Oh god thank you to everyone who has been reviewing/PMing me about this story! I love all of your kind words and questions because they just make me want to keep writing this story forever! Anyway, I will try to get to the end of this story in eleven days, however I have a feeling that I will not be able to do that. So therefore my updating might become a little slower due to schoolwork (unless I can access this website on my schools computer! :) ) Also, I thank each and every one who have grown to hate Raoul and love Christine/Erik together!

Your obedient servant,

PhantomsAngel1870

Chapter 15: Broken Hearts and Winter's Fight

They had finally arrived to the cemetery. From where Christine sat in the carriage she could barely see her father's mausoleum and knew that it would be a good distance of walking until she would finally make it to her father once more. Subconsciously her grip on the roses grew tighter as she thought of what her father would be thinking of her actions in this past year and for once Christine couldn't help but let the tears fall freely. She needed her father more than ever now that she was in a fight she didn't know how to handle.

She sat thinking some more of what her father would be thinking of her and barely noticed Erik come and hold his hand out for her like the proper gentleman he was—Christine couldn't help but smile as she knew that if anyone would be able to help her get through this visit it would be Erik. So as she stood up she gently held his hand and allowed him to coax her body out of the carriage but grasping her waist and lifting her out before securely tying her cloak around her shoulders to keep the chill from her body.

They set off to the entrance of the cemetery and as they entered Christine silently motioned the sign of the cross on her body. Growing up in a Christian family Christine knew to pay her respect to her God when entering a sacred ground such as a cemetery or church. To some, a cemetery would be the least sacred ground but Christine knows that there are so many histories behind each of the tombstones marking names and dates, some holding vague summaries of the dead's accomplishments. But Christine knew that there was more than just what the tombstones showed—there was always another side to the story.

Christine glanced at Erik and saw his normal stoic form begin to falter ever so slightly, she knew how much her father meant to her but she almost forgot that the same man that she called a father was once Erik's closest friend and companion before his death. With as much courage as she possessed Christine began to talk of her father once more, it is what was needed in this situation and she knew that she had to be strong for not only herself but for Erik now as well.

"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her father promised her that he would send her the Angel of Music. Her father promised her…her father promised her…" She allowed her voice to be a carried whisper, she could hear the wind caressing each of the words she spoke which only caused the sadness to be emphasized more than she expected. With the roses in her right hand and her left arm hooked in the crook of Erik's right arm she watched Erik's reaction to her words—she saw even more emotion and it pained Christine to see him on the verge of tears. But this is what they both needed, everyone needs to vent the pain of the past for how else will they ever be able to set Gustave fear and stop mourning his absence on this Earth. It astounded Christine so much when she heard Erik begin to sing for the person that meant so much to them that she began to join in the song as well.

"You were once our one companion

You were all that mattered

You were once a friend and father

Then our world was shattered

Wishing you were somehow here again

Wishing you were somehow near

Sometimes it seemed if we just dreamed

Somehow you would be here

Wishing we could hear your voice again

Knowing that we never would

Dream of you won't help us to do

All that you dreamed we could!

Passing bells and sculpted angels,

Cold and monumental.

Seem, for you, the wrong companions,

You were warm and gentle.

Too many years fighting back tears,

Why can't the past just die!

Wishing you were somehow here again

Knowing we must say goodbye

Try to forgive, teach us to live!

Give us the strength to try!

No more memories, no more silent tears!

No more gazing across the wasted years!

Help us say goodbye…

Help us say goodbye!"

Christine and Erik finally made it to the steps of Gustave Daae's mausoleum by the end of their lament to the man that inspired them to do so much with their lives. He was the one that began to teach them about music and not a day goes by that either of them don't think about his lessons that they would give to them. Even though Gustave knew Erik and Christine at different points in their lives both of the young people knew that he was bound to have introduced them to each other had his life not been short lived and taken away from them as suddenly as it was.

Erik stood there gazing at the resting place of the man that had taught him so much, who had rescued him from the darkness that began to grow around him. Gustave was the light that pulled him away from the evil that began rooting itself into his body and soul—and Erik is indebted to the man for saving him before it was too late. A stifled sob from Christine broke Erik out of his reverie of his old companion and he saw how she shed tears for the father who is not here anymore. This reminded Erik of a small song he had composed for Christine when she was younger and he felt it would be best to sing it for her now than to leave her alone in her own darkness. So as Erik moved himself behind her and hugged her close he began his lullaby.

