Erik's POV

By the time we arrived back at my flat, we were both soaked and cold. I took my cloak from Christine and hung it up near the fire to dry. Afterwards, I headed into my room and changed out of my soaked clothing. Oh, I was so cold… When I was dressed in a pair of my flannel trousers and a new shirt, I donned my best dressing robe and headed back out to meet Christine. She was standing in front of the hearth attempting to warm her soaked body.

"I…I don't have any dresses for you to change into."

She turned to me and placed her hands beneath her arms.

"I…I do have a night shirt that would fit you."

"That would be nice."

Christine followed me into my bedroom and I rummaged through my wardrobe, pulling out a long white night shirt.

"Here you are," I began, handing her the warm garment. "I'll step outside to give you some privacy."

Christine smiled. "Thank you, Mon…I mean, Erik."

After leaving her, I began to feel dizzy, remembering that I had been ill. Oh, I had most certainly worn myself out today. Pushing my body to do all those things had tired me out.

"Thank you, Erik, it fits nicely…"

Christine hung her wet dress up over the hearth and turned to face me.

"You don't look well. Are you all right?"

When I didn't answer her, she approached me and placed her hand against my forehead.

"You're burning up…I…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken you out today."

"Don't say that," I began. "It was a wonderful day. It might have been the best day of my life."

And with that being said, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep on my couch. It was embarrassing to fall asleep when I had Christine here. I expected to wake and find her gone or feeling angry, but instead, she was sitting in my arm chair staring at the fire.

"I apologize," I said, sitting up. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"Don't apologize," she said, placing a steaming cup of liquid down in front of me. "You're ill and it makes you tired. My papa used to sleep all the time before he died. I'm used to it."

I sat up and took a sip of the strange tasting drink. This certainly wasn't tea, for it tasted like chocolate.

"What is this?"

"What? It's hot chocolate. My papa used to make it for me all time."

"It's certainly strange…In a good way, I guess."

"Haven't you ever had hot chocolate before?"

I shook my head. "No, my mother never let me have sweets. She said sweets were for good boys, boys that didn't disappoint their mothers. I could never do anything to make my mother happy."

Christine's smile instantly faded and the next thing I knew, she was sitting beside me on the couch.

"Erik, I'm so sorry…I'm sorry that your mother treated you like she did. If she could see you now, I'm sure things would be different."

"Things would never be different," I growled. "For her birthday one year, I decided to build my mother her own dressing table. So, for a month, I would sneak out of my room on Sundays while she was at church. She never went down to the basement, so that's where I built it. I nailed together wood, painted the finished product and even found a mirror to fasten into its surface. It truly was a beautiful table. On the morning of her birthday, I came down from my room and wished her a good day. That didn't make her happy… She just yelled at me and threatened to beat me if I didn't return to my room."

"I…I'm so sorry."

"But that's not the worst part of it all. The worst part was when I pulled her down to the basement and showed my mother her present. I thought things would be different after that… I thought she would smile and come to love me, for I had made her something beautiful. But no… She took one look at it and smashed it into pieces with an ax. She told me she couldn't accept something from a beast like me… I lost my temper, much like I usually do. I cried and screamed about how much time it took me to make it. But she didn't care… She swung her ax and the blade cut my shoulder deeply."

"No…" Christine murmured. "She couldn't…"

I wasn't sure why I did this, but for the first time in my life, I pulled away a little of my robe to reveal the lumpy scar that covered my shoulder. Christine became fascinated with its appearance and soon, she was reaching out to touch it. But I stopped her…

"Don't…just…please, don't."

"I never knew that you were treated like a monster. Forgive me for ever yelling at you for losing your temper. I know that it is only your way of defending yourself."

"I…I've never had an easy time trusting people. My mother wasn't the only one to betray me. There have been others and they hurt me worse than she ever did. I ran away from home when I was seven…She never even went looking for me."

"Is she still alive?"

"No, she died a few years ago."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, I was an only child… She blamed me for disabling her from having anymore children. After giving birth to me, the doctor told her that she would never be able to conceive another. There were many days when she told me that she wished she could change the past…That she wished she could go back in time and dispose of me before her second month of pregnancy. I…I don't blame her. There were many days when I wished I could have disposed of myself."

"You don't have to feel like you're alone," Christine said. "We are friends, are we not?"

"I never thought about it that way before…"

Before either of us could say another word, my Grandfather clock wrung in the late hour of midnight.

"I…I should go," Christine began. "Tomorrow afternoon is the matinee opera and I was asked to be the costume girl. Sometimes I believe that it will become my permanent job soon enough."

