Disclaimer - I do not OWN Love Never Dies or the characters of Phantom of the Opera. They are the property of Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Chapter One – The Letter And The Proposal

The second the curtains closed, Christine hurried from the stage to her dressing room her heart pounding as the sound of the thunderous applause still echoed in her ears. Closing the door behind her she stood in the middle of the room catching her breath with her gloved hands clasped together in front of her. It had been so long since she'd experienced the rush of joy which performing had always given her. The moment she'd stated singing the song, she'd welcomed it all back like an absent old friend, and had been lost in the music as it had reawakened something inside her which had been lost for so many years. It was wonderful, all so wonderful and she had missed it so much. And the song, oh what a beautiful song it was. The music and the words combined to make something extremely beautiful.

Ah, Christine, my Christine

Erik's voice came from behind her. She wasn't surprised though, she had expected him to be here waiting for her. He came over and his warm hands held her shoulders. That spark of electricity which always passed through her from his touch made her look up, but she was still so overwhelmed that she couldn't speak.

What a triumph you gave me tonight
My Christine
All the dark silent years now put right, ah Christine!

Christine could feel his delight through the gentle squeeze of his hands and the happiness in his voice. She knew that this was everything he had wanted, to hear her sing once more. And the gratitude he was giving her was more precious to her than all the money, jewels and wealth in the world. She swallowed and found her voice again.

The song was beautiful, it sounded beautiful
Every note, every word
And it felt beautiful, and I felt beautiful

Erik caressed her cheek with the back of his hand then she slowly reached up to him and Erik took her hand in his. She slowly turned to face him as she did so and her smile returned as she recalled the song which had been so full of love in the music, the lyrics, in the her voice and everything else. It had to be without a doubt the best song she had ever sung. Still holding her hand in both of his, their voices blended together.

Lost in the music once more
Feeling it rise up and soar
Alive once again!

As they held the last note Erik pulled her to him and the second it ended Christine didn't hesitate for a moment and her lips instantly met Erik's. And in a rushing wave of love, lust and bliss, all the wonderful feelings of ecstasy she had felt that night so many years ago with Erik now returned. It was so overwhelming but Christine didn't want it to stop. She moved one of her hands which had been against Erik's neck wrap round his back and held him close. Erik also moved his left hand which had been on her back to hold both her cheeks.

They leaned back for a quick breath before their lips met again. Christine felt her nose press against the cool porcelain of his mask then they broke apart for a third time before sharing one final loving kiss. Christine found herself tenderly biting his lip, he moaned in soft delight and he did the same to her. She held tight to his back then at last the kiss ended and they took deep breaths. Erik held her hand and then pressed it to his lips and Christine smiled with affection for him.

Erik's eyes then fixed on something behind her and he stiffened, his smile fading. Christine turned and she saw it too. Laying upon her dressing table was a red rose resting over an envelope. Christine glanced at Erik once in confusion then let go of him to head over to the dressing table for a closer look. She picked up the rose and stared at it. It wasn't like the roses Erik had always left for her at the opera house which were always in full bloom and with a black satin ribbon tied in a pretty bow round the stem. This rose was still a bud, not yet in bloom and looked very simple.

Christine then had a good idea who it was from and she opened the envelope in a hurry and she instantly recognized Raoul's stiff handwriting and almost thought she could hear his voice speak the words as she read the letter aloud.

My dearest wife,
Little Lottie, I beg you, forgive me…

"Raoul! No!" she cried. Stepping away from the dressing table quickly. She could feel Erik watching her from behind as she continued to read aloud.

Little Lottie,

Ah, what fools we once were
Long ago in our youth
In Paris, at the opera
Romantic idiots
Those two people are gone

Christine felt as though a hand was clenched around her throat as she read this. For she knew that she was the reason for this, how could she have hurt him like this?

Now I must go, our choices are made
The opera is done, the last notes have been played

He was going? He was leaving her?

May your angel of music watch over you now
And give you what I wish I gave you somehow

After she read this part Erik came back to her side and wrapped a comforting arm round her shoulders and held her as though in reassurance. Christine kept her eyes on the letter as the read the final four words.

Yours, in regret,
Raoul

She knew without asking that he was gone. He had left the stage wing during her spectacular performance, had left her this farewell note, a single rose and now was gone forever.

"Raoul, why?" She spoke the question even though she already knew the answer. It was because she had chosen to fulfil her promise to Erik and had sang the song rather than follow her husband's wishes to leave. But it wasn't just Erik's wish she had chosen, it had been what she'd wanted to do as well. She had missed singing so much after all these years. It was like being parted from an old friend, like being parted with Erik and the real her. It had been he who had given her the gift of song and made her feel whole.

The only times she'd been able to sing since leaving the opera 10 years ago was when Raoul hadn't been around. Because a short time after Gustave had been born, Raoul had started telling her to stop singing because it brought up memories he didn't want to remember.

