Trigger Warning: There is brief mention of sexual assault in this chapter, but no violence or act of assault.

Erik

Christine is entirely silent as we make our way to my home. Once the boat bumps against the rock I step out and offer my hand to help her. She takes it somewhat stiffly. As soon as she has secure footing on the stone, she yanks her hand back and explodes. "You're the Opera Ghost!"

I nod as she glares up at me. Apparently there was more than her anger at de Chagny fueling that slap; her indignation at my deception was behind it as well. I've never seen Christine in a real temper like this. She turns and stomps away from me a bit before whirling on me again.

"How could you, Erik? Terrorizing the entire company! Extorting the managers! I guess love truly does make one blind. That's surely the only explanation for how I could have been so stupid! How I didn't realize it from the moment you revealed yourself to me! Well, it all stops now! I won't stand for it, do you hear me? It's wrong, it's dishonest!"

My own rage is rising now. "This is my theater!" I bellow. "It has been my theater for years, and it will be my theater till the day I die! Do you really think those two junk dealers have any idea how to run the place? Run it into the ground maybe."

I've been advancing on her without realizing it. I'm towering over her now and her face is white, whether with fury or terror I don't know. All my anger melts away. I don't want her to be afraid of me. Not now, not ever. My damnable temper!

"Did you send a note to Raoul?" She demands.

Fury then. She's not afraid of me at all. Good. "Yes, I most certainly did."

"What did it say?"

"I told him not to attempt to see you again. Clearly he didn't listen. Perhaps wearing your handprint on his face for a few days will make him think twice next time."

Her expression becomes steely. "You'd best be glad it's him wearing it. If he hadn't followed me to my dressing room and forced me to spend some of my outrage on him…"

I know she's still angry, but I can't help but chuckle. She smiles reluctantly. "I was also terrified you'd come out of the mirror and throttle him."

"I was about to," I admit. "How do you know him?"

She shrugs. "A childhood friend. I hadn't seen him in years until recently. I can't believe he was so forward!"

I smile down at her. "At least now I know you can handle yourself if any other would-be suitors come to call." She narrows her eyes and scowls at me. I close the space between us and pull her into my arms. "I'm sorry I shouted at you like that, but I meant what I said. This is my theater."

She looks up at me with a frown and pulls away. "I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on that for now. I don't like it, Erik. It's not right."

"Agree to disagree," I nod. "Look, let's not start off our time together angry." I reach out and stroke her hair. I cup her cheek and caress it with my thumb. She closes her eyes and sighs. I can tell she's torn between her indignation at discovering I'm the Opera Ghost and her desire to simply be with me. Finally she opens her eyes and smiles. The peace feels tentative, but I take her hand. "Come on, I'll show you my home."

I lead her through the laboratory where I made the mixture that caused Carlotta's croaking, but of course I keep that to myself. I show her my workshop where I create automatons and other mechanical devices. "Erik," she whispers, "this is amazing. You...you're a genius."

I shrug, not knowing how to respond. I take her to my desk and let her examine my architectural sketches. Then to the organ and allow her to leaf through my music. She looks up at me and smiles softly. "This is what you were working on when I took your mask."

"Yes." I try not to cringe at the memory of the things I said to her.

"Will you play it for me?"

I sit down on the bench and she stands at my shoulder. The piece was written while Christine was lying in my bed, so it's filled with both tenderness and longing. When the last note fades to silence Christine takes my hand and tugs it. I rise and let her lead me to the settee. She stares into my eyes for a moment, breathing heavily. "Kiss me, Erik."

I oblige and her arms go around my neck. Our hands are in each other's hair and she's kissing me hungrily. My hand trails down her neck and shoulder to cup one perfect breast through her gown. She gasps and I start to pull away. "No," she murmurs against my lips. "No, don't stop, not yet."

"Christine," I breathe. I rest my forehead against hers for a moment. I pull back to look at her and her eyes are so full of need my breath catches.

"That night when you brought me down here for the first time, and you held me and ran your hands over my body, you could have had me right then. You could have taken me then and there, and I would have made no move to stop you. I was so enthralled by you."

I swallow hard. "I know." Of course I knew. Her desire had been almost palpable.

"Why didn't you?"

"I love you, Christine. I'll never take more than you are willing to give."

"I was willing."

"Yes, but you didn't know everything yet. How could I just take you without you knowing about my face? And you weren't yourself, as you said, you were enthralled. It would have been rape just as surely as if I came into your dressing room and forced myself on you. I didn't know how to tell you I loved you other than to show you the mannequin of you as a bride. Then you fainted and…" I trail off remembering my abominable behavior.

"I stole your mask and ruined whatever plan you had."

"Well, yes."

"You saw me coming and felt me touching your face. Why didn't you stop me?"

"I was so caught up in the music, and it seemed like I was imagining it."

She smiles. "I love you, Erik. I love you, and I want to give you everything."

She takes my hand, stands, and tugs me to my feet again. She leads me over to the mannequin. Christine removes the veil and puts it on her own head. Then she takes the ring from the mannequin's finger and hands it to me. I'm shaking and holding back tears.

"Say, 'with this ring I thee wed,' while putting the ring on my finger."

"Christine, are you certain? We can wait. I can wait."

"I've never been more certain of anything, and I don't want to wait."

She holds her left hand out to me and I take it, unable to stop the tears any longer. My voice breaks as I slip the ring onto her finger and repeat, "With this ring I thee wed."

"I now declare us husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

I lift the veil with trembling fingers and pour myself into kissing her.