Chapter 3

Previously on Really Not That Different:

"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 your 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.

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Christine sat against the cool of the stained glass window, letting the chill from the brisk outside air work it's magic on her heated skin. The entire opera house intended to hunt down Erik and end his reign over the opera house once and for all; such endeavors lead by Raoul. His fierce protectiveness over Christine continued to fuel his desire for the capture of the Opera Ghost. She placed her head in her hands as she remembered the ending of the Masq Bal:

The performers suddenly stopped singing as a large bass interrupted the joyful music, at the top of the staircase a very daunting Red Death presented himself in all his glory. Making his way down the stairs he greeted all the performers before him, before presenting them with his newest creation Don Juan Triumphant. He continued down the stairs expressing to the group how his theater would be ran and how the opera would be conducted and each persons part in His opera.

Christine couldn't take her eyes off of him, she hadn't even felt Raoul leave her side as she stood mesmerized by the beauty before her. After Erik's tirade upon the rest of the cast he turned to Christine, his dark eyes seemed to soften as they turned to her. "And as for our star, Miss Christine Daae…no doubt she'll do her best it's true her voice is good...she knows; though if she wish to excel she has much still to learn if pride will let her return to me…her teacher," Erik pointed to himself at the gasps that sounded through the crowded room.

Christine slowly approached Erik during his song and now stood only steps away from him as his attention was brought back to her beautiful brown eyes. Time again seemed to stand still as they gazed at one another; the shimmer of something caught Erik's attention causing him to look down at the ring held just above her breasts by a single gold chain. The hurt on Erik's face may have been hid by the full mask he wore but the hurt in his eyes was visible and deep to his soul. As he kept her eyes something in the background caught his attention, the swift movement of the boy who had stolen his angel's affections came charging at him. Turning from her, Erik retreated to the top of the stairs disappearing into a cloud with Raoul close on his heels.

Christine sighed as she shook her head, the look in his eyes after seeing her engagement ring was more than she could bear. Silent tears ran down her face at the thought of betraying Erik with their terrible plan, she knew he could not help but show if she was going to perform. They would be ready and waiting for her signal to capture him and turn him over to the authorities; at the climax she was to remove his mask to prove it was the Opera ghost. A sob escaped her lips as she stood up and began to pace.

A light rapping at the door startled her and she turned quickly watching as Raoul entered the chapel immediately coming to her side, "Little Lotte, are you alright?"

No words would form in her mind, silent tears continued to stream down her cheeks as she nodded to him. Raoul brought the pad of his thumb up to wipe away the stray tears from her face, "I promise you, he will never haunt you again. I will protect you Little Lotte."

"Don't make me do this Raoul, I can't…I won't!" Christine exclaimed pressing his hand away from her as she turned from him. "I won't do it…"

"Christine…." Raoul replied sighing, "You have to…this won't work without you sweetheart. You are the only one who has seen his face…he calls to you only; you would know him anywhere. If he comes on the stage you don't have to do anything, just give me a nod…I'll be waiting in Box 5 so I can see the entire stage. I promise I will protect you Christine!"

Christine shook her head moving further away from him, "What if he doesn't come? What if I can't tell it's him?" She asked turning quickly a challenging look in her eyes.

Raoul shook his head moving slowly, taking her hands in his he looked directly into her eyes, "He will show and you'll know it the moment he does, don't stress yourself my love. After this is all over…we can be married and leave this place." Raoul explained beaming a bright smile at her.

Christine pulled her hands away from him, "Leave? Leave the opera house?"

"Of course! You don't expect to work here do you? You're to be a Vicomtess…" Raoul reminded her, "My wife will know the life of luxury and never have to worry about anything again. I will take care of you until my dying day." He replied hugging her tightly to console her.

Christine didn't return the hug, she knew that marrying Raoul would mean a different life but she didn't know he intended to take her away from everything she was and knew to become his bride. Raoul pulled back and smiled at her, "You should go prepare, we've only little time until this evening's performance and finally we will be free of this monster." Winking at her he lead her to the door encouraging her with a squeeze to her hand, Christine refused to turn back to acknowledge him quickly making her way to her dressing room.

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Christine's Dressing Room

Annette knocked softly on Christine's door before entering; glancing around the room she found the little song bird starring intently at the large mirror at the far end of her dressing room. "He isn't there…" She said softly.

Christine wiped her tears away and nodded to Annette, "I know…I just wish…"

Annette moved quickly to her side holding the young woman, these two had experienced so much hurt in such a short time it was terribly sad to see the pain they were putting each other through. Erik was intent on giving Christine her space as best as he could while still looking over her and Christine was still trying to find herself even though she knew where she belonged. "What do you plan on doing? Do you wish to go through with this plan or did you have something else in mind?"

Christine sniffled and shook her head, "I have to warn him so he won't come…"

"He would come anyways," Annette shook her head, "If he did or didn't know he would still come just to have one last chance to be by your side my dear."

