a/n: another chapter! i'm on a roll!

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I wake up and look around. I see Raoul sleeping in a chair next to my bed. Upon a further inspection of my room the only other thing that is out of place is a note, folded up carefully, lying on the table next to me.

I un-tuck my right hand and carefully reach over.

When I pick up the paper I can feel that there is something inside of it.

I open the carefully folded note and watch as a rose with the stem cut off falls onto the bed.

I sit up with some difficulty and lean over into some better light.

Christine,

My love, I hope that you are feeling better by the time that you are well enough to receive this. Know that you always reside in my thoughts. I'm always watching over you.

The Angel of Music

I pick up the rose in my left hand and hold it tenderly. As I do this Raoul starts to stir. Knowing what he would do if he saw the note I quickly fold it and place it under my pillow. He won't harm the rose, he knows that I love them as much as Erik does.

Raoul wakes gradually, then looks at me and exclaims, "Christine, you're awake! Thank the heavens!" He then quickly changes his demeanor, "You shouldn't be sitting up, you're still recovering."

He notices the rose and frowns, "You've seen him again."

I shake my head 'no'; "I found this rose a few seconds ago, when I woke up."

Raoul sighs, burying his face in his hands, "Oh Christine."

I act as if I didn't hear him and look back at the rose, remembering the long corridor that he led me down what seems like only hours ago, though I'm sure more time than that has passed. I raise my eyes to look at the mirror. His words echo through my head: 'I'm always watching over you'. I wonder if he can see me now, looking through his one way mirror.

I close my eyes and I feel as if I can look straight through the glass and see his exhausted and sad face. I let my feelings fall free and I almost feel like I can look even further, into my angel's tortured and depressed soul.

Were it not for Raoul sitting next to me I would call out right now and maybe then he would be happy.

I turn back to Raoul, "How long have I been out for?"

He sighs again, "Just about two days."

Two days? No wonder he was falling asleep! Now I realize why I feel like I'm starving.

"Can I get something to eat?" I know that he'll wait on my hand and foot, but I feel the request is small enough so I don't feel guilty later.

He leaps out of his seat, "Of course. What would you like?"

I laugh, "Anything, really."

"I'll get you the best I can find," and knowing his money he could get me a steak dinner.

Which he does. One of the finest meals that I have ever had, and if I had use of both my hands maybe enjoying it wouldn't have been so hard.

Raoul watches me once I'm done and I start to feel uncomfortable and out of place.

I decide to break the silence, "When was the last time you went home?"

He looks at me, "About a week ago."

The opera house isn't in that much trouble.

"Go home then," I place my hand on his arm, "You can get Madame Giry to watch over me. I'm sure she won't mind."

He opens his mouth to protest, but fails to find the words. He stands up and walks to the door, closing it quietly. Seconds later Madame Giry walks in.

She starts her attack right away, "Christine, I know what you are doing. Do you really feel that it is the right decision?"

I nod 'yes' and though I can tell she disapproves she answers, "I'm only down the hall if you need me then. I hope that you will not, though."

With this she leaves the room and I hear silence in the hall.

My eyes travel back to the mirror.

Before I can stop my self I call out, "Is my angel watching over me?"

"My dear child, you're angel is always watching over you," his voice resounds through the room, mesmerizing all within the walls.

"Then why does my angel hide? Let me see my ever watchful master," with this I watch the mirror open, revealing my angel, Erik, waiting for me. He has the same exhausted look Raoul had.

I smile at him, "I knew you were there."

He walks to my side, "What does my angel command?"

I laugh, "I command company that won't hover over me and wait on my every word."

He sits down in the chair that I found Raoul in when I woke up, "You were injured badly, and you shall always wear a scar for it. I'm simply worried Christine."

"I get that, I just can't stand people waiting on me. It's just too much responsibility!" he laughs, but it doesn't seem light hearted.

"Then I am sorry," he looks to me, then to the rose on the table.

I follow his gaze; "I like it." I pick it up carefully and look over at him.

An odd silence settles over the room.

I decide to break it, "Will my angel sing for me?"

"What do you wish your angel to sing?" he grasps my hand lightly.

I shrug, "Anything."

He nods, "Nighttime sharpens, hightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses. Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour. Grasp it; sense it -tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts from cold unfeeling light, and listen to the music of the night."

I keep listening, but slowly the words melt into images in my head of the first time he sang this to me. We were alone in his underground home and he sang so passionately, holding my form to his in a wordless caress, while singing his soul to me. When I close my eyes I can almost feel like I'm back with him underground and he's singing the song for the first time still.

I open my eyes and move my hand to the back of his neck. He stops singing long enough for me to quickly catch his lips, kissing him softly.

Against everything my mind yells my heart pushes me to move in, deepen the kiss. And I do deepen the kiss, pulling his body towards mine. He obeys my lips and I suddenly feel the warmth of his tongue against my lips, begging for entry. I part my lips and our tongues meet silently. I can feel all the fury and passion that he sings with put into this one single moment, and it makes my heart twist, and then he breaks the kiss, looking at me scared.

I answer his stare with a look of confusion, and he quickly turns away.

"My angel? Erik?" I try and make him turn to me, my hand still on his neck, but he won't look me in the eyes.

I finally move myself so that he has to, and I see that there are silent tears streaming down his cheeks. I wrap my arms around him in a tight embrace.

"What's wrong?" I place my hand on the side of his face and lay his head on my chest.

I hush him, rocking back and forth slightly, and he finally finds his voice, "It scares me."

"What?" I move his head back so I can see his face.

"Knowing how you feel."

"I thought you wanted me to love you," I look at him with confusion.

"No, I mean yes, I do, but what scares me is knowing your skin, your hair, how you feel. I love you so much!" I hold him tighter.

"I love you too, Erik," I kiss his hair and we sit together for a while, simply in an embrace, taking in as much as we can from the time that we are together.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

a/n: please review!