AN: Sorry for the delay, diehard phans! Life threw me a few curveballs and I had to swing at them before I could come back to the story! I hope you'll all enjoy it and leave a review to encourage me to update FAST, because now the story's going to be picking up speed (grin).

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing...yet another of life's trials...


After the night had been spent, and a little sleep had been regained, Christine sat up in bed, watching him. Then slowly, and with her thumb and index finger, grasped the silver band she always wore and played with it. Erik was still asleep next to her, murmuring her name now and then.

This is nice.

Satisfied, she lifted herself out of bed and headed to the adjoining bathroom. After everything was said and done, she was in dire need of a warm bath to relax her muscles. She watched him only a moment longer as he shifted and sighed only once, then opened the door to the bath.

For a moment she was miffed that he hadn't given her this room instead. The bedroom was larger than hers, but this bath was absolutely beautiful. It was all a creamy marble with gold accents here and there. The towels were all the color of a rich merlot, right next to a small shower cubicle. But best of all, Christine saw the biggest bathtub she'd ever seen. It was large, with small steps from the floor to the rim and salts and soaps that Erik had stocked for her. She wondered if he ever actually used this bath before she'd begun to. In her mind, it seemed unlikely.

She ran the bath and dropped in some soft smelling soap before picking up some fluffy towels from the little closet. After wrapping a towel around herself, she sat on the side of the bath, swishing her legs in the warm water. Absentmindedly she ran a finger over the small band on her left ring finger. She felt comforted by the ring. After all, she'd been carrying it with her for a few years now...

"Christine?" Erik's voice got her attention, and she turned to see him with a sheet wrapped around his midsection. She smiled and looked back to the filling bath.

"I was just going to take a bath. I always marvel at it, Erik." She was considering unwrapping her towel and settling amidst the bubbles when she felt him move just behind her. One of his arms brushed her naked shoulder, sending thrills along her spine, and came to rest before her eyes. The little silver band glinted at her as he held her hand.

"You've never explained this ring to me." He spoke softly in her ear. With a little pull she fell gracefully into the frothy water. He released her hand and she turned to look at him, now modestly veiled from his eyes.

"I've never felt the need to." She smiled, then completely submerged herself underwater. Her actions were rewarded when, not long after, she heard a soft splash behind her. Needing air, her head and shoulders emerged again and she took a breath. His arms pulled her to his chest, and held her tightly there.

"Even if I asked?" He lifted her hand into view. She let her head tilt back to rest on his chest, but kept her eyes on the ring.

"Then I couldn't refuse," she smiled lightly, still looking at the band. "You have nothing to be jealous of, though." She felt his other hand massaging her scalp with soft, circular motions, and nearly closed her eyes in delight.

"Was it a present?" He didn't want to ask the whole question. Was it a present from Raoul? He didn't understand why, even now, he felt the boy was still a small threat to him.

"From my father." She answered as if she could read his thoughts. He felt a pang of guilt for his question, but only continued to hold her, hoping she'd elaborate. "Before he died, on my birthday, he gave it to me in exchange for a promise. I won't remove it until I'm ready to."

"A promise?" Erik felt her stiffen a little in his hold, and traced her arm with a warm, soapy hand. "If it pains you to tell me-"

"These are happy memories, Erik," she insisted. "It's good to remember them." She knew he didn't quite understand the concept, but continued. "Like the memories you'll have of the time we spend together. I'd never want you to forget them." She gasped slightly as she felt his hands, warm and soft, come up to trace her features. They ran like water over her.

"I can't," he murmured into her hair. His hands were gentle as they grazed her eyes, cheeks, and lips. "I'll remember everything, every little detail about you. I promise." As if to prove it he bent his head to her shoulder and kissed it.

"And we won't ever be parted again." She sighed at the heat of his lips on her skin. "We'll always be together." Christine inhaled deeply, and smiled. Erik held her tightly.

As long as there's breath in my body, Erik smiled.


How lucky he was! He'd not even gone through half of the original list and already clues were appearing right in front of him.

Thanks to the lovely Carlotta, he reminded himself. He ran a comb through his well-kept hair, looking at his reflection carefully. If he was going to take the school's diva on a day out, he had to look presentable. It was taking time, but he was a patient man. He could hardly expect her to prattle on about the one subject he was seeing her for. This kind of thing required finesse. And he'd decided it would be worth it when he'd purposely run into the girl at her school. She was pretty, he thought, but artificially so. Painted mouth and dyed red hair and, after a moment of closer observation, colored contact lenses. Not his type of girl, but he wouldn't be picky at the moment. He needed the diva to spill her secrets.

They'd shared a cup of coffee, talked for hours about her, and that was how he'd gained her trust. She gained his interest with one sentence.

"And there was this boy in my theory class, Erik, who was totally smitten with me..."

He'd smiled to himself then, a hidden smile but triumphant just the same. Now he arranged his coat over his dress shirt and headed out the door. Carlotta didn't like to be kept waiting.


Erik left the apartment early, telling Christine that he was off to visit Nadir at his home. But instead of going towards the Khan household, he steered his car towards the downtown shopping center. He parked, and took a walk down the streets filled with small, unique shops. What he was looking for required time and patience and deep thought, but he felt compelled suddenly to go off in search of it. Christine needed to know how much he loved her.

At the little flower shop he'd frequented for roses, he saw the kindly old woman who ran the store watering a row of ferns. The woman looked up from her work and smiled. He actually found himself sheepishly smiling back.

"Come for more flowers, sir?" She set down her watering can and smoothed her hands over her apron. "The blood red rosa gigantea have exceptionally rich scent. I'd recommend them more as a bouquet than as a single, though."

