I actually wrote this yesterday! But I was too busy to post until today :(
But hey! I'm doing phictober since I can't draw, so now instead I'll attempt to crank out a one-shot a day. I already have two, so I'm posting them back-to-back.
(This prompt is techincally #7 or something... but I didn't feel like doing the one for 3, lol)
It was still very early in the morning when Christine felt a nudge at her side.
She clenched her eyes shut, rolling away. Probably Ayesha. Why hasn't Erik fed her yet?
Tugging at the covers, she drew them up to her chin. The sheets were warm and comfortable, and she felt herself slipping away to sleep once more.
Until a cold hand reached out to gently shake her on the shoulder.
"Christine," the voice of her husband was low, a whisper. "My dear, you must rise."
Rubbing blearily at her eyes, Christine propped herself up by an elbow to look at him.
"Gosh, what time is it? Why are you up so early?" She momentarily forget about his insomnia.
Erik got off the bed, straightening his cravat and smoothing back his hair. He was already clad in a suit- impeccably stressed as always. She sat up all the way.
"It's a surprise," was all he said, the corner of his lip upturned in a sly smile. She found her heart pounding in anticipation. Swinging her legs up and over the side of their (synonym for bed), she stood up to walk nearer to him. She placed her soft hands on his chest. Her face tilted up to his unmasked one.
"And what type of surprise may that be?" she asked, her blue doe-eyes blinking up at him.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, but much to her chagrin moved away. "Not the type of surprise you're thinking, my little love."
Long fingers were curled as they beckoned to her. "Come, let us go. The surprise awaits us."
Christine glanced down at her attire. "Shouldn't I change? I'm still in my nightdress, Erik."
He smiled at her- a sight that never failed to warm her heart.
"You will be fine," he assured her. "No one else will see you."
XXxxXX
The air was cold when they emerged onto the rooftops, but his cloak, wrapped around her, warmed her immensely.
She stepped out by the statues, her eyes surveying the area. The sight took her breath away.
The rest of Paris remained asleep, the streets still nearly deserted and the sky only beginning to brighten.
In the distance, the orange-pink sun had barely risen.
"I… this is amazing, Erik," she inhaled, her eyes flickering up to his. He was steadily watching her for her reaction.
"I am pleased you like it," he replied earnestly. "I knew you would enjoy the sunrise."
His hand reached up to lift her chin. "It is quite beautiful, is it not?"
She had the implication he was not talking about the sunrise. Christine closed the distance between them, her lips pressing to his in a tender kiss. They remained locked in a warm embrace, his fingers slowly raising to entangle in her golden hair, and her hands thrown around his neck.
She broke away eventually, for air. Her brows rose as she recalled something. "We should probably head back down soon, I know Madame Giry wishes us to arrive early for rehearsal today. I still have yet to get dressed."
He kissed her again, quick and sweet. "No worries, we still have time."
And so they stayed.
