"I DREAM OF YOU NIGHT AND DAY

HOPING YOUR PRESENCE WON'T GO AWAY.

THINKING OF YOU WITHIN MY MIND

A CHERISHED THOUGHT THAT TAKES ITS TIME.

THE FEELING INSIDE NEVER WANTING ME TO LIVE

BUT I GAVE TO YOU ALL WHAT MY HEART COULD GIVE.

MY LOVE FOR YOU IS FOREVER STRONG

BUT YOUR LOVE FOR ME IS APPARENTLY GONE.

AN ANGEL ABOVE CAN'T COMPARE TO YOU

THAT'S WHY MY LOVE INCREASED AND GREW.

YOUR BEAUTY IS GRACFULLY SHOWN

A CRYSTAL DIAMOND, A KINDER STONE.

YOUR BODY SHINES BRIGHTLY LIKE THE STARS

FOREVER GLOWING OVER MY BURNING SCARS

THE LUSCIOUS LIPS, THE BEAUTIFUL EYES

REMINDS ME THAT I CAN TELL NO LIES.

JUST A FEW WORDS FROM YOUR PRECIOUS KISS

TELLS MY HEART WHY I WANT TO EXSIST.

I WOULD DIE TO SEE A SMILE UPON YOUR FACE

JUST A GLIMPSE OF IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE EMBRACE.

IT'S ALL MY FAULT,

I MADE SO MANY MISTAKES,

AND THE MORE I CREATE,

THE MORE MY HEART BREAKS.

I'M SO SORRY FOR ALL THIS,

I DIDN'T MEAN TO CAUSE YOU PAIN,

I NEVER WANTED TO HURT YOU,

THAT WHAT I AM TRYING TO EXPLAIN.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH,

YOU BRING MY WORLD TOGETHER,

ALL I CAN SAY NOW,

IS THAT I WANT TO BE WITH YOU FOREVERIT'S ALL DOWN TO YOU,

I DON'T WANT US TO BE APART

BUT IT'S YOUR CHOICE

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART"- Excerption straight from the diary of Christine Daae.

Christine's POV

It had been four long years, four extremely, never ending years. It was even longer without Erik's love. The only thing that kept me company was my daughter…My beautiful daughter. But even she reminded me of Erik. She tore things apart out of curiosity, she was an incredible artist for her age…..She was Erik. When I finally couldn't take Erik's rejection any longer, I left Eudora one night while she slept and headed to Erik's flat. It was late, but I knew he'd still be awake. I knew what we needed to get our relationship back to normal….We needed a holiday, a getaway. After a long amount of time arguing with him about it, he finally agreed, and we would be going to Paris. It had been many years since I was last there, and I knew Erik would enjoy the fresh air. I knew he missed Paris just as much as I did, and now we could visit together. Plus, I knew it would be fun for Eudora to wander around Paris with us. Yes, this would be a wonderful getaway.

A few days after Phantasma closed down, Eudora and I were told to meet Erik at the shipyard before sunrise. It was a cold November morning, and I could see my breath as I stood there with Eudora at my side with our luggage.

"When is uncle coming?" I heard her impatiently ask. "He said before sunrise. It's nearly day time."

"Eudora, your uncle said he would be here. Don't be inpatient."

"But it's cold, mother."

It was then, from out of the morning fog came Erik carrying his bags dressed in his heavy black jacket. It looked as if he were struggling with his luggage because of him having to carry his walking stick, so I immediately ran over to him.

"Here." I said taking a bag from his hand. "Let me help."

He didn't argue, and thanked me.

"You're late." I said walking beside him. "You're never late."

"Yes, well, I forgot my medicine."

He took our boarding passes out of his pocket, and handed them to me.

"Our rooms are right across from one another's." he stated. "We'll be able to keep each other company."

Once we reached Eudora, I picked up her bags and we walked towards the boarding ramp. There were so many people boarding the ship that it took an awfully long time to get where we were going. Sometimes my daughter fell behind, but Erik was there to pull her back over to us.

"Stay in line, Eudora." he would warn.

