Summary: At the end of Kay's novel it is understood that Erik died and Christine had his child after marrying Raoul. Charles would like to have met Erik without knowing who he was. But that's impossible, because Erik is dead. Or is he?

Chapter 1-He's Not Dead

Christine carried Ayesha out into the drawing room where Raoul and Nadir waited.

"He's dead. There is nothing left." She said peacefully stroking the Persian cat in her arms. Raoul rose and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Monsieur, take her home. I will finish the rest here." Nadir said as Raoul bowed his head to the Persian and led Christine out of that house on the lake. Nadir watched as the couple left that house until they were out of sight across that lake until he proceeded back into the house to take care of Erik's dead body. He walked past the drawing room and into the bedroom where Erik lay. Nadir walked over to the still body that lay on the bed with its eyes closed and felt Erik's chest. He gasped as he felt a strong heartbeat beneath that fully clothed strong chest.

"Erik? You're alive?" Nadir gasped once more. Erik stirred a little underneath the blankets and his eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Nadir, I won't die. I thought I was, I really did, but I just won't. I acted as if I was dead in order for Christine to go with him. I told her to take the cat and marry that strong man, Raoul." Erik slowly whispered in pain. Nadir lit a nearby candle and said,

"Come on Erik, let me take you home."

"I am home and hopefully my body will die soon." Erik whispered holding onto his chest as if he had some wonderful possession in his hand.

"Erik, you've destroyed this place and clearly you're not going to die after all you have been living with this terrible poisonous illness since you were merely 23 years old. You are now 50 and you know it is not your time yet. I don't understand it, after the poison, opium and morphine you're still living strong." Nadir said seriously. Erik laughed in his classical laugh that would make anyone smile if they could hear it, but this time it was quiet and weak.

"Oh Nadir, I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm living strong. I've never lived strong, a depressed mess of a man who wishes to die who won't die. I guess I just lack inner strength that no one has. Do you think Allah or God has granted me one good trait or did I get that good trait from the devil himself?"

"Erik? Is your life fulfilled now that you are ready to die?" Nadir asked. Erik was quiet for a moment and lay his head back onto the pillows looking up at the ceiling.

"It is now." He whispered and began to cry.

"Oh Nadir, she gave me the best gift ever. Last night despite how sick I was, she stayed with me and gave me her undying love. She made love with me and told me that she would stay with me until death. Oh, it was so beautiful. But I knew that she loved me, but she loved that boy too and deserved to be his bride. I can't say that I regret stealing that childish innocence from her, but that's why she thinks I'm dead for it's the only way she would leave and be happy."

9 Months Later

It was late on a Saturday evening and Erik sat up in the main room of Nadir's flat waiting in his pajamas for the elder Persian to return from the opera. Erik had no desire to ever step foot in that house again, but always loved when Nadir attended the opera so he could hear about what the story line was about and how lovely the music was.

The front door of the flat clicked and opened and Nadir was greeted by one soft candle and his friend laying on the couch waiting. Nadir smiled to himself and hung up his cloak before lighting another candle and sitting down in a chair opposite of Erik.

"Well? Tell me all about it." Erik demanded.

"Before I start, I have some news I found out about tonight that you might find important to you."

"You know I don't care about the present. It's the past and future that fascinate me, so any present news of yours probably is no concern of mine."

"Ah, my friend, that's where you are wrong." Nadir said.

"Try me." Erik said in a threatening tone.

"Well, it turns out Christine de Chagny had a child." Nadir said.

"She escaped to England with Raoul, how would you know about her current conditions?" Erik questioned.

"Oh, I have my sources and trust me my friend this is a very reliable source." Erik shrugged and said,

"You know that I have been trying to forget her so she can move on with her life happily thinking that I am dead. Not only that, it is perfectly natural for her to have a child, after all she's a newlywed and when you're just married it's all about what happens in the bedroom."

"Well, the reason I am telling you this is have you the faintest thought that it might be yours?" Nadir asked. Erik's eyes grew wide and his heart pounded heavily in his chest until he felt pressure. He pushed on his chest as if that would make the pain go away and then gave a fake laugh.

"I doubt that Daroga, and even if it was, it will never be mine." Erik said looking faraway and then whispered,

"That child, if it were mine, would be better off knowing that I never existed."