"Wandering child,

So lost, so helpless

Yearning for my guidance."

Christine immediately recognized the little lullaby that she would hear the nights in the oepar house when she could not sleep because of the fresh wounds of losing her father. That same song would help her be able to go to sleep and know that there was another day ahead of her—another day where she would be needed by people, where should be helpful and be useful. That was her only motivation, the man behind her now was the only reason that she continued to live on her life because he was the only one to give her a reason to live. So with a smile saddened smile on her face she continued her part in the song that she would sing along with him when she was alone in the chapel.

"Angel of Music

Friend and phantom

Where are you there, staring?"

Erik smiled as he heard the words to their small duet, he was ecstatic that Christine remembered the first song that they had written together those first months that she had arrived to the Opera Populaire. It will make things much easier to help her now that he knew that she remembered this song for it was only this song that was able to make her stop crying when she was scared, and so he continued with his part in a soft humored voice.

"Have you forgotten your Angel?"

Christine smiled a little more as she thought over the question Erik had just sang to her. How could ever dare to think about forgetting her Angel of Music, her Erik. He was the only source of light and happiness in this cold dark world in which they lived in. He was the only person that she ever wanted to be with, and now at her father's grave, Christine was never surer of a decision in her life. With a new feeling of love for the man behind her Christine turned around and faced him before continuing on with the song.

"Angel, oh, speak

What endless songs

Echo in this whisper…"

Christine's eyes wandered over Erik's face imploring him with unspoken questions with answers and reassurances that she so desperately needed to hear proclaimed from his lips. She lightly touched Erik's cheek and saw his deep blue eyes swim with the love that he had for her and soon all her worries were washed away as he held her hand against his cheek. But Christine knew that their song was still continuing and she waited for Erik's reply.

"Too long you've wandered in winter

Far from my loving gaze…"

Erik caressed each word trying to reach out to Christine to let her know that will always be there for her no matter what happened to either of them. And when she leaned closely and sang with a passion that he was unaware that she contained it awakened feelings in the both of them that they were not aware were there as they sang together.

"Wildly my mind beats with you…

You can't resist

And your/my soul obeys…

Angel of Music!

You chose me/I chose you

Turning to true beauty

Angel of Music!

Please stay with me/My protector

I won't leave you/your strange Angel…

I am your angel of music…

Stay with me my angel of music…"

The two lovers were about to seal their promise with a kiss but as their lips begin to brush something awoke them out of their trance they had surrounded around to two of them. Something was wrong and they both knew that it wasn't good but it was too late for them to go hiding and so all Erik could do was hold Christine close and tell her that he loved her so much. Christine in return held him tightly as well, returning the embrace fully as they awaited to see the face that belonged to the crunching footsteps that came quickly in their direction.

However, Erik had a feeling he knew just who the owner of the footsteps were and so he kissed Christine on the forehead reassuringly and hid by Gustave's mausoleum and awaited for the intruder to make himself present.

Christine stood there waiting anxiously, scared, and slightly curious to the strange way that Erik had reacted to the person coming their way. For a minute Christine just sighed and waited and when she noticed the bouquet still in her hand she slowly walked up the steps of her father's final resting place and laid them down at the door hoping that whatever happens next that it will not end in bloodshed upon her father's grave.

Raoul had finally made it to Christine before it was too late. He had heard the voice of the man that was defiling his Christine through singing to her to gain her trust. What disgusted him even more was that he was using the persona of the Angel of Music, the same story that Gustave Daae had told Christine as she grew up ever since from a little child, to gain her trust. He had to put a stop to this and if it was ever going to be done, it needed to be done now. So as he ran up to Christine he grabbed her by the arm and yelled at her.

"No, Christine, wait!"

"Raoul?!" Christine was genuinely shocked to see the identity of the person. She had not expected Raoul to be up this early, or even come to a cemetery that held no family members of his. All of the DeChagny were buried with their own family in a private cemetery on some land that they own outside of Paris. She was always surprised by the way that he had forcefully grabbed her arm—no one had ever tried to put themselves on her and Christine did not care being treated in such a way.

