Author's Note: Thanks for all the kind reviews last time. They are really inspiring and helpful, not to mention ego-boosting! Hahaha. Anyways, we're out of the history part of the story and about to get into the meat of it. So, I hope you all enjoy this! And remember, review!

Inconvenient Reason

Christine sat in stunned silence as Erik's low, soothing voice stopped. She had experienced a gamut of emotions: anger, repulsion, terror, sadness, pity. She could not believe all that he had gone through. She was surprised he was sane, let alone still living.

Noting her silence, Erik started. "The rest of my story you know. I've been here for about 12 years now. I have amassed quite a fortune and bought the château when the former owner died. I have had more freedom since then. I had this wing blocked off for my personal use and my servants respect my privacy. It is the perfect situation."

"It does sound ideal," Christine admitted, speaking for the first time since Erik started his narrative. "Erik, I-"

"Christine," he cut in, "I do not need your pity. What happened, happened. I am fully culpable for all my actions. I regret each and every bad decision I made. But I cannot change the past, nor can I dwell on it. I have accepted my fate and moved on. I beg you to do the same."

He looked at her with pleading eyes, searching her for understanding. She met his gaze steadily, still shocked by what she heard. Christine could not deny the horrors that he committed: murder, torture, numerous crimes…It was heinous. She was slightly disgusted by the startling descriptions Erik gave her. But without them, his story would have been impersonal and even more unbelievable. Yet as Erik said, it was in the past. She was reluctant to be fazed by his gruesome tale.

Clearing his throat, Erik stood. "It's time for bed."

She stood and he took her hand and led Christine back to her room. He stared at her across the threshold.

"Erik?" she asked in a soft, tentative voice. "You said you have accepted your fate. How do you know what fate has in store for you?"

His eyes filled slightly when he looked at Christine. He answered slowly but surely. "With what I have done, how could my fate be anything less than damnation?"

Christine almost broke into tears as she heard his response. He was so sure that he was evil, that he was doomed for eternity.

'He can love, and be loved,' Christine thought. 'He needs to learn that.'

Spontaneously, Christine pulled him into a gentle hug, feeling him tense up beneath her. "Thank you," she whispered into his ear. Erik relaxed and was about to reciprocate her hug, but she pulled away.

"Goodnight," she said with a small smile. She softly shut the door, leaving Erik slightly stunned.

"Bon soir," he whispered to Christine's door.

XOX

Christine lay in her bed and thought about everything Erik just told her. It was information overload. He had suffered more than anyone else she knew, and yet, he was okay. 'Well, not that okay, I suppose.'

It was obvious that Erik had trust issues. He told her his story, though, which was a step in the right direction. She wondered if he would ever trust her enough to let her see behind his mask. His mood swings were another cause for concern. He could change from talkative to sullen in a flash, and she didn't want to think about seeing him angry. She hoped she would never give him cause for it. His past was filled with such violence, too. Christine wondered if he would ever slip back into that vein, again hoping that he never would.

After continuing to think about what Erik said last, that he could not dwell on the past, Christine decided he was right. It would be useless to worry about what Erik had endured. It happened and it was horrible. But it seemed like he was a good person after all of it. She accepted his past and promised herself not to judge him against his history.

XOX

With no plans with Erik for that evening, Christine's fifth day passed surprisingly quickly. Her bruises were barely noticeable now, so she ventured relaxing by the pool. She slipped into her bikini and lay out under the sun. She loved the feeling of the sun against her skin; it warmed her quickly. She swam, read, and napped under the sun without disturbance.

She loved the relaxation she was able to get, but the nights she spent with Erik were wonderful beyond Christine's expectations.

'First, he saves my life and nurses me back to health. We went for a magical midnight ride and experienced an evening of song. He is even comfortable enough with me to share his dark past,' she smiled.

Not even Raoul trusted her this much. He did not believe Christine capable of managing her own funds, for pity's sake. Raoul was never as romantic or mysterious as Erik either; he was always very straight-forward about his emotions. And while it was nice to know exactly where Raoul's head was at, he became predictable and, at times, quite tedious.

For these reasons, Christine felt only the slightest twinge of guilt for enjoying her days with Erik. 'Nothing has happened between Erik and I, so I'm guilty only in acquiring a new friend. And Erik is a friend. Just a friend. Right?'

Pushing these thoughts from her mind, Christine made her way up to her room. Upon entering, she immediately looked to where she had found Erik's first letter. Nothing was there. She searched through her room, yielding no results. It was not as if she was expecting something, but not finding anything had disappointed and hurt her.

'Have I done something to offend him? Is he ignoring me now? I thought we made progress.'

Her thoughts continued down this road for the rest of the night. During her nightly conversation with Raoul, she was only half-listening. Christine went through scenario after scenario in which she could have said something comforting or reassuring. She participated in dinner conversation only partially, not really paying attention to the gossip that the château phantom now had a female partner that had sung for the first time last night.

