A/N Thank you to all my reviewers! I really appreciate the input yall give me, also I am sorry at the lack of action going on and a lot of these chapters are setting up later events. This chapter is short but I promise this next chapter will make your mouths drop. I do like the chapter though so I hope you do too and PLEASE REVIEW!

Ch. 9

Erik sat staring at the two men before him, today was not going like he had planned. Nadir knew that once Erik had made up his mind about putting on the Masquerade, there was no point in trying to change it. Unfortunately, Clark had not yet caught on to this one character flaw of Erik's.

"I just do no believe that it's the right way to go. We are just opening our doors and I think we should go with something classier!" Clark chimed in.

Erik rolled his eyes at the suggestion of something "classy", he had practically ran the Opera back home. If anyone could make a success of this opera, it was himself and he knew it. He looked up at Clark clearly annoyed. "Clark! I know that to you this may sound like a ridiculous thing to do, but believe me every one will love it."

"Everyone will love what?" Christine's voice asked as she walked into the Erik's office at the theater.

Erik looked over at her a bit confused; he was not scheduled to meet with her today. Their lunch a few weeks back had proved to be quite necessary; they both had things to catch up on. Erik learned more about Chloe and it seemed that Christine had passed on some of Erik's teachings to her young offspring.

The only thing he still was not given any information about was her time at the bordello. That was what he was most interested in and he knew that Christine knew it. But he had promised not to hound her about it and when and if she was ready to talk about it, she would.

"About how our Erik is going to put on a Masquerade!" Nadir said cheerfully.

Christine's face went white, probably from the memories of her last masquerade. "Is that wise?" She whispered.

Erik gave a look of caution, Clark had no idea as to how Erik and Christine were aquatinted and Erik meant to keep it that way. "Of course it is my dear; it will be a fun and exciting night. Something the streets of New York will be talking about for weeks." Erik said mischievously.

"I agree with Christine." Clark said. "It isn't wise."

Erik, now fully annoyed at Clark's doubtfulness, glared evilly at the young man. "I can see that there is no point in trying to change your mind." Clark finally surrendered. "I just hope that you plan it all out well. If people think it's a cheap, obnoxious thing, well then I don't know what. I just don't want to be the laughing stock of New York." He finished.

Erik smiled. "I know what I am doing and even more, I know what the public likes and I can one hundred percent tell you here and now, the night of the Masquerade will be pleasure to all."

Nadir smirked at what Erik was promising, but he knew that if Erik promised to deliver, then he would give you that and then some.

"Clark, trust Christine and I, Erik never fails when he puts his mind to it. He always succeeds in whatever it is he has chosen to do." Nadir said trying to calm the man's nerves. Although he had some sympathy for the man, opening up a business was no easy task and there was a big risk for failure, but it had proved that in the past that whatever Erik touched, blossomed. Nadir knew things would work out fine.

"Fine then!" Clark said frustrated as he got up and stormed out of Erik's office. Erik just smiled at the man's dramatics and then he remembered Christine was in the room.

"Christine! Can I help you with something?" He said lightly.

Christine smiled. "I was just wondering if you had a moment to talk. It won't take long; I just need to ask a favor of you." She told him shyly.

Nadir smiled at the two's awkwardness towards one another. He felt as if he was watching two love sick teenagers, in a way though, he really was. He cleared his throat and stood up.

"I see this as my cue to leave. Erik, I will be back later to begin planning with you." Nadir said as he gave a curt nod to Erik.

Christine watched the older gentleman walk out of the room before taking a seat. She smiled nervously before speaking.

"I know this is going to sound silly and its not as if I want to dig up dirt from the past but I was thinking very hard about it last night and I came to a conclusion, but that is besides the point, but I just wanted to ask you of you could coach me again." Christine blurted out.

Erik couldn't hide his look of surprise; he hadn't been expecting that, not at all! He quickly pondered the idea in his head. He understood that he could easily fall back in love with her once more, but was that a risk he was willing take?

"Yes!" He blurted out. He was shocked at his answer but it appeared his heart knew what was best.

Christine was so happy that she almost began jumping for joy. She had been pondering the idea of Erik teaching her once more since she had gotten the job, but her nerves had kept her from asking him for the last few weeks.

"Thank you so much Erik, I am beyond thrilled. I cannot wait to get started." Christine said happily.

Erik smiled at the thought of being her tutor once more. Maybe that was what he should have remained all those years ago, her tutor and nothing more. Had he just done that things would be like they had once been, even if Christine had married the Vicomte, she could have still remained his pupil.

"Erik, Erik!" Christine's voice came cutting through his thoughts. He looked up to see her beaming face and suddenly felt guilt like he hadn't felt in years.

"I never even told you how sorry I was." He whispered to her.

Confusion crossed Christine's face. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"For everything I ever did to you, everything I put you through. The pain, sorrow, despairs, I don't even know all the feelings I put you through, but I am. Oh Christine, I have wanted to tell you those three words for so long. I am sorry and now you are here. It is like a dream, completely surreal." He told her wondrously.

Christine could feel the tears come to her eyes for hearing his apology. "Why apologize to me?" She cried. "I did awful things to you too. I promised myself to you, to music and I broke your heart and I abandoned my music when I left you. I have felt so much guilt for it."

Erik smiled a bit. "I suppose we both have regrets." He told her.

"I know that I do." Christine said.

"Christine, please! I have to hear you say you forgive me." Erik said, his voice pleading with hers.

"I forgive you Erik." She said.

Erik felt like a bolder had been lifted off his shoulders. He knew that their mistakes remained in the past, but he needed her forgiveness. He needed to hear the words to help redeem him of the fatal errors he had once made. Without her forgiveness, there was no reason to even attempt to live a good life. Christine had always been his light and it appeared that she still was and always would be.

"I am shocked that you would even consider putting on a masquerade." Christine finally said.

"Shocked at my insensitivity?" Erik questioned lightly.

"Stop Erik. That was five years ago, and I am not hiding an engagement from you so I think we have nothing to worry about." Christine teased. "It should be great fun." She said.

"You think so?" He asked.

"I really do!" She replied.

It was official, there would be a masquerade.

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