-1Disclaimer: We own none of the characters of Phantom of the Opera.

Chapter One

It was all in all a very dreary day. Rain fell on and off throughout the early morning and into the afternoon, casting downtown Paris in a shade of lazy sadness. The wind blew softly but was still chilly, and it was in this weather that the recently appointed Viscount de Chagny walked along the sidewalk of the Paris Opera.

A few feet ahead of him, dodging puddles expertly, was Nadir Khan, former Daroga of the Persian Capital, under the Shah. Raoul felt a squelch of his finely polished leather shoe when he stepped in a particularly deep puddle, and he winced. He was about to call out to the silent man in front of him to inquire how they were going to enter, when Nadir opened the Rue Scribe with a strange looking key and ducked inside. Raoul was quick to follow and together they navigated the deep, dank labyrinthine passages. Their footsteps echoed through the cold stone, and soon enough they reached the great stone door. Nadir looked to Raoul for a moment, as if silently questioning his judgment on bringing this man to Erik's home, before opening the door and stepping inside. Raoul entered moments later to find Nadir removing his hat and cloak and hanging them on the rack, so he quickly did the same. The first words in the last hour were then spoken as Nadir motioned for Raoul to sit on the fashionable settee.

"I will inform Mademoiselle Daae that you are here. Please wait." Raoul only nodded, and sat down, watching Nadir go inside of the door on the wall across the room.

Christine gave Erik once last smile before exiting her room. Wringing her hands uncertainly, she moved past Nadir to see Raoul. Was she really going to do this? Raoul had always been one of her very best friends, but perhaps it had been a mistake to become romantically involved with him. All of it was in the past and she could think of nothing but her newly acquired husband at the moment. She stood in front of Raoul and looked down at him with a pained expression. "Hello, Raoul," she greeted as calmly as she could muster.
Raoul smiled broadly, oblivious to the discomfort of his fiancée, and took her wringing hands in his. "Now now, Christine... wringing your hands isn't very lady-like," he teased, brushing a quick kiss over her knuckles. "Are you ready to come home, dear?" he asked, feeling very uncomfortable knowing that the monster who had caused so much trouble for them was just in the next room. Dying or not, he had threatened to kill Raoul, to imprison Christine in this dungeon of a home... Raoul was unable to think of anything else.

Christine flinched slightly at Raoul's touch. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, before pulling her hands away and stepping back. She frowned up at him and shook her head. "No," she said simply, and glanced worriedly at Nadir. Don't do anything stupid, Raoul. She wished Erik were out there with her to hold her, but she knew she had to let Raoul go by herself. I'm no longer a child. I can do this.

Raoul frowned, concerned now. "Christine? What is it? Is something wrong?" He appeared thoughtful for a moment, before his eyes narrowed. "Did he do something to you!" Anger began to fill Raoul at the thought of Erik hurting his beloved Christine in any way.

Christine glared up at him. "I have become his wife, Raoul. We are no longer engaged, I am not your fiancée, and I am going to stay here." She glanced once more at Nadir and moved closer to him, fearing Raoul would lose his temper and she knew Nadir would help her. "I'm sorry..." she trailed off, looking down at her dress. "Even if we would've married, it wouldn't have been with all my heart. My heart, my very soul belongs to Erik." She looked down once more while her hands lay helplessly at her sides.

Raoul's mouth opened, but no sound came out. His eyes were wide with surprise, and he let them slide closed with pain as he forced himself to understand what Christine had just said. His wife? The Phantom's wife? Raoul's eyes opened slowly, and he moved forward a few steps, tears filling his eyes. "You... you don't love me, Christine? You love him instead?" He worked very hard to keep his voice from breaking.

Christine shook her head vehemently and moved forward to the door that Erik was behind. "I do not love you in that way. Of course I love you, Raoul. You'll always have a special place in my heart. You must know that." She heaved a heavy sigh, wishing Erik would never have sent them away after she'd shared her first kiss with him. They'd both known in that moment, that they were meant to be together. It was all his fault that she had to do this now... and yet, she couldn't be mad at him. She just wished to be back in his loving embrace. "Raoul, leave and forget about me. Think of our past and enjoy the times we had… But it's over now."

Raoul took a few steps back, nodding slowly. "I... I understand, Christine... of course it's your choice, I can't force you into anything... just..." He trailed off for a moment. "If you ever need anything... if he hurts you, Christine... I'm here." Then he walked from the home. Nadir jumped up to follow and guide him out, giving Christine a reassuring smile first. The resounding thud of the heavy door closing reverberated through the house.

Christine sighed. Yes, she loved Raoul, and after his words to her upon leaving, she understood why. She smiled before opening the door to her room and entering to her beloved. She grinned at him and went to sit by his side on the bed, pushing her hair back over her shoulders. "It's hard to let go of the past, my love." She frowned in spite of the statement, but then turned her head to him and reached for his hand. "But I'm ready for our future."

