Thank you for reading and reviewing. I try to respond to each review but I can't do that if you log in as a Guest. So for the one Guest who said Erik was an "ungrateful sewer rat," I think that was harsh. LOL. Erik has a one track mind which may cause problems, but remember things aren't always what they seem. Let's focus on the next part, shall we? BTW, I own nothing.

Christine spent the day inside her hotel room. She and Gustave didn't sleep much the night before and so she wanted to make sure that her son got as much rest as he could today. She tried taking a nap, but the weight of her worries caused her to do more tossing and turning than sleeping. She ordered in some room service, but it was for Gustave's sake. She couldn't quite find her appetite.

She looked out from her balcony and noticed how beautiful the moon was. It was almost as if it were hanging just below the Ferris wheel. Phantasma seemed to be booming with noise from the people and the rides. It felt comforting to her. Any distraction away from her thoughts was a welcome relief. If she hadn't known better, she would have sworn that Erik planned the scenery for just that purpose. She smiled weakly at the thought.

"God, he must feel horrible. I feel horrible. Gustave feels horrible. But I bet Raoul isn't feeling very horrible right now, is he." She walked back inside, took a throw pillow from the couch and threw it across the room. "How dare you, Raoul put me through hell and then do this to me? What am I supposed to do now?"

She crossed her arms. "Make your choice, Christine…" She closed her eyes. It seemed like she was always tormented by her choices but were they ever hers or did Erik and Raoul make them for her? Both men had very different reasons for doing so. Erik, because he wanted something better for her and Raoul because he wanted her all to himself. "I need to think of Gustave now. That is my choice, the only choice."

Knock, Knock

She looked at the clock and realized it was supper time, but she didn't remember ordering anymore food.

"Who is it?"

"Room service."

"I didn't order any…." She stopped when she recognized Erik's voice. She shook her head and opened the door.

"Hi." She smiled.

"Hi." Her response surprised him. "Look at you, only in America a few days and you know all the slang words." He winked. "I thought you and Gustave would be hungry by now and didn't think you would be in the mood to go out."

"You didn't have to do that. I had ordered something earlier, but we really didn't eat much of it."

"That's because it was from the hotel. It's the one thing I need to change around here but since I have all the other restaurants in the park, I didn't see the point in putting too much effort into the food here. I thought it would give guests more of a reason to go out and explore but…." He shrugged. "Anyway, I know you haven't tried Nathan's hot dogs yet and it's a must. You say you aren't hungry but once you taste these…." He opened the box he was holding, and Christine couldn't resist the delicious aroma.

"You're sweet to check on us…. And it does smell divine."

"May I please come in? I won't stay long."

"Of course. Gustave is still asleep." She felt guilty realizing how her reply may have sounded to him. Yet if he was offended, he didn't show it.

Erik walked in and moved to the center of the room and began laying the food out in a picnic fashion.

"Erik, I am so sorry for what happened earlier. I want you to know that…."

Erik stopped his work and looked up. "It's alright. This isn't about me." He then motioned to the food. "Are you hungry yet?"

She didn't hide her smile, as she sat down next to him. "The floor?"

He looked about the room. "It's a picnic."

He said in all seriousness that she couldn't help but laugh.

"Soda pop?" He handed her a bottle.

"I think I should just stick with water."

"It's good too." He said teasingly as he taunted the bottle in front of her.

"Could we share it?"

"Oh, I wasn't going to… I mean… It's for you and Gustave. I just wanted to help set it up and then…."

She touched his arm. "Erik, we should talk about what happened. I spoke to Gustave and…."

"Christine, I can't stay even if that was my intention."

"Why not?"

"I would have to remove my mask." His head fell.

Her hand went to touch his chin to make him look at her.

"We should definitely talk then."

"I won't ever make him fear me again." He then took her hand and kissed it. "Or you."

"Erik, what happens now?"

He wasn't expecting the question so soon. "Now, Christine?"

She nodded.

"You take the time you need to do what is best for you and Gustave. Raoul was right about that."

"I can't stay here and …."

"Why not? Is my park so awful?"

"Of course not! But what if I decide that I don't want…."

"Me?" He asked quietly.

She didn't respond.

"Christine, regardless of what you decide to do, you will need money. My offer of employment stands. I know it isn't the Opera House in Paris, but I have modeled my concert hall after the MET. The MET is even bigger than the Opera Populaire was. You could work here, built up an even bigger audience and then who knows? Maybe sing for Oscar Hammerstein after all. The city is full of opportunity."

"Erik, I don't think I should be singing. I need to…."

"Find yourself? You already know who you are. You're a singer. That isn't about me or him. It's all you. You are more than just a Vicomtesse. That life isn't enough for you. You need more, and you should have it. Sing here." He was tempted to say sing for me but stopped."

