*Christine's POV*

I can't take this anymore. As each day passes, I regret the choice of leaving Erik even more; If I brought anything up from that day, Raoul would quickly change the subject. The day after we left Erik, Raoul began to drink, heavily. Some nights he would return so drunk, I would have to ask one of Raoul's maids to help me carry his to the couch. Along with drinking, Raoul began to abuse me; It began with one slap when I brought up Erik. The main reason why I can't take anymore of this life is because I realized too late that I'm in love with Erik; I always have loved him, I was just to blind to realize it sooner.

I'm sitting on the couch in the living room reading a book when I hear the front door open. Looking up from my book, I see Raoul walk into the room, looking exhausted. I watch as he walks over to me and sit in next to me. I feel my body stiffen once he is sitting next to me.

"Christine," I hear Raoul say. "You know I love you."

I put on a fake smile and turn to look at him. "Of course I do, sweetheart," I say.

I see Raoul smile before leaning in to kiss me. I turn my head, so that he only kisses my cheek. "Why did you move," Raoul asks.

I was silent; I didn't want to lie to him, but I also didn't want to be honest with him.

"I asked you a question, Christine," I hear Raoul say as he roughly grabbed my chin, turning it so I was looking at him.

I feel tears begin to well up in my eyes. "Because I miss Erik," I say, the words falling out of my mouth before I can stop them.

I see rage fill Raoul's eyes. He releases my chin, only to raise his hand above his head. His hand comes down hard against my cheek. The slap was so hard that I fall off the couch and onto the floor. "You need to stop thinking about that creature," Raoul yells at me. "Because tomorrow, you are going to become Vicomtess de Chagny, my wife! And as my wife, you are to no longer think about that thing that almost killed me!" I stay silent as he continues to yell at me.

Once he finishes, I feel tears fall down my face. "I'm going to bed," I hear Raoul says irritated once he's done yelling at me. He stands and stalks out of the room, leaving me alone.

Once I hear the bedroom door shut, I quickly stand and run over to the bookshelf. I look behind it and grab the small suitcase I hid there earlier today. I walk to the front door and am about to leave when I remember that I have Raoul's engagement ring on my finger. I rip the ring off my finger and throw it on the entryway rug before opening the front door and walking out.

Raoul's mansion is a mile outside of Paris so I decide to head towards the main road, hoping to find a cab. Luckily, there is a cab which I hail down. "Where would you like to go, Madame," the driver asks me.

"The Opera Popular, please," I tell him. The driver skeptically nods his head, but he drives me there anyway.

*Erik's POV*

I'm sitting at my piano, trying to write music. I write some notes on the sheets as they come into my mind. After writing those notes, I reread the music and I'm appalled. "What is wrong with you," I mentally scold myself. "A two year old could write better music than this!" I grab the sheet and crumple it into a ball before throwing across my lair. I stand up and walk around, deciding that I need a break. I walk into my room and sit down on my bed. Looking over at my bedside table, I see a lit candle casting light on the picture I drew of Christine next to it.

I reach over and pick up the pictures and look at it. She is perfect in every way; her voice, her beauty, and her personality. I think back to the day she left me; She left me without a second thought. I thought she was going to stay with me when she came back, but she only came back to give me my ring back and, to make it worse, as she left she sang about her love with the fop, Raoul, as they left, as if to rub it in my face. I feel a mixture of anger and sadness take over me. I don't know what I would do if Christine came back and I didn't need to know. I know Christine won't come back to me; she's marrying the Vicomte tomorrow.

As I sit there, I suddenly hear the sound of something hitting the shore followed by footsteps. "Angel," I hear a voice say.

"Christine," I think, shocked. "It can't be her."

"Angel, please," I hear Christine beg. "If you're here, please come out. Let me see you."

I don't know what to do. Christine doesn't know I'm here so I can stay quiet and stay in my room until she leaves or I can go out and face her. I decide to face her. Standing up, I set the picture back on my bedside table before walking out to see her.

