A/N: I hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. Thanks to all of those who reviewed! ~J

Chapter 20 – A Day in the Life

Christine stretched languidly before she threw her covers aside and hopped out of bed. Reaching for her robe she mused over the events of the previous night.

After saying her final goodbyes to Raoul she felt oddly at peace with the world and her place in it. She no longer felt sad about choosing to move on with her life, nor did she feel any guilt in choosing to continue said life with Erik. Instead she felt content with the knowledge that although the world had wrought about many hardships, she had been able to overcome them and ironically things had turned out for the best.

She smiled, a mixture of sadness and utter disbelief.

After all, the events of the past few weeks brought her back to Erik, the one she loved with all her being. Without them, she would never have been able to admit her feelings for him. Rather she would still be wasting away inside the Chagny mansion, pining for a love that would never be.

She could never condone what had happened to Raoul. His death was so unfortunate and unnecessary, and she was deeply saddened by the loss of her good friend. But life had a funny way of working out.

Now after last night she was finally able to accept that. She felt free to be happy and enjoy all the wonderful things that Erik had to offer her. And she was determined to do so.

Breathing a sigh of contentment and relief, she gathered her hair back in a ribbon and splashed cool water on her face from the wash basin. Feeling refreshed, she made her way to the living room, hoping that she had risen early enough to surprise Erik with breakfast.

That was not to be the case. No sooner had she entered the living room then Erik appeared from the doorway carrying a tray of oatmeal and buttered toast. He continued in the direction of her room until he noticed her standing silently by the tall chair.

She shook her head in a bemused fashion, but the smile on her lips betrayed her mood.

"Do you ever sleep?"

Truthfully Christine expected the lowest pit in Hell to freeze over before the day came that she was up before he was.

"Very little, my dear. But I might be persuaded to stay in bed a while longer once you are occupying the space next to me," he said with a mischievous grin.

She blushed violently at his insinuation and looked down nervously at her entwined fingers. She could hear Erik's quip of satisfied laughter.

"Come then," he continued, moving on as though nothing had happened. "Once you have eaten we can get started on what needs to be done today."

He motioned for her to sit with a flick of his head as he bent over to set the tray down on the table. Christine just stood there, glued to the spot. Erik assumed she was regaining her composer and the thought that he'd addled her so completely made him smile.

"Yes, about that," she said matter-of-factly.

Erik looked up from the tray, surprised by her tone. Christine appeared to falter, momentarily losing the boldness she was trying to convey. She swallowed hard and stepped in front of the chair. He followed her trail, never taking his eyes off her.

The way that only his eyes moved and nothing else completely unnerved her. She sat down quickly in one motion and blurted, "Well, it's just that you have made all these plans," she rolled her eyes up so that she was looking at the ceiling, desperately trying to choose the right words, "and yet we haven't even set a date for our wedding. I assume it will be soon?"

Erik stared at her blankly for a moment before a warm smile spread across his lips. He was beginning to love the little independent streak that was slowly surfacing in Christine. She was no longer a shy naïve child who feared the dark and the unknown. Instead she had grown into a strong woman, fully capable of taking matters in to her own hands if he didn't.

There had been so much to do and to get settled that he wasn't sure how long it would take to get everything in order. He would have liked nothing else than to marry her on the spot, but he knew that the ceremony could not take place until Nadir had secured him a last name.

He came around the table and knelt at her feet, taking both her hands in his.

"I am waiting for a few more matters that I started the other day to be finished. I doubt they will take very long, but until that time I need you to be patient." Upon seeing the look in her eyes, he reconsidered. "Ideally I was hoping for next Saturday."

Christine's eyes widened as she yanked her hands from his grasp in surprise.

"Next Saturday!" she exclaimed. "That soon? I have less time than I thought! I have many things I still need to do."

She stood up and attempted to hurry to her room but Erik's gentle hand stayed her.

"That may be," he said softly, pushing her back down into the chair. "But you will do nothing until you have eaten something."

