I'm going to start this chapter with a very happy THANK YOU! Your guy's comments makes me feel....WHEEEEE! Sorry for the random squeal, but I felt it necessary. Anyway, I'm glad you people like my story so far and I hope to keep it entertaining because there shall be fluff appearing in the next few chapters! And I'm not saying whose fluff it will be, even though my description does say its EC, but I can lie and have it RC. I think I would die writing something like that....okay, before I continue rambling, here is Chapter 7!

Memories

"Oh my goodness, its freezing out here!" Christine laughed as she and Erik left the warmth of the small cafe.

"And why didn't you bring your cloak, Mademoiselle?" Erik cocked an eyebrow at her. Even when she was little she would forget to bring a cloak or a jacket to keep her warm and she was keeping up the tradition apparently.

"I was in a hurry! I know what you're thinking and I didn't leave my cloak behind in my dressing room because I forgot! I was in a hurry and I guess....I...."

"Forgot?" he laughed. Christine blushed crimson as she playfully smacked his arm, which was very unladylike and it did receive quite a few stares, but the two friends never noticed.

His laughter subsiding, slightly, Erik removed his own warm cloak and placed it on Christine's delicate shoulders.

Wrapping herself tightly in the warm fabric, Christine realized that Erik now had nothing to keep him warm! He would freeze to death out here!

"Erik, you'll get sick if you don't stay warm. You take your cloak back and I'll suffer until we reach the flat; its only a few blocks down."

"I don't think I shall accept that offer, no matter how tempting it sounds because I want your voice to stay beautiful and, trust me, a cold is something you definitely don't want right now as a rising star." Erik smiled once again and placed a gentle kiss on Christine's forehead. He could feel the flush more than see it, but he tried his best to ignore it. If she were in love, it would never be with me. I'm hideous for one thing and my temper really doesn't help much at all; plus our age difference is huge!

He had to ask her though! They had been friends for so long and nothing ever happened until Christine turned 18. After that, every time Erik saw her, he would get nervous or he would start to stutter like a complete fool.

But, before he could even get the words out of his mouth, Christine turned to face him; throwing her arms around his waist as the church bells rang midnight. Erik could feel her body shake and her hot tears drenching his shirt. It took him a minute to figure out why she was crying, but soon figured out the reason: today was the day Herr Daae had passed.

Quietly enveloping her with his arms, Erik tried to calm her like he did every year on this black day.

"Shhh, Ange. He's here. Your Papa has been with you all these years, so theres no need to cry like this."

Christine could only nod and continued to cry. She was thankful that whenever this day came, Erik was there to comfort her and make her feel better. She knew better than to cry like this, but, it still hurt to think about that day 15 years ago; she hated the memory of her Papa lying there on the bed, body lifeless.

As if hearing her thoughts, Erik stroked her hair and started to sing a song he wrote for her one day when they were living on the streets,

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation,

Darkness stirs and wakes imagination,

Silently the senses, abandon their defenses.

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor,

Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender,

Turn your face away from the garish light of day,

Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light,

And listen to the music of the night.

Christine's shaking soon subsided as the song began. How she loved this song! It was so beautiful, but it also made her feel sad; as if Erik was trying to tell her something important and it made him sad that she had not figured it out yet.

Before she let him start the next verse, Christine squeezed Erik's waist and lifted her glistening brown eyes to his gentle gold ones. Despite the his deformity, which never bothered her in the first place, Erik was a very handsome man. If he had not been born with such a thing, he could have any woman he wanted, but Christine was almost glad that the awful thing was there; it made sure that she didn't have to share her precious friend with anyone else.

"Yes, Lotte?" he whispered quietly. She looked tired; she had just performed an entire opera and she had to do it all over again tomorrow night.

"Masque," Christine mumbled innocently, "can we go home? I'm sleepy."

Erik nearly burst out in laughter. The last time he heard her talk like this was when she was about 7 or 8 and, frankly, he missed the childish sentences.

"Of course we can, but you'll have to let go of my waist or else it shall be very difficult to walk."

"Can you carry me, like when I was little?"

"I don't know, my dear. People would be staring at us."

"I don't care. I'm sleepy. Please." she whispered as her eyes closed; her breathing becoming slow and even, meaning that Erik had no choice but to carry her home. Cradling her bridal style, Erik made sure Christine was in a comfortable position in his arms, wrapping the cloak more tightly around her trembling body.

"You never cease to amaze me, mon ami précieux." pressing a soft kiss on Christine's light pink lips, Erik immediately knew his feelings were beyond a friendship; it was love. It was not the brotherly or fatherly love it had been the past 15 years, but true love. "Oh Christine."

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams,

Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before,

Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!

And you'll live, as you've never lived before.

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you,

Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you.

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,

In this darkness that you know you cannot fight,

The darkness of the music of the night.

Erik continued to sing softly to his angel. She was now more precious to him than everything else in the world and nothing could take her away from him.

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world,

Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before,

Let your soul take you where you long to be!

Softly, Erik pressed his lips to Christine's once again and he could've sworn she sighed and smiled into the kiss.

Only then, can you belong to me.

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication,

Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation.

Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in,

To the power of the music that I write,

The power of the music of the night!

