A Spring Storm Rages In My Heart...(Emilie, Ana)

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik came up from his lair one afternoon into the main part of the mansion. Outside, through the windows it was as black as night, even though it was only afternoon. He walked up to the nearest window and he could hear a terrifying spring thunderstorm raging outside. From his lair, deep below the mansion on his subterranean lake, Erik never had any idea what the weather was like outside of the mansion. He walked until he came to one of the large sitting rooms. It was the same one where Ana and he had exchanged gifts and later he had found her weeping.

He walked over to the tall window, not turning on a light or candle, but standing in the darkness, watching the rain furiously beat against the windows. The trees were blowing crazily in the wind. Jagged streaks of white hot lightening ripped through the air to cause the immensely loud thunderclaps.

Erik was fascinated by the power and fierceness of the storm. He pushed open a lever which opened a small piece of the thick glass near the sill for air. He wanted to smell the storm. The energy of the electricity and the smell of the rain mixed to cause an almost mesmerizing scent. Erik was caught up in the excitement of nature's fury.

Erik had had a bad day. He felt melancholic about life in the manor. It was stagnant and there seemed at times to be nothing to do. Erik still had his music and other amusements, but in the year and some months that he had been here, he had become used to having other people with whom to talk. He missed everyone. Well, perhaps not everyone. There were a few in the mansion he did not care to meet. And he thought of those who had disappeared. It was strange. They were told that they could not leave, and yet some had gone. But where had they gone? Back to their own time? Somewhere in this strange modern time? Or had they vanished from existence altogether? As if they had never existed and they only lived on in the minds of those who had met them.

A loud thunderclap brought Erik out of his reverie. He sat down on the settee and closed his eyes, drinking in the sweet smell of the storm and resting his head on the back of the couch, and listening to nature's music, the patter of the raindrops..... The thunder and lightening eased up and there was only that patter. It was soothing and mesmerizing and soon Erik was lulled into a state which was not sleep, but a calming of the mind, where the inner senses took over and there was no need for thought.

[ladybarbossa]

The days were typical and uneventful - spend it with Edouard or Gustave or both. Some needlework, sometimes in the kitchen baking madelines. Today was no different but when she was up in her quarters, digging through her sewing box for her favorite pair of embroider scissors, she couldn't find it. Nor could she find her nice tambour tool. It looked like a couple items were missing. Most likely she left them somewhere so she got up and started searching the Manor for those missing sewing tools.

Not paying attention as she swiftly and lightly strode into the room, immediately she started sifting and sorting through places - cabinets, drawers, anywhere - looking for the scissors and tambour tool. As usual, she was elegantly dressed as a woman of her status should be adorned in a soft pink satin and light cream chiffon embroidered tea dress with long ruffled sleeves. Her hair was carefully up in a Gibson Girl style with barely a hint of a couple short curls hanging out in a couple perfectly placed areas.
Sweeping around the room as the satin made a soft rustling sound as she moved. It wasn't until she moved further in as she found the tambour tool and lifted her head to see a familiar man.
A slight sharp inhale as she saw him, lightning flashed at that moment, and simply stood there unsure what to do. She'd not seen him unfortunately in a couple months. No doubt either of them were busy. No doubt they were both involved in their separate relationships. "Good afternoon, Lenoir," she said trying to sound blank. Not sure if she should be delighted or disappointed. But she wasn't sure if she should even see him. Edouard would be livid if they were discovered in the same room.
Then the sound of the low rumble of thunder as she stood there with the tambour tool in hand, blinking and blank for words. Should she immediately leave?
After nearly a minute gazing at him, she then turned her eyes away and made for the door.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik had been sitting on the settee, his eyes closed, when, with the background of the rain, he thought he heard a familiar voice. He wasn't even sure he had heard it. His eyes flicked open and he sat up straight, then as he saw her turn and start to leave, he called to her, "Emilie? Don't leave, my dear. I've missed you. Dreadfully..."

