Don't know why, but I'm so eager to write right now. Don't have much to say except with my first time working on a stage production here at school I will be really busy so there may be big breaks in between updates so I just thought I would warn you. No throwing things at me please. Ducks out of the way of a flying slipper. Ha you missed.

Side note Erik and Christine get some more fluff this chapter and I promise that before this story is finished Lotte and Pierre will have a fluffy moment. It's just right now I have E/C fluff on my mind and am not sure how I would go about L/P fluff sorry.

Chapter 58: Sweet Talk

Christine's heart was pounding in her chest as she made a bed up on the couch for herself. With Erik the way he was she didn't want to bother him and was making sure he had the bed to himself. In all honesty she didn't think the couch was too bad. So many times she had fallen asleep on that couch and found it rather comfortable.

She lay across it and pulled the blanket up over her body. For awhile she looked out across the lake marveling at how the candles seemed to dance across the water's surface like magic. It was beautiful and made her eyes feel heavy. She gave one last yawn and closed her eyes allowing herself to fall into a deep sleep.

xxxxx

Some time later when Christine had been half asleep she felt another presence in the music room and it felt as if someone was staring at her. In fear she sat up, the pillow up over her head as if to defend herself. She saw Erik standing there the candlelight hitting against his bare chest showing just how muscular he was.

"Christine you do realize that a pillow won't save you from any kind of attack," he said in a playful tone.

Christine let the pillow fall to the floor and sat cross legged on the couch. "It really isn't fair that you scared me like that."

"I'm sorry. You were just so beautiful I was debating on waking you or not. I guess I took too long."

"Why did you want to wake me up? Is it morning already?" she asked with a loud yawn.

"No, I wanted you to come back to the bedroom. I would have thought you would join me. I've been without you in the bed for quite a few nights now," Erik said sadly.

"I didn't want to bother you. I wasn't sure if you're temper had…you know…um," she said not wanting to say it in such a way to insult him.

"You weren't sure if it disappeared yet weren't you?" he said filling in the words for her. She nodded. "I assure you that it's long gone by now. The only time that anger will push itself to the surface is when someone is hurting you. Now that I'm back in a familiar place I'm able to calm down and go back to living my life. Now come back to bed with me please."

She looked up at him and held out her arms, which he took and lifted her into his arms. Sharing a sweet kiss he carried her to the bedroom and laid her upon the sheets for the blanket had already been pulled back. He went back and shut the door covering the room in a shadow of darkness. Christine could feel the curtains fall and then Erik's form coming and laying gently on top of her.

He still didn't have his mask on and she reached up with both hands in order to cup both of his cheeks. He leaned closer to her and started to lick around her mouth trying to gain permission at proceeding further. She obliged and parted her own lips a bit and touched the tip of her tongue to his. This must have excited him, because he started exploring every crevices of her mouth in such a manner that made her feel like this was so new to both of them. She moaned a bit and stroked the back of his neck tenderly with her finger tips.

Erik made his own excited groan in the back of his throat and pushed himself against her matching their curves up perfectly. After a moment he pulled back from the kiss breathing deeply.

"Erik, you sure are eager tonight," Christine said with a smile.

"Well if you recall my dear you made me promise this back at the warehouse. And I intend to keep my promise," he said stroking her neck with his fingers.

xxxxx

Christine woke up the next morning lying against Erik's bare chest within his arms. Her hair was messed up a bit, but she didn't care. Erik had kept his promise and she had never felt so loved in her life. She snuggled closer and could have drowned in his fragrance. To think he even smelled better than Raoul had and there was more of Erik to love. Raoul was built like any nobleman; tall, lanky, and overly attractive. Erik may not have been completely handsome, but he made her feel safe and secure here in his arms.

Erik stirred a bit and with a yawn settled back down and fell back into a deep slumber. Christine giggled under her breath and settled back too hoping to fall asleep when the clock on the mantle starting chiming seven. "Well there goes that idea," she thought sadly as Erik lifted his head from the pillow and let out a series of small yawns.