"Sing for you?" She voiced his desire and knew it was true the minute he reacted to her reply.

"For the music, Christine and of course the audience. I will merely be one of them."

"I don't think we can ever go back to where we were before, Erik."

"I don't want that." He shook his head. "I want things to be how they might have been. I know I have much to atone for and it may never be enough, but I want to try. First by making sure you have the time and space you need. I won't make the choice for you this time. I want you to choose me because you want me."

She wanted to answer him and give him some sort of reassurance, but she couldn't. She couldn't verbalize it. Instead she spoke of the music. "I have missed singing. I would like to do that but…."

"But what? You work for me and sing. You and Gustave spend time getting to know the park and maybe…."

"Maybe?"

"Me." He said hopefully.

"And after all that, if I still decide to leave. You'll just let me go?" Is that what I really want him to do?

"I'll never let you go, Christine." He sighed. "You are in here, forever." He touched his heart. "But I hope that in time, even if you decide to go back to Raoul or start a new life without either one of us, you and Gustave will have seen me as something other than a monster. That way he'll not be so confused when I leave everything to him."

"Erik…." She was surprised and was going to protest but he stopped her.

"It's his legacy. All I do now is for him and you. At least he and his mother won't think of me as a deformed madman."

"We don't think that…. I never did." She sat up on her knees and placed her hands on his chest, just as she did last night.

"So, you'll stay?"

She nodded. "But I insist on moving to one of the work quarters. It's not right for me to be at the hotel if I am going to be a…. what's it called? A regular?"

"Why would you do that?"

"Erik, I can't be seen getting special treatment."

"But the work quarters are not fit for children."

"But you could rent out this room if we moved."

"I don't rent it out now."

"Why not?"

"Because it's mine."

"You…. Yours?"

He smirked. "Did you think every hotel room had a piano?"

She thought for a moment. "No, but it's so…."

"What?"

"Colorful." She clasped her hand over her mouth as soon as he said it. "Well…"

Erik shrugged. "It is but I couldn't bring myself to change it. Besides, I spend most of my time in my office and it has its own accommodations. More to what you might deem as more suitable for me." He winked.

She noticed that this was the second time he winked, and he seemed to have such an ease about him. She never would imagine him behaving this way in Paris.

He placed a few garnishes over the hot dog and handed one to her. "Taste it before it gets cold."

"What did you put on it?"

"Insurance that you will like it." He placed it in her hand.

"Thank you, Erik."

He smiled. "Thank you for letting me do this."

She tasted the hot dog and couldn't contain her reaction. "This is amazing. What's in it?"

Erik paused. "Perhaps we share that for another time. I'll take my leave, so you can get Gustave. He'll want to try this too."

When Erik stood up he saw the boy was behind the couch watching them. He swallowed hard, hoping that Gustave wouldn't scream again.

"Gustave, come and see what Mr. Y brought us. I think you will like it very much."

He stood in place and Erik moved to the door. "It's alright, Gustave. I am going. I just wanted to bring you and your mother some supper. It's from a very popular restaurant here on Coney Island and the man that makes them is one of my employees."

Gustave still didn't move but he didn't look away from Erik.

"Gustave, I know you fear me and you have every right to. I never should have taken my mask off. The last thing I ever wanted to do was frighten you or your mother. I come as a friend. I promise you that if you give me a chance to be your friend, I will never take my mask off in front of you again."

"Erik!" Christine did not want the mask to be a negotiation tactic between them.

"It's alright, Christine. I wouldn't promise anything I couldn't do." His eyes never left Gustave's. He then took a box out from his inside jacket pocket. "This is for you."

Gustave looked intrigued. "For me?"

Erik nodded. "It's a new creation. You inspired it. You and your mother have that effect on me." He extended his hand and Gustave took the box from him.

"Thank you, Mr. Y."

"You haven't opened it yet."

The boy looked over at his mother for permission and Christine nodded. He then opened the box and saw a small boy at the piano. She looked up this mother. "It looks like me."

Erik smiled. "It plays the first few notes you played for me in my office before…" He looked at his shoes. "Before."

Gustave smiled wisely. "This is amazing!"

"Wait till you taste the hot dog." Erik chuckled and so did Christine.

"Thank you, Mr. Y."

"You are most welcomed. Please accept it as an apology for my behavior before. Gustave, you don't have to answer right away but do you think it would be alright if I visited you and your mother, as long as I didn't take my mask off."

Christine wanted to say something, but Erik moved closer to the boy and extended his hand.

"You have my word, Gustave."

Gustave slowly took Erik's hand and shook it.