That night, Christine went to sleep with a smile on her lips, a sight Erik loved to see. To ensure she'd rise in the same happy mood, he placed a box on a chair next to her bed with her name written on a little slip of paper on top. As always, he watched her sleep in heavenly peace, just like the most innocent, purest angel that God accidently let fall from his clouds above. That is, if he believed in a God, he quickly thought to cover his mistake. He shook his head. What was this angel doing to him? What great powers she possessed, even in her sleeping form. And he called himself a magician! His talents were nothing compared to hers, he thought to himself, another smile being pried in his lips.

"You both are wasting so much time...trying to hand in the balance, playing, then pulling back. It's going to hurt both of you. If you were more of a man, you're talk to her. You'd state your feelings and ask for hers, then you'd both figure out what to do. But this? It's only going to cause more grief if you allow her to leave with the Vicomte."

Erik closed his eyes at Nadir's words that nagged at his soul.

"Do you never take a break from being my conscience?" Erik asked in annoyance, walking towards the door.

"No. That little annoyance is what keeps us normal conscience-bearing people in line." He teased with a wink.

"One of these days I'm going to have to do off with you." Erik said in humor as he shook his head and opened the door. Before walking out in to the still night, he took one more loving glance at Christine's calm form, then shut the door again behind him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

When night fell, Erik quietly crept back in to the house to see Christine sitting in a fashion that was quite unacceptable by ladies. Her back was laying on the seat part of his only and favorite old stuffed chair normally in Nadir's room for safety from thieves. Her ankles were crossed and resting at the head of the back, her head just off the seat, upside down. Somehow in this strange position she was in, she was managing to read one of the engaging poems in his large book.

She turned the page, then her hand reached out to the small table nearby, a bowl on it filled with fruit. Taking a piece, she popped it in to her mouth. He stared at her, something he was making a habit of lately, and watched in humor at the young woman, looking much younger at the moment.

Nadir walked out of his room and spotted Erik in the doorway.

"Why Erik, I didn't know you were home yet!" He said happily, looking over at Christine to see her reaction.

Erik winced as, in surprise to his presence, Christine let out a loud gasp and went tumbling off the chair in a very unceremonious way, landing in some sort of heap that looked anything but comfortable. As if her first position looked comfortable...

When she finally was able to straighten herself, she sat crosslegged on the floor, looked up at him and blushed fiercely. "Uh...welcome home?" She said with a sheepish smile.

He let out a laugh, which only brightened her face more. "It's good to hear you laugh for once." She commented.

He was still grinning as he walked up to her, holding out a hand. She eagerly grabbed it and he pulled her to her feet, though he didn't plan to have her be standing so close together. When was the last time their feet were touching toe to toe? When her hand was at the crook of his elbow?

Obviously, it had been too long, for his mind was whirling at her tender touch, her very closeness, her innocent, careless beauty.

That bashful smile was still upon her, making her laugh when he didn't let go.

"Are we to stand here all night?" She teased through a giggle, but it went deaf upon Erik's ears, so lost as he was. Christine couldn't begin to imagine how much effect she had on him at that moment.

Nadir cleared his throat at the scene before him, trying to bring Erik back to good ol' Persia, instead of somewhere in the skies. "Erik?" he said in a low voice.

Erik, shocked that he just lost himself, coughed lightly, releasing Christine and taking a step back. He looked around frantically. "Uh...Good book?" he asked, looking quite bashful.

She nodded eagerly, her eyes aglow. "Wonderful."

Nadir groaned lowly, having an eerie feeling that they weren't talking about a book, but what had just passed between them. Sparks. Sparks, that would inevitably lead in to a full blown fire if allowed. Before, he would have thought this perfectly 'wonderful', as Christine had put it, but now...he wasn't so sure.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX