Well I got five reviews…so nice try but that meant I had to update today instead :p

Anyways I really want to thank the person who reviewed under guest; they were very sweet and made me light up with a HUGE smile! So thanks, you should defiantly get an account so I can PM you my thanks and send you snippets of the next chapters when you review :)

Anyways, I still don't own anything you recognize; but here you go. Hope you enjoy it!

Madam Giry POV

"Mother, do you know where Christine is? Rehearsal is about to start and I can't find her anywhere!" Meg asked me frantically and practically out of breath.

"She is sick and in my care. No one is to disturb her, I want her to focus only on getting better." I felt a little uneasy about lying to my child but what choice did I have? I didn't want to drag her into this mess. Erik can be very touchy, I've known him to kill for minor things and I wanted to protect my daughter. I couldn't trust her with a secret that could be spread to all the ballet rats.

"She was perfectly fine yesterday when I helped her get ready to go on a date with Raoul."

"A date? That's not what I was lead to believe. I thought they were just old friends re-connecting." As I said this my daughter's lips curled into a smile that spoke words of gossip alone.

"That's what she keeps telling anyone who asks, but it's obvious they both like each other, the way they look at each other gives it away completely! It was very much a date yesterday, Christine just has yet to admit it." I didn't want to listen too closely to Meg, she was still young and always assumed the wildest things but I couldn't help but wonder.

I knew Christine and Raoul were friends when they were children, but they're older now. It only makes since that they would eventually fall in love and I found that I very much liked that idea. Raoul could easily support Christine and he is an ideal choice since on her own, I imagine she would not do very well. She cannot remain a part of the opera house for ever and needs a family to fall back into when she's done. Besides, love might even be good for her right now with her father gone. It would help to soothe the empty spot in her heart and provide her with another person in her life to bring her comfort.

I was also not stupid. I was very much aware of the fact that Erik had his sights on Christine but she was probably too young and naïve to realize it. Maybe if Raoul did become closer to Christine it would push Erik away; how could he compete with the vicomte, a handsome man who was very rich?

"Mother?" My focus on the matter was broken when I heard the voice of Meg.

"What?"

"Did you not hear me? Rehearsals have begun!"

"Oh, yes Meg, let's go." I replied, then walked with Meg to the center of the stage with the rest of the cast/

Christine POV

"Erik…Erik…" I sat on my angel's sofa in front of the fireplace and tested out his name many times. The way it simply flowed through my lips so smoothly reminded me of a calm river and brought me peace. "Erik" the name brought a sensation to my body I couldn't describe, it stirred up butterflies in my tummy and caused a smile with every syllable.

My angel…or Erik, was gone. He said he would be back soon but he had stuff to take care of. I didn't know what stuff but I certainly didn't feel like asking him since I noticed questions didn't set to well with him. However I was feeling much better, especially after the apology we shared and I wasn't very tired anymore. My throat was also doing much better and I could speak completely normal again.

He didn't leave me with anything to do, soon I found myself getting bored of just sitting, and decided to walk around Erik's home. I wandered down the hallway that lead to his and my bedrooms and came to a halt when I realized I had never before seen his room. I felt nosy but I once more gave into my stubborn curiosity and opened his bedroom door.

It was completely dark; it felt as though the darkness was swallowing me whole and I felt suffocated by it. With the small light coming through the cracked door from the hallway, I managed to light a match that was on a table next to the entrance. With the match, I was able to find many candles to light and pretty soon the room was flickering with dim flames.

His room was filled with many beautiful treasures and lots of it seemed to be from countries I wasn't familiar with. I was puzzled when I saw his bed…I didn't know that angels slept too since they weren't mortal. Maybe he just had one for show. But who would come in here? I knew for sure I would keep all questions about this room to myself because the last thing I wanted was to let Erik know I came in here uninvited.

I quickly forgot about the bed even existing though when I saw a small chest by his night stand. I wanted to strangle my curiosity but knew it could not be ceased now, it was too late, I wanted to know so bad what was in the chest and found myself walking towards it, with it locked In my sights; my eyes never leaving it as I took cautious strides in its direction.

I sat down on my knees in front of the chest with my dress spread out on the floor around me. The candle light flickered on the polished wood and illuminated carvings of skulls. It was very enticing in an eccentric way.

I went to open it but noticed there was a lock. I thought that maybe I should just forget about it then and walk away but I decided to look around for a key first. I got up and walked around his whole room picking up trinkets and looking at papers of music here and there that were all so beautiful, but I never forgot about my mission to find the key.

After about thirty minutes I gave up on finding it and decided to make my first attempt at picking a lock. I didn't know if it would even work but I sat back down and pulled a pin from out of my hair. I worked on the lock for a long time, until my neck began to hurt from looking down. I was getting ready to give up, but then I heard a click and the lock popped open.

I could feel my lips slip into a smile and my heart began to race with anticipation. Whatever was in the chest would probably be wondrous since it was locked with a hidden key. I took a deep breath then lifted its lid to reveal a shattered mirror attached to its lid and small satin box. I thought it was sad that such a beautiful mirror was broken but immediately found myself fixed on the little box.

