Erik's POV

"Erik, come to bed, it's late."

I had been writing at my desk, too occupied with my work to worry about the time. When I was alone, I never worried about the time, but now I had someone to remind me. Christine placed her hands against my back, massaging my aches and pains away. She had been with me in my home for nearly a week now, and it had been the best week of my entire life.

"What time is it?" I asked, placing my pen down.

"Ten thirty. Gustave fell asleep nearly an hour ago."

I stood up from where I was sitting, spinning around to face her. I wanted to do something nice for her; therefore, I decided to take my angel by surprise.

"Christine, I'm not quite ready for bed yet. I'm a little hungry, actually."

"Hungry?" she questioned. "How could you be hungry? I made dinner, and you ate."

"My stomach works in mysterious ways, angel."

"I could make you something."

"No thank you, Christine." I said. "Perhaps we could go out?"

"Out? Erik, it's ten thirty at night. Which place in Phantasma would be open this late?"

"Feltman's ice cream parlor is open until midnight. Or at least it will be until the end of the week. They do have the most tasteful sundaes this side of Coney Island. Perhaps we could share one?"

My angel smiled. "I'll ask Gustave if he would like to come."

"I wouldn't find that to be too smart, angel. He's asleep and you should let him stay that way. If you wake him he'll make a mess of himself with the ice cream and then, you'll have to give him another bath. We'll all go out for ice cream another night… For tonight, I think it should just be you and I."

"All right, Erik."

My angel grabbed her cloak and placed it on before leaving my home with me.

"It's such a beautiful night."

I nodded. "It is. Soon, the weather will be changing. Summer always does end, Christine."

"It's strange how these past few days have been the best of my entire life. Even while I was married to Raoul, I never had such a wonderful time as this."

"Really?" I questioned. "That would seem rather strange."

Christine shrugged. "Well, I would have followed you to the ends of the earth, but you were gone."

"Shame and foolishness I guess."

"What's done is done. What matters now is that I'm here, and finally beside you."

I sighed when I felt Christine rest her head against my arm as we continued walking towards Feltman's. For the past ten years, this was all I ever wanted, and now that I had it, my body couldn't get used to it. I felt as though I would wake and find her gone; as if it were a dream and nothing more. All of Phantasma was nearly in darkness, save for a few of the gift shops and food stands. Surprisingly, when we arrived at Feltman's Ice Cream Parlor, we were the only customers there. Of course, as soon as I entered, my employees froze, as if they didn't know what to do. I knew it was strange for them to see me walking through the doors, for in all of my ten years on Coney Island, I never once partook in enjoying the many things my park had to offer.

"Could I help you, Mister Y?" asked the gentleman behind the counter. I wish I could remember his name, but sadly, I had so many employees, that remembering everyone's name was nearly impossible. I was lucky if I remembered Miss Fleck or Mr. Squelch half the time. But how I hated when my employees acted frightened when I entered their domain. Why did they have to be so afraid of me? Why couldn't they just get on with their jobs and stop worrying about what I thought. I was, after all, only here for some ice cream.

"One sundae." I said, looking up at the colorful menu that was hanging over the counter. "Chocolate and vanilla ice cream."

Perhaps my employee couldn't notice how badly his hands were shaking as he prepared my ice cream, but I did. What? Did he think that I would toss it back at him if the chocolate fudge wasn't poured in a precise line? That I would fire him if the slightest drop of ice cream got on the container it was being put into? Yes, there were times when I had gone mad around my park and tossed a few props around, even yelled at a few lazy employees, but never, had I ever gone mad over something so simple. Yes, I was indeed strict, but my employees took my harshness too deep. Even when my sundae was placed down in front of me, the man's hands were still shaking.

"Stop listening to rumors." I scoffed, as I picked up my sundae and turned away from him. "You're working yourself up for nothing."

I wasn't sure if this made my worker feel any better, but I could feel eyes on me as I walked with Christine to a nearby booth. I made sure I was away from their eyes, away from everything. Since it was such a nice night, I decided to take our ice cream outside to the back deck where we could eat our ice cream and gaze out upon the ocean.

"Well, dig in." I said, handing Christine a spoon. It was awkward at first, our spoons digging into the ice cream and eating in silence. I could only thank god that ice cream was so soft, otherwise, I would have had to remove my mask…I still wasn't comfortable with doing that in public places.

"This chocolate ice cream is amazing, Erik." My angel said as she continued eating.

"I wouldn't steer you wrong, Christine."

