I have been unable to post a chapter through the normal routes, I am terribly sorry for the wait. I hope you find it to your liking.

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 17

All he had to do was turn his head and touch his lips to hers and his body cried out for that contact…but images of the past crept in and overshadowed his desire.

"Forgive me." He murmured as he stood abruptly, breaking the spell that had settled around them. "I was lost in the music and did not realize I had forced my attentions on you, I would never do anything to offend you."

Christine backed away slowly. Her eyes spoke volumes about the disappointment she was experiencing at his retreat; but Erik was busy chastising himself mentally and was unaware of her discontent.

"You were hardly forcing yourself on me…I was not offended." Christine stuttered, missing the closeness of him.

He seemed to be oblivious to her words. He was turning inward, burying his thoughts deep within him. Christine could see the battle going on behind his tumultuous eyes and berating frown.

"I will check on dinner." Christine quietly announced, as she tried to calm her bodies reaction to his "almost" kiss.

Erik nodded and watched as she left the room; he knew he was in deep trouble. His body was betraying him, his heart was betraying him, and his mind would not rid itself of her scent – her image – or her voice.

He sat back down at the piano bench and buried his head in his hands. He could no more control his heart than he could demand his body not take another breath…he was in love with Christine Daae, and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"I'm sorry." Erik said, about midway through the dinner.

Christine smiled over at him with a questioning look in her eyes, "Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry for how I acted when I first met you…I was intolerable, I apologize." He repeated.

Christine shrugged her shoulders, "That's alright; I did interrupt you."

He chuckled softly, "Be that as it may, I obviously need to work on my people skills, woman still intimidate me…I suppose they always will."

Christine lifted her brow at that comment, thinking how absurd it was that women intimidated a man, as gifted, generous, and attractive as Erik.

"Intimidate you?" She reflected, "Why would women intimidate you?"

A dark shadow crossed his face, but when he lifted his eyes to hers, it had passed.

"Every woman I have ever been interested in has been disappointed in me; for obvious reasons, and I feel very self-conscious around them…you." Erik corrected, as he dropped his eyes.

Christine thought for a moment before responding, "Any woman who would be disappointed in you for any reason, is not worthy of you."

Erik wasn't sure what to make of that comment, so he just let it hang in the air.

There were a few minutes of silence as they finished the meal. Erik had never had anything as delicious as the soufflé she had made – it was wonderful.

"This was delicious, Christine – thank you." Erik complimented.

Christine smiled at him, but there were unasked questions in her violet eyes.

"What?" He asked softly, assuming he was not going to like the next thought that she voiced.

"Why did you send Vince to Hartford pretending to be you – my 'Phantom'?" Christine asked, bluntly.

Erik immediately felt his stomach lurch and he was certain his heart stopped beating.

"I...ah….it was…" Erik was fumbling around for words when Christine continued.

"I don't appreciate being played for the fool." She accused, but her tone was calm and wounded. "I would not have balked from you or exposed you…"

Erik looked away from the hurt he saw in her face, knowing he was the cause. When he spoke, he could not bring himself to look at her.

"The few times that I have mingled with the human race, the results have not been productive – people, especially women, tend to be repulsed by me." Erik voiced, "My actions were such as they were to spare you the terror of my presence, and to spare me the embarrassment and humiliation of your rejection." Erik looked away from her and bowed his head, "Didn't take me long to disappoint you – and you haven't even seen beneath the mask."

Christine heard his words and considered them with every ounce of her interest. She found herself unable to be angry with him, since self-preservation was a human trait and he was only reacting to his past.

"I'm not her, Erik…whoever she was…and you didn't disappoint me, you underestimated me."

A dark shadow passed across his face and settled in his eyes. An old, familiar pain was etched in his features and Christine knew that he had been deeply hurt.

Erik smiled sadly, "Summer…her name was Summer Evans."

"Tell me about her."

Erik hesitated, but eventually could not hold his feelings back, "It was long ago…I was 17…" Erik began. "…she was beautiful and I loved her with all that was at the time."

"We dated a few times and eventually she allowed me to kiss her; innocent kisses between a boy of 17, with no previous experience, and a girl of 16."

"She got curious about the mask and what it hid and eventually talked me in to showing her…she never stopped crying, and abruptly stopped wanting anything to do with me." He murmured, "She could not bare the sight or memory of me."

Erik chanced a glance at Christine, who sat beside him with tears in her eyes, "There have been other women I was attracted to and longed to get to know…but the memory of her horrified eyes and the echo of her screams in my mind prevent me from pursuing anyone."

Christine pulled in close to him and brought her palm up to caress his smooth, unmarred cheek, feeling him flinch from her touch.

"When you are ready to start trusting another woman, let me know." Christine whispered.

