Disclaimer: No one belongs to me, never has, probably never will. Sigh.
A/N: FINALLY! I was beginning to think my muses had gone off with von Krolock (and WHO would blame them if they had? G)
The door opened slowly, and a cloaked figure stepped quickly inside before closing it behind her. Christine hurried down the passageway confidently despite the darkness. Her footsteps slowed, however, as she noticed the open doorway before her. She had closed that door on her way out, she was positive; closed it and activated the alarm. Yet it was now open, and she felt a sudden fear. Something had happened in her absence…
She cautiously stepped through the opening and stopped-the room was pitch black except for a faint glow coming from the far corner. She headed towards it, straining to see or hear any possible intruder, but there was only the dark silence. She slowed when she noticed the light was coming from her room, and knew then that something indeed was wrong. Her room was never left open; Erik had always respected her privacy. With trepidation, and a courage she hadn't known she possessed, she cautiously peered inside.
A single candle on the small table illuminated the occupant. He was sitting there, in the chair beside her bed, slumped over with his head in his hands. She saw his shoulders shaking, and with a quick intake of breath realized he was crying. He heard the sound and looked up, hardly daring to believe his eyes. "Christine?" The sadness of the world seemed to be spoken in that one word, and she hurried toward him, taking his hands in hers as he stood.
"Oh, Erik, I'm so sorry. I lost track of the time."
"I thought that you had left me," he spoke in a hoarse whisper, and she wrapped her arms around him.
"No! I will never leave you!" she told him fiercely, leaning her face against his chest and tightening her grip. "You must believe me." She felt his arms gather her closer as she looked up into his eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
He didn't reply, just held her as if he'd never let go, but finally he lowered his arms and stood back from her. She took his hand and picked up the candle. "Come; I need to tell you what I've done today." They walked out into the main room and Christine quickly lit the other candles. She led him to a sofa and sat, still holding his hand.
"I will be
honest with you-when I left this morning, I wasn't sure I would be returning."
His hand tightened on hers momentarily in response to this, but he showed no
other reaction. "I needed to get away; to plan my future. So, I went to the
Opera Populaire. Messrs. Andre and Firmin were quite pleased to see me." She
flushed a bit as she remembered the enthusiastic welcome she'd received from
the managers; Andre had nearly hugged her! Despite how he felt at the moment,
Erik's lips twitched as he attempted to contain a smile, having no difficulty
in imagining the reception Andre and Firmin had given her. "And we were able to
negotiate a contract that will allow me to return to their employ."
"Excellent," Erik murmured. "I do
hope you held out for a decent salary?"
"Oh, they offered more than I had
intended to ask for, but I pretended to haggle with them so they felt they were
getting a bargain." Christine had in
fact been stunned by the amount offered, and had been hard pressed to act as if
she felt it too negligible for one of her talent-she was indeed becoming a
prima donna! "After that was settled, I went back to my apartment for a while
to take care of some things, and to think."
Erik looked at
her expectantly as she gathered her thoughts.
"If I were to join you, I would be giving up many things, Erik." She
looked him in the eyes as she spoke, and noticed the pain her remark caused, but
went on, "I could no longer watch the sun rise; no longer eat at the sidewalk
cafes. I would miss the beauty of the flowers growing in the gardens in the
spring, and the sound of the birds singing in the evening. I could no longer
walk in the snow, when the reflection of the sun is so bright it is nearly
blinding. I'd be missing so many things I love…
Erik's eyes closed in despair as
she talked, and she was silent for a moment. "So, I left my apartment and spent
the rest of the day in the park. Because," she continued quietly, "I wanted my
last day in the sun to be filled with as many of the things I will miss, as
possible." Her gaze never left his face, and as she watched, he stiffened in
sudden understanding at what she'd said.
He opened his eyes and stared at her in surprise. "Your… last day… in the sun?" He held his breath, certain he'd misunderstood her.
