A/N: In this chapter I used the lyrics from an Andrew Lloyd Weber song that is in a different musical. I have always thought it would fit Erik and Christine had they actually gotten together. Who knows? Maybe originally it was supposed to be for them?

Ch. 14 – Fragile Haven

Erik was having trouble concentrating on his work. The men hadn't noticed yet, but he was definitely not as able to focus as he had been before the tender moment he and Christine had shared in his cabin. Instead of listening to the Yeoman's report regarding the status of the ship's provisions, he was allowing his mind to wander back to that day.

Following his acceptance by Charles, Erik had spent the entire day caring for Christine and spending time with her and her son. He had decided that his duties would wait. For now he only wanted to be near them. Stone understood, of course, and hadn't batted an eyelash when Erik had told him that he was taking the day off. He merely nodded with a knowing grin and left.

Passing the time with them had been so natural, as if he did it everyday of his life. He scrounged up food from what had been saved after the galley fire, cutting up Charles's meal as any attentive parent would. To his delight it had been necessary for him to assist Christine in feeding herself. She was visibly uncomfortable and couldn't seem to find a position that allowed her to do it for herself. Several times she would gently say, "Erik, I can manage. I'm not a complete invalid," and he would relinquish some control back to her. He had always loved the thought of pampering her and was taking every opportunity that was presented now.

His stories had been more animated than ever before since Christine was now part of his audience. He would reduce both her and her son to fits of laughter and smile in satisfaction, pausing to allow them to catch their breath before he would continue. While Christine slept, he sang to Charles intending to give her a musical score to accent her dreams, hoping that he would be in them. He gazed upon her peaceful face; blemished by the bruise she had developed, remembering the first time that he had watched her sleep. They had both been so different then, so naive of what it would take for them to truly be together. He hoped that they were no longer that easily distracted by the outside forces that would always be determined to tear them apart.

Other than the obvious pain that Christine was enduring, the day had been the most perfect he believed that he had ever had. As night had fallen, Charles's cot was brought into the room and set up on the wall opposite the bed. Erik desired to sleep along side Christine, but knew that it would be highly inappropriate with the boy present. It would have been inappropriate had Charles not been there, but he doubted he would have cared if that were the case. Only for the sake of the child would he deny himself the pleasure of waking to her touch.

Knowing that it had been time to take his leave for the evening, he lingered at the door, reluctant to end the tranquility of the day. Taking one last look around the room, he addressed Christine and said, "I will sleep in your previous cabin tonight. I would like to check on you later to make sure that you are comfortable. Would that be acceptable?"

"Of course," she replied. "Erik, please come to me a moment."

He moved back to where she lay on her side, propped by all the pillows that he had managed to get his hands on earlier. She made a gesture for him to come close to her and he leaned across the mattress. Once he was within her reach, she wrapped a hand behind his head and pulled his lips to hers. Afraid to ignite a passion in them both that could not be fulfilled, her kiss was innocently sweet. When it ended, she whispered, "I shall miss you until you return, Angel."

His heart full to bursting, he withdrew from her and the bed. As he passed by Charles in his cot, he had reached down and patted the boy's hair causing him to look up with sleepy eyes. "You must come and retrieve me if your Mother needs anything. You are in charge of her care while I am not here." Charles nodded wearily and Erik smiled down at him with a look of pride.

In the night, he had returned to the cabin to check on her. She was sleeping fitfully, unassisted by any drug. He pulled his desk chair over to the side of the bed and sat watching her sleep, needing to be near her. Before he had known it, he had fallen asleep as well.

Now he stood up on deck wishing he hadn't risen from the chair that morning and returned to his duties, leaving Stone to care for the passengers. He had known that if he had stayed, he would never get to work. He would lock himself in the cabin with the two and never emerge. It would be the first prison that he would willingly submit to.

Each time that his First Mate would appear, Erik would make his way to him and inquire about how the couple was faring. Stone was amused by the Captain's behavior, more like a schoolboy than the commanding officer of the ship. "Captain, why don't you just go down below and check on them yourself? They have been asking for you each time I go in. Ease your mind and go to them."

"I have been remiss in my duties, Stone. If I continue this way, my crew will lose all respect for me and I will be forced to relinquish command of my ship before I know it." He sounded miserable and irritated by his current state of exile from where he wished to be.

"Would you really care?" Stone asked with a mocking smile.

Erik decided that it was a good thing that they weren't closer to the railing or he most definitely would have pushed the man over board. "I will go to them at suppertime. How are her wounds?"

"She is mending well. You did a fine job of patching her up, Captain. She's even been up and about a bit today."

Alarmed at this, Erik said, "She needs to rest, Stone. Tell her to remain in the bed and not to exert herself!"

"I think only you are capable of issuing such demands to Madam de Chagny."

"Don't call her that to me," he snapped. His mood now more foul than before.

"Aye sir," Stone muttered and walked away.

His anger and stubbornness giving him a new fervor toward his work, Erik strode around the deck, barking out orders. He was taking out his obligation to be there on the crew and he didn't care. They had been pampered long enough on this voyage. Each second that slowly crawled by increased his frustration and thus amplified his domineering. He was sure that the dining hour would never arrive.

