My Fair Lady's "I Could Have Danced All Night"

I could have danced all night!
I could have danced all night!
And still have begged for more.
I could have spread my wings
And done a thousand things I've never done before.
I'll never know what made it so exciting;
Why all at once my heart took flight. I only know when he
Began to dance with me I could have danced, danced, danced

All night!

Christine was waiting for Erik to return from what he said was cleaning, but she was a bit skeptical and wondered what he was really up to. The drive had been pleasant, Erik had been keen to talk about the buildings they passed, but Christine had been dozing, still alert, but just resting her eyes. She didn't care that much, they were the only buildings to her. She noticed the differences of course, the grid street layout, how loud everything was and the wide streets, but apart from that, it wasn't that much different from London. London had long winding streets that were difficult to give directions for to tourists, and was wonderful to wander through. She missed just walking about London, it was such a beautiful sight at Christmas, when fairy lights were placed on every single tree, and the twinkling red and green lights rippled off of the Thames. She hoped one day that she would be able to show Erik that sight. She fantasized about the two of them walking alongside the trees, over the Thames, with no-one in sight. The buildings were important to Erik though, so she tried to listen to every word that she said about their history, though it wasn't hard with his soft voice.

Christine recalled the trees in London again as she stared out into the underground garage, comparing them to the unimpressive lights she could see now. She loved fairy lights, her dressing table back home were adorned with light blue fairy lights, which looked like the early morning, just after sunrise. It was amazing to behold, when she was getting ready at night.

Christine was still waiting for Erik when she decided she needed something to drink. She wanted to make sure her head was clear when she went in there, and Christine could see an unopened bottle of water waiting for her in the bar, that had been sealed in a glass cabinet of sorts. She couldn't see how to open the glass box though. How Nadir had gotten into the drink cabinet the other night, Christine had no clue as she began prodding her fingers at the corners, hoping that she had to push to panel to unlock the bar.

"Are you alright, Miss Daae?" Spoke an unfamiliar American accent from behind Christine.

She looked around, kneeling down on her hands and knees, her shoes forgotten on her seat, and looked towards the intercom. The doors weren't open and no-one was poking their head inside so it must have been the intercom, which meant it was the driver. She then turned back to look towards the front of the limousine to where the driver was sitting, and saw that the screen between them was closed. How had he seen her? Christine groaned with embarrassed aggravation, sitting back in her seat as she pressed her hands to her cheeks, her eyes darting about as she looked for the right button for her to respond. She saw it, and quickly pressed it in.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thank you. Just trying to get some water to drink. I don't suppose you know how to open the bar, do you?" She asked as she pulled a hopeful face, and released the button.

"Just press the button and the glass should disappear, Miss." The driver responded.

Christine wanted to ask what button, but felt foolish for asking, and instead looked at the various buttons on the intercom. There were two for volume, which were connected to speakers, and two for lights and there were three that Christine couldn't figure out what they did. One of them looked like a fan, but she pressed it and nothing happened. There was another that looked like a circle, but that didn't do anything. The last one was a triangle, and Christine pressed it, not sure what to expect. She looked down at the glass, but it had gone, leaving bar open for use. Christine smiled, it was an interesting trick, and she wished she had been looking when it happened. She couldn't see where the glass had gone, but it must have slid away into some slot. The top piece puzzled her, but she ignored it as she turned back to the intercom.

"Thanks." She said. "The name's Christine, by the way. You don't have to call me that if you feel uncomfortable though."

She leaned forward onto the balls of her feet and took the water bottle, taking a few sips before sitting back in her seat. She struggled to put her shoes on, but did so to keep her energy going, and took a few more small sips.

"I'm John. I don't think Mr Destler will have told you that." The driver chuckled through the intercom to her surprise.

Christine brightened. "It's a pleasure to finally chat with you. No, he kinds of doesn't like it when I talk to other people."

"Yes," He laughed. "So did you have fun then, meeting the other celebrities?"

Christine nodded, but realized her mistake and said, "Yes, it was great. I met so many fascinating people, in all sorts of jobs."

"I'm happy you got along with them, I wasn't sure if they'd take to you."

"Oh no, it was fine. They were just normal people."

"Yeah, but some of them have a pompous attitude."

