Onward we go. Thank you for the reviews.
There is also a link in my profile for a visual on Erik's home. Enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.
I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.
Character portraits:
Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)
Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)
Meckenzie -Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)
Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)
Karen -Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long, brown hair)
Ms. Jennison-Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)
Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)
All other original characters, you can use your imagination.
Enjoy.
CHAPTER 16
They chatted about Meckenzie's progress and Christine felt more at ease with this man after a few weeks than she had any other man in her past.
The house was more like a modern day castle. The entrance was covered with windows and solid wood columns extended downward. The house was airy and spacious as it nestled beautifully in the side of a rugged hill. Christine loved it.
"Your home is magnificent!" Christine praised with wide eyes.
Erik seldom had guests; well, seldom was being optimistic, Erik never had guests – the only other people to enter his home had been Vince and Karen.
"I designed it for my tastes and my need for seclusion…I'm glad you like it." Erik responded.
"You designed this?" Christine awed.
"Yes…when I was in my late teens." Erik glanced back at his home, proud of the artisanship and quality it possessed. Vince had helped him build it, along with the building crew – it had taken two years.
Christine stepped out of the car, still scoping the wonder of the home. She had never seen anything this extravagant. She knew Erik was wealthy, but she was just beginning to realize just how wealthy he was.
"Come inside." Erik offered, holding the door for her.
The outside of the house had impressed Christine, but she was stunned by the inside. Modern décor, beautiful, flowing architecture, breathtaking design – she had never seen such things in a house.
Erik had not noticed her expression, but had moved into the house and turned up the lighting.
"Erik…I love your home!" Christine emphasized.
She moved into the house and followed him to the kitchen. She let out a small gasp as she viewed the massive room and adored the appliances he had chosen for the room; they were the best that money could buy.
"Why don't you put on some music while I prepare dinner?" Christine instructed.
Erik was thankful to have something to occupy his active mind. He was not sure of how well he would handle having her in his kitchen, being domestic and womanly.
She had advised him to put on some music, but Erik didn't do things the normal way; for him, putting on some music meant to make his own.
From the refrigerator, she pulled out some smoked sausage, eggs, spinach, and cheddar cheese. She whipped together a soufflé and popped it in the oven; enjoying herself immensely. She loved to cook; and having a man to cook for, made it that much better.
She heard the quiet strains of the piano as he gently coaxed a song from it. She smiled at his answer to putting on some music; she liked his choice better.
Erik could smell the heavenly aroma from his music room, whatever she was cooking smelled delightful. He continued to play softly and was not even aware of the words as they sprang from his mouth.
"Child of the Wilderness…
Born into emptiness…
Learn to be lonely…
Learn to find your way in darkness…
"Who will be there for you?
Comfort and care for you?
Learn to be Lonely…
Learn to be your one companion"
Christine heard his voice as it drifted toward her. Every word he sang took root in her soul and the vulnerable man he buried deep within…came quietly into her heart.
The melody was so eerily familiar, but his voice touched her at her deepest core…it was the voice that had imprisoned her from the moment she first heard it; he was "The Phantom".
Now it all made perfect sense. Her immediate attraction to him and the way he seemed so familiar to her; her inner soul had known it was him.
"Never dreamed, out in the world…
there were arms to hold you…
You've always known…
You're heart was on its own…
"So, laugh in your loneliness…
Child of the wilderness…
Learn to be lonely…
Learn how to love…
Life that is lived….alone."
Christine held her breath as she heard him quietly sing the final words…
"Learn to be lonely…
Life can be lived…
Life can be loved…
Alone"
She knew the words were indicative of his pain…she could hear it in his tone and feel it on the air around her.
She quietly made her way into the room, not wanting to disturb him. She could not figure out why he had not told her that he was "The Phantom" – he was the one whose voice had enthralled her, he was the one who had gotten Meckenzie into the school – in fact…it was his school!
Christine deduced that he had shut himself off from the world for reasons, which seemed to revolve around the scars he hid beneath the mask.
'What a hateful and judgmental world we live in when a man as gifted and attractive as Erik Trudeau is made to feel unworthy of affection or recognition.' Christine thought.
As she came closer to his statuesque form, she admired his broad shoulders and the way the muscles played upon the fine material of his shirt like rolling waves on the ocean.
Erik sensed her presence and quietly acknowledged her, "This is how I make music, I seldom listen to the radio or put on a CD." He whispered.
"That song was beautiful, but so sad…the words moved me to tears." She said as she came to stand beside him. "Did you write it?"
Erik nodded, but had not yet turned his eyes to her, "Yes, but I will not bore you with the details."
