Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, or Meg, or Madame Giry, or any other characters from the ingenious mind of Gaston Leroux! Or anything by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Anne, however, she's mine...well, she resides in my head until her story is done.

AN: So...you may not celebrate Christmas and that's okay, but during this season of giving I have something I wish to give to you. The past few days have been a whirlwind of excitement and thrills for me. I have now finished writing the end of Anne and Erik's story. So, these last few chapters are my seasonal gift to you, my dear readers. It makes me so sad to post this but it also makes me joyous. I have loved this journey and am thrilled to start the next one.

Chapter 56

Erik could not imagine what was so important that they would be knocking on his door at at almost ten o'clock in the evening. He and Anne had discussed that they would be seperated until they would see each other at the church in the morning. There was no way reason for anyone to be at his door now. Sighing, he stood up from his seat in the kitchen and made his way to the front door. He was surprised to see a very worried and very tearful Madame Giry standing there.

"What are you..."

"Anne is missing, Erik," she blurted out, before burying her face in her hands and sob.

Out of all the things in the world that she could have said, that was the last that he would have ever expected. And the one thing he would never believe.

"Surely you jest Madame," he drily replied. "And I do not find this amusing."

"I would not joke about something like this, Erik!" She glared at him, her eyes mixed with anger and worry. "She went out with Madame Carrolton for dinner after she said farewell to the Opera Troupe and when the diva returned, it was said that there was a struggle and...Anne was taken!"

Erik turned away from the ballet mistress and staggered back towards his music room. Everything was boxed and packed, for everything was to be a slow process in moving from the Populaire to their new home. He leaned against the wall, trying to sort out what he'd just been told. Anne...taken?! How? Why?

Nothing made sense. He started when he felt a hand on his arm and for a brief moment he wondered if it would really be Anne standing there and this was in truth just some twisted nightmare. However, as he turned he saw Madame Giry standing there, and not his beautiful angel.

"How did it happen?" He asked, finding his voice.

"All Madame Carrolton would say was that they were coming out of the restaurant when she heard a rustle behind her. Two men had struck down Anne, another grabbed on to our Prima Donna to prevent her from doing anything, and she watched as they dragged Anne away."

Something was not right about this. Who would want to take Anne? She had no money or connections...at least none that were well known. Her home was the Populaire. To anyone other than those who loved her dearly...she had no value.

"We cannot alert anyone, Madame Giry."

"But Erik..."

"Listen to me." The Phantom of the Opera turned and grabbed on to Madame Giry's arms. "If she were to be pursued by gendarmes, they would eventually discover me and to put both of us through that ordeal would not benefit either party. No...I will go Nadir's place tonight, and together we'll settle this."

Madame Giry could only watch in amazement as Erik paced about the room, talking to himself as he tried to put some sort of plan into action. She paid it no mind when he ended up walking out his house, leaving her standing in his music room. Though the siutation was not amusing at all, she couldn't help but smile at how much Erik had truly changed since Christine. With her he had been possessive and at times quite selfish. With Anne he cared about her well being and genuinely loved her. It was now the instigator in everything that would follow. He wasn't trying to rescue her in order to possess her, but because he loved her, and Madame Giry would do anything in order to help him.

Erik made quick time in getting to Nadir's flat. In truth, he was amazed that he'd been able to think clearly enough to put together some sort of plan in finding Anne. His heart squeezed tight in his chest realizing that she was in danger. Anything could have happened to her. Who would want to take her? Why? These questions and more pounded away in his mind just as he pounded on Nadir's door. After what seemed like forever, the door finally opened and the Persian stood there staring at him as if he'd lost all reason.

"Erik, what in God's name are you doing here?" Nadir reached out a hand and pulled the Phantom into his home and hastily shut the door. "Someone could see you!"

"It's Anne..." he gasped out, even saying her name making it hard to breathe. "She's missing."

"Missing?" The two made way to the parlor, Nadir pushing Erik down into a chair. "What happened?"

"She was out with our Prima Donna and she was kidnapped coming out of the restaurant."

"What about Madame Carrolton?"

Erik shook his head. "She's fine. Apparently a little shaken, but fine."

"You've not seen her?" Nadir asked, lighting a few lamps.

"Why should I?"

"Erik, she was a witness to the incident. She might know more than what she thinks."

