Authors note: I love this chapter that's all I'm going to say.

Disclaimer: You are all very smart readers who are smart enough to know that I defiantly do not own anything that is "The Phantom of the Opera".


Chapter 7: La capitulation

The sun was just beginning to gleam above the opera house as the phantom crept out of his lair. He first visited the office of Firmin and Andres, to leave behind his letter about Christine's attackers. Afterwards, he snuck back into Christine's room, finding a suitable dress for her, along with her night gown and robe. He knew she would feel much better to be rid of her the dress that had been ripped and torn by the attackers. The final business that he need to attend to was the kitchens, to gather extra food. The phantom only had enough for one person, and required more if Christine was to stay longer.

Nearly an hour had passed before he was ready to return to his underground home. After putting away the food, he made his way back to Christine's bed to check on her.

Once Erik had left her side, Christine attempted to get some sleep. As soon as her eyes closed, nightmares of the other night began to arise. The faces of the sneering men, branded and scared into her memory. When she finally woke up, she pulled her knees into her chest, trying to calm her breathing. As she wept silently to herself, her mind wandered and craved distraction. Soon, Christine thought of her father, what she would give her have him hold her in his loving arms, yet thinking of him only seemed to shatter her heart.

Erik pulled back the dividing curtain to see a trembling, sobbing Christine. He remembered seeing this before when she was young, naive, and alone in the world. And here she was again, feeling lost and frightened at the world around her. How strong the pain was inside her, tearing and killing her poor, pure soul. He rushed over to her, dropping her clothing at the end of the bed. Without hesitation, Erik climbed onto the bed and leaned against the bed frame. He took her shaking body against his own, holding her and shushing her, all to assure her she would never be alone. Comforted by his embrace, Christine wrapped her arms around him and placed her head nearly on top of his shoulder.

"I'm here, I've got you," Erik whispered to her. The two locked in an embrace, the world could collapse around them but neither would notice. He did not want to force anything out of her, as she graciously never did to him. Stroking her hair, the phantom wiped away a tear that was trailing down her face. He smiled kindly down at her, repeating what she had spoken to him the other night, "we don't have to speak about it if you don't want to."

She wanted to, she truly did, but the words to explain never came out. The memories were too much for her, speaking them aloud would only stir more pain and sadness. "Please, talk to me, talk to me about anything." She craved a distraction, to forget the nightmare playing over and over inside of her head.

Anything, his head was cluttered with thoughts, ideas, memories. He could talk of anything, and Christine would listen. Out of everything he could speak of, the first sentence he blurted out, "my mother regretted not killing me when I was a baby." Unable to control himself, he continued to ramble, "She told me that I would never amount to anything in life, impossible to be anything more than the main attraction in a freak show." He had never spoken of his mother to anyone, rather blacking out that part of his past. Christine gazed up at her angel, nodding in encouragement for him to continue. "I remember asking her, 'how I will know if I am in love?' She...she beat me in response, screaming at me that no one could ever love me. That any thoughts of affection or love were pointless, poisonous dreams. That no one could ever gaze upon me, let alone touch me. I would forever be shamed into solitude. For if a mother could not love her child, how could another woman?"

He sighed at the memory of her harsh words. From that day forward, he refused to grow attachments, to even try find to learn to live in the darkness. He kept his demeanor strong, he couldn't break now, not while Christine was controlling her own pain.

Christine understood now why he was so careful touching her, why he would restrain himself whenever they were close. He had never been shown love, never believed that he could be loved. He couldn't even find love from himself. She stared into his dark, beautiful eyes, and began to lean up to kiss him.

As soon as he realized what she intended to do, he turned his head from her, "please don't Christine." How he wanted this, a beautiful woman who wanted to love him, but he knew this would not be right. "It would be out of pity, I don't want you to kiss me because you wish to console me, it would be unfair to you. I don't deserve this kindness and compassion from you."

Christian gazed at her angel, it was not out of sympathy, nor pity. She cared for him, he gave her life and music when she thought she had lost everything. Reaching out to touch his unmasked side, she felt him jump at her touch before relaxing into her hand. Once again, Christine tried to go kiss Erik, their lips grazing each other, hovering over the other. As he pulled back, she sighed as her hand dropped into her lap, "did it ever occur to you, that perhaps I wish to kiss you, not out of pity, but because I care for you?"

"You should not want this; you should not want me. Christine, you deserve so much more, a man who can give you a future. A man that is truly a man, and not half a demon." Erik looked at her, laying a hand on top of her own, "you would never have a normal life with me."

Christine locked with his gaze, staring into his eyes that could not see how she felt. She turned away and got out of the bed, taking the night gown and robe he had brought for her. Stepping behind the curtain, she changed into the night gown and tightly wrapped the robe around her. Unable to look at the phantom, Christine walked over and gracefully sat at the piano. Upset and saddened at his refusal to be loved, she decided to play a simple tune that her father had taught her when she was much younger. The piano was an instrument she was never strongly skilled at, but the tune began to flow and fill the room as she continued play.

