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:Yay! Chapter Four! Alright, I know Chapter three was evil of me, leaving a nasty cliffhanger like that one but here you are! Chapterfour!Wonderful reviewers! Keep reading! More Raoul bashing to come. I prooomise.
To IChoseTheScorpion: Oh heavens yes! Lets get together sometime really soon, captureRaoul in apotato sack, torture him to noend and definatelydefinately hang him from his toes over tapioca pudding all the while tormenting him with pictures of Christine and Erik. Bah, Raoul is like the epitome of BAH. . All others in favor of this "Down with Raoul" Campaign may join as well!

Muse: Chapter Four

"Your organ is dusty. Have you not played?"

"Have I had any reason to?"

Christine felt awful, her guilt suddenly growing. She knew this was her fault, she knew she was the one who destroyed his heart. Attempting to change the subject she lifted the finger that the ring occupied level to his eyes. "Erik, why did you put this in my suitcase?"

"It belongs to you." He replied caustically.

"No." She brought her other hand up to grip the ring, as if to take it off. "It belongs to you Erik. I gave it back to you." Her voice seemed to fade near the end of her sentence as Erik's hand on top of hers stopped the removal of the ring. "Erik," She whined. "I'm already engaged."

"But to whom?" He questioned tilting his head a bit to get a better view of her face in the darkness. "You are wearing both rings."

Christine was caught off guard; she had been wearing both rings. She didn't understand why she had put Erik's ring on, or better, why she couldn't take it off. She looked away from him, her heart beating with tremendous force. Again she wondered why she felt so torn. "No Erik. I'm marrying him in a few days, I came back to return your ring. Please take it." She held out her hand for him to take the ring, unable to do it herself but instead, he took her whole hand.

"Why would you return it to me? Why wouldn't you just throw it away?"

She hated when he asked her questions knowing that she didn't have the answers. Gently, she tried pulling away from his grip but when it tightened she gave up. "You must have put so much effort into finding this ring for me. I couldn't just throw it away. I…" She choked on her arising tears. "I didn't have the heart to throw it away!"

Erik pulled her willing body closer so that her forehead rested against his chest. "Why Christine?"

"Because I missed you!" She yelled from underneath her sobs. "I couldn't get rid of it because I missed you! I missed your music, I missed your voice, I missed your touch, and I missed you!" By now she was hysterical, tears sliding down her cheeks. Her body would have fallen over if it wasn't for Erik's arms holding her up. "This ring was your love; I killed it and handed it back to you." She forced herself out of his hold but her weak frame buckled and she fell to the floor dragging Erik along with her. "I'm so sorry."

Erik knelt over Christine, gathering her into his arms. "Christine, I forgive you." He whispered into her ear.

Christine closed her eyes. Erik's voice seemed different now, it wasn't threatening, it wasn't forceful, but it was comforting. "I needed to return it to you." She felt Erik reach for her ringed finger but she pulled her hand away. "No, it's okay. How unfair of me to make you take back your love. I shouldn't have come here in the first place, I was just…"

"Just what?" Erik coaxed gently. "Afraid the Vicomte would find it?"

"And come after you!" Christine jumped in fear but Erik's arms quickly calmed her down. "I wanted to make sure you would be safe. I figured, if I returned it, he wouldn't ever have the chance of finding it, it would assure your safety."

"You needn't worry about my safety my dear." He practically purred in her ear obviously pleased with the fact she had been thinking about him.

"You have given me so much. Your love, your care, your music. You inspired me to sing, you made me what I am! You're my muse Erik! What is one supposed to give a muse for gratitude?!"

Erik stared at her in her outburst. "You already know the one thing that I want from you Christine. And as before, I want nothing other than that."

"Even after everything I've done?" She questioned bringing a hand near his face.

Erik pulled away slightly, enough for her to notice. Every time before that she had touched his face she removed his mask and perhaps for the first time, he was afraid of her.

"I'm not going to remove it." Christine answered his silent question, obviously aware of her past mistakes. She drew her body up enough to have their faces partially leveled and noticed that he closed his eyes when her fingers stroked his cheek.

Upon opening his eyes Erik noticed that Christine's tears had dried and she had become more relaxed. This moment was almost everything he asked for. A moment with a Christine that worried about him, with a Christine that had been thinking about him. He tilted his head down, his face so close to hers that he could feel her shivers.

Christine wondered when he got so brave. Before he surely would have asked to get that close. Perhaps it was that she came to him or that she could leave just as willingly as she came. "I must go." She whispered, her eyes stilled closed from the moment.

Erik stood up breaking their liaison. "Yes. I see." He offered his hand. "I will row you back."

Christine picked herself up and placed her small hand in his. "Thank you."

Erik rowed a lot quicker than Christine did for it seemed like barely a minute and they were back at the opposite end of the cellar. He helped her out of the boat and led her back to the mirror that served as their secret aperture.

With silent goodbyes Christine opened the mirror and slid through.

"I guess he was right."

Her heart stopped. 'Had it been that long already? Enough time for him to get here?' She wondered. She turned around slowly keeping one hand on the mirror. "Raoul…"

"What are you doing back here?" the Vicomte growled.

Christine was in absolute fear. Never before had she seen him so exasperated. "How did you know I was here?"

"What! Now it's a secret! I wasn't supposed to know you were here? How else Christine!? That boy who drove you here told me. Didn't you think of that when you sent him home?"

In all honesty Christine didn't think of that at the time. She now regretted ever telling the boy to leave. "I wanted to see some.. people." She managed, knowing that there really was only one person and she was blatantly lying to her fiancé.

Raoul moved closer as if to be more intimidating. "If you wanted to see people we could have come together." He hissed at her noticing the two rings on her hand and violently grabbed her wrist to get a closer view.

"Raoul!" Christine yelled in pain as his tight grasp pulled on her arm.

"I see." He continued to sneer, rocking Christine's hand back and forth to analyze both rings. "Very pretty rings. But you only need one!" Growling he ripped his own ring off of her finger and threw her arm back.

She leaned against the mirror from Raoul's blunt force and slid down to the floor in defeat.

"That's what you want Christine!?"

She continued to sit there, staring at the embroidered carpet, knowing that even the most decent explanation wouldn't relieve his anger.

The Vicomte waited a moment for an answer and when he received none his impatience took over and he opened the door. "Throw our life away Christine. Throw it all away." Were his last bitter words as the door to the outside slammed shut and the door to the labyrinth opened.

Christine looked up at the open mirror, holding her tender wrist that caused more tears to well up in her eyes than ever before. " Oh Erik…You saw the whole thing?" She choked out.

Erik nodded, his eyes burning with fury.