It had been a month now since the last opera. An overwhelming amount of people flooded into the Opera Populaire. Music and lights pouring out of every window as joyfully mysterious masked and costumed stage hands, performer, managers, and more piled in. I wandered how I was going to tell everyone surly they would notice such a ring. Even if it was chained around my neck sadly replacing Erik's locket. "I still don't understand why we have to hide it." Raoul said as we dismounted from the carriage. "I love you Christine and the last I checked that is certainly not a crime." He whispered to me to draw as little attention to ourselves as possible.

As we began to walk in I begged to him "Please darling, just play along. Trust me when I say that it's safer this way. We will tell everyone but in time. Please for tonight." He sighed as I made him turn me so he could look into my eyes and see how serious and both frightened I was.

I slightly smiled at him and he turned shaking his head as he laughed "Why is it so hard to say no to those eyes?" I laughed at him and then ran off to find Meg.

Instead of finding Meg as I roamed the sides of the dance floor I ran into Joshua. Who was modeling a plain black suit with a white mask that covered almost all of his face. "Joshua. Hey how are you?" I asked giving him a hug that simply said it was good to be back.

"I've been good, and so has he." Joshua said gesturing to a man in a red and black costume with a skeleton mask, and a red cloak that hung to the side. It was Erik talking to Gerard. It had been months since I had seen Gerard I almost didn't recognize him. I knew that Joshua was motioning to Erik rather than Gerard. I turned to Joshua and asked if he was upset with me for leaving. "No, even if he was I know for a fact there is not anyway he could stay mad at you." I smiled at him. Than he told me that Erik had a little surprise for me. I looked at him strangely.

"A surprise? For me?" I asked thinking he was toying with me.

"Yes, a surprise for you." He laughed at me then I turned toward Erik. He was alone now so I approached him, but carefully. I kept a close eye on where Raoul was so I would be cautions on how long I was seen talking to Erik.

Raoul was on the other side of the room talking to the retched managers. I smiled a playful smile as I drew closer to Erik. He smiled a sweet and yet devious little smile in my direction. "So Joshua tells me you have a surprise for me." I said amusing myself.

"Yes, Yes I do." He replied.

"Well?" I said hinting for him to get a move on. He knew I hated surprises so I wanted to get it over with.

"First we dance." He said as I rolled my eyes. Somehow I knew he was going to say that. Ever since we were thirteen we had always saved at least one dance for each other.

I laughed and said "Well what's the surprise?"

"One dance, and then an answer." He replied attempting to bargain with me, and sad to say it worked. I laughed at him as he playfully bowed to me like a gentlemen and as he returned reached out his black gloved hand then said. "May I have this dance Mademoiselle?" I laughed and shook my head as I placed my white laced gloved hand in his.

"It will be your greatest honor Monsieur." Erik then led me to the center of the dance floor making our way past at least fifty dancers including Meg. As Erik and I began to dance I paid no mind to where Raoul was or even if he could see me. I never cared about things like that when we danced. When Erik and I danced it was as if the whole world faded away and it was just he and I in the middle of the crowded dance floor. "So about this surprise," I said impatiently Erik laughed at me.

"You mind as well give it up Daae, because I am not telling till this dance is done." He said with a taunting like look in his eye.

My playful smile disappeared "That's not fair." I said

"Well it's my surprise to give so I don't have to play fair. You're back in my game now dear Christine." He said tauntingly. I was pretty sure he could see the annoyance in my eyes. He could even possibly see the annoyed look on my face too underneath my white and pink rosed mask. Changing the subject he complimented me on my dress "You look wonderful tonight. I've always thought you look best in pink." He said with a smile. I was very thankful for the pink on my mask because that way Erik wouldn't see me blush.

"Thank you." I replied trying to make the pink on my cheeks vanish before he noticed. "And your costume defiantly suits you. 'Red Death' forgot you even had this." I said managing to get a smile out of him with that compliment.

"Well shows what you know." He said with a small laugh. He twirled me around and our dance was now slightly advancing. The dance floor not as crowded more and more dancers leaving to hand the whole floor over to us. Of course Erik and I paid them no mind we were in our own little world. A spin here, a small lift there, and then just a few somewhat fancy ballet techniques. When we danced we were in our element the only thing better was when we sang together.

Erik and I paraded around the dance floor I had paid no attention to the fact that it was just the two of us now until he said "It seems we have an audience." I glanced side to side and smiled.

"Well then let's give them something worth watching." He smiled at me and nodded there was no holding us back now. As I twirled around him my gloved hand and never leaving his my eyes never left his either. I had forgotten completely that Raoul was there and might be watching, and sure enough he was. Amazed at the passion I put into each footstep and watching the music just take control of the two of us he stood there speechless with just one question on his mind. Who was I dancing with?

As the dance was coming to a close he noticed my ring in place of where his locket should be. He whispered into my ear "Christine, whose ring is that?" You could hear it in his voice he was scared of my answer. My eyes wandered to Raoul and Erik's eyes widened understanding who the ring belonged to. The song ended and we took a bow as the theater echoed the applause the crowd gave Erik and I. After the bow Erik walked off into the crowd and I chased him. We were going to face off weather he liked it or not.