Christine placed a warm hand upon his shoulder and felt him stiffen at her touch. She did not remove her hand; but instead, gently massaged the area.
"There is nothing you could say that would bore me." She assured him.
Erik turned to look up at her; in her eyes he saw the glistening proof of tears and an unknown…something. He had little experience in such things.
"Sing for me." He requested in a whisper.
Christine did not even hesitate to meet his request. She still sang the songs in her mind…the ones she had worked so hard on all those years ago. One in particular, sprang to mind…
"I'm a lady when you kiss me -
I'm a child when you are leaving,
I'm a woman every time our bodies meet…
complete.
"Long lost feelings stir inside me -
used to think nights were for sleeping,
being wanted is a thrill I never knew
till you."
Erik had remained seated as she began to sing. His eyes were fixed on a the black and white keys of the piano; but as her voice awakened his inner man, he turned to her and what he saw in her violet eyes made his heart skip a beat.
"Now I'm alive, inside I'm glowing,
I'm how I want to be,
loving you I can be me,
just me.
"It's the first time when you touch me -
now I long for rainy mornings,
I am certain you're the last man in my life."
The passion in her eyes caused Erik to avert his own…he could not fathom why she had picked such a song to sing for him. He listened intently, then matched her on the piano; perfectly playing the song in accompaniment to her voice.
"I'm a woman every time our bodies meet…
complete.
"Long lost feelings stir inside me -
used to think nights were for sleeping,
being wanted is a thrill I never knew
till you.
"Now I'm alive, inside I'm glowing -
I'm how I want to be,
loving you I can be me,
just me.
"It's the first time when you touch me -
now I long for rainy mornings,
tell each other to find all we're looking for
and more.
"Found the rainbow I was after -
no more dreams with one face missing,
I am certain you're the last man in my life."
After she finished, Christine didn't move. She somehow ended up at the side of the piano watching him play while she sang; he was truly a remarkable sight.
"That was lovely, Christine…I am left without words." Erik finally uttered, as he tried to avoid her eyes.
His body was on fire, a reaction he had diligently tried to avoid for the greater part of his adult life. He was certain she could see the reaction his body was having to her; his pants tented in the crotch where they had not before her song had awakened him.
"Thank you…perhaps you can sing one with me?" She suggested. "Dinner won't be ready for another ten minutes."
The smile he gave her was intoxicatingly beautiful; the action took the pain from his eyes and replaced it with joy…it also took ten years from his features, and Christine thought how much she wanted to see him smile every moment of every day.
"You should do that more often…" She purred.
"Do what?" he questioned, cocking his head to the side; still holding a faint smile on his full lips.
"Smile."
Erik, although not well acquainted with flirting, got the impression she was doing just that. He smiled again, not sure of what to say or do.
He cleared his throat and began playing softly, praying that Christine did not see the longing in his eyes.
Christine knew the song he was playing and began to sing…
"There for me, every time I've been away
Will you be there for me, thinking of me everyday
Are you my destiny, words I never dared to say
Will you be there for me?
Just think of you and me, we could never tow the line
It's such a mystery just to hear you say you're mine
And while you're close to me, so close to me
Just hold me"
Erik had closed his eyes to the sound the sound of her voice, listening to the beauty, which he had so long been without.
Her part ended and his voice blended with hers for a brief moment as he began to sing…
"When you're feeling cold and all the city streets are grey -
Walking all alone and watching how the children play -
Voices in the wind and faces from the past go dancing by,
They're asking why…"
Then Christine joined her voice with his and neither of them could stop the chill that ran up their spines from the perfect blending of their voices.
"Will you be there for me, every time I go away?
Will you be there for me, thinking of me everyday?
Are you my destiny, words I never dared to say?
Will you be there for me?"
Christine continued…
"And while you're close to me, so close to me
Just hold me…"
Erik echoed…
"Can you really want me more than for a little while?
What are the stories hiding there behind your smile?
Wishes in a dream and figures in a world that I could share
And everywhere…"
Together, they reached the climax…
"Will you be there for me?
Will there ever come a day when all the world can see
Things were meant to be that way?
Will you be there for me?
Can you hear the people say
That you're just…
There for me?"
Erik fixed his eyes on Christine as he sang his last line…
"There for me."
Christine sang in a whisper as she leaned down and caressed his ear with her breath…
"There for me."
Erik finished the song with her breath on his ear, her hands on his shoulders, and her lips mere inches from his.
Song 1 – "Learn to be Lonely", sung by Minnie Driver, "Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack
Song 2 – "The Last Man in My Life", sung by Sarah Brightman,
written by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Song 3 – "There for Me", sung by Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban, writer unknown.
TBC