Chapter 2

Previously on Really Not That Different:

She explained the confusion quite evident on his face. Before she lost her strength she continued, "And us…Erik you and I are just much too different we're from two separate worlds…"

"Christine…" he began softly, his husky voice heavy with emotions. "Look behind your own soul and the person that you'll see…just might remind you of me."

A slight tremble seeped into his voice as he lifted her face to meet his eyes Erik softly sang to her, "I laugh…I love…I hope and I try…" Erik moved closer to her as he continued, "I hurt…I need…I fear and I cry." Grabbing her hand he turned her to face him once more, "And I know you do the same things too, so we're really not that different…me and you." His last words hung in the air like a prayer as Erik leaned closer to her intent on tasting her sweet lips just once.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Christine's Room

Christine paced restlessly in her room; the train of her evening dress getting caught on the lay back chair in her path. The past two months seemed like a dream, a dream she could only sit back and watch as it played out directly in front of her eyes. It started out so innocently the day after her last meeting with Erik, Raoul had come to her after her performance to take her to dinner as he had promised. Christine lowered her head as she recalled the whole event; their conversation started out innocently enough, discussing the missing years since they had been apart and their current situations. Raoul gave her a step by step run down of all members of his family and his current business propositions as well as how his family became the patrons of the Opera Popular; in turn Christine gave him an edited version of her life right now. Christine made sure to leave her tutor out of her explanation claiming Madame Giry introduced her to her childhood friend whom was a musical genius.

Christine continued to pace in her room idly playing with the gold chain that now rested around her neck. Raoul had been so sweet and attentive to her, especially after Monsieur Andre and Firmin decided that Carlotta would reclaim her Prima Donna status in the current production. When he came to her and proposed she was so shocked she couldn't answer, with her silence Raoul believed she was overly excited and unable to answer. She couldn't bring herself to wear it on her finger, for fear of Erik seeing the bauble on her ring finger. Christine lifted the ring from her chest and just starred at it, growing up she had always dreamed of loving someone more exotic and Erik just didn't seem to fit the part. Raoul was her childhood sweetheart and a very smart match for any woman of her status in society; it would also make her father proud to know she would be taken care of by a wonderful man for the rest of her life. But Erik was still there in her mind, and even though she was searching for greener pastures with Raoul she could never forget those words Erik had sang to her before her left.

"I laugh, I love, I hope, I try. I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things, too. So we're really not that different, me and you."

Christine shook her head to clear the words from her mind, tonight was the Bal Masque and Raoul would be along shortly to escort her. Glancing around the room she sighed, Carlotta would be reclaiming her room this evening as well and Christine would be returned to her place in the dormitory with the rest of the young women of the theater. Turning slowly she starred at the mirror that had become her and Erik's secret passageway to their own secret haven; she slowly approached the mirror wondering if he was watching her tonight. Closing her eyes she placed her hand on the mirror, believing that he was on the other side doing the same thing.

"Christine…" A male voice sounded through her room followed by two knocks her on door, Raoul entered her doorway and offered his hand for her to lead her downstairs.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Erik's lair

Erik sighed as he sat back in his chair, he was attempting to waste time until it was the right time for him to make his appearance. He had already dressed in his Red Death costume and prepared his evening, now the only thing left was time…like every other night alone in this private hell. Leaning his head back he took a deep breath; the sense of someone caused him to sit up slowly and scanned the immediate area his eyes falling quickly on Madame Giry.

Annette nodded to him as she maneuvered her way to his resting place, "You look nice, I'll assume you plan on making an appearance tonight?" She asked softly moving to stand beside him.

Erik nodded, "I did not train Christine's voice to sit second to the croaking of Carlotta, I'll present them my opera and my demands." He explained standing quickly and picking up the black satchel that contained his newest work, presenting it to Annette as he moved to put on his cape.