Just as he was preparing to verbally castrate a young landsman, Stone appeared and informed him that he had just delivered the evening meal to his cabin. With a scowl cast at the offending sailor, he spun on his heel and headed for the companionway like a man running to his salvation. Stone patted the relieved young man on the back in a consoling manner and moved to assume command in the Captain's absence.

Erik did not knock as he entered. In fact, he was so tied in knots at the moment that he strode into the room like a bull elephant, slamming the opposite wall with the door and causing Christine and Charles to jump in surprise. "Erik," Christine said nervously, "have you had a difficult day?"

Looking down at her, he pointed a finger and said firmly, "You do not rise out of that bed until I have told you it is permissible. If you open your wounds, they will never heal!"

"There is a nicer way to keep me in your bed Erik, you needn't shout," she said playfully, blushing to her roots.

At first he didn't understand what she was saying, but as he came to the realization of her teasing, his expression changed from disapproving to desirous. She glanced toward Charles to try and keep Erik from acting on her suggestion. Following her gaze, he turned his attention to the boy and took a second to focus on the child, trying to erase the vision of the temptress that lounged on the bunk.

"Shall we eat?" she inquired. Gesturing to the food on the table, she said, "Stone has laid out a wonderful meal for us. Your backup cook is almost as good as the other. How is he doing, by the way?"

Knowing she was trying to divert his thoughts to the mundane, he answered, "He is recovering. The stab wounds were not too deep fortunately." He took Charles by the hand and led him to his seat at the table, which had been pulled up to sit beside the bed. This arrangement enabled Christine to reach the food without having to leave the bed. "Are you comfortable, Christine?"

"Yes. Thank you, Erik. The pain has seemed to lessen. Perhaps you will give me permission to get up soon?" she asked teasing him again. She wondered at her easy cajoling. This had not been a part of their relationship before. Was it the change in her or in him?

Erik was preparing Charles's plate and at her question he raised his exposed eyebrow and shook his head. "You have become quite a woman Christine. I daresay you are even closer to perfection with your new saucy attitude. You should beware; however, as I will be taking full advantage of your playfulness once you are well again."

Charles seemed confused by his mother and the Captain's words. He looked from one to the other wondering at them. "Mama, Is Captain Apollos your friend now too?" he finally asked.

"Yes, little man. He is my good friend," she said warmly smiling.

After they had dined and Erik had cleaned up the dishes, placing them in the hall for Stone to collect, he examined Christine's injuries again and redressed them. Satisfied that she would be able to arise on the morrow, he said, "You have my permission to leave your sickbed tomorrow, Christine. But you are not to overtax yourself. Understand?"

"Aye, Captain," she said with a mock salute. As he was turning toward the door she said, "Please stay the evening, Erik. It is so boring without you here." Charles rolled his eyes and nodded.

"As you wish. But you must sing with me."

Embarrassed she said, "Oh no, I can't. I'm very rusty. I haven't sung in many years."

"You must sing with me. I will forgive your neglect toward your voice in the past, but that has ended here," he stated firmly.

"Alright," she said meekly. Her insides were churning at the thought of mixing her voice with his once again.

"Mama, you can't. What about your Angel?" Charles asked worriedly.

Staring directly into Erik's eyes she said, "My Angel has returned to me, Charles."

Erik turned to his desk and produced a page of music, which he handed to her. She looked nervous at the idea of singing a new song that she didn't know, but he reassured her by saying, "I will guide you."

Erik began,

I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me

He gestured to Christine to sing the next stanza. Her voice filled the room as she sang,

Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing

Again he prodded her to go on,

I don't know what is going on
Can't work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me

His rich tenor voice took over,

I just can't believe my eyes
You look at me as though
You couldn't bear to lose me

He continued:

Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing

He took her hand in his. Their eyes were locked on each other, and in beautiful harmony they sang,

I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me

Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing

Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing

As they finished, the room was silent save for the sound of their panting breaths. Charles broke the quiet as he clapped and showed his appreciation for the spectacle that he had just witnessed. Erik put a hand to the side of her head and ran it down her silky tresses as he said, "Your voice is still exquisite."

"It still matches yours perfectly."

Ignoring the child in the room, Erik bent for a taste of her lips. It was the only thing that could follow a moment like they had just shared. Breaking apart, they heard Charles giggling and turned to look at the boy. "You kissed my Mama!" he exclaimed between laughs.

Erik found himself blushing from the child's amusement. Looking back at Christine, she shrugged and shook her head saying, "Well you did!"

Without a word, he planted a quick, hard kiss on her lips sending Charles and Christine into more fits of giggling. "You two are going to drive me to insanity yet!" he jested.

They passed the remainder of the evening in pleasant conversation while Erik attempted to teach Charles to play chess. When she asked, he told Christine of the origins of his career as a ship's Captain. She was warmed when he told her the translation of Fereshteh and thrilled to know that he had purchased a home for himself in America.

"You would love it, Christine. When I bought it I could envision you there. Perhaps when we land you will accompany me to see it." And stay forever, he thought.

"Perhaps," was her only answer. She had requested that he bring the sewing into the room and did not take her eyes off of the stitching when she replied. There was truly nothing she wanted more.