As the next song began I started to hear the music less and less trying to listen to Erik's footsteps and figure out where he was going. I followed him to an empty hallway and began to call out. "Erik, please wait!" But he ignored my cries knowing I would not give up. "Erik stop right now!" I demanded and he stopped annoyed turning to me. Little did I know that we had a spy on the edge of the wall just peering down the hall so he wouldn't be seen by either of us, Raoul. "Why? Why do you run?" I asked he hesitated and I grew impatient so I asked again "Why Erik? Why can't you just be happy for me instead of running away?" He grew annoyed with me as well. I knew he hated it when I asked him questions of that sort, but if I didn't ask them now when would I ever? He turned to me trying his best to contain his rage.

"Just listen to me you can't marry him Christine." He said in a fatherly warning like way. I stared at him blankly. "You just don't get it!" He screamed.

"What? What don't I get Erik?" I yelled demanding an answer. He came up to me and grabbed the ring still adorned on my neck.

"This." He said irritated then ripped it and the chain off my neck. "You can't marry him!" He yelled his voice almost vibrating the walls then he turned into a hidden tunnel. I let out an annoyed scream then checked down both ends of the hall making sure we were not being watched or followed by anyone. I didn't look good enough because Raoul was still hot on our trail. I turned into the tunnels behind Erik calling out to him demanding he acknowledge the fact that I was there. "Erik! Erik you answer me right this minute!" I called after him ripping off my mask. He still went on
as soon as we descended from yet another stair case I demanded that he stopped, calling to him in the only way I thought he would respond. "Erik Mcgalla you stop and answer me right this instant!" I hollered in a very mother like voice.

"What?" He said impatient with me and just flat out annoyed.

"Why can't I marry Raoul?" I asked as calmly as I could.

"Because." He replied.

I laughed irritated "That's not a good enough answer Erik! Why can't I marry him? Is it because you do not deem him worthy of me? I deem who is and isn't worthy not you Erik." He shook his head as I drew closer. I started to think of the last time we fought like this was when we were seventeen but thinking of that only put more wood on the fire of my rage. "Answer the question Erik." He shook his head and turned away "I'm not changing a thing until you tell me why I can't marry him." the tunnels grew into an ear bleeding silence as the echo of my voice drifted off. I studied him up and down then when I realized I would get no further in this confrontation I said "Very well" and turned toward the exist.

Then he turned to me he had an answer but I was not willing to hear it "Christine stop!" He called catching up to me and grabbing my arm then turning me around. I didn't have time to scream or plead to him to let me go. As I turned he quickly pulled me closer and as our eyes met he closed his and brushed his lips against mine. Though most would fight his embrace I didn't I welcomed it. I closed my eyes and leaned into him as he held me to his chest. I was still unaware that Raoul was watching in disbelief. Erik gently broke our bond that I had so longed for and stated "Because I love you Christine Daae. That's why you cannot marry him. I love you."

I smiled and he kissed me again "You have no idea how long I've waited for you to say that." I said not able to remove the smile from my face he laughed at my comment.

I laid my head on his shoulders as he held me then he asked me joking "So do you think that's a good enough reason?" I laughed and playfully pushed him away. We heard another song start above our heads we were directly under the dance floor. He looked up then back to me.

"I have to go." He said as he started to walk off but I quickly grabbed his arm.

"Wait, why?" I asked he smiled at me and asked if I wanted to know the surprise now I nodded confused.

He smiled and said "It's done."

"What's done?" he laughed thinking I was joking for a moment then realized I wasn't.

"'Don Juan' it's done. It's ready to be performed and I want you to sing for me one last time."

"One last time?" I questioned. What was he up to?

"I promised you long ago that one day we would get out of here. Somewhere far away where no one has even heard of us, and we can start anew." I smiled at him thinking he was crazy. "Promise you'll sing for me Christine? Please?" I could never say no to those eyes as Raoul could never say no to mine. I nodded then he smiled at me and kissed me once more. "You and me remember." He said as he turned and left me standing there I called out to him one last time.

"Erik!" He turned to me longing to hear what I had to say. I smiled my eyes lit up as I said to him "I love you." He smiled at me and winked then ran off. I just stood there replaying his kiss in my mind over and over again the smile still never leaving my face.

I turned knowing he had something planned once again I had to play along. I turned back toward the exist. I thought it best I didn't return to the party.

When I left the tunnels Raoul followed but was then thrown against the wall by an unseen shadow. But then released him as it figured out who he was. "Raoul?" He stood amazed instead of looking into the eyes of his fiancée's lover he was looking into the eyes of the young dancer. Meg looked at him "What are you doing here?" Realizing where they were and who he was following her eyes widened "How much of all that did you see?" She knew she was running low on time and the young Viscount had many questions swarming through his head. She took his hand and said "Quickly follow me. There is much to explain and little time to do it in." Raoul did as told and Meg led him in the opposite direction of me.