"But why would someone want to take Anna?" Erik buried his face in hands the tears falling in earnest now. He was scared and terrified that something was going to happen to her and she would be dead before he could even reach her.

"Why indeed..." Nadir leaned back in his chair, pondering over the situation.

"She's an Angel...with no enemies. Everyone loves her. She doesn't have an enemy in the world."

"Don't idiolize her, Erik. Everyone has enemies."

"There's no..." Erik stopped, realizing that what he was about to say was not true. "No...that's not right. But it couldn't be so. She wouldn't do such a thing."

"Who, Erik?"

"Anne only has one person that she has made active waves with, but it is not through her own fault but rather the closed mindedness of others. Her sister, Elizabeth."

"How is Elizabeth an enemy?"

"Elizabeth has been at Anne's throat for quite some time. According to Anne, Elizabeth has been quite the pampered child since she was born. Though I cannot see how Elizabeth could be behind this...she is the only one I could think of." Erik made move to rise, but Nadir stopped him.

"Where is her house?"

"She lives with her husband at the de Chagny household. I must go there."

"That would be unwise, my friend. They believe you to be missing...if not dead. Let me go in your stead."

To have Anne taken away from his was torture. To not be able to do all he could do to find her was maddening. "You can't be serious..."

"To have Christine see you after so long...she might have you arrested before you even tell her your reasons for coming." Nadir placed a hand on Erik's shoulder. "You're not thinking clearly, Erik. If you run about this heart first, you'll never get any closer to finding her."

Nadir watched as understanding finally dawned on Erik, and he felt a moment of regret in speaking so bluntly with him. However, he knew that this was the only way. Pulling at strings without thinking things through was bound to get both him and Anne hurt, and that would not end well.

"I'll go to the de Chagny estate first thing in the morning."

"Morning!?"

"Think, Erik! If I go now, and Elizabeth is there with having no knowledge of the affair..." He sighed and rubbed at his temples.

"I suppose you're right," Erik admitted, walking over to the window and looking out at the dark street. "Just not being able to do anything is frustrating. That you get to do something and I have to sit in the shadows..."

"I know, my friend. Trust me, that I'll do everything I can to find Anne. Together...we'll find her.

The morning dawned with grey clouds that threatened rain. Christine de Chagny awoke with a headache that was undoubtedly going to be present all day y. She was not in the mood for visitors and as such kept herself to her room and her private parlor. Raoul, per his usual attitude, kept far from her and attended to his own business.

Pushing aside the morning post, Christine released a sigh and rubbed her temples. Raoul had spent much of his time away from her and in doing so, had made her feel as if she truly had become nothing more than a pretty face and a person to bear sons. Well, beauty would fade and she had yet to produce an heir. Apparently both were reason enough to leave her to her own devices.

"Maman..."

Christine looked up to see her eldest daughter, Aimee, standing at the door. "What is it darling?"

"Clarisse and I are going for a walk with Madame Jubert. I was told to come and let you know."

The vicomtesse extended a hand to her daughter which Aimee hesitantly took. Christine had few true joys in life now it seemed, but they rarely extended to her children. She kept her children a distance from herself, not ever truly wanting to be bothered with them.

"Thank you, Aimee. I hope you have a pleasant time."

The five year old looked up at her mother and opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. "We shall be back in an hour," was all she said before turning and leaving Christine alone once more with her thoughts.

Such dreams she once had all those years ago. Raoul had been everything she had wanted...or so she thought. His love was safe and strong and protected her. But as Christine had seen...there was more to life than that. Raoul only took from her...he never gave. He never made her spirit soar...as another had once. Sighing, she realized that the old adage was correct: love you misunderstand...is love that you'll regret. For now it did not matter. Her Angel was gone...in love with another or so it seemed. Now she was left on her own...a victim of her own choices.

"Madame, there is a gentleman here to see you."

Christine sat up straighter hearing the voice of the butler. "Who is it?"

"He did not give his name, but simply asked that I give you this." The butler handed the vicomtesse a note which she read, a gasp escaping her when she realized who was waiting for her.

Madame,
I come on behalf of a mutual acquaintance. A travesty has occured against your Angel. If it pleases, I ask only a few minutes of your time.
Mon. Nadir Khan

"Thank you, Francois. Please tell the gentleman I shall be down directly and ask him to wait in the sitting room."

