I am so sorry that my writing has been lacking so much. I have just kind of been all over the place mentally. Alright well here's the next chapter. Once again I am so sorry. I hope you like it. Read & Review.

~2 months later~

Everything was swirling past me in a blurring haze. Phantasma was closed for the season but most of the performers' homes were there. Dr. Gangle was put in charge while Erik, Gustave, and I were away for Meg's wedding. The boat ride was long and I exhausting. It was impossible to get any sleep in when I was enclosed in such a small space with Erik. At his request there was a piano in both his and Gustavé's rooms. I could hear the soft melodies echoing through the floorboards even as I sat on the top deck.

Gustave and Erik were both a little apprehensive about Meg. But I was thrilled to see her. We had never gotten to actually catch up before the whole incident. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck rise. The hollow sound of her voice flooded my memories. Her emotionless, blank stare crowded my vision. I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders. Gustave and Erik had been writing music all day and I had only had a few minutes to sneak away for some time by myself. It felt weird being without Erik, but at the same time it was nice to feel the sea's salty kiss on my face as the breeze whipped around.

The soft call of the seagulls blended so well with the piano. The waves gently rocking the ship helped to create the most calming and peaceful experience I had ever imagined. Before I came to America I forgot what it felt like to be this happy. I was fully content through and through. Life was literally bliss.

We were to be in France tomorrow evening. Raoul was to pick us up from the dock and bring us to their home in Paris. It was strange to think of how much my life had flip-flopped. I fell in love as a child with a boy, I fell in love as a girl with a man, I rekindled my love with the boy as a girl and chose him, as a lady I ran to the man I had loved and became a woman, and then after a tremendous journey here we were. I had my perfect family. I had my two boys and my best friend was to be married to the boy whom I had once loved and then left. In a twisted it all worked out. Somehow we all ended up happy. I guess God was good.

Erik was happy and experiencing so much love, I was sure his heart would burst at any moment. Gustave was always inspired. He finally had a father who loved him and always spent time with him. Meg found the love and adoration she had always wanted and Raoul had a woman who would love him and only him for who he was now and not who he once was. And Madame Giry had come to receive that fortune she had always been promised, once Raoul invested in Phantasma. Everything was working out perfect for everyone, except the one hitch in my perfect life.

Under my bed in a small hat box was a small collection of letters. All were addressed to me, without a single return address. Each said the same and each held the same threatening tone.

Vicomtess De Chagny,

Get out while you still can. This is a warning. Do it while you still can. This is a warning.

Someone will die and I already know who. This is a warning, get out while you still can.

-Angel of Death

I didn't dare show them to Erik though. I could still see the pain and fear in his eyes after I showed him the third letter I had received like this. That had been a month ago and he was still watching me out of the corner of his eye. His was terrified for my safety. Perhaps it was wrong of me to sneak out like I did. I rose from the deck chair I sat in. I turned towards the stairs that would lead me back to my room.

"Christine! My god you left me frightened. Where have you been? Are you alright? Did anything happen? Why did you-"

"I'm fine Erik. I'm sorry I left I just needed a few minutes to clear my head." He pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me.

"I understand. But you do not need to worry. I would never let anyone harm you."

"I do not worry about such things Erik. I am very aware of what you are capable of. I am only stressed from all of the wedding planning and you know that I have been ill lately. I'm just worried something will go wrong at our wedding." The tension in Erik's muscles loosened and he looked down at me.

"Nothing will go wrong because this is what was destined to be. Nothing can ruin our lives together. I love you Christine." I smiled and Erik caught the single tear that fell down my cheek.

"I love you too Erik." He held me for a few minutes longer.

"So what were you doing out here."

"I was watching the sky's color change as the sun set."

"What a magnificent sight to behold."

"Yes it is."

"But it is not the best thing I have ever seen." He looked down at me once more and I was captivated by his big brown eyes.

"I believe I can say the same thing." I turned away before he could make me swoon. The last bits of day slipped past the horizon and then we were standing beneath a beautiful black sky with blue clouds sailing across. The world quieted itself and gave us just this moment of perfect silence. It was almost as if the world froze just for us. My fingers slid up to his face and tugged at the bottom of his mask. It happily slid up and over his head, revealing his beautifully scared face. I pulled his face down to my level and kissed its uneven surface. His hands groped my back. And then I could hear movement of the children on the lower deck being chased by worried mothers. The seagulls began to call once more and the waves awoke from their rest. I pulled back and sighed.

"It is time that I put Gustave to bed, Erik." I turned to walk away.

"Christine?" I turned back towards him.

"My mask?" I looked down at my hands and resisted the urge to throw it over board.

"Oh. Here, Erik. Although I do not think you will ever truly needed it." He took it from my hands and gingerly put it back in place.

"You did at one point." I turned back towards the stairs hurt by his words and made my way to Gustavé's room.