Hello everyone! Sorry for not updating sooner but I wasn't at home. But now, here's the new one!

Hollie, still love you:))

Chapter fifteen

Christine woke up to a strange feeling. She felt safe. Without a doubt she knew that she belonged to the man who was holding her. Slowly she opened her eyes and a smile broke across her face. It was the first time they had spent to night together. Nothing had happened between them but the simple thought that they laid in each other's arms during the night flooded Christine with happiness.

Carefully she sat up and looked down at Erik's sleeping form. He looked like a little boy in his sleep and a smile was set upon his face. Biting her lower lip Christine gingerly reached out and touched Erik's mask. She traced it with her fingertips and seeing that Erik was sound asleep she gently pulled his mask off.

A single tear rolled down on Christine's face when she first took a look at her love's face. Truly it was deformed and it might sound strange but for Christine it was the most perfect face in the whole world. She couldn't help her cry when she thought about how much he must have suffered from it. Slowly she lean down and placed a soft kiss on Erik's marred cheek then put his mask back on. She lingered in the bed for some minutes then got up and looking back at Erik once more she left the room.

Several hours later Erik woke up to find Christine gone. He glanced at the clock, it was already ten. Getting out of the bed he changed into a shirt and a pair of jeans and went to the kitchen to have some breakfast. On the fridge-door a note was waiting him.

Darling, sorry that I've left you without saying good-bye but you were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't want to wake you up. I've made breakfast for you, it's in the fridge. Believe me it's the best food after a long night, I hope you'll like it.

Christine

Smiling, Erik opened the fridge and took his food out. It was a simple salad but he thought that it was the best food on Earth just because Christine had made it.

While eating it he imagined having every morning like that. Of course without Christine being gone. They would wake up together and have breakfast. Then they would went to work but meet in the lunch-time. In the evening they would go out or just simply make something at home. At their home. And every night they would make passionate love and fall asleep in each other's arms. Like any normal couple. But then again, Erik thought, they were anything but a normal couple.

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"Damn" Meg cursed as she tried to find her cell phone in her bag on the crowded bus. "Hello?" she picked it up after finally finding it.

"Hi Meg, it's Nadir."

"Oh, no tell me that there's nothing wrong" Meg panicked. Nadir never called her, only when there was a Christine-Erik emergency.

"Not at all" Nadir laughed.

"Thank God" Meg sighed. "Then why are you calling?"

"Umm… you know the gala is on Friday. And, well… I have nobody to go with and I thought that you could accompany me."

"Hey, and what's up with that receptionist girl?"

"It didn't work between us" Nadir admitted.

"Oh, I'm sorry" Meg said.

"Thanks. So, you wanna come? Christine will be there too" Nadir said trying to make her say yes.

"All right, I'll go with you."

"Great!" Nadir said enthusiastically. "We'll pick you up together."

"Okay, see you then. Bye."

"Bye."

Meg hung up confused. But as she thought about her conversation with Nadir she started to smile. Nadir was handsome and quite charming and the fact that his first thought was her almost made her giggle like a school-girl. She was about to imagine how would she look with him when she realized that she had missed the stop where she should have taken off.

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"Are you sure it's good?" Meg asked emerging from the bathroom. She and Christine were frantically getting ready for the gala and they had only half an hour left before their escorts arrived.

"It's perfect" Christine said not even looking at her. She was putting up her make-up sitting on the bed with a mirror in her left hand and a lipstick in the right with only her undergarments on.

They had spent the previous afternoon in the dress-shop again trying to find something to wear. They knew that the press will be there so they needed something special for this occasion. Finally they managed to find two unique dresses. Christine's was red and Meg's was dark-blue, both strapless and floor-length.

"I hope Nadir will like it" Meg said admiring herself in the full-length mirror. Her head was filled with thoughts about Nadir and suddenly it seemed a pretty good idea to become his girlfriend.

"What's it with him?" Christine asked putting on her dress. "I thought you didn't even like him. Please help me."

"Well I didn't" Meg said zipping up Christine's dress. "But now I do. And just imagine" she continued dreamingly. "Wouldn't it be great if I were dating with the best friend of my best friend's boyfriend!"

Christine just smiled. Sometimes she couldn't understand her friend. One moment and she was crying after her ex then another and she was making plans on how to pick another man up. But at least she was having the time of her life. Then she thought back on her years with Raoul and almost laughed. He never took her to dance. It annoyed him when she sang. She hated Meg. And honestly he was nothing but a selfish fop. Christine couldn't believe that once she went crazy for him. Raoul was a piece of nothing compared to Erik. Erik was everything to her. She was just waiting for the right time to tell him this.

The sound of the doorbell brought Meg and Christine back to reality.

"They're here!" Meg shrieked.

They went to the door and opened it and with the same movement they shut it back.

"Oh my God!" Christine breathed and Meg had difficulties with keeping her balance.

"Are you sure that's really Nadir?" Meg asked disbelievingly.

"Surely. The other is Erik."