Erik listened to the simple, yet cheerful piece Christine played. He was frustrated, wanting to love Christine, and accept her love for him. How could he take a future from her, when she lived in the light and he lived in the shadows? She could not grasp that the life they might live, would never amount to much. No walks in the park, no dinners in extravagant restaurants, only the concealed isolation he lived in. He loved her, truly uncontrollably loved her. Erik closed his eyes as he listened to her lighthearted song. He could not take that light from her, could not keep her concealed in his lair like some caged finch. Christine continued play the pleasant tune, the sound bringing a comfort to Erik. A ghost of a smile cast on his face, letting the music consume him. The beauty of it all, no matter how long you've been away, music would always be there to greet you once more.

Finally, Erik got up from the bed, and into the other room where Christine played. Christine's fingers danced from key to key, reaching the conclusion of her song. With a small smile, the phantom softly applauded her. She turned around, not speaking, so he took the given moment to explain himself. "I cannot give you what a man should be able to give you. I would never be able to venture the world with you, as I know you deserve. Even with this mask, I will always be a freak, and angel from hell. I do not want you to have to bear the consequences for being in the company of a beast." He stepped closer, opening his arms out in surrender, "I cannot take away the future you deserve, and you deserve so much more Christine. Someone else. There is someone out there in the light, who can give you happiness and love."

Although she hated what she was hearing, she began could understand his perspective of the situation. Shaking her head, she spoke, "you keep saying how I do not deserve you, but I couldn't ask for a better man than you. A man who had goodness in him, who would protect me from harm and love me unconditionally." She rose from the piano bench, "I don't want you because I pity you, or your face, or your past. I realize life would be different, challenging, complicated. But I don't want an ordinary life with ordinary man, I want an extraordinary life with the most extraordinary man." She walked over Erik, holding his face in her hands. As his eyes closed from the gentle contact, Christine slowly removed the mask from his face, "I want you." Before he could refuse, she pulled his face to hers, kissing him with everything she had and more.

Erik's heart was racing so quickly, a part of him still denying that this was real, that Christine could care for him like this. He was entranced by her warm soft lips pressing against his, her hands moving from his face to the back of his neck and head. His mind raced with questions and uncertainties. Should he be touching her, if so how should he, would that be too much? She was already kissing him, was he supposed to embrace her as well? Cautiously, Erik brought his arms around her back, resting them gently, barely touching her. His stomach fluttered and his body burned with warmth. It was more wonderful and terrifying than he ever expected it to be. They slowly pulled apart for air, only to quickly return to their tight embrace. More confident and consumed with emotion, Erik pulled her tightly against him. Christine had won this war, but he was more than happy surrender to her. He pulled away to rest their foreheads against each other, "Christine, I love you."

She had never felt so happy, love filling the void that was once in her heart. "And I love you," Christine whispered before bringing him in for another kiss. He was everything she had ever wanted and more. As they pulled apart, she could see tears sitting in his eyes.

Erik then took her hand, guiding her over to the piano, where she sat beside him on the bench. With a breath, he began to play the most gorgeous song for her, one he had composed for her a long time ago.

Christine, not fully recovered to sing, began to hums along with the song. Her voice and his music melted together, meant to be.

After some time, her angel began to sing with his heavenly voice. "She saw my loneliness, shed in my emptiness," Erik sang as Christine tucked her head into his neck, "No one would listen. No one but her. Heard as the outcast hears." The music drifted around them, consuming them, in a way no one could understood but themselves. As Erik continued to play, Christine could feel the music of the night soothing her to sleep.

Before she was completely asleep, Erik lifted her up into his strong arms and carried her to the bed. As he set her down and turned to leave, she whispered "stay, please."

Erik smiled to himself and joined her in the bed. With her body settled against his own, he wrapped his arm around her. Now braver, he reached across to intertwine her hand with his. He continued to sing the tune he was singing for her, softer and quieter, "No one would listen. No one but her. Heard as the outcast hears."

Erik watched Christine drift off to sleep, her expression peaceful and beautiful. He wondered how someone so pure could love a monster like him. Sighing, he pushed his insecurities to the corner of his mind, laying his head atop of hers, feeling this newfound love and affection.


Authors note: Now everybody say it with me, awwwwwwwww! Seven chapters in and we finally get to where we want to be. Also yes these past chapters I have really been focusing on Erik's past, but I really do like to experiment with his past because we are given only a few details about it to where it gives us the freedom to imagine everything in between...so...yeah. Anywho, like always please review because I would really like to know what everyone thinks of it, and if you wish you can follow the story to know when a knew chapter is posted!