Yay. New chapter.

Preview: Raoul and Meg date...awwwww. Erik's recovery, and another surprise! lol. R/M, E/C, with hints of A/F (Andre/Firmin)...just kidding. F/OFC (Firmin/Original Female Character) for the heck of it...lol. Drama, Romance, Fluffy...ahhhh, and some angst. Sweet chapter. And Christine finally has a nice dream, and not a nightmare.


Anywhere You Go

Meg stood in the main lobby of the Opera House. Her nerves were almost too much to handle. She really likes Raoul, she has since she first saw him. But what if he was never attracted to her too? What if he's only on 'the rebound'? What if he's doing this to get to Christine? Will she only be in the shadows of Christine? Did he really like her?

Too many questions filled her head. She wondered if the date would be awkward. What would they talk about? Meg paced back and forth. She played with a necklace her mother gave to her for her thirteenth birthday. It was a necklace that Meg's mother got from her mother, and Meg's grandmother got it from her mother, and so on. It was in the family for 6 generations. She hoped that it would bring about good luck.

"Mademoiselle Giry, you look amazing." A sweet voice said. Meg's back was to the door and when she heard that she turned around. There stood Raoul in fine aristocratic clothing. Meg blushed and walked over to him.

"You're looking very handsome tonight, Le Vicomte." Meg said.

Raoul took her hand and kissed it. He offered her his arm and she placed her arm with his. They walked out of the Opera House and to a carriage waiting for them.

"Where are we going?" Meg asked.

"We are to dine at a very fine restaurant near by. It's called the Le Grand Véfour."

"Oh my! I've always wanted to go there, it's very beautiful and I hear the food is just delicious." Meg said excitedly.

"Yes it is a very beautiful place, and the food is the best in all of Paris. Or at least in my opinion. That's why I chose it." Raoul replied. Meg smiled and titled her head down in a nervous fashion.

"How is everyone?" Raoul asked.

"Uhh, I believe everyone is doing well." She didn't want to worry him about what was happening. Besides, she barely knew what was going on herself.

"That's good."

Meg began to play with her necklace, which was a nervous habit she had. Raoul looked over to her and noticed it.

"That's a beautiful necklace."

"Thanks. It's been in my family for generations." She stated.

"It's a very odd coincidence…"

Meg looked puzzled, "What is?"

"Your necklace goes great with this." He said and pulled out a box from his pocket. He opened it up to show two diamond earrings.

"Oh my Goodness!" Meg exclaimed. "I'm speechless! I don't know what to say."

He handed them to her. "You don't have to say anything."

"Thank you Raoul." She replied and then hugged him. Meg stared down at the sparkling diamonds. He was right, they did match the necklace.


Nadir walked in to the room with a vile of home made potions. He walked over to Erik who was almost asleep. He saw the medication that doctor prescribed.

"Did he take any yet?" Nadir asked Christine who was watching over Madame Giry.

"No."

"Good." He said. He began nudging at Erik. "Erik…Erik…get up."

Erik mumbled something and then turned over in the bed.

"Erik… You need to take medicine so you'll get better." Nadir continued.

Erik opened his eyes slightly. He tried to sit up but could only slouch back on the pillows. Christine walked over to help him up a little bit. Nadir handed Erik the potion. Erik looked at it and then drank from it. Christine held his head slightly back so he could drink it. Afterwards she helped him back down to go to sleep.

"Will that help him sooner?" Christine asked Nadir.

"It should." He walked over to Madame Giry. "I also made something for her. It'll help the dizziness, nausea, and headaches."

Christine woke up Madame Giry, "Maman, you need to take medicine."

Nadir handed her the potion and the woman drank from it. She gave a weird face when she drank from it and that made Christine laugh.

"I'm guessing it doesn't taste good."

"No, it makes me feel even more sick." Madame Giry replied.

"It'll work in about 10 minutes, trust me." Nadir said.

"That fast?" Christine was taken aback.

"Yeah, Modern day medicine isn't as great as herbs and potions. These are more natural and they work with the body."

Christine seemed fascinated with what he had to say. But Erik now seemed more alert than before.

"What the hell? Who took my mask?" He yelled.

"Erik…keep it down!" Christine said. "You asked…me…if you could take off the mask and I said yes."

"Why would I ask you that?" He replied.

"You said it was too hot. You were running a fever so…"

"I don't care. I want it back." Erik demanded.