"No, Christine, there will be something better for you. Only time will tell…"

I knew that I wanted her to take Carlotta's place, but such a job was going to take time. I couldn't just fire her, for it would bring a bad name to the opera house. No, I would think of something that would make Carlotta unable to sing. If she couldn't sing, then the understudy would have to take her place, that understudy being Christine. I would certainly work on getting Christine to be that understudy.

"Well, Merry Christmas, Erik. I don't want to go back to my quarters, but I simply have no choice. It has a heater, but it doesn't work."

"You're working for the opera house now," I began. "You shouldn't have to live in that drafty room. I…I will speak to someone in the morning."

Christine only smiled and nodded.

"I will give your shirt back in the morning."

"Goodnight, Christine…"

I watched the girl until she was completely gone. This was the best Christmas I ever had, and all because this girl touched my heart in ways that no one ever did. By morning, everything was back to normal… The workers came in hung over from the night before, the ballerinas were cranky and complaining about having to work the day after Christmas, and even Carlotta was her nasty self. Though, why everyone was getting ready for the opera, I had other things to do. I approached Madame Giry's dressing room door and knocked. When she answered, she seemed surprised to see me standing there.

"Ah, Monsieur Phantom, to what do I owe this visit?"

"How dare you even say something like that out loud?!" I snapped. "What if one of Carlotta's dogs heard you say that? What then? My life is in enough jeopardy without you speaking such words."

"Sorry," she sneered. "Well, I don't have all day. What do you want?"

"I want you to take in Christine. The ballerina's quarters are warmer than her own room that Nadir has given her. If you want to call it a room… A utility closet will not suit as a room. It's drafty and I'm afraid she will get sick."

"Afraid that she will get sick? Are you sure that it's the only reason you wish to place her in my care? Could it be that you've come to care for the girl?"

"Absolutely not. Assume such nonsense again, and I swear, I will…"

"What? You'll do what? You wouldn't harm a fly… Well, at least when it comes to me. As far as Madame Carlotta goes, I know you would murder her in an instant."

"Don't make me come back here, Madame," I began. "I expect you to treat Christine like your own daughter."

With that, I made my way towards the back stage when I was stopped by Nadir.

"Ah, Erik, how was your Christmas?"

"I hope yours was better…"

"It was a quiet one, but it was good. I had a few friends over...We had dinner and played chess. Oh, you would have loved it, Erik! Next year you have to come. Please promise me that you will come next year."

"I could hardly get out of bed, Persian! And as far as your dinner party goes, I wouldn't dream of attending such a thing."

"Hardly get out of bed?" he questioned. "I saw Christine this morning and she told me differently. She went on and on about how wonderful your day was. Breakfast at the bakery, ice skating and church…church! I never would have thought I would hear about Erik going to church."

Feeling angry, I slammed the Persian against the wall to shut him up.

"I've made a name for myself, Persian. I want everyone to fear me… I don't want to be known as the manager with a soft spot for Christine."

"So it's true! I knew it… You like Christine! You really like her."

"Enough…"

Nadir smiled and patted me on the back.

"Well, the New Year's ball is in less than a week. I suggest you ask her to go with you before someone else does."

When Nadir walked away, I spotted Christine hanging up some costumes. Ask her to the ball? I never went, for I never had anyone to go with. My heart began to race, for going to the ball with her would be the best night of my life. It would give us a chance to bond with one another…a chance to take part in my first dance with a woman. I slowly approached Christine and tried to think about what to say to her.

"C…Christine?"

When the girl heard my nervous voice, she spun around and smiled.

"Erik, how are you feeling?"

"Better, thank you…"

"Well, that's good. I was worried about you."

Worried? She was worried about me? Me?

"Christine, I…I was wondering…"

"Yes?"

"I…I wanted to know if perhaps…"

"Yes?"

But before I could say another word, a younger sounding voice interrupted us.

"Christine! There you are…"

"Oh, hi, Raoul…"

Raoul? I spun around to find a younger man standing there. Oh, he was so handsome and such a fop! I hated him already.

"Oh, I'm sorry Monsieur Erik, this is Raoul. He helped me carry my things to the ballerina's quarters."

The fop shook my hand but I snatched it away.

"Anyway, come along, Christine, I want to talk to you about that ball next week…"

And at that moment, my hopes and dreams were shattered, for she was going with someone else.

Damn, snatched by Raoul... Erik was a day late and a dollar short. Anyway, a few of you asked how to get to my new story. It's easy... click on my user name and go down to my favorite stories. Should be the first story listed. Thieving Hearts... Hope to see you all there! Thanks again!