I picked it up and closed the lid to the chest, but left it unlocked so that I could put the box back when I was finished looking in it. I decided to open it in the living room where the lights were brighter and I could get a better look at whatever was inside.

I sat back down on the sofa and lifted the small lid to reveal a ring. It had a gold band with a red jeweled rose and a diamond in the middle of the petals. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I had ever seen and it intrigued me. I slipped it on my finger and admired how it fit perfectly. It was so gorgeous, I couldn't help but be jealous of a lover in heaven I was sure Erik had. Maybe he was planning on giving her this.

After a few minutes after gazing at the ring on my finger, I heard the front door open and panicked. I put my hand in the pocket of my dress to hide the ring along with the box it was in. I'm sure I looked incredulous with one hand in my pocket, but I didn't want him to see I had his stuff. I would have to put it back later.

"Christine, I'm back." I heard Erik call from the front of the house. With the hand in my pocket I tried to slip the ring off my finger but I couldn't get it to budge with just one hand trying to get it off.

"Christine?" I turned around and saw him standing a small distance behind me in the door way of the living room.

"Hello, Erik." He closed his eyes when I said his name and took a small breath as if to compose himself.

"I have notified the managers that you are not showing up for rehearsals, so it looks like you have no choice but to stay down here for the rest of day; unless you had something else in mind?"

"No I'm fine being here."

"It sounds like your voice is doing better."

"Yes it is. The tea you gave me for breakfast really helped. Thank you." While I was saying that I noticed his eyes turn to my hand in my pocket. His face looked suspicious but he didn't linger on that expression for long until he looked back up at my face and replied.

"You're welcome." After saying that he walked into another room and came back with a rectangular case and set it on the coffee table.

"I want to show you something Christine, come here." I had an idea what he was going to show me and was consumed with excitement at his words. I swiftly walked in his direction; but half way to his side I realized His ring was still on my hand in my pocket with its box and stopped walking.

"Um, one second, I really need to go in my room real quick; it will only take a second." I gave him a nervous smile and then rushed to my room without giving him a chance to form a response.

Erik POV

I had left Christine alone at my home to rest up while I delivered a note to the managers, excusing her from rehearsals. I was very pleased that they didn't question this note and watched them closely to make sure that they wouldn't show it to Madam Giry.

I then sat in box five to listen to the chorus but before they even began to sing I noticed Raoul sitting in his family's box. When the dancers made an entrance I watched as he searched the stage frantically with his eyes. No doubt he was looking for Christine. My Christine. I felt an urge whip through my body, on its way to my hands to strangle this man; I wanted to feel the life escape him with my Punjab lasso wrapped around his neck.

Half way through rehearsals, Raoul left his box and began wondering back stage so I followed him through my passage ways above. The way he walked spoke volumes of what he thought about himself. He was arrogant.

I heard him ask a couple of stage hands if they've seen Christine; it made me glad she was at my house and out of the reach of him. It was obvious he didn't love her or even care for her a little. He wanted her simply as a trophy.

After I decided I had enough of following the fop around I thought it best to return back to my underground home. On the way, I passed by the chapel where I had saw Christine in a crying mess a few days ago. I wondered if she still missed her papa; I didn't have what you would call normal family relationships like most people and didn't know what would be ordinary for her to feel at this point.

I knew that I still missed my beautiful mother and regretted every harsh word she said to me in the past, but I didn't want to ever see her again. Perhaps though; maybe I didn't actually miss her but the hope I used to have, as a young child I never gave up believing that one day she would love me, and now that cold reality has set in, it hurts to know she never will.

However, I decided if she did still miss him and wasn't speaking her feelings about it, I could bring out my violin and show her. Maybe she would have a nice time looking at it or even trying to play it. It would probably do her some good getting to hear the violins sweet sound again. I'm sure with her father being a violinist, he would want Christine exposed to more than just his violin and get a feel for the differences each one held.

"Christine, I'm back." I called out to her after entering my front door. She didn't say anything in reply so I figured she fell asleep on my sofa where I had left her.

I walked into the living room only to prove what I assumed, wrong. She was standing with her back turned to me and her hand in her pocket.

"Christine?" I asked a little confused as to why she was just standing there without acknowledging my return. Perhaps her voice was doing badly again and she needed more tea to help her throat.

"Hello, Erik." No, her voice was fine and just as lovely as ever. I had to close my eyes and savor the sound of my name on her pink lips. I had a strange impulse to kiss her lips and devour the words she spoke, but I denied it, knowing I was not meant to experience such privileges.

"I have notified the managers that you are not showing up for rehearsals, so it looks like you have no choice but to stay down here for the rest of day; unless you had something else in mind?"

"No I'm fine being here."

"It sounds like your voice is doing better."

