Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

Coming Together

Erik had been able to lose himself once again in his music after that day. Though this time he did not allow himself to get too consumed. He had gone back to the theatre, doing the odd jobs here and there like he has always done. He made sure to answer any and all of Mme. Giry's and Meg's calls and texts lest they find it worth it to do another surprise visit again. When prompt by Mme. Giry, he had started his lessons with Meg back up, making the young girl happy though she asked endless questions about what was he going to do when the young couple returned. Luckily he was able to dodge them more often than not, and when she would not allow him to change the subject he would admit that he just did not know yet. She would be disappointed but would let it go.

When Erik had sent the couple the email, he had gained a surprising amount of relief. They had respected his request and had not sent him anymore emails after. While he will admit that a part of him was a little disappointed that he no longer received such pleasing emails, he also felt that he would not have been able to face them if they had continued out of embarrassment. Every other day or so through the break he would pull out his phone to read them again, each and every time leaving him red in the face but smiling.

Two weeks had passed all too quickly.

As the break came to a close quicker and quicker, his lightness he had felt previously slowly turned to dread and doubt. That was usually when he would pull out the emails, but even they could help only so much.

The first day of the new semester came and he knew Miss Daae and Mr. de Chagny had to be back, attending and settling into their new schedule, one of the reasons why he had requested them to meet on Friday.

That Friday went by too fast and too slowly. Erik did his work as usual, trying to remain busy, but would find himself constantly going to Mme. Giry's office, seeking the calming presence she emitted. Sometimes she was there, other times she was not as she was an instructor and now had classes as well. They never talked when she would be there. She just allowed him in and let him pace about her office while she sat at her desk drawing up dances for her students to perform through the semester. Eventually he would tire out and be composed enough to leave her office to get back to work, but would have to come back soon after.

When classes ended for the day, Mme. Giry gave Erik a sweet peck on his uncovered chin. With a smile, silently wishing him luck, she left.

Twisting her hands furiously, she and Raoul made their way to the backdoor entrance to the theatre.

This break had been a long one for both of them. That first week, they had sent Erik those emails, hoping to convey their feelings to him. When he had sent back an email telling them to stop, they had been disappointed, but the remainder of it gave them a little bit of hope. They had done as he asked and didn't send anymore, but that made the rest of the weeks almost go by at a snail slow pace since all they had wanted was to talk to him. But he had set the time and place, and they respected that, just happy that he was going to let them speak to him.

When school had finally began again, Raoul and Christine both waited with bated breath as the week crawled pasted.

Friday had arrived at last and the nerves hit full force.

With shaking hands Christine got out her ID and opened the back door. When both of them were in they paused right as they got inside. They stood there in silence for a while, neither saying anything. The hall was dark, and everything was in the same place as always, yet at this moment she couldn't help but feel as if she was in another realm, and that her spirit was not completely attached to her body.

"Well," Raoul began weakly. "We better move it along. Wouldn't want to be late."

However, he didn't make any move to leave.

Christine gripped his hand in hers and squeezed it. He gave her a squeeze back, and they gave each other an anxious grin before making their way to the stage. When they got there, the stage was surprisingly deserted. No trace that Erik had been working with the piano like usual, which made the stage seem startling cold without it. Now a little confused, she walked further onto the stage, Raoul coming along with her easily until they were at the center.

"Do you think he's still in his office?" Raoul asked, turning his head this way and that searching.

Christine shook her head and opened her mouth to reply when she heard Erik's voice.

Wandering child,
So lost, so helpless
Yearning for some guidance.

Raoul and she jumped, searching for him but his voice was coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. Christine easily recognized the first verse of Meg's lullaby and placed a hand on Raoul's arm to stop his searching.

Angel or family
Friend or phantom
Who will be there, staring?

Its there, your Angel of Music

As always, Erik's voice filled Christine with warmth and love. His voice was soft but was easily heard and smooth like velvet. Raoul had relaxed beside her, content now to only listen. Erik's voice rang out through the theatre.

Have you forgotten your Angel?

Angel, shall speak
What endless longings
Echo in this whisper!

Erik had told her that he would reveal the next part of the song the next time she was upset. In his own way, Christine knew that this was also him apologizing. However, she was still surprised when he continued.

Wandering child,

Too long you've roamed in winter
Far from your angel's gaze...

You'll resist...
But your soul obeys...

Angel of Music,
Do not deny it!
Turn towards true beauty!
Angel of Music!
Wandering child,
Come to your strange Angel...

