Nighttime, when Paris was bathed in moonlight and when you looked up all you could see were the cosmos, was Erik's favorite time of day. He frequently came up to the roof after checking over the opera house, writing notes for the managers and leaving a toad or two in the drawers of Carlotta's vanity.
Whatever he had done before coming up to he roof, he always came alone. Well, almost always. He had deviated from the norm that night, as the bundle of silk and wool beside him could attest. He usually came up after Christine had gone to bed, but she had insisted that night.
"It's very lonely without you," she protested.
"My dear, you are asleep when I go. How can you possibly tell that I am gone?"
"If you are gone, how do you know that I am asleep and not sitting awake, waiting for your return?" she countered.
"Get your coat," he grumbled, secretly filled with joy at the sound of her delighted squeal, and positively overflowing with happiness when she threw herself into his arms.
"I'll only be one second!" she cried as she hurried off to do as he said.
Now Erik could hardly breath as she stood bundled up beside him.
He usually would sit on the statue of Apollo, but did not dare to try to climb up with her in his arms. The thought had crossed his mind, as it would be a chance to have her in his arms, but the overwhelming fear of dropping her persuaded him not to attempt it. Instead, they stood in the center of the roof, far from the edges. He had an irrational fear that she would come to her senses, take one look up at him and run, screaming, off the edge of the roof. He wanted to put his arm around her and hold her close, but knew that was an unpardonable liberty. Instead, he satisfied himself with the feeling of her shoulder against his own.
"They look like diamonds," Christine breathed. He glanced down at her and saw that she was smiling broadly up at the heavens.
"They do, don't they?" he said, also turning his gaze skyward.
"I've never seen anything more beautiful," she sighed.
"They're much nicer away from the city lights."
She looked up at him in surprise.
"You've been out of Paris?"
He laughed softly and said, "My dear, I have spent most of my life outside of Paris."
"You seem like such a fixture. I can't imagine Paris without you," she sighed, letting her head rest on his shoulder. His breath caught in his throat as he struggled for words.
"Because I am such a nuisance?" he finally managed to choke out. She laughed softly and shook her head.
"No! No. You aren't a nuisance! Well, maybe to the managers you are, but you are too kind to me to be a nuisance. You make life much more interesting," she said.
A gust of wind came and she shivered, huddling closer so she was pressed more against his front than his side. It was a miracle he didn't faint on the spot. She was looking up at him, her eyes full of something he didn't recognize, but had been seeing more and more in her gaze.
"Too kind?" he said with a laugh. "My dear, the cold has addled your brain. I have been nothing but a pest. A parasite on your perfect existence."
She shook her head, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Not at all!" she said earnestly. A small smile played on her lips as she cast her eyes downward. "You've made me so happy and- and I love you!"
She said it so quietly he swore he must have misheard her. She had spoken with so much conviction he was afraid for her mental wellbeing. After all, how could someone like her care for, nae love someone like him?
"Dearest, for the benefit of you health I insist we go inside now. You are rapidly losing your senses," he said, stepping back from her.
Christine stood still, brow knitted together and her mouth open slightly.
"My mind is perfectly sound!" she protested. "I love you!"
She reached out and grabbed his shoulders, pulling him down and kissing him forcefully on the lips.
Erik was given no time to process what was happening, much less to protest. He stood still for a moment and it wasn't until she took a step back, eyes wide with shock at her own actions, that he put an arm around her waist and kissed her. He could feel her smile as she squeaked when he picked her up, spinning her around.
When he set her down, he looked back up at the sky.
"I have seen something more beautiful than the stars," he said thoughtfully.
"What could that be?" she murmured.
"You," he whispered, kissing her again.