Waking suddenly to the disturbing of a bad dream, Erik lifted his head carefully to see that Christine was still sound asleep. He unwrapped his arms from her torso, and carefully climbed from the bed. Slipping from behind the lace curtain, he stopped beside his music box, rethinking back to yesterday morning when she had told him that she didn't sleep well without his music. He smiled briefly and flipped the small switch on the back which would keep the soft melody playing while he was gone.
He looked into a mirror, taking off his mask slowly, revealing the distortion behind it. He frowned and sighed heavily, fixing his hair and maintaining his masks placement. He walked over to his organ and grabbed his cloak from the chair that he had left it on. Finding his gloves, he put them on as well. Buttoning his shirt further, he glanced back towards the entrance to his room. He listened carefully and confirmed that Christine was still soundly sleeping.
He needed to talk to Madame Giry again. What happened last night was unacceptable. Once he was out on the boat, before leaving the lair, he locked the secret lock to the iron gate, just to be sure any unexpected visitors weren't able to get to his sweet Christine. He had to hurry. She needed him and he wasn't going to lose her again.
Pushing off again, he snaked his way through the water, stopping at the edge of the passages beginning. Stepping out of the boat, he took the passage that would lead him to Madame Giry's room. He didn't even need to knock. Madame Giry knew he was coming. "Come in come in." She hurried Erik inside and locked the door behind her.
"Good morning Erik, what is it you need this time? Or have you just popped in for a visit?" She tried to make a joke out of it. Erik could tell she was afraid of him in a sort. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. How could he? She had been the one to save him from death...death as a carny at that. "Madame." Erik nodded his good morning and kept his cloak closely wrapped around him. "I've come to talk to you about last night. Raoul...How is it so that he got through my plans? Did I not instruct that he was to be kept out at all costs? Did I not?"
He could see the displeasure of displeasing him on her face. He admired her respect for him just as much as he admired her fear of him. "He had no mask, Madame, surely he was easy to spot?" She cringed gently and he could tell she was feeling uncomfortable. "I'm very sorry Messieur Erik. I have no idea how he slipped into your events, but I assure you it will not happen again." Erik sighed and closed his eyes.
"Madame, I would surely hope not. For a tragedy will be in your future, as much as it displeases me to say so, if he shall." Madame Giry nodded respectfully, and led him to the door, unlocking it and letting him out. "Uhm, Madame? Before I go," Erik handed her a small wad of money, "would please do me the favor of finding me a new suit? My best is getting rather...shabby? If I may say?" She nodded quickly. "Yes, Messieur." He smiled his thank you, and walked back down the corridors to his boat.
Sighing, he sat and rested in the boat for a minute or two, thinking. 'What am I going to do...I cannot keep hoping for these things to stop threatening our love. Christine is in danger, our love in danger,' he thought. He was clueless.
Slowly, he got up and pushed his way off of the cement bank and turned round, heading back through the tunnel that would take him home.
...
Coming round the final corner, he heard a scream. "Christine?" Jumping from the boat in a panic, Erik got to the iron gate to find it locked and still secured safely. "Christine!" He yelled, not getting an answer. "Erik! Oh Erik, Come quickly!" He opened the lock on the gate and waited for it to ascend, becoming impatient just before he could dip under it. "What is it Christine?" She pointed under one of the mirrors and Erik lifted it a bit, revealing a small rat. "Oh Christine."
He lifted it and threw it into the water, watching it swim to the opposite side of the lake, and into a small hole in the wall. "I thought you were in danger." She fanned herself carefully, looking a bit flushed. "And all you alert me for is a rat? Thats a bit ridiculous don't you think?" She shook her head quickly. "Rats are disgusting, dirty, and..." He smiled and shook his head as she shivered. "My dear, I'm afraid you may have to make do with rats if you wish to live with me."
Her cheeks were covered in blush and he smiled at her, trying not to laugh. "I'm just not into the hole...furry animal thing okay?" Erik smiled again and shook his head. He dropped his cloak off onto the nearest chair and sighed. Christine touched his shoulder concerned. "Erik?"
He looked back over his shoulder, a pained expression on his face. "What I'm I going to do Christine? I have no way to protect you the way you should be. All I have is the power of threat..and fear." He closed his eyes and sat down at his organ. Turning towards it, and placing his fingers just over the keys, he played a soft melody that he had been putting together in his head for most of the way back from Madame Giry's room.
Christine sat next to him, listening carefully, closing her eyes in concentration. "Erik, your an amazing artist." She could hear the smile on his lips when he replied. "You inspired this one." She listened carefully again, as Erik twisted different cords and notes together, beautiful in the making of his next master piece, she could tell. He really got into it. Christine could tell, once she opened her eyes and watched the look of passion on his face. The look of love for his music. Without it, he would be nothing. Nothing without his genius, his ability to come up with the most delicate and passionate pieces.
He stopped at a soft pitch, and opened his eyes, breathing a bit quickly. She smiled and leaned her head gently on his shoulder. "How do you do it?" He looked back at her, smiling, but obviously a bit confused. "Do what?"
"How do you come up with them? They're amazing...beautiful and sometimes even threatening, but in a beautiful and sensual kind of way." The cheek visible turned a soft pink. He looked down at his hands on the keys. "It's...It's like an instinct. It just comes to me. I guess you could call if a gift." She smiled up at him and hugged him tight. "Well you should be great full. It's amazing to have, and I'm glad you do."
He smiled, feeling pride with her words. She was proud of him. She loved him, and it made him happy, more importantly. Christine jolted suddenly, looking up at Erik. "What is it Christine?" She waited for a few seconds, looked to the spot that her costume had once hung over the mannequin. It was bare. She looked back to him her eyes full of curiosity. "Where is my dress?" It took him a minute to realize she was talking about her wedding dress. "I haven't worn it yet...Do you Intend to make when I do soon?" Erik looked back at the mannequin astonished that he hadn't thought of it when she'd returned.
"It's...It's been moved." She looked at him curious again. Erik got up quickly and strung back a new curtain that she had never noticed before. There it stood, proud and unworn, her wedding dress for the day she was to become her Phantom's, Phantomess. He gazed at it longingly. "Christine...?"
"Yes?" She watched him carefully, feeling alarmed by his weird behavior. "Christine..." He pulled something from his robe pocket and stood with his back to her for a moment. When he turned around she realized he was holding a small velvet black box. She gasped softly, knowing immediately what it was. He bent down on one knee in front of Christine by his organ, revealing a small ruby stone set it silver and small diamonds. "I think it's time. I think...we're ready. Time to finally get to where your dress. Time to become...my Phantomess."
Christine was breathless, and speechless. She held out her left hand, nodding stiffly. His smile was big and bright as he slipped the ring onto her delicate hand. Crying, she wrapped her arms around her Phantoms neck tightly. "Erik, my sweet sweet Phantom. I love you, and yes. We are ready!" She felt him shake gently with soft cries of joy. Pulling away from his embrace she cried her own tears of joy looking at her ring. "Oh Erik, it's beautiful." His smile beamed in triumph. "I thought it suited my symbolic roses. After all...that is the first thing of mine that you came in possession of."
She hugged him again, letting him squeeze her tightly, and they pulled apart, staring into each others eyes before they shared a rather passionate kiss.
Christine softly muttered against his lips, "When? Where?" He smiled and pulled away from her. "This, my dear, must be negotiated with Madame Giry."