Disclaimer: I own nothing.
(A/N) This song is "On Your Own" by Nick Lachey. This is my second attempt at this songfic.

Erik couldn't believe that Christine was truly leaving. He thought that when she denied Raoul and stayed with Erik, she would really stay. He was mad at himself for believing her. Mad at himself for asking her to live out the remainder of her life in the fifth cellar, with no light or socialization.

Christine had finished gathering her things that Erik had been generous enough to give her. "I am so sorry, Erik, but I can't stay down here. I can't." Christine wept. "I am sorry, too, Christine. I was fooling myself to think someone like you could actually be happy down here with a monster like me."

"Oh, Erik," Christine sighed. She turned to go. "Wait," Erik said. "I have one more thing for you. A song."
Christine sat on the rocky stairs and Erik sang to her acapella.

"You live with a halo round your head,
This time you're leaving.
This place where the walls are painted red,
Freedom is what you need."

Christine was frozen to the spot. How could she deny Erik the only thing he ever truly wanted-her love?
Erik's voice was beautiful, and Christine guiltily found herself thinking, "How can such a beautiful voice come from such a man?"

"But if the world should ever fall apart around you,
And if you're lost and barely breathing,
I will find you,
And carry you back home."

Christine's breath caught in her throat when she realized that Erik was dead serious-he would make sure that she was safe and healthy, even though she didn't want to see him ever again.

"I won't forsake the only love I ever known,
When you're out there on your own.

Dark clouds they surround you in the sky,
Rain falls when you're sleeping.
When your past the point of no return.
I will take away the hurt.

And if the world should ever fall apart around you,
And if you're lost and barely breathing,
I will find you,
And carry you back home.
I won't forsake the only love I ever known,
When you're out there...

And I will wait,
However long it takes,
Til you realize what you have been searching for,
Was right here all along."

Erik knew that Christine was strong-willed enough to actually leave. He told himself as he was singing to her that he had to step back and let her live her life. He had no business controlling her. He had to let her go.

"When you've lost the only light you had to guide you,
And you're cold and barely breathing,
I will find you.
And carry you back home,
I won't forsake the only love I ever known,
When you're out there on your own."

Christine was truly the only love he had ever known. She knew that as well, and her heart broke when she realized that he needed her. He couldn't survive if she left. Who knew what he would do?

"And if the world should ever fall apart around you,
And if you're lost and barely breathing,
I will find you,
And carry you back home.
I won't forsake the only love I ever known,
When your out there on your..." Erik's voice broke for a moment, and Christine approached him and planted a kiss on his lips. He mistook it for a goodbye kiss as he shrank from her grasp.

"When you're out there on your own." he finished, and turned so he wouldn't see her leave. She followed him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm not leaving." she whispered. He turned incredulously and swept her up into his arms. "You mean it?" he asked, disbelieving. "Yes." she affirmed, and they kissed passionately.