I have suddenly started loving "The Phantom of the Opera" again (because I was reading a "Harry Potter"/"Phantom" crossover), so I decided I had waited a long enough time… so I am updating.
I bet you all just died of shock! (That is if anyone is still waiting for an update).
B U "Etrande Duo" /U /B
( I "Strange Duet" /I )
B Disclaimer: /B Based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical, adapted from the novel by Gaston Leroux.
B Summery: /B TPoNr. On the bridge, Christine changes her mind and warns Erik to run. He escapes and Christine sees a side of Raoul she doesn't like, making her think again on her 'relationship' with the Phantom.
B Timeframe: /B During the I 'Don Juan Triumphant' /I performance, song- I 'The Point of No Return' /I .
B Pairing: /B Erik/Christine (Christine/Raoul implied).
I XXX /I
B U Chapter 9 /B /U
U B Words: /B /U 1,183
B U Morning After the Night Before /U /B
Christine stirred first. She raised both arms above her head with her fists clenched, and arched her back as she stretched. A loud yawn escaped from her lips and she blushed faintly, even though no one was awake to hear her. Her thighs felt sticky and she was sore down there, but she honestly didn't mind. She rather liked the dull throbbing feeling, because it was a reminder of what she had done with her love. She gasped, and sat up in the swan bed.
She had a lover! She wasn't a virgin! Lover… her… she had… she had to take deep calming breaths for at least a minute because she was terrified she might faint. What if she was with child? She panicked slightly at the thought of being unmarried and pregnant; she'd never be able to sing again. She'd never be able to show her face in public again!
She needed to speak to Madame Giry as soon as Erik would let her leave. She desperately needed to talk to someone who was already a mother. Madame Giry should know ways to keep from becoming with child.
"What are you thinking, my love?" A sleepy voice asked from beside her.
Christine smiled warmly down at the Phantom of the Opera and lent to kiss his lips chastely. "Ways to keep from getting pregnant." She said without thinking how Erik would take the comment. Hurt flashed across his face, briefly; it was there for a second before it was replaced by a smile.
"Have you any ideas?"
She rolled her eyes as he changed the subject. "You will forget that idea at once, mon Ange!" She ordered, folding her arms across her naked chest. "It is highly improper to do – what we just did before marriage. Let alone conceive! It is not that I don't want children, Erik."
"Just not yet," he added, to which she nodded slowly, with a smile. "Well, any ideas?"
"I was going to ask Madame Giry." Christine watched with a smile as Erik stood up and began to dress. He pulled the pants he had discarded last night up his legs and fastened it at the waist, before he knelt down to search for his belt. His shirt followed, along with his socks and shoes. He frowned and looked up at Christine.
"Can you see my waistcoat?" She shook her head, before giggling. "What?" He asked with a slight frown.
She looked down at the floor by his feet, and Erik blushed when he saw that he was actually standing on the waistcoat he had searched so hard to find. He picked it up, brushed it off and then put it on. Christine stood when he was fully dressed, unashamed of her nakedness because she felt more at ease with her angel than she did with anyone else she had ever met. "What shall I wear?" She asked quietly.
Erik left the room, and hurried back in. He held out a gown for her to take, and then helped her put it on. It was a deep shade of green with a ruffled hem and a low-cut bodice. The sleeves were too long, so they hung down over her hands, which made Christine giggle as Erik tried and failed to roll them up. "It is beautiful, thank you."
"We should eat. You must be hungry."
"Yes," she agreed, "especially after our exuberant activities last night." She raised an eyebrow as she parroted his words from the night before. He merely smiled back at her, and moved towards his kitchen area to prepare breakfast.
"Shall I ask Madame Giry to join us?" The Phantom asked as he served Christine eggs and toast.
"I think I should go to see her." Erik frowned.
"Leaving so soon?" He asked, trying not to let Christine know how hurt he felt.
She sighed. She had forgotten how under-confident Erik was when it came to anything other than music. "No, love. But if Raoul really is trying to hurt you, he'll know that Madame Giry knows you, and if she comes here…" she trailed off with a sigh. "I don't want you to be hurt because of me. He will follow her, and I'm so afraid for you."
"What did he do, Christine, tell me?" Erik asked, his hand reaching out to brush the hair from her forehead. He let out a gasp, when the hair was brushed back far enough to reveal a large purple bruise by her hairline. "My God, he did this?" She looked away.
"I forgave him." She whispered. "It matters not, anymore."
"The forgiveness of all the saints and God's seraphim's would not make it matter not, Christine. He will pay, I promise." He growled, his voice deadly and filled with anger.
"No!" She cried and held his wrist. "You already killed Piangi, please don't kill anyone else." She paused, "even if he hurt me."
He bit his bottom lip. He loved Christine so much more than he ever thought possible, and she loved him back. Last night she had given him the greatest gift possible; could he bare to risk losing it over revenge? Sure, he hated the Vicomte, but did Raoul matter enough to Erik for his existence to be bothersome? Erik looked to Christine, and saw her eyes pleading with him to let it go, and so he nodded slowly.
"But if he hurts you again, I want to know at once." She nodded with a smile. B 'Then all the forgiveness in Heaven will not save his soul.' /B He thought with a mental smirk. "Go then, if you have finished eating. See Madame Giry and hurry back. I find myself wanting to spend as much time with you as possible before the next show."
"In two days time." She muttered, remembering what Madame Giry had told Raoul. "Where will they find someone to play Don Juan in two days?" She gasped, only just realizing what Piangi's death meant for the production.
"The new managers will manage I am sure." He turned from her and stood. He began to search for some parchment and a quill. He dipped the quill into the ink and quickly wrote a note on the piece of vellum. He sealed it with red wax, stamping it until it molded into the shape of a skull. "Give this to Madame Giry will you?"
"Of course." She leant up and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Goodbye for now, mon Ange."
"Hurry back, non?" He asked in a small voice; like that of a child wanting a confiscated toy back.
"Oui," she assured him, her hand pressed to his cheek. "I will be back shortly." She turned then, and made her way to the lake and climbed into the gondola. This time, the Siren pushed her along rather than attempt to drown her. The Phantom watched her go, his hand moved to his cheek where her hand had been and he smiled. He still hadn't replaced his mask; and Christine had shown no signs of noticing.
Erik couldn't ever remember being happier.
B XXX /B
Thanks for reading… I am actually working on the next chapter while I'm writing this, so it shouldn't be years before it is posted. :) If anyone is still reading… please review?