"Erik," her voice was soft, nearly a whisper. My eyes left my melting ice cream to gaze into her beautiful orbs, my heart racing against my chest from such beauty. How was it that someone could even be this beautiful? It wasn't possible, was it?

"Yes, Christine?"

"I've been here for nearly two weeks, and I've been here long enough to see how ugly some of the freaks in Coney Island are. Some have fangs; others have finger nails longer than anything I have ever seen. Just last week I saw a man with tattoos covering every inch of his face. They were horrible drawings outlined in black ink."

To distract myself, I began pushing my spoon into different part of my ice cream, not particularly interested in listening to her. Though, why was she going on about freaks anyway?

"I guess what I'm trying to say, is that there are people who have afflictions much worse than yours, Erik."

"Is that a compliment?" I sarcastically questioned.

"Erik, please don't take it the wrong way. I guess the reason I brought the subject up, was because I do hate it when you wear that uncomfortable garment."

She reached across the table and placed her hand against its cool surface. Believing that she was going to tear it away, I grabbed her hand.

"Christine, you know I can't do that. Just because you're used to seeing it, doesn't mean that other people will feel the same. I don't just wear this mask to hide my face, I wear it to keep away the pointing fingers and gazing eyes. This is why I live here, Christine. At least in Coney Island I can walk among people without being ridiculed."

"Erik, you don't have to live this way. I enjoy being here with you, but I hate to see you still trapped inside that mask."

I pulled her hand away from my mask and pressed a tender kiss to her knuckle.

"This is my world, Christine. Please say that you'll respect my wishes, and understand my needs. This mask always has and always will be my protection from the world. The wig I wear is also another barrier between reality and pretend. You've seen the horror that lies beneath it. How would others see me if I were to ditch them? To them, I am a respected businessman, the one in charge of hundreds of workers. Without my wig and mask, to them, I would be nothing more than another circus freak."

"But you're more than that, Erik." Christine placed her hand over my wrist, lightly squeezing it. "I know the man that you are. You're smart, wonderful, charming, and the most beautiful person I know."

"Oh, Christine," I pressed my eyes closed, holding back the tears that wanted to come. How could Christine find me beautiful? I was a disgusting mess! A horrid and revolting mess! Did she really find me beautiful? If she did, then I was going to make her prove it…Tonight, I would relive what we shared ten years ago. I would be brazen and ask Christine the one question that was burning within me.

"Christine?"

She looked up at me, smiling from the way I had said her name. Oh, how I loved it when she smiled at me. There weren't too many times when someone did that…Actually, Christine was the only one besides Gustave who ever smiled within my presence.

"Yes, Erik?"

"I need to ask you something." I began. "And I need you to tell me the truth, no matter how much it hurts."

"All right."

"You promise?"

Only when Christine nodded did I continue.

"During the past ten years, have you wanted it?"

There was an awkward silence, and then, my angel's nervous voice.

"Wanted what?"

"It, again?"

"It?"

I pressed my eyes closed, tempting to gather up whatever strength I had left within my body to say my next few words. If she slapped me in the face after this, then so be it… At least I would know how she felt.

"My…My body."

Everything had slowed down, my heart racing against my chest, waiting for her hand to come across the table and strike me. Only, she didn't hit me… She looked me in the eyes with such sorrow and concern.

"Only every night." She confessed.

Had my heart just exploded with joy? I wasn't even sure I even had a heart beat after hearing her say those exact words. She wanted me? Christine wanted me every night during the past decade? I could only cry, for I had wanted the same. Each night laying in my bed alone was a death sentence. How I wanted Christine to be there beside me, how I wanted her to be laying within my arms, naked and begging me for more.

"You're not jesting?" I asked. Oh, I had to be sure. I couldn't believe that my angel would have enjoyed our first time, let alone wanting a second or third time. We were both virgins on that night… Perhaps Christine didn't know that I was because she never asked, but it was the truth. How the entire twenty minutes had been filled with nothing more than my fingers fumbling around her body in hopes of fulfilling the pleasure she begged me for. Yes, my Christine had been new to it as well, but the way she pleasured me was as if she had been doing it for years. She knew every inch of my body, knew how to please me… Then again, perhaps I was pleased just because of the fact that I had never been touched by another human being before. Either way, she was breathtaking.

"There wasn't a night that went by during my marriage that I didn't wish for your body." She continued. "Even when Raoul and I were making love, I envisioned that he was you. It was the only way I could make love to Raoul…" she was in tears now. "I didn't love him like the way I loved you. Oh, I feel horrible for marrying him, for causing him pain."

