Praying to remain unnoticed I walked through the back hallways to get to the safety of my dressing room. I knew Raoul wouldn't seek me out himself, possibly in fear that I was with Erik, so I stayed on the lookout for Ladue. And sure enough just as I reached my dressing room he called to me. "Miss Daae, there you are I've been looking all over for you." I took my hand of the door and turned to him.

"What you want Ladue?" I said annoyed "I'm a very busy person." He explained to me that Raoul was here and wished to speak with me immediately. I don't know why exactly I didn't protest but I willingly followed him to the manager's office that I expected to be empty with only Raoul waiting on me. But to my surprise Andre and Firmin stood there next to Raoul. As I walked in the room I started to worry and when I turned around to Ladue he locked the door. I quickly turned back to Raoul "What's going on here? What is the meaning of this?" I asked.

Raoul motioned to a seat with the glass in his hand "Have a seat darling." I looked at him curiously. I studied the glass I knew he wasn't drunk because the glass was full; he set it down with two others. Those of the managers no doubt, who had more than one glass you could tell. I took a seat in front of the desk and looked to Raoul trying to hide my restlessness. He had not slept much either you could see it not only in his eyes but in the way he stood. Perhaps he had the managers and Ladue fooled but never me. He rubbed his eyes think of what question to ask me first, but I was hoping the first thing he would do was dismiss the managers and Ladue, but sadly that didn't happen. "Where were you last night Miss Daae?" Firmin asked breaking the awkward silence.

"I told Ladue last night, I was in my room. That's where I was after the main dance and that's where I stayed the rest of the night." The way Raoul stood and the way he looked at me screamed that he thought I was lying. My years of acting never could have prepared me for this.

"Alright, well off track a little but I want to know why you choose to stay here last night when half of the opera house went home." Raoul said irritated.

"Is it a crime that I wished to stay here instead of-"

"Yes well did you wish this before or after you met with the Phantom in the tunnels?" Raoul quickly stated cutting me off. The way he asked me it was as if he already knew the answer. I knew he was in the tunnels when Erik met with Meg and Joshua but I never imagined he was there when I chased after Erik prior to the main dance. I grew a shocked look on my face and my shock turned to anger.

"How dare you. How dare you accuse me of such!" I glanced at the managers and then to Ladue the way they reacted to me was as if they knew that the accusation was true, I knew Raoul had done the one thing I asked him not to do. He told them everything he knew. A tear came to my eye but I held it back. I couldn't hide anymore wither I liked it or not. I looked down to my feet I didn't want to look at anyone when I asked this. "How much did you tell them?"

"Everything from the fair to the pregnancy." Andrea said.

My head snapped up to him and I looked to Raoul "How, how did, you know, about that?" He knelt down, put both hands on the arms of the chair assuring I wouldn't move, and leaned into me.

"Dancers know everything." A look of horror never left my face. I looked to my lap to avoid Raoul's face and allowed one tear to surface. I shook my head as Raoul returned to his position.

"How could you." I whispered then snapped my head up and screamed "How could you betray me like this! I trusted you Meg trusted you!"

"I did this for you!" He yelled back. "I demand an explanation Christine." The corner of my eyes went to the managers and then Ladue.

"I refuse to say anything until this room is cleared." I said harshly. Raoul obeyed my wishes and dismissed the room. As the door shut he went over and locked it. I dared not to meet his eyes in fear of the venom I knew was pouring out at this point.

"Well? I'm waiting." I didn't know what exactly to say. My silence pestered him as his questions did me. "Alright, well answer me this were you with him last night?"

I quickly jumped to my feet and looked at him. "If you must know yes I was," He rolled his eyes at me and turned his body to the door to leave "but not in the way you think." I said quickly. He turned his head and asked me what I meant. I explained to him that Ladue didn't misfire that he was injured and very much alive. "I was helping save his life. The fact that he stole a kiss or two is nothing compared to what you accuse me of. I have not called off this engagement so therefore I would never sleep with someone wither I love him or not."

Raoul looked to me "So you do love him?" I nodded and it angered him. I wasn't exactly sure of what scared me more Raoul's anger or the fact that they could find Erik at any moment. "Christine, he is a dangerous monster and nothing more." I looked to him wanting to curse him for even letting the thought of my Erik come across his mind as monster. I shook my head so he would know I disagreed. "Christine! You owe him nothing! You have let him control you for too long, please I beg you come to your senses and come home with me. Leave him and this place behind."

I had sunk back into the chair and I couldn't stop the tears. He walked over to me and knelt down to look at me when he begged. "I can give you so much more than he can. Please Christine come home with me and we can act like none of this ever happened." I looked back to him and shook my head tears streaming down the sides of my face. Almost as if on cue Joshua walked into the room.

"The thing is Raoul it did happen, and there is no home with you." I said raising then walked past him to Joshua. He reached out and grabbed my arm holding it tight hurting me. He was stubborn, hard headed, determined and I hated it. Joshua could see that his actions caused me pain he quickly ran to my side and clawed Raoul off me then pinned him up against the wall.