XXXXXXXX

Christine grumbled to herself as she sorted through the garments and dresses in her wardrobe. Incensed that she couldn't find what she was looking for, she began throwing the clothes over her shoulder in an act of petulance.

"Oh, where is it?" she whined, stamping her foot in frustration.

She immersed her head and shoulders in the wardrobe once again in another attempt to find the item that eluded her.

"Whatever is it that you are looking for?" Erik inquired, looking around the small room and the clothes that had been haphazardly thrown about.

Christine pulled her head out in surprise, the static from the clothing making pieces of her hair stand out on end.

"Erik! What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering the same thing," he said with a half smile. He indicated the piles with his eyes before turning them back to her.

"I-I was looking for something."

"Indeed." He folded his hands across his chest, obviously waiting for more.

Seeing that he wasn't about to take her simple explanation for an answer, she sighed and waded through the clothes until she made it to the bed and sat down heavily.

"I was looking for the wedding dress. But I can't seem to find it anywhere," she said with a hint of defeat in her voice.

Erik felt a pang of guilt. He hated reminding Christine about the negative things that occurred in their past, but the matter of the dress appeared to be unavoidable.

"I had to dispose of it," he mumbled quickly, not looking at her.

Christine's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "You threw it away?" She rose, not caring if she stepped on the clothes as she confronted him. "Erik, how could you do something like that?"

Baffled that she couldn't, or wouldn't remember, he held her at arms length by her shoulders.

"Because you ruined it," he said flatly.

He could feel her rigid form weaken as the realization dawned on her. She recalled that fateful night, the night of the torture chamber. The night that she had beat her head against a wall until she was dazed and bloodied. Her suicide attempt had done nothing except to aggravate Erik further and in the end ruined a beautiful display of beaded satin. How could she have ever forgotten?

She looked up at him remorsefully. "Oh Erik, I'm so sorry."

He gathered her in his arms, crushing her against his chest as he held onto her fiercely. She started to cry.

It was inappropriate and he knew it, but he couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. The sound of it caused Christine to stop and immediately she pushed away from him.

"What is so funny?" she fumed, glaring up at him.

Her pout only made him laugh harder.

"I'm sorry my dear," he apologized as he gestured to the mess, "but it amuses me that you are getting this worked up over a dress."

Christine opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her by placing a finger over her lips. He leaned in and placed a kiss on the side of her cheek before he grabbed her hand and led her away from the disaster she had created and back out into the living room.

He let go of her and disappeared into his own room, leaving Christine to wonder what he was up to. Moments later he appeared and placed a handful of francs into her small hand.

He wiped the tears away from her face, his hand lingering on her cheek as he said, "It is much simpler than that, really." He placed a small kiss by her ear. "Take what I have given you," one on her neck, "and buy yourself a new one." Another kiss under her chin. "The cost does not matter so long as you are happy. I'm rather certain you can convince young Meg Giry to accompany you." He slid his hand to the back of her head and tangled his fingers in her dark tresses before claiming her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she answered his kiss, deepening its intensity.

The sound of a throat being cleared from behind startled them. Erik broke the kiss, but did not look away from Christine as he spoke.

"Your timing is impeccable Daroga," He said dryly. "Be grateful that I don't nail you to the wall for interrupting."

Nadir stood in the doorway with a large envelope in his hand and a small grin on his face. "Why the anger?" he teased. "After all, you were expecting me."

"Yes, well..." Erik grumbled, adjusting his collar. He pointed to the chair by the hearth. "Have a seat Daroga and I will be with you in a moment.

He turned back to Christine and smiled wryly before taking her by the hand and leading her back toward her bedroom. Once inside, he located her cloak and placed it on her shoulders. Still standing behind her he whispered wickedly in her ear, "You should be grateful as well. I look forward to the day when I won't have to stop."

Christine blushed intensely as he chuckled.

"Have a good time my dear," he said earnestly. "I shall see you when you return."

