Disclaimer: Don't own Phantom.

Chapter Sixteen

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The morning sun did not shine on her face, yet Christine woke anyhow, blinking in the pitch-blackness around her and wondering if she was really opening her eyes.

Shifting slightly in the bed, she faltered when she felt warmth against her back. Quickly the night before came to mind and she flushed and turned. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough that she could see the outline of her bedmate. Erik was sleeping soundly, bare chest visible and the blankets tangled around his waist. His usually perfect hair was mussed and she smiled.

Christine had woken in Erik's arms every day since his first escape from the circus, but they had never been naked before each other before, and it changed things considerably.

Her face softening, she let her chest press to Erik's as she put a few kisses along his jaw line and cheeks.

She felt Erik's arms tighten a bit around her and she smiled, opening her eyes and meeting his gaze.

"Good morning." He whispered, voice thick and gruff from sleep. His eyes suddenly went wide when he realized they were both quite naked, and he scrambled back a bit, shocked that a certain part of him was quite happy with the new sleepy arrangements.

"Oh! Last night, oh God Christine, do you regret it now? There's no way to regain what you lost."

She smiled gently, putting her fingers over his lips.

"Shh, I could never regret it. I told you long ago that we would experience that together eventually… I was ready, and you were, too."

He nodded shyly, still lying away from Christine. Boldly, she reached out beneath the covers to grab what she had felt so insistently against her abdomen moments before. "And, monsieur, I think you're ready now, too."

He flushed, gently moving her hand and clearing his throat.

"Yes, I was more than ready last night, but I cannot stop fearing that we should have waited, that you will grow to wish we hadn't-"

"Stop, Erik. I know you're used to waiting for the bottom to fall out of everything, but this won't go wrong. We won't go wrong."

Nodding weakly, Erik drew Christine close again and for a long while they silent held one-another, until both grew too hungry and they ventured out of bed for something to eat.

XXX

After breakfast, Christine announced that she was going to clean the library. Erik nodded and went to read in the sitting room, knowing that Christine would come to him when she was finished. And anyway, the library was quite dusty…

XXX

Sneezing, Christine giggled as a plume of dust rose up into the air. Dusting all these shelves too longer that she thought it would. Sighing softly, she began to sing an old folk tune, lifting a stack of books to the shelf. She wasn't aware that her song had brought Erik to the doorway until she turned and saw him watching her with wide, loving eyes. She jumped and put a hand to her chest, gasping for breath.

"Oh, you startled me, Erik." She exclaimed, moving toward him.

"I apologize. I was drawn by your singing."

She flushed.

"You… your singing is amazing, and I just can't understand, why are you in the ballet chorus and not a diva? Why aren't you singing?"

She turned bright red. "I'm not that good, Erik. I couldn't be the prima donna. And anyway, that roll is already taken."

"I've heard that cow sing, Christine. With a little work you could easily get the manager's attention, you already sing better than her, but you must be so amazing that no one can ignore the perfection of your voice."

"Oh Erik, I haven't time to learn to sing. I'd have to sacrifice all my free time that I spend with you."

He fell silent at that.

"Give me some time to think, Christine. I will find a way.