She was not right, at least not entirely. I very much still had parts of that man inside me. But...this disaster of an evening was going better than expected, so I didn't want to argue with her. I squint over to see the illuminated numbers on the alarm clock and see I still have a few hours before I have to wake for the day. I hesitate before sliding my arm around her again. After a moment I feel her fingers intertwine with mine. With a silent sigh of relief, I brush my lips against the side of her neck and lay my head next to hers on the pillow.

I dress quickly and silently at the foot of the bed. She sleeps peacefully, the stress of the previous day erased from her features. I slip into my suit jacket and crouch next to her.

"Christine," I call out softly, giving her shoulder a slight shake. "I'm going. Will I still see you later?" She nods and I press a kiss to her cheek. As I lean back she tugs on my tie pulling me down. I chuckle against her lips before giving her a proper kiss.

"See ya later," she mumbles drifting back to sleep.

A long day of alto auditions follows. Raoul walks with me for a few minutes.

"You cutting out on us again?" he asks as we exit the theatre.

"Sorry to say, but yes."

"Rude, man. Hey did you know that Carlotta is pretty famous overseas?" I raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"I'm just saying you may want to consider that before you make any final decisions."

"Well, she is certainly getting a call back. I think I have a role for her, anyway. No need to worry there."

"But...not the lead?"

"Not the lead, no."

"OK, well I'll see you tomorrow then, buddy." I frown as he heads back into building and I make my way towards Christine. I spy her from across the intersection. A blaring horn brings me back to reality as I nearly walk into the busy crosswalk. I step back with a wave of apology and sheepishly wait for the walk sign to flash.

"Ms. Daae."

"What was that all about?" she asks as we start walking.

"The mere sight of you leaves me completely distracted." I gaze down at her.

She shoots me an amused eye roll, then leans up to kiss my cheek.

"I've been thinking about your call back song. And I think we should choose something else."

"Why? I thought you said the one you had picked would be perfect."

"It is perfectly suited to your voice but perhaps we should select something more...modern. I will, however, insist on a private performance."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, my dear. We'll have to find something else."

"You don't have anything else up your sleeve?"

"Not yet, and it is afterall your audition. I thought maybe you should have some say in it." Once the elevator doors open I slide my jacket off and hang it before reaching for my tie. "We'll just go up to my office rather than lug everything down." I take her hand and pull open the door that leads upstairs.

"I did wonder what was behind this secret door." We walk up the carpeted steps and she drops my hand, admiring the frames that line the walls. Some are artwork I've painted, some are artwork I've bought, and some are more family photos. "So cute. Awwwww..." She gives a commentary as we near the top landing. My parents wedding picture is at the top of the stairs. "I think you're kind of a big softee. All this personal stuff, all hidden away."

I shrug and open the door to my office. "It's not like I have company around on the regular to display them for."

I have copies of music stored in file boxes throughout the room. I move to sort through them as she takes in the rest of the space.

"OK I think you might be a sheet music hoarder."

"Well it's come in handy in this case, hasn't it?" I laugh. I have a vague sorting system. I set a box in front of her and sit down on the floor to go through mine. She opts for the floor as well and pulls her box up next to mine. "These should all be suitable for soprano." I pull one from the box and set it between us. She picks it up.

"Oh good one." Her fingers flip through the pages. I pull another out and go through it myself. There are a couple handwritten notes in the margin. "That's not your handwriting. It's actually legible."

"Very funny." I do laugh, because it's true. "It's my mother's. Some of these are her's."

"Is she a singer?" I shake my head.

"She used to teach music...piano. Funniest thing, she can't sing, can't carry a tune. Absolutely dreadful." I laugh again while I set the music in my hand down on top of the other selection.

"She doesn't do that anymore?" She looks up from her box.

"Not in a school. She has some students who get private lessons from her." I push a piece of music back in the box. "I told her she doesn't need to work at all, but she just loves it so much. She tried to talk me into teaching at one point."

"Well, why not?"

"Perhaps in the future, but I'm quite content doing what I am now. And there was always only one person I ever wanted to teach." I look pointedly at her.

"So that's where you got your talents or was your dad also musically inclined?"

"I can remember him playing the guitar and he was an all right singer, better than my mother anyway."

"Do you play guitar too?"

"You put it in front of me and I'll play it." She begins to ask me about what instruments I play.