Erik's eyes were closed upon Christine's entrance, and he slowly opened them, looking up at her face as if he were still shocked she was there. He took a few deep breaths before trying to speak. "I only... I only hope I'll be able to give you... a long future, Christine..." he whispered, letting his eyes close again as if that bit of speech had completely exhausted him. Instead of talking, he simply marveled at the feel of Christine's hand in his, her soft warm skin pressed against his own. Slowly he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand, amazed that she not only allowed this contact but also encouraged it. "Christine... where will you sleep tonight... I am... I am in your bed," he said softly, looking toward the wall as if he were embarrassed about that fact.

Christine's eyes widened at his statement. Don't think you're getting away so easily, my angel. You will not die on me. She squeezed his hand and reached out to cradle the cheek she couldn't see, and gently turned him to look at her. She grinned, almost mischievously. "Yes, you're in my bed for a reason, Erik." She stroked his cheek, still grinning slyly. "I'll sleep here, and so will you."

Erik tried very hard not to laugh at the sly, almost seductive expression on Christine's face, but in the end failed miserably. His laughter was full and rich, and he vaguely wondered when the last time he had laughed so hard was. Inevitably this laughter led to a bout of coughing that pained him severely, and his hand flew up to clutch at his chest. When the pain passed, he smiled up at Christine fully, realizing that today was full of many firsts. He couldn't remember ever smiling so broadly before. Of course, I've never had a reason to smile like this before... never really a reason to smile at all, in fact... Cautiously, Erik reached up to brush his fingers over Christine's cheek, his eyes wide and filled with love and reverence both.

After recovering from hearing his laughter, one of the best sounds she'd ever heard, she realized he was in pain. "Erik!" Christine clutched his hand in hers, against her face. She glanced over him worriedly. "Erik, will you be alright? Oh, Erik, if I could take away your pain and make it mine, I surely would." She scooted closer to him on the bed and gripped his hand more tightly, and brought her hand up to rest on his face as his rested on hers. I wish my love could take away your hurt.

Erik put his free arm around her shoulders lovingly, pulling her to lie beside him and placing her head against his chest gently. He placed a careful kiss to her forehead, stroking his fingers through her hair. "My dear, I assure you I will be quite all right. Just having you near me makes me feel so much better... I want to live now, Christine... that will make all the difference, I believe."

Christine smiled against his chest and raised her head slightly to gaze into his eyes. "So... my love takes away your pain?" She flushed and bent her head back to his chest while stroking his mask lightly. She idly wished Erik had been her first kiss, as she had been his. At the thought of his kisses, she wished she could kiss him all day long. The man claimed he was inexperienced in love, and yet he had the most pleasant kiss. His lips were warm and soft and when he added his tongue it was simply delightful. At that thought, she flushed again and made sure her head was in the crook of Erik's neck so he couldn't see her maidenly blush.

Erik sensed a bit of discomfort from Christine, and frowned. Immediately he became concerned that she was uncomfortable in such a compromising position, and he mentally berated himself for assuming she would want to be so close to him. What were you thinking? She loves you, that doesn't mean she wants to be like... like this! Quickly he reached down, grasping Christine's chin and bringing her face up to look into her eyes. He was about to ask if she was displeased with him, when he noticed her very full blush. "Christine...?" He smirked slightly. Was it possible that lying like this was cause for her blush?

Christine bit her lip and tried to look innocent. She hated her blush. She was probably making Erik very uncomfortable and she didn't like knowing that fact. She was still going to have to persist in showing him her love, in trying to prove it to him that she would be staying with him forever. "I'm sorry." She fingered his mask still and scooted even closer to him so that she was right above his face, where she could feel his breath against her. "Why do you continue to wear this? I don't like you to, not around me."

Now it was Erik's turn to be uncomfortable, and he looked away, his eyes searching for anything else to rest on than Christine's curious face. Damn damn damn... why does she want to see such a horrific display! Finally Erik knew he had to explain to Christine, and he sighed, meeting her eyes. "My dear... I was under the impression that my face was not appealing to you," he said, a hint of sarcasm to his voice. "I do not wish to upset you, Christine. I wear it for you," he said, his voice serious then, eyes full of both love and tears.

Christine sat up and shook her head, frowning. "Erik, I'm your wife and you think any part of you isn't appealing! I'm hurt." She folded her arms across her chest and eyed the mask as if it were Ayesha, ready to pounce on her and claw her to death. "You do not wear it for me, if you wear it. I don't want my husband hiding anything from me," she said sternly, her eyebrows furrowed. "I love you, Erik, get that through your head!"