"Don Juan Triumphs?" She read carefully, running her hand over the lettering. "I'll assume you'll be playing the part of Don Juan?" She questioned raising an inquisitive eyebrow to him.

"No, I wrote this for Christine…" He explained tying his cape in place and adjusting his skull mask.

"Erik…mon ami you can not keep obsessing about her, she has moved on with the patron." Annette reminded him, attempting to get through to him. His obsession could prove to be a violent and deadly one if he continued down this path.

Raising his head slowly he connected eyes with Annette, "Have you ever been in love?" At her nod he continued, "Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable... It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses; you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person… Christine, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you." Annette watched him, his heart breaking right before her eyes. She wanted to interrupt him but there was something so personal about what he was saying there was nothing she could add to make it any better for him. Erik continued as he began to pace around the room, "They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' or 'were much too different' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain… I hate love." He sighed and lowered his head, accepting his opera back from Annette as she squeezed his arm silently conveying her understanding. Erik patted her hand, "I have to go, it's almost time…" Annette nodded and offered a simple smile, "Be safe, mon ami."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

At the Bal Masque

Christine and Raoul made their rounds about the entire room, conversing with the owners of the theater and the many important people who attended this evening. Christine did her best to hide her frustration with the entire situation; she was more arm candy than anything. Any time she attempted to add her opinion to a conversation she would be laughed at, Raoul even had the audacity to explain how 'These types of conversations were for gentlemen, she shouldn't worry her beautiful face with such conversation' she repeated in her head. Smiling sweetly at the group she quickly excused herself from the conversation, explaining she needed to freshen up.

Practically stomping away from the group she made her way outside to the balcony for some fresh air; this entire situation was not going how she intended. Christine was invisible to everyone in the theater now with Carlotta back, somehow without her consent she had become engaged to a man she obviously didn't know anymore. The worst was now she was being treated as though she was a little child playing in a grown ups world, and she was angry!

Making her way to the balcony ledge she looked out over, the brisk night air feeling wonderful against her heated skin. Suddenly the warmth of a cloak was placed around her shoulders as the familiar scent of roses floated into the air surrounding her. Christine turned slowly towards her visitor; she wasn't surprised to see Erik standing in front of her his costume startling her at first. "I knew it was you…"

Erik nodded to her, his face expressionless, "I have a gift for you…" He replied revealing the opera to her.

Gently running her hands over the cover she brought her eyes to his, those beautiful green eyes that she had missed so much in the last two months. "Is this your new work?"

Erik nodded to her, "The lead is for you, I will not allow your talents to be wasted in the chorus."

"Erik, why?" She asked watching as he pulled away the satchel and lowered his head slightly. Christine leaned down a bit to catch his eyes, "After all I've done to you…"

"I love you…" He whispered, bringing his gaze up to meet hers. "But when I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're an amazing woman Christine." Watching her for a moment he could hear the band begin to play the entrance for the song "Masquerade" and knew it was his cue. Christine watched him; his words were like daggers to her soul and the pain she heard in his voice was the hardest thing to hear from a strong man like Erik. "Erik I…" With one last glance he brushed his hand against the softness of her cheek interrupting her, "I have to go…" With that he turned on his heel retreating back towards the back staircase to prepare for his entrance.

Watching him go Christine pulled his cloak around her shoulders tightly, the scent invading her senses and increasing the pain she felt in her heart. Those sweet words continued to plague her mind, 'I laugh, I love, I hope, I try. I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things, too. So we're really not that different, me and you.'

"There you are Little Lotte," The soft voice of her fiancée sounded from behind her. "We must get you inside before you catch you death…" He replied, oblivious to the origin of the cloak that she clung to so desperately as he lead her back into the party to observe the rest of the performance.

A/N: Really Not that Different lyric by Collin Raye, and both quotes are named under Joss Whedon if you search for them. Really hope you enjoyed this update, let me know what you think. Leave love or hate just let me know what you think of it. There is only one chapter left. Hope you enjoy…Always, Lady