A/N: So before I began writing this chappie I began the harrowing task of cleaning my room. I thought to myself, well I want my room to be clean for my birthday(this Thursday) so let me clean it up. Well, me being the way I am that means reorganizing the whole damn room so of course now there is crap everywhere. So I abandoned that task for now to write! Please let me know what you think!

Thank you to all my reviewers, I appreciate your comments more than you know! Thanks to all of you and I send you lots of love and happiness this Valentines day. Hopefully you're not single like me and have a special honey to spend it with ;)

Your humble authoress,

JLB

Principa: I was laughing all throughout your review. Erik is a bit insensitive, that I will admit. I hope that you do continue reading, even if you do think Erik is a chauvinist bastard.

And a thank you to erik'sangel527,'ello ya'll who had if I am correct just started reading my fics. To all my other loyal readers I love you and thank you for staying throughout the ride with your feedback. You all know who you are!

Christine stood to the side of a large doorway, listening to the most ethereal music she had ever heard. Her heart was pounding beneath her breast, and her breaths came out in puffs. She cursed the corset she was wearing, and wished she had told Marie to loosen it before. She tried in vain not to focus on how hard it was becoming to breathe, she tried to focus on the beautiful music, to lose herself in it. Her throat began to burn and she began to gasp for breath, and even as her world went black the music still played.

XXX

"Thank you Mother!" Meg squealed throwing herself into her mothers arms. Tears of joy pooled in her eyes as she turned to look at Raoul...her fiancee. She could see the love she had for him reflected in his blue eyes. She couldn't believe how blessed she was to have this man in her life. He loved her, truly loved her and now they were going to be married. She had never been happier.

Raoul stayed for a dinner and when he left Meg turned to talk her mother. "Thank you so much for accepting him mama. I love him so much."

"I know you do Meg, and I see now how much he loves you. You two shall lead a happy, full life together." Mother embraced daughter and for the first time since she began seeing Raoul she felt at peace, her mother had accepted him and they wouldn't have to sneak around anymore.

"I wish Christine and Erik could feel what Raoul and I feel for each other." Meg said while her mother poured them both a cup of tea. She thought back to earlier that day; before Christine had entered the room she had heard Erik's muffled voice but couldn't make out what he said. Whatever it was it must have upset Christine, for when she entered the room she had looked rather distraught. Meg had believed that perhaps Erik and Christine would somehow, magically fall in love. But it seemed to be the opposite.

"Does Christine tell you how she feels about him?" Marie asked her daughter. Perhaps there was some hope yet. Perhaps Christine could come to love the man that so many feared.

"I believe she enjoys his company, but doesn't believe he enjoys hers. I think she would gladly marry him, but believes he does not wish to marry her. She doesn't think herself attractive or ladylike enough for a man to want to marry her." Meg said sadly. If only she could show Christine just how beautiful she truly was. But Meg knew that was beyond her, if Christine was to see the beauty she possessed she would have to find it within herself.

"Lord knows that Erik is difficult to get along with, let alone converse with. Yet Christine has managed to engage him in conversation. Though I fear they have argued more then they exchange a friendly words. Christine doesn't think herself beautiful because she does not know what true beauty is. She lived a life away from society, but time will reveal all she has to offer." Marie knew that if Erik was to develop a relationship with Christine he would have to open up to the girl, to confide in her and trust her. If she could get past the icy barriers she would find an amazing man. A man any deserving woman would be proud to know.

"If only they would allow themselves to get to know each other. They would be able to get past the obstacles that keep them apart." Meg was a romantic at heart, she believed that love could change anything, that two people could come together and make a beautiful life together if only they loved each other enough.

"Erik isn't one to let anyone get to know him. That is the problem. How he can expect her to come to love him if he does not let her in is beyond me. But time will reveal what is meant to be, we can only sit back and watch as it unravels. Perhaps fuel the flames a little, but other than that we are powerless to make either feel what they will not."

"But if they cannot learn to love each other they will surely remain alone." Meg knew that unfortunately that was the case. Christine was penniless and had no where to go. If she did not marry Erik she would not have any other suitors even if she was beautiful. If there was any other chance of marriage for her, she would be living her life raising pigs and that was not the sort of life Christine deserved to live. Erik on the other hand would remain locked away in his castle, alone and silent as usual. Even if he kept others at bay, everyone knew he was lonely. That he longed for human companionship. And he did. Erik longed for the companionship of a woman who could look upon him and see past the mask and still love him with her whole heart. A woman that would accept all his flaws and still desire him as much as he would desire her. He would give all he could to make her happy if only she would love him.