In the early days of winter Erik had been so distraught over Teressa that he had thought of offing himself. Emilie had talked him out of it and then they had had a heart to heart talk wherein Erik had said he would marry her certainly if Edouard would divorce her. They had not really spoken privately since then and Erik had only seen her at public events. Now things had changed a bit. Teressa was no longer angry with him, but there was also Svenna. He had begun to teach her vocal lessons again and she had started to be important to him again. And now here was Emilie. Perhaps she was the one he loved the most. But it was hard to say. He loved Teressa, but could he marry her? Perhaps, that was yet to be seen. Svenna? Perhaps also. But Emilie. She made him excited now just gazing upon her.

"Please come back..." Erik followed her and touched her arm. "You look très belle ce nuit....please, it's been so long, unless you have other engagements." Perhaps she had become more devoted to de Chagny. It was proper, that. After all she was his wife....unfortunately....

[ladybarbossa]

Halfway to the doorway, she stopped. His voice called out to her. That melodious tone. The smooth and velvety pitch. All so charming and perfect. Her lips parted just slightly as she softly took sharp inhales of air. He called out to her and she could not resist! Part of her wanted to run away, while the other half of her wanted to stay planted where she was to see him more.

Another sharp inhale as she tilted her head slightly to listen. No longer did she listened when she felt him touch her. Turning around slowly to face him. Her breathing had picked up as her lips remained slightly parted, but was so soft her breathing was barely heard.
Locking her hazel eyes upon his mismatched ones and blinked only once while gazing back at him. His voice more than soothed her. She hadn't heard his voice in a while, it nearly felt like years to her. While her eyes gazed upon him and her chest nearly heaved, a hand slowly rose and gently touched the side of his face, his good side, the side that was available to touch. The palm of her hand cradling while her fingertips and thumb barely moved to caress the side of his face. Unsure whether to smile or what should she do? All she could do was gaze into his eyes while the storm outside raged, flashes of bright light and deep rolling thunder. All in unison with her pounding heart and the emotions surging through her.
Swallowing almost hard, like a knot was in her throat, "I do not," she replied with such a soft voice, almost a whisper, and so sweetly. Being near him thrilled her. She knew being in one another's presence was dangerous and forbidden and somehow... now... that appealed to her.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik watched her walk away, for just a second, he thought she would leave without saying anything. However, at the sound of his voice, she stopped, then slowly turned. "Emilie, I've missed you so," he repeated. Then when she touched his face tenderly, he couldn't resist pulling her gently toward him and encircling her with his arms. Then he kissed her softly. "It feels like ages since I've had that pleasure, dear Emilie."

Then he stepped back a bit to look at her. "It's dark here, perhaps a light would do. And are you cold? The stones of the mansion are still full of the cold of winter, the fire place will dispel that. " He closed the window, lit an oil lamp and its light filled the room with a faded and flickering glow. Erik closed the window and built a fire in the fire place. "You look so lovely tonight. It has been so long. How is our Vicomte treating you, Emilie? Does he make you happy?" He paused and gazed out of the window, seemingly in a pensive mood.

"I have been ... well, not as melancholic as I was the last time we spoke. I have made a few more friends and they keep my mind off of my depression. Life at the mansion is not bad. But not entirely satisfying. At least not for me...I don't know. I am still confused about many things here. But many things have no answers." He turned to her. "Sit with me on the settee and tell me what has happened since last I saw you." He took her hands and led her to the settee, sitting down, his hands still in his, gazing at her beautiful hazel eyes...and smiling...

[ladybarbossa]

She missed him, too. There was no denying that! How could she deny what she felt? What she once had for her Teacher, for Mr Y, was now dimmed and gone. But for Lenoir, it had grown and flourished here. He was more than she ever remembered or thought he was. Now that he was more a man and less a shady Phantom figure lingering in the darkness. She had come to know Lenoir the man.
Breathless as he drew her into his arms and kissed her. Not once did she resist. Instead she fell right into the display of affection, wrapping her arms around him and kissed him back.

