Chapter Eight: Though I Have Closed Myself As Fingers

Christine knocked loudly on the door of the Giry house. It had been a long three days journey from Rouen to say the least, and she was glad to be back in Paris, even though she missed Marie and Gerard already.

Madame Giry's countenance flew into view as the door opened. "Christine, good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon, Madame Giry," Christine smiled at the matronly woman who stood aside to allow her entrance.

"How was your journey? The two of you would have arrived back sometime last evening, n'est pas? I'm sure you're still tired from the trip."


"Oh, it was lovely and not so tired now. It was rather late when we arrived last night, which is why we didn't come for Ayesha on the way into Paris. I reasoned with Erik that you kept earlier hours than he does!"

"Yes, I imagine I do. Ayesha is around here . . . somewhere."

"She probably went into hiding at the sound of my voice! I'm just glad she doesn't hiss or spat at you or Meg when she's here."

"No, she was as good as gold, if a bit distant as usual. Ah, there she is!"

Ayesha leapt onto the couch, near Christine, blue eyes locked onto blue as if the cat were asking the human where the master was.

"I daresay he'll be home a little after we return," Christine whispered to the cat. "That is, if you'll let me take you home instead of waiting on him?"

Christine had the distinct feeling that if the cat could have, she would have shrugged. As it was, Christine turned her attention away from the cat and back to the woman before her, "Is Meg home? I haven't heard her."

"No, she's . . . well, that is, she went out early this morning," Madame Giry stammered.

Christine stared puzzled at the older woman for a minute. Madame Giry's unflappable calmness was well known, she'd never seen the woman the least bit nervous as she seemed to be now.

She shook her head; sure she was just imagining things. Christine picked up Ayesha, who resigned herself to being in this woman's arms.

"I imagine the two of you still need to be settled in, n'est pas?" Madame Giry asked softly.

"Yes, and this little one needs to be re-acquainted with her master. Do tell Meg I said hello?"

"Of course, my dear, of course," Madame Giry replied as she saw Christine out the door.

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"Are you looking forward to returning to practice tomorrow?" Erik asked later that night as they finished putting away the dinner dishes.

"Yes, and no," Christine sighed softly. "Yes because I missed performing, being on the stage, and my friends up there, but no, because I'm going to miss spending the day with you. You've spoiled me."

Erik laughed, and took her gently into his arms, "I thought something like that my love."

She lifted her hand and caressed the ravaged side of his face, "My answer pleases you then?"

A smile as he replied, "Yes, it pleases me greatly. You're seriously inflating my ego."

"On purpose at that."

"My little minx!"

Her soft laughter rang in his ears like the sweetest music, "Mon amour, I think I rather like seeing you with your ego inflated, among other things."

He quirked a brow, "Oh?"

She stood on tip toe and whispered in his ear, a devilish look on her face the whole time. By the time she pulled away, Erik was blushing brightly.

"I think I like that idea of yours my dear. So . . . what would it take to convince you?"

"A music lesson," she smiled sweetly.

"If that is all I am asked to part with for that particular favor, than I think I can oblige."

Held tight together, they made their way to the music room.

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"Christine, how can you tell if you are in love with someone?"

Christine's head shot up from where she had been writing in her journal during a break in the practice to glance in shock at the doorway. Meg was standing there in her practice clothes, her blond hair tousled slightly from the hours of dancing.

"Who are you in love with?" Christine asked, point blank.

"Not so loud!" Meg shushed, closing the door behind her and flopping down on the divan.

"Okay, we're in private."

"He's not behind the mirror, is he?"

"I wouldn't think so; he was supposed to be going to see Nadir today."

"Good. Sorry. I'm feeling catty. Christine, how did you know you were in love with Erik?"

Christine sighed softly, "It wasn't any one thing, it was a lot of things."

"Like what? I need to know, please."

Christine looked at the forlorn look on her friends face, and her heart ached for her. Meg had always sworn that she didn't want to marry young because she wanted to dance as long as she could, but one look into the bright green eyes told Christine that whoever the young man was, he could have Meg with one word.

Much the same she had felt for Erik, even before she could verbalize the thought.

"When he would be near, my heart would speed up, to the point that sometimes I felt it would beat out of my chest. I used to swear he must be able to hear it, to know how he affected me, for as loud as it was in my own ears. I would get nervous around him, never sure of how to react, always careful of what I said. I didn't know at first that I was in love with him, Meg. I would feel this rush of joy at the first sound of his voice, and it felt at times as if lightning were striking between us. Shivers of anticipation would creep up my spine when he was near. And at times I felt as if my heart were bursting with feelings, flooding my very soul."

"Oh Christine!"

She smiled as she looked at Meg, "Now, who is the lucky man? Don't tell me there's not someone, I can see it in your eyes Meg Giry!"

Meg shook her head, "I can't. He doesn't know how I feel. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't feel the same."

"Oh Meg, how can you be sure? You are a beautiful, talented young woman! Any man would be lucky to have you love him, and how could he not fall in love with you in return?"

"Very easily," Meg muttered. "I think he's got his eyes set on some one else."

Christine reached over and took Meg's hand in her own, squeezing it tightly. "If it's right, if it's meant to be, you'll know Meg. What I just described, it's how you feel when you are near him, isn't it?"

"Yes," she whispered.

Christine smiled softly at her friend, "I still don't see how he could not be in love with you, because if he isn't, he's a fool."

"I don't know, the other girl is a very nice girl, she's sweet, she's everything I'm not."