I stood from my chair, approaching her side to caress her body against my own.

"It's not your fault." I cooed. "I shouldn't have left you. Oh, Christine, I've starved for your body and soul for the past ten years. After that night, all I thought about was you."

I was kneeling now, kneeling and looking up at her with eyes that were begging for forgiveness.

"Give me this second chance to prove to you that I still am the man you made love to all those years ago. Let me have you again, let me love you in the way that I've always wanted to."

"I can't." she cried. "If you leave me again, I would die, Erik."

"But I won't." I assured. "I would never leave your side again. Oh, Christine please give us this second chance. I am starving for your body, starving to have you beneath me again. We can start a new life with one another, one that will be filled with endless wonder."

Christine stood up, pulling me to my feet as she did so.

"You mean this, Erik?"

"With all that I am, Christine."

"When and where?" she breathlessly whispered, her hand caressing my cheek.

"Now." I said. "Right now."

"Now?"

I nodded and interlaced her arm with my own, leading her all the way to my Phantasma Hotel. We couldn't continue this at my home, for it was one room to begin with and if Gustave were to see…No, he couldn't see us being intimate with one another. He was still so young, so young and confused enough as it was without having to see Christine and I kissing one another. I entered my hotel, approaching the front desk where my hotel manager stood.

"Mister Y," he gasped. "Is something wrong?"

"No," I began. "Nothing at all. I need the key to the hotel's stateroom."

"But why?"

I rolled my eyes. Oh, why was this idiot questioning me? I tried to keep Christine hidden, or at least seem as though she weren't with me. The last thing I needed was the press on my tail about a midnight rondevu with Christine Daae. The press have been on me for years, dying to know about my love life. If they found out about my relationship with Christine, she and I would never get a moment's peace.

"You shouldn't be questioning me." I said, looking down at the guest list. "There seems to be no one using it, so, I wish to have the key. Ask me another question, and I won't think twice about taking away this comfy job of yours. There are plenty of people in Coney Island that would make decent managers to this hotel."

Before I could say another word, the key was placed into my hand and I walked away with Christine following me. We entered the stairwell, climbing each one until we reached the fifth floor.

"Room 666…" I said, walking down the hallway with Christine beside me. "It's a wonderful room."

"Will the press find out?" Christine asked. "About what we're doing?"

"If monsieur pudgy manager down there knows what is best for him, he'll keep his mouth shut about my affairs. The press are evil blood suckers, Christine. They leach off of every detail they can find out about me. And then, when they don't get what they want, they make up things. They've been trying to find out about my sexual lifestyle for the past three years. One night a few years ago, I was passing a brothel and a reporter just happened to be at the pub across the street. When he seen me pass by the building on my way home, he made up a story about me spending the night there. Liars, they are…"

When I approached the room, I opened the door and entered with my angel beside me. After flicking on the lights, I glanced around the elaborate space. It had everything, a kitchen, bathroom, lavish bed, even two separate changing areas.

"Er…make yourself comfortable." I said, my nervousness starting to kick in. Perhaps this wasn't such a great idea after all. But, before I could change my mind, Christine was standing beside me, her hands running seductively up the fabric of my coat. She then crashed her lips up against my own, her tongue darting into my mouth to find my own. Heaven! Pure heaven…I kissed her back, holding back from nothing, running my hands through her curls. I loved this woman! I loved her, loved her! I would die for her, and tonight, I would finally taste heaven again. When I began to feel her hands against my shirt, I reached up and stopped her.

"Something wrong?" she asked, breaking away from our kiss. "This was why we came here, wasn't it? To be with one another again? Tangled within the blankets of this very bed?"

I didn't want to ruin the mood, or make my angel feel as though I were pushing her away. Ten years ago, we had made love in the dark, but now, the room was illuminated in bright lights. Oh, this wasn't the atmosphere I wanted…

"I…I just need a few moments." I said, slowly backing away from her. I didn't even know I had backed all the way into the privacy quarter until my back hit the wall.

"Oh, that's a great idea." Christine said. I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but gasped when I realized what she meant. "I'll go behind the other one and change out of these clothes and then meet you in bed."

Before I could protest, my angel was off. I slipped behind the privacy quarter, my hands nervously unbuttoning my shirt. I leaned my back against its wall, thinking about what to do. If I came out from behind these quarters naked, Christine would surely be repulsed. No, I couldn't do this…What had I been thinking? But now, it was past the point of no return.