Smiling back at him with warm affection as she continued to hold him until moved away from her. Nodding her reply of his plans to obviously bring more light to the room. She will let him do as he pleased, for whatever pleased him made him happy. She could never deny him happiness... even if she already did that!
That smile remained upon her face and grew as he complimented her. But when he spoke of Raoul Edouard, she seemed to fidget, looked down, fidgeting with her fingers and pace slowly before the settee. "Raoul is treating me well," she then looked up at Lenoir with content eyes. However she was having a hard time how to reply to that. Happiness was one thing she rarely had. And what little of it, she enjoyed to the fullest. "I am as happy as a woman could be," looking down at her hands, now enveloped one around the other, palms up. She knew the answer that he wanted; hoping he did not please her in the slightest so that Lenoir could whisk her away. This did not help her in the slightest still. Every she was tormented with that choice she made so long ago in the depths of the Opera House. She tried once before to go to him and he left her. But that was Mr Y not Lenoir. Lenoir still wanted her, desired her, needed her ... or so she got the impression.

Shifting her eyes to look upon him and smiled when learning he had made friends to keep him content and mindful. This pleased her more than ever but then she also was bewildered and perhaps a little concerned or jealous. Who were these people? Would they harm him? Who dared to make attempted to know him? Would they mock him? Those little measures of behavior that were a mother's instinct rose up. She felt so very protective of her Teacher. She loved him still, and worshiped him still. But she also feared him ever so slightly still. After all he has done, it took her a while to truly understand him.

Nodding as she allowed him to guide her to the settee and she sat down in unison with him. Inhaling deeply, softly as she glanced down at their intertwined hands. What she felt for Lenoir was far different than what she felt for Raoul Edouard or even Mr Y.
A smile spread upon her face as she watched their hands, "I have spent quite a bit of time with my son, Gustave," lifting her head to look back at him with a proud visage. It was so very true that she was not the Chorus Girl that he knew and taught. She was a woman, a mother and a Vicountess. She had a role in Society and had played it well. Singing was a means to help her cope but it was the acting and dancing that helped her flourish under the critical views of her and her Husband's peers. Life was not without it's challenges. Lord knows she's been through more than enough of them. "My life here has also been good. I do not want nor do I complain." She watched him, gazing into his mismatched eyes, "I am content." Though a little flash of fear at the thought of losing her son. She had lost Mr Y before and also Raoul, but she remained strong. Lord know how or where she got the strength. But she continued on. Now that she thought about it, if it wasn't for Gustave, she would have given up long ago and joined her dear father in heaven.
"I am glad that you are happy here," as a genuine smile once again played upon her lips. Yet she wondered if he was truly happy. She had spotted him with other women, even recently at his birthday celebration, how he seemed to be adored. It struck her oddly that when she knew him he was feared and loathed. The mere thought or mention of him made everyone tremble and scream. No one wanted to be near him. No one saw his face but when one did it caused a person, even she, cringe and run from him.
"Do you love her?" she simply asked him. Wondering if Lenoir really did love another and if so she would relent and be resigned to being a figure from his past just as he was a figure from her past at one point in time.

[Erik Lenoir]

Her kiss was heaven. It was lovely to see her and touch her again. It was almost as if she had truly been his Christine, rather than the young and inexperienced Svenna, however lovely she was. It seemed that Emilie and Svenna were very similar, really, except Emilie had seen more of life and she was more mature, and it seemed, she was still in love with Erik. Even if he wasn't Mr Y. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. He smiled. He could always count on Emilie to bolster his spirits.

Erik noticed a small dampening of her spirits as he mentioned de Chagny. Never mind what she said, the man was obviously not treating her well. "You know that you can speak to me anytime if anything is wrong..." he said quietly. The fire was not burning as brightly as Erik wished and it was not taking as much of the chill out of the air as he wished. Erik went to the grate, leaned over and picked up the poker to stir the embers a bit and encourage the fire." You don't seem happy, dear Emilie,:" he said, his back turned to her. He stood up and came back to sit beside her.

"Yes, your son, Gustave. He must take up quite a bit of your time." Erik paused. gazing in her hazel eyes. "And that is as it should be. I have not been introduced to the boy. But perhaps, it's best that he is not aware of our....relationship, shall we say. It's best that he thinks of me as just another resident of the mansion, having a passing acquaintance with his mother and father. It could well be disturbing to him if he should think of us as more than mere acquaintances."

