A/N: After much consideration I have decided to go with the masses and keep the song lyrics in the story. I chose these songs that follow because of thier relavance to each part of the story and I feel to remove them will not be good. As I explained in the disclaimer in Chapter 1, a complete "Bibliography" or credit list for each song will be included at the conclusion of this story. Sorry to any one who thinks this is wrong.
Chapter 4 – His Gift to Her
Late that same evening Kimberlee was again on the rooftop waiting for Erik, this time she had a shawl. She had brought her sheet music for a song the senior choir would be performing at the Graduation ceremonies in two weeks; she hoped to work on it with Erik during tonight's lesson. The song was "Bridge over Troubled Water". The song itself seemed depressing to sing at the commencement, but the choir had won the championships singing it so the director wanted to perform it once again. She felt a presence behind her and turned around, but there was no one there. She smiled and made her way toward one of the gargoyles on the roof.
She started to sing as she leaned against the gargoyle closing her eyes.
"Think of me, think of me fondly; when we've said goodbye. Remember me, once in a while; please promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free"
Suddenly another voice joined hers as an arm wrapped around her in a gentle embrace.
"If you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me."
She spun around in Erik's arms and placed her lips on his in a passionate kiss, which he gladly reciprocated. While they embraced he took his cloak in his hands and enclosed her in it with him holding her tight against his body. He could feel the heat between their two bodies and was sure he could feel her heart beat against his own, matching it's beat with her own. When they parted their lips he continued to hold her in his embrace and she held him against her just as tightly as he her. She laid her head on his chest and breathed in his scent, a scent of freshly carved cedar with a slight musk.
"I'm wearing a shawl tonight, or did you not notice" she said smirking.
"I did, but it is also a very thin shawl and won't keep you warm. Besides, I like holding you in my arms."
"I like it that you like it. I like being in your arms."
He tilted his head down and met her lips in another kiss.
"Come we must go, what have you brought with you?"
"I brought the sheet music to 'Bridge over Troubled Water'. I was hoping that we could practice this tonight, the director has given me the second verse solo and I'm nervous."
"Of course we can go over the song. Then I have a gift for you."
"I like presents" she said taking his hand in hers and leading them toward the door.
"I know you do" he said with a laugh.
They went back into the opera house and quickly made their way to the stage where there was a secret access panel unaware that they had been seen as they entered the passageway.
An hour had already gone by and Kimberlee's voice was beginning to get very tired. Erik signalled her to stop and take a break.
"Kimberlee, you've got the part down perfectly. I don't know why you are so nervous."
"It's one thing to sing in front of total strangers, people who don't see you every day. It's another thing entirely to sing in front of people you know, people who judge you daily."
"If you overwork your voice, you won't be singing in front of everyone, you'll croak like a frog. That would be worse" he said grinning.
"You are not helping here Mr, but you are right. Let's stop for tonight…..so where's my present?"
"Present, what present?"
"You said you had a present for me, or was that your way of getting me down here so you could have your wicked ways with me" she said smirking.
Erik walked toward her, took her hands in his pulling her up out of the chair and lifting her into his arms. She was completely at his mercy and he knew it. He gently kissed her neck and heard her moan. His body began to stir and suddenly his pants began to feel very tight. He was sure that if he made a move to seduce her she would probably be seduced willingly, but he didn't want to rush into it. He didn't want to ruin their friendship or their newfound romance by moving too quickly, so he fought the urge within. He placed her back down onto the ground and kissed her quickly before stepping away.
"Sit down and I shall give you your present."
"What that wasn't it….that was pretty good."
"Perhaps one day, but not tonight."
Kimberlee sat down in her chair and watched as he went to the organ and sat down.
"Now, please remember that I don't listen to much of the same music you listen to, so this is new to me. I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I will"
Erik began to play the opening chords to 'You and Me' by Lifehouse. She closed her eyes as he sang the words and imagined they were written for them alone.
"What day is it, and in what month,
This clock never seemed so alive.
I can't keep up,
And I can't back down,
I've been losing so much time.
Cause it's you and me, and all of the people
With nothing to do and nothing to lose.
And it's you and me, and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you.
What are the things that I wanna say,
That just aren't coming out right.
I'm tripping on words,
You've got my head spinning,
I don't know where to go from here.
Cause it's you and me, and all of the people,
With nothing to do and nothing to prove.
And it's you and me, and all of the people,
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you.
Something about you now I can't quite figure out.
Everything she does is beautiful,
Everything she does is right.
Cause it's you and me, and all of the people,
With nothing to do and nothing to lose.
And it's you and me and all of the people,
And I don't know why I can' t keep my eyes off of you.
And me and all of the people,
Nothing to do and nothing to prove.
And it's you and me, and all of the people,
And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you.
What day is it, and in what month,
this clock never seemed so alive."
Erik turned to face Kimberlee when he finished the song. He saw that she was crying and wondered if he had sounded that bad. She looked at him, stood up, walked over to him and sat on his lap claiming his mouth with hers. He placed his hands on her hips and this time it was he who moaned as she parted his lips with her tongue. He could taste the salt in her tears. He was so lost in the kiss he never even realized that she had removed his mask, finally revealing all of himself to her. Only when their lips parted did he realize it, but the look in her eyes was not fear, nor did he have any anger in his toward her for doing it. She looked at him with complete love and trust and touched the side of his face which was disfigured. She kissed the cheek where no one had even touched since he was a child and then looked into his crystal blue eyes with her own hazel ones and smiled.
"You are as handsome as I imagined. The song was beautiful, thank you for singing it to me."
"You're welcome; it was my gift to you since you've given me so much."
"Are you angry with me for removing your mask?" she asked
"I should be, I never wanted you to see this," he said motioning to his face, "but I'm not. If there is one person I want to share all of me with, it's you my love."
"And I want to share all of me with you, but you were right when you said we should wait. Our time will come…though it feels so right now."
"Then I'd better get you back to your room where you can come back to your senses….you'll have to get off my lap for us to go."
"I'm not ready to go just yet. Could you just play for me a while and let me listen."
"For a short while yes."
Kimberlee smiled and walked back over to her chair. Erik turned to the organ and began to play a song that had been flowing through his mind and heart since their first kiss only the night before, a song he was composing just for her. When Erik turned to face her he could see that she had fallen asleep so he carefully scooped her up and carried her back to her room. He carefully laid her on the bed and brushed her hair off her face, stroking her softly as not to wake her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"I love you" he whispered to her.
"I love you too" she whispered back.