"You are sweet my dear Meg."

"I'm glad at least someone thinks so."

Christine was about to open her mouth when there was a loud knock on the door. So instead of what she was going to say, she called out, "Come in!"

Madame Giry opened the door and glanced between the two young women on the divan before her gaze focused on Meg, "Time's almost up Meg."

"I'll be there in a minute Maman, I promise."

Madame Giry nodded, and instead of shooing Meg along the way she normally would, she left the room quietly, taking care to shut the door behind her.

Christine's brow furrowed slightly, "Is your Maman okay?"

"I don't know, she's been acting strange lately," Meg sighed, and rose from the divan, making her way toward the door. "No matter, I need to get to rehearsal."

"Meg, wait."

Meg spun around just before her hand reached the doorknob.

"I need to ask you something, a favor."

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Meg stood outside Christine's dressing room door for a moment before tentatively knocking. When she heard Christine's reply through the heavy wood, she turned the knob, and after a nod from her friend, she went on without preamble, "The earliest that he can meet with you is in a week."

"When?"

"The morning before the Gala."

Christine groaned. "It's one thing to wait that long, Meg. But that morning? Reyer would skin me alive."

"I daresay he would too."

She dropped her head into her hands on the dresser, "What did you tell him?"

"I asked if there was any other time, and he said at least not for another month."

"I don't think I can wait that long."

"I wouldn't be able to either, and figured you wouldn't be able to a'tall.  Does Erik know?"

"No! He's no idea, I cannot tell him, not yet. Meg, please, tell me you understand, tell me you're not going to tell him?"

"I'd have to see him alone to tell him, now wouldn't I? Of course I'm not going to tell him Christine."

"Thank you. Oh Meg, you've no idea how much this means to me!"

Meg smiled, "Oh, I've a feeling I do."

Christine rose and gave her friend a hug, "Of course, I can tell you're just as excited as I am. Oh Meg, if I didn't have anyone to talk to about this . . ."

"You're sure he's not behind the mirror?"

"Positive, he and Nadir are catching up over lunch, Nadir was out yesterday afternoon, of course, Erik didn't give him a clue that he would be stopping by."


"We've got to teach that man a few of the social niceties, such as fair warning."

"Now Meg!"

"I'm teasing; I'm in a thoroughly good mood now."

Christine smiled.

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"I'm sorry I wasn't here to see you yesterday, Erik. It's been too long," Nadir sighed as they sat down in his drawing room. "How was the trip to Rouen?"

"Well, I've some interesting news at any rate. You could have told me Gerard was here in February."

Nadir's dark eyes widened, "He told you?"

"Did you think his insatiable curiosity would stay buried forever?"

"No, I suppose it would not. What did you tell him?"

"The truth or part of it. That Christine and I lived in a house below the opera. Really, Nadir, I wish you had given me fair warning!"

"Gerard worried that if you knew he knew your secret, you wouldn't return to Rouen."

"He . . ." Erik blanched, the uncovered side of his face turning as white as the mask, "he cared enough to . . ."

"Erik, he is your uncle. Granted, I know you've not had much practice with people worrying about you in the past, but that is just what it is, the past. You've got Marie and Gerard, Christine, and . . . we've been friends of a sort for a long time."

"Yes," Erik answered the unspoken question softly. "More than of a sort."

Nadir's lips twisted into a smile. "He cares, Erik. Perhaps, it is time for you to release some of these childish insecurities of yours." He held up a hand when Erik opened his mouth to interrupt, "Let me finish, please. You've been getting better lately, I know you've been eating in restaurants from time to time now, and you've given up harassing the management at every turn, you've turned honest finally, and a lot of that is due to Christine. Don't bother to deny it."

"I wouldn't dare, though I daresay if my wife had heard what you just said, she'd be on top of the world."

"She loves you, you know."

"Yes, and I am thankful every morning that I wake up that she does."

"So why should it surprise you so much that there are others who do care about you. Erik, you are not a pariah, no matter what your mother led you to believe."

"I don't want to talk about my mother, thank you very much."

"Erik, I'm not trying to analyze you. I'm merely trying to help."

"I could do without that type of help.

"Fine then, let's turn our topics to other agendas."

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Author's Note: Yes, I know, it's been more than a month since I updated. It's been a very long month to say the least, and for a good part of it I was dealing with a bit of writer's block where Erik and Christine were concerned. However, I hope that you will all forgive my lapse.

And for all of you who have been waiting . . . the Daroga! And a little E/C phluff . . . with more to come!

Riene: Coming from you, that sounds like high praise indeed! And I'm watching my slang more closely once more. Ikes, a 'kinda' slipped in? *Frowns*

Midasgirl: No worries . . . I know I've got a ton of stuff from my favorite authors that I have to read and review still . . .

TPP: Yes, they are just sooo cute . . . I love writing the E/C Phluff.

Angelofnight: Nope, not gonna kill ya just yet, hmm, maybe if I cross my fingers Lyre will come out of limbo? Glad you're enjoying at least the E/C aspect.

Mel: Glad to have made your day . . . I'm trying to remember, I think I sent you that song, right? I don't know why I'm thinking it bounced a few times . . . anyways, remind me?

Aenigmatic, M. Angelowe, Jenn, Ginny: More coming up!

To all of you who keep asking, which is a lot: As for what I'm doing with Meg and Raoul . . . I've a feeling you're all going to know for sure VERY soon!

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