Together Forever

Counter Point: Erik and Christine

A/N: Co-written by Christine4ever86. Christine has written the thoughts, words, and feelings of Christine Daaé, and I have done the same for Erik. We have both written a bit for Raoul. We do not own these characters, although we enjoy borrowing them immensely. They belong to Gaston Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and even a bit to Susan Kay. This story is based primarily on the 2004 movie, but a bit of Leroux and Kay always slip into my writing. Enjoy and leave us a review if you get the chance.

Summary: What if Christine did not kiss Erik when she said that she would stay with him in return for Raoul's life and in turn he did not let her go? When she chooses to stay, both Christine and Erik must learn to love as they face the future together forever.

Chapter One

Time to Say Goodbye

I shook my head in utter disbelief. What had she just said? Surely I had misheard those words. Christine could not have just told me that she would stay with me. Yet as I looked at her she remained at my side—trembling true, but she was still standing there at my side— resolute in her decision, her tiny hand clasping mine. Those beautiful china blue eyes gazed at me as tears streamed down her cheeks… tears of pity… pity for me… and yes, I could not deny that they were doubtless mingled with tears for her young man. He did not matter now. I had won! Christine would be my bride. But why did my victory feel so hollow? The answer was there, deep in her eyes as she gazed at that boy. She was doing this for him, out of love fore her little viscount. Yet somehow, there remained hope buried within my heart that Christine Daaé would learn to love me, perhaps not in the same way that she loved Chagny, but one day I hoped to own a piece of the precious heart that beat within her breast.

A smile spread across my misshapen lips as I moved to free her lover. The instant the young man was untied, he ran to Christine, taking her into his arms. I turned from the couple, not willing for Christine to see the tears welling up in my eyes. "Say goodbye to him, Christine," I whispered, fighting desperately to choke back my tears. "It is time to say goodbye to your young man."

"Raoul," I choked, placing a hand on his face, "I will always love you, no matter how far apart we are." The tears fell relentlessly down my cheeks. "I will always be yours." His embrace tightened and look of despair shadowed his wet eyes.

"How can I let you go?" he asked holding me to his heart. Through tightly clenched teeth he whispered, "I will come back for you."

"No Raoul, please…. If you came back, there would be nothing to stop him from hurting, or maybe even killing you. I can live knowing that you are somewhere in this world…. I cannot live knowing that you are gone."

"I'll fight. I'll fight him now."

"Please Raoul, do as I say and just go!" I could hardly control myself now. He was making this harder for me.

"I love you Christine," he said fiercely. Holding me tightly, he kissed me long, and deep. Pulling slowly out of the kiss, I turned a tear-stained face to the Phantom.

"We're ready," I said dully.

I stood, frozen by immovable grief as the couple spoke their final words of love. In my mind I berated myself for parting my beloved from the man she adored. But a promise is a promise, and she had given her word to become my bride. My jaws muscles tightened when the foolish boy spoke of fighting me. Why, he wouldn't stand a chance! His life was in my hands a moment ago. It still was, and it always would be. Christine was mine, and he could not have her again. Mine! We had made a bargain, his life for her love. How dare he even think of breaking his word? After all that had occurred, that dolt of a viscount still imagined that he could defeat me! A familiar red haze began to veil my sight. My hands balled into fists at my sides, and my breathing became shallow and ragged. I knew these signs all too well. In a moment I would experience one of my frequent blind fits of fury.

Suddenly, my murderous rage was cooled, for Christine was speaking to me. "We're ready," she said. My wrath died down immediately at the sound of that heavenly voice. Her tone was low and lifeless, but she was speaking to me. At last they were ready to part, and Christine would spend the rest of her life with me.

"Good," I said, turning again to meet her lovely eyes. My own voice was cold and acrid, chilled by the hatred that I felt for the young man at her side. "I will return as soon as possible, Christine. You will find everything that you can need in your room." With that, I moved towards the lever that opened the iron gates to my home. As the obstruction rose, I stepped into the boat, motioning for Chagny to follow. "Come, Monsieur le Viscount," I beckoned in a voice barely above a whisper. He glared at me with a look of pure hostility then turned to Christine, as if in defiance of my request, taking her into his arms one last time.

