In Promise

The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when Christine retired to her room with a book in hand. It was a rare dark night for the Theatre Mystere, and she sought to occupy her mind with something whilst she awaited Erik's promised arrival. The words on the page could not seem to calm her nervous anticipation, or her fear. Fear because each time Erik ventured out from the safety of his underground world, he was placing himself in jeopardy. If someone were to see him…recognize him as the Phantom…he would surely be arrested…or worse. Even the thought of such a thing left her trembling in apprehension. Christine did not know what she would do were she to lose him now.

Even as the horrible thought flitted through her mind, she heard a scraping at her window. She looked towards the glass and saw a dark form suddenly looming on the other side. Her heart stopped a moment, and then began to race as the window wafted open and Erik dramatically swooped inside. Christine gasped, her book falling away as her hand flew over her heart. "Erik! How ever did you get up here?"

He grinned wickedly, drawing Christine up from the chair and into his arms. "I have tricks beyond any you can imagine, mon ange."

She shook her head with an exasperated sigh. "Your tricks are too dangerous, Erik. If someone had seen you…"

"No one will see me, Christine, and if someone should, they would certainly never speak of it."

Christine drew a quick breath and tore herself from his arms, turning her back to him. "You mustn't say that, Erik." That he could speak about such things so coldly still frightened her.

He expelled a harsh breath. "Why mustn't I, Christine? Would you not have me protect myself?"

She whirled back to him. "I will not have you kill again! There is no reason, Erik…you've nothing to gain by it and everything to lose." She reached for him then, fisting her hands against his cloak and pleading with him, "Promise me, Erik…promise me you will not take another life."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "And if I cannot promise you, Christine? Will you run from me again? Go back to your boy?"

Christine's grip slowly loosened and she took a step back, her wide brown eyes glistening with pain. "I will not leave you, Erik. I love you. I love the man you are, the man you can be, and it is that man I have forgiven for the sins of the past. But I do not know that I could forgive you should you ever put our future at risk."

Erik looked past her to stare at the wall behind her, his face betraying nothing of what he was thinking.

How can I make her a promise I am not certain I can keep?

He was only half aware when Christine moved again, taking his hand in hers and placing it gently over her abdomen. She whispered, "For our future, Erik. Please…"

His hand flexed against her and he closed his eyes against the nearly overwhelming force in such a tiny gesture. Meeting her eyes again, he nodded slightly. "I…I will…try…Christine."

She held his gaze a moment longer, then she released his hand and cupped his face, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "Thank you, angel."

He sighed, wondering how this little slip of a woman-child could come to have so much power over him. "Oh, Christine, what am I to do with you?"

She smiled then. "Love me, Erik. Only love me."

"Always." He brushed his lips over hers again, once, twice, and then her fingers tangled into his hair as she deepened the contact. The flame between them always seemed to ignite so easily, and Erik vaguely wondered if it would always be so.

Will I always feel this need to be closer to her…to have more of her?

Her bed stood just a few feet from them, and it would have been so easy to lay her down. Indeed, it seemed as though Christine was trying to gently urge him in that direction with the steady press of her body against his. His angel could be quite the temptress, but he was determined to develop some control where she was concerned.

For both our sakes.

Erik broke contact with her, setting her at arms length. Her eyes were glazed with passion and her breathing uneven, and she stared at him blankly a moment before her brows furrowed in confused frustration. "Erik, what is wrong?"

He chuckled a little, tracing an elegant finger over her flushed cheek. "Nothing is wrong, my love, but I did not come here to have my wicked way with you, as tempting a prospect as it is. We have matters to discuss."

God bless her, Christine actually groaned, "Now? Can it not wait until…after?"

Erik laughed outright then, and the sound was so beautiful that Christine almost didn't mind that he was laughing at her. "Mon ange, that it is precisely what we must discuss." He grew serious then. "As difficult as it will be to deny ourselves now, we really cannot take such chances, Christine. We will not be safe together until we are away from Paris, and even then we will need to be on our guard."

Christine nodded and sighed. "I know you are right, Erik. It isn't really safe for you to be here now, but perhaps we might be safer in your chambers…"

"No!" He cut her off adamantly. "You will not return to the catacombs, Christine. That would not be safe for you…especially…now." His eyes fell automatically to her middle, and Christine could not help but feel a tingle of warmth at the action."I will come to you when I can, and we will steal a few precious moments."

"But…?"

"I will be careful, Christine. I have a future to think of now."

A beautiful smile curved Christine's mouth and lit her eyes. "I love you , Erik."

"And I you, mon ange."

Erik drew Christine back into his arms and they remained lost in their own world for quite awhile, speaking about what was to come. Enjoying the moment as they were, the soft knock at Christine's door startled them both. Erik tensed and moved toward the window even as Meg Giry's voice called out to her friend.

"Christine?"

Christine sighed in relief, then shot a look to Erik, whose hands were on the window. She frowned at him and shook her head, whispering harshly even as she moved towards the door. "You stay right here, Erik."

"Christine…?" Meg called again.

Eager for her friend to finally meet her love, Christine opened the door slowly, careful to make certain Meg was alone. Seeing that she was, Christine grinned and tugged at Meg's hand. "Come in quickly, Meg."

"What? Why…?" Seeing the Opera Ghost leaning nonchalantly against the wall by the window in amusement, the little ballerina suddenly lost her voice and stood frozen in shock.

Erik pushed away from the wall and closed the distance between them, bowing grandly and clasping the young lady's hand. "Mademoiselle Giry, at last we meet."

Meg drew a quick breath, her face beginning to color. "M-M-Monsieur..." She was struggling for a surname other than le Fantome. Or Opera Ghost. Instead she gave up with a shake of her head and settled for, "...Erik."

Erik offered her a genuine smile. "I must thank you for being such a dear friend to Christine all these years."

"I...well...of course. I sh-should leave you both to..." Meg blushed furiously. "well...do what you were doing."

Erik could not help but laugh at her sweetly flustered babbling. "There is no need, Mademoiselle. It is I who should take my leave before I am discovered by someone far less sympathetic. A pleasure to finally meet you, little Giry."

He turned to Christine and stroked a loving hand down her cheek. "Until tomorrow, mon ange." He bent to kiss her cheek rather chastely and disappeared out the window.

Meg hissed out a breath and rushed to the sill, seeing nothing in the shadows. "How does he do that?"

Christine laughed at the awe in her friend's voice. "He is quite talented."

Meg smiled at that. "I can only imagine."

This of course led to a discussion of all Erik's many talents, and Christine was proud to know that her friend had been more than a little impressed with the Phantom in the flesh.

A/N: I felt the need to touch on the the murder issue with the promise. That is the thing that frightens Christine the most about Erik, and while I think she can forgive him his past, I don't think she'd stand for him reverting to form again. And it was past time for Meg to get a proper introduction to Erik.