A/N: Hi Everyone! This is my first, actually finished, English fic. I'm already sorry for the mistakes I may have made. Please try to get over them or tell them to me. My native language is not English so I'm very worried about it :P Anyways I hope you'll like this fanfiction which is definitely not one of my bests. It's finished so if you like it, you can have it all very soon. Enough of talking, get on with the show-

Ps.: If I owned Erik, Christine, Raoul or any other characters who belong to Leroux/ALW/Susan Kay I wouldn't be here writing fanfiction. I would be playing the matchmaker by Erik and Christine's side.

Summer's Heart

Chapter 1

It was a magical summer. They knew it. There, by the sea, in the little house. The girl was sweet and innocent, the boy knew entirely too much of the World and he wanted to protect her from it. But the both were young, and both loved each other more than they thought it was possible.

After the day he saved her scarf from the sea Christine couldn't forget him, not even for a second. And she didn't want to. She knew it could only hurt her, but she didn't care. It was all she'd ever dreamed of.

For three months they lived a dream. They cared about nothing else as they turned from their previous lives. It was the time of starting over, and living your life the way you wanted not as others told you or as you were allowed.

But as fall came closer the cold fear found it's way into their hearts. To be parted seemed so impossible for them, but they knew it was inevitable. The more they tried to avoid the subject the quicker the days passed until the last day of august. They didn't leave the shore that day and nobody bothered them. Without any barriers between them they could spend their last day together and they got closer than they have ever thought.

"I don't mind."

"What, little one?"

The boy softly murmured against her shoulder as they laid on the floor of the old house, in the dark.

"That you can't marry me. I don't mind."

The girl smiled as she pushed herself on her elbow and looked down at Erik. Only the blankets covered them, their clothes were long forgotten in the hall, near the grand piano in the corner of the room, or Erik's mask on the dining table. Christine slowly stroked his collarbone with her fingers.

"I do."

"Why? Are you afraid I could love someone else?"

"No. I'm afraid that too many men will fell in love with you, and you'll forget me" he answered lightly. The girl's touch on his shoulder was feather-light but even this was enough to distract him.

"I will never forget you."

He nodded and pulled her back down. Christine only sighed and closed her eyes. His sudden question surprised her.

"Why don't you mind?"

"Hm?"

"Why don't you mind that I can't marry you?" he repeated and turned on his side to look at her. The brown curls laid around her head like a dark halo.

"Because you are free. I don't want you to come back to me because you have to. I want you to come because you want it too. You know, a caged bird doesn't sing."

"Do I keep you like a caged bird?" he asked teasingly but Christine knew he actually wanted to hear the answer.

"No, you don't. So, am I a bird?"

Erik only nodded in respond then kissed her. Now he laid half atop of her, and the girl put her arms around his shoulders.

"And if I was a bird, what would you be?"

"Christine…"

"No, don't you even think of not answering" she smiled. "If I'm a bird, what are you?"

"If you are a bird, I'm a bird."

The girl smiled and pulled him down for another kiss. Her left hand went to his face and softly caressed his deformed side. She was now familiar with every little bump, mangled feature and cut. She didn't care about it, once he told Erik he worried about it so much that it was enough for two. Never again he asked weather she mind it or not.

"Will you come back to me?" she asked hesitantly.

"Nothing could stop me."

"Even if I'm old and gray by then?"

"If you don't mind having an old and gray Erik, then I'll, even then" he smiled. Christine giggled beneath him. It seemed so unimaginable. They were both young. It was her sixteenth summer, and Erik was only three years older.

"I won't mind. I promise."

"Good."

They didn't say anything else that night. In the morning, Christine's father found them and he was furious. But he could yell at both of them, he could change nothing. Erik didn't leave until Christine was safe in the carriage. He closed the door after her and turned only to face Gustave and Carlotta Daae some feet away. He knew what was in store for him.

"Let's forget about this summer, boy" Gustave said impersonally. "You gave her a memorable time, but it's over. And I don't want to see you in her life again."

"You are a nice boy, but not for her" added his wife. Carlotta Daae was a beautiful woman but just as cold as attractive.

Gustave handled him an envelope but Erik didn't reach for it. He only watched the older man's face.

"Take it, and stay away from her. Don't be stupid boy, you can use it. And I don't ask anything which wouldn't happen anyway. She is to be married soon."

"I can't, sir" he answered stubbornly.

"Now, Erik, it's really nothing. Just a promise" Carlotta urged him too.

"A promise I can't make. I already made one for Christine, and I'm not one to break my word."

Gustave looked over him. He had to admit that Erik was exactly the one who he had imagined for Christine when he first saw her. Except that he was looking for someone from the upper class and not a wandering person without a home and a job.

"You know very well, this won't change anything."

The young man didn't answer. He didn't believe and he would have hated to admit his biggest fear. Gustave sighed and put the money in his breast pocket.

"Alright, it was your decision. But I warn you, you are not to see her anymore. If you try to contact her, your letters will be burned."

"I shall remember this when I put my letters in a box, so I can give them to her when I finally see her" he answered boldly but he didn't dare more. He wanted to scream, to ran to the carriage and get her out but he knew he had no chance against Gustave Daae and his men.

Christine's father shook his head and sent his wife to their daughter then turned back to the boy.

"Keep yourself away from her. Not because of me, not because of you, but because of her. I want the best for my daughter; I think you want the same. Then let her get what she deserves."

This left Erik speechless. Gustave was right. What could he offer her which hadn't already been hers? This thought didn't leave his head as he watched the carriage leaving the garden of the big manor. Nor when he was galloping ahead Italy trying to get back into his old life.