Author's Note: Well, I have an award to give out!

GuardGirl2 – you get a cookie for finding my boo-boo! You are completely correct. I did mention Christine and Raoul making love in chapter eleven. Brava!

In other notes, I appreciate the feedback that was given on the last chapter. I kept getting review after review after review. It was like they would never end! But thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback! I really enjoy reading all your review. And sometimes, people catch my mistakes. (See above) Please submit reviews! I can't wait to read them! Hopefully you guys like this chapter too.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Preparations

Erik awoke first. He looked down at Christine's sleeping form and couldn't help but smile. Then, he gazed at her engagement ring. He couldn't believe it. They were really engaged. Soon they would be married.

Quietly, he got up and went over to dress. After putting his pants and shirt on, he shaved, making sure to be gentle around the deformed side of his face. Then he put on a wig and his mask and made sure that they were in place before going to wake Christine.

"Darling? It's time to get up. You have rehearsal in a hour," he said, shaking her gently.

She rolled over. "Five more minutes," she mumbled.

He sighed. "No, now."

Moving over to the other side of the bed, he kissed her gently on her forehead then softly on her lips. She groaned a little, and then smiled. "Alright, I'm awake," she said, opening her eyes.

"I laid out your dress. Now, get dressed and then we'll eat."

Christine swung her legs out from under the sheets and rose from the massive bead. Entering the bathroom, she ran a brush through her chestnut brown curls and then pinned them back, so they wouldn't fall in her eyes during rehearsal. After she was done, she scrubbed her face clean and then went to get dressed. She slipped on her dressing gown and then tried, unsuccessfully to lace her corset. "Erik, I need your help!"

He entered the room. "Corset giving you troubles my dear?"

Christine nodded, turning around. "Can you give me a hand?"

A few moments later, he had laced up and tied her corset. She turned back around. "Thank you," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

Picking up her dress, she slipped it over her head and buttoned up the small buttons that were in the front.

"Well? What do you think?" she asked, turning to Erik.

"You look beautiful. Come, its time to eat."

Together, they ate their breakfast, and then boarded the gondola for the journey to the stage. Finally reaching the other side, Erik helped her out of the small boat and led her up the passageway to her dressing room.

"I'm nervous. I hope that no one asks about Raoul," Christine commented.

"Don't worry about them. They don't know what they are talking about. Just sing. Let me hear that beautiful voice that I know you have."

"I'll try."

She made her way to the stage, while he went to Box Five to watch her rehearse.

"Ah! Madame de Changy! It's good to see you out and about! Let me offer my condolences about your husband. He was a good man," Andre said, seeing her come up the stairs.

"I'd rather not talk about it if that's alright with you. Let's just rehearse."

"Of course," he replied.

"From the beginning if you please Madame," M. Reyer said.

The music started up and Christine took a deep breath.

"Poor fool he makes me laugh..."

"Madame, I don't think anyone has told you. We're performing a new opera," M. Reyer said.

"A new opera?"

"Yes, just a moment please."

Andre went backstage and motioned towards Madame Giry. "Go and get him please."

Christine stood onstage, and glanced up towards Box Five. Erik was not there. 'Where did he go?' she thought.

"Madame? Are you ready?"

Firmin's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Yes, I'm ready."

"Good, now stand over here." He pointed to a spot on the far side of the stage.

She gave him a puzzled look but went over to stand on the spot that Firmin had pointed out.

"You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge,

In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent...silent.

I have brought you that our passions may fuse and merge

In your mind, you've already succumb to me, dropped all defenses,

Completely succumbed to me, now you are here with me, no second thoughts, you've decided...decided."

The sound of his voice made Christine snap her head around. Erik stood on the stage looking at her. She smiled and instantly knew; they were going to perform Don Juan.

"Past the point of no return, no backward glances, our games of make believe are at a end. Past all thought of if, or when, no use resisting, abandon thought and let the dream descend. What raging fire shall flood the soul, what rich desire unlocks its door, what sweet seduction lies before us? Past the point of no return, the final threshold, what warm unspoken secrets will we learn? We've passed the point of no return."

He started to approach her. "Sing with your heart Christine," he said under his breath.

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

"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 to wait before we're one? When the blood begin to rise the sleeping bud burst into bloom when will the flames at last consume us?"

They made their way to the center of the stage and walked towards each other as the music reached a crescendo.

"Past the point of no return, the final threshold the bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn. We've passed the point of no return."

He held Christine in his arms as the music finished.

"Brava! Brava!" Andre shouted.

Christine looked into Erik's eyes. "Should we tell them?" she whispered.

"It's up to you."

She turned towards Andre. "I have an announcement to make."

"What is it Madame?"

"Well...Erik and I are...well..." she trailed off.

"I have asked Christine to marry me and she has agreed," Erik said.

There was silence. Then, a few moments later, Andre finally spoke. "But Madame, your husband...the Vicomte..."

"I have been unhappy in my marriage to the Vicomte for quite sometime now. Erik and I are happy together and we would like to have our wedding ceremony here at the opera house."

Andre and Firmin looked at each other.

"If that is what you want, then it shall happen. We will start to make preparations immediately!"

I know that the chapter ended kind of badly but I am trying to set up the next chapter. I hope that you guys liked this chapter anyways. Please don't forget to send in your reviews!

The next chapter of 'Angel' should be posted tomorrow. I already have the chapter written but didn't get a chance to burn it to CD last night like I wanted. I will do that tonight and post it tomorrow. Please bear with me.

I remain your obedient author,

Phantomfan1911