"I love you, Christine," he repeated at the close of their embrace. Then, most reluctantly, the young man took his place in the small craft.

As we rowed away, he clung to the back of the boat, not willing to miss his final chance to look upon the woman whom we both adored. He called to her several times, saying such nonsense as, "Christine, it does not have to end this way! You are throwing your life away! Please reconsider. One word from you and you will be free." Her only response was more helpless tears. "I love you!" he cried. "I will come back for you!"

"Silence Chagny!" I screamed. I turned on him furiously, abandoning the pole in my hands. It clattered to the floor of the boat as my hands encircled his neck, dragging him toward me. "One more word out of you, and I may forget my promise to spare you!" I shook him wrathfully as all sense of reason began to leave my mind.

A piercing scream brought my actions to a halt. Christine! Christine would be heartbroken if I were to hurt her young man. And what would she think of me? If I allowed myself to murder the boy, Christine would be free of her promise, and she would never, never learn to love me. I simply could not kill him. Letting out an angry growl, I released him, dropping the startled young man to the wooden surface below.

For the remainder of our journey, my eyes remained fixed on the watery path before us. At last, we arrived at the opposite shore. I stepped from the boat and began to ascend the stairway that would lead us to Christine's dressing room. The soft echoing of a second set of footsteps told me that the viscount continued to follow close behind me. When at last we reached the mirror, I opened the device and allowed the boy to step through.

"Monster!" With that accusation, he turned to go.

"I have been called worse things," I stated apathetically, "and you have not been dismissed." The boy paused at the door and looked at me in bewilderment. "You spoke to Christine of returning. I merely wish to warn you not to act upon those words. You had better not set foot in my domain again, Chagny!" I growled. "You may enter the Opera above, but if you so much as attempt to traverse the cellars bellow, your life will not be worth two francs! Is that understood?"

Before he could make any reply, I was on my way down the long stairwell, the mirror slamming behind me.

I watched the boat pull away... my eyes almost blinded with tears. Oh Raoul, I thought. How can I live without you? Raoul's passionate cries fell upon me like daggers, every word wrenching more pain from my already bleeding heart. Then I saw something that made my blood turn cold. The Phantom… he was shaking… choking—I froze in horror—choking my Raoul! I couldn't move, and I screamed in pure rage and terror. Then the room swam and everything turned black.

As I made my way back to my subterranean kingdom, all thoughts of Chagny were erased from my mind. In their place, my mind was flooded with visions of Christine. The very thought of her brought a smile to my lips and lighted my heart. She was mine now… my living bride… the love of my life waiting for me in my home. I found it difficult to steer my boat through the familiar passages of the underground lake, for my hands were trembling from sheer elation.

After what seemed like ages, my house on the lake came into view. And then I saw her. Christine! My angel was lying on the ground. Why, she must have fainted… or worse. Hot tears began pouring down my cheeks. Surely she would not take her own life, yet even death would be superior to life as my bride. I propelled the boat onward with hurried strokes.

The moment the craft had touched the stony shore I sprang to my beloved's side. I could not help but notice how pail Christine appeared as I knelt near her motionless body. Drawing in a shaky breath, I lay my head against her chest, listening for any sign of life. A sigh of relief passed from my malformed lips. Her heart was still beating, and her breathing was quite normal. I found it exceedingly difficult to separate my head from those perfect breasts—so soft… so warm… so compelling.

I pulled back, shaking my head furiously in order to expel the thoughts that were racing through my mind. Fiery passion raged within my entire body, arousing desires that I had long since denied myself. Stop it Erik! I chided. When will you learn to have a little patience? I stood slowly, holding her limp body close to my heart. I carried Christine to her bed, the bed where she had slept on her first night in my home. I reflected with much sorrow that she had also passed out on that evening. As I laid her upon the bed, a chocolate curl tumbled from behind her ear and covered one eye. I gently brushed the velvety curl aside. Then with a deep sigh, I left her to rest. As for myself, perhaps I would sleep, but first I planned to work on my music.