Erik went on. "I have thought well and long a bout our relationship. I expect that I do love Teressa very much, but I doubt that I shall ever be able to give you up. If Teressa and I should marry, which may or may not happen, I should still be unable to keep away from you. It would have been far better that you should divorce the Vicomte and marry me. I think we are more suited for each other than anyone else. And who would care if it were scandalous? All can see that the Vicomte does not treat you well and he has his vices. Not that I don't. And of course I am not of noble blood nor am I of handsome face. But I expect that perhaps that is not of most concern to you."

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

It was late in the afternoon. Edouard had been bored, not seeing hide nor hair of Emilie or Gustave, not anyone else for that matter. He was depressed and he started drinking, rather heavily. It always calmed him down. Unless, of course, someone started an argument. Then he could be in a fighting mood. Generally, he was not one to get into physical fights, but he had a penchant for getting into ugly arguments.

Bored as he was, he decided to see if there was anything going on in the mansion. It was a dreary day, He could hear the thunder and lightening crashing and flashing outside his window and in between, the torrent of raindrops against the glass and stone of the mansion. It was cold in his rooms even with the fireplaces burning. He put on his long mourning coat over his waistcoat and stepped out into the corridor, then went back in and finished his drink, putting down the glass. He stepped out into the corridor again and walked rather slowly, touching the cold wall of the corridor occasionally to steady himself. Where was he going? He didn't know. But it was better than sitting in his suite doing nothing. Now he was walking down the corridor doing nothing. But hoping something interesting was happening somewhere....

[ladybarbossa]

She could always count on a certain affection from Lenoir. Different than what she received from her Husband, but it only proved to her how much her beloved 'Angel of Music" still adored her. Adding the fact she still could not let go of him either.

Those hazel eyes watched him as he attended to the fireplace stoking the fire it would seem. A slight smile crossed her and glanced down, "Of course," she said simply to pacify him, or was it more to pacify herself? It was difficult to say which was the true reason. Lenoir correctly guess about her happiness. Forcing herself to be happy was simply a matter of accepting her life as is. At least she had her son, and Edouard and even Lenoir near. She could not complain really. Those she loved most were now close to her and that made her just ever so slightly content.

With a brighter smile and a slight snicker from her throat, she was indeed a proud mother and it showed! Even if she was a bit over protective of the boy, whether he wandered off by his lonesome or stood next to her. She simply was still learning to let him be a boy even if she wanted to keep him to her and never out of her sights. "Gustave is a good boy," spoken warmly as the beamed with pride.
A shift upwards to lock upon his mismatched eyes, stunned as both her eyes and face betrayed the emotion. She simply couldn't believe that she never even thought about introducing Lenoir and Gustave. Truly there was no harm in them meeting let alone knowing one another a little more.
Simply telling Lenoir now her thoughts and fears. "Gustave knowing you... there is no harm in that. It's my son knowing... and being around Mr Y more often that frightens me most," now she gazed back at Lenoir with wild emotions in her eyes even when her face was steady and calm. She hoped that Lenoir would remember what she told him not long after she arrived her, that day in the garden. His reaction was as clear as if it had happened yesterday; so fresh in her mind! It frightened her that one of these days, Mr Y will find out or will have figured it out and confront her about it. It frightened her so much! When that day comes, what then? What will happen?

She simply listened to Lenoir as he spoke on about the other woman. It was terrible to admit to herself that twinge of jealousy, that little bit of anger. He was HER 'Angel of Music'. He loved her! Or... did... love her at one point in time. She had to remind herself that was long ago and people change. She would be selfish to not wish Lenoir any happiness.
The more he spoke, the more she became confused. So many emotions conflicting within as he spoke of loving Teressa and yet unable to give her up. Now she knew how he felt and immediately turned her eyes away in shame! She had toyed terribly with his heart and that was enough to place a massive amount of guilt upon her poor mind, heart and spirit.
Picking herself up as her lips quivered a little and stumbled away from the settee as she stopped and held the back of a wingback chair, gripping it tightly to the point her knuckles turned white! Shaking her head almost violently with each word bombarded her, "I can't," her voice betrayed how much it troubled her. She wanted to leave Raoul Edouard but she simply couldn't. She loved both men, but at the moment... she loved Lenoir more than Edouard. "I can't!" her voice cracked with the pain of that choice. It was that choice she made all those many years ago all over again. Bowing her head and lips parted while struggling deeply with their desires. She wanted it. He wanted it. But... could it really happen?
Once again, she shook her head as she blankly stared at the floor, "No." She wasn't turning him down, but was re-enforcing that Lenoir's appearance, his blood and everything else was not what kept her away from returning to him. Or... in this case... going to him. If it wasn't Raoul Edouard, which she convinced herself that it was her duty to her Husband that she stayed... then it was Mr Y! If she estranged herself from Raoul Edouard and went into Lenoir's arms to finally be his Bride, what would Mr Y do? No doubt he would make their lives hell since no doubt he was still obsessed with her and worse... it was Mr Y who was Gustave's real father!
Every breath she took became more and more of a challenge. "I don't know if I could do it." Prying her eyes up to lock upon Lenoir. She loved him! She truly loved Lenoir. But the fear of the others. Oh, Love was a dangerous game to play. Her eyes pleading with him now, searching for answers and guidance, just as she had long ago before she reunited with Raoul. "Angel of Music. Guide and Guardian," She was trembling now, "what must I do?"