Christine watched as the butler bowed and left her alone. She tore out of her robe and nighdress, hastily donning a simple day dress. Her maid arrived seeing her mistress in a state of dissaray and the two made haste in making the vicomtesse presentable. Not caring about how presentable she looked, as soon as her hair was at least pulled back and the final button was done, Christine ran out of the room and down to the sitting room.

"Monsieur," she breathed, seeing a man she'd not ever truly seen before. The Persian, as he had been called throughout the Populaire, was more of a man of the shadows than anything else. "Monsieur, what has happened? What's happened to my Angel?"

"Your Angel, madame, has about to have his heart broken a second time for his love is gone."

The blood in Christine's veins froze. So...Elizabeth had done it! She'd removed Anne from the Populaire! Why, then, was this news heartbreaking instead of joyous?

"You are not surprised by this, madame. Am I to understrand that you are to blame for this kidnapping?"

Christine drew a shaky breath, fearing that the Opera Ghost would be close by and overhear her confession. "You must understand..."

"No...you must understand, Madame. Anne has made Erik far happier than you ever could. She loves him unconditionally for she has seen him broken and she has seen him kill."

"K...kill?" Christine sank into a chair, the old memory of the Punjab Lasso coming to her mind as if it happened yesterday.

"For her protection. She was attacked by a stage hand and would have been suffered greatly had Erik not intervened."

"But she sings..."

"It is her soul that he loves. Not her voice...not her ability as a musician. He loves her for her and she returns that affection. And now...someone has come to disrupt this happiness. Perhaps forever."

"I don't understand..."

"I am not surprised. You've lived so long in your own world...oblivious to the goings on around you. Elizabeth has it out for Anne, apparently. Anne has been beaten by her grandmother, and for some reason Elizabeth is going to see fit to finish the job."

Trembling, Christine realized what she had done. "I...I didn't know..."

"Now...you will tell me all you know and this can all become nothing more than an unpleasant memory."

"Take me to him, Monsieur. Take me to...Erik."

"That would be unwise, Madame."

"I need to see him," Christine begged. "Even should it mean my life...I need to explain to him what I've done. I need to make this right."
Nadir sighed, weighing his options. That Erik would forget about his love upon seeing Christine was impossible, but he could not speak for the vicomtesse. Still...it would heal old scars at the very least.

"Very well, Madame. Let us go."

"Wait...now?!"

"I daresay you think that Anne's life can do with a few more minutes?"

"No...I will go now." Christine rose from her seat and went to the hall to grab her coat. With a word to the butler swearing him to silence on where she was going, she left with the Persian to confront a past she had long thought dead.

Waiting for Nadir had not been easy, and yet Erik had found something to keep himself occupied. He listened to the prompting planted by Nadir to check with Madame Carrolton about the incident. His fortune was in such good luck that he did not even have to appear before her. She was in the middle of dressing for rehearsal when he snuck into her room and found the letters from addressed to the Prima Donna from a certain Elizabeth Manchester.

You must understand that Anastasia is going to replace you! That is the design the managers have against you! I promise you that this plan will succeed! I have hired the best of men to take her off your hands and secure her in a place that only I know. Have her at the restaurant at the appointed time and none shall be the wiser.

It was all the proof he needed. There were a few other notes, which he collected as well, and placed into his breast pocket. Then, a trick he had long ago used, he took away Madame Carrolton's tonic for her throat and replaced it with one much more appropriate for her. A careful note placed upon her vanity was all that remained. He had no desire for true revenge upon her, for he knew that Anne would not approve. He smiled. Alive or dead, Anne would always control how he did things. She had changed him...for good.

Returning to the sanctity of his lair, he thought about what possible places Elizabeth would take Anne. His mind went back over the stories that she had shared, and the places she had talked about. None were possible as even some places were across the Channel. Rising, he paced across the room, damning Elizabeth for taking his love, and Nadir for taking so long.

A knock sounded at his door which he hastily answered, thinking that it was the Persian. His entire world shifted, however, when he saw a ghost standing there. A woman he had long since exorcised from his heart stood there, staring up at him with brown doe-like eyes, her brown tresses falling down her back.

"Christine..." he whispered.

"Angel," she replied, her voice just as whimsical as he remembered. "I've come to explain all to you."

Erik looked behind her and saw that Nadir stood there, nodding his head in confirmation. However, the fact that she actually knew of this plot was not going to put her in good light.
"Come in, then, Madame," he said, coldly. "I am anxious to hear what you have to say."