Everything in Erik wanted to yield to her pleading eyes at that very moment. The feel of her warm, petite hand against his cheek was almost more than he could bear.

Christine wound her hand around to the back of his head and felt the softness of his hair as it whispered against her skin.

She leaned in and softly touched her lips to the corner of his mouth. She was intoxicated by the smell of the man; spices and leather, and lingered her cheek against his before she pulled away.

Erik held his breath, fearing the moment would end too quickly if he moved. The feel of her lips against his flesh sent a shiver of desire through him – the desire to finally be accepted and looked upon as a viable male.

She pulled away, and his eyes remained closed, cherishing the moment. He finally opened them and looked into her inquisitive eyes.

"Come, you must return." He finally said with a light, softtone. "Meckenzie will be thinking I kidnapped you."

Christine retrieved her purse and followed Erik out the door. She could not keep her eyes from his masculine form as he walked in front of her toward the car.

He opened her door, once again, and as she passed by him to get into the car, she smiled alluringly at him. She wanted him to remain certain that she was interested in him.

"We need to pick up Meckenzie from Karen's." She said as he started the car.

"Of course." He replied.

He turned the radio on to a soft jazz station, and Christine sat back and rode in luxury.

"Thank you for the dinner, Christine…no woman, except Karen, has ever cooked for me." Erik stated after a few minutes of quiet music.

"You're most welcome…next time we should go out to eat, I want to see you in a suit and tie." She admitted with a grin.

"Next time?" He echoed.

She shifted in the seat and gave him her full attention, "Yes…I meant it when I said I wanted to get to know you…and I sense that you want the same."

Erik was speechless. Was she indicating to him that she wanted to go out on an actual date? Erik could feel his heart beat in his throat at the prospect of asking her; when it came to women, his confidence was non-existent.

"What I want or don't want has never mattered." he stammered.

Christine smiled brightly, "It does to me."

"Even after I lied to you and deceived you about my true identity?" He marveled.

Christine smirked and then smiled again, "You had your reasons, and although I may not agree with the reasons behind what you did…I understand why you did it."

Erik felt like a giant weight had been lifted from his shoulders. This woman wanted to get to know him…mind you, she had not said that her interest in him was anything other than friendship, but she had kissed him – on the cheek – but it was still a kiss…he would take what he could.

"I hope, once you get to know me, I don't disappoint you." He murmured.

"I don't think that is possible." She replied.

They pulled up to Vince and Karen's townhouse at 10:00 p.m., Christine had called and told Karen that she was having car problems and would get that straightened out before she came back for Meckenzie; she hadn't mentioned Erik's involvement.

As she got out of Erik's car, Karen's eyes caught hers, and Christine smiled brightly. She would be talking to Karen in the future, and thanking her for giving a head's up about "The Phantom", and for being her friend.

"Hello, Erik…Christine." Karen greeted, as they walked up the sidewalk and toward the door.

"Hi, Karen." Christine chirped back, giving the older woman a hug.

They moved into the house, which was full of boxes and packing material.

"Are you moving?" Christine gasped.

"We are starting the process, our house will be done in a few weeks." Vince replied.

"Where is Kenzie?" Christine asked.

"She's asleep on the bed in the guest room." Karen replied

Erik strode toward the guest room, with Christine following close behind.

"I'll carry her to the car." Erik stated, as he tenderly lifted her into his arms.

He headed out the door and toward his car, listening to Karen and Christine talk behind him.

"I'll have to rent a car for a few days…any ideas?" Christine asked.

Karen was quiet as she thought for a few moments.

Erik laid Meckenzie across the seat and covered her with the blanket that Karen had given him. He quietly closed the door and moved back to where Karen and Christine were talking.

"You will not rent a car, I have an extra one just collecting dust in my garage, she's yours for as long as you need her." Erik offered, adamantly.

"I couldn't do that." Christine argued.

"You can…and you will." Erik argued back. "I will not permit you to rent a car when I can loan you one, you don't need to waste your money."

He was standing before her, looking all manly and domineering. He was beginning to open up to her, showing his true gentle nature and the desire to please.

"I will take you home tonight and tomorrow morning Uncle Vince will drive my spare car to your house where Karen will pick him up…" Erik instructed, "…is that alright with you?"

Christine could only nod and thank God for the generous, albeit wounded, heart He had given Erik

"Great, now let's get you ladies home so that none of us lacks in our beauty rest…some of us need it more than others." Erik stated, giving a rare wink toward Karen. "I must have had insomnia for years to wind up with this mug."

Erik chuckled, but quickly moved as Karen came forward to swat his arm. She eyed him suspiciously and then winked at Christine.

"What?" He asked, innocently. "I thought it was humorous."

Karen and Christine both rolled their eyes and said in unison, "Yeah, you would."

TBC