A/N: Thank you to my reviewers! I love you!

Ethalas Tuath'an: Thank you so much, I am glad you like it! Those are the real lyrics, and I love that song, but is so sad. :(

Leah Day: Thank you! I didn't even realize I was doing that, thats helpful!

Phantomfan1911: Oh thank you! I'm glad you think it was written well, I'm always worried about it making sense. :P

AliciaRoseM: Oh my goodness, thank you! I'm glad it's a favorite!

Lady Winifred: Aww, I thought so too, but it turns out, it's hard to write a story that is just them being sweet and making out all the time. Yes, bad things happen, I'm sorry, but ErikChristine forever! woo! hehe :)

Chapter 8: We Must Return

Erik reluctantly broke their embrace, and stood. Once he was on his feet, he offered his hands down to Christine, to help her up.

"Come," he spoke as she stood, meeting her lips with a small kiss. "We must return," he felt Christine squeeze his hands in longing, but he continued. "Those two fools who run my theater will be missing you." At this, Christine laughed.

"Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin! Fools, are they?" He smiled a half-smile (A/N: God, I melt at Gerard Butler's slightly silly half smile that he does so wonderfully!), grabbed his mask, and put it on.

"Indeed they are." Christine's smile faded after a few moments and she slid her arms beneath Erik's, and buried her face in his muscular chest. He pulled his arms around her tightly.

"Oh Angel, I never want to leave here, with you." He kissed her curly hair.

"I'm afraid you must, my love." She sighed and listened to his heart beat her cheek. It was as if his heart beats to a melody; everything about the man seemed to be musical, as if it was all he had ever known. Finally, Erik reluctantly broke their embrace, though he didn't want to, ever. He gently took her hand and led her to the boat. He stepped in, and still grasping her hand, helped her in. Instead of sitting as she had before, Christine stood and held tightly around Erik's waist. As he gracefully poled across the misty lake through the tunnels of the labyrinth, Christine still wished she could stay with him. Erik inhaled sharply as he felt Christine place a few small kissed on his neck. He turned his head down to meet her waiting lips with yet another kiss, just as they reached land.

Erik slid his arms around her waist and listed her out of the boat, before mounting the horse. Once atop, he reached his hand down and pulled her up in front of him. The beautiful black horse began to walk the familiar distance pf the long hallway, and Christine leaned back into Erik, reveling in the feeling of his muscles surrounding her. He placed a kiss atop her head and she looked up. Their eyes locked, although upside down, and Erik leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

"Oh Erik," Christine whispered, raising her arms up and back and wrapping them around his neck. "I love you." These words made his heart beat speed in a way that he had before not imagine three simple words could do, and he knew that he needed to be beside her, always. He felt like he could never have enough of her. He decided though, out of respect for Christine's innocence, that he would restrain himself.

Once at the end of the long pathway that the horse took them, he jumped off and helped her down. Hand in hand, they ascended the stairway and walked another long pathway that finally brought them to Christine's mirror - the doorway to her room. Christine was surprised at how clearly she saw through.

"So this is how you spoke to me all these year?. This is why you requested this room for me when I was so young?" The Phantom smiled and nodded. A few seconds passed, and Christine felt disappointment flood her soul once more. She wrapped her arms around her beloved. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers up and down her spine - the laces of her corset, really though. They stood there like that, until a few sharp knocks were heard at Christine's door. She gasped softly and looked at Erik, but his loving eyes made her fear disappear. She opened the mirror door and answered.

"One moment, please!" She then turned back to Erik and smiled. She rested her hands on his chest and stood slightly on her toes, and he leaned down and kissed her gently. Lost in the moment, they continued kissing until the person at the other side of the door grew impatient and knocked again.

"Meg, stop! She said wait!" They broke from their kiss and Christine laughed softly.

"Madame Giry and Meg are at my door. I must go." Erik smiled and whispered in her ear,

"I love you." before placing another small kiss on her lips.

"I love you, too," she whispered back, with a twinkle in her eye, before stepping through the doorway and closing it behind her. Erik hurried back to his lair to write the many notes that he planned to send.

Christine walked to her door and opened it.

"Dear God, child! Where have you been all night! And whose was that voice I heard?" Christine looked at the floor.

"Christine, your mirror! IT's a doorway, I saw last night while you were missing!" The innocent blonde was ignored.

"I was with him, Madame. His was the voice you heard. He brought me down to where he lives. I..." Christine squinted as she glanced to her open window letting in the morning light. "I didn't realize that I was out all night. Forgive me."

"Your face is so pale, child! You need to rest. I won't bother you any longer."

"Thank you, Madame." Christine grabbed Meg's hand and squeezed slightly, smiling, and Meg smiled back before closing the door.

Christine went to her bed and laid down without closing her eyes. She was exhausted, but so many thoughts burst through her mind like wildfire. Her mind was filled with enchantment: thoughts of the night which seemed so unreal. How could so much have happened in just one night? She sighed in joy, and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Christine opened her eyes when she heard a knock on her door. She put her legs over the side of her bed, sitting up, and smoothed her hair.

"Come in?" Raoul de Chany walked in and shut the door behind him, and sat next to Christine on the bed.

"Where were you last night. You never showed up for dinner and then all night...they said no one had seen you."

"I was..." She glanced at her mirror. "I...I told you that I couldn't go, you didn't listen."

"I'm sorry, my dear." Raoul placed his hand atop hers, and she stood up defensively, pulling it away.

"It's...it's alright. It's fine." Raoul stood as well.

"Maybe we should catch up another time then?" He smiled and Christine let a breath out, her discomfort fading. She smiled.

"That would be nice."

Raoul leaned his back against Christine's door once he closed it behind him, leaving her in her room to change. She had been missing all night, and when she finally appears, she is dressed in the attire of the night before.

Who was this girl? Surely she wasn't the Christine that he had known so many years ago. He felt instantly attracted to her the moment he saw her after so many years, but she didn't seem to feel the same. 'Quite a curious girl...' he thought as he made his way down the hallway, when another body collided with his own, forcing them both to the floor. Raoul blinked a few times before standing, and offering his hands down to the pretty blond that sat on the floor, wide-eyed, surprised from the sudden fall.

"Forgive me, Mademoiselle...?" The girl accepted his hands.

"Giry. Meg." She smiled as Raoul pulled her to her feet. She stood, her face closer to the handsome Viscomte's than she had expected. Their eyes locked, and neither of them let out a breath for what seemed like an eternity, until someone else approached.

"Meg, what are you doing? I asked you to go check on Christine!" Meg gasped softly and let go of Raoul's hand, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Mother, forgive me. We..." She looked up at Raoul and blushed. "We knocked into each other. And forgive me as well please, Viscomte." Madame Giry sighed and left, leaving the two alone again.

"I'm sorry, Monsieur." Meg turned to leave, forgetting about Christine, but Raoul caught her hand.

"Raoul, call me Raoul," he said with a smile. Meg grinned as well.

"And Meg."

A/N: Sorry Raoul-haters! Did you like it anyway?

Anywho, can anyone tell me what EOW or EOC means? I keep seeing these, and I tottally have no clue what they mean. Yeah, I'm new to the whole F/F scene. :P Thanks!