"Whatever you believe, this man—this thing—is not your father!" Raoul exclaimed the news to Christine as he pulled her away from her father's grave. Raoul didn't care about paying his respects to the man that had taken Christine away from him, they could've grown up together and been married by now it it wasn't for the man now laying cold in his grave before him. If Christine were not here presently Raoul knew that he would have yelled and screamed at the man for ruining his life. But for now he must get his Christine away from this place, out of this city.

Christine herself wanted to ever so badly roll her eyes at Raoul. She began to open her mouth to explain to him that she knew that her father's spirit was not guiding her and that she knew who it was—and that she loved him more than she could and would ever love Raoul—but before she could say anything a gasp escaped her lips as she saw Erik jump out of hiding with a sword in his hand as he began to fight Raoul.

They were both very were taught in the art of fencing, from what Christine could tell, but what she couldn't stand was how Raoul was fighting—not to "save" her—but for the right to own her. Christine hated the idea of being a trophy wife. She didn't want to be towed around to different parties and gatherings to be showed off as some sort of reward for Raoul's "valiant" behavior and deeds he did for the Opera Populaire. She knew that if she had ever decided to marry him that her career would be gone and the only things that she would be useful for were to birth children, gossip, and plan gatherings. The aristocratic lifestyle just was not made for her.

The two men were still fighting and to Christine's relief she saw that Erik held the upper hand at this point. But all too soon things changed in the blink of an eye as Raoul pushed him onto the floor and had the intent of impaling the man before him. Raoul saw the chance to end the life of the man that was stealing his Christine away from him and he would be damned in his would be stopped now.

"No, Raoul! No," Christine yelled as she rushed over to the men. Raoul looked up as he saw Christine running towards them. He began to put away his sword as he knew that she had finally come to her senses and will decide to marry him and leave this past behind the both of them. He knew that it would have only taken a little persuasion before she saw the light once more. But to his surprise the Phantom had regained his sword in the absence of Raoul's defense and had cut his arm and lip. Raoul hissed in pain and by the time that he had pulled his sword out he was not facing the Phantom as he expected but was now facing Christine.

"Not like this," Christine said to Raoul. She watched several emotions play across his face as she pulled her hand back behind her to retrieve Erik's hand. Without leaving Raoul's stare Erik held onto Christine's hand tightly and squeezed it gently as the only act of reassurance he could give her right now. It seemed to Christine and Erik that Raoul was in shock for he was not moving nor blinking. Christine squeezed Erik's hand in return and walked up to Raoul and whispered, "Please. It's not worth it anymore, things have changed Raoul," and left with Erik.

Erik rushed Christine back to the carriage that had brought them here and immediately drove them back to the opera house to discuss what had just happened and how they were going to get through this little excursion now. Neither of them believed that they were being followed, it seemed that their plan was fool proof. But nonetheless Erik knew that he would do whatever it took to make sure that he and Christine were safe from the clutches of Raoul…his brother. Erik began to wonder if Raoul even knew about their common motherly lineage—if he didn't, Erik knew that he could use that information to his advantage.

Back at the cemetery Raoul had just gotten out of the shock of Christine's plea. He didn't expect his Christine to say such things to him, now this only proved more and more that the Phantom of the opera had some kind of hold on Christine and forced her to say such awful things to him. Yes, that was it. Raoul knew that he needed to go back to the opera house know, search out Madame Giry and tell her to bring in all the managers and to find Christine. He had to talk to Christine now because he knew exactly what he needed to do to end the charade with the Phantom once and for all—and the plan would only work if Christine participated, preferably willingly.

As he stood in the chilling winter cold Raoul watched as the Phantom took off with his Christine once again. The blood inside him began to boil once more and for once he let his anger out, there was no one out here to stop him for doing so. He cursed Gustave Daae, God, the Phantom of the Opera and even Christine aloud. It wasn't until he had finally regained a sense of pride and anger that he gave his ultimatum, "Now let it be war upon you both," before leaving to set his scheme into motion.

It was only when Raoul jumped back on the opera house's horse that he noticed his sword was missing.

Okay guys! Wow what a sword fight, and wow all those character's thoughts during this little journey to the cemetery. I know that if I was Christine I would have done the same thing too haha! Hmm, I wonder who took Raoul's sword, does anyone think they know?

What is this devious plan that Raoul has thought up? Will Christine willingly accept the terms and conditions that follow with it? I wonder what Erik is planning on doing now!

Please review, I would like to hear your thoughts/opinions/what you would like to see be said in the next chapter or done!