A/N:Here it is. The chapter that took forever coming.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"Sarah, where is Christine?" Erik was frantically searching for Christine. He had managed to find David in the garage, but Christine was no where to be found.

"She'll be back shortly. I had David pull out her car for her so her and Meg could have some freedom." Sarah continued to making dinner without paying Erik any attention.

"You did what?" Erik voice grew into a dark whisper. This whisper had sent soldiers searching for death. Before Sarah had a chance to restate her previous words, Christine came through.

"Sarah, if you see... Oh, Erik." She walked up and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Erik." She grabbed an orange and ran out, heading back towards her room.

"I thought I told you not to tell her."

"She thinks it was your idea for her to drive this afternoon. She doesn't know about the trip." Sarah continued on with her preparations as she felt she was in the clear. When she turned to grab a pan, she noticed she was alone.

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Erik nudged Christine's door the rest of the way open. Christine was lying across the bed, trying to stash something under it. Her locks of curly brown hair swaying against the floor.

"Would you like some help?"

Christine shot up, falling off the bed. Erik caught her before she had time to hit the floor. "Do you not how to knock?"

"A simple thank you would have been sufficient." Erik set Christine back down on the bed. His smirk and gleaming eyes the only thing left visible from underneath the mask.

"What do you need, Erik?"

"I have business that requires you and I to go to Italy in the morning."

"Are we going to have to go to more dinners?"

"No. This one has more to do with you more than I."

"Erik, just tell me. Why are we going?"

"The day after tomorrow you're performing in the opera that we've been working on."

"You didn't even bother to ask me." Christine folded her arms across her chest.

"I thought it was what you wanted." Erik replied back insulted that she didn't like his gift to her. They had been working so hard to make her the best, even if she didn't know that was the ultimate goal.

"You never ask what I want. You always just assume that you know whatever needs. Hate to break it to you, Erik, but you don't. What would you do if I just refused to go with you at all tomorrow?"

"Christine." Erik was unsure what to do. For the few arguments they had, Erik was able to just ignore her silly comments until she calmed down. But this was different. This time she was risking her career. Her dreams. They both knew she wanted nothing more than to sing. "Don't please."

"Why shouldn't I, Erik? Maybe I already have plans. If you bothered to ask, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

"Christine, what is it that you want from me?"

"The truth and to be, for once, treated like an adult in this house."

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Erik's skin crawled. He couldn't wait to get back to the hotel with Christine. Erik loved Christine, and he loved the way her face lit up whenever she sang. However, Erik learned he didn't like sharing Christine with everyone else.

When they had their lessons, it was just the two of the them. There was no else that got the pleasure of hearing Christine other than Erik. Here, there were hundreds that got the pleasure of her voice. Erik would have to make sure that her performances were few and far between. Otherwise, this jealousy would drive him insane.

Erik waited for Raphael and Nadir so that he could give them instructions before he went to go collect Christine. Erik saw the assasin walking towards him before he could slip off to go get her. He motioned for Raphael to come closer. "Get Christine. I will meet you back at the hotel."

"Well if it isn't the prodigical sons?"

"What do you want, Hazif?" Erik showed no emotion to this man. His voice and body as cold as ice.

"I want nothing, but she would like an audience with you." This man let his displeasure show. Erik made a motion for the man to lead on and for once in a long time followed behind someone else.

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Both Erik and Nadir found themselves in front of a woman neither of them had seen for many years. Nadir bowed as was expected of him. Nadir stood when he noticed the woman's cold gaze had never left Erik.

"I see the Americas have been good to you. Tell me what did you think of the opera?"

"The bassoon played the C flat the entire second act. Good day, madame. I hope it is many more years before we see each other again." Erik left the way he had come, leaving Nadir to the mercy of this woman and her henchmen. The woman simply smiled and turned her attention to Nadir.

"Nadir, I want my pet back."

"That is going to be quite difficult."

"And I didn't ask for your opinion. I want him back in my courts by the end of the month. That will give him a week to get his affairs in order."

"He's not going to come back."

"WHY NOT? I SAID I WANT HIM BACK." She was seething now. How dare someone tell her she couldn't have something.

"Erik's content with life right now."

"It's the singer from tonight, isn't it?" Nadir didn't reply. He didn't know who to fear more: the woman or Erik. "I rather enjoyed her performance tonight. I like I said I want my pet back. I will see you in a week when you accompany Erik back." Nadir left at the dismissal. He wondered what she was plotting. The smirk he had seen on her face when he left was never a good thing. He would have to tell Erik.

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A/N:Take mercy on me. I have an organic chem test and an ecology test back to back tomorrow. Probably going fail both so reviews to cheer me up would be nice. Thanks.