[anastasia]

A figure raced from the stables and burst through the doors soaked to the skin from the downpour of rain as the lightning continuously flashed and the thunder roared and rolled over and over.
"Uhh!" as she shook herself then wrung out her now drenched hair and wrung out the wet shirt. With a flick of her wrists flung the water from her arms and hands. Definitely time to change into some dry clothes and to get comfortable after making sure the horses are inside the stables, fed and watered and safe at least from the storm. So she made her way through the hallways towards the residence hall where her chambers were.

While she rounded a corner and was attending to her soaking wet hair, she stopped dead in her tracks upon sight of a man that drew out a groan and rolled her eyes. "wonderful," she groaned softly. But despite their last encounter she had put on a smile and kept on walking as she approached him. "Evening, de Chaney," and did her best not to sound snobbish or vicious. Flicked her wrist towards the floor to get more water off her hands.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

As Edouard turned the corner of the corridor, he saw a woman rush in from the outside. He stopped a short distance from her. She greeted him. He squinted his eyes at her. "Bonjour," he said. "You must be Ma'mselle Hartwin-Good. I'm not Chaney. The name's de CHAGNY." He pronounced it slowly and carefully so she would say it correctly. These Americans! They had such trouble with French names!

He looked at her some more. There was definitely something wrong with her appearance. He pointed his index finger at her."You're all wet, did you know that?" He was slurring his words, but trying desperately not to. "How'd that happen?"

He seemed to have forgotten the little argument they had a few weeks previous. He and Ana had clashed bitterly. But he didn't remember that, let alone whatever they had clashed over.

"I was bored to death jus' now. Is there anyone to talk to in this bloody mansion?" A flash of lightening and a clap of thunder on its heels nearly threw Edouard off his feet. He clutched the wall, to keep him from falling. He looked at Ana again. "Did you feel that/ The mansion is moving. Do you think it shall fall in on us?" He looked up to see if the ceiling were falling. Doing so made him rather dizzy and he rather "fell" into a nearby chair. He looked over at Ana and smiled a sort of crooked smile.

[anastasia]

Not keen to being soaked to the bone in front of a drunk and she could tell he was definitely drunk! Drunk often made for the most unpredictable people and often uncontrollable! Well, if this guy tried anything stupid, she'll drop kick him in an instant!
A sarcastic smirk-grin and some wry sound as though she were about to snicker and try to be amused. But she realized that she mispronounced his name. Oh, well. Might not be good on her part, frankly she was surprised that he even noticed being as drunk as he is. "Chaney. Chagny. Shawnee. Whatever," she bloody well didn't care at the time and wrung out her shirt before bending over to ring out her denims. "Back to the bottle I see," yeah, she was pretty forward. Raoul was one character she fairly liked even thought she liked Erik better. Seeing him like some dumbass drunk arrogant fool... she never pegged him to be like that though. Maybe he needed a Gibbs Slap.

She started to snicker while ringing out the right pant leg, "It's raining, dumbass. If you haven't noticed! I had to go out and check on the horses make sure they were all inside and fine." Snickered again and shook her head. Wow. Drunk and daft.

