Really not sure if I like this chapter or not yet. I knew what I wanted to write and what I wanted to happen but I wasn't completely satisfied by the end product so please review with your thoughts so I know what parts to alter/think more about on the next chapter when I begin writing it. Tell me what you think of the current relationships and current events going on. Thank you very much to those that have reviewed so far though. The last chapter got so many amazing reviews, it made me feel so blessed. :) I shall try to update as soon as I can but I am only just starting to write that whilst doing things with the family whilst I'm at home but I promise you I shall try to hurry along with that. :)

Pixie Guest: Thanks so much for your review! :) I definitely have lots more planned for this story so depending on what people think or want, I might consider continuing until eventually everybody gets bored of it haha. :P Hope you enjoy this chapter though. :)

Paige: Thank you so much for the lovely review! :) Yeah I definitely agree. She is quite a kind and very stubborn character I think so she would definitely try to get involved to provide some sort of comfort. Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Mystify: Thanks for the review. Wow that's a good idea. :)

Musicalis13: Aww I'm glad you are enjoying it so far. :) Thanks for the lovely review. Okay great, well I hope you enjoy what I have chosen haha. :)

Grapejuice101: Possibly yes, I have a lot planned for this story haha. Thanks for the review.

Erik's Guest: Yes definitely. :) Yeah I couldn't agree more. Awww I'm so glad to hear that! :) I was really worried about that chapter for some reason. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter too. I'm a bit half and half about this chapter so please keep reviewing. :)

EriksAngel70: Well I think she might make a reappearance but for now, I wanted to develop their friendship a little more and see where that goes. Yeah hopefully! :) But I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Decisions

I shivered at the chill seeping through my dress as I wondered up the staircase, not really knowing what I was doing. What if the Phantom became angry with my presence? I was certain that the only person he would wish to see return would be Christine.

Nevertheless, I peeked around some tapestry curtains which were hung around the edge of an oval stone entrance. The Phantom was sat at the edge, his face bowed over as he sang along to a melodic tune being played by a monkey playing the symbols. I smiled at the familiarity of it.

His voice was so beautiful, reflecting the weight of his problems in the most earnest yet tragic way and I found myself frowning in pity as he turned to glance at me.

He raised an eyebrow in question, eyeing me warily.

"I thought perhaps…it might have been Christine." He confessed sheepishly, a frown stretching itself across his features. "It appears that I will always be a fool."

"She just needs time to process everything that's happened. You already know how naïve she can be at times, especially when she is frightened. A lot has happened tonight; you both need some time."

His head bobbed in agreement though I could see that he didn't believe me.

"Why did you come back anyway?"

"I didn't want to leave. I understand how you feel right now, how you've always felt. Lonely, depressed and as though you're always going to be alone. But I know what that's like because I've felt that practically all my life. Besides my mother, nobody even liked me and they certainly never wanted to go near me. They saw me as different, weird. It was only when I left school that things began to change. But then I ended up here. My mother was the only person I was able to talk to and for the first few months here, I'd never felt so alone. Christine and Meg were around, but being here was so different to the world I grew up in. And well…you already know there were people I didn't get along with." I took a deep breath before continuing with what I was trying to say. "I know nothing compares to the life that you've had but my point is that people do understand, I understand. And if I can, then perhaps others will begin to or at least try to. I truly don't believe you're a monster, which was why I want to stay here. Perhaps, my reason to stay here is partly selfish given that I do not want to go back to being alone. Because whether I like it or not, the Vicomte will always love Christine and maybe she does return his feelings, but he'll never love me like he does with her, no matter what he says."

He opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the sharp calling of my name. I rolled my eyes, reluctantly moving back to the main entrance of the lair to see the Vicomte wading back through the lake, his eyes wide and panicked as he glanced around quickly until he found my presence.

"What do you want Vicomte?" I snapped, folding my arms across my chest.

He frowned at that, moving towards the steps in the middle of the lair. "I cannot leave without you, we cannot leave without you."

"You're being ridiculous. You don't need my presence to assist you in finding your way back. I'm certain Christine should remember."

He came to a stop on the shore, besides where the boat resided. "That is not why I am requesting that you return with us. You should not remain here."

"Why on earth not, it is not as though he is going to hurt me? And you heard me say why I couldn't leave. He shouldn't be alone; he needs someone here with him."

The Vicomte began to shake his head before I'd even finished speaking. "It is not your responsibility to remain here simply to maintain his happiness."

"Is that your idea of a joke?" I scoffed. "I doubt he has been allowed to appreciate a jot of happiness in his entire life. And that is why I agreed to stay. He deserves it more than anyone else. And if Christine will not stay, then I will instead."

"But I can see that you do not want to. You are only remaining here because you feel that you have a duty to."

