you know me to be. Do you really believe I tried to kill de Changy?"
Christine peeked from behind the wall of her safety to see Erik leaning closer to Nadir, his eyes focusing straight into Nadir's soul. She shuddered, knowing that feeling all to well.
They stayed the same for a few moments, until Nadir sighed and fell back against his chair. "I suppose not." He said lightly, looking into the fire.
"You believe me?" Erik said, trying to sound emotionless, yet hope and surprise were easily noticeable in his voice.
Nadir nodded, looking back at Erik. "I believe you."
Erik shook his head, looking down at his lap. "No, never mind. I don't deserve to be seen in a good light to you. Not after what I did to you."
"You speak of Reza?"
"I shouldn't have takenm his life in my hands. It went against your god, and I was selfish to do what I did."
"Selfish to put him in a peaceful rest, though you yourself adored him?"
"You hated me for ending his life early; do not act as if I speak like I'm absurd."
"I told you before I forgave you for that."
"No, Daroga - you told me you werent going to let that become between us; but that you'd never forgive me."
"Then I spoke a lie to you."
Erik shook his head again. "What I did was wrong. I do not ask for your mercy."
"Erik, like it or not, you have it."
Erik looked up into Nadir's eyes. Both smiled slowly, then clasped hands.

The next morning, Christine awoke at dawn to a servant's urgent hand. "Mademoiselle, please wake up. The man you travel with is eager to leave." She said. Christine's eyes flew open. Shooing out the nurse, Christine quickly readied herself, then ran down the stairs. When she was down, however, she stalled from turning the corner, where she could hear Erik and Nadir's voices.
"I filled you staddle bags as much as I could. I only wish it was more."
"It will be enough. The horse can only carry so much, anyway."
"But I wish I could have given you more help than I have."
"It was enough."
"And I wish I could offer you more than this. To give you safety, anything."
"You believe me when I asked you too, even without the proof that you always seek for before believing anything. That is more than enough."
Christine watched as the two men shook hands heartedly, a smile on both their faces. She herself put on a cheerful smile, then came upon the two. "Ready?" She asked Erik. He grinned at her, looking her over.
"If you are, my dear." He said, but turned his look from her to Nadir, winking at him. Nadir returned it with an even bigger smile. Christine could only guess at what their secrets were, but she didn't care at the moment. It made her heart leap to see a smile back on Erik's lips; something that seemed all too seldom of late.
"You best go as quickly as you can; the Vicomte is said to be sending officers to towns like this." Nadir said, as he straightened little things out here and there.
"Raoul is leading the officers?" Christine asked quickly. Both men turned to her with a surprised look. After a few moments, Nadir answered her.
"He is. Funding it as well. Seems he is the patron of many things when it concerns you."
Christine blushed crimson as she looked away. Nadir gave her a confused look, and Christine prayed that she had not given him the wrong impression. Thankfully, the look was washed from his face and a smile was put in it's place. "May Allah watch over you and keep you." He blessed instead.
Putting his arm around her and taking out his cane, Erik and Christine thanked him again, then walked out the door and off to the next place they'd stop, slowing, but surely, getting farther away from Paris.

Christine stared at Erik, a few feet from her, as she bit into her apple.
"Would there be any reason you stare at me like so, Christine?" Erik asked, feigning a scared look.
She laughed. "Just...thinking."
"Well, tell me of your thoughts. How did you find Nadir yesterday?"
"A fine fellow, I suppose. You seem to have patched up your friendship quite well."
"I only hope. If he's not on my side...well..."
Christine nodded. Some emotions were wordless.
"It's nice to know more of your past. Seems strange...I've known you since I was seven years old, yet your past has always been one big unexplored mystery to me."
"On purpose, I assure you. I'd rather keep it that way, for both our sakes, but we have one more stop we must make. He is about a day or so away. Nadir's food will keep us until that long. He is also from my distant past that you will have to know about."
"Who is he? And are you on better terms with him than Nadir?"