After ringing out the left pant leg, she straightened up, let out a sigh of relief so to speak as a bright visage lit up her face. The excitement of being drenched in the middle of a storm to attend to spooked horses, it was an adrenaline rush for her. And now, she really didn't care what she looked like - most likely some chick from a wet t-shirt contest at a bar.
She shrugged, "Oh, I'm sure there is." Sort of trying to catch her breath. "Maybe watching some movies perhaps or having supper?" as she bent over and now took off her boots to leave them on the mudmat right next to the door. She should have came in through the mudroom but she didn't. The lightning was flashing like a strobe light and that made it very dangerous to be outside in such a severe storm.
She chuckled after he said the place was moving. "No. This is not California. There's no earthquakes. No. It's not moving. It's only you." She snickered again, shook her head tilting it downward just slightly and closed her eyes. "Geez," said while snickering.

That smirk or smile subsided as Raoul Edouard plopped back into a chair. She furrowed her brows and started to walk towards him, the soaking wet clothes making wet canvas noises that almost sounded like it was slapping against something and sort of was. "You OK?" Placing her hands upon her hips. "Gonna live?" Lord, was he THAT drunk? Great!

"So... who are you looking for? Or just wanting anyone to talk to? You really that bored?" He really did need a hobby or buddies. Hell, maybe introduce him to TV and movies. Plus she better keep her damned mouth shut about the racehorse Christine Daae. She remembered what Lenoir had said when she returned that Edouard would most likely want in on the whole thing. Right now, that wasn't the best idea.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

"Yes, I'm lookin;' for someone to talk to." He looked at the puddles she had made from wringing out the wet clothes and frowned. "You'd better step away from that...I think something is coming through the floor. It could be the swamp underneath the mansion. Perhaps quicksand.... Come away from there, you'll sink undoubtedly."

He settled back in the chair a bit. "It seems there's no one about. to speak to." She said his name several different ways. "No, you have it all wrong. It's pronounced Shan-YEE. Ignorant Americans. Don't know how to speak...."

"Back to the bottle? No, no, I haven't been drinking. Not a drop." He hiccuped softly which rather disproved his point."I've made a resolution never to drink again."

T hen Ana called him a dumbass. He took a bit of offense at that. "See here, I expect to be treated with respec'...." He hiccuped again, this time louder. "I am a Vicomte, a nobleman. Perhap' you ignorant Americans don't know what that means."

Aft4er she had finished wringing out her soaking wet clothing, he looked her up and down and smiled. "On somebody else, I would say you look like hell in wet clothes. But you bloody look... fantasaulous, splendiferously eh...something like that." Words were definitely failing him.

Ana mentioned it wasn't California and there were no earthquakes. He nodded. "You could be correct... Except why is the mansion moving then?And say, I'm looking for Em'ly. Have you seen her?"

[Erik Lenoir]

Emily spoke of Gustave and that there should really be no harm in him meeting Lenoir. "Has he seen Mr Y's face, Emily? If he has not, my face could be troubling and frightening to him. Of course I have not seen, but I suspect Y's deformations are quite the same as my own, for we seem to be similar in many ways, although we are definitely different in many others."

Then she repeated the words she had said many times before, Angel of Music. Guide and Guardian; what must I do?

He pulled her closer to himself. putting his right arm about her shoulder and pulling up her chin with his left index finger, tipping her jaw so her face was looking up at him. "You ask me what to do? Does not your heart tell you? We were meant to be together. Not you and the drunken Vicomte...would he have to douse himself with spirits if he were so enamoured of you? Perhaps it was a match never meant to be... Perhaps I was wrong. in telling you to leave; but I thought your happiness lay with de Chagny. Tell me I was wrong. Tell me it's me you've always loved...." He paused and his odd eyes looked sad. "And yet, it was not you that I was in love with so long ago...it was not you but Svenna. It was not Edouard with whom my Christine left, it was Christophe. I cannot understand all of this. I do love Svenna, and yet, you are here. You are more mature, more understanding. It is you that I was meant to marry..."