*Christine's POV*

Out of the corner of my eyes, I see movement. I turn around and see Erik standing in the doorway, looking at me. "Why are you here, Christine," I hear him say, his words dripping with venom.

"I had to see you," I say.

"Why," Erik asks angrily. "So you could rub your marriage in my face?!"

I stand there, shocked, "Why would I do that to you," I say, getting a little angry.

"Why else would you come here, if not to brag," Erik angrily says as he walks towards me.

"Because I love you, not Raoul," I say, loudly. "I have regretted leaving you every day. Once we left, Raoul changed. He began drinking, getting drunk most nights, and abusing me. So before you start judging my reasons for coming here, you should have learned why I came here!"

Erik is standing in front of me by the time I am finished. I feel my eyes begin to fill with tears as I look up at Erik. He stands there with a blank look on his face. "You think you had it bad," Erik bitterly says, causing me stare at him in disbelief. "The minute you were gone, my world ended, You were my life Christine; I gave you my love and music, that's everything I have. And you left, taking it with you. So you're not the only one who had it bad."

I feel a tear run down my cheek as I realize that he is right. I look down, not wanting to look him in the eye. "I'm sorry," I say as more tears fall down my cheeks.

I hear Erik sigh before I feel his gentle hand lift my chin up so I'm looking at him. "I am too," he says, softly. I look into his eyes and he looks into mine; It feels as if we are gazing into each other's souls. I suddenly feel a sense of desire and I think Erik feels it too, as I press my lips against his.

He kisses back as my arms wrap around his neck. I feel his arms wrap around my waist as we continue to kiss, never breaking apart. Eventually, the kisses become more passionate. I feel Erik pick me up bridal style, carrying me towards his room, as we continue kissing. Once in his room, he gently lays me down on his bed before climbing on top of me. We continue to kiss and pretty soon all our clothes come off. We say things to each other, that would never be said. We showed each other how much we loved each other. And when it was done, I kissed Erik's deformed cheek and laid my head on his bare chest before falling asleep.

*Erik's POV*

What have I done? I took away her innocence, her pride. I truly am a monster. I could have stopped it, but I couldn't help it; I felt so much love and I wanted to show my love to her. I felt my guilt build up inside me. "I can't stay here," I think. "She is going to hate me forever."

I open my eyes and see Christine laying on my chest. I am able to maneuver a way out of the bed and not wake Christine. Once out of the bed, I quickly get dressed, put my mask on, and pack a bag. Before I leave, I walk back over to the bed to say goodbye to Christine.

"So," I say to the sleeping Christine. "I guess this is goodbye. I want to thank you for coming to see me one last time. I heard you say that you love me and I want you to know that I love you too. I never stopped loving you, even after you left. I want you to know that it's not your fault for me leaving, it's the guilt I feel. You deserve someone better than me; someone who can give you a normal life. I will never forget you and always love you, my Christine. Goodbye."

As I turn to leave, I suddenly feel something grab my hand. I turn to see Christine holding my hand, looking at me. "If you love me, then stay," she says.

"But I took away your pride," I say. "And I can't give you a normal life."

"If I didn't want you take away my pride, I would have stopped you," Christine says. "And I don't care if we have a normal life, I just want you and your love. Please don't leave me; I don't want to live without you."

"I don't want to live without you either," I say. "If you want me here, I'll stay."

Christine smiles and pulls me closer to her, still holding my hand. "I want you stay with me."

"Then I'll stay," I say, setting the bag down and sitting on the bed next to Christine.

Christine smiles as she sits up. Then remembering that she's not wearing anything, Christine pulls the blanket up around her. I smile and wrap my arms around her and hug her. She returns the hug.

"I love you, my angel of music," I hear Christine say.

I smile and pull away, looking into her big brown eyes. "I love you too, my Christine," I say before pressing my lips to hers. I feel her arms wrap around my neck as we continue to kiss. We eventually pull away for air and I place my forehead against hers. I smile, knowing that I'm going to have an amazing future with the woman I love, who loves me back.