"Good morning my angel. You look like you slept well," he said pulling her close to him.

"Yes, I did, but the clock ruined my chance of falling back into a state of peacefulness."

"Are you willing to sing again?"

She nodded. "It feels as if singing is the only way to make me feel better."

"What I didn't do that for you?" Erik said lowering his head in shame.

She lifted his chin. "No, you did a wonderful job Erik; it's just that singing is one way for me to get all my frustrations out sometimes."

Erik smiled. At least he had done his part and was making her smile. With a final kiss on her forehead he pushed back the blanket and climbed out of bed.

"Wait, where are you going?" Christine asked.

He poked his head back in between the curtain and the post with a big smile on his face. "Darling, do you honestly think I'm going to go to rehearsals like this?"

She noticed the embarrassment on his face. She couldn't help giggling though and fell back against the pillow lost in hysterics. Erik disappeared from sight again and she could hear him rummaging through the wardrobe. She wrapped her robe around her and pulled back the curtain to see him already in a pair of black pants; his back turned to her. Even in the dim candlelight she could make out the new scars amongst the old ones.

"Erik, don't these hurt you at all?" she asked lightly brushing her hand against one of them.

"Not anymore. I got so used to attacks like that that there were times that I didn't even know I was getting hit. Sure those one hurt, but I hadn't been able to cry out or anything, so it's nothing to worry about. Plus they heal rather quickly."

"Don't put your shirt on, let me clean those a bit. They could get infected," she said as she took a cloth from the water basin and wrung it out. Then she came back and wet down Erik's back making sure none of the water dripped onto his pants. Then she rummaged in a drawer and pulled out some iodine. "This may sting just a little, but it helps," she said dabbing some of it on the cloth.

As she placed the cloth against the wound Erik let out a raspy hiss, but soon relaxed. "Isn't it supposed to be the other way round? Aren't I supposed to take care of you in situations like this?"

"That's just a silly stereotype. One member of the relationship shouldn't be left to do everything to make sure the relationship lasts. Woman should help the men whenever they can and the men should help the woman. I couldn't stand the help of servants. It just isn't proper."

"There are worst jobs out there," Erik stated recalling the number of prostitutes he had seen crowding the street corners.

He knew Christine had understood his comment, because she stopped pressing the cloth for a couple moments. "I can't believe women would sell themselves like that it's such a crime to sleep around just to make a living," she said dabbing more iodine on the cloth and pressing it to his back.

"Well if you haven't noticed Paris is going to the slums. I think the Opera House is the only thing left for the upper class people. We'll be lucky if we keep our numbers up and prosperous."

"What about all those shops and the fancy restaurants? Surely those aren't opening their arms to the less fortunate," Christine said as she pressed the cloth over the last wound.

"Who knows how long those will last? They'll be lucky to see anymore days or customers. It all depends on how much longer the town is left to suffer or if anyone will be willing to take care of it. We can only help by making sure the Opera House keeps on its glorious tradition of entertaining and impressing those of the upper class. There isn't much more we can do."

"For eighteen years I lived the life of the upper class and it was in no way pleasant. It may have started out that way, but there were always rules to follow, another fancy party to go to, or men smoking cigars in my house. Lotte was only a small child and I feared for her condition whenever Raoul and his friends would light those cigars or I had to leave her with a servant just to attend another silly party. For awhile I taught children how to sing, but I soon had to give that up, because Raoul was starting to become more demanding and making me feel more trapped. Plus Raoul liked showing me off as the perfect wife; like I was some kind of hunting trophy that hung on the wall and was admired by his friends.'