Our rooms were down stairs on the bottom floor. My room had two beds, and a small desk. When I looked back towards the door to see Erik, he pointed to the room right across the hall.

"That's my room, Christine. I'll come visit you once the ship gets out to sea."

With that, he walked out. Eudora placed her bags down on her bed, and looked over at me, her face filled with a look of worriment.

"Mother, how long will it take to get to Paris?"

"Probably two weeks."

"Two weeks?" she groaned. "It's going to be so boring."

I laughed.

"Not really, love. Besides, we'll have Erik to keep us company. He knows how to keep anyone occupied."

"Can we walk around?"

"When the ship gets out to sea, love. Right now, it's very crowded with people still trying to find their rooms."

I went to move my bags to the other side of the room, when I noticed a bag that wasn't mine mixed in with them.

"Eudora, is this yours?"

Eudora looked over from the bed, and shook her head.

"No, uncle must have left his bag here."

I picked up the middle weight bag, and walked out of my room to return it to Erik. I crossed the hall, and approached the closed door of his room.

"Erik?" I knocked, and waited for him to answer it.

A few seconds later, Erik was at the door, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

"You forgot your bag, silly." I teased.

Erik looked down at his bag, and opened his door.

"Yes, I've been looking for that. Bring it inside."

"What's in here, anyway?" I asked walking inside his one bedroom quarter.

"My toiletries and Morphine."

"Glad I found it then."

I placed the bag down on the bed, and turned to see him standing before me.

"You know, Erik, you could have shared a room with us."

"Not with two young ladies, Christine. You know what people would think if I did."

"I would feel safer if you were with us, Erik."

"Christine, please don't argue with me. Now do me a favor and go to your room. I must rest…Tonight we'll go to the cafe and get something to eat."

I didn't want to aggravate him any further, so I bid him goodbye and went back to Eudora. When the ship started moving, I was able to take Eudora to the top deck, where she sat on the deck playing dress up with her dolls Erik had bought her over the years.

"Mother, do you think they'll have dolls in Paris?" she asked me, brushing the blonde strands of her favorite doll.

"Of course they will. Paris has some of the most beautiful dolls I had ever seen."

"Really? And do they wear French clothes too?"

"Of course." I giggled. "And if you're good, I might even buy you a matching outfit."

Eudora liked this, and became even more excited about arriving in Paris.

"When can we see uncle?" she asked.

"In a while. He wanted to rest, Eudora."

"Why does he want to rest? Didn't he sleep last night?"

"Eudora, you know Erik gets tired because of his legs. He carried his luggage all the way from his flat to the ship."

Having my daughter beside me was like having a best friend. When it started getting colder out, we decided to go inside and get ready for dinner. I brushed my daughter's long, dark hair, and placed one of my old hair pieces into it.

"Can we get uncle now?" she impatiently asked.

"Yes." I giggled. "I'll go fetch him."

Before walking across the hall, I adjusted my dress, and turned to my daughter.

"How do I look?"

Eudora smiled.

"Like a princess."

I walked across the hall, and knocked on Erik's door. When he didn't answer, I knocked again.

"Erik, are you ready to go?"

The only thing I heard was silence. Why? Erik promised he was going to have dinner with us. Why wasn't he answering?

"Erik?"

I then took it upon myself, and opened the door to find him laying in bed leaning over the side, throwing up into a chamber pot.

"Erik? Are you sick?"

He looked up, and wiped his mouth.

"I…I need some air." he gasped.

I rushed to his side, and helped him sit up.

"Erik, what's wrong?"

"I….I can't do this, Christine. I…I need to get off this ship."

There was a slight rocking to the ship, but nothing I couldn't bear. On the other hand, Erik's weak stomach couldn't take it.

"Erik, do you want to go upstairs for a while. They have a lobby you could sit in."

He slightly nodded, and I handed him his jacket.

"Come on."

I helped him walk out of his room, and called for Eudora. She came running to the door, and looked up at Erik.

"What's wrong, mother."

"Come on, Erik needs some air."

I held onto Erik as I walked him up the stairs and into the main lobby to sit him down on the couch that was facing the ocean.

