Christine read the note over and over again. By now the ink was smeared, and the paper was ripping in many places. She couldn't stop, couldn't believe it was true. She was getting married! She hoped however, that whatever was keeping him from her wasn't too serious. She knew it was just like Erik to say he was ok, so she wouldn't worry; even if he wasn't. She gazed at the simple gold band that adorned her finger. He was so important to her. She needed him, he was her everything.

"Erik…"she whispered softly into the air, "I miss you…come home please."

XXXXXXX

Raoul sat in his study contemplating the events that had transpired. He had already indulged himself with plenty of liquor, and hadn't bothered to shower. He could swear that he could still smell her perfume; a lingering sent that had been embedded into his clothes. Raoul refused to wash any remaining evidence of her away. Of course, his father had been secretly pleased with the news. Now, there was no chance that he could dishonor the family. Raoul shuddered in disgust at the thought. How could his father be so uncompassionate? The love of his life had chosen another, and now he had nothing to live for. Raoul was an empty soul without Christine in his life. Why tarry is all his wealth, when he didn't have anyone to share it with?

What angered him the most however, was the conversation that had emerged after Raoul told his father of Christine's "disappearance".

"Such a horrible tragedy son, I know how much you liked her."

"Loved her dad, more than you could ever imagine." Raoul replied, correcting his father eloquently.

"I see son, now not to rush you. But, I have some potential batchlorettes lined up for you. All from the right families of course." His father stated matter-of-factly. Raoul stood there taken aback. His face went pale, his knuckles white, and he could just see his hands around his father's throat…

"Father why do you care so much about me embarrassing the family? Why can't you worry about me for a change? About my well being?"

"I am concerned about your well being Raoul. It is better if you forget tragedies and start a new life."

"I loved her father, loved her! " he paused before continuing, "I still love her!" His voice echoed throughout the large mansion, his voice ten times louder in the cavernous room that was his study. An awkward silence descended upon the pair, and Raoul's father studied him intently.

"I see you need more time to recover," his father said coolly, carefully brushing off the invisible lint that lay on his jacket. "Contact me at once when you are ready to be a man, and forget."

Raoul clutched the chair as the conversation was replayed in his mind. Why was his father so insensitive?

XXXXX

"For Allah's sake Erik, sit down!" Erik had been pacing restlessly for the past hour. Nadir found it extremely aggravating.

"Nadir, what if she left? My proposal was probably too forward. Damn you Nadir, why did you let me include such a thing?"

Nadir sighed; they both knew it had been Erik who insisted putting it in, not listening to Nadir's logic.

"Erik, if she chose to come back to you, then I'm truly sure she will stay." Nadir attempted to calm him.

"NO! Nadir, a girl died from looking at my face. She died! My face took the very breath out of another human being. Why would she possibly want to be with me?"

Nadir frowned, if only he could help Erik forget his past and think of his future. Was fate that cruel, to make him see Luciana, just when the circumstances were starting to look brighter? Oh how he wished that Erik could finally find peace within himself.

"Erik please, you have had a rough night, sit down!"

"So many horrible things daroga…Luciana… I'm afraid I cannot be contained any longer; it is doing nothing for my nerves. Farewell." Erik abruptly said heading for the door, his mood swings were as always, very unpredictable. As Erik reached the door he found it to be locked. Nadir knew he was the only man on this earth that could hold Erik against his will.

"Erik come have some tea. If you go back now you'll frighten her."

"Tea? Is that all you can think about daroga?" Erik shouted angrily.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. It's frightfully good."

XXXXXXXX

Christine sighed, six long hours he had been away. There was no clock, but Christine could have sworn that it had been an eternity. She finally decided to clean the only place in the lair that she hadn't touched, Erik's room. The fact that he had slept in a coffin all those years was unbearable to her. That room scared her very much, and she was afraid of what she could discover as she cleaned. No, she thought to herself, if I can't face Erik's past, then I don't deserve to be here. Suddenly filled with a new sense of determination she made her way towards Erik's room.

A/N: Ok there you go; I don't know if I will be able to update this story for a while, I need to get caught up with my others. I hoped I used enough BIG words little lemon…anyway I hope you enjoyed!