A/N: Well, the final chapter is up at last. I hate that this took so long to finish, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it couldn't be helped. This was a fun story to write, even though I have mixed feelings about it. Please read and review. :)

Christine

I sang for him.

To the rest of the world, I was Christine Daaë (since my marriage had been kept secret, no one else knew about the change in my last name), a lead soprano of the Opera Populaire. In everyone else's eyes, I had every right to be floating on air. After all, hadn't I dreamed of this since I was a little girl and my dear father was alive? Isn't this what I had worked for year after year? Yes, all of my dreams had come true . . . but all I felt was grief. Dreams were nothing without Erik; only emptiness remained.

A month had passed. Every day seemed to stretch longer than the one before, mercilessly as ever. I hated time. It had raced towards the night of Erik's departure, and now, it leisurely reminded me that I would have to spend the rest of my life without him.

The last line of the closing aria filled the air, ending more than the opera. I intended for this to be my final performance, my parting gift for my love. I looked around the vast room, taking everything in with my eyes. Oh, the joys that had taken place within these very walls. Yet, the memory of those joys was far too painful for me to bear. I knew I couldn't possibly walk through the shadowed halls without hoping that perhaps Erik would come to me once more. And since that was an impossibility, I resolved to leave the opera house forever.

Once more, I lifted my eyes, partly out of habit, to box five . . . his box. And then, I saw him.

I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me at first. I glanced around the room with a smile to prevent any suspicion from the audience, and when I looked up, I could see a figure lingering in the shadows. I could see him just as well as he could see me, and in that moment, our eyes met.

Everything else faded around me. During those few precious moments, as soul gazed into soul, all of the pain I felt was displayed for him to see.

Erik! I love you! I wanted to scream. I silently pleaded with him. Please, Erik. Come back to me . . .

Then, just as suddenly as the connection was there, it was gone. He turned and walked away. I was painfully aware of my surroundings once again. I was onstage at the opera house, and the love of my life had just left me without saying goodbye for the second time.

NO!

Before I had time to reconsider my rapid decision, I was running through the opera house, the beating of my heart matching the rhythm of my feet hitting the ground. I had already lost him once. I was not going to lose him again.

I quickly made my way to the secret passage he had shown me long ago, the only passage that he deemed "safe" enough for me. I struggled through the tunnel and was relieved to see that the small boat was resting against the shore. I rowed through the lake as best I could until I reached the opposite bank. When I finally reached his house, panting from the exertion, I rang the bell.

No one answered.

At this point, I finally screamed, voicing all of my torment and frustration. Why had I been allowed to find love just to lose it? It wasn't fair. It wasn't right.

All of a sudden, I heard a voice cry out my name. "Christine!" Mere seconds later, two figures were in front of me. One was Nadir Khan, a longtime friend (if "friend" is the appropriate term) of Erik's. The other I recognized instantly. I would have known him anywhere.

"Erik . . ." I whispered. I stepped towards him, my legs shaking. All I could think of was the one question that needed to be answered. I had to know. "Why?"

o0o

Erik

"You don't have to watch this," Nadir said quietly.

I shook my head. "I do," I insisted. I had to hear her voice, to see her. She was so beautiful. In spite of everything else, her voice still had the power to heal me like a balm. I rose and walked towards the edge of the box in order to completely take her in as the audience applauded her.

She looked around the room with a sad, searching gaze. To anyone else, it seemed to fit with the character she had just portrayed, but I knew her better. If only she knew how badly I wanted to sweep her away with me again and never let her go!

As I longed for her, my angel lifted her eyes and looked right into mine. It was just the two of us, me and my Christine. Nothing else mattered.

I don't know how much time had passed before I noticed her eyes. Such pain was in her eyes, pain that I had caused. With a shuddering breath, I turned swiftly and exited the box. Without really caring where I was going, I ran through the corridors of the opera house.

"Erik!" Nadir cried. He grabbed my arm, stopping me. "Don't you think it's time to end this?"

"I'm warning you, Nadir," I growled. The last thing I needed was for him to try to convince me that I was wrong. He, of all people, should know better.

"But she's suffering! Surely you can see that if you truly love her!"

In one movement, I had my hand around his neck, using it to push him against the wall. "Never doubt my love for Christine!" I hissed, squeezing. "You cannot possibly understand!"

Nadir, to his credit, didn't struggle. I would never kill him. I knew that, and he knew it as well. Oh, I would threaten his life and even show him violence, but at the end of the day, nothing changed between us. He is like my conscience, so I tolerate him.

After tightening my grip one more time, I released him. I turned away, suddenly exhausted. "Please, don't pressure me anymore, Nadir," I pleaded. "I'm not . . . I'm not strong enough. I want her to live and be happy. I want to do right by her. I'm doing this because I love her."

He sighed. "Very well, Erik." Then, we went beneath the opera house. We had business matters to discuss, and I preferred to stay out of the prying eyes of the public.

Right before we reached my home, a scream pierced the air.

Horror filled me. "Christine!" Without pause, I started running. Fear drove me. Was she hurt? Had someone attacked her? I finally rounded the corner, and I saw her.

She stood there, staring at me with her mouth slightly open as if she was going to say something. Nadir came running up behind me, out of breath and gasping. I barely took notice of him, for all of my attention was on the angel in front of me. She took a small step towards me, although her legs seemed to be unsteady. "Erik," she whispered. I reveled in the sound of her saying my name. Her face crumpled in despair, and I felt my heart throb with guilt. "Why?"

With a sigh, I turned to Nadir. "Perhaps we should meet some other time?" I suggested.

He understood and nodded once. "I think that would be best. Good evening, Christine. Erik." Quietly, so only I could hear, he added, "Allow her to make her own decisions, my friend." Then, he left, and it was just me and Christine.

I didn't know where to start. "I . . . I thought it would be best . . ."

She didn't let me finish. "You left without saying goodbye," she accused, her anguish evident in her voice, and I winced. "How could you? How could you throw everything away, Erik? I love you!"

I shook my head, desperately fighting against my own desires. "Christine, you know why I left," I told her. "I want you to be happy."

"Then let me stay!" she cried. Then, with that stubbornness that I love about her, she walked forward until she was right in front of me. "I told you once that you were all I want, Erik. Please . . . if you love me, you will let me stay."

As her eyes captured mine, I felt my resolve crumble. Taking her in my arms, I held her close to me. Her arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace, as if she would never let me go.

"You do realize," I murmured into her ear, "that I will never be able to let you go again?"

She lifted her head back and smiled. "I would not have it any other way," she declared. I placed my hand against her cheek, and she closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. At that moment, I knew that I have been wrong. I have caused Christine unnecessary pain, and in my determination to do what I thought was right, I completely disregarded her desires. She somehow, being the remarkable woman that she is, forgave me, and I will do everything within my power to make it up to her.

"I love you, darling, I whispered." She smiled again, took my hand, and led me out of the opera house and back to our home. For some reason, the woman beside me chose to stay with me. As for myself, I love her all the more because of it. We belong together; Christine has been right all along. And I never intend to forget it.

End.