Hi everyone! Sorree from the bottom of my heart that it took so long to update again! I am unfortunately very busy in helping to prepare for my sister's wedding in just a few weeks and when I finally managed to find time, FanFiction's Document Manager turned on me and I couldn't upload the files! Everything seems to be working again however, so without further ado: the continuation of our story! Enjoy and pleez review! -x- Lotte.

The next day as Christine woke she did not find him by her side. Seeing as she hadn't locked the door to her chambers, it was probably wise he had left, for Franca would have been completely in shock to have found them together. Then again, if she HAD locked the door it would have given rise to even more suspicions. With her breakfast however, came the prettiest bouquet of flowers. Franca gave her a glowing look, but simply put the flowers on a side table and said nothing. Attached to it was a small card of the finest ivory paper.

Good morning my angel,

I hope you have rested well and no monsters haunted you while I was chasing them from your daughter's room. Be sure to drink plenty of tea with your breakfast and do not forget to warm your vocal cords, for I fear they are in a dreadful shape from staying up so late and I will have you put them to use today. No excuses, no complaints!

Your obedient servant,

E.

She smiled and immediately got to work. Letting the air flow along her vocal cords, touching higher and lower notes at turn, sipping her tea to aid her body in its hard work. Franca was listening to hear while helping her dress and was amazed at her talent.

"Have you received training before, Madama? In Francia?" Her curiosity had won.

"I have Franca, for many years, since I was but ten years old, with the greatest teacher in the whole of Paris!"

"Did you indeed? He must have been a very fortunate man, to enjoy such talent from his pupil!" The reply came not from Franca. She happily jumped up to find Erik leaning at her doorpost.

Her heart wanted to run to him and embrace him, but in Franca's presence she steadied herself and contented herself by letting him press an affectionate kiss on her hand.

"You see Franca, when Madame de Chagny was but ten years old I did not yet have to suffer her arguing my decisions all the time, or her fainting underneath her corset for that matter. Be sure to be gentle on her poor lungs, I would hate for la Signora to run out of air suddenly..." And with that, knowing he had left both Franca and his beloved Christine in complete shock, he turned and disappeared as sudden as he had entered.

"Il Maestro? HE was your teacher, Madama?" Christine nodded while resuming her training.

"You heard what he said Franca, a sufficient amount of air to my lungs is more important than my bella figura!"

They trained throughout the morning and once again the whole Palazzo seemed suddenly filled with a vibrant energy. By now most of the staff seemed to have made the link between the master and his beloved friend and paused their duties to listen in awe. In Venice, most had only known him as an architect, only now to find the rumors of his musical genius confirmed. Céline would not be kept from her mother's side, so that in the end it was agreed that so long as she stayed in a chair with Nicole and be quiet as a mouse, she was allowed to stay.

Christine was still easily tired, but her soul was roaring. A passion long ago put to sleep had been awakened, and she realised once again that it was her destiny to sing. Her life was not complete without it. Her life was not complete without him! An now she no longer had to hide her feelings.

At lunch they sat out on the balcony of her room. Céline had finally been prevailed on to go out in the garden to play, and most of the servants had returned to their everyday business. Christine had once again worked harder than she perhaps ought to, constantly demanding more of her body and voice and being quite put out if a note would not go her way.

"You are progressing each day, my love. I'm very proud of you."

She smirked. "Your love for me obviously clouds your judgment, for you tend to overlook my hopeless slumping! But I thank you for your compliments none the less."

"You are too harsh on yourself."

"With my stern Angel no longer around to scold me and call me a useless Ballet Rat, I have to find some way of maintaining a certain level of self criticism."

He brushed a lock of hair out of her frowning face. "I will gladly call you a Ballet Rat if you believe it to be helpful."

She giggled at his dry remark. He was about to walk away when she remembered his card from that morning. "May I enquire as to why you and Céline were on a monster hunt this night, instead of resting your eyes?"

Erik sat down again, remembering fondly his encounter with the little girl. "She was badly bothered by a gruesome monster under her bed. She came to your room last night hoping you would frighten it away and found me instead."

Christine's eyes went big. "But...she saw you sleeping with me? And...oh Erik, you did not wear..."

"Your daughter is quite wise for her age. She took one look at my abhorrent face and happily informed me that God himself had obviously intended for me to look this way."

He could not but smile at the recollection. "I frightened her monster away and must admit to singing for her."

"She must have enjoyed that."

"I believe she did..."

He turned to her, not sure what to tell her. "Christine...when I left her...I believe in her sleep she called me her papa..." Christine had tears in her eyes, knowing how much Céline's words must have meant to him.

"Do you believe her to have been dreaming, perhaps?

"To be quite honest my love, I doubt Céline has many memories of her papa, simply because he hardly showed himself in the nursery." She felt her anger rise as she recollected Raoul's indifference to his one and only child.

"In many ways, you have been a more loyal father to her then Raoul de Chagny ever was so no, I do not believe her to have been dreaming. I believe she has grown as fond of you as I have." She stood up and kissed him. "You shall simply have to make amends with the fact that you have been cruelly pulled away from your peaceful solitary existence and now have two very silly ladies fawning over you!"

