AN: Okay guys! I told you that I'd try to rewrite this fic! I just wanted to let you know before hand that there are probably going to be a lot of things that are different, including a bit of an explanation as to why Raoul is like he is in this story. I don't remember anything but the key points from this story, so if you'd like to tell me your favorite parts, I'll be sure to add them back in. As to keeping to the original line, I'll try, but there are probably going to be some very different things going on in here as well! I hope you enjoy it! (The first chapter is the explanation that I promised about Raoul. However, you do have to realize… I have never liked Raoul's character. I'm going to give my plausible explanation, but –shrugs- I cannot help my feelings)

Oh, and before this starts: This is my one time that I'm saying this, and then any flames I receive afterward will simply be ignored. This is movie based. This is not the Leroux Phantom. I adore the Leroux Phantom, but this story would be completely and utterly impossible to write if it were not based on the movie. So yeah, this is Gerik. I have Leroux based fics, so if you want Leroux, go read those! Please don't tell me how he is out of character, when you base it on Leroux. Not Leroux Based.

I think I've covered everything. The story is rated M for violence, and more than likely a bit of mild violent sexual content. I'll warn at the beginning to the chapter if it's going to do anything, and you can decide if you want to read it or not then! I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT! The Return of The Phantom and the Fop!

Part One: this chapter has just a tinge of sexual content… nothing really though

Christine was beginning to loathe the vile alcoholic smell that always seemed to hang around Raoul. Her precious Raoul, who, no less a year ago would have done nothing to hurt her, had turned into a drunkard.

Somehow she couldn't help but feel that it was her fault. Three times, they had tried for a child, and three times they had failed. The first time, he seemed just as upset as she was, crying and holding her hand. He was her strength, the only thing that kept her going. He told her that they could try again, and that it would all be okay. She believed him, and they tried again.

The second time that Christine lost the baby, only a month into the pregnancy; Raoul did not take the second loss as well as the first. He did console her, but then he turned and consoled himself as well, nursing a bottle for three days after the burial. After that, he seemed to have a bit of an aversion to Christine. He wouldn't touch her for a solid month.

One night, he came home (she would learn later that it was from a tavern…) and they once again conceived a child.

She carried this one for three months before she fell down the stairs and lost it. This time, Raoul did not comfort her. This time, Raoul slapped her and told her that she was intentionally denying him a child. Christine's heart broke, but she nodded and watched as Raoul drunk himself further and further into his abusive/depressive state. She wanted nothing more than for her childhood love to resurface from behind his angry eyes.

She was sitting in her room, running a brush idly through her hair. Her thoughts seemed to stray more and more back to the incident at the Opera House… and the betrayed look on Erik's face. The further and further she and Raoul seemed to be separated, the more and more Christine's thoughts turned to Erik. The Phantom was still on her mind when she heard him return. She could tell by the way that he slammed the door that he was drunk. She cringed inwardly, praying to herself that this wasn't going to turn violent.

He came into the room, and she saw that the fire in his eyes had nothing to do with violence, and everything to do with… well…

He came to her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. She ignored the bitter taste that the alcohol left in his mouth and kissed him back, pretending that things were as perfect as they used to be.

Raoul pulled Christine backwards with him, laying them both on the bed. He began to kiss her neck, and a small frown played upon her lips while he wasn't looking. She wasn't enjoying this. The last time they had made love had been a few days ago, and nearly directly after they had finished, Raoul had rolled out of the bed and went straight back to the tavern. It made her feel… worthless.

She bit her lip as he continued to trace kisses across her neck and collarbone; the pleasure took second place to her doubt and confusion. She remembered what she had been thinking of before he had returned home. The Opera House… singing, her life. Meg… "Erik."

Christine didn't realize that she had said the last of her thoughts out loud, but when Raoul raised from his movements, her body tensed. She knew that something was wrong.

"What did you just say?"

Too late, she realized her mistake. "I— I didn't mean… Raoul, I'm sorry!" His blue eyes were already hazy with drink, and the rage that filled them left no room for clarity or sanity. The felt the sharp sting of an open handed slap, and her eyes filled with tears. Not again.

"You just said his name, didn't you?"

"Raoul, please—"

The madness completely took over his eyes. She knew what was going to happen before she saw his hand curl into a fist.

XXXxxxXXX

Christine woke groggily a few hours later, away of the pains shocking over her whole body. She couldn't even stand to look at herself in the mirror, and she couldn't stand to stay here any longer. She remembered everything that had happened… her whole body began to shudder, and she let out a moan of pain.

She had never been injured this badly, and she feared falling back asleep. She couldn't' stay… she had to go.

She managed to stand, but fell back almost immediately. Raoul, she was sure, had returned to the tavern. It took her nearly twenty minutes to get herself outside and to her horse. She didn't know how she managed to get herself half strewn across him, but she knew that her destination wasn't far. She only took her horse to two places. The graveyard and… "The Opera House…"

She managed to get him started in the proper direction, and knew that he would know the way there. It was a path he traveled many times. She didn't know what she was going to do when she got there… but anything had to be better than what she was leaving.

With this knowledge, Christine passed out.

XXXxxxXXX

This was how Erik found her an hour later as night began to fall. The horse had led her to the back of the half ruined Opera House. He had heard a noise above, and went to investigate. At first, he hadn't even realized that the battered form lying there was Christine, with her horse standing beside her. When he saw the spill of brown hair, however, he knew.

His heart sank, and he quickly darted out and picked her up. He looked outside once more, thankful that no one had saw him. He looked down at Christine's battered and bruised face. What had happened? Wasn't that boy supposed to have taken care of her?

Nothing else mattered at the moment but taking care of Christine.

Erik made his way down to his lair, intent on getting Christine well. Then, he would get his answers.

XXXxxxXXX

Is that nearly how the first chapter happened before? I want this to be nearly the same –sobs-! I just can't remember. I hope you guys are happy about me writing this again!

If you want to contact me, my IM is deathsrequiem07 on AOL and YAHOO messenger. Feel free to IM me at any time!

Love to the Reviewers, and constructive criticism is welcomed!

Amandathevampirelove