Her sleep was troubled. Christine hoped that a way to make things right between her and Erik would present itself soon.

XOX

Erik meant to sneak into her room at around 2 a.m., but he tarried too long in the barnyard. Instead, he took a chance and delivered the letter at dawn. He figured she would still be sleeping, thus avoiding confrontation but still doing what he needed to do.

He winced as he pushed open the fireplace; the stones were grating and the hinge squeaked audibly.

'I will have to fix that soon,' he made a mental note.

Pausing for a moment and seeing that he did not wake her, he walked into the room and placed the letter on her desk, almost exactly where the first one was.

'There is no way she will miss that. I know that if she does not come tonight, she will never come again.'

Erik had been tortured all night. He wondered if he had done the right thing by opening up to Christine. She was not very talkative after he had told her about his past, making him nervous. Then again, what was she to say? Over and over he belittled himself, telling himself that he was not worthy of such a beauty and, even if he was, she would never have him if she knew what lay behind his mask.

He looked over at her sleeping form.

'Oh, but she is beautiful.'

Erik could tell that Christine was asleep, and having a good dream by the look of the soft smile on her face. Her chocolate curls were spread around her face, a few covering her delicate brow. Erik let his feelings take over at that moment. He walked over to the bed, the only noise being the rustling of his clothes and Christine's soft breathing, and kneeled down by her restive form. Gently, he tucked a loose curl behind her ear, pulling it away from her face. He wanted to look upon the face of beauty.

Gently, he let his finger glide down her jaw line. He did not notice her hand travel towards his and was taken by surprise when she captured his finger against her cheek in a light grasp. He smiled and gently worked his finger out of hers. Her action, even though it was unconsciously done, charmed him. He bent down over her, his face about an inch above her own. Erik could feel the softness of her breath on his lips. He moved closer to her, hips lips almost touching hers, literally a centimeter apart. He wanted to kiss her. And more than anything, he wanted her to kiss him in return. At that moment, he wanted her, no, needed her for his own.

Reality collided with him the moment before his lips collided with hers.

'What am I doing? What am I thinking?'

Erik was up in a flash. He moved into the fireplace faster than he thought was possible and closed it. Breathing hard, he leaned back against the dry wall of the passageway. He wanted her so badly, but thought that if she had woken up to find his lips upon hers…he shuddered to think of what she would say.

'Tonight,' he thought, 'tonight we shall see what happens.'

XOX

Christine was on the brink of sleep and waking. The soft light of near dawn streamed through her window and struck her eyes, making her squint slightly. She was trying to recover the dream she was having.

'It was a good one, too,' she thought, eyes still shut peacefully.

Giving up on the dream, she started to plan a loose itinerary for the day. She was comfortable in the pre-dawn silence of her room and was about to drift back into the realm of sleep when she heard something. It was the soft grate of stone against stone and the slight squeak of an un-oiled hinge. She felt a presence in her room.

'It's him,' she thought excitedly. She debated whether or not to open her eyes, but decided that the encounter would just be awkward. Keeping a straight face was difficult, but she managed to keep feigning sleep while he moved about her room.

She heard him move to the desk and quietly place something there.

'A note!' she thought, suppressing a smile.

She felt him move closer to her bed, stopping when he was right next to it. She heard the fabric of his sleeve rustle and a shadow fell over her eyes. A loose lock of hair was pushed away from her face and tucked behind her ear. At this tender gesture, Christine could not help but smile a little.

He trailed a finger down her cheek lightly, tickling her. Deciding to play with him a bit, she moved her hand to her face, trapping his finger. She held it loosely against her cheek. She heard his breath hitch and turned her face towards him, wondering what his next move would be. Gently, he pried her hand from his. Slowly, he moved his face towards her own. He was so close to her now, his quickened breathing warming her lips. More than anything, she wanted to open her eyes. She wanted to see what emotions were running through those green depths and communicate what she wanted through her own. She wanted him to kiss her. More than anything, she wanted a kiss.

Her face was directly under his, his lips a hairs breadth away from her own. She tensed, waiting for bliss.

He paused for a second, then, as if realizing for the first time what he was about to do, drew away from her quickly. She heard the fireplace open and close once again. The absence of his breath, of his body, of his very presence made her want to shout in frustration. Thinking that enough time passed, she opened her eyes and sat up. Christine ran her fingers gently across her lips, trying to imagine what Erik's would have felt like. She was slightly confused at where she was and why Erik was not there with her.

After a few moments, she returned to reason. She was annoyed with Erik for not following through on this most tempting movement and angry at herself for not doing anything to encourage him.

'Am I doomed to want what I cannot have?' she silently fumed.

Her anger and annoyance dissipated slightly as she saw the letter on her desk. When she was done reading it, they were gone completely, replaced by curiosity and excitement. The letter read:

Dearest Christine-

If you will again grace me with your presence tonight, I would be honored. Same time, same place. And arrive hungry.

Yours, Erik

"But what will I wear!" Christine exclaimed to an empty room.