He closed his eyes momentarily as he spoke." But how can that be? I don't understand it. All I know is that I am in love with you and while I would not off the Vicomte....for your sake, I have thought of such a crime. A divorce would settle things nicely, without violence.:"

At that point, he completely encircled her with his arms and kissed her tenderly and long, closing his eyes in the ecstacy of her tender lips.

[ladybarbossa]

Seeing either his or Mr Y's face, that she did not honestly know. With an apprehensive shake of her head to glance down, "I don't know," spoken so honestly then lifted her eyes to gaze upon Lenoir once again. "He's only see you and Mr Y at Christmas." That she was aware of. There could have been more opportunities. But then, she thought about what Gustave had said when they were finally reunited months ago. Perhaps her son HAD seen that deformed face. In which case, she was more than pained! The sight frightened her son so much! A fear she truly understood. She remembered being frightened beyond compare when she first removed the mask. That distorted face was a sight she will NEVER forget but what frightened her more, was his reaction when she tore off the mask. He was vicious. She feared for her life!
Nodding the agreement that Lenoir's face and Mr Y's face were the same. She was SO confused! Both men the same... and yet... different!

Drawn to him and now gazing back up at him, it was just like long ago as he stood before her. The magic of a moment so far gone that now time and space no longer had meaning. She looked entranced as though about to swoon. Lost to him. "My heart knows not what to do. My mind wildly beats against you and yet... once again, my soul obeys," intensely whispered to him the truth. Just like long ago, she was once again feeling the same. This time a sense of duty and a vow that she took with Raoul kept her from following what she had always felt deep within her very being of a promise she made, that choice to save someone so dear to her.
A dutiful promise verses the choice she made.
To hear him say the were meant to be, both delighted and frightened her. It all sounded so familiar. How was she to know Raoul would end up this way? Part of her felt guilty for his behavior.
Stunned by what Lenoir was saying to a point she was speechless. But in a way, was he right? At that time, she was indeed happy with Raoul! She loved him and she knew Raoul loved her. But now... now... that love has faded and she could barely keep him sane, barely touch his heart.
A barely audible sharp inhale as she looked pained, then shook her head and looked down, "No. You were not wrong. But I did return." A very soft sigh. "But that was to Mr Y. That was another time. Another place." Lifting her eyes back to lock upon Lenoir's mismatched eyes. "This is now." Then whispered breathlessly with all the emotion in her face as well as her voice, "And I do love you." She once loved Raoul - she still did - and once loved Mr Y. But since coming here, she has come to know and become enamored with Lenoir. It was like starting over.
She once again looked pained when he stated it was not she whom she loved once before. This confused her as she understood a little more when Svenna was mentioned. Svenna. Yes. She remembered her from the golden hair Christine's party months back. Svenna was the spitting image of her when she was back at the Opera Populaire. That troubled her more than anything the Phantom had done. Even the chandelier!
The mention of Christophe troubled her as well. He was the first one she met at the Manor and that tested her sanity so much that it put her and Christophe at odds.
Indeed the whole thing was confusing and she agreed. She was equally confused. When he mentioned that she was the one he was meant marry, she became breathless. Those lips slightly parted while gazing back upon him and slowly brought her hand to his face, the good side, so he can feel her touch, cupping his face just as she had often done with Raoul to calm his temper.
The thought of a Divorce troubled her so. But already, she and Raoul were somewhat estranged. She did not know her Husband any more and it pained her terribly. Perhaps Lenoir was right. Perhaps this was meant to be! She was beginning to think it and slowly began to nod in agreement. She had agreed to it before, to leave Raoul, to Divorce him, but she could never bring herself to doing that. She could not leave Raoul as she did with her Angel of Music. Perhaps that was her reasoning, that she was guilty for leaving him alone that she clung to Raoul. But now... Lenoir was here so why was she still clinging to Raoul?
No off Raoul? That got her to thinking once of the choice she made oh so long ago. Once again that pained look, "I made a choice. And I chose you... to save Raoul from death." Lifting her eyes to him. "I tried once before to honor that choice. I shall honor it again."

Wrapped in his embrace, his deformed lips upon her own, she became lost in the passion of the moment. Her arms wrapped around him to hold herself to him while molding his lips with her own.
It was so strange that what she was denied from her own Husband, she sought in a man from her past who was here in the present and a part of her future for sure!