"Yes it is. The tea you gave me for breakfast really helped. Thank you." I found it hard to fully concentrate on her response because I wondered what was in her pocket; there was a visible bulk that that was in the shape of a square and her hand was fidgeting inside next to it. The tone of her voice also sounded maybe…nervous?

"You're welcome." I brought my attention away from her odd actions and then left the room to go get my violin.

I came back with it in its case and set it down on the coffee table to open it. Christine stood in the same spot she was in when I had found her after returning, and still never took her hand out of her pocket.

"I want to show you something Christine, come here." I said while motioning for her to come see. She had on a smile and I figured she knew exactly what it was that I was going to show her by the look of her face.

She was coming towards me rather quickly but suddenly stopped in her path and began to speak. Her expression was one that showed she realized something and it seemed important.

"Um, one second, I really need to go in my room real quick; it will only take a second." She looked frantic and didn't give me any room to confirm her words, then took off in the direction of her bedroom.

It didn't take long for her to return and when she did, her hand was out of her pocket and there was no square bulk in there either.

I had already opened the case and tuned up the violin to show her. When she walked to my side she gasped at what she saw

"Oh, it's so exquisite! If My papa were here he would love to see this!" she reached out her hand and gently ran her fingers across the smooth wood. I couldn't help but smile, I was proud of my idea to show her this, she seemed ecstatic.

"Can you play?" she looked up from the violin and turned her gaze to me.

"Yes."

"Then please; play something for me!" The excitement in her voice was no secret and I wanted to keep her pleased so I picked up the fine instrument and began to play a simple waltz. She went to the sofa and sat down. I watched her carefully while I played, I wanted to memorize every reaction she made during the song and remember her facial expressions. She was so enticing and I wanted to embed that moment permanently into my brain.

She concentrated on my fingers that were sliding up and down the finger bored and her eyes remained very focused until the song was over. When it ended, the only noise left in the room was the whispering from the fireplaces flames, and then she spoke.

"Angel…or Erik, that was very beautiful. Do you…well do you think you could teach me how to dance to a waltz?"

I was shocked at her words and hoped it didn't show on my face. Teach her to dance? I had never danced with a girl before, the only experience I had, came from reading books. But I found I could not deny Christine anything; how could I say no to her pleading blue eyes? So I put my violin down on the table and tried to mentally refresh my brain on what to do first.

"I would be happy to show you how, Christine." I hoped that my words came out confident, but I was so nervous that I was sure trepidation came out in full volumes instead.

I held out my hand for her to take; when she grabbed it and stood up, I pulled her closer to me, causing her body to be held against mine. I placed her hand that I held, on my shoulder and grabbed the other, bringing it out beside us to about the level of our eyes. My hands were shaking and my knees became weak as I placed my free hand on her waste. My heart was pounding and threatening to break out of my chest.

As I began leading her around the room I looked into her eyes and felt my soul melt at her feet. I never wanted to let her leave my arms; I wanted to hold her for as long as we both existed on earth, and then even after we were gone.

The only music we had was the sound of a crackling fireplace, which was more than enough for me. Her skin glowed in its light and illuminated all of her soft and angelic features.

After a few steps, I felt a light pressure on my foot and the bewitching girl in front of me stumbled slightly.

"I'm sorry Erik! I won't step on your foot again!" he cheeks were now red and she looked down at our feet, flustered. I couldn't help but find this amusing and rather adorable.

"Don't worry about it, you didn't hurt me at all and I would be happy to have my foot stepped on a thousand times if it meant dancing with you." I couldn't believe that I had just let that slip from my mouth! It was much to bold of me, surly I ruined the moment and she would never want to dance with me again!"

But my worries quickly came to a halt when she looked up at me with sweet eyes and gave a small giggle. I felt my nerves relax, and my hands and knees quit shaking. I matched her giggles with a smile and then spoke up again.

"Do you think you're catching on to the steps yet?" She seemed to be dancing smoother now, and the movement of her feet were becoming more accurate with mine.

"Yes." She said with a never ceasing grin.

"Good!" as I said that I pulled her away from me and spun her around causing her to laugh even harder than before.

"Angel! You didn't warn me that you were going to spin me!" She said in-between giggles.

"But you caught on quickly." I argued back with words that shook with laughter.

After I said that, Christine suddenly stopped dancing and stared at me with an expression I couldn't read. Did I somehow offend her?

"Erik, your laugh is very beautiful." Her lips began to move to opposite sides, creating a smile that grew with every word she spoke.

I didn't say anything in response. It was too unbelievable that she called my laugh beautiful. Instead, I just swooped her back into my arms and started to dance again causing her to go back into a fit of giggles.

How I loved holding her! Was it normal to feel this way? Or perhaps was it Christine I loved? That seemed more correct; yes. I loved Christine.

Sooo I decided that instead of ten reviews, I would be ecstatic about getting 6 and update early tomorrow-even one word reviews totally count :)

But thanks to everyone who has even read my story and is following it. Your support means a lot and makes me happy that my hard work is reaching other people's eyes.

Thanks!