Thank you for the reviews! You people are so lovely. Unfortunately the next chapter might be a little while. I have started it but I'm getting into serious trouble involoving school work and apparently that's far more important. Ick. So you'll just have to put up with the wonderful cliffhanger I generously included at the end of this chapter!

Chapter 13

That first night that Erik and I spent together was the best night of my life. I can't describe it but… you know that feeling when you're so happy you just want to freeze time and keep it forever?

It was that but a thousand times better.

I woke the next morning in Erik's bed. At first I couldn't figure out but then I realised and an enormous smile spread across my face.

"Are you awake?" Erik murmured in my ear. I closed my eyes.

"No."

"I think you might be."

"No. I don't want to. You might dis

appear." He laughed quietly, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I'm not going to disappear." He whispered. I rolled over and looked up at him. His mask was discarded somewhere on the floor, along with our clothes. The smile faded from my face and he looked worried.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just… I can't believe how happy I am." I whispered. He looked at me for a moment and then held me to him tightly. I buried my face in his chest, sharing his warmth. Erik pressed his face into my wild hair. For some time neither of us let go. Then Erik said,

"I love you, Christine."

"I love you too."

I looked up at him again. His eyes met mine and he kissed me. Then he said,

"I was afraid that I would wake up and you would be gone."

"Never. I'll never leave you sleeping." I promised, stroking his left cheek. He looked so beautiful. I know how odd that sounds, but he really did.

We lay there for over an hour, not speaking. Just being together. Eventually I said,

"We have to get up, don't we?"

"I'm afraid so. It's quite late and we're going to see Thomas and Penny this afternoon."

"Hmm." I sighed into his chest and he smiled.

"That tickles."

I giggled and looked around at the clothes that were strewn over the floor.

"We really should pick all this up."

"Not yet." He said, sitting up and resting his chin on my shoulder. I leaned my head against his and smiled.

"I must look like a mess. Make up's all over the place and my hair feels like a bush."

"You have never looked more beautiful." He murmured. I smiled and kissed him. He kissed back intently until I pulled away.

"Have you got a dressing gown I can borrow?"

"Over there… why?"

"Because I have to go and get some clean clothes and I don't fancy wandering around with no clothes on." I said, climbing out of bed.

"I have no objections." He said, leaning back on the pillows. I glared at him but couldn't keep it and ended up smiling.

I went into town to get some food after I had dressed. I bumped into Meg outside the shop and she invited me for a coffee, but once we were sat down in the Corner Café she started to look at me closely.

"Something's different about you."

"Really?"

"Yeah… not sure what it is though." She said suspiciously. A secretive smile spread across my face.

"I don't know what you mean. Nothing's changed." I told her lightly, sipping my drink.

"Then why are you blushing?" she demanded. I touched my cheek. It was warm.

Meg leaned forward and stared me in the eyes for a moment. I blinked in surprise. She gasped loudly.

"You slept with him!"

Unfortunately, as fate would inevitably have it, she said this quite loudly just as there was a lull in conversation. Everyone looked over at us and I bent my head low.

"Meg, shut up!"

"Did you?" She asked excitedly as everyone returned to their conversations. I didn't reply and she laughed delightedly.

"I can't believe it! What was it like?"

"Meg, I'm not going to tell you!" I said, appalled. She pouted for a moment and then shrugged.

"Fine. I mean, it's not that special, I guess. I mean, you were with Raoul and-"

"I never slept with Raoul." I said quietly. Meg did a double take.

"What? You didn't… but I thought…"

"No. It just never happened." I said, shrugging. Meg looked at me, clutching her heart dramatically.

"Wow… my best friend is all grown up."

"Can we not have this conversation?" I begged. She glared at me.

"Of course we have to! Was it romantic?"

"Well… yeah, I guess so. We were just sort of talking about how we felt the first time we saw each other, and that first night when we kissed and it sort of… happened."

"What did he say about you?" Meg asked eagerly. I smiled in spite of myself, looking down at my drink coyly.

"He said I… I looked like an angel. Well, an angel in a leather jacket. And then, right before he kissed me he said a line from this song…"

"What line?" She asked eagerly. I felt my smile widen.

"He said wherever you go, let me go too, that's all I ask of you."