"Erik, I'm going to get something to settle your stomach. Are you going to be able to sit here for a few moments?"

He simply nodded, and I pulled Eudora to the café.

"Mother, what's wrong with uncle? He doesn't look so well."

"He has an upset stomach, love. I'm going to get him a cup of ginger ale."

While I was in the crowded café, I filled a tray of food up for my daughter and I while getting a cup of ginger ale for Erik. I knew he wasn't going to be able to keep any food down, not tonight anyway. Once back out in the lobby, I sat the tray down on a side table, only to realize that Erik was gone.

"Eudora, stay here."

My daughter nodded, and I walked out to the top deck in search of Erik. As I walked the freezing deck, I saw Erik leaning over the railings throwing up into the ocean. I ran over to him, and sympathetically rubbed his back. My poor angel….if I would have known this was bound to happen, I wouldn't have made him travel.

"That's it, Erik." I softly encouraged him. "Get it all out."

"I'm sorry." he apologized, straightening himself.

"For what?"

"Embarrassing you."

"You did nothing of the sort." I assured. "I had no idea the motion of the ship would make you sick."

"I have problems traveling by anything other than foot. When I traveled from Paris to Coney Island years ago, I was sick."

"I feel so bad for you, Erik. It was my idea to go to Paris, so I can't help but feel responsible for all of this."

"Don't be."

"Let's get back inside where it's warm, Erik. I brought you some ginger ale from the kitchen."

Erik agreed, and walked with me back inside where Eudora was indulging herself into the chocolate brownie that I had gotten for her dessert.

"Eudora….why are you eating your dessert? You haven't even touched your meal."

"I hate broccoli." she pouted, pushing away the bowl of steamed greens.

I sighed.

"You're so much like your father…."

"What?" she questioned.

Damn me! Why had I said something like that.

"Nothing. Now eat your dinner."

"But mother…"

It was that Erik chanted in.

"Eudora, listen to your mother."

This time Eudora listened, and I handed Erik his glass of ginger ale.

"That will settle your stomach."

As Erik drank his ale, I began to eat my broccoli.

"Erik, do you want something to eat? I could get you something."

"No, I'll stick to drinking the ale, thank you."

By the time my daughter finished eating, she was a complete mess. Her face was smeared in chocolate, and so were her fingers.

"Come on, Eudora, let's get back to the room."

I helped Erik up from his seat, and walked him to my room where I sat him down at the end of my bed.

"You should stay a while, Erik. Being with us might take the sickness in your stomach away."

Erik didn't argue, and relaxed as I tried to bathe our daughter. I tried to wash her as she splashed the water all about.

"Stay still, Eudora." I ordered. "You're getting me soaked."

"But mother, the ship is headed for a terrible storm." she played, kicking her arms about in the water. "If I stop splashing the water, the storm will end."

"Let it." I said, my tone getting a little angry. "You can play this game later, outside of the tub."

From behind me, I heard Erik softly laughing at how soaked I was getting.

"Don't laugh, Erik."

But he didn't stop. I then picked the water filled sponge up from the bottom of the tub, and playfully threw it at him. It hit his shirt, and Erik didn't hesitate a single moment on picking it up and throwing it back at me.

"Erik…." I giggled as he came forward and wrung out the sponge over my curls, causing my hair to become soaking wet.

"Erik…."

"You started it, Christine."

Now that I was completely drenched, I lifted our daughter out of the tub, and threw a towel around her body.

"Love, dry yourself off while I get your nightshirt from the bag."

As I rummaged through Eudora's luggage, I felt a towel being placed over my wet shoulders. When I turned, it was Erik who was doing it.

"Don't want you getting sick, Christine."

A small smile curved my lips, and I thanked him before pulling the purple night shirt from the bag.

"Here, Eudora." I slipped the garment over her head, began brushing her ebony hair.

"It's time for bed."

"But mother…."

"But nothing."

I lifted her small form up into my arms, and placed her beneath the sheets of the bed.

"Uncle, tell me a story. I do love your stories…."

"Oh, love, Erik is tired." I reminded her. "Perhaps another night."