Erik's voice trailed off and Christine opened her eyes, having not realized that she had closed them in the first place. She blinked a few times to get her eyes to refocus, and when they did she saw Erik standing not even a few yards in front of them, watching them.

From how much she knew how well Erik could control his voice, she was not at all surprised that he was able to project his voice as if it was surrounding them only to be in reality standing so close. Raoul however, was not so informed.

"Sheesh!" Raoul cursed when he had opened his eyes and saw where Erik was. "We need to put a bell on you or something!"

Erik's lips curled into a smirk, but his golden eyes revealed how tense he was. "Forgive me, it seems like there have been quite a few unexpected surprises lately."

Raoul stiffened next to her but she gave his hand another squeeze.

"That was Meg's lullaby? The whole thing?" Christine asked causing Erik's eyes to focus on her. He nodded.

"Yes, that was all of it. I had decided that the two of you deserved such a reward for all the distressed I must have caused last time we were together."

"No!" she rushed to argue. "We the ones sorry that we sprung our feelings on you like that! Right Raoul?"

"Yeah," Raoul added awkwardly. "Soo…have you given it any thought?"

"Raoul!" Christine chastened his bluntness.

"It is fine, Miss Daae." Erik calmed. "Is that not the reason we are all here right now?"

Biting her lip, she waited next to Raoul as Erik observed them silently with penetrating gold eyes. After a while under his gaze she had to tighten her grip on Raoul's hand to keep her from wriggling her hands.

"Yes."

It was spoken so softly that Christine could've sworn it had only been her imagination, but she had seen Erik's lips move and his eyes revealed everything that the mask never would.

Mouth agape she whispered, "Yes?"

Erik's feet shifted a bit, and he no longer met either of their eyes.

"You hear well enough Miss Daae." He responded, confirming everything.

Letting out a squeal and hearing Raoul's sigh of relief next to her, Christine started making her way to Erik. Before she could get within a few feet however, he put his hand up to stop her. When she took a closer look, she noticed that the hand was trembling the slightest bit.

"I have made my decision." Erik explained slowly, voice completely calm. "Whether or not that is to be a mistake, we will find out now."

"What do you mean?!" she asked, frowning. "You said yes. We love you, what could possibly make us change our minds at this point."

Erik started reaching up towards his mask, and Christine quickly went to him to wrap her hand around his wrist to stop him. The hand was trembling harder, making her chest tighten.

"You don't have to Erik. You really don't." she stressed.

"Yes I do." Erik muttered. "This is also for me. I cannot ever fully believe that such people as wonderful as the two of you could ever want to be with me unless you also know what is underneath this mask."

Christine still held onto his wrist, and he wasn't fighting her about it but she could see the determination in his eyes. This was just something he had to do, she realized. She had to accept that. Slowly she released her grip and let her hand fall to her side. Raoul had come to stand beside her and together they waited patiently.

Erik stood before them, having his head turned downwards, shoulders slouched as if to try to hide as much as he could but remained still. His one hand almost glued to the one spot on his mask.

"This-this is terribly hard." Erik stuttered after a while, trying to smile but faltering fast.

"Erik—" Christine began, trying to comfort him.

"We can do it." Raoul proclaimed seriously. "That way, you won't have to force yourself to do it and it would still get done."

Erik eyed him for a few seconds before taking on a thoughtful appearance. Eventually he nodded, straightening he pulled his hand away from his face.

"Take it out of my hands then." Erik accepted, taking a glance at each of them, before closing his eyes.

Raoul and Christine's eyes met, before he nodded for her to be the one to do the act. She accepted and closed the distance between Erik and her. Now that she was closer she could feel his whole body vibrating. Still Erik kept himself from actively moving and his eyes closed.

Christine reached up and touched the edge of Erik's mask, when she did so he flinched a little before making himself still again. Her heart went out to him, seeing the state Erik was putting upon himself, but she wanted to do as he asked.

So Christine gently lifted the mask off his face.

As she did, Erik let out an irregular breath and visibly shudder when the mask came off his face, but didn't make any other noise and kept motionless other than his slight shaking.

His face wasn't like anything Christine had ever seen before and she was ashamed to admit that her breath did a sharp intake of air. Erik must have heard it because he flinched again, this one more violent.

Still his eyes remained closed.

She turned her head to look at Raoul and saw that his eyes were wide and mouth open but that was about it. Their eyes met and his face softened into a loving grin. She turned back to Erik, putting the mask down on the floor next to them. She placed her hands on his now uncovered cheeks, tightening her grip when he recoiled a bit.