"Fine." Christine grabbed it from the nightstand and gave it to him. "You were so desperate to have it off but now you want it on."

"I wonder why?" He mocked.

"You don't need to wear it around me." Christine stated again, this time to a conscience Erik.

"I don't feel so good." Erik ignored her.

"Well you overdosed on morphine, Erik." Nadir informed him.

"I'm aware of that." Erik snapped back.

"Typical Erik." Christine started. "People try to help but he just pushes them away by being rude."

Nadir looked to Christine, "Just let it go…"

"No. Erik needs to learn that he has to be considerate to others."

Erik laughed at that comment.

"You are so lucky you actually have people who care about you." Christine said.

"I have people who…care about me?" Erik said with an almost shocked expression. Christine thought it was a joke at first but noticed he was serious.

"Of course you do, Erik do you think we're taking care of you for fun?" Christine asked.

"Or that we put up with you for fun?" Nadir added. Christine kind of looked back at him with a 'nice try, but not the best thing to say' look. The Persian laughed at her expression.

"I mean, Christine's right. If nobody cared then you would be dead by now." Nadir commented.

Erik sighed but didn't listen to what they had to say. He closed his eyes and pretended he was asleep.

"One ear and out the other." Nadir said.

"Why does he like to be difficult?" Christine asked out loud not really directing her question to anyone.

"I don't know." The Persian replied.

"I can't imagine living with him." Christine admitted. Erik was listening and felt his heart break. "He's just too much trouble."

"You're just like her." Erik suddenly jumped into the conversation.

"What?" Christine asked.

"My mother."

"Erik, don't compare me to that woman!" Christine said in disgust.

"You don't want to deal with me…so you make up the excuse of me being too much trouble." He was close to crying.

"Erik, no…"

"I thought you would be different." Erik said but then stopped. He felt his body shaking again.

"Erik!" Christine cried out. He was trying hard to breath and continued to shake violently.

Nadir brought more potions with him. Erik turned over to the side of his bed and vomited into a bucket. When he was done he was gasping for air. Christine was scared out of her mind. His shaking was worse than before. His legs were kicking into the air and his arms were flailing all over the place. His eyes went into the back of his head.

"Erik!" Christine screamed again. Erik stopped shaking. Nadir walked over to the limp body to see if he was ok. He took out the potion from his pocket and lifted Erik up. He poured the liquid into his mouth and placed him back down.

"Is he ok?" Christine asked.

"I think so. I'm not sure what that was."

Erik fell into a deep sleep. Christine sat down on a chair next to Erik and Nadir found a seat in the corner of the room.


Raoul and Meg arrived at the Restaurant and made their way to their seats. Raoul pulled her chair out for her. Meg smiled and sat down. Raoul sat down in his and looked at the menu. A waiter walked up to them after a couple of minutes.

"Est-ce que bonsoir, je peux prendre votre ordre?

"Oui. Peux j'avoir le Boeuf Bourgignon." Raoul ordered a meat and vegetable dish. He looked over to Meg. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes." She replied. She looked to the waiter and ordered a meal called Raclette.

The waiter wrote down their orders and then asked what kinds of drinks they would like. Meg replied water.

"Faites que les deux eaux." Raoul said, 'make that two waters'.

The waiter left with their menus. Meg looked at the earrings Raoul gave her.

"These are beautiful, Raoul. I'm really surprised actually."

"Why?"

Meg didn't know how to ask him all the questions she was wondering before.

"Raoul, why did you ask me out tonight?"

Raoul was taken aback by her question. "Because I've been having feelings for you lately."

"But…I mean, I'm not just…" Meg paused.

"Just what?"

"A replacement." She finished.

"A replacement?" Raoul was more shocked than before. "No, of course not. I'm ok about what happened with Christine and me if that's what you're implying."

"I'm sorry…I…"

"It's ok. I know you were just worrying that I was maybe using you to get to her, right?"

"That was an idea I thought might be why."

"I can assure you that that's not true." He said. "I've had feelings for you for a while."

"You have?"

"Yes, for quite a while."

Meg blushed. "How long?"

"Actually the first night I came to the Opera House. I noticed you during the ballet of Act II, but then I saw Christine…so…"

"You went to her because you were already good friends?"

"Exactly." Raoul replied. "When I found out you two were the best of friends I thought that was a weird coincidence. But I wanted to catch up with Christine."

"Was there any feelings then for her?" Meg asked. "I really don't mean to pry but I just wanted to know."