"Yes, my last day, Erik. Because as I was thinking of all I would miss, I realized they meant nothing if you weren't with me. I'd rather spend my life in darkness, than to be one more day in the sunlight without you. And I can still walk in the snow, and see the flowers, and perhaps hear the birds sing… at night…"
"Christine, are you sure about this? I couldn't stand it if you were unhappy."
"I've never been more sure about anything in my entire life," she told him. "I'm ready to be yours." She stood, pulling him to his feet and staring into his dark eyes. "I'm ready now." She raised a hand and pulled her hair away from her neck.
"Perhaps you should wait a while longer," he turned away from her, clenching his fists. "Especially now that you have your career to think of. It was not my intention to rush you into a decision."
She sighed, knowing what he was thinking. "Don't you want me to join you?" she asked.
He whirled, surprising her with his speed of movement. "How can you even ask that? You know I do. I have always… wanted you." His shoulders slumped. "But I don't want you to waste your life with me."
"Erik! After all this time, don't you know how I feel? What else must I do to convince you? I have offered you my soul, and yet you hesitate." She looked up at him, trembling. "What more can I give to you?"
"Oh, Christine. You have given me so much-I feel I have taken so much from you already-that I'm afraid."
She stepped closer to him, whispering, "Afraid of what?"
"That I won't be worthy of you; worthy of your love. I have never before been worthy of anyone's love." His eyes glittered. "And now when you say you want to be with me, it frightens me."
"I'm frightened too," she admitted. "But whatever happens, we'll have each other. What more could we ask for?" She smiled, and was overjoyed when Erik, for the first time in many months, smiled back at her. "Please, no more uncertainties. I'm ready."
Erik stepped closer to her and gently stroked her throat with a slightly trembling hand. He could hear the blood rushing through her veins, and the sound was intoxicating. He leaned forward, then murmured, "I'm sorry, Christine, I'll have to remove my mask to do this…"
She reached up and deftly slid the mask off his face before he could react. "You need never wear it again, if you don't wish to. Your face is precious to me." He stared at her in surprise, and took the mask she held out to him and carefully set it aside. Then Christine leaned her head back as he bent over her, lightly kissing her throat before biting. She cried out softly, her hands grasping his upper arms tightly, then he felt her go slack. He held her as he drank, feeling her energy surge into him; feeling her become part of him. He finally finished and drew back, looking into her face in alarm. She was so pale! He imagined he must have looked the same way, and knew how much courage it had taken for her to do this, after seeing it done to him. He cradled her head against his chest, and after a few minutes, she moaned softly and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry I hurt you," he began, brushing the hair away from her face as she regained her balance and stood on her own.
"Hush," she commanded, pulling back from him a bit. "I'm fine." He carefully wiped the blood away from her wound, and she took his hand in hers. "Erik," she began uncertainly.
"Yes?"
She was blushing furiously, the color returned to her face. "I want… need… you to take me… completely…"
He understood immediately but feigned ignorance. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked gently as he kissed her hand, then trailed his lips up her arm.
"Please…" She swooned a bit and he held her against his body.
"You must be more precise than that." His lips settled against her earlobe, and he nibbled it softly.
"Erik!" She felt
weak with desire. "If you don't take me, I'll… I'll…"
"You'll what?" His breath caressed
her ear.
"I'll DIE!" she exclaimed vehemently.
He chuckled softly. "My love, you just abandoned all abilities to do that."
Christine decided enough was enough and took the initiative. She framed his face in her hands, kissing him deeply, and he almost pulled back from her in shock. The deformed side of his face burned with the heat of her touch. He was never sure quite why, but that part of his face had always been nearly numb-probably from nerve damage-and the sudden sensation of her fingers on his newly awakened skin was almost painful. He returned the kiss, pulling her even closer.
"Erik, Erik…" she murmured over and over. His name had never meant much to him, but hearing her say it now, it seemed as though the angels were speaking it. The heat of her body against his became more intense, and he gathered her up into his arms, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Christine, you are mine," he told her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Forever." He walked into her bedroom, pausing only to close the door behind him.
And their eternity began…
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Total eclipse of the heart
MUSIC:Jim Steinman - Lyrics:Jim Steinman