"And the violin?"

I nod. "Quite well. My specialty."

"I miss hearing my father play."

"I'll play for you sometime if you like." A faint smile crosses over her face.

"What about the tuba?" She lets out a snort of laughter.

"Believe it or not, I have. Once." We chat as we continue our task. Soon we have a decent pile of music between us. "That should be good for now, we can still think about for the next couple days." I stack the two boxes behind me against the wall and straighten up the pile of possible songs. I pull her up from the floor and we head back down.

I take the stack of music over to the piano to sort through them. She follows behind me, standing next to the piano.

"Is this it?" She picks up the copy of Think of Me that I had written out that was still sitting on the music stand.

"That's just the accompaniment. I'd nearly finished copying it out." She glances through the pages. "Did you want to see your copy?" She nods and I set the pile of music on the edge of the piano. I dig it out of the bench where it's stored and hand it over to her. I sit to continue organizing the music for her while she studies the song.

"It's pretty sad, huh?" She settles on the edge of the sofa, leafing through the pages. "Really sad."

"Yes. Sorrowful...regretful. The lyrics really hit you if you listen to them."

"Why did you change your mind?" She asks not looking up the song.

How can I explain that I don't want the boy to see her sing it? That's how I lost her before. Stupid of me not to think of that. I've been so blindly stupid with all of this. His comment this afternoon...I can see history repeating itself. True talent being overlooked for a famous name. Until I bring her talent forth, then his outlook will change. Perhaps he should sit out the call backs.

"I only wanted you to sing it for selfish reasons, really." There. That was the truth. "I never got to see you perform it, not on stage anyway. But, that's just something else I need to let go." The boy had taken that from me too. I sigh, slightly annoyed and set the sheet music down next to me. "What would you like to sing, Christine?"

"Oh definitely this then." She holds out Think of Me.

"My dear," I begin.

"No, you said it was perfect. You said tragic, and this does seem tragic. Like a lost love...almost. At least let me try it. If I butcher it we'll do something else."

"Very well. Scales first."

When she was adequately warmed up I began the intro, watching her.

"Remember, relax." I see her nod, studying the words. When she starts it's like a sucker punch to the stomach. I remember having to strain to hear from the third cellar instead of my box. The damned managers! I was at least able to catch a glimpse of her in the chapel, still glowing from the excitement of her triumph. Little Giry interrupted us before I could even really congratulate her. "Very well done, my dear. It brings me such joy to hear you sing."

Her eyes flutter shut. "That was ok, then? Should I sing this?"

"Yes, it's whatever you want, Christine. You can sing whatever you like."

"What's it about? Do you know? I think it might help to know that."

"I believe her love had gone off to fight in some war, he was a soldier. The odds of his return were not good and her family was pressuring her to marry. My memory might be a bit off though."

"Well then," she says as she approaches me, "I'll just put myself in her place." I feel her hand against my jaw. "My one true love, marching off to certain death. A life full of missed opportunities. Very sad and tragic, indeed." I place my hand over hers. After a moment I give the inside of her wrist a quick, light kiss.

"We should probably get going," I say softly. She nods, handing the sheets back to me.

"Will you be staying tonight?" She asks while I put the music back in the bench. I look up at her, considering.

"Would you like me to?"

"It's just the one show, it won't be too late. I thought if you needed to bring anything it might be a good idea to get it now."

"Very wise." I get what I might need then grab a new tie and slip it in the breast pocket of my jacket. "Ready?"

The line was already forming when we reached the club

"Do you want to stay here or come down to the show?"

"If I stay here I'll probably fall asleep." I say, hanging my jacket up.

"That's ok. I can wake you when I get back. As long as you don't act like some sort of weirdo again."

"Can't make any promises." I reply, eyebrow raised. I unbutton my dress shirt so I can hang that too and keep it as unwrinkled as possible. I hear her move around in the bathroom so I sit on the end of the couch.

"OK, I need to get down there and change and warm up."

"Need any help?" I rub my hands together.

"Later, maybe." she laughs.

"Hurry back." I kiss her forehead and release her.

"See you in a bit." She taps a finger to my chin and turns out the door. I finish undressing and set my shoes near the door. I use the bathroom, getting ready for the sleep that will no doubt come and browse her small book collection. I grab a paperback and switch on the bedside lamp but as expected I'm out a few pages in.

