Disclaimer: Don't own it, just the writing.

XXX

Erik was having a pleasant dream. Christine was lying next to him, her head resting on his chest, and his fingers were twined in her hair...

Wait!

He opened his eyes suddenly, and smiled. It was no dream! He lay on the Persian rug before the fire, Christine in his arms... swiftly the night before came to mind and a slight bit of color rose to his cheeks.

Very slowly Erik began to sit up, and Christine mumbled in her sleep, clinging tighter to his body and seeking warmth. After all, neither of them were properly dressed-or dressed at all, for that matter.

"Christine, my dear... wake up." He breathed, shaking her lightly. Christine's brow furrowed slightly and her eyes unwillingly opened slowly.

"Mmm... Erik?" She asked, looking around in surprise. This wasn't their bedroom... and why was her back so stiff? Suddenly she remembered falling asleep in his arms before the fire, and she grinned.

"Good morning, Erik." She said gently, leaning up and placing a soft kiss against his lips. Erik smiled, running his fingers through her curls lovingly as he looked down dotingly into her eyes.

"Good morning, ma ange." He returned, sitting up and bringing Christine with him. "I fear we've slept over-long. You must go to your rehearsals..." he took in a slow, steadying breath, "and tell Madam Giry that tonight we will view that house of hers."

Christine smiled gleefully, kissing Erik's cheek swiftly and dashing to their bedroom to dress. Erik could only watch her go and sigh. Exasperated, he reached up to rub his face, and started when he didn't feel the mask. He couldn't remember taking it off at all the night before... in fact, he was sure he had fallen asleep with it on.

Quickly he began to search around the area for the porcelain shell, becoming more and more afraid when it didn't appear to be anywhere.

"Erik."

He looked up to see a fully dressed Christine standing in the doorway of the Louis-Philippe room, holding the mask in her hands reverently.

"I don't want you to wear this any more, Erik... I don't like it."

Erik was dumbstruck. Didn't like the mask? As if his face was easier to look at!

"Christine, what are you talking about? I won't walk around our home with this-this horror on display!"

She shook her head, putting the mask behind her back. "No, Erik... I don't want you to hide from me."

He stood up then, stepping over the pile of his discarded clothing from the night before, and stalked toward Christine completely naked, yet just as intimidating as ever. His voice was low and dangerous as he spoke slowly.

"Give. It. Back." They were less than a foot apart now.

"No."

Another few steps. "Now, Christine... don't make me angry with you... give me back my mask. Now!"

She shook her head, showing no fear as she stared into his deep eyes, filled with anger. "No Erik. You don't trust me. That's why you want it back... And I won't have you thinking I'm going to run from you at any moment. Trust me, my Angel... trust me as I trust you..."

He lunged forward then, pinning her against the wall and wrestling the mask from her grasp. She cried out at his hard grip on her wrists, her eyes looking up at him in pain.

"Erik, let go! You're hurting me!"

His eyes, which had been clouded with rage, cleared and he gasped as he took in his hands clutching so tightly to Christine's wrists. There were tears in her eyes as she looked nervously up at him, and Erik stumbled backwards, dropping the mask to the floor with a dull thud.

"Christine., oh God..." He stared at her face, tears rolling down her cheeks and her eyes wide, and then down at her wrists, reddened from his hold.

"Oh Christine..."

He fell to his knees then, sobbing as he buried his face in his hands. "Forgive me..." came his muffled voice, thick with tears, "the one thing I swore never to do has happened... oh Christine... I'm so sorry..."

She moved forward cautiously, kneeling next to him and reaching out to pull him into her embrace. "Shhh... Erik, it's okay. I forgive you..." She cooed, stroking her fingers through his hair and placing tiny kisses to his brow and cheeks-both of them.

"I'm sorry for pushing you, Angel..." She whispered in his ear, and he looked up at her with wide, fearful eyes.

"Don't leave me, Christine... I won't wear the mask if that's what you really want..."

Her eyes were wide with disbelief. "Erik, I don't mean to leave you! I could never do that." In a heartbeat she understood why he got that idea, and she moved in to brush a reassuring kiss over his lips. "Erik, I know you didn't mean to hurt me... and honestly I was just surprised more than frightened or hurt! Really Erik, I know your temper, it was my own fault for rousing it."

He stroked her cheek then, looking deeply into her eyes. "I love you, Christine."

She smiled broadly, burying her face into his neck. "Oh, I love you too, Angel... I love you too..."

--

Rehearsals came and went, and right after the cast was released, Christine ran to Madam Giry.

"No no! Giselle, you're still not getting it right! Once again! There will be no supper for any of you until you all can do this correctly!" Madam Giry banged her cane down on the hardwood floor in irritation as she counted off for her petite rats once more.

Once they were dancing, she turned to Christine. In a quiet voice she spoke. "Has your husband found the time to be agreeable?"

Christine nodded, excited. "Yes, tonight he said is very good... shall we eat before we leave?"

Madam Giry's gaze was turned again to her dancers, and she nodded, distracted. "Yes yes... I shall be busy here with my rats for a while anyhow, I believe... come to my office-the both of you- in a few hours time."

Christine nodded, gave a quick smile to Meg who had been watching the interaction between her mother and best friend very curiously, then hurried to her dressing room. There was so much to be done!

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