With that, he escorted her out of her bedroom and to the door that led outside. He stole one more quick kiss to tide him over before she ran across the bank, the darkness engulfing her.

XXXXXXXX

Turning back to Nadir, Erik gave him a look of feigned contempt. Nadir laughed heartily.

"I trust you have information for me and your presence here isn't just to get in the way?" Erik said, still pretending to be inconvenienced.

His comment threw Nadir into another fit of laughter. After a few more moments of boisterous display, he was finally able to calm himself down by taking a couple of deep breaths. If a man were to ever come close to giggling, Nadir was about there.

Wiping his eyes with the back of his good hand, he grabbed the envelope from where he wedged it between his thigh and the side of the arm rest. He handed it to Erik and sat back with an expectant smile.

Erik took the envelope from him and slowly slid out the papers that were inside. There was a whole stack of them. The first appeared to be paperwork in various stages, detailing the purchase of the house outside of Paris that he had wanted.

Nadir narrated as Erik went through them.

"You are now the proud owner of a modest home on the outskirts of the city. The furniture is being delivered as we speak. I have arranged for a full kitchen staff as well as a maid and a butler. They are scheduled to begin work the morning after the wedding."

Erik's head shot up with a slightly apprehensive look upon his face.

"Don't worry," Nadir laughed as he stretched his hand out to indicate that Erik should remain calm. "The money that you provided for the purchase of the house was a lot more than I needed. In fact, it was enough to pay for their services for three years. I have met with them personally and they have all been apprised of your unique situation."

"Which is?" Erik said with strangled breath.

"I informed them that their employer was a former war veteran who had suffered severe injuries to the face when a shell exploded next to him in combat. Forgive me for telling a white lie, but I thought it would make you seem more personable. And it would minimize any further questions about your past."

A new start, Erik thought. Nadir had given him the opportunity and a plausible story for him to re-enter society. If he were to continue using that delectable piece of fiction, he might find everyone to be more accepting instead of shunning him. Why hadn't he thought of that?

"The second set of documents," Nadir continued, "contain the details regarding your name."

Erik hurriedly flipped through the pages until he found the one Nadir referred to.

"Bertrand?"

"It quite literally means 'intelligent raven'. I thought it fitting."

Of all the names that would have accurately described him...At least he wasn't going to be parading around with the name of a fairy, and for that he was eternally grateful to Nadir. He couldn't have chosen a more perfect moniker.

He cleared his throat. "Everything appears to be in order here Daroga. Good work." He slid the papers back into the envelope and placed them on the shelf by the organ. "What about the other matter we discussed?"

"Your private ceremony will take place next Saturday at two o'clock in the afternoon. As requested, Darius and I will be present to serve as witnesses. I assume that Mlle Daae will have a few people she would like to invite as well."

"Very good," Erik replied. "I am certain that Christine will want little Meg Giry and her mother to be there. If you would be so kind as to coordinate with Madame Giry, I would like us all to meet at our new house," this in itself sounded odd for him to be saying, "after the ceremony for a small celebration."

"Splendid." Nadir started to rise. "I suppose I shall let you continue on with your day."

"Nonsense. You were kind enough to barge in here earlier, you could at least stay for a cup of tea and a game of chess."

XXXXXXXX

Christine felt absolutely giddy as she wandered around the small shop with Meg trailing along behind her. Absently she ran her hand over the many dresses set out before her. She had always imagined what it would be like to shop for her own wedding dress. But she had not anticipated how hard the decision would be. There were so many different types and styles. Inwardly she knew that she was trying to find something similar to the one that Erik had bought for her so long ago. Like things inevitably do, trends had changed once again and she was faced a dozen or so beautiful dresses of the latest fashion.

Meg chirped happily from dress to dress, picking up some for emphasis as she cooed over each style, citing what she like about one and disliked about the other.

