A/N: Thanks to BabyNake and Phantomgirl24 for the reviews on the last chapter!
As Christine began rehearsals for La Traviata, she noticed that she and Erik had begun to fall into a pattern, behaving as though they were in a relationship - even though they had never actually had a conversation about the topic. Her days were now much busier, but they saw each other nearly every night after their impromptu family day, usually with Erik joining them for dinner, and then the two of them retiring to his suite once Gustave was asleep. Although she was trying to take each day as it came, hoping that if she gave it enough time her confused emotions would clarify themselves, Christine knew that she and Erik were playing a dangerous game. However, every time she resolved to talk to him, she found herself coming up with reasons why she should wait.
For one thing, she still wasn't entirely certain what she wanted. No matter the undeniable pull she felt toward Erik, Christine knew she still had resentment over the way he had hurt her in the past. Also, she needed to make sure that she was making the best decision for Gustave, as well. And, to make things even more complicated, she couldn't be certain of exactly what Erik wanted from her, although she felt confident that he would be willing to commit to being in Gustave's life permanently. He hadn't asked her to stay, or brought up any long-term plans between them, either. While at one time she wouldn't have even considered the option of Erik not wanting to be in a relationship with her, the fact that he had stayed away from her completely for five years - and brought her to Colorado to sing without intending to ever let her know he was there - had shaken her confidence slightly, maybe more than she would like to admit.
Not knowing what else to do, Christine found herself focusing on rehearsals and enjoying her evenings with Erik and her family as the week passed, hoping that one day she would wake up and know exactly what she should say to Erik - conveniently ignoring the fact that the end to her time in Colorado was drawing nearer, and deciding to enjoy the Saturday that would be one of her last days off before they returned to New York.
xxxxx
Knowing that Christine had the day off on Saturday, Erik had arranged for the four of them to go to the nearby town of Georgetown to ride a historic steam train that ran through the mountains. The train was a favorite activity of Reza's, and Erik was hopeful that Gustave would enjoy it, too.
As they made the fairly short drive, Erik was grateful for Gustave's typical chatter coming from the back seat, because foremost in his thoughts was the fact that he and Christine had been sleeping together for a week now, and he still had no idea if her feelings toward him had changed in any meaningful way. She surely knew that he would do anything to be with her, so the fact that she hadn't mentioned any commitment between them seemed like a bad sign to him - although the fact that she wanted to spend so much time with him seemed like a point in his favor, adding to his confusion.
Of course, the easiest solution would be to simply ask her if she would consider a relationship with him, but the fear of driving her away entirely had kept him silent over the past week when he had considered raising the topic. Deciding once again that the best course was to wait for Christine to bring up what she wanted, Erik resolved to try to put it to the back of his mind and enjoy the day with her and their son.
xxxxx
As Erik had thought he would, Gustave loved every minute of the train ride, exclaiming in awe as they cut through the mountains, his gaze locked over the open side of the train car as he sat between Christine and Mamma V. Erik spent most of the time watching Gustave, only occasionally glancing at the scenery, until he caught Christine looking up at him where he sat on her other side.
Lips curving tentatively under his mask, he asked her, "Are you enjoying the ride?", feeling gratified when she gave him a sunny smile in return.
"I am! It's so beautiful, and it's perfect for Gustave. I have a feeling we'll be talking about trains for weeks."
"Good. I'm glad you like it."
"I do, very much," she responded, and when she reached over to take his hand in hers, Erik felt his heart stop for a moment, only to resume in a slightly faster rhythm when she gave it a squeeze and didn't let go, continuing to hold his hand while making occasional excited comments about the stunning landscape.
xxxxx
After they had lunch at an old-fashioned tea shop that Erik had learned about from Rookheeya, which both Christine and Adelaide seemed to enjoy immensely and Gustave accepted without comment, they left Georgetown, heading back toward Black Hawk, spending the afternoon driving in the mountains, occasionally making stops to look at interesting things and let Gustave stretch his legs. On the way back into town, he begged Erik to drive to the lake they had already been to several times.
"Please let's go to the lake, Erik! Maybe the moose will be there today."
Glancing at Christine in the seat next to him for approval, Erik nodded. "Okay, but we might not see the moose, alright buddy?"
Ever the optimist, Gustave responded, "But maybe we will."
However, his hopes of seeing the moose were once again dashed, but he bounced back quickly as they let him play for a bit, walking the same path that Erik and Christine had taken previously, before Christine asked him what he wanted for supper - even though Erik knew that she already knew what he was going to say, just as he did.