"Erik..." I feel the book being plucked from my fingers. I smile sleepily up at her. "...your help." Ah her costume. I sit up, admiring it. She turns around and I slide my hand down her side. I loosen the corset and she pulls it off with a sigh of relief. I pull her skirt's zipper down. She lets it fall to the floor as she turns. She pulls my tshirt off and drops it next to the bed. My fingers trace the marks left behind by the corset. Her weight settles on top of me and her lips descend on mine. I unhook her bra and it falls from her. I drag my fingers lightly up her sides my thumbs skimming her nipples. Her hips grind against mine and my hands move to remove her panties. Her body trembles when my fingers slide against the inside of her thigh. My boxers are next to go.

I groan loudly as she lowers herself onto me. My hands frame her breasts as she sets a fast pace. Already I feel the heat balling in the pit of my stomach. I slide a hand between us, a finger searching for her swollen nub. Her hips buck on contact, eliciting another groan from me. My hand is crushed between us as she grinds against my fingers. Her tongue pushes in my mouth as she moans. I smile against her lips as she clenches around me. A pinch of her nipple has her moaning mine and the Lord's name alternatively.

With a quick turn of my hips, she is beneath me and another moment later I cry out. I stay buried inside her, still twitching. I moan, nuzzling her neck, her nails scratching down my back.

"Am I crushing you?" I ask pulling her earlobe with my teeth.

"Yes. But I like it." I laugh against her neck as I slip from within her. My lips trail down her neck and capture a nipple. My finger presses against her swollen center once more and she jerks. "Erik..."

"So sensitive, my dear." Lower my lips travel, down her navel, lower still until my tongue touches her sweet spot. I pleasure her until she pleads, groaning she can take no more. I lay kissing her deeply for several more minutes.

"Oh God, Erik, I'm still trembling."

"Shall we go for another?" I ask, moving to sit up.

"Don't you dare." She turns laying her arm across my stomach. I do lean up to pull the blanket over us. I sigh contentedly and lean back, shutting my eyes.

The week passed quickly. Friday was already here. Auditions were great but they went way over. We were starved by the time we sat down at the restaurant. Everyone is doing their own thing tonight and I'm glad for it.

"We need to get together and work on this past week's auditions, Raoul." I say as we are leaving the building. "Perhaps Monday?"

"Whatever works for you, buddy."

"I guess I'll call you." I give him a curt wave and stop at a flower shop. When I hand the rose over she pulls me into a hug.

"You'll stay out the whole time? Both shows this time?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Sit in VIP. I'll be able to tease you all night." She grins at me. I grin back and think she might have been right. At least about herself. No, she isn't the same Christine. Gone is the innocent, docile child. The girl who so easily fell under my spell. She has a sharp wit and a sharper tongue now. She isn't afraid to put me in my place where before she would obey without question even after she knew I was not her Angel of Music. She could still be silly but it wasn't a childish sort of silly. She is still hardworking, and will listen to me if it's in regards to music or her voice. Her soul is still the most beautiful thing about her.

That bright, shining soul that reached out to my dark and bleak one.

She is kindness and treats everyone as equals. I am blessed to know her, to get to hold her, to kiss her.

"Christine..." She looks up from pinning her hair back. I gently pull her from the chair and place a kiss on her lips, caressing her cheek. She smiles warmly at me. "Do you need any help?" It had become a joke between us but I meant it.

"No, I don't think so. Margaurite got me into the corset so I guess I will see you out there." With a final peck on the forehead I head up to be seated.

She hadn't lied about teasing me. Most of her focus was on me, much to the dismay of every other man here. I could do nothing but smile stupidly at her. When it was finally over it was a race to see who could get up to her apartment first. I caught her at the door pulling her into my arms. When at last we lay sated, I gathered her close.

"I have to be gone pretty early tomorrow, I'm afraid

"Your standing appointment?" She asks trailing fingers up and down my side. It's a struggle not to squirm.

"No. My mother returns from her trip. Her flight isn't in until after noon, but you know how airports can be."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Yes, I-"

"Don't even say it." She laughs slapping a hand on my chest. "Will you still come tomorrow night?" She rests her head back on my shoulder.

"Say the word and I'll be there."

"Good," she says with a strange look and I smooth her hair back until she drifts to sleep then tuck the covers around us and try for sleep myself.