Christine was about to make her selection when she spotted the fabric of a sleeve peeking out from underneath the pile of dresses. Curious, she coaxed the dress out to reveal a waterfall of delicate linen. The dress was neither satin nor beaded, but she was instantly drawn to it. The bodice of the dress was made of silk, a trail of lace encircled the top and ran along and over the arms to the back, dividing the bodice from the collar. The part that would sit above her breasts, as well as the sleeves were made up of transparent gossamer, soft to the touch. The same gossamer fabric sat atop the full skirt and comprised the long train that would trail behind her. The skirt was also trimmed with three circles of lace, creating a tiered effect as it cascaded down. She fell in love with it immediately.

Meg squealed when she seen it. "Oh Christine. It's perfect!"

Nodding in agreement, Christine turned with the dress over her arm and walked to where the veils were on display. She selected one with a headpiece made of white and pink flowers. The veil would hang to the middle of her back once she had it on. Since the dress came up to just below her neck, she wasn't in need of a necklace, but she did choose a pair of pearl teardrop earrings, each with a small faux diamond at the top.

All the way back to the opera house, Meg talked incessantly about the things that had gone on after Christine had left. Although she was interested to hear about her friends and what had going on in their lives, Meg's words were nothing more than incoherent sentences. She was too caught up in thinking that Erik was to be her husband in less than eight days.

"Christine, are you listening to me?"

"Hmm?" She looked up, honestly surprised to find the steps of the opera house in front of her.

"I was telling you that the masked ball has been scheduled for tomorrow night," Meg said.

Christine glanced up at her, guilty that she hadn't been listening.

"Mother says that you will need to be prepared to answer lots of questions. But that shouldn't be hard as long as you stick to your story." She grinned. "This is going to be so much fun! Who knows? Maybe I will meet the man of my dreams there."

Christine smiled at her exuberance.

"Well I suppose that nothing I say or do will get your mind out of the clouds today," Meg told her, handing her the parcels that she had been carrying. "But you can't hide from me tomorrow. For tomorrow will be marvelous! Good night Christine!" she called as she ran down the corridor toward to dormitory.

XXXXXXXX

Erik was perched at the organ when she entered the house on the lake. Upon hearing her, he was instantly up, helping her with her many packages.

Lightened from her load, she sat down on the settee with a sigh as Erik resumed his seat at the organ.

"The masked ball is tomorrow night," she began conversationally.

Erik nodded in acknowledgment.

"Have you considered what your plans are after the wedding?" he asked suddenly.

"What?" Christine sat up, confused. "I-I don't understand what you mean Erik."

He swung around on the bench so that he was facing her.

"What I meant is have you given any thought to returning to the stage?" he replied.

She blinked rapidly for a few moments. No, she hadn't considered continuing her career at the opera. When she left with Raoul he had expressly forbidden her to sing, especially in his presence. She had just accepted that those days were behind her.

Erik could tell by the look on her face that she hadn't pondered the idea.

"Would you like to?" he asked softly.

"Would I?" she brightened. "Could I?"

He felt a momentary stab of pain at her excitement, and also resentment for his fallen rival at withholding such joy. He motioned for her to come to him.

She all but leaped off the settee and stood before him with a hopeful smile. He gently pulled her between his legs and brought her hand to his lips, then positioned it so she was cupping his masked cheek.

"Christine. I am your Angel of Music, after all. You have a great gift, one that I helped create, and it is a shame to keep such a gift from the world."

She swelled with happiness. She dropped to her knees and threw her arms around his neck. He reveled in her closeness before he rose, gently tugging her into standing position with him.

"Good. We will begin right away," he said curtly as he selected a piece of music from the stack on the organ.

He placed it on the small music stand above the keyboard. After a few warm up scales he hit the opening note. Christine took her cue and plunged into the aria. Their voices met and melded, her pure soprano blending perfecting with his smooth tenor. Together they rose and fell in song, singing of a passion that they would soon experience and share for themselves.

A/N: Another filler chapter, I know. But nonetheless I hope you found it interesting and entertaining. More is on the way. And remember, the greatest gift you can give an author is telling her how she's doing *shameful insinuation to keep reviewing :-)* Until next time....~J