"Pizza!"
"Okay," Christine answered before turning her attention to Erik. "I hope that's alright for you, also," she said, and he didn't think he was imagining the hopeful gleam in her eye, even though he had been eating dinner with them every night.
"Of course," he answered, not bothering to mention that there was no way he was going to turn down any kind of a meal with them as they rounded up Gustave and returned to the vehicle, heading into town to have dinner together.
xxxxx
By the time they returned to Phantasma, dusk was falling, and Gustave was struggling to keep his eyes open after the long day they'd had. After Erik and Mamma each told him good night, Christine got him cleaned up for bed, smiling to herself when he fell asleep just a few pages into the book he'd selected for his bedtime story. Smoothing her hand over his soft brown hair, she pressed a light kiss to his forehead before exiting the room, finding Mamma and Erik watching television together in the living area.
"Gustave's asleep," Christine said, sinking down onto the sofa next to Erik.
"I'm not surprised," Mamma answered. "And to be honest, I'm worn out, too. I think I'll head to bed."
Glancing at Erik, Christine replied, "Okay, good night. I think I'll go over to Erik's for a while, since it's still early. I'll have my phone if you guys need anything."
Ignoring the slight smirk on her foster mother's face as she bid them good night, Christine grabbed Erik's hand. "Hope you don't mind that I invited myself over," she said, giggling as he quickly sprang to his feet.
"I suppose I'm alright with it," he said dryly, causing Christine's giggles to change to a full-fledged laugh as they slipped into the hallway and into Erik's suite.
xxxxx
Christine leaned back into the corner of Erik's couch, smiling up at him in thanks when he handed her a glass of wine. "Just what I needed," she said as she impulsively draped her legs over his lap. "It was a long day, although a very good one."
Lips curling slightly under the mask, Erik began to lightly run his hand over her calves before curling his long fingers around her ankles. "It was a good day," he replied, hesitating before continuing, "Gustave had fun, too, right?"
Feeling a tug at her heart when she heard the uncertain note in Erik's question, Christine smiled at him in reassurance. "He definitely did. The train was a huge hit."
"Good," Erik answered, and they lapsed into a comfortable silence for a few minutes, until Christine drained her wine glass and set it aside, before opening her arms in an invitation that even Erik couldn't miss.
As he moved over her, leaning in for a kiss, Christine pulled his mask off, tossing it to the rug next to them, caressing a hand over his bare cheek before their lips met in a kiss that started slow and sweet before gradually growing more heated.
"Shit," Erik said suddenly, pulling back from her slightly. "I just remembered we used the last condom last night. I'll need to go get some more."
Christine hesitated for a moment, before deciding that after this last week, there was no reason that the two of them couldn't have a mature discussion about sex. "Well," she began, "I've actually been thinking we could talk about that. I'm on birth control, and I haven't been with anyone else since my last checkup."
To her surprise, Erik grimaced at her words before pulling back from her completely, returning to a sitting position. "I still can't believe I didn't ask you about birth control that night you came to my apartment. I wasn't thinking clearly, I suppose."
Christine pushed herself back into a sitting position as well, reflecting that she hadn't necessarily expected to talk about the past tonight, although maybe it was good that they at least touch on the subject - even though she didn't feel up to rehashing everything at the moment.
"I was on birth control back then, too, but I wasn't thinking clearly, either, because I was completely off schedule with it. I missed days when, well, when we were at your apartment before, and then I think with stress and everything, I forgot a few more times that month."
Closing his eyes, Erik gritted out, "Oh, god, Christine, I'm so sorry. I truly have no idea what I was thinking - I just wanted you in my life so badly, I lost all common sense."
Wondering what it said about her that she was still dealing with more lingering resentment over the fact that he'd left her without a word after sex a month later, Christine cleared her throat. "Well, you did unnecessarily complicate everything, but the point I'm trying to make is that unlike the night we conceived Gustave, we should be good to go from a birth control standpoint. So, it just depends on if you've been to the doctor since you've been with anyone else."
Erik was silent for so long that Christine was starting to wonder if he intended to answer her at all before he finally spoke. "I don't really go to the doctor, Christine," he responded, continuing before she could tell him that he really should, "but, that shouldn't be an issue in our case."
"What do you mean?"
"You're the only person I've ever been with, Christine," he replied with just the slightest touch of defiance in his tone, as though he thought she might judge him for his confession.
