Erik hated to break away from such bliss, but the hour was getting late and he had to be the one to keep them in check.
"Angel…" He whispered between kisses. "We must go."
Christine's face was visibly pouting. "I can be a little late."
He looked at her boldly. "No, you cannot. Have you forgotten that the Angel of music is very strict?" He lifted her chin, winked and then abruptly stood up. "Now come, young lady." He extended his hand.
"But I want to know what happened when you came back. What was it like? And Meg…. Were you two close?"
"We will reconvene the story of Erik, another time. You need rest and tomorrow will be another long day of rehearsals."
"I'm dating my tutor; we can have lessons at any time. They are far more superior to my rehearsals anyway."
"When you perform a solo concert, that is how we will rehearse, but until then, you were cast in Hannibal, with other performers. You need to think of others, Christine."
"Since when do you care what others think? I thought your Diva commanded you?"
"She does and she wants me to be better than I was." He winked.
"I can see you are going to use that logic only when it suits you, eh?" She placed her hands on her hips.
"And I can see you are going to do the same when it suits you, eh?" He mocked her movements, which caused her to snort in laughter.
"Christine, that isn't very Diva like."
"You bring out the best in me, love."
He did a double take. "Love?"
She nodded firmly, then sighed, knowing she wasn't going to win. "Very well, take me to my room, Monsieur."
He looked at her intently. "You mean dorm. I'll accompany you to the dorm."
"You could exit by my mirror. It's okay, if I allow it. We could have a little more time together." She stood closer to him and then got up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips. "I wouldn't have to stand this way, in order to kiss you." She teased.
"You are a temptress."
She nodded and then watched his eyes. "Is it working?"
"No."
She handed him his mask. "I didn't think so. Alright, kind sir, take me back to my dorm.
They walked to the carriage, arm in arm.
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If the Opera House's walls could talk, one would say there has been some strange moving's about in recent weeks. It had nothing to do with the ramblings of an eccentric Opera Ghost. After all, he was quite pleased with his protégé; having the lead and shinning each time she stepped on the stage. The comings and goings were brought on by Christine wandering through the cellars bellow, to see her sweetheart.
Secrets were a very familiar part of life for Erik and while Christine loved their romantic dinners, late night duets and tantalizing moments of passionate kisses and exploring hands, she hated having to leave him due to the hour or having to abruptly stop their kissing, when that heard noises in the hallway or the possibility of someone seeing them enter her room. She was in love. She was in love with a wonderful man. Yes, he was broken but so was she and with each passing day, with their love, they were each getting better. That kind of feeling should be rewarded. They should be shared. She wanted to shout her feelings far and wide.
He had unburdened himself to her. She knew everything. He told her everything and not just about his past, but about his dreams of a future. Dreams he had long cast aside but not now. Not with her. She told him everything that was in her heart and mind. They were one. Well, not in the biblical sense, not yet anyway.
One day, she tried once more to implore Erik to free their love from the shadows.
"Erik, I don't want to hide any longer. We aren't doing anything wrong. My God, compared to what some of the other girls are doing, we are tame."
His eyes bulged out, which caused her to have to suppress a laugh.
I must remain serious. "I only mean that I'm not ashamed, embarrassed or afraid." She placed her arms round his neck.
"My dear, I love you for your bravery but there is bravery and then stupidity."
"What do you mean by that?"
"They will shun you."
"For falling in love?"
"No, Christine. For loving me."
"I don't believe you and if they do, fine. I don't need them. I need you. The theatre will not command my life."
Erik made a face. One thing he hadn't mastered was the art of facial expressions and how to hide them. Years of living behind the mask were responsible for that. It was the only thing Christine liked about his mask.
"Christine, the theatre does command your life. It must, if you want to perform and you do. It is in your blood."
"Not as much as you are."
"Christine…."
"Don't assume we have to be a certain way. I won't have you dismiss a real life with me, like you did with Meg."
"With Meg?! Christine, there was never anything between Megan and me. She was no more than a child when I stopped coming around."
"Exactly. You were her family. The only father figure she ever knew and one day, you were gone."
He moved away from her. "I did what I had to do. I…."
She followed him. "I know you thought you were protecting her, but you hurt her, very badly."
"How do you know that?" He thought for a moment. "No, she…"
"She told me. She missed you so much growing up. I can't begin to think of you doing the same to me."
"To you? Angel, I love you, I could never leave you. I…."
"You told me of your dreams of us. Why are they only dreams? We can make them a reality."
Her words affected him. "Megan missed me?"
"Of course, she did. She told me. It was Meg who made me realized that I was in love with you."
"But Annie never told me. She encouraged me to do the right thing by her."
"Oh love." She touched his unmasked face. "Maybe it was for Madame's own sake and not Meg's that she encouraged you to detach yourself?"
"Angel, not everyone is like you. People are cold and cruel. They will react to this…" He pointed to his face. "And they will take sides. After all, you know I am not above sin."
"No one is above sin, angel."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I am used the cruelty but you…. I could never have them turn against you."
"But if they don't accept my heart's choices, they are not people I wish to have in my life. I don't care what they think, only you."
He took her hand and kissed it. "You still need them. After a few seasons, when they realize how much they need you…. Maybe."
"And what are we to do till then? I can't keep my feelings hidden forever. Sooner or later someone will ask about a love or a…engagement. Did that just come into my head? Her heart fluttered.
He kissed her hand. "Let me think about it, alright? Maybe we can create a secret engagement?"
She wanted to smile but remained poised. "You really are awful at proposing, you know that?"
He laughed. "Is that so? How should one do it?" He laughed again when he saw the look on her face.
"Erik! A woman isn't supposed to…. Oh you!" She turned around and tried to stop her cheeks from flushing.
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"No, I need to leave." She said coyly. "We can't have people wondering where I am, remember?"
He started to kiss the back of her neck.
"Erik…. I…. You said…." It was getting harder for her to form a complete sentence.
He leaned into her ear and whispered. "I will think more of what you said. I want to tell the world that you are mine. I hate that some patron might think he has a chance with you."
She lifted her head up to look at him. "Erik, that will never happen. I don't see anyone after the show, I come straight to you or my room. I…."
"I know, I know." His voice caressed her uneasiness. "I trust you." He kissed her forehead and then moved so he could kiss her cheeks and finally her lips. "We need our coming out to be perfect. Too much is at risk if we don't."
She kissed him back frantically at first but then it turned slow and tender. "I understand. I just wanted you to know that I won't let you walk away."
"Silly goose, I can't walk away. I simply can't."
She hugged him tightly. "Good."
"And another thing."
"Yes?"
"One day, I'll show you that I do indeed know how to propose."
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As Christine was making her way towards the stage, she suddenly remembered Raoul telling her of Carlotta and her arrangements or rather obligations as a Diva. He had to have been wrong because no one had approached her on anything other than her performance. If Carlotta chose to give herself in that way, it was for her choice. Raoul was wrong. After all, Carlotta had not returned, and he thought she would be back. No, he was wrong. He had to be. She could never do such a thing, even if she wasn't already in love with Erik.
She then wondered. What if Erik could be my patron? Wouldn't that be perfect?