"Well it never showed. They were all perfectly polite, without stepping too far."

"Yes." John answered with tone that suggested that he was aware of the Carlotta situation. "Well, enjoy your drink now, Mr Destler is coming."

Christine turned around, getting herself into place as she quickly crossed her legs, but uncrossed them as she placed the drink by the bar, then returned to her original position as Erik stood beside the door. She tried to look calm as the door opened, but she couldn't help but swing her feet excitedly. She stopped though, gathering herself as she climbed out of the limousine, smiled towards the rearview mirror where John gave a friendly nod. She turned to Erik, taking his arm and admired the David mask as she took in the different shadows and highlights. He looked beautiful in person, she thought, now that she knew what his mask was made to resemble. One of her followers had forwarded her a link to an article which discussed Erik's mask. She hadn't read it, as she only stared at the photo of Michelangelo's 'David'. The pupils had been carved to look like little beads, his nose and row were perfectly molded, and the curls made Christine want to run her hands through it. It was Erik.

She had asked if he was finished, and Erik answered that he had been checking to see if Nadir was about. Christine wasn't sure if he was being serious, he couldn't possibly have beaten them, but Erik assured her that he could do it easily as they approached the rocky looking wall that held the elevator. Christine could see the wall shift, but wasn't sure what it was as she watched Erik's hand flourish across the wall for show. Suddenly, Christine could see Erik's hand pass through the wall to touch something, making the elevator doors open. They had talked about it, but Erik hadn't explained how it worked. They rode the elevator up and Christine knew he was watching her. Did he have something planned for her, or was this just his regular behavior? How annoying the mask was. She'd never be able to tell what he was really thinking, and she finally put together what that meant for them. She would never know if he was truly sorry, or happy, or sad. She knew when he was happy or angry by the way he stood or by hand gestures, but the mask concealed everything. It just had this permanent decisive stare, facing forward.

She was glad to be there nonetheless, as Erik opened his front door, and she held her hands, standing close to him as she told him her thoughts, as she noticed the change in light. Christine stared at him, a dim, warm, yellow light playing across his mask. He was magnificent to behold.

Erik suggested that she help herself to his music while he got her something to eat, which seemed unnecessary, she wasn't hungry after eating an apple pie and a cupcake, but it seemed to keep him happy as she mentally shrugged it off and looked up into his apartment. She gasped, taking in the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. The large rose window, built up with thousands of different colours, was casting thousands of rays of tinted moonlights all over the room and across the doors. The books were highlighted, and the plaques beneath them shone beautifully casting reflected light off in different directions. The lights around the Koi pond were lit up too, and Christine stepped out, holding her fingers up to her lips. There was music playing from a set of speakers on the table directly in front of Christine, and it was playing a slow, soft , dark melody that made Christine think of caverns, lanterns and stalectites.

"We are grateful it is a full moon?" Erik asked, placing his hands on her shoulders as he stood behind her, placing his head directly beside her on her left. His voice was so smooth and fluid, and Christine felt warmed by it.

"Yes." Christine sighed as her eyes lifted to the cracked orb that hung in the sky outside. "Oh Erik, thank you for letting me see this." She said, captivated as she looked around slowly. "Your home is so splendid!"

"Thank you, Christine, now you sit right here and choose something else for us to listen to." He said, gently pushing her forward to seat her before a pair of speakers and a CD player. Didn't he have anything more up to date? Surely he must have listened to his favourite songs on an mp3 player or something? Christine hummed, thinking that Erik must have preferred his music on CD's, and she smiled. It was an odd quirk, but at least she got to see the covers for each of the CD's that Erik had selected for her.

"What have we got here?" Christine asked, pulling a large stack of CD's towards her after she sat down.

"My music." Erik said simply, walking around the couch proudly.

Christine dropped her jaw. "All of it?" There were loads, he couldn't have composed them all.

"No, those are my early years, some movie soundtracks, and some of my latest work. Enjoy!" And Erik disappeared into the kitchen.

