4. One Love, One Lifetime!

Erik woke up in his bedroom to dim candlelight. He sat up in bed and rubbed his face with his hands. He then ran one hand over his stab wound as it was having an effect on him. He looked over at his bedmate. Meg was sound asleep with her arm lying over her face. He lay back down next to her and snuggled up to her side. He nuzzled his head into her neck. He ghosted his hand over her naked torso. She flinched slightly and turned towards him. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

"Erik, stop it. You are like this every morning now and you tease me," she said to him. He smiled wickedly.

"You teased me so now I am teasing you," Erik said to her. He kissed her once more then got out of bed. He pulled on his discarded pants from the night before and his robe and went to his organ to compose. Meg still couldn't forget about the day before when the Vicomte had intruded on their peaceful life. They were so happy and yet some people couldn't let Erik live the life he had always deserved. She looked out of the room at Erik. He was sitting at his organ, pouring his heart and soul into the work before him. She sat up and wrapped a blanket around her body. She headed to the bathroom. She ran the water in the bathtub and poured some of her jasmine bubble bath into the steamy water. She dropped her sheet and stepped into the water. She settled herself in the tub and lay back. She had a lot on her mind and needed to relax. She gazed into the flickering flames of the nearby candles. She turned her head back to the door and got a shock when she saw Erik standing in the doorway wearing only his pants.

"Are you alright my love? You haven't said much this morning. Is it something I have done?" he asked. She shook her head.

"No, not at all," she said. "It's just that when Raoul entered our home yesterday I thought he was going to kill you. I couldn't live by myself if you were gone," she told him. He gave her a sympathetic gaze and walked over to the bath. He knelt down beside the tub and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Meg, no one can get rid of the Phantom of the Opera that easily,"he told her. "I am going to be your husband and we are going to live a long and happy life together." She smiled at Erik and kissed him gently.

"I am just going to get washed up, can you make something for breakfast," she asked. He kissed her forehead gently and nodded.

"Oh, but first, will you wash my back," she asked. He nodded and grabbed the wash cloth. He put her special soap on it and began to wash down her back.

"Erik, do you think, when we get married that we will still live here?" she asked. He looked at her confused.

"Well I don't have any intentions to move," he replied. "Do you?"

"I don't want to move," she said. "I was only thinking about when we have children." Erik nodded to show his understanding.

"I'll go make breakfast now, I am feeling slightly light headed with the smell of the jasmine and the soap," he said. She smiled and stood up in the bath, wrapping her big, fluffy towel around her. She got out and went to the bedroom to change.

xxxxxx

Raoul de Chagny woke up on his couch with his sword still in his hand. He had come from the phantom's lair and just collapsed in the living room while Christine went upstairs, fuming on the way. Raoul stood up and moved his long hair away from his eyes. He went to the kitchen and sat down, thinking about Meg being in 'captive' as he thought that's what was wrong. But she had tried to stop the fight and she said she was engaged. Engaged to that monster, Raoul thought.

Meanwhile Christine was in her room, thinking also about Meg, shouting at her the way she did. Her words echoed through her mind.

"And Christine, I don'tcare about what he did to you. I am happy with him so will you leave us in peace?" is what she said. Christine felt a tear leak down her cheek, thinking of her best friend sharing a home, a BED with Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, madman and monster. It made her get a nauseating feeling in her stomach. She looked out over the balcony to the snow-covered street below. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there when sleep took over her.

xxxxxx

"Erik?" Meg asked. Erik looked up at Meg.

"Yes, my love?" he asked.

"You know that Christmas is in two weeks and we need to get presents so that means going up to the surface again. Will you come with me?" she asked him. He looked a bit fearful for a minute before nodding his head.

"Oh thank you," Meg said, kissing him passionately on the lips. She ran to the bedroom to get ready. Erik pulled on his shirt and his waistcoat and tied his cravat around his neck. Meg put on a beautiful sky blue dress that went round her shoulders. She pulled on a white cloak that she had. She pulled the fluffy hood up over her head and pulled on her shoes. She came out of the bedroom to se Erik pulling on his cloak and placing his fedora on his head. He sorted his white mask and picked up a small bag with money in it. Meg put it in her purse and they set off back up to the surface. Erik took her hand and squeezed it. She stopped walking and turned to him.

"It's alright Erik; you don't have to be scared of the outside world. Plus I'll be with you," she said, trying to comfort him. He smiled uneasily at her and carried on walking up towards the Opera Populaire foyer. The snow had started to fall thickly outside the doors of the Opera House. Erik went to the stables and pulled out his horse, Cesar, and helped Meg up onto it. He climbed on the back behind her and slid his arm around her stomach to hold her into the saddle. He grabbed the reins. He squeezed Cesar's sides with his heels and they set off towards the snow-covered town.

The town was not very busy but it still made Erik feel a little self-conscious. He tried to hide his mask as the horse galloped slowly through the town. Meg hand was on his as he held the reins.

"Are you alright, my love?" she asked him.

"Yes, of course, I am just a little self conscious about my mask," he told her. He looked around but noticed no one even looking in his direction. He decided to be brave and he took his hood down. But no one seemed to even notice because his mask seemed to have blended in with the snow around him. Their attention was draw to a big house over the street, which appeared to be the de Chagny house.

"Here I want to go into this shop," Erik suddenly said. Meg noticed it as her favourite jewellery store. Erik got down off the horse.

"I'll be right back," he said and Meg nodded. He entered and Meg waited. Suddenly someone caught her eye. It was Countess Christine de Chagny. Christine noticed her friend too. But Meg didn't look happy to see her.

"What do you want? To ruin my life with Erik again?" she asked her ex best friend. But Christine didn't say anything back.

"I just don't know why you bother being with him. You will lose him because the mob will come after him again," she said, not trying to sound too negative. Meg glared at her friend.

"And will you be the one to bring them Christine?" Meg asked. Christine lowered her head in shame.

"I though so," Meg said. Suddenly a cloaked figure joined Meg on the horse. Erik looked down at Christine. Christine looked frightened. They stared onto each other's eyes for a minute before Christine walked back to the de Chagny manor.

"What did she want?" Erik asked Meg, holding him against her and grabbed the reins of the horse again.

"Oh, nothing worth listening to," Meg told him. He sighed and they headed further into the town.

xxxxxx

Erik and Meg arrived back at the Opera as dusk was arriving. Erik lifted Meg off Cesar and put the horse into the stable. He took Meg's hand and they entered the Opera Populaire only to be met by Madame Giry.

"And where have you two been?" she asked, smiling.

"Christmas shopping, Antoinette," Erik told her. She nodded.

"I am off to the dorms just now to get ready for practise. Rehearsals begin in ten minutes for the Don Juan Triumphant," she said and headed towards the stage. Erik and Meg headed down to the lair to get their costumes for the show. On the way down to the lair, Erik took Meg's hand.

"Do you think we should get married on Christmas Day, Boxing Dayor New Year?" Erik asked his bride-to-be.

"Boxing Day,we should get Christmas Day to spend together before we get married," she said. Erik stopped her and she turned to look at him.

"What would I do without you?" he asked her. She smiled. She leaned into him and kissed him. She took his hand and they went down to the lair to change for the show.

I apologize dearly that this chapter was not put up sooner but I have been studying for exams. I am nearly finished my next chapter and it should be up in the next few days. But thank you to everyone who reviewed! I love you all dearly!

Don Juanita Triumphant: Thank you for your suggestions on how to improve my previous chapter. I have taken your advice and have changed it! Thank you again x x x x x x x x x x x