Erik:

The first day that I was able to walk on my own, albeit slowly, out of the bedroom was the very day Nadir departed. Relieved to be out from under his ever-present surveillance, I was rather surprised to find that, after a time - I somewhat missed his irritating, annoyingly calm companionship. Unbeknownst to Christine, I was initially riled when I finally awoke from the fog of fever to find that the Daroga had been brought to my underground lair. Deliberately, I had taken great pains to keep the location of my home a secret from Nadir. Realizing the necessity which had brought him to my home since he had literally carried me there, I could not fault Christine for permitting him to assist her. Madame Giry had visited occasionally but I was reassured by her that no one else knew of the whereabouts of my hidden home beneath the Opera.

Once I began to recuperate, I was shocked by the weight Christine had lost while I had been ill. She relayed all that had occurred after I had been shot at the Victomte's chateau and showed me the newspaper clippings. Intensely, I listened carefully as she informed me that de Chagny had been committed to a sanitarium. Although Christine seemed saddened by the turn of events, she did not appear as though she were grieving the loss of Chagny in her life. I was relieved.

One afternoon as I sat before my pipe organ attempting to reacquaint myself with my long-neglected music, I sensed Christine behind me and looked over my shoulder. Instantly, she turned to the nearest table and began to furiously dust as though she had not been watching me. Chuckling knowingly to myself, I slowly turned around on my stool and murmured "Come here, Christine..." As though caught in a serious deception, she gazed at me guiltily before hesitantly approaching while wringing the dust cloth in her hands. Swallowing hard, she averted her eyes like a disobedient childas I looked upon her. A surge of profound love swelled through me when I thought of the sacrifices she had made to ensure my recovery. Lifting my hand, I lightly played with the end of her long curls before I gently pulled her to sit on my lap. Tenderly taking the cloth from her hands, I deposited it upon the floor and tilted her chin upwards. Gazing into her worried eyes, I smiled and assured her lovingly "I understand you are still concerned about me, but you need not hover, Sweet. I'll not be leaving you any time soon, My Nurturing Angel. You have saved my life, Christine. In more ways than one." Raising the back of her hand to my lips, I kissed it gratefully while keeping my gaze locked on hers. Knowing the excruciating fear and worry she must have experienced and had repressed in order to focus on my recuperation, I slowly lifted her in my arms and walked towards the divan. Sitting down, I kept her upon my lap and toyed with her long, curling hair once more. "I shall never be able to repay you for your bravery throughout this entire ordeal. What you did at the Vicomte's chateau must have been extremely difficult for you. I always knew you did not mean what you said to me that night, My Love." Taking her face in my hand, I breathed fervently "I am so proud of you, Christine."

My obvious pride and heartfelt gratitude appeared to be her undoing. Huge tears welled in her wide blue eyes before she clung to my neck and began to sob pitifully. Realizing that she had been holding all of her emotions inside, I held her tight and cooed softly into her ear. Rubbing her back gently as she wept, I was nearly overcome with tears myself as I marveled that someone would care about me so acutely. Her face buried in my neck, I heard her muffled attempts to speak and released my tight hold upon her. With utmost tenderness, I murmured "What is it, Angel?"

Gulping for breath, she sobbed in stuttering breaths "I...I...wwas nearly...ssick when I...sssaid those ththings to yyou, Erikk. I only hhoped that hhe would believe mmee! And wwhen you were...sh...shhhott, I ffelt the ppain mmyself." Breaking out in renewed spasmodic sobs, Christine stammered "Ohhhh Godd! I thought you would ddie!" My eyes misted with tears at the depth of despair Christine had experienced on my behalf. As she began to cry in earnest once again, I cuddled her close to me and was determined to hold her until her emotion was spent. Endlessly, she sobbed and clung to my shirt as my hand lightly brushed her long hair. As her breathing became somewhat calm, I sensed her intense weariness and whispered soothingly "I shall carry you to bed where you can rest. You are exhausted, Angel." Lifting her chin, she shook her head wildly and looked at me with swollen, bloodshot eyes. "No. No, Erik, please. Don't let go of me... Please." Flooded with a protective love and thrilled that she desired for me to continue holding her, I smiled gently. "I will never let you go, Christine. Never..." Reclining upon the divan, I kept her settled atop me and propped the back of my head with a pillow. Christine snuggled against me as though she could not get close enough and I carefully moved her luxuriant hair to one side. Stroking her back, my other arm held her firmly about her waist. After a short time, she began to twitch and breathe regularly. Smiling indulgently, I knew she had fallen asleep and was more than willing to lie there holding her for the rest of my life.

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Hearing a log fall on the fire, I abruptly awoke and blinked rapidly in disorientation. Although I had regained most of my strength, I was unused to napping even though a constant weariness since I'd been shot had made it disgustingly easy for me to fall asleep at midday. Closing my eyes once more, I smiled slightly and quite naturally nuzzled my cheek against the top of Christine's soft hair. Suddenly, my eyes flew open as I stared down in absolute astonishment. Christine was sleeping peacefully in my arms and snuggled against my side! I was lying on my back and her head was pillowed upon my shoulder as my arm wrapped around her waist. Shock, stunned surprise and incredulous delight churned within me in a storm of perplexity. Slowly recalling what had precipitated my lapse of consciousness, I tried to relax so as not to disturb her slumber. Still, I was overwhelmed that Christine lay sleeping in my arms. How naturally she fit against me! With a start, I sadly realized that I had never – in all of my life – woken up next to another human being. Timidly, I gazed down at her in reverent adoration. She was so incredibly beautiful and she slept as bonelessly as a child. Her arm clasped loosely about my waist and she had somehow slung her leg over mine. The lilac gown she wore was utterly crumpled and her hair was tangled and mussed. She had never looked more beautiful to me. Timorously, I lifted my hand and gently moved the scattered locks of hair from where they had fallen over her face. Awed by the intimacy of holding Christine as she slept, I selfishly hoped it would be a long while before she awoke.