Christine sat in bewilderment, made more bizarre by the fact that he had left to get her food, but had placed apples and oranges on a plate before her. Christine would have laughed, if she hadn't then realized that at least half of the cases that Erik had provided were dual CD's, and Christine panicked, laughing in disbelief. She began to sort through the music, admiring the covers and biting her lip whenever saw an album name that pleased her. She recognized some of the movies that Erik had written music for, and it was amazing to find Erik's name on every single back. She wondered that motivated Erik to write scores for all of these movies, which had no real similarity, Christine felt. There were action movies and romantic comedies and horror soundtracks. Christine didn't know what album to pick, let alone one song. She picked one of his original albums up, and stroked the front plastic cover, which showed a red rose against the black background. She turned it over. The songs were expectedly named after flowers, and Christine opened up the case, dropping the CD into the CD player and made sure the volume was just right before she randomly chose the song 'Lily of the Valley'.

Christine listened to lilting lullaby that drifted around Erik's apartment, and Christine leaned back against the couch, sighing as she closed her eyes in complete tranquility.

"You like this one?" Erik asked, appearing in the room with a cup of coffee, standing in the kitchen doorframe.

"It's all beautiful." Christine said, looking up at Erik, smiled, and turned back to her original position, her head facing forward as she felt all of her muscles relax.

"I am the same with your videos, my dear." Erik said, walking down to present her with the coffee, but stopped. "Or should I have gotten you some tea?" He asked himself, staring at the coffee.

"I think the coffee was a better idea." Christine said, reaching up to take it from his hands. "I love tea, but the coffee over here is delicious!"

Erik sighed, and watched her as she blew on the coffee to cool it down and took a sip. She peeked up at him while drinking, and had to pull the drink away from her lips before saying, "You okay?"

"...Yes." Erik said, as though he couldn't understand why she'd be asking.

"Well, you're not doing anything, Erik." Christine said, resting her coffee on her lap as she looked at him. "Do you want to sit next to me?" Christine asked teasingly, a smile on her face as she patted the space directly beside her.

"Yes."

Christine placed her coffee on the table, and Erik joyfully joined her on the couch, gathering Christine up into his arms before she had a chance to sink back into her seat. His fingers teased her sides, and she began squirming, struggling to escape his playful games.

"Erik, no! Stop! Please!" Christine cried between tears, as both Erik's hands now gripped her sides, rising up to tickle her from around the back of her neck.

Erik's hands sharply pulled away, breathing raggedly as he watched her, and Christine wheezed with laughter as she fell down onto her side, away from Erik, against the leather couch.

"Christine?" Erik asked, worriedly, leaning over her.

Christine had to take a couple of breaths, and looked up at Erik, covering her face with her hands, and began to laugh. Erik pulled himself away with much reluctance as she sat up.

"You're okay?" He asked with such concern.

"Yes!" She laughed, dropping her hands are she stared up at him. "You've never tickled someone before?"

Erik watched her for a second as her hair finally settled, and said, "No, I have not, Christine."

"Well you have now." She said as she took his hands and rested them in his lap, trying to stop her heart from bursting in her ears.

She smiled, biting her lip as she began to stare at Erik's thin frame, and wondered if he would enjoy being tickled. She felt he was smiling, but she sensed that while he could do that to her, he would not be as pleased if she did the same. It was a treat for him, so she would let him enjoy it. They were already in a good mood.

"I have now." He repeated, staring off into the distance and Christine chose to stay quiet as they both listened to Erik's wonderful music, which revealed to Christine to such heavenly chords and more importantly, it revealed Erik to her. It confessed such tremendous thought and creativity.

"Christine, would you like to dance now?" Erik asked, interrupting her line of thought.

"Yes, very much." Christine said, now that she was more awake. "But are you sure this is the sort of music we can dance to?"

"I would very much like to dance with you to my music, but it does not matter to me which song we play as long as you are happy."

"Then can I choose something?"

"If you wish." Erik said, and waited as Christine turned to the stack of CD's.

She leaned in close to read all of the titles, and saw the album she had bought, his latest. She began to take it out, pretending it was Jenga, and forgot herself as the stack began to fall over, spilling CD's everywhere. Christine pulled away, staring at the stack as she held his CD close to her stomach, sitting upright as she found she couldn't look at Erik.

"Um, Jenga?" She offered, then turned to look at Erik, sucking on her lips as she tried not to laugh.

Erik was staring at her, and then back to the CD's as he began to clean them up. "Yes."

Christine frowned. "You know what Jenga is, right?"

