"Erik will you please just listen to me!" Christine's voice screamed across the main room of the phantoms lair. For weeks she has been trying to persuade him to leave the house and spent some time outside with her. It had been far too long since she spent a day walking outside. Most of her time was spent either with her angel, or up in Opera house. Erik would hardly let her out of his sight half the time - he was too afraid of her meeting Raoul and that fops anger getting the better of him. Erik was an obsessive man, Christine knew that first hand. But she knew he was just doing what was best for both of them. They were both afraid of what Raoul would do. Ever since Christine broke their engagement and returned to her angel Raoul has had his sight set on getting revenge on the monster who stole her away. For weeks after he had tried to find his way back to the lair where he almost lost his life. But Erik was too quick - within a few days he had already blocked off the passage Madame Giry showed him. He searched every room in the Opera house for a way back in, but to no avail. Soon he stopped and refused to visit the Opera house again. Christine never saw him in his usual box when she preformed, nor was he ever in contact with the managers. People said he turned to drink - which wasn't surprising. When Raoul was out after grand galas and for parties he would have drank so heavily alot of the time he would pass out and the staff would leave him sleeping at his table till the late afternoon.

But now that the DeChagny situation was out of the way, Christine had another problem to sort out - Erik. Erik has refused to leave his home for many years now, except to see the Operas and the occasional errand, but these were always in the dead of night. His face had him prone to sever ridicule and in his past often was the cause of his near death experiences. He was made a mockery of all his life, beaten and abused by many men who saw him as the devils child. His body was covered in the scars of whips and knives. And Christine knew these terrible actions had resulted in a sheer lack of confidence. The only time he felt he was really in power and accepted by people was when he was killing and putting fear into Opera goers asthe mysterious "Phantom of the Opera". But Christine knew she could change him. She had the power before to change his mind - when their kiss was the action that set both she and Raoul free. Christine Daae was Eriks complete life and she knew that. Music was probably the only thing he loved more. She knew his weakness and even though she loved him. She was prepared to use them o get her own way. She had been cooped up in this lair for too long.

"No Christine!" Erik demanded, "I will not do it"

"Erik if we leave now we can be back within the hour. I know some-"

"No!" his voice boomed around the entire room. "I am not going up into the streets and out into public view. You know what will happen"

"you mean you think I know what YOU think will happen. Erik you haven't left this place in years. Times have changed."

Erik sat himself down on the sofa. 'Times have changed' he thought to himself 'what does she know?! She knows nothing about my time and little about her own. She has spent most of her life in the opera house. What does she know of the real world? It is a creul and dangerous place with no mercy to man.'

Christine slowly came up to the sofa and sat beside her angry angel. She put a hand on his shoulder and felt him jolt at her touch. He was never used to affectionate touches, sant time Christine made even the most modest of actions his heart went into over drive. How nice it was to be touched by a human who felt the love for him that no man ever did

"Erik, listen" She began, "I know a nice little place in the park. It's completely covered in trees and shrubs well out of anyone's view. I doubt if many people even know of it. I thoughs...maybe...we could have a picnic?"

Erik sighed and sank deeper into the sofa, "Christine Daae I swear you will be the death of me" He looked over at the young girl and her large eyes met him. He knew he coulnt deny his angel anything, he would gladly die if she asked.

He sighed, "Fine Christine. But we cannot be out for more than two hours. I'm getting old I can't walk around the way I used to.

She squealed with excitement wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. "Oh Erik darling thank you!" she felt her angel melt in her arms as she put a gentle kiss to his deformed cheek. She has gotten used to seeing Erik without his mask. The first time she saw it she cannot deny she was frightened, but now she tends to forget he has any sort of deformity at all. To her he looks more handsome than any man in the world.

She stood up, fixing her dress and began to make her way towards the door "I'll make up a basket bow Erik and we can be away within the hour. Is there anything you would like"

"Bring some tea my dear if you would be so kind. The lemon stuff. Now your disgusting English tea you're so fond of."

Christine giggled as she left the room. Erik groaned and got up of the sofa 'Im getting too old for this' he said to himself as he made his way to his room, grabbed his mask, wig and cravat and left. Christine was already in the main room, putting on her shawl, a brown wicker basket sat on the table. "Ready?" She said cheerfully. Erik placed on his wig and mask and began fixing his cravat.

"Here let me help" Christine approached him and helped him fiddle with the fabric. Erik always had trouble putting it on if he wasn't in front of a mirror. She tucked the material into his jacket and put her hands on his face "Now you're perfect" She skipped off to grab the box and linked arms with her angel.

"Right so where are we going?" Erik questioned.

"The park on the Rue Fontaine. It's only a 10 minute walk from here."

"Oh great. Well then, can't let te tea get cold. Lets go" So then they both walked, arm in arm, out of the main room and towards the great lake, where the boat lay wating on the still water.

This story came into my head the other night and I actually wrote the entire thing on the bus :P There is another chapter or two to be added so I'll hopefully get that up by the end of the week

I'd really appreciate your reviews. I'm pretty new to the whole writing fan fiction thing so I'd love to get an opinion :P