"Oh," she said, leaning over to give him a quick kiss before settling back into position. "Well, there's nothing wrong with that," she continued, seeing Erik's shoulders relax a bit at her words. "It's been quite a while for me, too - as you could probably guess."
"Mmm," he murmured noncommittally, and Christine had the feeling he was choosing his words carefully. "I wondered…when you said that…but it's really none of my business."
Christine merely returned his gaze for a few moments, reflecting on the fact that even though Erik's voice sounded slightly strained, as if he was feeling jealous or possessive, he was making an effort to behave reasonably - and this realization only increased the pull she felt toward him.
Blushing, she looked up at him. "Well, between raising Gustave and my career, I haven't had much time for dating, and sometimes it's just easier to take care of things yourself, you know?"
Erik merely stared at her after she spoke, mouth slightly open as if he were in shock, for so long that Christine finally continued, "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me you never do it."
Clearing his throat, Erik slowly shook his head. "No, I can't say that. But, when I do it, it's merely a bodily function. Whereas just the thought of you doing it - well, that's like a fucking work of art."
Pressing her thighs together at Erik's words, Christine replied, "I don't know about that - I'm finding this discussion very…interesting, myself. When's the last time you did it?"
Closing his eyes briefly at her words, Erik let his mind drift back in time. Why could he never have any secrets when it came to Christine? The little minx seemed to have an unnatural ability to make him bare his soul with hardly any effort on her part.
"It was the afternoon we had the voice lesson in your suite," he admitted hoarsely, hoping he didn't sound like too much of a pathetic fool.
"Oh," she said, and Erik wondered if he'd repulsed her for a moment, before she continued, "I was so sure you were going to kiss me, but instead you practically ran out of the room."
"Yeah," he said, eyes falling closed again. "That's because I'm a fucking idiot."
Apparently Christine agreed, because she released a startled giggle at his words but didn't offer up any argument.
"Well, maybe sometimes. But if it makes you feel any better, I ended up doing the same thing."
Erik let out an involuntary groan at her confession, unable to control the desire that whipped through him at the realization that Christine had been just as aroused by their encounter that day as he had been. "Fuck, Christine…I still think about that first night back in Paris, how you touched yourself…"
"Oh, really?" she answered, and Erik could see a sudden gleam in her eyes - an expression that he was growing familiar with by now. In a manner that told him she had complete confidence in her power over him, Christine suddenly sat up and reached for him, unfastening his pants before rising to her feet next to him.
Helplessly, he looked at her in confusion, but she gave him a meaningful look in return before quickly removing her tank top and shorts, leaving him struck dumb by how beautiful she was. "You know what to do," she instructed, returning to her position against the arm of the sofa.
Horrified but also incredibly aroused, Erik protested, "Christine, no, you can't want to see that."
"Would you like to see it?"
Sucking in a breath, he protested feebly, "That's not fair. But, yes."
Slowly trailing her hand down her stomach, Christine stopped just short of her intended target, and Erik knew she was waiting for him - and no doubt justifiably sure that she had the upper hand here. Giving in, he reached for his cock, beginning to slowly work it as his eyes locked on Christine, who made a satisfied sound at his acquiescence before letting her own hand fall between her legs.
Erik was nearly struck senseless by her beauty as Christine's eyes drifted closed and she let her head tilt back, brown curls cascading back against the arm of the sofa, and he felt his rhythm falter as he stared at her. He truly couldn't fathom how a perfect creature like her could want to indulge in such a carnal scene with someone like him, but he certainly didn't have it in him to turn her down.
After a few minutes, Christine moved again, this time crawling over to straddle him, kissing him hard before reaching for his cock herself and sinking down onto it, beginning to gently rock against him as they embraced. Knowing he wasn't going to last long, Erik reached between their bodies, finding her clit and circling it with his fingertip in the way he had learned she liked, managing to hold out until she cried out and collapsed against him before finding his own release.
As Christine sighed and nestled her head against his shoulder, Erik brought his hands up, lightly stroking over her hair before tentatively wrapping his arms around her. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the fear already creeping over him: namely, that all too soon she would be gone, and he would be lonelier than ever after having had this time with her.
Opening his mouth without thinking, Erik caught himself just before he started begging her to stay with him permanently. What if Christine didn't want to hear that, and stopped seeing him altogether? For now it was best to not risk pushing her away; any time with her was too precious to jeopardize. And, he still had some time before she was due to leave - maybe the perfect plan would come to him yet, and he would find a way to convince her to stay with him once the summer was over.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for continuing to read this story! Please feel free to make my day and let me know what you thought in the comment section :)