Erik turned to look at her. "Yes, I am aware that it is a game with rectangle shaped blocks."

"And you've never played?" Christine asked as she began to help him.

"No." He replied coldly as they finished stacking all of the CD's again.

"Then we shall have to play that too. We could have a game night!" Christine said as she still leant forward with Erik towards the table, tilting her head to see him better.

"If you would like. I have no games here." He replied.

"We don't have to if you don't want to, I'm not going to force you." She said, looking at the CD in her hands as she pulled it from her lap. It was called 'Crystalize', and the background was a beautiful icy mountain, with a lake in the forefront.

"No, I'm sorry Christine, forgive me, I am just impatient to dance with you. I feel like I have been waiting a lifetime."

Christine blushed. "Forgive me, Erik. It'll just be a second."

She could feel Erik's eyes on the back of her head as she switched the CD's, and skipped through the songs as she landed on the one that had stuck out the most to her. It was track number seven, 'Desperate Streams', and it was the perfect rhythm to dance to. She turned back to him and smiled.

"Do you like this?" Erik asked, tilting his head to one side.

"Yes, I've listened to this one the most." She swore.

"Then we shall dance to it."

Erik immediately stood up, removing his jacket to drape it over the armrest, and held one hand out to her, his other held behind his back. He cut a very striking figure as the moonlight hit him, and Christine stared in awe, placing her hand in his. She rose off of the couch and he took her other arm, steadying her as he led her over to the Koi pond. They stood before it, and Christine stared into the pond. Erik was staring at her, probably admiring her hair, and she hoped he would run his fingers through it, but instead he only held her around her waist with one hand, and held her other hand, turning her to him as he got into place, and Christine gingerly placed her free hand on Erik's shoulder, and stood closer to him. The mask's lips were just grazing the top of her head, and Christine wanted very much to rest her head on Erik's shoulders, but she could Erik was already getting worked up, and she questioned herself on whether moving closer to him had been a good decision.

Erik's hand slipped closer around her as he purred, "Thank you, Christine."

Christine felt herself take a deep breath as her head slumped against his chest without thought and sighed happily as she rubbed her cheek against his soft white shirt.

"Are you okay?" Erik laughed, rubbing his thumb against her hip.

"Yes, that was wonderful." Christine said, immersing herself into him as she replayed his voice in her head. It was his special tone for her, she knew it.

Erik laughed again, and Christine stood straight as they slowly began to move to the rhythm, slowly. They began to speed up, and they moved around the room with a state of grace and Christine smiled, though wasn't sure if she could keep up with him, he seemed to want to go faster. She sent him a glance that she hoped conveyed a sense of calm, and Erik slowed, adjusting his grip on her hands, realizing that she was still tired. They began to slow dance, and Erik rested his head atop of Christine's, making her smile. She slowly tilted her head back, the mask's cheeks hitting her forehead, then traced her nose, and Christine placed her lip's on the mask's cheek, before hugging him, embarrassed for feeling so childish, but she was exhilarated as she recalled how her warm lips had pressed against the cold, stiff mask. She buried her face in his chest, which was becoming her favourite way of snuggling with him, and Erik stopped dancing with her, holding her closer as he began to crouch over her shoulder, panting heavily. The hand that held her waist drifted up to rest between her shoulder blades, while the other held her cheek, his fingers digging into her scalp as her hair fell between his gloves digits. He was holding her head up to stare at him, and Christine smiled, though she could tell it was an uneasy frown, as he had a very severe hold on her head. She was smiling, because his constant disbelief that she was here was endearing, and Christine's heart began to beat in an unusual way as she held his shoulders. He was brilliant, but needed constant sweet words and tender support. Christine wondered if she was up to the challenge. But as she stared up into the white shadowy pupils, she decided that she was.

Thank you so much for all of the reviews, they've been wonderful!

horseyyay - I hear about the Zara pregnancy, but I didn't think anyone cared! I hope you enjoy this chapter! It's about to heat up!

emilovesyouxp - You'll just have to wait and see! :D

Please leave do leave a review when you can, it only takes a few seconds, and every word means so much to me! They keep me going, and they let me know what you think of each chapter. I need to know if there's something you're unhappy about, or want more focus on, so please, don't be shy!