Title: Muse
Author: kire evoli
Pairing: ErikChristine (because Raoul thinks hes soooo cool. )
Rating: PG-13 (just a guess here but nothing I write is ever really below that. Might go higher? We'll see.)
Disclaimer: Sadly, and how ever much my little heart may break everytime I say this, I do not own 'The Phantom of the Opera' or Erik or Christine or anyone else...-- sigh If only I did...
Warning: Raoul-bashing, abnormally cranky Raoul. I don't really fancy the Vicomte so it may look like he's going to get some love but bah.
Genre: Romance/Drama
Summary: Raoul goes mad when he finds out that Christine, his fiancé, still yearns for the love of her phantom. Takes place a few days after the happenings in the labyrinth.
Author's Notes: Aero wont let my have my Nessarose fluff unless I constantly update Muse bah her!. Much love to all of my reviewers! You're all so wonderfully nice! I write chapter three for you now! It gets better from there! I promise! This 24 hours thing to update is incredibly annoying. I had to do this one all over again because I forgot a "not" where there should have been. ("not require so much privacy") its what it was supposed to have said but it was somewhere are midnight and I proofread really quickly. Hopefully this'll be fixed soon enough. Enjoy!
Muse: Chapter Two
Christine gracefully took her fiancé's hand as he helped her into the carriage.
Raoul nodded to the carriage driver and they took off along the cobblestone roadways. "Well angel, we're off to our new home."
"Our new life." She whispered, turning her head to take another glance at the place that had turned her whole life over.
"Is something wrong?" Raoul asked rather wearily, taking Christine's chin in his fingers and turning her to look at him. "You seem distant."
Christine smiled. "Do I? I'm sorry Raoul. I guess it's just that I'm going to miss the opera house. So many wonderful things happened there."
"Some terrible things too, remember." The Vicomte forced the thoughts back into her head trying to get her to focus on something else. "You can always go back to visit whenever you desire. But for now my love, enjoy our life together. A few days and we'll be married!"
Smiling, she took his hand in hers. "Yes, I know."
"You're going to be a countess you know."
"Yes!" Christine giggled resting her head on Raoul's shoulder. "I know." She closed her eyes, she didn't want to see how far away she was from the opera house, and she pretended to sleep. Clinging tightly to Raoul's arm she knew he couldn't tell the difference from a real sleep or this one. She felt him stroke her hair for a moment but it quickly stopped when he spoke.
"I love you Christine." Raoul whispered and thought he felt her squeeze his arm tighter. "We'll be home soon love, I know you're going to adore it."
The carriage drove on for a few hours, a decent distance from the busy city and stopped in front of a lavish Victorian style house with acres of lawn.
"Christine wake up."
"Hmm?" She moaned lifting her head and staring up at the house. "Is this it?" She questioned, eyes widening in delight.
Raoul nodded as he and the coachmen got off the carriage and began picking up the luggage. "Do you like it?"
"Like it? Raoul it's beautiful!" Christine exclaimed sliding out of the carriage and jumping into Raoul's arms. "It's the most gorgeous home! And it's ours!"
"Come! Let's go inside!" He cheered, taking Christine's hand and leading her inside. "It's awfully big isn't it?"
"Do we need this much space?" Christine questioned sarcastically running from room to room.
Raoul grabbed her from behind and hugged her tightly. "We might someday." He insinuated.
Christine laughed at his comment as he kissed her neck lightly. "It's wonderful." She turned to look at him. "And you've already had the house furnished!"
Raoul nodded and hugged her again. "We should unpack, I'm sure the suitcases are already in the bedroom."
"I'll go unpack the clothes" She left him with a kiss on the cheek and ventured up stairs. Upon finding the right room she also found their suitcases. "I can't believe this is my home." She reminded herself giddily while unlatching the first suitcase which was filled with sentimental photographs and knick knacks. "I'll get to those later." She moved over to another suitcase on the floor, filled with Raoul's clothes. "No…" She noticed a suitcase on the bed. "Maybe?" Unlatching that suitcase a wave of memories flooded the room. She stared blankly, her mind reviewing every possible way this object could have ended up here in her suitcase. "There is no way…" She picked up the ring that was centered in the folds of her dresses and spun it to watch it illuminate in the sunshine. The ring had a new appearance in the light, what once seemed a like a dull accessory now had a lustrous shine. She suddenly heard footsteps and a voice she wasn't exactly hoping for right now.
"Christine!"
"Oh! In here Raoul!" She yelled fumbling with the ring and trying to find a decent hiding place before he entered. She looked down at herself and gulped as she dropped the ring in between the dress and her bosom, the only hiding place she had on her. "This is our room!" She smiled. "It's huge."
Raoul laughed as he hopped up on the bed. "Only the best for you my love!"
"Well yes. But I do wish to change. It's getting late and my heavy outdoor clothes are rather uncomfortable." Christine said politely, indirectly asking him to leave the room.
"Oh! Yes, I understand." Raoul answered with a half smile, hoping that someday she would become less shy and not require so much privacy. "I shall be downstairs my love." He blew her a childish kiss and left the room.
Christine shook her head and remembered the ring in its hiding place. She placed it on the nightstand, brought her nightdress behind the changing screen and quickly removed her heavy outerwear. She picked up the ring again and sat on the edge of the bed. "There is only one thing I can do with this." Her eyes shut tightly at the thought but she knew she couldn't keep it, she also knew that half of her wanted to go back for no purpose at all. Holding the ring in her fisted hand she sighed knowing that she would have to sneak away from Raoul to go back or he might question her. He could never see the ring, he could never know about it. She slipped it on another finger and buried her arm under the pillow. "Early tomorrow morning…" She whispered into the silence of the room and blew out the small nightstand lantern.