Erik had never received a gift in his life. Though he had asked his
mother long ago as a child for two kisses, one for now and one to
save. Sadly, those gifts were never given, so as a child he learned to
never expect or ask for gifts; it was much easier that way.
He was an aged man now and didn't celebrate Christmas or his birthday.
He wasn't quite sure when his birthday even was, honestly, but now
that Christine had been coming down for lessons, she'd made sure to
tell him of holidays; it was how he'd been keeping track of time.
Although he concluded her merry way of celebrating holidays was a lot
more amusing than Nadir's nagging and annoying reminders.
Erik had been composing all-night and early into the morning, when he
heard the familiar footsteps of his beloved angel. He smiled to
himself and got up from his seat at the organ, checking the clock on
his way out of the house. It was rather early for her to be stopping
by; he knew she was never much of a morning person anyway. As he went
out to the gondola, he saw her blonde curls from across the lake.
"Mon petite ange, what an unexpected surprise. Our lessons did not
resume today, I don't believe?" Erik asked nervously when he reached
her across the lake.
"No, but I just wanted to see you," Christine said in an especially
excited way. She held a little box in her hands and smiled at him in a
lovely manner. He blushed behind his mask and couldn't help, but have
his heart warmed by her unexpected arrival. She merely wanted to see
him… Christine, who hated mornings with a great passion, had made her
way down alone just to because she had wanted to see him. He noticed
her beautiful blue day gown with her curls pinned up and framed around
her lovely face and how she had pinched her cheeks to bring color to
them, which made her look even more endearing. She'd obviously been up
for a few hours preparing for the trip, which greatly confused him,
but he didn't question it.
"Please… Come then. I'll make us some tea," he said quietly as he
helped her into the boat.
"Thank you, Erik," she said sweetly and took a seat. On their way back
to his home, he grew more curious as to what she held in her hands,
but he didn't take time to ask; he was just happy to see her.
When they got into his home, he was a bit flustered. He hadn't been
prepared for her company today. He was dressed casually in a loose
white shirt and black trousers, not his usual formal eveningwear. He
was also concerned if he even had tea in stock in his pantry; he
hadn't thought to go shopping in a while, but he didn't know Christine
hadn't come for just tea and a visit. "Excuse me for a moment, I just
need to clean things up a bit in the kitchen," he said formally, it
was an excuse though to make sure he wouldn't embarrass himself
preparing tea that wasn't there.
When Erik got to the kitchen, he heard her graceful footsteps wander
down the hall. 'She's not going to the kitchen,' he decided with a
frown. 'What was so important that the child had to come down here at
this hour? She never visits unless she has to…' His thoughts kept his
mind busy as he searched for his little box of tea.
He finally found something that would suffice for them both and when
he turned around she was there in the doorway waiting. She'd been
there for awhile and Erik had no idea, he was growing more curious and
wary now because he noticed her hide something behind her back.
"Christine, what have you got behind you?" he cautiously inquired. He
did trust her, but throughout all his years in Persia and in the gypsy
camp it had made him very wary of everything even if that something
was a little blonde angel before him.
"Nothing!" her voice was in singsong and it made him shiver.
'Little minx,' he thought with a smirk and tried to step behind her to
see what she was hiding, but she sidestepped him with a quickness that
he didn't know she possessed. "Oh Christine, let me see what you have,
you silly child!" Erik laughed. He really was in no mood to be toyed
at this early in the morning, yet he couldn't help but be pleasant at
her expression and attitude, which was a mix between a little playful
and smug. She tried so hard to seem innocent of any crime.
"I don't have anything, angel!" she giggled, stepping back from him.
"Christine, this is so unlike you; to be playing such games like
this," he laughed again at her dramatically exasperated look and she
huffed.
"But Erik, today is special!" She giggled. He shivered again at the
sound of his name being used in such a gentle and playful tone that he
doubted he could ever get used to.
"Then pray tell, child, what is the occasion, hmm?" he asked silkily.
He saw her eyes roll at his condescending tone.
""Oh, no occasion!" she giggled. "I just saw this and thought of you."
She suddenly thrusted the box she'd carried earlier at him excitedly.
He wasn't entirely sure how to respond. The woman he loved coming to
his home unannounced was gift enough, but now this?
"You… You got me a present?" he said with a deep frown and took the
delicately wrapped package from her precious hands. It was wrapped
with black paper and had a red bow tied around it. He approved of her
color choices since they were his favorites; he appreciated that quite
a bit.
"Oh Erik, just open it!" Christine cried out with glee and shook her
head when he still just stood there holding it. Erik did as he was
told, but his hands were shaking a little when he untied the bow and
pulled the wrappings away gently without tearing them. His little
Christine was watching his every move with excitement and
anticipation, grinning ear to ear. When he opened the gift box and
reached inside, his heart felt like it would stop. This almost brought
Christine into madness for how painfully slow he was going. She had so
desperately wanted to see the look of happiness on her angel's face
when he saw his present, but she was met with cruel disappointment.
