Christine stood in the street, her eyes moving from Raoul who stood before her out of breath in his blue business suit and tie, to her mysterious companion who seemed to be staring down her fiancée.

"Who is this?" asked Raoul again in a most un-polite way.

Christine looked towards her masked companion and tried to telepathically send a voice of help, for she didn't know what his name was, and to admit to Raoul that she was with a man whom she didn't know his name was something that she found she could not bring herself to do.

"My name is Erik," said the masked man, extending his hand for him to shake, Raoul merely stared at it.

Christine looked from the masked man, no, Erik's black glove to Raoul, and was embarrassed by Raoul's lack of decency. Usually Raoul was the definition of politeness and knew exactly how to handle himself in public. Christine had always found it dreadfully attractive.

Erik paused for a moment, his eyes scanning over his competitors form, but kept his hand out for him to shake, finally Raoul moved and hesitantly shook his hand. Raoul dropped his hand instantly as if it had been burned.

"What are you doing with Christine?" Raoul asked suspiciously, looking as if he would attack him at any given moment.

"Raoul, what's wrong with you?" Christine asked, her voice edged with anger, "Erik was being a gentleman and walking me home. He did not want to go on my own since you were not there to accompany me."

Raoul tore his eyes away from the peculiar mask and back at Christine, "Christine, I'm so sorry I'm late. I'll take you home now."

"No Raoul, Erik's taking me home."

Christine was shocked to here the words coming out of her mouth but she was so angry at him for standing her up in the restaurant, and then pouncing on her as if accusing that she had broke some law that forbade her to then spend time with someone else. It wasn't as if she had cheated on him.

"Christine, why don't we go back to my apartment and talk there?" Raoul asked, though it was more a demand.

"No, I don't feel much like talking anymore Raoul. I don't know why you weren't there tonight, on time, and I don't care."

"Christine, I was at work and there was this…"

Christine sighed, suddenly very tired, "I don't want to here your excuses Raoul. Listen I'm sorry for what I said, but if this was some way of getting back at me then I…"

"Christine," Raoul said, reaching a hand out to touch her arm, "I would never…"

Raoul stopped as he a large hand in a black glove grab his wrist and push it back to his side, preventing him from touching Christine's arm, he looked up at the glowing eyes from behind the mask and found a dangerously, steely stare.

"I just want to go home Raoul," Christine said, oblivious to the exchange between the two men beside her.

"I'll take you home," Raoul said insistently, "I want to work this out Christine…" his eyes flickered up to the masked intruder, "…alone."

Christine watched him for a moment and then sighed heavily. She turned before saying,

"Thanks…Erik. For everything. Raoul can take me home."

Erik looked down upon the curly haired woman, "Are you sure Christine?"

Christine looked up and her eyes locked with his. For a moment she felt as if she wanted to tell Raoul to leave her alone so Erik could walk her home. She hadn't forgot her anger towards him, but then she found herself nodding,

"Yeah. I'll see you later."

"Goodnight Christine," he said softly, his eyes unreadable behind his mask.

"Goodnight Erik, and again, thanks."

Wearily, Christine turned to Raoul, "C'mon then, let's go home."

Raoul nodded and hurriedly took Christine's arm and began to walk in the other direction, and Christine was too tired to fight him off.

Erik and Raoul's eyes locked for a moment and an unspeakable emotion riffled between to two of them, then Raoul turned and walked away with Christine, while Erik turned and disappeared into the darkness, completely alone.


By the time they got back to Raoul's apartment it was very late in the evening. All of Christine's senses were drooping and she felt the desperate need for a good night's rest. They did not speak as they stood awkwardly in the elevator. Raoul mentioned that he had not seen the old lady across the hall for some time, but other then that no conversation was made. Christine was glad. She knew however, that avoiding a conversation or another argument was pretty much impossible. So as the elevator light blinked and a small bell dinged to signify that they were on the right floor, Christine prepared herself for the coming storm.

