Disclaimer: don't own it…

A sad little one-shot that I am thinking of expanding…

Enjoy!

A Diamond is Forever

One drop…two…three…

He let the rain splatter on his face and wash away his sorrows. He counted the drops slowly...

Erik had always liked the rain. It always seemed to calm him, and help him. He took out a small container and opened it. A diamond ring sparkled through the rain and showed his reflection. The diamond sparked as the rain fell onto it.

There was another use for rain. That's when Erik did his shopping. He smiled as he reminisced on those hours only a few hours ago: when he bought her ring…

The day has been slow for the jewelers that he knew. Erik sat perched in the darkness of a hidden window in the Opera House. The window that overlooked the store. He had known of that store for several years now.

Ever since Christine arrived, Erik had been saving him money to buy her a ring to show her of his love. And he had the perfect one picked out.

It was a beautiful diamond ring on a silver band. He knew that Christine would love it, for he had seen her gawk at it almost every day, and heard her tell Meg the one she wanted for her engagement ring.

If she wanted it, Erik would get it. As the hours ticked away he watched the sun set, and finally it was dark enough for him to immerge.

Inside, the shop keeper began to lock up. "Sir." He heard a dark voice say, and a man immerged from the shadows, his face hidden by a full black mask.

"Who are you and what do you want?" the old man asked out of panic.

"Please, Monsieur. I will not harm you." Erik stated. The man still kept his guard up. "I want to buy a ring," he produced a sack of coins and showed the man. "And I have the money to pay for it."

"A ring, you say?" the man asked and gave Erik a faint smile. "Ring we have. Which one would you like?"

Erik walked over to the casing and showed the man the one he wanted. With a smile the jeweler opened the case and took out the ring. He placed it in Erik's gloved hand and watched curiously as he examined it.

The diamond sparkled brilliantly as Erik eyed it. "This one shall do. It's exactly the one she has wanted." The man placed the ring in a casing and closed it.

"Who's the lucky woman?" the jeweler asked curiously.

"A wonderful woman who lives in the Opera House." Erik said.

The man handed Erik is package. "And tell me, Monsieur. Who are you?"

Erik didn't answer him, but landed a heavy punch in the old man's fragile jaw, knocking him out cold. "I am no one that should concern you." Eric left a few coins in the man's hand and left.

Christine's ring was securely in his hand.

He remembered the outcry of the newspapers clearly and let out a chuckle.

"Masked Man Buys Ring, Knocks Jeweler Out Cold."

The rain began to fall heavier as Erik indulged in it. But there was someone behind him. He did not know this until they spoke his name.

"Erik?" The Phantom turned around to see Christine standing there, her hair was beginning to be soaked by the summer rain. "What on Earth are you doing up here?" She asked curiously. She had never seen him even step foot out side until now.

"The rain, it calms me." He whispered. "What are you doing up here?"

Christine walked over and stood next to him as she threw her head back. The rain trickled down her neck and sent a smile upon her face. "I couldn't sleep. The rain, well, I love it as well. Everything is so quiet and beautiful. The rain splattering down so quietly, it gives everything an eerie glow, yet a brilliant one."

"Yes, it does." He said. So she would still talk to him. It had been almost a five years since she left him, five agonizing and painful years. He sat alone during the night; he sat alone during the day.

After the opera was reopened, Christine was asked to sing again. That she did. Erik had offered to give her lessons again which she accepted. But her lessons weren't as concentrated as they used to be. Erik always found a way to get off topic.

"Erik, there is something I need to tell you." She said slowly. "Something I should have told you the moment I got here."

His ears perked up. Did she love him? "What is it, Christine?" he asked as he walked closer towards her.

"Erik, I…" Christine began to speak. Erik felt his heart lift off. So she did love him! "I'm leaving for England in the morning."

Erik's heart exploded into pieces. "You're…leaving?" He said astonished. Christine nodded. "But, why?"

"I can't explain it, but I just need to leave, and clear my head. I don't know when I'll be back though."

He turned his head, tears mixed in with the rain. Everything he had known to love and cherish was leaving him. "You…will be back?"

"As soon as I can, Erik. That, I promise you." Christine drew in a breath and turned on her heel, leaving the Phantom alone.

"I love you, Christine." He said sadly. Christine stopped, and quickly turned back. She sprinted for him and seized his lips in a longing kiss, which Erik happily accepted. "What's this?" he asked surprised.

"Before I leave, I must tell you something else…I love you, Erik." Christie said. "It kills me to leave, believe me. But I will be back, soon."

It was now or never. Christine and Raoul hadn't married, for she kept putting it off. So maybe they would have a chance… "Here," he said as he took out the ring and opened it. "I bought this for you, hoping that one day I would be able to be your husband." He slipped the ring onto her finger; tears slipped past his eyes as reality sunk in. "Don't forget me, Christine." He said and hugged her.

"I never could." She responded and kissed him again. "A diamond is forever, Erik. Nothing can break it." With one last kiss she turned and left.

Erik watched in agony as the left. But a new feeling came over him. She knew he loved her, and more importantly, he knew that she loved him.

The next morning

Christine walked out of the Opera House she knew and loved and into the streets.

"Madame." The driver said. "Your carriage awaits." Christine nodded as her bags were taken and placed in the back of the carriage. She said good-bye to her friends, tears streaming from their faces.

Christine would never be coming back to Paris, for good. She could never tell Erik that. She handed Madame Giry a note addressed to Erik, telling him the real reason she was leaving.

As the clouds gathered around them, Christine felt a drop of rain on her face. She looked up to see a shadowy figure standing above her.

Up on the roof

Erik watched down, his heart breaking. He let a silent tear slip down the side of the building as it mixed with the rain.

"Christine." He muttered. The diamond that was on her hand sparkled, despite the dreadful weather. "I love you."

Her carriage pulled away slowly, and his heart went with her. But maybe there was hope. Maybe she would return. After all, what she told him was true about their love; it was truly a diamond in the rough. A jewel of love that cannot be scratched, a rock that cannot be broken. A diamond is forever, much like their love

And forever is an awfully long time…

Author's Note: I may continue this, depending on how much time I have and if i have enough willpower to get it done! Please R&R!