I offered a shrug. "Maybe so but I am also choosing to do so because I care for him. He is my friend and he needs someone to be there for him for once. So whether you like it or not, I am staying here and nothing you say will change my mind so might as well give up and leave."

"Why do you have to constantly behave so virtuously?" He complained, throwing his arms up in temper as he stepped forwards. "You cannot solve everybody's problems by constantly getting involved in them."

"I am not getting involved this time. I am simply offering some compassion." I raised an eyebrow as I admitted as such. "Perhaps you could try it sometimes, given how quickly you are prepared to label him as a monster, which by the way he is most certainly not."

He frowned at that. "Are we not talking of the same man who murdered Joseph Bouquet, who almost did the same to Christine and to me tonight and who also put his violent hands on both you and Christine?"

"Keep your voice down!" I urged, pushing him further away from the small room and throwing a glance over my shoulder. I turned back to glare at him. "Do you not think that he must feel awful enough without you making it worst? That itself should tell you that he has a conscience and that he isn't this monster you accuse him of being. You are being melodramatic anyway. He would never have killed you or Christine; he did those things in temper. That doesn't mean he should be condemned for it."

"No you're right, he should be condemned for murdering Bouquet and whoever else that…thing had murdered."

"He is a man like you or anyone else. Given that he even allowed you both to leave, you could show a bit of respect."

He stepped forwards, his hands tightening into fists at his side. "Why should I show any respect for a vile, violent murderer such as him?"

I was so angry with his unnecessary hatred that I instantly reacted. With an angry growl, I pushed him away from me. His eyes widened in shock, his hand reaching out to clasp the wall besides him. I stepped forwards still, pointing an accusing finger at him. "If anyone is being vile tonight it is you, not him."

He blinked in surprise. "He hurt you, he hurt Christine-"

"And he is paying for it now! Christine has decided to leave here with you, has she not? God, you can be so cruel sometimes! You judged me in the exact same way when I arrived."

"No I did not-"

"Yes you did. Because I looked different, you automatically thought I was a prostitute. Because he has murdered before, he is instantly a monster. And I am not excusing the crimes that he has committed but he has not had the luxurious life of a Vicomte. It's understandable to see how his life has brought him here but it's as though you are constantly blinded to anyone who thinks differently to you. Maybe I do get involved too much but at least I show some compassion. You're just cold."

"Charlotte please, you must understand why I feel such a way." He insisted quickly, before I was able to step away from him as I tried to. "I was wrong to judge you when we first met but he has committed too many offenses."

"And that is why you need to leave, without me." I spelled it out for him, stepping away from him. "Because you are so judgmental and no matter how much you insist that you do not judge me anymore, it appears obvious to me that you do. You judge anyone different to you and that will never change."

"I don't judge you, I have never judged you." He insisted, stepping forwards to follow me. "Okay I might have unwisely doubted you in the beginning but things have changed now. I have changed, I promise you."

His eyes were wide, filled with desperation but I still didn't believe him. Maybe he had changed a little but not completely. He could still be so cold at times and I wished to god that I could hate him for that. I wished to god that I didn't have these ridiculous feelings for him.

"I don't believe you."

"Charlotte-"

"Just go, I have made my decision!" I snapped, turning away from him before I could change my mind. It didn't matter how angry I felt now, there was only so many times that I could say no to him.

"And I am asking you, begging you to change your-"

"Just leave me alone!" I moved backwards, pulling my wrist back from his grip. "You have no right to ask anything more from me."

"Please-"

"Are you deaf Vicomte or simply obtuse?"

Raoul's eyes fell backwards to behind me, widening in fury.

"I believe you have been asked to leave and given that your presence is most certainly unwanted by me, I suggest you do as she suggests, before I really consider murdering you."

"You are enjoying this! Because you cannot have Christine, you are allowing Charlotte to remain with you when she should be leaving with us."

"Charlotte is permitted to make her own decisions. If she really wished to leave with you Vicomte, then she would have done so by now. Perhaps she is staying to finally rid herself of you. Everything she has accused you of being is correct after all."

"How dare you! She is only staying here because she pities you. If you had any compassion, you would persuade her to leave. This is no place for her to reside."

I instantly stepped forwards the same time that Raoul did, in fear that this was not going to end well. He had been allowed to leave, why was he still here?!

"Please continue Vicomte, I would savor the opportunity to persuade you to leave in a more forceful manner."

"No don't," I quickly insisted, turning back to face the Phantom instead. His eyes were wide with fury, still trained on the Vicomte. "I shall persuade him to leave, I promise."

He shook his head, taking a couple of steps backwards. "You do not realize how fortunate you are to possess her affection, nor are you worthy of such an honor."