But Erik stood up, and sat himself on the end of Eudora's bed.

"I'll do it, Christine. Just you go change yourself before you get sick."

"Erik, you don't have to."

"No, but I want to…" he promised me.

I didn't argue a moment more, and found myself behind the privacy drape, changing out of my wet dress, and listening to Erik and Eudora.

"Ok then, which one do you want to hear?" he asked her.

"You choose. Just make it a good one….."

I looked out from the privacy drape, seeing Erik's shadow cast among the wall from the candle that was burning on the night table.

"Have I ever told you the story about the three brothers?"

Eudora shook her tiny head cautiously.

"I haven't? Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"Well then, I guess our story has been picked."

I silently sighed as I slipped my night gown over my head, secretly watching and listening to Erik tell his story.

"When I lived in Persia, there was a story my friend used to tell his son. There were once three Persian brothers out wandering the desert. They came to a small cannon that no one ever dared to cross because death followed to whom ever attempted to. The brothers, being as smart as they were, made a bridge out of a rope they were carrying with them. Before they could cross, however, death appeared before them…."

I would have stopped Erik's story but Eudora didn't seem to mind how scary it was. She was completely interested, and didn't show one sign of fear….She was Erik's little girl….

"Death appeared, uncle? What did he say?"

"He congratulated the brothers for cheating him because no one ever had. Before letting them cross, he told the brothers that because they had outsmarted him, he would grant them each one wish. The oldest brother crossed first, and told death that he wanted the power to make any woman he desired love him. And so the wish was granted, and he crossed. The middle born brother crossed next, telling death that he wanted the power to bring loved ones back from the grave….And so the wish was grated, and he crossed the bridge as well."

"What did the youngest wish for?" Eudora gasped, hugging her doll close to her chest.

Erik smiled, and continued with his story.

"The youngest brother looked at death and with a smile, he wished for a cloak that make him invisible when ever it was draped around him, making it impossible for death to find him. And so, once again, the wish was granted and the youngest brother crossed. The brothers eventually separated and went their own ways. The oldest brother loved his power, and was able to get any woman he desired to love him. But he met his demise when the woman he had wooed turned out to be married. The husband found them both, and killed the older brother for laying with his wife….And so, death claimed the older brother. The middle born brother used his power to bring his wife back from the dead. He thought it was wonderful to have her back, but the wife didn't belong here and soon decayed before him. The brother became so depressed over the second death of his wife that he hung himself to be with her for all eternity….And so, death claimed the middle brother."

"Oh, what about the youngest, uncle….did death claim him too?"

Erik chuckled, and interlocked his hands with Eudora's who were tugging at his shirt.

"Eudora, calm down, little one…"

"Tell me, tell me, uncle…."

"The younger brother wore his cloak for many many years. In that time, death searched all over the land for the younger brother, but could not find him. When the younger brother became old and weak, he handed the cloak over to his son, and met death as an old friend…."

"The younger brother out smarted death…" Eudora exclaimed.

"Yes, because he was smart." Erik gently pushed Eudora back against the mattress. "Now go to sleep."

"Goodnight, uncle…I…I love you."

This had stopped my heart. It broke my soul in half to know that Erik was her real father, and yet Eudora loved him and she didn't even know. For years, I had been willing to tell her the truth, but Erik made me promise not to. When Eudora was fast asleep, I came out from behind the drape, and saw Erik standing near my bed.

"I…I should go."

"Let me walk you to your room."

He nodded, and we walked out into the hall.

"So who told you that story?" I kindly asked.

"It was Reza's favorite story…..My friend's child."

"Erik, you never told me you…."

"Because I didn't want you to know. I was living with a friend in Persia. He had saved my life and he had a sick child. I made him toys, and…..loved him. When Nadir was working, I took care of him, telling him his favorite stories….You know, he even asked me if I could possibly go to the son of the youngest brother and ask him if he could the invisibility cloak."

Erik looked down at his feet.

"And….and I said yes, I would do it."

"Erik, I'm sorry."

Erik looked back up at me with tears in his eyes.