In his hand now was a crystal piano, it glittered like diamonds in the
candlelight and he studied it. Every detail was excellently crafted,
the keys were gold and silver and he could even see little strings
with in the crystal instrument. It fit the palm of his hand perfectly,
but as he was examining it, he'd left Christine waiting for a reaction
for a long while because his face was still blank. Christine bit her
lip and waited for him to say something, anything, but no words were
uttered from him. She sighed and looked down, beginning to grow
insecure and question her gift choice.
"I-I… If you do not like it, I can return it," she said in
embarrassment. Erik on the other hand was in complete shock at this
little object in his hands. It must have cost her more than four
months of her pay and it caused the most incredible feeling to swell
inside him. Christine had given him this. Christine had taken time out
of her day and money out of her hard earned pay to get him something
this intricately beautiful. Although it was just a simple trinket, it
was the most precious thing to him now besides the lovely woman before
him.
"Nonsense. Thank you, mon ange," the words came out a little flat and
Christine gave a little, nonchalant shrug. It wasn't much of a thank
you, but he didn't know how else to show her gratitude and it
definitely didn't bring her much reassurance that he liked the gift.
"It was nothing," she said and offered him a small smile to hide her
disappointment that he didn't show more love towards his gift.
He placed the box down on the table. "Now, tea?" Erik asked as he got
the water ready to boil as he searched for a tea bag. Christine just
nodded in response; she was rather disappointed at how this meeting
was going so far.
They shared a cup of tea and a meager conversation about events in the
opera house. Christine wasn't as enthusiastic as before and gave
halfhearted answers. When evening fell and it was time for Christine
to return home, Erik escorted her to the mirror and bid her goodnight.
"I shall meet you here tomorrow for our lesson, my dear," he said
softly before disappearing back into the shadows. She just sighed in
disappointment because that gift was given to please him, to make him
happy, but she thought she failed… But little did she know how happy
her Erik was as he gaily sang to himself as he returned home in a daze
of delight and love.
Lessons resumed as usual and Christine tried to forget the ridiculous
gift fiasco, yet she did notice something different about Erik's
demeanor around her after the incident. Yes, he was already in love
with her and treated her kindly, but something was different. He
treated her with more appreciation and trust.
In the weeks to come, his attitude improved even more and made
Christine happier to be down there with him. She stayed over at night
more often and came to visit him even when they didn't have lessons
scheduled. He never yelled anymore and wasn't so reclusive.
Christine had completely forgotten about the little crystal piano
she'd given him, figuring that he'd placed it somewhere and forgotten
it too. However, one night, she walked by Erik's room and saw his door
was cracked open. He was undressing for bed and normally Christine
would've blushed and looked away, but something glittering in the
light caught her eye and made her pause. Reaching into the breast
pocket of his suit jacket, he took out the little trinket Christine
gave him weeks ago. He had been keeping it on his person everyday
since he'd gotten it, carrying it around like a good luck charm. He
cherished this gift and ran his fingers over it in a sentimental
manner before placing it on his bedside table.
Christine forgot her presence wasn't known because when she spoke, she
actually made the phantom jump. "You still have it?" she blurted out
and opened the door more, entering without permission.
Startled, Erik picked the trinket up again as if she would take it
away. "O-of course, I kept it," he murmured with a nod. He held it
possessively and Christine approached him slowly.
"I thought you hated it! I truly believed you only accepted it for my
sake," she stated a little sadly, tilting her head to the side.
"Oh, mon ange, of course not… This is the only gift I've ever been
given…" he trailed off and stared at it. "It's perfect."
Christine was shocked at his confession. She'd experienced Christmas
and birthday presents her whole life, despite her lack of family and
poverty. "Oh my poor Erik," she murmured and touched his arm sadly.
He didn't want her pity, but he didn't pull away from her touch
either. They stood like that for a moment and, still clutching the
crystal trinket, he thought up an idea. "Christine, my angel… M-may I
have something else?" he asked her like a small child would've.
"Of course, Erik, anything," she replied with a smile.
"May… May I have a kiss? O-one for now and one to save?" he asked
hesitantly. Christine almost cried for it was such a small favor to
request. She just nodded and smiled reassuringly at him, but never
spoke for if she did, she surely would've wept then and there.
His hands shook as he cupped her face in his large musician's hands
and kissed her forehead gently. She couldn't hold her tears back any
longer and hugged him tightly, her tears soaking his shirt. He held
her close and wept as well. That kiss as the greatest gift above all
others and he still had one kiss to save… Erik thought with a smile.
The End.