Disclaimer: Don't own Phantom.

Chapter Three

XXX

Weeks went by, and Christine had formed a deal with Javert. For five francs every night, she could go into Erik's cage and sit with him for one hour after closing time. Each night she brought him something, be it warm food or a soft blanket to wrap himself in while she was there. A bond was quickly forging between the two of them, and Christine had taken to kissing him softly upon entering the cage and upon leaving. She could not deny that she thought of this poor man all day, and after going to him, she would dream about his freedom all night.
Meg had taken to teasing Christine, calling Erik her midnight lover, and the words caused her to flush bright red each time. She didn't know it for sure, but Christine had a feeling that she was falling in love with the poor man she visited, and falling in love with him more each night.

Entering his cage, Javert locked it securely behind Christine, than disappeared to his tent. After a few days, he'd taken to leaving Christine and Erik alone, knowing that there was no need for his supervision, it wasn't as if Erik could escape, after all. And all they ever did was talk, and they were always too quiet for Javert to hear.

Christine knelt before Erik, kissing him sweetly and wrapping a blanket around his shoulders.

"I have not forgotten my promise." she whispered, smoothing his hair and wetting a cloth to wash his fresh wounds. Javert had taken to punishing Erik for the brief happiness that he found in Christine's visits, and each night he had new injuries for Christine to tend to.

"I haven't forgotten, and I've been talking to a few trusted friends at the opera, we meet in secret each day and discuss ways to free you."

Erik simply nodded, accepting the bread she offered and eating it ravenously as Christine finished cleaning his face and took to petting his sparse hair and fluffing it absently.

"Why are you doing this?" Erik finally asked. He'd been trying to get the nerve to ask Christine that for weeks, and when he saw the hurt in her eyes, he instantly regretted the question..

"Because I care for you!" she exclaimed, tears filling her eyes, "do you still not trust me?"

Erik lowered his head in shame, nodding. "I do trust you, I apologize." he murmured, and Christine took a shaky breath, adjusting the blanket a bit tighter around him and rubbing his back.

"What will you do when you're free?" she asked softly, and he looked up at her.

"I... don't know. There isn't much I could do, my face..."

She frowned. "Before you were... here, what did you do about your face?" she asked curiously, tilting her head. Erik sighed.

"My mask. I... they took it from me..." tears filled his eyes, and compassion filled hers.

"Oh Erik... when you're free, I'll get you a mask, I promise." she breathed, and he stiffened.

Immediately realizing what was wrong, she cupped his cheek and looked into his eyes. "But you must not wear it in front of me." she stated sternly, and Erik gave Christine a shaky smile, his eyes closing in obvious pleasure when her lips came against his own.

"Meg calls you my lover." she whispered against his lips several moments later, and Erik shyly touched her hair.

"Am I?" he asked, eyes still closed.

"Do you want to be?" she returned, and he opened his eyes to meet hers.

"Do you need to ask, Christine?"

She gave him a soft smile, kissing him again chastely, than drawing him against her chest.

They sat that way until Javert came to unlock the cage, and Christine pressed one last kiss to his lips.

When she stepped from the cage, Javert smiled cruelly at Christine. "Don't bother coming tomorrow, girly. We're packing up and leaving at first light."

Christine gasped, a hand going to her throat, and Javert just laughed, locking the cage again and striding away. Rushing to the bars, Christine reached for Erik's hand and held it tightly.

"Tonight. Give me a few hours and I shall be back with my friend Jean." she promised, pulling his hand through the bars and kissing his fingers softly. "You will be free."

XXX

"Erik! Erik, wake up!" came Christine's frantic whispering, and Erik's eyes fluttered open. Groaning softly, Christine immediately shushed him.

"Jean is picking the lock." she breathed, and Erik's head whipped to the door where a lithe man was biting his lip in concentration as he did his best to break into the cage, bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation. Turning back to Christine, Erik's eyes filled with tears.

"I didn't dare hope..."

She smiled. "I promised, didn't I?" she asked softly, and Erik reached through the bars, grasping Christine's hands in his own and squeezing them.