Eventually, the awed wonderment I felt at holding her next to me began to develop into a vital piercing awareness. I could not help but notice the warmth of her feminine form against me, the intoxicating fragrance of her shampoo and the curve of her hip beneath my hand. As though scorched, I moved my hand upwards until it rested at her waist. Even so, the sweep of her slender waist made me close my eyes as I sinfully reveled in her nearness. I was, after all, a mere man who held the woman he desired more than life itself within his arms. Hating myself for even thinking of such things, I wryly came to the realization that I must be feeling better because of the intense physical consciousness pulsing through me at her proximity. As I was convalescing, my weakness kept me exhausted and horribly weak most of the time. My alert cognizance seemed to return with a cruel vengeance as I held Christine while she slept. Resolutely determined not to take advantage of her as she slept, I tried valiantly to ignore the temptation of her relaxed body beside me but I was viciously aware of her every breath and movement.

At last she began to stir sleepily and I swallowed hard as she seemed to instinctively burrow closer against me. Christine made incoherent, drowsy hums of sound and appeared to be ready to fall back to sleep until she apparently had the same reaction which I had experienced earlier. Sharply, her head came up and she looked up at me in surprise. Smiling wordlessly at her expression, my hand began to lightly rub up and down her side until the awareness of her curves halted my hand once more. Upon gazing up at me, Christine eventually smiled sleepily and rested her head against my chest. Softly, she whispered in a thick, contented voice. "Erik..." Worriedly, I summoned all my self-discipline to restrain from grabbing her within my arms and kissing her. Closing my eyes as tightly as possible, I uncharacteristically cleared my throat and managed "Did you sleep well, My Dear?"

Nodding sluggishly, she murmured "Never better." Sighing in contentment, Christine thankfully seemed unaware of my torment and breathed slowly in apology, "I am sorry I cried like that, Erik. I was simply overcome after keeping all of my anguish inside for so long. Thank you for holding me." Unable to answer, I stupidly nodded before I realized she couldn't see me. Desperate to move from her before I did something I would regret, I asked shakily "Shall I get you something to drink?"

My entire body went completely rigid when her hand began to lazily brush up and down on my chest and torso over my shirt. As though she had woken up in my arms every day of her life, she replied sleepily "No, but thank you..." Absolutely certain that Christine innocently had no idea that she was slowly driving me insane, I nevertheless did not wish to hurt her feelings. With what I hoped was studied casualness, I took her hand in my own and raised it to my lips. Her hand then broke free of mine as she cupped my deformed cheek and slowly tilted her head until she was smiling up at me dreamily. All of my control snapped at the expression in her hooded eyes and I caught her within my arms before lowering my lips to hers. The intensity of her enthusiastic response undid me as she returned my kiss frantically. Whimpering, I kissed her with a growing savagery and unthinkingly flipped her onto her back reversing our positions. My insatiable lips had trailed from her mouth down to her neck where I consumed her skin hungrily. Thinking her flesh the most delicious delicacy my mouth had ever tasted, I kissed her sweet skin as though I would die without her. Dimly, I felt her hands bury in my hair as she whispered my name over and over. I was spiraling out of control in a driving hot passion and trembling brutally. Panting, I slowly turned my head to the side and attempted to force myself to sanity. I could not do this... I had to stop it now. Keeping myself raised over her as I rested on my shaky forearms, I grit my teeth as her hand brushed my hair back from my brow. Inhaling deeply, I finally regained control enough that I trusted myself to look at her. Christine gazed up at me with such an inviting, unintentionally erotic expression that I groaned and closed my eyes. As though understanding my ever-waning attempt at control, she whispered softly "Erik... It is all right. Please... We...we are to be wed. I..." Refusing to look up at her again, I concentrated intently on the simple act of breathing. Her hands slid to the back of my head and she gently pushed until my ruined cheek rested against her chest. Hearing her heart beat wildly beneath me, I closed my eyes and reveled in her closeness even as I battled with a nearly overpowering lust. Calming somewhat from her fingers running through my hair, I felt her tremble slightly and wondered if I had gone too far. Thinking that Christine had begun crying, I gazed up worriedly and was shocked to see her trying not to laugh. Tilting my head curiously, I frowned in bewilderment and she touched my chin in apology before laughing softly. "Oh Erik, I'm sorry... It is just that..." Making an effort to hide her merriment, she smiled and whispered with shining eyes "I think you are finally well and have regained your strength, Beloved." Hoarsely, I laughed aloud and weakly dropped my forehead to her shoulder. Laughing together, our mirth released the incredible tension which had built between us. Lifting my head, I smiled in amusement and wiped the tears from her eyes. Beaming up at me, Christine held me within her arms and quipped flirtatiously, "I think we should be married soon, yes?" As I gazed down upon her in all her disheveled glory, I experienced a surreal sense of fulfillment. Surely this glorious woman would not willingly give her life to me. I had been given another chance through her love. Christine's selflessness had literally and figuratively saved my life.

Cupping her face in my hands as though she were fragile porcelain, I whispered breathlessly "Yes. Yes, we should, my Stunning Angel." Awestruck, I gazed upon her beautiful face in wonder until she reached around my neck to kiss me again.