Chapter 1 of my very first Phantom of the Opera fic! There's lyrics from two songs in here, not from the movie, the first one is "Keep You" by Sugarland and "Please Remember Me" by Tim McGraw. Enjoy!

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Christine was completely torn with indecision. It was the eve of her wedding day, and her thoughts strayed to the Angel of Music, just like they always did. She eventually made her mind up, that he deserved one night, as he couldn't have her for the rest of them. Carefully she snuck out around midnight, not disturbing anyone, save Meg, who was awakened by Christine's light footsteps. Meg knew instantly where her friend was going; they had known each other long enough for that. She didn't breathe a word, instead plotted in her mind how to cover for Christine if she didn't make it back before the others noticed her absence. Christine, meanwhile, had arrived at the stables and harnessed her horse, Belle. It had been an anonymous gift, but she knew, somehow, that it had been the Phantom, the Angel of Music. She turned Belle in the direction of the dilapidated opera house, where she took a wild guess as to where he still lived. Quietly she slipped off of Belle, tying her carefully to a pole so she wouldn't run off and leave her stranded. Christine hesitated at the entrance, but a feeling of being where she belonged stole over her, and she took determined steps into the abandoned opera house.

Reverently she made her way to her room, her old room, where the mirror still stood against the wall. With gentle hands she pulled the mirror back, finding the same corridor hiding behind it. She took one step in, and candles flared everywhere. Instead of startling her, the sudden light calmed her, and she wasn't frightened anymore. It was almost like her first time walking those halls, winding everywhere and leading to the water, where the boat was, as it seemed, waiting for her. Christine stepped into the boat and pulled herself across the water until she reached the shore of the Phantom's alcove under the opera house. Her head swiveled slowly as she took in the sight of the place she hadn't seen in years. A man dressed in black was seated at the bench, playing soft and gentle notes from the piano. The notes morphed into a song, a song that she knew, and had a feeling that he knew it too. Lightly Christine stepped to the ground and began singing,

"It's a bittersweet, victory, loving the ghost in front of me,"

The man, whom Christine knew to be the Phantom, turned his head sharply around to face her, but his hands still played the song as he joined in, "Now I, can't laugh, can't cry, and I can't run, can't hide. What do I gotta do, what do I gotta do to keep you, what do I gotta do to keep you, from doing this to me,"

His hands slowed until the last strains floated away into nothingness. The Phantom stood up, radiating power and control in every move, his eyes boring into Christine's. She took a step towards him, but he dared not move, less she disappeared, like a dream. "Why are you here?" He asked roughly, and Christine gently replied,

"Because I love you too," The reference to the last few words the Phantom had spoken to her was not lost on him, nor was it lost on her. In response, he closed the distance between them in a matter of moments. He stood, inches away from her and said slowly,

"You're mine," They came out, almost as a question, and he spotted the answer in her eyes, cloudy with emotion but easy to read. "If only 'til the morn," He added softly, his hand rising from his side and resting on her cheek. Her eyes closed for a moment and he instantly swept her up into his arms, his mouth descending hungrily onto hers.

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Christine awoke alone, like so many years before. Slowly she climbed out of his bed, fumbling for her dress and then pulling it on. She didn't bother with anything else, save her shoes, which she hastily slipped on. Her hurry was based on the fear that he had left her like she had left him. That fear was resolved the moment she heard soft notes coming from the piano, playing a different song than the night before. His voice drifted to her ears, slow and tortured,

"Remember me when you're out walking, when the sun falls high outside your door, late at night when you're not sleeping, and moonlight falls across your floor,"

By this time Christine had made her way over to the piano, standing right behind him, and she carefully placed her hands on his back as he looked up at her. Slowly he sang, "And I can't hurt you anymore," She smiled softly at him, pain in every feature, but encouraged him to keep the music playing. Their voices joined together in perfect harmony with the chorus,

"You'll find better love, strong as it ever was, deep as the river runs, warm as the morning sun. Please, remember me. Please, remember me."

The notes floated away as he looked into her eyes, seeing the mirrored hurt and agony that she was seeing reflected in his eyes. "They'll be searching for you soon, it's past dawn," He said quietly, breaking their shared gaze.

"What if I don't care?" She questioned, fluidly sitting down next to him. He turned his face away from her, but she reached out and placed her hands on his face, turning him back to face her. His mask was replaced, a new one. He no longer cared if Christine saw his face, as she had been subjected to the horror before, but he didn't care to have others stare at him or run away in fear.

"But you do," He replied knowingly, and Christine knew he was right. "And I will escort you back you," Her eyes turned tender at his words, and a smile graced her face.

"I would like that," She murmured, and the Phantom grasped her hands with his own, kissing them gently before rising, taking him with her. In a swift movement, he gently tugged her into his arms, one hand on her head, the other on her back. She relaxed in his embrace for a brief moment, and then found herself standing back in the entrance. The trip back up had mostly been drinking in his appearance, never wanting to forget it as long as she lived. When they had reached the entrance, Christine saw that the Phantom was indeed right; it was past dawn, nearly 7 o'clock. The wedding preparations would begin soon, and she had to hurry back. The couple faced each other, and the Phantom sensed there was a question lurking in Christine's mine.

"What is your name?" She suddenly asked gently, and he smiled, taking her hand and pressing his lips to it, murmuring,

"Erik."

He dropped her hand, and motioned to her restless horse. Belle seemed to recognize the Phantom, but as Erik. She whinnied and tossed her mane a few times in greeting. Erik raised his hand and offered a smile to the palomino, who whinnied again and pranced, obviously waiting for Christine. She had been staring at Erik throughout his exchange with Belle, and stepped up to him, pressing her lips to his for one last glorious kiss. It was Erik who broke the kiss, and stepped back. Christine walked almost unsteadily to her horse, but mounted smoothly. She untied Belle and turned around to see Erik still standing there.

"I would like to have at least one dance with you tonight," She said sincerely, and Erik simply smiled, knowing her new husband would try to have him killed. He also knew Christine wouldn't stand for that. Instead of answering, he raised his hand in farewell and merely said,

"Goodbye, Christine."

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End of the first chapter, more to come! The plot is spinning in my mind, and it might be a little OOC for some of you readers, I'm not sure, as I've only seen the movie once, but watched millions of videos online. Thanks so much for reading, and please, if I've written something that you think needs to be fixed, tell me!!! Adios for now!