Twinkle22 Your AWESOME!

Sorry it took so long I had it ready at the beggining of the week, but fanfic wouldnt let me upload the document.

The rest of you...please review:D

I'm not going to update unless I get atleast ...4 reviews. deal?

Chapter 22

Once Erik did not answer right away Lizzie left the table. He would have gone after her but what could he say to make her understand? Yes I Love you but…that would not work. He needed to clear his head so Erik did what he always did, he haunted.

He found Lizzie in the study,

"I'm going out." Erik called into the room. She looked at him sharply before nodding. He then walked to the passage that led to box five and opened it. He entered and within minutes he was in the box. Once there he slipped into the shadows that lurked in the hall and slowly crept to the backstage.

Erik noticed a group of ballerinas talking, another version of the Phantom story no doubt. But he was wrong the subject of gossip today was…Lizzie.

"Did you hear that the Vicomte's daughter is here in the Opera house?" a red head asked.

"I haven't seen her." a blonde chimed.

"That's because she's with the Opera Ghost!" another alleged as the girls gasped.

"Yes, the Vicomte even broke the courtship between his daughter and Monsieur Fredrick Heaton." The red head continued.

"So she gave up her life of luxury, her tremendously handsome fiancée and her family for a crazy man?" the blonde joked as the group giggled and walked back to the stage.

Erik's heart sank. For once the Opera Rats were right. Lizzie had given up her father's love, her country home, and the love of her fiancée? For him. And now Erik couldn't even give up an old obsession with her dead mother.

Erik inhaled deeply then began to walk back to box five. He decided he would watch rehearsals for a while before returning home.

As he walked from the wings, his eyes wandered from the stage to the rest of the theater. Andre and Firmin were just walking in and behind them was the Vicomte. Erik suddenly felt uneasy . But before he could make it to the box his curiosity was sparked again and he swiftly moved into another box, to get a better look. Raoul called Madame Giry off the stage and to a corner where they talked in private. Madame's face looked somewhat worried, yet the Vicomte's was determined. They spoke for a short amount of time and when they were threw Raoul nodded then began to go up the stairs and towards box five. Erik's heart jumped as he watched the Vicomte enter his box. He heard the sliding of his passage way and it closing again.

Erik followed Raoul but stopped when the Vicomte closed the door. He decided to eavesdrop until they were threw.

XXXX

Lizzie sat in the study, trying to draw. When she had asked Erik about her mother she had expected him to choose herself. But when he didn't she had felt sad, embarrassed and hurt.

Maybe I should apologize.

Why? I didn't do anything.

Well I know how he feels about my mother and I shouldn't have even brought it up.

But he is with me now and he should be devoted and forget the rest.

Except my mother is different.

How?

He loved her for so long and that was the only person before me…

Lizzie heard the passage open and decided to apologize. She stood from her drawing and walked to the door. But where she expected to find Erik she found her father.

"Papa?"

"Oh, Lizzie are you alright? Has that monster harmed you?"

"That monster has been the only one in the world who cared about me. He has fed me, clothed me and has been so wonderful." Lizzie said, her voice becoming more caring as she spoke of him. Her look became cold as she looked at him then she said,

"Why are you here?"

"I've come to take you home." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry I've kept this going for so long."

"No Papa, I'm, not coming home." Raoul looked at her harshly then continued.

"Lizzie stop this act. He doesn't care about you. He loves you because you are your mother's daughter."

"That's not true!"

"Oh really? If he did love you, he would have let you go already, realizing you belong with your family." Lizzie turned sharply to him.

"If I am correct, you are the one who disowned me!"

"I did no such thing. I had planned that you would come home once you realized what that man really is."

"Oh, and what is that?" Lizzie asked cynically.

"A Monster!" She turned away from the man she knew to be her father.

"You don't even know him."

"I don't claim to, but I know what he has done." Raoul turned his daughter to face him. "Lizzie I wouldn't lie to you. I know this man and he would do anything to get what he wants, and I'm so afraid of what that might be."

"Erik would never do anything without my permission."

"Lizzie…"

"Get out."

"What?" Raoul asked , bewildered.

"Leave!" Without another word Raoul turned to the door, just as Erik was returning. The two men glared at each other before parting.

As the Vicomte left Erik hastily walked to Lizzie and pulled her into an embrace.

"No matter what your father says-"

"Spying were we?" Lizzie interrupted playfully. He smiled and continued,

"I'm sorry I couldn't resist." Erik's face became more serious as with hers. "No matter what your father thinks I do Love you, regardless of how it may seem."

"I know, I know." Lizzie said, just before capturing his lips with hers. Quickly he deepened the kiss. She began to laugh as left a trail of kisses up and down her neck.

Okay honestly I don't know how this song applys to the chapter but it's been stuck in my head all day so...yah

I LOVE RENT!

Take Me As I Am

RENT 3 3 3

Every single day, I walk down the street
I hear people say, "Baby's so sweet"
Ever since puberty, everybody stares at me,
Boys - girls, I can't help it baby
So be kind, and don't lose your mind
Just remember that I'm your baby
Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Take me baby or leave me
Take me baby or leave me
A tiger in a cage can never see the sun
This diva needs her stage,
Baby - let's have fun!
You are the one I choose
Folks would kill to fill your shoes
You love the limelight too, now baby
So be mine but don't waste my time
Cryin' - "O' Honeybear - are you still my my my baby?"
Don't. You. Dare.
Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Take me baby or leave me
No way - can I be what I'm not
But hey - don't you want your girl hot!
Don't fight - don't lose your head
'Cause every night - who's in your bed?
Who, who's in your bed, baby?
Kiss, Pookie.
It won't work.
I look before I leap
I love margins and discipline
I make lists in my sleep
Baby what's my sin?
Never quit - I follow through
I hate mess - but I love you
What to do with my impromptu baby
So be wise 'cause this girl satisfies
You've got a prize, but don't compromise
You're one lucky baby
Take me for what I am
A control freak
Who I was meant to be
A snob - yet over-attentive
And if you give a damn
A lovable, droll geek
Take me baby or leave me
And anal retentive
That's it!
The straw that breaks my back
I quit
Unless you take it back
Women
What is it about them?
Can't live with them or without them!
Take me for what I am
Who I was meant to be
And if you give a damn
Take me baby or leave me
Take me baby
Or leave me
Guess I'm leavin'
I'm GONE!