'It was the same for many of the other noblewomen I met. We all agreed that it felt like we were being pushed aside and then brought out when the men wanted to brag about their so called "perfect" wives. Money changes people from better to worst. When Father was alive I was more carefree and welcome to do as I wanted as long as he watched from a distance. After he died I felt so lost and alone. Like no one was going to care about the daughter of a violinist that had sacrificed his career to care for me. But then you came along and as I grew I fell more in love with your words and your voice as you would teach me and sing me to sleep. It felt as if you were the one telling me to just be myself and fight for what I believe in. So I did having regained that confidence to show the world what I really was. I can't thank you enough for that, yet while with Raoul I always seemed to be praying that my fallen angel would come and sweep me off my feet again and rescue Lotte and I from the place that was more a hell than the place here below the Opera House. I kept asking God why he wouldn't send you back to me like he had before. Eighteen years trapped within a house I couldn't call my own and a husband that treated me with less respect than I deserved. Why didn't you come back for me?" Christine asked now lost in her tears.

Erik kept his back to her and pulled on his shirt. Once it was buttoned he turned to face her and saw how distraught she looked. He had once thought that all women wanted was the luxury of things and to be seen as beautiful porcelain dolls, but that was the one thing Christine loathed. She had made it all too clear that all she had ever wanted was to be free like a bird in flight or a fish in the sea. He had always debated on coming and snatching her away with him, but he had been to selfish, for he knew that if he had taken her back to the Opera House that Raoul would have sent every officer in Paris to search him out and kill him on the spot no questions asked.

Plus Lotte had been a part of the picture and it wouldn't have been fair to the child to be exposed to a person such as him. But she had grown to love him just as Christine had; because he had given her the chance to grow used to him and gave her no reason to fear him. Even after Lotte had come and Christine for a time believed her to be dead Erik wasn't about to bring Christine back. It had been better to leave her with Raoul, but that had turned out for the worst also. Was he just going to keep on making mistakes until his entire life came crashing down on top of him leaving him to wallow in self-pity and watch as everyone he ever loved was taken away from him? No, he couldn't let that happen. He was going to make things right no matter what the cost. Wait, cost doesn't matter to her. Whatever it takes is more like it.

He reached over and pulled her close to him, rubbing her back. "I know I screwed up, but I want to make it up to you. I don't know how, but I'll do anything in my power to fix everything I broken and give you back that carefree life you used to live, because all I want to see is that angelic smile of yours shining through the darkness of the theatre. Because I see that that is all you want to do. Sing out your troubles and share with the world that very gift I granted you with."

She gazed up at him and nodded. "You granted me with something I could use for all time, Raoul only bestowed upon me the finest dresses or jewels that could only be used for the fanciest of parties and they were some of the most uncomfortable things I ever wore. As if it would choke me to death or make me suffer for an eternity for something I didn't do. My voice is more important to me than a dress or a piece of jewelry, except for your wedding dress," she quickly added so as not to hurt her husband's feelings. "Because you made it I felt so special. The wedding dress Raoul had me wear was store bought and in my opinion ugly. It tried to hide my true beauty and after the wedding I was so eager to be out of that thing."

Erik couldn't help, but chuckle just a bit, but soon regained composure and gave her a reassuring grin. "From what I've seen of the nobleman they only care for materials or how good they look, they seem to forget that being comfortable is the most important feature of an outfit. I wear what I wear out of comfort, not to look good."

"But you look excellent to me," Christine piped up.

"Well thank you my dear. I never really thought of it that way."

"Thank you, for making me feel better. I feel as if I got so much off my chest just now."

"Your welcome, but now I suggest you get dressed. Time to strike up the orchestra and let another of my operas grace the stage," Erik said with triumph.

Just a sweet filler chapter; because I realized that Christine never explained to Erik just how much she hated the luxuries of the upper class before. So, I thought I would add that in to leave you guys with something before the story is cut off for awhile while I do theatre work and all my homework for school. I will work on chapters when I get a chance, but I don't know how often that will be. I have class soon so I'm posting as is, so any typos will be fixed later. Sorry. Please review.