"The boy was suffering and I wanted to end it. I made him pudding and placed a poison in it, one that would put him sleep and kill him peacefully. My friend agreed, and so, that night, I wrapped a cloak around him, telling him that death wouldn't be able to find him, and fed him the pudding…..Oh, Christine…."

"Erik…" I placed my hand over his cheek. "You did the right thing."

"Did I, Christine?"

I nodded.

"You're a good person, Erik. You're a great father, and a great man….." I paused, thinking about how to bring up the next subject. "Erik, I know Eudora loves you, and I can't bear to see her going on another moment without knowing the truth."

"No, Christine." he growled. "You promised."

"And I have yet to say anything, Erik. But I want to….I want her to know."

"She can't know. It's hard enough for me in Phantasma with the press and the people knowing what my face looks like. They call me horrible things in the papers…you know this just as well as I do. If she went around calling me "Father" just think of the things that would be said about me. They would come to you, calling you the "Monster's Prey, The Whore, the Raped…"

"I don't care, Erik, for I know none of that is true. We made love because we wanted to, not because you forced me."

Erik closed his eyes, and turned towards the door.

"No, Christine. It would kill me…..It would very much kill me to see those things written in print. To see you shunned because of me…I'm the monster, not you."

I couldn't believe this. I couldn't believe Erik was saying these things….

"Erik, are you regretting me? Are you regretting Eudora?"

"I regret nothing. With that being said, we should have never done that….I should have said no. And yes, as much as I loved you then, I shouldn't have made you my own. It resulted in nothing but….but…"

"Eudora, Erik. That's what it resulted in. Are you to regret the one little angel who loves you? How could you…"

"I regret nothing, Christine! Christ! The only thing I ever did was love you….I loved you so much that I was willing to forgive you for what happened in Paris. It's you who destroyed everything we had. You lied to me about Raoul, and worse….you lied to me when I was willing to give you one last chance."

"That was four years ago, Erik."

I grabbed onto his shirt to stop him from entering his room.

"You said we were going on this holiday together to get past our problems. You're not even trying, Erik."

"I've been trying! I've been trying to look past this for four fucking, long years, Christine! How dare you assume that I haven't been trying. I look at you, and search my heart for forgiveness every damn day of the week, and…..not one ounce of forgiveness ever rises from me."

"You won't even let me try, Erik. You won't even give me a chance."

"I've given you several chances to prove yourself, Christine. I was even about to forgive you for leaving me in Paris, but…..you lied to me. Do you think it's so easy for me to reach down in my heart and hand it to you on a silver platter? I've been abused and betrayed by my own mother, raped and beaten by my master, used and left by you….."

"I try, Erik. I try to offer dinner outings and private time to talk things over with you. But you've denied every single request I have offered. Why is that?"

"Because I'm afraid, Christine….There, I admitted it!" he shouted. "I am so afraid to fall back in love with you that I stay away completely. Do you think I don't think about you? Or yearn for your kiss? Want your body? Oh, Christine…..How could I not think about the only woman I have ever loved."

"Then give me that chance."

Erik coldly turned away, and leaned against his door.

"Sometimes lovers are better as friends. That way, they can love one another as much as they want without getting hurt."

I was silent, I hadn't anything more to say. I bit my lower lip, wanting to request the one thing I've wanted these past four years.

"Then marry me, Erik."

His glance moved to me, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Marry me. I would bring you no further pain. I would be the most loving wife you could ever want."

"Do you actually think I would forgive you by you marrying me? That just because we were husband and wife, things would be different? How dare you assume such a thing."

"Then tell me how to gain your forgiveness." I pleaded.

"Even I don't know how I'm ever going to feel forgiveness from that. We will spend some time together in Paris, and see where things go."

Erik opened his door, and glanced at me one last time.

"I can't promise you anything, Christine. You should rest now…..I'll come for you in the morning and we can get breakfast."

I said nothing and only nodded.

"Goodnight then…"

When Erik closed his door, I walked back across the hall to my room. I was going to try my hardest to gain Erik's forgiveness, and I knew this was not going to be a simple thing….

Ok everyone, Happy Thanksgiving! Please review!