He blinked several times, amazed at her outburst. Painfully Erik closed his eyes then, knowing that he could deny Christine nothing, nothing at all. Slowly, with shaking hands he reached up, untying the mask from his face and lowering it down to his lap. Yes, Erik. Be a coward and keep your eyes closed. Don't see the look of horror on her face when she remembers how gruesome your flesh is.

Christine smiled and moved closer to him. Wanting nothing more than to assure him of her love and even startle him a bit, she held onto his thigh as she climbed onto his lap to straddle him. She caressed his marred cheek and slowly ran her lips from the top of his forehead down to his chin. The different texture of his marred skin was strangely intriguing, and she began to kiss all over his cheek.

Erik gasped, his eyes flying open at the sensation of Christine's lips on his face, and his entire body tensed for a moment, completely unused to any of these feelings. Slowly his shaking hands rose up to rest on Christine's arms, then slid down to hold her waist, amazed at how small and soft she was. So delicate... how can I be sure I'll never hurt her? All thoughts were swiftly put from his mind as he moved his face slightly, bringing their lips together gently.

Christine smiled in their kiss and moved her hands up to cradle his head. Her hands played with his hair, and massaged his head lightly as they kissed. I'll never tire of this. She only hoped Erik would never, either, but somehow she knew he wouldn't. She held him tightly and opened her mouth in invitation, excitedly awaiting the arrival of his tongue inside her mouth.

Erik trembled at her kiss, knowing that right then he could die happy. When her lips opened, he was surprised at first, but quickly complied. His tongue moved cautiously and flicked against Christine's as a hand moved up to cup her cheek sweetly. Oh Christine!

Christine moaned, barely audible, and stirred against him. She pulled away from their kiss, her blush oncoming again. After what they'd experienced together, she had the instinctive urge to move her hips against him, and she wondered shyly if Erik approved of her brazenness, or if she should refrain from such movements.

Erik's eyes remained closed when Christine moved away, and a whimper escaped him at the loss of her lips. Reluctantly he opened his eyes and saw Christine blushing again. Something clicked in his mind, and he realized this blush was a... good thing? Swiftly he moved forward, ignoring the pain in his chest that he felt when he did so, and pulled Christine to lay against him. His lips moved over hers with a bruising force, one hand to the back of her head and one resting on the small of her back, caressing her through her dress lovingly, a great contrast to the voracious movements of his lips.

Christine, flush against him now, felt completely in place. She loved the feel of all his hard muscle up against her, and she grinned against his lips as she realized that she could have this whenever she wanted it. She clung tightly to him and angled her head differently in their kiss, deepening it. Oh, Erik, I love you! Feeling braver with his lips on hers, she moved her hips against him again, as she had done the previous time.

Erik gasped at her movements, moving his hands to rest on her hips and pulling away from her to gaze up at her face. "Christine..." he breathed, his eyes shining with love and passion both. He tore his gaze away from her then, burying his face into her neck and kissing her sensitive skin. "Mon ange..." he mumbled against her, licking a line down to her collarbone and placing a warm kiss there. "How I love you... my Christine..."

Christine was hardly able to breathe, and she pressed his head lightly against her sternum. She moaned in a low alto, surprising herself. "You know Erik," she began, and arched her back, simultaneously rubbing against him, "for one who believes himself to know nothing in the art of love, you're so good at it," she complimented, giving a light moan after her words. She had never known such desire, save for when she was with him, and that excited her even more. I am completely yours, Erik.

Erik pulled his lips from her skin long enough to smile slyly up at Christine, his eyes sparkling and playful. "You aren't so bad yourself, my dear..." he breathed, winking and lowering his mouth again to place warm kisses and seductive licks on the bit of her chest that was exposed by her dress. "If you continue with that," he began, referring to her movements against him, "I won't be able to control myself any longer." His voice, although teasing, held a note of seriousness.

Christine released a half-moan, half-giggle, and massaged his scalp more prominently. "Would you like me to stop, then, my love?" she questioned innocently, and halted with her rhythmic movements. She brought her face down to nuzzle Erik's forehead playfully. "Because I can desist, if that's what you truly want..."

Nadir had horrible timing. He had just returned from escorting the Viscount de Chagny home, and stepped indoors, once again removing his hat and cloak. Without thinking, he opened the door to the Louis Philippe room, just as Erik had been about to respond to Christine. Instead, the scene Nadir witnessed with wide eyes and a blush to his cheeks, was Christine straddling Erik, their foreheads touching, both flushed and disheveled. Erik's hands were splayed to Christine's sides, clutching to her, and it was all too obvious what they had been up to. The door opening had startled both, and Nadir could only bow his head and duck out of the room, closing the door securely behind himself and pouring himself some Cognac before sitting on the settee. This is going to be a long night.