But love was not to be expected when one was not complete, when one was marked with darkness, darkness that permeated every part of their being. It seemed no matter what he did or where he went, his demons always found him. At times he was tempted to throw himself from the highest tower of his castle, to feel for a fleeting moment freedom from all that had haunted him his entire life. Was there no cure to this misery? Was there no one who could come and give him the love he had been denied so long? To come and heal his wounded heart and make it new again? Why must he long for something he could never have? Was he to die alone, never knowing the loving touch of another, the feeling of being completely whole?

"You are only truly alone when those around you no longer care. Neither will ever face that fate."

XXX

Erik smirked as he watched Christine's reflection in a full length mirror he had placed across the room from him. He was able to watch her without her being spotted himself. She hid beside the door, her face flushed and her expression that of anxiety. She seemed to be slowly sinking down the hall and he thought he had truly moved her with his music, any moment now she would call out to him telling him she had succumbed to his music.

But she didn't call out to him, she made no noise as she continued to slide down the wall. He had not expected such a reaction but thought that perhaps she wanted to sit and listen to the music unnoticed. Perhaps she was not ready to give into the sweet escape music would give her. He kept a wary eye on the mirror, something was not right; Erik could feel that with every particle of his body. When he could no longer bare to sit and wait for some movement which would never come from the girls body. He flung himself from the piano bench, panic seizing him. It seemed he could not reach her fast enough but he finally reached her and dropped down onto the floor beside her, pressing two fingers against her throat where he felt the faint flutter of her pulse. He hastily picked her up and carried her to the nearest room and set her down on the bed. Her skin was growing pale and her body cold. His mind was reeling what had caused her to faint away like that? He gazed down at her, searching for some sign of what was wrong. He noticed that despite how lifeless her body was she was still beautiful. Even in such a situation he couldn't help his eyes from wandering and they landed on the swell of her breasts which was accentuated by the corset she was wearing. The corset which was surely laced tightly to hold her torso in a hourglass shape, squeezing her ribs till it was most certainly difficult to breathe.

Sudden realization tends to hit us like a splash of ice cold water and leaves one in shocked silence. We try to move, but we stand frozen in the moment, wondering just how to proceed.

"MARIE!" He shouted her name, willing the woman to magically appear. He waited as long as he could, and when she didn't come he took matters into his own hands. With a swift movement her dress was ripped open. He reached behind her, trying to undo the laces of her corset but he couldn't see what he was doing. Growing anxious he reached for a penknife in the bedside table and ran the blade through the laces. The corset immediately loosened and he tugged it off Christine's limp body.

Christine's chest suddenly rose and a shuddering gasp was heard. Erik sent up a quiet prayer of thanks to the heavens as he watched color return to Christine's cheeks. He felt her neck again and her pulse throbbed there, strong and steady. He watched the frown which settled in her brow before reaching her pink lips. Then her eyes opened, and she looked around apparently confused, but when her eyes landed on Erik's face a small smile graced her lips and lit her eyes. Erik couldn't fight the own smile he felt creasing his own, otherwise frowning mouth.

"Why did the music stop? It was so beautiful..."Christine couldn't remember getting into the bed she was now sitting in, nor could she remember sinking down onto the cold, hard floor. But what she could remember was the dark, mysterious tune which had drawn her from her room, seemingly pulling her towards it and the almost angelic voice which was raised in song. But surely angels did not possess such seductive tones in their voice. Color crept back into her cheeks as she remembered how she had felt as she had wandered toward the music, it was as if the music itself flowed into her body and took control.

Erik's voice broke into her thoughts. "What music Christine?" He asked, looking at her as if she had a nightmare, with a concerned frown.

"There was music...I left my room and followed it, I wanted to see where it was coming from." But what had happened, why was she now in a bed in a room which was not her own. "Where am I?" She asked, curiously looking around the dark room.

"You are safe in my room." Erik replied moving away from her for he had realized how dangerously close his face had been to hers. How his body nearly touched her as he hovered over her in his concern. "As for why you are here, you collapsed in the hall. Your corset was laced too tightly and lack of oxygen caused you to faint. I apologize for tearing your dress and ruining your corset, but it was necessary. I can provide new garments for you." It was then that Christine noticed she was only in her chemise and immediately raised the covers to her chin, her cheeks flaming red.

