I hope people don't misunderstand what Christine is saying and why in this chapter. She is not condoning murder, but she has had to live life without the man he loves for 10 years and she has only begun to taste how things might have been, if she hadn't been so sacred or preoccupied in what others thought. Her family is worth fighting for and that's what she wants to convey. Gone is the naïve child of the Opera House.

On a side note, I am leaving for vacation on Sunday. Thus, no new updates until next Friday, June 15.

Until then…Read on.

Meanwhile a very tall, slender man left the concert hall with a smile on his face. He whispered to the man who was walking next to him to please tell Mr. Y he wished to see him. He then made his way into the lobby and waited, as the rest of the audience flooded back out into the park.

A few minutes passed by when Erik appeared and addressed the man in question.

"Good evening, Oscar."

The man smirked. "Mr. Y. I was beginning to think you merely haunted these halls. I haven't seen you in the city for a while. I was wondering what was keeping you away and now I know."

Erik shrugged. "I don't need to look for talent anywhere else." He then grinned. "Judging from the look on your face, I know you agree with me. She was flawless, was she not?"

Oscar nodded. "Might we talk in private?"

"Come this way."

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The last couple slowly made their way towards the exit. They appeared to be an elderly pair who had been enjoying the delights of the park all day, hence wearing souvenir masks and hats. Before leaving the concert hall, the elderly woman motioned for the man to follow Erik and Oscar. He seemed to adjust his souvenir mask and cap, as he nodded his reply.

The woman adjusted her shawl, and placed it around her head, covering her face, as she waited.

Mr. Walker was making his rounds inspecting the hallway, when he noticed her.

"Madame are you alright?"

"Oh yes. Just waiting for my companion."

Mr. Walker looked around and saw no one. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to wait for him outside, as the concert hall will be closing for the evening."

"Oh please, Sir. I won't be in the way and I'm afraid if he isn't here to take my arm, I may lose my balance and trip with all the people out there."

Mr. Walker didn't seem very fond of the idea, until he noticed she walked with a cane. "I'm sorry, of course you can wait inside. Just don't move from the lobby, alright?"

"I wouldn't dream of it, young man."

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"But why do you wish to have her sing for me, Erik?" Oscar continued to puff on the cigar Erik offered to him. "Since when do you want to give something up, so easily?"

Erik pretended to sip from his untouched glass of brandy. "I want whatever is best for her. You heard her, Oscar. She is glorious. A well-trained opera singer, who deserves to have the world fall at her feet. You can give her that."

"True." He sat back in his chair. "What's in it for you?"

Erik looked surprised by his question. "Her happiness."

Oscar then abruptly stood up. "Now I see."

"See what?"

"I am not about to get involved in matters of the heart."

"What are you talking about? This is business. I want you to grant her an audition. You said you would consider it, if you liked her performance. Well? I say you more than just liked it. We all know your weakness for opera. It's one of the reasons I respect you so much. You have excellent taste in music. Don't prove me wrong."

"You know how I operate. She will need to train with my people and be under my direction, alone."

Erik knew all too well. Despite Christine's assurance of the contrary, he knew what would happen once she signed with Hammerstein. Yet he couldn't deny her this chance. It was his fault, her career perished years ago.

"I understand. However, she does have a son. She won't want to be away from him for too long."

"I don't see that as a problem. It will be a while before I pay for her to go overseas. She'll have to earn that privilege, as my other stars have."

"Bah. Your other stars won't be needed, once she gets in front of bigger audiences."

"We'll see, Erik. Have her in New York in two days' time, right before lunch. I do enjoy a good aria right before a meal with wine." He grinned.

Erik only nodded.

"If I decide to offer her a contract, you'll make a handsome commission. What will you do with the finder's fee?"

Erik walked towards to the door and opened it, not offering Oscar the chance to go first. "Keep it. I didn't do this for money." He shook his head."Besides, there is no finder's fee large enough for bringing you Christine Daae."

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Not a moment after Mr. Walker left the woman, did the man reappear.

"Well?" She said a little too eagerly. "Did you hear what they spoke about?"

He nodded and whispered. "You were right. Daae is going to sing for Hammerstein. They just agreed on a time and place."

She smiled. "I knew it." She then took his hand. "We've got to go."

"Yeah, alright. But what exactly is it that you know?" He seemed to move side to side as if he were anxious.

"First you take my hand and remember we are to walk slowly out of the park. We are elderly, remember?"

"Right. Sorry Antoinette."

"Don't use my name, you fool!" She slapped his chest.

"I'm sorry. I forgot, alright!"

"You can't forget, Tom! Do you understand? Now let's get out of here."

"But how do we stop her from singing?"

"Leave that to me. All you have to know is that a bird stops singing, as soon as it is caged."

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Erik hurried to Christine's dressing room with a red rose with a black ribbon tied around its stem. He was excited to tell her about the audition. Regardless of his worry, he knew she would be happy and the fact that Hammerstein told him that she would remain in New York for a while, offered him some comfort. He was almost at her door when he heard Christine's calling out his name.

"Christine?" He turned around.

"Erik! Erik, I have been looking for you."

"I had a meeting after the performance. I hurried as soon as I could." He saw she was upset. "What happened? What are you doing in the hallway?"