"To be completely honest, yes…there may have been that love I felt for her when we where younger. Childhood sweethearts sort of thing. But overall I was just glad to see her again."

Meg gave an understanding nod. "I just don't want to feel…I don't know, second best I would say."

"No! Meg don't think that at all, that's not true." Raoul placed his hand on hers. "Christine and I just weren't meant to be…and I should have known that. She obviously wasn't the 7 year old girl I remembered her as. Besides that we didn't have much of a relationship because of it. She was right when she told me I would be unhappy, I was with my best friend, and not the love of my life."

Raoul paused and continued. "When I realized I was going about everything wrong I thought back on the person I really wanted to date before I saw Christine."

The waiters came with their food and placed the meals on the table.

"Bon Appétit." The waiter said.

"Merci." Raoul replied.

"I didn't know that's how you felt." She said shyly.

"It is. Besides…" He paused. "Christine actually told me that a certain someone said I was very handsome." Raoul gave a light laugh and smile.

Meg blushed some more and laughed. "I think that someone was me."

They laughed together and then started eating their meal.


Erik woke up from his sleep an hour later. He saw Madame Giry sleeping in the same chair and Christine had her head resting by him on the bed. He didn't see Nadir anywhere in the room. Erik began to sit up on the bed when Christine woke up.

"You're up…" She said.

"Yeah." Erik replied weakly.

"You scared me…" Christine stated.

"What did I do?"

"You were shaking again…this whole thing scares me." Christine said with some tears in her eyes. "Erik, please…don't ever do this to your self again. I thought everything was ok. We were in the carriage and you were happy, what changed?"

"I didn't believe you loved me. My senses told me I was a fool to believe you did. And I came to the conclusion that this is all a trick. And that you can never love me."

"Erik, I swear to God…I swear on my father's grave that this is not a trick. I do love you." She started. "Would I ever swear on my father's grave if I didn't mean it?"

"No." He replied.

"Then please don't think that I'm lying to you." Christine paused. "Erik, you need to quit morphine. Please."

"I'll try." Erik replied. She got up from her seat and hugged him. He began to breath in her scent, he felt the warmth of her caring body against his, and he felt her love.

He closed his eyes one last time to hopefully sleep through the rest of the night.


"Meg, I had a wonderful time tonight." Raoul said while walking her up the Opera House steps.

"I did too." She looked into his eyes and saw a connection. Raoul leaned forward coming closer to her face. Her lips met his for a goodnight kiss.

Off in the distance Andre was looking on. Firmin walked next to him. "Awwww…" Firmin said and put his arm around Andre.

Andre gave him a weird look and commented, "Don't even think about it." He backed away from Firmin. The other man laughed at his reaction.

"I was joking." Firmin said.

"Uh huh. Sure you were."

Meg and Raoul broke off their kiss and said there goodbyes. Raoul headed back down the steps and to his carriage. Meg turned around to find Andre and Firmin spying. When they knew she saw them they looked around at various objects, pretending to be preoccupied. She laughed playfully at them and walked past.

"By the way Andre…I'm not...well, you know." Firmin remarked.

"Of course not." Andre laughed.

"…I'm actually getting married." Firmin said.

Andre was taken aback. "You're kidding?"

"No." Firmin replied. "You know Anna, of course. I asked her to marry me yesterday."

"Congratulations!" Andre exclaimed. "No more screwing around with various ballet girls?"

"Damn, I guess not." Firmin laughed.

"Here, have a cigar on me." Andre offered. Firmin accepted it as they walked into the Opera House.

"Now we need to find you someone." Firmin said.

They walked in and saw the Persian talking with Meg.

"So little Meg is dating the Vicomte?" Andre asked. Meg smiled and nodded her head.

"How cute." Firmin said almost teasingly.

Meg laughed. "Thank you, I think."

"Meg, you should visit with your mother. She was wondering about you." Nadir reminded her.

"Ok. Au revoir Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin."

"Au revoir." They both replied.

"The Persian…we've heard so much about you." Andre said.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, you are much as a legend as you-know-who." Firmin continued.

"The Opera Ghost?" Nadir said without fear.

Andre rolled his eyes, "Yeah…him."

Nadir laughed. "You guys don't like the Ghost that much, do you?"

"He's annoying as hell." Andre said.

"You have no idea." The Persian muttered.


He was standing down the hall. Waiting for her…beckoning her to him. As she began to walk, the hallway turned to mist... Like she was walking on a cloud. That's what the hallway became... clouds. They were up in the heavens.

