Christine slowly opened her eyes, the grittiness a reminder that she hadn't had much rest the night before. They had soent most of it joined together in the most holy of ways, until each lay spent in each other arms. A quick look upwards told her that her husband was still asleep, a peaceful, scerene look on his face which made her smile softly. She moved her feet slightly and deep in sleep Erik pulled her close to him in a possesive gesture. Christine giggled slightly and snuggled further and further into the warm embrace of the man who held her, his chest a safe haven that no matter how long she lived she would always feel at home.

The night was burned on Christines soul, the dull ache in her muscles a persistant but polite reminder of the passion they had shared. Each cry, each growl, each moan he gave forth was inscribe into her brain. Neither of them knew how many times they had screamed each others names into the darkness as the passion between them gave way to something more. She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly as sleep pulled her into its grasp again.

The next time she awoke she found herself on her own in their bed, the sheets were still warm however indicating her beloved hadn't been up long. She rolled over to his side for a minute taking in his scent that still hung there before lifting the covers back and pulling on a nearby shirt. She got up on slightly unstead legs and giggled as the memories of the night before came back to her still sleep addled brain. Padding out the door with the grace of a cat she found him at his organ, his back straight, his arms moving slowly along to a tune that he was composing. He stopped for a moment and wrote the notes down with a satisfied noise which meant that he had gotten it right. He was totally engrosed in his work so taking her chance she walked quietly up to him, her feet making little noise on the floor below.

He was only aware of her presence as she placed her hand on his right side of his face, expecting to feel the coolness of his mask and was slightly taken aback as she encountered skin. She ran her hands lovingly across his face and he pressed his face to hers, savouring the touch, the warmth on his cool skin making his pulse quicken slightly.

"Good morning mon ange" came his voice, still slightly tinged by sleep.

"Good morning my angel" came her reply, placing a light kiss on the marred side of his face, a small smile ran across Erik's features as she did so. A contented sigh escaped his lips and he pulled her close to him, placing a deep kiss on her lips as she placed her hands around his neck and grinned.

"What are you composing?" she asked quietly

"Did I wake you...? Erik asked, his voice full of concern. "I refrained from trying it out on the keys but sometimes..."

She placed a finger to her lips.

"Shhhh... no you didn't. You looked so content when I came in, it must be something interesting" she added with a giggle, which lit up her whole face.

"Its not finished yet..." - Erik looked down at the floor, a sudden blush coming across his face.

Christine wrinkled her brow slightly at this odd remark, he'd never been like that with her before, taking absolute delight in playing things he had written. She would get it out of him later.

"Fine..." she said with a mock pout "but you can make it up to me later!" she stuck her tongue out at him playful, earning a relieved grin from Erik.

"Vixen" he chuckled.

"And don't you ever forget it!" she grinned back, playing a kiss onto his nose.

Raoul stumbled home, a bottle in his left hand, half empty, the whiskey inside it already working its dark magic on his body, leaving him sluggish and lacklustre. His sword lay swinging slowly by his side although he wasn't even sure if he could use it now and to be perfectly honest he didn't care. It had only been a day since he had seen his Christine marry that monster and already the anger had risen to almost breaking point.

He had it all planned out, he would wait, lure them into a flase sense of security and then he would strike. One should never unesmtimate the power of the man who is willing to risk everything for what he deems his - one should never underestimate a man in love, however difficult it might be. He kicked at a stone that lay in his path and watched as it skidded up the street, stopping on the underside of a gas lamp which burnt brightly in the darkness.

He growled deep in the back of his throat as he neared his house, intending to make one or two last adjustments before he would allow himself to rest. Before long Christine would belong to him, he would be his willing wife like it had always seemed, and would be if it wasn't for the monster that had taken him away from him.

The monster that had lured her into his bed, the monster that had her mind, body and soul. A sob formed in his throat and tears trickled slowly down his cheeks as he thought about her, how she had fooled him, how he had driven her into the Phantom's arms.

"Oh christine..." he said quietly, his voice cracking and slurring slightly under the alcohol's kiss.

Finally he had reached his door, and walked in. Elizabeth, his personal assistant came to greet him as he entered the main room and looked at him in shock. His clothes were in disaray, his face pale and his eyes dark through lack of sleep. His hair was messed and the stench of whiskey could be smelt strongly on him.

"Are you okay Sir?" she inquired timidly, vocally tiptoeing around the slightly unstable man infront of her. "Your bed was not slept in..."

"I am well aware of that Elizabeth" came his short reply "Maybe that could be because I haven't been to bed yet" he started forward, his tired legs giving way slightly under him as he went to go upstairs;

"No disturbances until I come down, and I mean not one!" he growled menacingly.

Elizabeth nodded dumbly and went to busy herself with chores.

Raoul reached the top of the stairs, slightly out of breath from the exertion, coming down slightly from the euphoria of the whiskey, a headache starting in his temples, making him groan. Forgoing the arrangements he opened the door to his room and stepped inside, shutting the door quietly behind him, there would be plenty time for revenge later.