To be quite honest she had almost expected that this would happen. After all, Raoul had been in love with her because of their childhood friendship. And back then she didn't sing as much around him, just whenever she was with her dear father. Raoul had supported her when he found her at the opera but he hadn't fully appreciated her singing itself, just the memory of what they'd once shared as playmates. But by then she had changed from that little girl. Then he had promised her that he would follow her, go anywhere she went and love her with all his heart. Raoul had always claimed that he was the only man for her and yet he had left her today. Now that it was reality, it was almost impossible to believe.

"Christine?"

Christine couldn't take her eyes from the letter still in her hands but any comfort was welcome at this point, so she leaned against Erik, resting her head on his shoulder. He held her close and rubbed her arm. "He's gone." She said even though she had already said it.

"Do you want to go after him?"

Erik's question finally broke her trance of shock and she gazed up at him confused by his suggestion. This was odd because Erik had disapproved of Raoul and so why was he offering her this? Especially since Christine knew all too well by now that Erik had wanted her since before she could remember. But she couldn't compare him to Raoul now. Because Erik cared a lot about her and times were changed, so she guessed that he loved her enough that he would let her go after Raoul if that was what she really wanted. Just like he had let her go after the first time she had kissed him down in his lair at the opera house.

But she did ponder his offer. Did she want to go after Raoul? He was her husband and her childhood sweetheart. She had loved him very much and had remained loyal and kind to him all these years. Unfortunately the reality of the recent years stopped her. The fact was that Raoul had changed too. He was no longer that loving and caring boy she had always known. He had become a gambler, turned to drinking and took his anger out on her and Gustave. Worse of all was the fact that he had forbidden her to sing and Gustave to play piano around him. Despite the fact he knew they loved music and now expected them both to be silent. It was all too clear what Christine's decision was.

"No, I won't." She stepped away from Erik and lay the letter down on the table. She pulled off her satin gloves and proceeded to remove her sapphire earrings. "I know that somehow he does still care, but in light of all he did to me and Gustave. Always lashing out at us with his verbal anger and stress. I don't feel I can trust his empty promises anymore."

There was a short silence then she sighed "And in all the years we were together he hardly ever allowed me to sing unless it was for special events or when I was requested by the public. And every time I did, he always looked as though he was concealing some kind of pain. I can guess what it was. At the same it was hard because I loved it when he allowed me those moments where I could finally do what I loved to do. And it caused me pain too when I knew it was hurting him."

"So what do you really want Christine?" Erik asked softly.

She reached up and touched the sapphires of the beautiful necklace Erik had put round her neck before the performance. "I want more nights like tonight. When I was stood on that stage I felt better than I have felt in the longest time, I felt…myself again. It was so wonderful that I didn't want it to end." She unclasped the necklace and gently placed it down on the dressing table with the other accessories.

"It doesn't have to be the end Christine, not if you don't want it to?

She turned back round to face him "Really?"

Erik's gave her a warm smile "You don't have to live your life to just please others Christine. You are free to make your own choices. If you want to sing for the rest of your days then I can give that to you."

"How?" She asked.

"I could grant you a place in our show. After hearing that loud applause tonight, I believe that audiences will come flocking in to hear you again if you were to join us."

Christine was so overcome with joy at the very thought of what Erik was offering her, it just seemed too good to be true. "I could sing every day, couldn't I?"

"Yes, the audiences would adore you, dear Christine."

Christine smiled again "It all sounds like a dream."

"It can be real, if that is what you choose."

It didn't take Christine long at all to decide at all.

"Erik, I would love to."

Erik's own smile lit up his masked face and seeing his happiness made Christine's heart flutter.

"There is something else I want Erik, more than anything else."

"What is that?" he asked.

She approached him and tenderly placed her palm on his unmasked cheek. "You." She whispered with a warm and loving smile.

Erik's eyes widened in joyful delight and his mouth opened in silent disbelief.

She leaned in and then the two of them were lost in a deeper and more passionate kiss than the one they'd shared before. In that instant it seemed that both their dreams had come true. They finally had each other and could both do what they really loved doing together.

The blissful moment was ended when there as a sudden urgent knocking on the door. They broke apart and after exchanging a confused glance Erik went and answered the door. It was Miss Fleck and she looked distressed.

"What is it?" Erik asked.

"Sir, there had been an incident backstage! You and Miss Daae must come quick."

Christine blinked. What could this incident have been? And why did they need her to come as well as Erik?

"What happened and who was involved?" Erik asked the smaller woman, his voice serious.

"It concerns Meg Giry and Miss Daae's little boy, sir"

Author's Notes
Hello Readers!

Here we go with a new Fanfic. I started this last year but have had it on hold for a long time, but now I feel it is time to share it and I hope you will like it. I love the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical but I don't like the way it ends with Christine and Meg. So I hope you will like my take on it.

I don't know when the next chapter will come but keep tuned and please share your reviews on what you think so far with this beginning as it will let me know if you want to read more.

Kind Regards to you all.

LouisaJane007