The hallway was completely deserted, and Christine walked quietly behind Raoul to the end of the hall where she knew his apartment was situated. Usually they spent time at her house, because it had more room, but for some reason that night Raoul was insistent that they return to his place instead. Christine didn't have the energy to argue with him so she followed.

Raoul paused for a moment to grab his key out of his pants pocket and slipped it into the keyhole. Slowly the door swung open and Christine's eyes struggled to adjust the oncoming darkness. Wordlessly, Christine walked into the room and sat down on the couch that occupied the front room while Raoul walked around turning on the lights and lamps so the room was illuminated with a calm glow.

Without warning Raoul spoke, though he did not turn to face her, he kept his eyes focused on the window, as if he was enraptured by the rare light of a passing car,

"Who is Erik?"

Christine looked up at Raoul's back and hesitated, "Erik is a…friend of mine."

Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she could refer to him as a friend. Really, they had just conversed under strange coincidences that they happened to be at the same place at the same time and in the case of Meg she was dreadfully appreciative for it. But how could she explain something like that to Raoul?

"Then why have I not seen him before?" Raoul asked, desperately trying to keep his voice steady.

"Since when do you have to know every single one of my friends?"

Silence greeted her harsh question and Christine bit the inside of her lip, regretting the words immediately. She found that many times she would say things she wished she hadn't, but for some reason she felt extremely defensive with Raoul's accusatory tone. She knew that she should not feel the least bit guilty. She hadn't had a wild, mad affair with the masked man with whom she had spent time with. But then why did that small bit of her feel that she had in some how betrayed Raoul?

"Christine, that's…" Raoul paused and finally turned to face her, his eyes saddened, "that's not what I meant. Not at all."

Christine looked at him for a long moment before sighing and looking away. Raoul paused momentarily before walking towards her slowly and sitting down on the couch on the other side of her.

"Christine, I…I was just worried. I love you so much," Raoul reached out a hand and gently caressed Christine's cheek. The sensation of his soft hand against her face brought a fluttering sensation into the pit of her stomach and had no choice but to raise her face to meet his eyes. "I didn't know what to think, you were walking down the street with a man all dressed in black with a mask. I had never seen anything like it. The mask took me by surprise. I foolishly jumped to conclusions…"

Christine suddenly understood. Raoul had been worried for her own safety. He had seen the white mask upon Erik's face and had immediately thought that his intentions were something dark and gruesome just like the slasher teen movies that they had taken such pleasure in watching.

"Raoul…I understand and I'm sorry…" Christine paused and closed her eyes, trying to control the tears that were threatening to spill down her cheeks, "I'm so sorry about what I said about your parents…"

"No," Raoul said softly, moving his hand so it was softly entwined in her hair, "I overreacted, you were right."

Christine slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring into his blue depths, "I love you…" she said softly before leaning forward and locking her lips with his.

Raoul responded readily and pulled her body closer to his own, the kiss did not last long, but it seemed as though it steadied out all that had been unsteadied. Christine let her lips unlock from his and rested her forehead upon his forehead, a subtle intimate act.

"I ask only one thing," Raoul said finally laying a soft baby kiss upon her lips, "Please don't see that masked man again. I have a weird feeling about him, and I do not want you in any danger."

Christine immediately parted her head from his, "Erik wouldn't hurt me Raoul. He seems to be a very nice man…"

Raoul said nothing and merely sighed, "Please Christine, don't be upset."

Christine looked down at her hands, "I'm not upset. I just…I have no intention to see Erik anyway…"

Raoul gave her a small smile and leaned forward for another kiss, Christine merely gave him a small peck on the lips before standing, and walking into the bedroom.

"I'm tired Raoul, do you mind if I go to sleep?"

Raoul, a little shocked, nodded dumbly and watched as Christine left the room.

Perhaps he would sleep on the couch.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I would like to announce that I am a very indecisive naming person. Therefore, this story has been changed back to its original title "Everlasting Fire". Sorry for any confusion. It's the same story. Well, thank you for all of your reviews. In case your interested I have recently started a new story, "My Last Breath", check it out if you have time.

Thanks for reading!