"Oh my god, does he have a brother?"

"He doesn't have any family." I said. Meg smiled at me.

"You're so happy. I'm glad."

"I really am, Meg. I don't think anything could ruin my mood right now."

There I go, tempting fate again. Because Meg nodded at the door. I turned and saw that Raoul had just walked in. I turned back to Meg.

"I have to go anyway. Erik and I are going to see the gardener and his wife this afternoon."

"OK. I'll see you later." Meg said.

Raoul saw me and stopped in his tracks, blocking my way to the door. I looked at him.

"Excuse me."

"Christine, we need to talk."

"No, we don't. I have things to do."

"Come on, Christine. We both know that things between you and him aren't going to work out."

"For your information, things are going wonderfully." I told him and then tried to step past. He didn't move. I looked at him irritably.

"Raoul, I've got plans for this afternoon and I don't want to be late. Can you please move?"

"Tell me one thing first." He said. I rolled my eyes.

"Fine."

"How can you have a relationship with someone who never leaves his own house?"

"Actually he has left the house. When Dad was taken to hospital he took me and stayed with me the whole time. And we're going to be going to the Christmas Party this year. Now move."

He stepped aside obligingly. I brushed past, pulling on my helmet, without giving him a second thought.

We walked to the cottage. It was a half hour walk through the grounds of the manor. I smiled when I saw it.

"Perfect fairytale cottage." It was. Nestled in among the trees, a little garden with vegetables and flowers.

An elderly woman answered the door. She had long grey hair tied into a bun and weathered brown face. Her wrinkled face cracked into a grin. Erik nodded to her.

"Penny. This is Christine Daae."

"Yes, yes, Thomas told me all about her. Come in!"

We sat around a scrubbed wooden table. Thomas grinned toothily over the top of his newspaper at us.

"Mr Lavonne, how are you?"

"Well enough, Thomas."

"Tea, dears?" Penny asked, setting down tea things. I stood to help her but she brushed me away.

"No, no, you sit down, dear."

I spotted a picture on the mantelpiece. Penny caught me looking and smiled.

"Our son and his wife. We've our first grandchild due in a few months."

"Oh, that's so lovely." I smiled. Penny nodded her approval and sat down, pouring tea.

The idle chatter that followed was typical of any teatime meeting. Weather, gossip, books, that sort of thing. After a while Erik asked Thomas,

"Did you look at those plans I gave you?"

"I did, Mr Lavonne." Thomas said. Penny laughed and took my arm.

"Let's leave the men to talk business. Give us a chance to chat, eh?"

We walked through the trees behind the cottage. Penny linked her arm through mine, although she was clearly capable of walking alone. She was just putting on that act of frailty.

"How long have you been working for Mr Lavonne?"

"About five months." I replied, thinking about it for a moment.

"And how long have you been involved?" She asked pointedly. I was surprised at her directness.

"Just over a week."

"Do you love him?"

Didn't see that one coming.

"More than I've loved anyone in my entire life." I said truthfully. She eyed me and the smiled.

"I can see that. He's changed."

"Changed?"

"Yes. Quite a lot actually. He's…happy."

"That's all I want for him."

"Good answer! That man has shuddered for so long. He needs a little joy in his life." Penny said, looking up at me.

Erik and Thomas were examining the vegetable plots outside the house when we returned.

"Did you enjoy yourselves?" Erik enquired politely, but obviously curious. I smiled.

"Yes, thank you." Erik raised an eyebrow and turned to Thomas.

"We must be going."

We started the walk back to the manor. Erik's hand found mine.

"How did you like Penny?"

"She's nice." I said, and I meant it. Erik seemed satisfied. As the house came into view I stopped. Erik looked back at me.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No. I just wanted to look at the house." I replied simply. Erik glanced behind him and then back at me.

"Do you like what you see?"

"Always." I smiled at him. He returned my smile, stepped back to me and scooped me up in his arms. I laughed delightedly, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me into the house.

In the entrance hall he put me down, albeit reluctantly. I didn't move my hands from around his neck. He kissed me, softly at first, but then more passionately. I smiled as his lips moved down onto my neck. I ran my hands through his hair. And then I gasped.

"Raoul!"