A/N: My apologies for the long wait. According to my reviewers, fluff, plot and passion is a must. Be patient with me though, I'll try my best! The DVD is wonderful isn't it?

Red Rose

Chapter XII: Drowning in the Waters of Love

Two weeks had passed since their unwanted visit to the hospital. Erik stayed by Christine's side for the entire time. At moments, a thought ran through Christine's mind, did Erik sleep? But he was human, so-didn't he have to? And, where exactly did Erik sleep? The only bed within the cellar was the one she was resting on, and surely, he did not sleep in the coffin found over beside the river's bank? That would be terrible!

When Christine had enough strength to eat, Erik would wrap her arms around his neck, and carry her bridal style to a petite table which they ate their food on. If not, Erik would bring Christine her meals in bed, making sure Miss Daae's comfort level was at its highest.

That day, she was stretched out onto the sofa, reading. Christine curled her bare toes into the fabric, feeling a rush of icy air against exposed skin. The girl shivered, pulling her clothing closer to her body. Erik noticed this.

"My dear?"

"Hm?" she lazily responded, engrossed in her book from his library. She wore her white nightgown with the matching shear robe, which Erik had kindly retrieved from her dressing room. In one hand she held the novel, and with the other Christine twirled a lock of hair around her delicate fingers.

"You seem to be shivering, are you cold?" He had forgotten just how grim cellar life was.

"Only a bit, Erik. I'm just fine how I am, though." She giggled, staring up at him.

Frowning slightly, he removed his cloak and took a seat next to her on the coach. Then Erik encircled the clothing around her, as if it were a blanket. "Better?"

Christine smiled shyly as her cheeks became heated, a sign that she was indeed blushing. "Oui…"

"What are you reading, Christine?" Erik tapped the cover lightly.

"Paper…" She joked.

"Yes, I know that…" He cuddled closer to her, running his hand down one of her arms.

"Edgar Allan Poe…"

"Oh? Isn't he a little…depressing for you?" Erik's eyes slightly widened at her choice in literature.

Christine wanted to say 'He reminds me of you, Erik. He was such a tortured man, knowing nothing but loneliness, hurt and death. Everyone he loved either left him, or left life. He was such a romantic gentlemen too, and thought woman were divine creatures from god. Edgar showed them respect.' But, she wasn't sure how Erik would take that…

"I wanted to know more about this Red Death, you came to the Masque ball as." The woman half lied. "It seems this man wrote the tale. I thought I should read it. It's quite the thriller!"

"I see…" Christine looked so cute there, her skin radiating with the glow of the candlelight.

"Erik?"

Her voice had brought him back down to earth, as the phantom repositioned himself on the sofa. "Yes, Christine?"

"You know," a pause, "I wouldn't be in half as good of shape, if you weren't taking such excellent care of me. For that, I thank you dearly." Quickly, brown eyes shot down upon the yellow parchment of her novel. Christine found it very difficult to read however, for she felt as though he was watching her. The little black words that created a story just seemed to become a horizontal blur in her mind.

Placing the book on her lap, Christine looked over in the direction of the lake. She blinked, looked at Erik, and stared back. "It's been awhile since I've been able to-ummm…" A forefinger placed itself on the flesh of her lips, "able to…" 'Oh, why can't I just say it?'

"Bathe, my dear?" Erik helped out, with a slight faded blush dominating his visible cheek.

"Well, yes. I probably stink to high heaven!"

Erik smiled softly, shaking his head at such a remark.

"You can do so…" He winced, "in the lake." 'God knows how sanitary that lake water might be. I only hope my corpses have decomposed by now. Then again…how clean am I really?'

This very thought resulted in a sniffing of clothing, very odd and peculiar to the singer, causing her to laugh a bit.

"Forgive me if I was seeing things, but were you just checking your odor?"

"I-I thought there was a rodent on me…"Erik sweat dropped, plopping back down next to her. "Maybe it would be best if I took you back to the dormitories."

"I'm not quite up to it…"

"I could carry you."

"I don't want to go back just yet." Christine stated simply. "There's water here. Why not use it?"

Erik pondered this for a moment, got up and circled the area around the bank. "You want to go in there?" He pointed to the dark misty depths of the aqua. "Is that right?"

She nodded.

Erik let out a deep sigh in defeat, and traveled back to her. "Let's go, then."

To tell you the truth, Christine had found it very hard, not to be enjoying her way of transportation those past 14 days. In fact, she found it very tricky, not to let a smile creep its way across her face, in delight. She watched silently as Erik used one arm to tightly secure her body to him, and the other, to air out his cloak again, letting it naturally spread across the ground. His muscles relaxed as he placed Christine on the fabric, careful for her not to get cold. He then turned himself from her. "You can get undressed on that."

Christine obediently obeyed, trusting Erik not to look. She fastened the cloak around her, which served great purpose as a towel, and crawled over to the edge of the lake, looking deep into the mist.

"On second thought, maybe I don't need a bath…" Christine murmured.

Erik fought with himself not to look, but when he managed to catch a brief glimpse of her, from the corner of his eye, it was to his relief, that Christine was covered up. And so, he turned around and knelt down beside her. "Is something wrong?"

"It seems so deep…" She trembled. "I might sink right to the bottom!"

"And I suppose you think that you'll drown?" Erik let another sigh escape his lips. "Christine, you're not heavy enough to drown." He grinned, something Erik did rarely.

"I do not find it funny!"

"No, no of course it's not…" Erik said, regaining his composer. Yes, Christine falling to the bottom of a lake like a rock was not a laughing matter. "You don't have to worry, I'm right here. I will let nothing happen to you, Christine. Now, the sooner you get washed, the sooner I can tend to your wounds. Don't make me push you in there. I did offer to take you back for a proper washing, you know."

"You wouldn't push me in…" Christine smiled mischievously, noting how close Erik was to the water. One more inch and…

"Oh, but I would."

"But you can't…"

"And why not?"

Christine placed a hand on his chest, leaning into him, "Because…" She whispered into his ear, "You're all ready in it." Firmly but lightly, Christine applied just enough force to send Erik into the mist with a satisfying splash.

Erik popped his head out of the water, with a look of shock on his face. "You pushed me in…"

"Yes, and it was very fun in doing so." Christine laughed, watching as he pulled his wet hair out of his face. The wet sleeves of his shirt were clinging to the skin of his arms, as they floated on top of the water. "I clearly have underestimated you, my dear."

"Yes you have, Erik!" What a triumph this was to her. "Really though, are you all right?"

"Just swallowed some water…" He replied, swimming closer to her.

Christine was now on her hands and knees, gazing in at him. "I hope it wasn't too much." Her face just seemed to brighten up, with a look as if she had fallen head first into a full on type of love. Christine was far too busy admiring Erik, to even notice that he had wrapped a damp arm around her waist and had dragged her in with him.

The outcome of this was a smaller splash, a tiny yelp and a fierce hold on Erik.

"Erik! Erik!" She cried, her eyes tightly shut.

He drew her to him. "I have you, Christine. You're safe. I won't let you go…"

Christine slowly fluttered her eyelids open, and looked up into his turquoise orbs…

I won't let you go…

It echoed in her head.

For the first time…

Christine didn't want her freedom. He didn't have to let go.

………

(Sitting on Erik's lap) Yes, Christine had her bath… I suppose. And Erik, well, he probably left. I leave it up to your imagination! Use it, its fun! Anyway, more chapters will be coming, if only you review! As much as it pains me, I will allow Erik to give out kisses to each who review.

Erik: Unless you happen to be a man. Then I must decline.