"The flowers are wonderful, I'm sure, but that's not what I'm looking for today." He stood just outside the shop, looking around hopelessly. The shopkeeper seemed to notice his distress, because she smiled kindly.

"Well, do you need a little help finding it?"

Erik looked almost startled at her. She was being very friendly, although she had been before, but this time he wasn't interested in buying her flowers. She was just genuinely interested. With a little cough he cleared his throat.

"I'm looking for a jewelry store." Why, Erik wondered, was that so difficult to say?

"She's lucky."

Her words shocked him, and he stared into the old woman's gray eyes. "W-what?"

"The girl you buy the roses for," she said with a little smirk. "She's a lucky one." She motioned him over, into the shop. "Come on, then. I'll give you directions to a nice little shop not too far from here."

She disappeared into her fragrant store, and Erik quickly followed suit.


"This is beautiful," Carlotta admitted as she looked beyond the boat and towards the shore of the little lake. So far, her mysterious man had taken her into the big park for a picnic and a boat ride, and she was thrilled. Just at the shore, she could see girls looking longingly at the romantic picture they painted together. She liked the feeling of being envied.

"Not as beautiful as you," he responded in his kind voice. His strong arms rowed with a smooth stroke, making the boat glide seamlessly over the water. He heard her giggle and tried not to smirk.

"Oh, I don't know about that..."

"You should know how lovely you are!" He sounded astounded, as if he could not believe the show of modesty she was displaying. He gave her a wry smile. "What about that Erik guy? The one who was mad about you?"

"Oh, well, he was rather dark and mopey. He never would have acted on it."

"He must have! All men try and let the pretty girl they like know somehow." He said it so sweetly, and waited patiently until she stopped blushing to continue. "He was a music student, right? He must have written something beautiful for you." He watched her think and lick her lips, hoping. Come on...

"Of course he did!" she said almost haughtily. "He wrote the most beautiful song for me, filled with love and desire...it's really too bad it wasn't enough to make me love him." She looked up into his eyes, hoping the lie had made him jealous.

"Where did you hear it?"

"At the masquerade the university put on. He performed it for me that night."

"Would his name, perhaps, be Erik Destler?" He watched her pale, and gave a small laugh. "I read about his performance in the newspaper. You should be very flattered, it was spectacular. To be the muse for such passion is..admirable."

She smiled prettily at that, and he returned the grin with one of his own. I've got you.

"Tell me, beautiful muse, do you know where the artist is now?"


Christine laid on Erik's bed in light slumber. He'd been gone the whole day, and left her bored with no one to talk to. Without much to entertain her and in need of unperturbed sleep, it had been so easy for Christine to lie down and close her eyes. In a white silk dress that contrasted the rich red sheets, hair spilling freely on the pillowcases and framing her sweet face, one hand resting comfortably at her heart, this was how Erik found her.

At the very sight he almost lost his nerve. Had he really been away the whole day, he wondered. It had been dark outside by the time he'd decided on something, and the little man in the shop had been impatiently waiting to close down. But hadn't it been worth it?

"Christine," he murmured softly. She didn't stir, and he took silent steps towards the bed. She glowed ethereal, a true sleeping beauty. Instead of placing a kiss upon her lips, however, he knelt beside the bed and took a black box out of his jacket. He gently took her hand and held up the palm. Bending his head, he touched his lips to her warm skin. When he pulled away, he placed the object in her hand and covered it with her slender fingers.

With that simple gesture, Erik rose. He decided that when Christine woke up, it would be best to have some dinner ready.


When Christine's eyes fluttered open, already she felt something somehow different. A sigh parted her lips, and she shifted up slightly in the bed. As she lifted her hand to stretch it, she froze. Something lay in the palm of her hand. She sat up immediately and looked down at her open palm.

"Oh my..." Her words seemed to dry up and she felt the most curious moment of chills. Then, just as suddenly as the cold swept over her, it was replaced by extreme heat. She was sure her whole body was dyed pink as she picked up the ring with a trembling hand. An engagement ring.

It was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Normally an engagement ring would be gold, with a little diamond sitting atop it. This wasn't gold but a lovely shining white, and a large blood red ruby glinted at her.

As red as the rose..., Christine remembered. She raised her left hand and looked at the ring her father had given her and compared it. Was Erik asking her what she thought he was? Her breath was short as she realized its significance. But what was the right thing to do? Could she be a good wife? The word 'wife' frightened her, but...

I love him. She slowly tugged the silver band free and set it inside her pocket. The engagement ring fit exactly right.


Erik was just about to add the shrimp to the pasta when he heard her footsteps. They seemed so loud, matching the beating of his heart. What had he been thinking? They were still so young, and she was so beautiful! Surely this wasn't what she wanted...but it was what he wanted.

"Erik?" Her voice compelled him to turn. She raised her hand, letting the light hit the ring she now wore. "This is beautiful."

"It means-" He had to pause for breath, "It means I want you by my side forever."

She flashed him a shy smile. "I don't need a ring for that."

"Then," he stepped closer to stand before her, "what do you need?"

"Just..." she looked up into his crystal eyes. "Say you love me-"

"You know I do." The back of his hand danced across the apple of her cheek. Her hand caught his just as it fell away, but her eyes never left his. This touch, this moment, was all she needed.

"That's enough." She held it tightly. "That's more than enough to make me happy."


Thanks for reading! The plot is soon to run amok! Who's the mystery man? Why is he looking for Erik? What will happen to the happy couple? Please stick around for the next chapter! Leave a review and I'll update ASAP!

Thanks ever and always to Cymbidium!