"God, they're gorgeous!" Meg whispered peeking out through the little window next to the door. Erik and Nadir were standing there with incredibly cute expressions. They were obviously confused.

"We should open the door" Christine suggested.

"Yes" Meg agreed and taking a deep breath they opened the door again.

"Hello guys" Christine managed to say it.

"Good evening ladies" Erik said kissing her. "What was this?" he asked referring to the door-shutting.

"Oh, it was my mistake" Meg quickly said. "I forgot to put my lipstick on and I had to rush back."

Neither Erik nor Nadir believed this but they quickly dropped the subject.

"Shall we go then?" Nadir asked motioning towards the car.

"Jesus!" the girls cried in union and Erik laughed.

"What's it Honey?" he asked putting his arm around Christine's waist. "Don't you like it?"

"Are you kidding?" Christine beamed. "I love it!"

When they got in she and Meg were amazed. They had never been in a limo before. They spent the entire trip to push different buttons and try everything out. For Nadir and Erik it was quite entertaining.

"We're here" Erik announced when they arrived.

Christine's eyes grew wide seeing the place. Cameras were everywhere and there was an enormous crowd gathering at the entrance. "Do I have to get out?" she asked terrified.

"Relax Honey, just smile and everything will be all right" Erik tried to calm her down.

Meg was the exact contrast of Christine. She could hardly wait to pose in front of the cameras with Nadir.

The chauffeur appeared at the door and opened it. First Nadir got out and helped Meg. Immediately reporters attacked them and they were quickly surrounded by people.

"Huhh" Christine was literally shaking.

"Are you ready?" Erik asked.

"No" Christine answered.

Erik smiled and kissed her once more. "Let's get over with it."

As soon as they got out of the car they were also bombarded with questions. First they inquired about the opera but soon they started to ask Erik about Christine and his relationship with her. At this point Erik excused them and led Christine into the building.

"See?" Erik asked in the safety of their box. "We survived."

"Yeah" Christine said although she was still shocked.

"Look, Meg is alive too" Erik said nodding towards the opposite box where Nadir and Meg sat.

"She's more than alive" Christine said smiling.

Meg was shamelessly flirting with Nadir and he obviously didn't mind it at all.

"She doesn't hesitate much" Erik commented after Meg kissed Nadir rather passionately.

"I'd be surprised if she did" Christine said. "She's been talking about their blooming relationship since Nadir asked her to come."

"Don't worry, I think Nadir likes her too."

"He better does! If he hurts Meg I'll castrate him" Christine threatened.

"I should warn him then" Erik laughed but quickly quieted himself when the lights turned down and the performance began.

Christine watched the opera in awe. When Erik was busy because of the rehearsals she was a bit upset that they couldn't too spend much time together but then she saw that it was worth with it. Perfection wasn't a good word enough to describe the play.

Erik was proud too. Finally he saw the result of that many hours of work.

After the performance even more people attacked Erik to congratulate. Everybody was very impressed and even Carlotta got some really nice compliments.

Finally Erik managed to escape from the crowd and he led Christine to a cab.

"Where's the limo?" Christine asked confused.

"Your darling friend has already took it and left with her newfound lover."

"Oh" Christine said. "And where do you think they went? To Meg's or to Nadir's place? Just because I really don't want to…errr… interrupt anything."

"I guess they went to Nadir's flat. But let's go to mine to make sure we don't disturb them." Erik suggested.

"Okay" Christine agreed.

During their trip and back at Erik's flat they discussed the opera. Erik was happy to see that Christine's thoughts about the plot and the roles were the same as his.

"Christine" Erik said after a while. They were sitting on the sofa curled up against each other. "Have you thought about my offer? You know, the moving in thing."

"Yes" Christine answered.

"Umm… and?" Erik asked nervously.

Christine pulled Erik close to her and kissed him lovingly. "I accept it" she whispered.

Erik hugged her tightly and sighed. A huge weight was lifted from his shoulders.

"But first I need to tell you something" Christine said nervously breaking their embrace.

"What is it Honey?"

"I've lost my job and I don't know how will I be able to pay for my staying."

"Christine, what are you talking about?" Erik asked caressing her cheek. "You don't have to pay for anything. Knowing that you're here with me will be more than enough."

"But…" Christine started but Erik silenced her with a gentle kiss.

"No buts. Anyways I earn enough to keep this place up alone."

"Thank you" Christine whispered but she was a bit ashamed. She didn't want to seem a useless girl who needed to be maintained.

After some minutes they decided to go to bed for both of them were pretty tired. After having a shower separately they laid down and found the same position as on the night or rather dawn of their outing. They just listened to the other's breathing and enjoyed being together.

"Erik" Christine said suddenly.

"Hmmm?" Erik asked sleepily.

"I…" Christine started then taking a deep breath she finally said it. "I love you."

Erik was instantly wide awake. He didn't want to believe his ears. Did she just say she loved him? He pulled her closer and whispered "I love you too."

Hmm... Christine knows what's under the mask... And Meg is with Nadir...

Review and Erik will take you to the opera. Don't and you'll get punjabbed!

Your loving authoress