CHAPTER 4

Christine didn't know how long she lay there. It seemed an eternity. She had just begun to give up all hope, when suddenly something warm wrapped around her trembling cold flesh. The Phantom gracefully covered her small frame with a blanket. They looked into each other's eyes. There was no longer any room for words. Everything was being said in that moment, as they gazed into one another's souls. He reached for Christine's face and drew her close to him. She closed her eyes, as he traced along the sides of her face with his fingers. His lips found hers and there was no hidden meaning this time. This kiss was pure and forged of love for one another.

Christine opened her mouth slightly, inviting him in further, but she drew in a breath, as he moved away from her. A few tears escaped her, as she wondered why he broke their kiss.

The Phantom didn't want to ruin something so sweet and innocent. He cursed his body. The fire was hot, raging inside of him. He wanted her, but this was much too soon. It had taken everything inside him to break away from her, as he felt her lips part slightly. The tears he saw her shed woke him from his beastly urges. "Shhhh, no more anger, no more tears." His calming words soothed her. "Come inside, Christine. We must get you warm before you catch your death of cold."

Christine lifted her head slightly in disbelief. She could see a faint light, where once there was just stone. She raised herself up and felt herself being pulled toward the warmth of the room before her.

He led her to a small pile of blankets in the corner. Making sure she was seated upon the mound, he walked over to the other corner of the room, where he added another log into the flames.

The room was small, but big enough to house a small chair and table. Against the far wall, she could make out a few crates, not knowing their contents, but surely it was provisions of some sort. She watched him lift the lid of the top crate and gather a few items from them. He turned, walking gracefully toward her, and seated himself in front of her with his legs crossed. All she could do was lose her self in his eyes.

The Phantom furrowed his eyebrows, as he slowly reached for her hands. "This will need bandaging, mon ange…"

Christine couldn't find her voice. She still couldn't believe she was here before him.

"Christine, you really should be careful. Your beautiful hands should not be subject to injury such as these," he said with concern, as he slowly began to clean the dried blood from her hands and proceeded to dress them.

She was utterly confused. "Had he not refused me? But if he had, why am I here with him now?" She wouldn't question it. She'd take what she'd been given and ease her way back into his good graces.

"There. Let's not make this a habit, mademoiselle. You're far too fragile for this kind of behavior." Looking intensely into her eyes, he gently raised her hands up, kissing them, and placed them in her lap, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Angel, I…" Christine was silenced as The Phantom placed a finger to her lips.

"Get some sleep, mon ange. We shall talk after you've rested."

Christine had many questions she wanted to ask. "But Angel, I…"

His touch silenced her once more, as he laid his hands on her shoulders, easing her to lie down.

Her eyelids were heavy from the entire night's events. She could no longer resist the sleep that came, as she closed her eyes.

As her breathing became deep and even, The Phantom made sure the blankets were secure around her and brushed away a stray curl that had fallen across her face. There she slept, his Angel from Heaven. "Is there in fact a God, which has granted me this gift, laying before me now?" He marveled. He kissed her forehead, ever so gently, and walked over to the small table and chair. He sat down and stretched his long legs in front of him. "Surely, I won't get any sleep tonight," he thought to himself, as the memories of the night crashed onto the shores of his mind. "I've gone longer without sleep before. Tonight shouldn't be such a chore," he concluded.

And so he sat, a smile upon his face, fleeting, watching the firelight dance across his Angel's face… his Christine… HIS!

Author's Note
To: Pertie, Twinkle22, Mz. Kelsi, So Red The Rose, xxphantomphanessxx, and Hearts Aflame! -hugs- Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I'm so glad to gain a few more readers.