"Worse, I regret to say. I wish I could avoid going to him, but I must. We'll never make it to where we must just this amount of food."
"How do you know him? What is his name?"
"He is Giovanni. After a few years of living in the opera house, my restless soul begged to be let out of what seemed like an eternal dark cage. I left, and went in search for beauty. I found it one day, near twilight. Beautiful, breathtaking buildings in all their glory stood before me. I stood in awe, not aware that a man approached me. That was Giovonni. He saw my love for these amazing buildings and decided to go against his word and take me on as an apprentice. It wasn't long before he saw my talent. It was then when he decided I'd be the one that he'd teach all his knowledge to. He had no sons, which he considered a curse. So he took on me, acting as if I was his own flesh and blood. He was the first person in my life to not care what I looked like or what I wore on my face. He genuinely cared for me, loved me in fact, the way not even my own mother ever could. In return, I treated him with the love and respect that I would have with my own father. My birth father, you see, died before I was born. He never had to look upon my cursed face; I think my mother thought him lucky.
Giovanni let me live in his basement that he fixed up for me. I learned amazing things while with him, and we were always close."
"But Erik - it sounds as if you had a great relationship with him. Why say you are on worse terms with him than Nadir?"
"I did not kill Nadir's child." Erik whispered so low, Christine wondered if she had heard right. But then he continued before she could say a word. "No, wait...I did. Well, at least Reza went in peace. I helped him. I did not help Luciana."
Christine just stared at him for a moment, wondering if she wanted to hear him go on or wish silence upon him. "Reza...Nadir's son?"
"Yes. I might go through the pain of recalling the tale, about how Reza had a grave, incurable illness and that he was bound to die soon, despite him being so young, but I don't believe I have to. You know the rest already."
Christine's eyes opened wide. Did he know about how she had listened? She had been so quiet! "I don't know what you are talking about, I am afraid."
"I'm afraid you do. You know that I am no angel now...that I have temptations just like every other human being. And I know that you are the same."
Christine blushed. "I know I shouldn't have eavesdropped...but you both woke me up! I had to see what was all the matter."
Erik looked at her with a face of disbelief, but she just smiled sweetly and stood up. She ran down to the little river, then, with her trained feet, did graceful ballet motions in the wild grass. "The Angel of Music sings songs in her head...the Angel of Music sings songs in her head." She sung beautifully, side glancing at Erik to see if she still had his attention. She wanted to lighten their moods instead of both of them being always full of melancholy. Instead, the song rose different thoughts into his mind.
"What was that name that de Changy used to call you?" He asked suddenly. Christine's feet fell flat on the ground as she stopped dancing to look oddly at him. "What?"
"The name...he had a name for you. I cant remember it."
Christine shrugged. "Must have slipped my mind too."
"Come Christine - I know he called you it since you were a little girl. What was it?"
She sighed, giving up. "Little Lottie."
"Lottie? But he's french and that's a-"
"It's from a story Father used to read to us. Why do you ask?"
Erik shrugged now, biting into his apple. "What was the story about?"
"About Little Lottie . Her father promised her that he'd send her the Angel of Music, so everyone would be awed and astounded by her amazing gift. The Angel of Music just has to visit you; if you are worthy."
"Worthy?" Erik asked, interested.
"Innocent and pure. If you are bad, he will not come. But if you are good, he descends from the heavens to touch your throat, and you will sing like an Angel as well."
Erik said nothing to that, just stared out to the mountains in the distance. "Were you disappointed?"
"About what? This? I told you, I'd rather be here-"
"No, no. About me. When you found out that the Angel of Music never visited you; that it was just me the whole time."
Christine smiled as she knelt down before him. "No; I was even more thrilled. The one person I could really put all my trust and faith in...was real." She said, then sat with her back to him, leaning into his chest as she looked sleepily at the pale skies in peace. Just as she felt herself becoming light and near falling asleep, she heard Erik chuckle in her ear. "Yes...that, and you finally knew that you really weren't insane."
Christine couldn't help but giggle before falling asleep.