Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Same as in the first chapter.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! Gerard Butler is hot!

Chapter Two

When Christine first awoke she wasn't at first certain of where she was. It was far cry from the ballet dormitories. That became obvious immediately. The most confusing factor was that she woke up alone. Her recollection of last night's events made it seem to her that it should be otherwise. Wrapping herself in a sheet from the lavishly decorated canopy bed, she began to search for something she could wear. It appeared that most of what she had been wearing the night before was either ripped to shreds or nowhere to be found. Much to her surprise the wardrobe appeared to be completely filled with things only in her size. She thought with a grin that Erik appeared to have planning this visit for some time. This caused her to grin rather wickedly as she added mentally that it probably didn't go exactly as he planned, but she doubted he would complain.

Soon after she was dressed Erik's playing drew her out of the room. Her breath caught in her throat and she stopped for a time to listen. His skill at playing combined with the supreme quality of his voice would have made the song sound perfect even to the most objective of ears, and since Christine was partial already it nearly stopped her heart. She took the opportunity to observe him at his most relaxed. He really was very hansom, well muscled and strong, with piercing eyes that saw into your soul at a glance. The sudden urge to know what was behind his mask overtook her. She quietly crept up behind him, and he was so absorbed in his music that he took no notice of her. In one sharp movement she held the mask in her hand, and almost immediately she regretted it. The look of hurt in his eyes was unbearable. His pride was wounded and his heart was broken. He'd done everything in his power to make her see him as a man instead of a monster. Now everything he'd worked for was shattered. She'd never think of him as anything other than deformed now.

His anger was overpowering. In an instant she found herself on the floor, the victim of his blinding fury.

You little prying Pandora!

You little Demon! Is this what you wanted to see?

Damn you! You little lying Delilah!

You little viper! Now you cannot ever be free!

Damn you! Curse you!

But in the end he knelt beside her, lost in his own self hatred. Mad with the fear that she hated him now. But she could never hate him. It didn't matter what he looked like. He was her angel of music and whether or not he realized it, so much more.

"Oh Christine," he sighed at last.

She scooted over to where he was, but instead of handing him back his mask, she took hold of the hand that was covering his face, and brought it slowly away. She ran her fingers lightly over his deformed cheek and nose before smothering his entire face in feather light kisses until his lips found hers. After a moment he broke the kiss and helped her to her feet.

"Come," he said at last, although rather regretfully, "those two fools who run my theater will be missing you." She nodded, and climbed unresistingly into the boat. He led her back up through the labyrinth that was within the bowels of the opera house until she stood safely behind the mirror of her dressing room.

"Oh Erik," she said, but he put a finger to her lips. He kissed her chastely and was gone before she could say anything more. She was filled with an unbearable loneliness now that he was gone. Trying to focus her mind elsewhere she stepped through the mirror and set off to find Meg Giry, her best friend and fellow dancer. There was quite a commotion when she reappeared unharmed. Apparently they'd all been searching for her for some time. The Vicomte de Chagney had been particularly interested in her safe return. Until then Christine had forgotten about her childhood friend completely. She felt a little guilty in hind sight, especially if he had been worried, but only a little.

A/N: How was it? RR!