"Just hold me. Please hold me and don't let go."

He dropped the rose to the floor and took her into his arms.

"Angel, what's wrong?"

She buried her head in his chest and then looked up into his amber eyes with gold tilt, shimmering back into hers.

"I love you, Erik. I don't want to deny it or hide it. I need for you to know how much I love you." She gently pushed his mask down, so she could kiss his forehead. She then pushed the mask further down to kiss the space where his nose should be. Finally, she pushed it, so she could hold the bottom of it with her hands and kissed his lips.

"I know, darling. I know." He was so overcome by those sweet kisses, he had to focus so he wouldn't forget that now was not the time to be swept away as anyone could walk by.

She shook her head. "I chose you that night in your lair and I chose you the night we became one and made our son. I would have followed you anywhere. That includes the cellars, a freak show, anywhere. I wanted to be with you at any cost."

"Christine, why are you telling me this? I know our history. What is this all about?"

"Meg came to see me. She said things that…."

"Good God, Christine. We know she is not in her right mind. She knows nothing of us. She's hurt and angry…."

"I don't care what she thinks, Erik! This is about you."

"Me? You know I…."

She placed her finger to his lips. "You know because I told you, but you didn't know then, and you didn't know for all those years we were apart. I love you. That includes every part that you are. I won't stop loving you, if you make a mistake or if the park fails or if…"

"Or if I murder someone?" It suddenly became clear to Erik on what Meg told her. He shook his head. "Do you…. Do you feel I would do that again?"

"Only to protect us. That's why I had to be clear that I would do the same."

He shook his head. "You have shown me that there are other ways. Meg is convinced I need a woman who will allow me to embrace my demons. You showed me that I need a woman, who sees me for the angel, I strive to be."

"I love all of you, darkness and light." She traced his cheek.

Erik embraced her. "Angel, I know you love all of me. You showed me your strength and what you were willing to sacrifice long ago."

"But it wasn't a sacrifice. Life with you is my destiny. I won't go against it. Not ever again."

"Christine…." He gently took his mask from her grasp and placed it back over his face.

"I want to be a part of your world. Any risk, any victory, any failure. I don't care what the outcome is, I just want to be a part of it all. I am yours and I need for you to believe me when I tell you that I would still be with you, no matter if you were the owner of this park or a hot dog seller."

Erik couldn't help but chuckle. "Nathan makes a good penny, my dear."

"It's not funny! I need to know that you believe me."

He kissed her long and passionately. "I believe you. You know, Meg told me that beauty ultimately killed the beast and she was right."

She looked at him with fear in her eyes.

He tilted her chin up. "Beauty saved his soul, not the beast itself. Her love saved him." He then kissed her again.

It took a minute for her mind to come back after the kiss. "I am not the beauty in that story. It was always you. You saved me, angel."

Erik chuckled. "We saved each other. Ah, Christine…. I have never been so happy to give up my control to someone else. I am yours." He then sighed.

"What is it?"

"I offered Meg a place to stay for a while, but I can't have her stay here now. Not after she upset you so."

"No, Erik, don't. We can't throw her to the wolves. Please just let her be for now."

"After what she did to you?"

"I can handle her. It was you that I was upset over, not her. I wanted to make sure that you knew how I felt."

He never knew anyone who could forgive that much. "Christine, ever the angel…"

"I would do anything to protect all that we built together." She then grasped his face with both her hands. "Anything. My angel title be damned."

Erik understood her meaning and looked down. "Christine, you don't have to vow to murder someone for me to know you love me and won't leave."

"No, I know that, but I know that despite my feelings on the matter, if you felt as if you had no other alternative, you wouldn't hesitate."

He closed his eyes. "And you showed me that there is always another way. Remember your kiss set us all free that long-ago night."

"What Meg said, hurt me because I feared you thought even a fraction of what she implied. Trust me when I tell you that I stand beside you, in all things."

"You showed me that my past does not condemn me to wallow in blood. I can walk freely amongst other men and women and just be who I am. Who I want to be." He kissed her knuckles. "It also means that I want a person who seems me at my best, when everyone else knows me for my worst."

She shook her head. "Everyone here knows the real you." She touched his heart. "Erik, we are each other's missing parts."

He then looked at her nose. "I like your nose, but I think it looks much better on you than me." He winked and kissed her lips quickly only to be pulled back in when Christine started to respond with vigor.

"Excuse me, Sir?"

Erik and Christine stopped in their tracks when they heard Ms. Fleck.

"Yes?" Erik answered a little too abruptly.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but Gustave was asking for you both."

Christine responded "Thank you, Ms. Fleck. Where is he?"

"He's in my room. Shall I get him?"

"No, we're on our way." Erik extended his arm to Christine.

"Yes, Sir. You were wonderful tonight, Ms. Daae."

"Thank you, Ms. Fleck." She finally turned to face her.

Erik then motioned for the woman to leave. He then made sure his mask was in place. "So…."

"We better go." She giggled.

He tugged on her hand.

"What is it?"

"I almost forgot."

"What?"

"Oscar was here. He wants you to audition in two days in New York."

"Then I'll send a letter tonight."

"A letter?"

"I'm going to write to Raoul and tell him I want a divorce."

"But…."

"No, Erik. I want my freedom. Our family has been kept apart long enough."