"Erik." She urged softly. "Open your eyes Erik."

He stiffened, hesitating before he slowly opened his eyes, blinking a couple times before letting his golden eyes focus on her. His eyes widened as they took in her smile.

Then Christine pulled his head down so that their lips could meet.

It was a sweet kiss. Only lips on lips, since she didn't know what Erik thought about kissing as a whole, but surely he would know that this meant that she accepted him? That she loved him no matter what he looked like.

He had tensed up when their lips first met, but when he realized that she wasn't drawing away disgusted or recoiling, he relaxed bit by bit and answered back.

Eventually, Erik was the one that pulled back, which Christine accepted, not wanting to make him uncomfortable because she didn't know his limits. Without his mask, his face was a lot more expressive then she ever thought it would be. His whole face communicating an almost childlike wonder, taking her breath away.

"Was that okay? Kissing?" she tested, her thumbs stroking his cheekbones slowly. She needed to know if she could freely kiss those lips again in the future.

He blinked at her, appearing to be trying to collect his thoughts. "I…yes. I think it would be just fine."

A wave of warmth and satisfaction course through her at the reply.

"Cool. So can I please have my turn then?" Raoul asked from behind her, startling her.

Christine couldn't believe that she had for a few moments forgotten he was there!

Sheepishly she turned back to Raoul, who, when he saw her expression, winked.

"Its fine, I don't feel left out or anything, just want to try out kissing our new boyfriend too." And with that he grabbed a still stunned Erik by his hand, pulled him out of Christine's grasp, and kissed him.

Oh, she thought as she watched them, suddenly feeling hot.

Their kissing was definitely not as innocent as the one Erik and her shared and was a little clumsy, Erik has admitted to not being very experienced, but Raoul was obviously taking it all in stride. Dominating the kiss like he does a lot of other things. Raoul was holding Erik face between his hands but was also leaning into him so much that Erik was slightly bent back causing him to clenched Raoul's shoulders as not to fall over.

Eventually they pulled away from each other and Raoul let Erik go.

"How's that for a kiss!? Will that be okay?" Raoul panted with a toothy smile.

Erik was also panting but eventually was able to answer through it. "I would prefer if something like that were not to be so spontaneous but would not completely reject such actions."

Laughing Raoul put his arm around Erik's shoulder to pull him close. "But those are the best kind!" He then pointed at her. "And look! Sure looks like Christine enjoyed it too!"

When they both turned to Christine her breath caught in her lungs. She realized that she was breathing heavily, and was probably completely flushed and pupils fully dilated.

"What can I say?" she retorted breathless. "That was just about the hottest thing I've ever seen in a long time."

Erik's face, neck and maybe even more, was now completely red and he had a ruffled appearance. Very much opposite of the composed presence he usually gives off. Christine found it very, very much to her liking. He moved away from Raoul and strolled towards where she had placed his mask on the floor. Picking it up, he shot them a glance before putting it back on over his face.

When Raoul started to protest Erik cut him off.

"While I am immensely glad that the two of you are able to accept me as I am, the mask is about as much a part of me as anything else. You do me the honor of accepting both faces." He explained.

At that Raoul shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I do have a question though. If you knew you were going to say yes, why the heck did you tell us to stop sending those emails? Because really, those could have gone on and covered the whole break and more."

Erik couched into his fist and avoided both Christine's and Raoul's eyes.

"They were, ah, well, they were very flattering and detailed. But they were also…"

Raoul's eyes widened.

"Oh my god! They made you embarrassed! Christine! We found his weakness! I'm going to try to make sure I tell you something every day! Get you all riled up!" Raoul laughed.

Erik scowled at him, but when he replied there was a smirk on his lips and his voice had dropped into a practically sinful tone, making Christine perk up.

"Oh? Well then I will just have to make sure I take every opportunity to return the favor by singing to you. Randomly. Whenever, wherever. Making sure you are the only one who can hear it. I do know how much you appreciate my voice, you sure went into enough detail in your email."

That made Raoul stop laughing real quick, staring at Erik horrified and slightly aroused.

"You wouldn't! Oh god, you would! That's not fair!"

Christine was the one who couldn't stop laughing after that.

Finally together! I definitely want to hear my reader's thoughts on this chapter! The story is almost over. But for now the next chapter will be in Raoul's POV.

Also, I went back and replied to all the comments I received and put them in the top note section. If you want to read yours go to the chapter which you posted the comment on. Starting from this chapter the replies will be posted with the following chapter.