Hey guys! I know it took forever to get this chapter up, and I appreciate the patience for those of you who have been waiting a while. I've been back in college for a few weeks now and things have been hectic, but I finally found time to write the anticipated third chapter! I'll tell you, its rather short but I promise the next chapter will be longer and it won't be so long in coming. Keep in mind, I still don't own the rights to any of the songs I use or any of the characters, or the Phantom of the Opera itself. I WILL BE SURE TO CITE WHAT SONGS I USED AT THE END OF THE STORY AND THEIR ARTISTS SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK THEM UP IF THEY WANT! But for now enjoy chapter 3 and please continue to review!

A New Life

Chapter 3: Reconciliation

Christine.

The sound of his voice lingered as the two stood, staring at one another in the silence. Christine's eyes grew wide and she opened her mouth as if to say something and then simply fell, sobbing at her angel's feet.

"I-I'm so s-sorry," she choked, "I-I n-never meant to h-hurt you, p-please..."

The phantom stared at the woman he once loved, begging and crying at his feet on the glass strewn ground. It broke his heart to see her cry like this, but he couldn't get his hopes up, not yet. He had to be sure that this wasn't another trick.

"What are you doing here, Miss. Daae?" He asked coldly.

His words stung bitterly, and Christine looked up at him with eyes wide and glossy with tears.

"I-I, I came back to find you!" She replied pleadingly, "The moment I left with him I realized how grave a mistake I had made! How cruel of me it was to abandon the man who raised me, who taught me everything I know, the man I love, on some childhood dream."

Christine reached for his hand as she spoke, and held it in her own as she poured all of her regret and love through the contact between their bodies. As she spoke, at first he had no obvious response but when she called him the man she loved his eyes widened in shock. When she took his hand, he looked down in disbelief as she began singing to him as he'd often dreamed she some day would.

Here I am, this is me, there is no where else on Earth I'd rather be. Here I am, it's just me and you, tonight we'll make our dreams come true. It's a new world, it's a new start, it's alive with the beating of young hearts. It's a new day, it's a new plan, I've been waiting for you, here I am.

As she finished singing, a single tear ran down his cheek. Christine stood up and wiped the tear away and smiled slightly as she cupped the scarred side of his face in her hand.

"I love you, Angel, I'll never leave you again." She whispered.

Then she was kissing him, tenderly wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his as he responded to her lips. She would never forget his taste as she kissed his soft lips and inhaled his scent; candle wax, parchment, and a distinctly male scent that she could only identify as his natural musk. Hesitantly she moved her tongue into his mouth and carefully coaxed him into her own mouth, he wrapped his strong arms around her tightly and she prayed he would never let her go. But he did, all too soon.

The two lovers stood, gazing into each others eyes, for a moment and then he reached up and brushed the tear tracks from her face.

"Christine you came back." He stated simply.

She smiled and pressed herself into his chest while he, once again, wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek on the top of her head.

"Yes I did, and I'm never leaving you again... that is unless you've realized you don't want me anymore?" She asked hesitantly, pulling away from him to read his face, there was no sign of the coldness she had witnessed earlier but she could still see the trace of pain in the dark depths of his eyes. He looked down upon her in shock and then crushed her to him.

"I could never not want you Christine, you are my every reason for living."

With that the two kissed again, but Christine faltered this time and pulled away. Her angel looked confused as she held her hand to her head and her eyes fluttered rapidly.

"Angel I-" She began, but didn't have a chance to finish as everything faded to black around her and her legs gave out beneath her.

"Christine, NO!" Was the last thing she heard before unconsciousness overtook her, his arms catching her just she hit the ground.

Well, what'd everyone think? Chapter 4 should be up pretty soon but I can't say exactly when, just that I'm working on it :-) Please review and let me know how you think this chapter went! Thanks everyone! Happy Valentine's Day!