I'm sorry that this one took awhile. I ha a severe writers block, even though I have most of this story already written. Well, I decided to rewrite it. Right now before I forget, I want to thank all the people who have reviewed. I thank you. They make me feel better. Well, I might not be able to update for a day or so, but if I get more reviews, the faster I will update. Oh yeah, if any "d" 's are missing, it's because that key doesn't work that well.
I want to dedicate this chapter to: Ana, Jo, Alyssa and Sam. Hehe. Enjoy. Please R&R:-)
Chapter 4: New Lessons and Big Surprises
There, in the kitchen, was about 4 dozen candles and a dinner for two. "Oh Erik! It's beautiful! How did you in so little time?" Christine asked between gasps, as she walked to look at a giant candelabrum.
"Well, I figured that you would fall asleep while I composed. I basically had the whole day to do it." He said walking towards her. "An it took the whole time. I finished a few minutes ago. Shall we eat?" He pulled a chair for her and she took it. When he had their own plates in front of the right person, they started to eat. He poured themselves some wine and made a toast to the new year. On the table were several bottles of wine. More like 7 bottles of wine. He often drank away his problems on holidays, which weren't that 'merry' to him. As they ate, Erik lost track of how many bottles of wine they had drank. Before he knew it, everything was spinning, and his memory went down the drain.
"What happened?" he asked himself groggily, not expecting an answer. He was certain of his surroundings; his normal bed, the table, the chest of drawers, and most importantly, Christine next to him. "Ok… Christine's still here. That's a good sign." He thought, this time not saying it out-loud. Hoping that water would soothe his hangover, he threw the covers off of him, and stood up. He felt the cold air rush against his body. His naked body. He quickly found his clothes, thrown in a heap along with Christine's. He pulled them on quite quickly. He walked over to Christine who was still asleep. Erik bent over and kissed her forehead lightly. Exiting the room, he went down the hallway to the kitchen. There, he drank a glass of cool water. It refreshed him, and slightly relived him of his hangover. He still felt as if he got hit by a carriage. He sat down on his chair by the table, and though deeply about what happened. He just couldn't remember anything. He had an idea of what happened, and with the given circumstances, it probably did happen. Erik wasn't sure though. After pondering for about an hour or so, Christine walked in looking like she too, had a hangover. She was dressed in her wrinkled dress that she wore the day before, which had also been carelessly discarded to the floor. "Good morning mon ange." He said trying to brighten the already dark damp mood, "How do you feel?"
"Like I was just hit by a carriage. What happened?" she asked, just happening to refer to her hangover just as Erik had.
"Well, fill in the blanks." He said trying to make her think, "Us, wine, dunk, clothes in heap on floor…?" He circled his hand in the air trying to emphasize that she should answer any time soon. She took a moment to think, then, a look on her face told him that she understood. Her eyes, which had been closed as she thought, opened. She look wasn't a look of disgust, but more of a surprise.
"Should I make breakfast?" she asked suddenly remembering that it was her newly appointed job. "It won't take me that long. I think I getting the hang of it now." With out getting an answer from Erik, she got up and made her way to the cupboards. Taking his queue from her, he stood up and said,
"Good, you remembered." When he exited the room, he once again remembered that his mask wasn't on his face. "Aw, screw it." He thought, deciding NOT to wear his mask that day. He didn't know why, but a feeling inside himself told him that Christine liked him better without his mask. Also, for having his mask on for so long, his face had become very sensitive, maybe this would help. He went towards the bathroom, where he them washed his face off. His hangover was going away now. He could walk straighter. Erik walked back to the kitchen where he saw Christine preparing breakfast. She then noticed him, standing in the doorway.
"I added two new items." She said rather proud of herself, as she set some toast out on a plate. "Toast and cheese." Not paying attention to Erik, she put most of her attention on her cooking. Erik sneaked up behind her and stole a piece of toast from the plate, and nibbled at it.
"Hey! You have to wait!" she protested, taking the half-eaten piece of toast from him, and slapped his hand lightly. "Go and sit down. I shall serve you." She had noticed that he didn't have his mask on, but decided not to ask why because she knew all the possible outcomes of that question, either he would just answer, or would get really mad and sulk. Erik decided to obey her commands, because he was hungry, other wise he would have protested. When he sat down, he poured himself a glass of water. She then set down a plate in front of him and one in front of herself. She took a bite of food, while Erik slowly picked and nibbled.
"You know, now that you're my wife, and we're going to live down here, I think that it's about time I should teach you my tricks. Some for amusement, and others for life-threatening situations." He told he rather seriously. "I mean, if you want to, of course."
"Of course I do. Can we start now? Can we begin with the hiding in the shadows and disappearing?" she asked him almost too eagerly.
"Well, sure. Change into some pants and boots. I think they will be more comfortable than a dress. I'll wait for you, then we shall start with the hiding." As soon as he said that, Christine shot up from her seat and raced to their room to get changed. "Wow. She's excited." he thought to himself, taking a sip of water.
When they first started, Erik had to lend her his extra cloak, but after a few days, he made her one exactly the same as his, but smaller. She had taken it gratefully looking in awe at it. She couldn't believe it. Over the course if a few weeks, Christine, then knew how to do every thing that Erik could do. He spent a lot of time explaining the use of the Punjab Lasso, and the sword. He might have gone a little overboard with training her how to use the Punjab Lasso and sword. Oh well, at least with the extensive training in those two areas, she could do great harm if anyone tried to mess with her. They practiced in the various rooms, hallways and rafters of the opera house. Christine could almost hide as well as Erik could. The next day, Christine was wandering in the rafters. She was now in the fly. A series of planks and support ropes. She heard two familiar voices talking, but couldn't put a face to them. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she wandered closer towards the voices, they were in the lobby. Why would anyone be in the opera house? There, standing in the lobby were none other but, Monsieur André and Monsieur Firmir. Why were they here? She could barely make out what they were saying.
"Since the Opera Ghost is gone, maybe we should rebuild and reopen the opera house. It isn't burned that badly. What do you think?" André asked rather happily.
"Well, I guess we could. It wouldn't be that expensive. Hopefully most of the costumes will be intact and hopefully some of the setting will be also." Firmir replied shaking André's hand in agreement.
"Repairs shall start tomorrow at 12:00 noon." André stated. Both men thane walked back out of the front door. The thought of the opera house brought excitement and dread to Christine. Excitement, because she would be able to sing again , but dread because, Erik isn't and was never dead. Erik's temper would be another thing if Raoul is to patron. Hopefully, Raoul wouldn't be the patron, because of Erik still being alive, their marriage, andshe didn't wantto see him again, peroid! She hurried out of the fly system and jumped out of it right by her old dressing room. Opening the door to he old room sent chills own her spine. All the memories came floating back. She fought them back enough to make it through the mirror. There, inside the dark quiet passageway, she shrieked with delight and began running to tell Erik the good news. She jumped into the boat, and started to quickly push her way through the water, wanting to reach Erik so badly. When she reached the shore, Erik couldn't be found. Just then, she saw Erik running around frantically looking for something. He was holding one of his Punjab Lassos and ha on his sword. Wondering what was wrong, she walked over to him and said in an enthusiastic voice, "Erik. Guess what?" He about jumped a mile.
