Candles once again illuminated Erik's music room as he and Christine, exhausted from their long flight, rested on the comfortable sofa he had brought there long ago but seldom used. It was in a back corner, but faced the silent lake. He had handed her a soft, thick robe to change into in the privacy of a spare room while he used his bedroom to change from the stiff costume into comfortable clothes. The black cloth mask was replaced with the white porcelain one which left most of his face exposed, covering only the deformity and allowing her to see his expressions more clearly.

He also fished a bottle of wine from the chilling water of the lake and they sipped at it while they recovered from their flight. Christine shivered, mostly from excitement and anticipation. She looked around wide-eyed, remembering the candelabras and misty lake from her previous visit months before.

"Are you still cold, my dear? Let me get you a blanket." Erik's voice was comforting, and so good to hear again.

"I'm fine, Angel….I mean…Erik. I'm not cold, I'm...I've just never done anything so exhilarating in my life!" she admitted, the sparkle in her eyes attesting to the thrill she was experiencing.

"Do you mean our "escape", or our duet? he asked, arching his eyebrow with a slight grin. Her eager, approachable manner was giving him the confidence to relax his guard a little bit, though he was having trouble believing this was not another of his many dreams of Christine.

She blushed, lowered her head, then looked mischievously up at him and admitted, "Both." Her own daring undid her, and she looked down again quickly, blushing. Leaning forward, he placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up to look in her eyes. What he saw there further encouraged him, and he sat back into the cushions, trying to think how to begin, and resisting the impulse to touch her, as she looked extremely appealing just now!

"Christine, we need to talk about a great many things. I'm most anxious to find out what has changed for you, and why you agreed to our adventure tonight. Maybe the first thing to discuss, however, is why you said earlier that you were afraid of me…..please tell me, so that I can reassure you that you need never fear me."

She took another sip of wine, as if needing the courage to start, and asked bluntly, "Did you murder Joseph Buquet?"

"Murder is a strong word." He replied. "I put a noose around his neck and killed him, yes."

Her heart sank. "Can you tell me why?" she tremulously asked.

"Because he was harming someone, and the authorities would not stop him, so I took it upon myself to do so. Believe me, he more than deserved it." Erik went on to tell her, briefly, about the rape and abuse one of the dancers had suffered at the hands of the despicable Joseph, and how she had reported him to the managers with no result except to tarnish her own reputation. Erik had witnessed the man's perverted behavior, and taken it upon himself to end the girl's torment, in a public manner so that Joseph's cronies would think twice before imitating his behavior with another of the helpless girls.

"Believe me, Christine, it was not something I enjoyed doing, but it was necessary." He shifted his position away from her, and stared out across the lake, tormenting himself. Would she hate him now? She was silent. Oh, God, had he ruined it again already!

Erik felt her small hand on his arm, and looked back at her. She had tears in her eyes, but she seemed to be offering sympathy rather than condemnation. She simply whispered, "I understand now."

He shifted back to face her, and she held her arms out to him. He was too stunned to move, so she leaned closer and put her arms around him in the first real hug anyone had ever given him. Her warmth and closeness felt so right, and he slowly put his arms around her slender form, savoring the experience. They stayed that way for a long moment, and then she released him and sat back.

"Oh, Erik, how awful for you! And for the girl, whoever it was. I didn't know that was happening to anyone, and even though it frightens me, I have to say you were right to kill such a criminal, since the authorities would not stop him! I knew there had to be an explanation, I told Raoul, but he wouldn't believe me!" Erik flinched at that name, and she hastily said, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bring him up."

"Actually, Christine, we do need to talk about the count." Erik avoided saying the hated name, as his heart began to race in dread. Would she dash his hopes again? He should be satisfied that she was no longer afraid of him, but he wanted more, much more from her.

"Yes, maybe we should talk about Raoul now," Christine answered him. "Maybe you can advise me what to do about him. It's all such a mess!"

"I'll be glad to help you if I can," Erik answered, forcing himself to be calm. "Tell me what the situation is now…for these past months I've known you were engaged to him and for all I knew you were happily planning your wedding. Has something changed?"

Christine sighed heavily. "Yes, my eyes are open now, that's all." His heart was really thumping now…..could she mean…..did he dare hope…..? "Go on," was all he said.