Disclaimer: Don't own Phantom.

Chapter Five

XXX

Rehearsal had been long and tiring, and Christine was eager to return home to rest.

Or at least, that's what she told all the ballet girls when they asked why she was so jumpy. Really, she just wanted to get home to Erik. She was worried about having left him alone all day, and she wondered what he'd been up to.

Wrapping her cloak around herself, she put up her hood and rushed down the front stairs of the opera house. Raising her hand, she flagged down a carriage and climbed in, folding her hands in her lap and waiting until they reached her small home on the edge of the city. Placing a few coins in the drivers waiting palm, she burst into the house and stopped in her tracks.

Sitting in her wing-backed chair was her childhood friend, Raoul de Chagny. They'd talked a few times at the Opera, and gone to a few nice dinners in fancy restaurants, but she hadn't seen him in weeks, not since he had needed to go to Normandy to visit his cousin. Apparently, Raoul was back, and had taken advantage of the copy of Christine's key he carried in case of an emergency.

"Oh, Raoul!" she cried, rushing toward him and smiling. "You're home, I hadn't expected you to be back so soon! What are you doing here, though?"

Raoul smiled thinly, standing and taking her hands in his own. "Well, I'd thought that I would surprise you and be here when you returned from rehearsals, but when I let myself in…" he pulled down his collar and showed Christine the ring of hand shaped bruises around his neck, "quite a curious guard dog you've acquired, Christine…"

She flushed crimson, looking around. "Where is he?"

Raoul shrugged. "After I insisted that I was a friend and showed him my copy of they key, he retreated into your bedroom. I haven't heard from him since, I've only been here perhaps an hour."

"Was he hurt?" she demanded, and Raoul looked stunned.

"No, he just almost killed me, Christine. Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll be able to breathe properly eventually."

She flushed. "I am sorry, Raoul… he's just… he's had a horrible life and I don't want to see him harmed any more than he already is."

"His face, you mean?"

She frowned. "His face is that way from birth, not an accident."

Raoul nodded, his face pale and a bit pinched. "I'll go get us something to drink." He murmured, ignoring the fact that Christine disliked alcohol. Once he'd left the room, she rushed to her bedroom and threw open the door.

A cry of relief flew from her lips when she saw Erik safe on the bed, apparently reading. He looked up with fearful eyes and sighed when he saw who it was.

"I… your friend, I'm afraid I hurt him, I thought he was a thief and I only wanted-"

Christine cut him off with a finger to his lips. "Shh, it's quite alright. Thank you for trying to protect my home… although Raoul is quite cross."

He sighed, and she sat next to him, kissing his cheek. "Would you like to come sit with us?"

At his fearful look, she sighed. "I shall have to get you a mas." Her voice was resigned, and he nodded.

"I would like that very much."

She nodded with another soft sigh, and he shyly took her hand.

"I'll fetch you a mask tomorrow."