I loved writing this chapter, just saying. Hope you enjoy this chapter, and my little Les Mis thing in it...
Christine woke up, covered in a cold sweat. Erik stood over her, the most worried look on his face. She tried to smile at him to assure him that she was alright, but she was so scared inside, her heart was thumping, and she could barely move.
"Christine?" he asked her, once his eyes opened. She finally forced herself to move and hugged him. Her dream had been so real, she thought that she would never see Erik again...
"Oh Erik", she breathed into his neck as he hesitantly hugged her back. "Christine... are you alright?" he asked her, pulling back from her grasp. This was the most tender thing she had done since... that night.
Christine took a deep breath, deciding whether to tell him her dream or not. Someone or something, maybe her real angel, didn't want Christine to marry Raoul. She never believed, even now, that Raoul would do anything like what happened in her dream. It just wasn't possible. But Erik... he had shown her loyal love ever since she came to the opera house, practically.
"I dreamed a dream..." Christine began. But there was splashing, and, oh my God, Raoul stood at the gate, dripping wet. "Let me in!" he cried. "Christine! I've been more than worried about you..." he began.
Erik had his hand on the lever, ready to open it. "No! Don't do it, Erik! I can talk to him from here!" Christine said, pushing Erik away from the lever. He looked at Christine, surprised. She was becoming more and more confusing by the second.
Christine ran into the cold water, up to where Raoul stood. From there, she could see around the corner. And, there were no police, of course. But she still didn't want Raoul to come in.
"Christine that water is cold", Erik said, splashing up behind her. He hugged her to keep her warm. "Get you hands off of Christine!" Raoul growled.
Christine whispered something in Erik's ear, and he let go, giving Raoul satisfaction.
"Raoul, I... have something to tell both of you. Please, listen", Christine began, looking at both of them.
"Please believe me when I say this, Raoul. But... I tried. I tried to love you, and even at one point thought that I really did, and agreed to your proposal. I realize now, that... I can't. Yes we were childhood sweethearts, but people change. You've been so kind throughout all of this... please move on. You'll find someone else, I promise you. It's all I ask of you", Christine asked him, singing the last line.
Raoul looked at her, and then gave a half smile. "Christine, you don't know what your saying. He's done something to you; I know because you would never say anything like that. Christine, come with me, and then you'll remember everything", Raoul said, grabbing her hand through the gate. Christine moved her hand away.
"No, Raoul. I honestly mean it. I had a dream last night, and... I know who I really love. Please just forget me. I beg of you", Christine said to him.
He blinked in surprise again, and then spoke. "Christine, you'll regret this decision. Even the Phantom of the Opera can't protect you from what I may do", he sneered, and then splashed off, leaving Christine shivering in the water. From his words or from the fact that the water was indeed cold, she didn't know.
She rushed into Erik's arms. Erik stroked her hair, and then carried her back onto land. "Please promise me... that you'll never let Raoul come near me again", Christine whispered to Erik.
"I would never dream of it, especially after he just threatened you like that. But Christine..." he started.
Christine looked up at him expectedly. "I'll be right back", he said, and left her side to go get something.
He came back and opened her hand, placing a ring there. He pressed her fingers to close her hand around the ring. "Christine, will you marry me?" he asked.
A tear ran down Christine's cheek, making him stop. Was she going to say no? What was the matter? Would he regret ever even asking?
"Erik, of course. I love you so much, and have been so blindly stupid to finally realize it just now. I'll never leave your side", she said, and, standing on well-trained tiptoes from being a ballerina for so long, she kissed him.
Christine laced up her nightgown and climbed into bed. Erik walked over to her, and sat next to her on the bed. He grabbed her hand, and she looked lovingly at him.
"Christine, now that we live together... Do you want to stay at the opera house, or move away from here?" Erik asked her. She smiled, knowing how hard it must have been for him to say that- this had been the only home he had ever known.
"I know you feel at home here, and honestly, so do I. Besides, I think it would be safer here. Raoul's words are still going through my mind", she shivered, and Erik held her close to him.
"You know that I'll do anything to protect you. Don't worry, please Christine. I hate to see you worried", he whispered into her hair.
He began to sing softly, and Christine felt her eyes beginning to close, and tried to fight it-they were engaged now, and she had wanted him... but sleep took over, and soon her breathing became slow and steady.
Erik realized that she was sleeping and gently laid her down, his Angel. He was finally able to love her, to show her his love freely. And he knew that she loved him back.
He took off his shoes and shirt and got into bed beside her, and stared at his precious Angel for a few moments until he himself began to feel drowsy.
He woke up throughout the night like he usually did, surprised to feel Christine beside him. At one time he woke up and she had cuddled up against him, almost like a kitten, and held his arm as she slept.
It was finally over. He had finally earned the love he craved from Christine.