I offered an uncertain smile as I watched him reluctantly move away before turning back to the Vicomte. He was already watching me, a strange emotion burning within his eyes and a frown appearing.

"I know that he is correct, I have always known that."

I shook my head, dropping my gaze to the floor. "He was simply being kind."

"No, he was being honest. When you attempted to assist Christine in our relationship, I accused you of interfering simply because you did not wish for her to be with me. I was incorrect in that assumption. You become involved in situations because you care, because you wish to help with other people's happiness, I understand that now."

I gasped in surprise, my eyes flickering up in confusion as his hands pressed to either side of my arms. I could see by his eyes that he was being truthful but I felt that I was getting too much credit for just wanting to help.

"You are unbelievably kind, a lot more than I initially believed and you care more for others happiness than you do your own. That is the reason why you are remaining here and that is the reason…why you refused to believe my feelings for you for as long as you have."

"No I'm not listening to anymore." I instantly shook my head as soon as the words slipped from his mouth, stepping away from him.

He sighed. "You are only saying that because you cannot handle the truth. You are so frightened about upsetting anyone that you refuse to believe that the reason I chose to end my engagement with Christine is because I have feelings for-"

"No, I don't want to hear anymore!" I exclaimed. "You are only using this against me to try and persuade me to leave. But I refuse to listen anymore so you may as well leave."

"Charlotte-"

"Why will you not just leave?" I snapped, pinching the bridge of my nose and taking a deep breath as I tried to calm myself. I didn't want to hear what he had to say because I knew that as soon as I did, it would change everything. If Christine still didn't want to be with the Phantom then it would just cause her hurt and I couldn't bear it. My happiness was secondary if being with Raoul would cause others unhappiness.

"It is because I cannot endure leaving here without you!"

"You claim to have feelings for me but you are still continuing with this disagreement when I have told you that I want to be here. I am choosing to be there for him, to be a friend to him and you need to start respecting my wishes."

He pursed his lips for a moment before reluctantly nodding. "Fine then I shall."

I breathed a sigh, truly thinking that he wasn't ever going to give in. At least he was finally allowing me to stay here as I wished. Perhaps, if Christine did decide to come back here then we could discuss things with each other more honestly but until then, I needed to be there for the Phantom.

"Thank you."

"I shall leave to make certain that Christine finds her way to the dormitories safely and then I shall be back."

"You cannot be serious!" I exclaimed.

"Clearly the Vicomte is insane," the Phantom sneered, glaring at him. "Especially if he believes that I shall allow him to enter here alive again."

"I understand your reasons for staying even if I do not agree with them. You were also correct; I should respect your wishes. And that is why I wish to remain here too. I cannot leave here without you."

I groaned in annoyance. Why was he saying all of this now? "Why would you say such a thing for? You were fine without me all these months when you believed that you hated me."

"Because I don't hate you, I love you!"

My eyes widened at his confession, instantly forgetting about everyone else. I'd refused to allow him to say those words for so long, despite wanting nothing more than to hear them. The tears I had fought back broke free before I could stop them as I noticed the desperation in his eyes. I knew he was telling the truth and I knew I was unlikely to argue with him any further about returning.

"That is why I want to remain here, because I love you."

I shook my head, turning away from where I was stood as my tears spilled over my eyes. I felt guilty for feeling happy at finally hearing those words. I'd convinced myself that despite it all, he would always love Christine more. But hearing him say those words made things too real. It made it more difficult to want to ignore my own feelings any longer.

"Allow me to come back here so that we can at least speak further."

I wanted him to come back more than anything so that we could finally talk more honestly but I knew that I had no right to assume that the Phantom would be agreeable with that, given their history.

I blinked back my tears, glancing towards the Phantom at that thought. He nodded once and I offered a thankful smile before returning my gaze to Raoul. My heartbeat skipped a beat at the desperation in his expression, knowing that I couldn't refuse him any longer. No matter how long I'd denied it, I wanted to see what could happen should I at least give my feelings a chance.

"Fine, but we can only talk for a while. I meant what I said; I am staying here until I feel it is time for me to leave." I snapped, folding my arms across my chest again stubbornly.

He fought back a smile, nodding once in agreement. "Fine, I shall be back shortly."

He glanced back to the Phantom before he turned away, and I watched him as he waded back through the water, wondering if I had done the right thing. I presumed I would find out soon enough.

I hope you enjoyed that chapter. :) I'm still feeling a bit half and half with this chapter so please let me know what you think should happen now/what your thoughts are on the chapter. Do you also think given the current events that Christine should be given another chance with the Phantom or not? I was just wondering this as I'm still half on half on what certain things should happen. What does everyone think on Raoul coming back to speak with Charlotte too? Yay or nay? :)