"If you ever touch her again so help me Chaney I will not hesitate to kill you!" Molly rushed in the room along with Sophia and Gerard closely behind. Sophia stopped in the door way not sure what to think of the situation but Molly came to me as I stood in awe at what had just happened; meanwhile Gerard went to Joshua and tried to tear the two part. Joshua eventually gave in and left the room. Molly escorted me to my room and locked the door it seem to have become quite a habit around here.

She didn't say one word to me but when she turned to me just like an older sister Molly looked to me with nothing but sympathy and love. I broke under that look every time "Molly," I said through my tears "Molly I'm scared. I, I don't know what to do." She came to me and sat next to me on the bed. She didn't say anything, she opened her arms to me and I fell into her sisterly embrace. With so much happening I was like a frightened little girl running from a clown. But the clown I was running from was my past and my lies. The past and lies I prayed would never catch up with me, lies that I told for Erik's safety and to cover our past together. A past that we both swore off but now everything was different. I was such a fool thinking that we could just let everything return to how it was without anyone noticing. It was time to face the facts we have to stop running from our past.

It had now been nearly three weeks since the masquerade; I had called off the engagement with Raoul and almost all contact with him. I saw him on occasion when he came to the opera to try and talk me back into an engagement but he never succeeded. Erik was now well enough to go back to his house on the lake, that's where he has been for almost a week now and none of us have heard from him. I wasn't worried but I didn't like not hearing from him in so long. The managers knew better than to even look at me the wrong way now Erik made sure of that. Since Raoul's visits became more frequent and Erik had once again disappeared it seemed most night I found myself in the chapel asking for fatherly guidance that never came.

"Everything that was once so simple has now raged into a war and I don't know how much more of this I can take father." I spoke to a ghost that never answered. "I don't know what to do father, oh how I wish you were here to tell me what I should do. When Raoul came it was as if I was a child again. When I was with him all of the memories of you seemed so close, but then again that's all they are, memories. Then with Erik I have a past but I don't think of it. Instead I think of the future that we could have together. When I'm with Erik I feel as if we can start a new like we planned what seems like so long ago." I began to get angry but at what or at who? I was upset with Raoul but I didn't blame him. I was irritated with Erik but nowhere near upset with him. I wasn't mad at myself either because I didn't regret anything that I have said or done. But because of what I said Raoul was upset with me and because I had done alone Erik didn't speak to me. I felt my fists pound into the floor. "Why can't the past just die!" I screamed to the ghost that I somehow expected an answer from.

I felt alone in this battle. It seemed as if Raoul was the enemy, and Erik was an allay that I had to choose wither or not to stand by and help fight. The ghost I cried out to never responded, my Angel of Music never came, and as for my hope it was as if it didn't exist.

The snow cracked underneath his shoes as he walked through the cemetery. A long week of thinking of her, missing her eyes, her lips, her voice, her everything. Erik hated being separated from her for even a minute so we can only imagine the pain he felt at the moment, but he did what he had to do. He needed time to think, to clear his head everything had been happening so fast lately and the only way he thought he could handle it was to separate himself from the love of his life. The snow still cracking with every step he had almost reached his destination. Erik had made up his mind and for once he really didn't care of the dangers that this would put him through. Erik was ready to face whatever the world through at him. He had already endured pain that he possibly would not even wish upon his worst enemy, which in this case was the Viscount Raoul De Chaney. That boy has caused my Angle too much pain. He thought to himself. He stopped at the stair case to a crept that read 'Daae' on the top.

He bowed his head and stared at his feet thinking of what to say. He flipped back his hood and then lifted his head to speak. "Your daughter still speaks highly of you." He spoke to Christine's ghost, Erik smiled at the thought of her. He could see her perfectly in his mind. Her bright shining eyes, her petite figure, her dark long blonde hair and how it flowed down her back and caressed her body. "She has told me everything of you. Sad to say the first time around when I was with her it wasn't very traditional and I realize now that you would have not approved of that." In his right hand he toyed with a gold band that graced Christine's finger long ago. "I come for one reason and it is not just to speak to the ghost of my Angles father, I come to ask for her hand. I made a mistake the first time and for too long that mistake has held me back from even looking at Christine in the way I used to, the way she longs for. I know I cannot offer her as much as that reached Viscount can but I offer her the two things I know she can't live without. I offer all my love and my music." Erik stood there silent thinking of what he thought Gustave Daae would say.

Erik had run out of words to say for once and the crackle of the snow came up behind him breaking his silence. He turned and stood face to face with a Chaney, but not the Chaney he wanted to kill. The eldest Chaney who out ranked Raoul in everything but stubbornness, the Count Philippe De Chaney.

"Are you all way this dramatic when you ask for a ladies hand?" Philippe teased. Erik smiled at him and shoved the ring in his coat pocket. Philippe took a place by Erik's side and looked to the crept. "Gustave was a great man. Before I met you I thought no one could out due his musical genius, and I think Christine would say the same. I can tell you this though," Erik turned to him wanting to know what he had to say. "I knew Gustave Daae very well and if he were here he would approve of this proposal." Erik smiled at Philippe and thanked him.

"So tell me," Philippe began as they turned to leave the cemetery "how did you come meet my brother?"

Erik shook his head and laughed putting his arm around Philippe he said "My dear friend, we have a lot of catching up to do."