"What do I do?" Christine asked, hoping the older woman had some wisdom to impart on her.

"Follow your heart my dear…you will know what to do." Annette said softly tucking a stray hair behind her ear and straightening the young woman's costume.

Christine took a deep breath and nodded to the woman as she followed her to the door, this was her choice.

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Don Juan Triumphant

Christine's heart was in her throat since the beginning of the performance, there were guards surrounding the entire auditorium and stage. She hadn't seen any sign of Erik and was somewhat relieved that he was staying away from the performance; he was smart enough to see the welcome party that was waiting for him and choose to stay away and out of sight. A contented sigh escaped her lips as the climax of the opera began, taking a deep peaceful breath she let her eyes drift to box 5 shaking her head 'no' as she sang the opening of the song, "No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy, no dreams within her heart but dreams of love…" Christine took her seat and patiently observed a rose in the basket she held.

As the men began their part Christine's heart sank into her stomach, it was him Raoul was right she would know his voice anywhere. Attempting to remain calm Christine continued to concentrate on the rose in her hand until it was time to acknowledge him.

Erik made his way onto the stage with such grace and poise, he was truly magnificent, "You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge, in pursuit of that wish, which till now has been silent,
silent . . ." As Erik brought his finger to his lips Christine thought she would go insane, she knew she had to turn towards him but she also knew once she saw him she would give him away; she only hoped she was a good enough actress to remain in character.

"I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge - in your mind you've already succumbed to me dropped all defenses completely succumbed to me - now you are here with me: no second thoughts, you've decided, decided . . ." Erik sang directly to Christine as she stood to face him now.

Watching intently as Erik approached her, his voice seeped deep into her soul at the sultry words sung to her. "Past the point of no return - no backward glances: the games we've played till now are at an end . . . Past all thought of "if" or "when" - no use resisting: abandon thought, and let the dream
descend . . ."

Erik moved past Christine to stand behind her, his hands moving to hold her body close to his as he continued, "What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us . . .? Past the point of no return, the final threshold - what warm, unspoken secrets will we learn? Beyond the point of no return . . ."

Realization dawned on Christine as she moved away from Erik to prepare her enterance, they had past the point of no return months ago and it was the reason she could never move on with Raoul because Erik was still a part of her and in her soul. Refusing to make eye contact with Raoul she began her own part, turning again to Erik, "You have brought me to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence, silence . . . I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why . . . In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining defenseless and silent - and now I am here with you: no second thoughts, I've decided, decided . . ."

Turning from Erik she began to climb the stairs towards the balcony above them, watching as Erik did the same thing across the stage. Their slow climb to the top was torturous for Christine; she only wanted to protect Erik and to right the wrong she had made so many months before. "Past the point
of no return - no going back now: our passion-play has now, at last, begun . . . Past all thought of right or wrong - one final question: how long should we two wait, before we're one . . .? When will the blood begin to race the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames, at last, consume
us . . .?"

As the two reached the top of the stairs Raoul became increasingly worried, Christine wasn't giving them any indication if this was the murderous beast they so desperately wanted to capture and it was nearing the finale. He slowly began to stand hoping to get a better look at the man across from his fiancée.

As Erik and Christine reached the top of the stairs they slowly began to sing in unison as they started towards one another across the balcony. Each step seemed to last a lifetime, "Past the point of no return the final threshold - the bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn . . . We've passed the Point of no return . . ." As they met in the middle Erik spun her slowly wrapping his strong arms around her as they finished their duet.

Below them surrounding the stage stood the guards at the ready for a signal as well as the rest of the cast all in a trance at the beauty and passion displayed by the two before them. Raoul's heart broke as he watched the passionate embrace before him; tears filled his eyes as he realized that his own fiancée preferred the arms of this half man to the safety and security of his own. Lowering his gaze he couldn't bear to watch the scene before him anymore, it made him sick to his stomach. Turning from the stage he retreated out of box 5, the guard following him awaiting his instructions.

Christine turned slowly in Erik's arms making eye contact with him, taking a few deep breaths she tried to find the words to say to make him understand how she felt. Tears began to fall lightly as she sang to him, "I laugh, I love, I hope, and 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."

Erik didn't need to hear anything else, taking her in his arms he kissed her lips passionately pushing the pain and torment he'd been through since she had left out of his body. Pulling back slightly he rested his forehead against hers when the need to breathe became an issue, the sound of an erupting crowd didn't even phase the two lovers as they continued to hold one another.

"I love you…" She whispered to him kissing his lips again, "I love you so much…I'm.."

Erik silenced her with another kiss, "I love you too my Angel."

A/N: Legal stuff first- Point of No Return belongs to ALW and POTO. Lyrics belong to Collin Raye. I love EC and songs always go well with great couples so that's why I include a lot of songs in my writing. Thank you for the reviews and support. You are all so wonderful; I have one more song fic in progress right now before I post the 2nd installment for my story Angel in my Eyes. Leave love or hate just let me know you're reading it. Always, Lady