"I-thank you." Christine whispered, not looking at Erik for she was suddenly rather embarrassed. She hoped that Erik had not found himself disgusted as he had to remove her gown and corset from her body. She can only imagine his look of revulsion as her body swelled as the corset was removed. She wanted to crawl under the covers and die, for the thought of him seeing her clad in barely anything was completely horrifying to her.

"You've no need to apologize. Are you feeling all right, do you need anything?" Erik inquired, fighting to keep any emotion to enter his voice.

"I feel fine. I've no need of anything, only promise me not to leave as you will surely do any moment now." Christine was surprised at her own words and waited for Erik's reaction.

"Do not presume to know how I act or why I act mademoiselle fortune teller." This was said lightly, but there was a firm undertone and they both knew Erik was serious.

"All the same, I can only gather from how you behave that you are not comfortable in my company." Christine found herself speaking openly with this man, tired of avoiding the subject she faced it head on. Before Erik could even reply she continued. "Erik, close to a week has passed and during that time I am sure you have been able to see what life with me would be like. I cannot go day to day driving myself mad, trying to figure out what you are thinking or what you are feeling. I want to talk about this marriage Erik." Christine would have mustered the strength to get out of bed and walk over him to face him, but lack of appropriate clothing prevented him from doing so.

"Christine, I am not comfortable in anyones company. That is the way I am, though no one has ever been particularly comfortable in my company either. I enjoy talking to you, it is the highlight of my monotonous days and the thought of you not being around to exchange a word or two with is a sad one indeed. Life with you would be a life like one I have never known and cannot begin to imagine. You are an amazing woman and living with you is a gift, not a curse. This marriage sits looming ahead and each days seems to fly by bringing it closer and closer. I want to show you all that I can offer you Christine, I truly do. But I fear you shall be sorely disappointed, you deserve a life of happiness in the light. A life with me would be dark and empty. I wish it weren't so, I wish I was the prince you deserve who could whisk you away to a beautiful palace and promise you a life of love and security-

"..Erik-"

"Please, allow me to finish. I have never allowed myself to believe that one day a woman would come along and learn to love me and accept me. For that would be a miracle in itself. I have never tortured myself with being in the company of women other than Marie and her daughter Meg. And to have you here now, with the thought of wedding you is almost more than I can bare. It is a wish, long since denied and one which I would never ask of anyone. I want to earn your love, but how can I win something which I do not deserve?" Erik said all of this while maintaining a calm expression though his voice had grown thick and Christine knew this was a difficult subject for him.

"What makes you so sure that you are not deserving of love? You are no less human than I and even if you were it should make no difference. We all need love Erik, and despite what one may say we all want it. Why would I want a man with dashing good looks with a shining palace when I have a handsome man before me who lives in a castle which could bloom into life if only one would take the time to take care of it. I never believed I would be in the position I am now, with both my parents gone with plans to marry a man I am barely beginning to know. Erik, you have so much to offer I see that every time I look into your eyes. All I want is for you to open up to me, to trust me enough to speak freely with me."

"Christine, I-"

"Allow me to finish." She said with a smile and continued. "Did you not tell me that true beauty lies within the heart? I have never and will never care for a man with a handsome face who possesses a black heart. Erik, you are a good man even if you do not want people to see that. I do not love you, for I haven't had the pleasure of knowing you well enough to develop such feelings. But I do care for you, and I do not want to leave you or this castle. I feel at home here, and I feel at home with you."

Erik said nothing, clearly waiting to see if she would go on. Christine smiled and said,"You may speak now."

"I want to open up to you, to tell you all the things I keep locked away inside but I fear you shall not like what I have to tell you. I did say that true beauty is found within but there is no more beauty within me than there is on the outside. I will not deny that I care for you as well, for I do. But I do not deserve love, I am not as other people are and I never have been. I do not have the same ability to make friends, instead I endlessly make enemies. But I am glad that you feel at home here and I hope that that will remain the case. I just do not know how to show you what sort of man I am without scaring you off."

"Well then it is lucky for you I do not scare easy."

"We'll see Christine, we'll see."

XXX

Later that night Erik had dinner sent up to his room, he insisted that they eat before he told her anything of his past. Once they were done eating Erik gathered their plates and left to return them to the kitchen. Christine waited for him to come back, wanting to know what he had kept inside for so long. But a full belly tends to make a person sleepy and Christine was no exception, and before long she soon had trouble keeping her eyes open. She wanted Erik to come back and talk to her, to get to know this man, this enigma. But sleep was like a lover, tempting and alluring and Christine found herself succumbing to it's warm embrace.

A/N: Please R&R! Lots of love to you all!