From far away she saw a dark shadow that was apart of this man, a shadow she wanted nothing to do with. But as she got closer that shadow disappeared. In its place was a man in need of healing and love. Erik stood in front of her still beckoning her closer. But now his hypnotic words turned to pleading. Begging her to save him.

"Lead me…save me from my solitude." He sang to her. She nodded her head to him, telling him she would. He reached out his hand to her and she took it. Together their hands fit perfectly and their touch created a glowing sensation. The magic that happens when two soul mates form together as one.

In that moment she had a premonition. Erik and her walking near a river with two children. A boy and a girl. Erik was happy... she could see it on his face. The Shadow was gone completley…Erik was now a man of the light…


The Next Morning, June 9th.

…Christine woke up from her dream to realize it was morning. She looked around and saw Meg sleeping in a chair with her head resting on Madame Giry's shoulder. Nadir was back in the room sleeping on another chair in the opposite corner. But Erik was not in his bed. After thinking she realized something else.

'Did I just have a peaceful dream?' She asked herself. Months ago she thought her dreams would always be haunted until the day she died. But this was different.

Christine got up out of her chair to find Erik. She noticed how sore her body was from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. Her back and neck ached and she still felt too tired to walk around. But she needed to find Erik.

Traveling down the hallways she wondered where Erik would go. She thought he may have gone back to the lair, but was he strong enough to venture out that far? Even if he wasn't Erik was too stubborn to admit he was too weak to do so.

Christine prayed he didn't head down to his lair, and hoped he went elsewhere. She decided to check the chapel, which would be the second place she could think of. Her hands held onto the wall to keep balance. She felt too tired to stand up on her own but she had to try.

Reaching the chapel she heard his voice in there. Her ears must have been deceiving her…was he actually praying?

"Please God, I know you've ignored me since my tragic birth…but please hear me now. I want to know why. Why do you curse me and punish me? Why bring this angel into my life only to have her ripped away from me? Why have her come back afterwards when all I wanted to do was give up? Are you planning on taking her away again just so you could have the sick pleasure of watching me suffer?"

Erik was in tears. Christine looked in the chapel and watched him while he was kneeling on the floor.

"I know you've never heard me before…I'm the devil's child and all…but please, please listen now. I have done…so many things in my past that I deserve to die because of. I deserve to go to hell for my sins. But God, please…if you could forgive me for those things…" He paused. "Someone told me God will forgive you no matter what you've done. Will you not forgive me too? Or am I just a monster that is only meant for eternal night? I don't want to live in hell anymore…"

Christine sobbed which Erik heard. He turned around and saw her looking in from the entrance of the chapel.

"Why won't you listen to me?" She cried.

"It's not that, Christine. I've come here to ask God's forgiveness for another reason."

"What?" She asked.

Erik walked up to Christine and held her hand. Tears formed in his eyes. "I need to know now, once and for all…do you love me?"

"Of course." She replied.

"Are you sure? You won't leave me?" He asked.

"No…I would never leave you." Christine said.

"Do you forgive me for everything?" Erik asked. His eyes never left hers.

"Yes."

"Then there's something I want to do."

Erik's hand reached into his pocket. "Christine…"

"Yes?"

Erik knelt down and held out the ring she returned to Erik. "Will you marry me?"

Christine smiled and was in shock. She didn't see this coming from him. The ring he held in his hands originally belonged to Christine's mother, and not Raoul. When Christine came to Opera House she brought her father's story book, with the Little Lotte story in front, her mother's ring, and her memories. (A/N: Semi-Quote from ch. 7).

When her mother passed away she wanted her baby girl to have it for her engagement ring. Gustave honored her mother's wish and held on to the ring. When he died he gave it to Christine and told her to hold on to it until she was older. Christine placed it on her father's memorial plaque in honor of both him and her mother. (A/N: There's a picture of this in the movie, you can ask me for it if you wish).

Christine was thrilled by his proposal. "Yes, of course I'll marry you." She said.

He never thought he'd hear those words coming from her mouth and he felt like he would die and go to heaven. "Oh Christine, you have no idea how happy I am."

He put the ring on her finger and she hugged him tightly. "You have no idea how happy I am." She said.

She was crying of happiness and yet, so was he. Christine leaned forward and passionately kissed him. It was perfect. It was paradise.


Awwwww. How sweet. Makes me wanna hug a fluffly bunny. Next chapter up soon.