CHAPTER 6

Christine woke to the sound of the fire crackling in the corner. She rolled over to her side to see The Phantom sleeping with his head upon the desk. "He looks like a schoolboy who's gotten bored with his studies," she thought to herself. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He bolted upright and was immediately awake.

"Christine, are you cold? What's wrong? Do you need something?"

She smiled at is concern for her then answered, "There's enough room over there for the both of us, Angel. Please come lay next to me. You'll become terribly stiff sleeping in that manner and the body heat will do us both good," she stated, matter-of-factly.

"Do not worry about me, mon ange, I do not sleep much," he said to her simply. "Did I not tell myself earlier I would not get any sleep tonight? The irony of it all!" He mocked himself. "Besides, I would hate to intrude on you in such a fashion." The Phantom gestured with his hand at the makeshift bed of blankets in the corner.

Christine took his hands in hers and looked at him with pleading eyes, "Please…" Her voice trailed off into the air between them.

"How could I possibly deny her?" That look would be the death of him. He would never be able to refuse her.

She motioned for him to lie down and get comfortable, and as he positioned himself closely to the wall, bringing his hands up behind his head, she climbed in next to him. She lifted the blanket around them both and nestled herself against him. She sensed the faintest hint of spices. "His cologne," she thought to herself. Wrapping her arm across his chest, she could hear his heart racing.

The Phantom couldn't believe how extremely close she was. Being able to feel her clinging to him was sheer bliss. The smell of her skin and hair, a mix of roses and lavender, was drifting and filling his senses. "I could die right now and be complete," he thought. He slowly drew back his hand to gently caress her tresses that lay scattered about them both.

Without a thought, Christine looked up at him and said, "Angel, I love you."

Sighing, he corrected her sentiment of Angel as he responded, "I love you too, but I am no Angel..." he closed his eyes and whispered softly, "just Erik."

Christine asked quizzically, "What did you say, Angel?"

He took a deep breath and then answered her, "My name… It's Erik. I am no Angel, Christine. Just a man named Erik."

Christine pondered this new information then tested his name on her tongue. "Erik, yes, it suits you very much… Erik…" she mumbled a few times.

At the sound of his name on her lips, he swore he had never heard anything more heavenly, as she said it.

"Erik, to me, you will always be my Angel of Music as well," she said solemnly, with no room for him to argue. She held him closer and he placed a kiss into the mess of curls upon her head.

"Sleep now, mon chér." Erik said as he closed his eyes.

Christine let out a small yawn and smiled as sleep once again took her.

Author's Note
To my regular readers as well as my new ones: Alucard's Secret Lover, wiseupjanetweiss, and corruptmind21. Thanks for reviewing and glad you are enjoying the read! -hugs- Updates as soon as humanly possible everyone. -smiles-