"Where shall I go?" he asked fearfully, and Christine gave him a nervous smile.

"To my flat, if you wish..." she breathed, her face flushed. Erik bit his lip and nodded.

"If you're certain..."

"I am."

Suddenly Jean gave a soft, triumphant cry, throwing his arms up in the air.

"Ah ha! Just as easy as Firmin's wine cupboard! No lock is a match for my nimble hands!" he exclaimed in a hushed voice, hopping around in a merry jig, before turning, tossing the padlock aside into the tall grass growing a few feet away, and swinging the door open, "Hurry, monsieur!" he whispered, and Erik jumped up, stumbling out of the cage. Christine quickly put a dark, hooded cloak around Erik's shoulders and grasped his hand, gasping as he stood up to his full height for the fist time since they met.

"Oh...!" she gasped, and Erik looked down at her, straightening his shoulders and smiling briefly. Offering his arm, he arched an eyebrow.

"Mademoiselle?"

She giggled, flushing and taking his arm, and with Jean by their side they quickly rushed from the park and flagged down a carriage at the street. Jean helped them both in and smiled.

"I'll get my own carriage home. Be safe." he murmured, and Christine smiled, pressing his hands and kissing his cheek.

"Thank you, Jean... I don't know how I will ever repay you…"

"Don't, Christine. You haven't smiled like this since before your father died. Seeing you happy is the only payment I want. Now go, and be safe!"

Christine smiled softly and nodded, closing the carriage door and telling the driver where to go.

XXX

Reaching Christine's small flat, the driver opened the door to the carriage and Christine quickly crawled out, taking Erik's hand and leading him to the front door. Digging in her pocket, Christine pulled out the key and let them both in, then closed and locked the door behind them. Turning, she and Erik looked at each other silently for a few moments, before she rushed into his arms, sobbing softly.

"Shh, Christine..." Erik whispered, holding her close and resting his cheek against the top of her head, unsure what else to do. Frankly, he was just shocked that she had come to him for comfort… whenever his mother had cried, it was usually his fault…

"Oh God, I was so afraid..." she whispered, and they held each other silently then. Finally, Christine broke away and wiped at her eyes, looking up at Erik shyly.

"I... have some of my father's old clothes... I think they should fit you until we can find something more suitable." she murmured, and he nodded. "Come, I'll draw you a bath..."
Leading Erik into her bedroom, she slipped into the bathroom and began to fill the tub, then walked into her father's old room and found his old night clothes. Taking them into the bathroom, she sat them down on the counter, along with a towel and a few other personal items he could use to freshen up. She took a few moments to adjust the collar on the nightshirt thoughtfully. The last time she had seen it, her father had been wearing it, and she'd giggled and straightened his collar, teasing him about going to bed looking all frumpy.
She gave her head a slow shake, breaking away from her thoughts, and instead stepped across the floor.

Turning off the water, she walked back into her room to find Erik right where she'd left him, looking around her room and seeming, to Christine, to be right at home.

"Your bath is ready, and I put some night clothes in there for you as well." she said shyly, and Erik nodded, moving to Christine and cupping her cheek.

"Thank you." he whispered, and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he was nearly in tears from gratitude.

"You're welcome, Erik. Hurry now, before the water gets cold."

When his bath was finished, Erik emerged from the bathroom in his night clothes and peeked into Christine room to see her lying on the bed, obviously quite fast asleep. He faltered, before walking toward her and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

Blinking, Christine woke and looked up at Erik sweetly. "Come lay with me." she said, and he flushed.

"Perhaps I should sleep on your sofa, or the floor..."

She shook her head, eyes wide. "No, I want you to sleep here beside me."

Nodding slowly, Erik moved to lie beside Christine and pulled the covers up over them. Christine smiled broadly, curling against him and pillowing her head on his chest. She was aware, of course, of the impropriety of the sleeping arrangements, but at the moment she was so glad she'd managed to free him, that she absolutely refused to let him out of her sight.

"Goodnight, Erik."