As she remained in the comfortably warm sunshine a little longer, he took his leave of her to visit a dear friend. Father Domenico embraced him warmly. "It is good to see you here again, my son. Please sit and enjoy a glass with me."

Having anticipated as much Erik presented him with a very fine bottle from his private cellar, upon which the priest nodded approvingly. As they were settled in the reverently silent garden of Father Domenico's humble abode, he looked at his young charge contently.

"You seem well, Erik. It has been too long since we have talked." Erik smiled at him, and...could it be his immagination, or was there the utter glow of a passionate young lover in the man's eyes?

"I could tell you all that has befallen me these last few weeks Father, but I fear you may not believe my happy ramblings!"

Father Domenico looked at him expectantly, taking in another sip from his wine. "I have plenty of time to spare my son, so let's hear it!"

Erik tried to recall all events as coherent as possible, not sure how or where to start. "Christine...She has returned to me Father. And an encounter that could have sent me straight back to the dark abyss of my sorrow, has turned out to show me the light of Heaven!"

The priest could not have been more surprised. "Are we talking of la Signorina Christine Daaé? The woman that married the Vicomte de Chagny?"

"And had to burry him this winter, Father. It nearly cost her sanity, and her life but to my great relief I was able to bestow on her the miracles you have so graciously bestowed on me. To both our greater comfort, I must add."

He quickly related the story in full to his spiritual mentor, who listened amused. "Did I not always tell you Erik, that the very things you crave most, shall surely become to you if you trust in our Lord to assist you with them?"

Erik pondered at the thought, nodding in agreement. "The reason I had to come and see you is to seek advice on the direction of my course...for I now have a woman and child in my house whom I seek to make honourable by means of marriage." He smirked at his own incompetence. "And I am at a complete loss as to how to go about this. What is expected of me..."

Father Domenico smiled at him, pouring him another glass of wine. "You could not have come to a better person and it will be my pleasure to enlighten you. To tell you the truth Erik, marriage is a very simple, yet basic agreement between lovers. It is an institute solely founded for three purposes. to ensure the procreation of children, to avoid sin and fornication, and to aid you in your mutual support and comfort, the very foundations of your love. In less formal language that means you have to be willing to share the remainder of your life with no other than Christine, you must devote yourself to her happiness and well being, and you have to be willing to bring Gods children into this world with her."

Erik bowed his head. "That sounds simple enough, Father."

The priest nodded. "Still, the first step of it all shall rest entirely on you my boy. And that is to get the lady to marry you in the first place."

Erik felt a nervous knot clutching his stomach. Hastily Father Domenico continued. "If she loves you so dearly as you have described to me, I doubt that shall be a problem. From that moment on, I could marry the two of you before the eyes of our Lord at any time or...any place for that matter."

Erik knew what he meant and was grateful for it. Father Domenico knew enough of his insecure character to know Erik might prefer a nocturnal ceremony.

"And the girl?"

"Is she christened, and a faithful child of God?"

Erik nodded forcefully. "She is an angel fallen from the heavens to brighten our lives, Father."

"In that case you need only to register her as your own through bonds of marriage, and she will be your legal daughter and charge."

Dizzy with bliss, Erik had listened to his story. Céline his daughter...she would call him her papa for ever more! Hastily he stood up, taking his leave to prepare. Father Domenico could do nothing but smile at the heavenly inspired light that seemed to surround his young friend.

"Erik, I wish you joy. God knows you deserve everything He so graciously decided to bestow on you. Do bring your lovely lady next time?" Erik smiled as they embraced. I promise Father. I...believe it will do her equal good talking to you."

Upon returning at the Palazzo, he learned Christine had taken Céline for a stroll through the city. "Perfect!"

Franca looked at him in amazement. "Maestro? Are you quite alright?"

But he was already halfway up the stairs. The ballroom Franca, open it! Tonight it must look like heaven on earth!"

Faintly guessing his intentions, Franca quickly assembled some of her maids to start her work. The ballroom had not been used since they had come to live at Palazzo Persico. The master had always been very much to himself, not attending many parties let alone organising such frivolous activities himself. The girls quickly set to work in dusting and cleaning. Upon lifting the withered sheets resting on the patterned wooden floor, they happily discovered it still to contain a sufficient layer of wax which saved them a lot of time.

Erik hurried about, looking around, amply remembering himself what the room looked like. All he knew was that for a lady so fond of music and dancing, this would be the perfect location for his purpose. He could still clearly recall her radiant face in sweeping the dance floor at the Masquerade in Paris. Tonight would be a repetition, only this time it would be his ring she would display!

"Candles Franca, we need candles. Hundreds of them! And a beautifully set table by the fire..."

She was glad to see Renzo behind him, rolling her eyes at him as if saying "I have no idea what has befallen him, but you are allowed three guesses!" Renzo went to find some of his men, to help Franca and her maids with the heavier chores. They had never in their life seen the master so radiant, and if they could assist in keeping him so, they would not falter!