Finally reaching the small, but cozy, flat, Erik adjusted Christine slightly so he could open the door. It was dark inside, but, thanks to his amazing eyesight, he was able to see where everything was in the little two bedroom flat. Walking to her room, Erik gently laid Christine on her bed; her petite body sinking into the red, silk sheets, the only luxury she allowed herself to have.

Opening the curtains a little bit, for Christine hated to sleep in the dark, the moonlight hit her face and Erik looked upon for the first time with love in his eyes: she looked beautiful; like a porcelain doll. Along with the new emotion, a few lines of lyrics Erik never thought of before popped in his head and he had the urge to say them allowed, probably hoping that Christine was still conscious enough to hear the softly sung words,

You alone can make my song take flight,

Help me make the music of the night.

"I love you so much, mon ange. Please, love me too." he quietly asked her. Tracing her jawline for a few moments, Erik stood up and turned to leave when a small noise made him stop; it sounded as if someone had said his name...

Turning around to see who, or what, made the noise, he saw Christine curled up in his cloak, holding his porcelain mask close to her heart. How long has she been holding that? Did she take it off in the street? Just now? But, more importantly, how did I not notice?

Taking a firm hold on his mask, Erik started to gently pull it away, but Christine's hold on the mask only tightened.

Tired, and a little frustrated, Erik pulled harder, but her hold would not let up; instead, she spoke to him, or someone, as if she were awake,

"My mask. My Erik."

My Erik? Does that mean she....don't be foolish! You've been 'her Erik' since she was a child! Don't get your hopes up because you know what will happen if you do.

"They'll be crushed. Goodnight, my dear. Sleep well and may your Papa watch over you today." he whispered into her hear, pulled the covers around her body, and walked out the door; trying to keep his hopes down and prepared for rejection. No one has ever truly loved me. Why would she be any different? She only sees me as a friend, which is very different, but that isn't the same. Oh Christine, please, don't hurt me like hundreds of others have. I love you.

^.^

Raoul had seen the whole display between the freak and Christine; it truly disgusted him. What the hell does she see in this man? He is a monster and has the face of one to boot. Christine, why don't you see that I love you!

"No matter, you'll be mine a few short months and then, I'll have that monster hunted down and killed like the animal he is." Plus, I know a few secrets about your 'friend' that shall frighten you and you'll seek me out for comfort and safety.

Laughing wickedly at his own thoughts, Le Vicomte Raoul de Chagny paid for his meal and quietly followed the couple back to their flat, which lay on the Rue de Scribe.

^.^

Christine was lost in the sound of his deep, melodic voice; leading her into a peaceful sleep.

Christine sat in her dressing room, waiting for someone to tell her it was time to start the performance for Faust. Looking into her full length mirror, she gasped at what she saw on her face: a white porcelain half mask lay on the right side of her face. It looked oddly familiar, but she couldn't think of where she had seen it before.

Hearing Meg call her name, Christine turned around and saw a black figure standing in front of her door.

"Monsieur?" she called out, but the figure's only reply was a finger to his lips; telling her to be quiet. Slowly, the figure drifted towards her and she could make out some of the features; slick black hair, perfect light red lips, strong jaw and cheekbones. The only thing Christine couldn't see were his eyes. Why did the man look so familiar? Why?

Keeping his face turned down, as to not show his eyes, he reached out and gently began to pull the mask off her face.

Feeling an odd need to keep the mask in place, she put her hand on the mask and pushed it back on.

"Please, monsieur, don't take it off."

The man made no reply, but pulled a little harder. Finally fed up with his behavior, Christine gently grabbed the man's face and immediately knew who was trying to steal her mask; the bumpy flesh gave it away.

Tears glistened in the golden eyes and Christine felt the urge to cast away the tears she felt she started.

"My mask, Christine."

"My mask. My Erik." she smiled and held him close; darkness closing in on the two.

^.^

"Do you have the documents ready?"

"Yes, Monsieur le Vicomte, but why do you need murder files on these men and the arrest charges of this young boy?" the police chief asked the young Vicomte. The men had been killed, but the killer was still unknown; plus, the cases were almost 17 years old. If they had not caught the killer by then, it was a lost cause.

"Nothing really. I'm just doing a little research of my own."

"Oh really. What for, if I may ask?"

"My brother, Le Comte Philippe de Chagny, was stabbed the other night in the same manner as these men, but he is still alive. I believe that whoever this boy is, might now be the the man who attempted to kill my brother." Raoul lied. His brother was perfectly healthy, but these papers were the only things he needed to show Christine and she would be his forever.

Love it? Did you like the fluff? I'm really bad at gradual love realization and this was literally my first attempt at it, but it wasn't very gradual, was it? Its just so hard because Erik and Christine are so perfect for each other and its AHHH! I need to find another hobby! This is eating away at my very being! I'm like Erik when he composes: I don't eat, sleep, drink, bathe (thats a lie, I do bath and I do get the occasional 4 hours of sleep). Anywho, I hope you guys have a great day or night or afternoon because I have no clue when you'll read this or whatever so R&R and God Bless!

^.^

OH! Phantom Fun Fact! I found out that Rue de Scribe means Copyist's Street. Cool, huh?