I'm going to use Kay's Phantom to provide a bit more back story to Erik, with a few liberties. Those of you who have read some of my previous stories, will know what I mean. I guess this proves a truly don't own anything. ;)

Christine snuggled closer to Erik, releasing a satisfied sigh. She rested her head on the crook of his neck, after kissing it gently.

"I don't remember ever feeling so light and careless." She smiled with her eyes closed.

"This is what lovers refer to as afterglow. The feeling of oneness and completeness." He continued to run his fingers lazily across her arm. He then looked down at her. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat? You missed supper."

"I didn't miss it." She tilted his head and moved up to kiss his lips. "Besides, I think I have all I wish to nibble on right here."

"My, how brazen you have become in your old age, Ms. Daae." He chuckled.

She positioned herself on top of him. "Look what you have done to me. I was all innocence and naivete before you, Monsieur."

"Forgive me?"

She saw the golden tilt in his eyes shining back into hers and smiled. "On one condition."

"Name it."

She caressed his deformed cheek. "That this was only the beginning. That you won't grow tired of me."

He gave her a double look. "Tired of you? Tired of the love of my life? Tired of the only woman who has ever consumed me so thoroughly. To the only person I surrender to willingly?" He then saw a trace of sadness in her eyes. "You really have those thoughts? Angel, every time with you is the first time, all over again. Hopefully, minus the awkwardness of what goes where."

He made a face and she instantly laughed so hard, she felt her gut would burst.

"Are you going to snort again because I feel one should have some warning first." He laughed as she took one of the small pillows and hit him across the chest with it.

"You are wicked."

"And you are beautiful." He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "Now my beautiful lady, tell me the truth. You aren't worried that I am going to leave, are you?"

"You didn't notice how tightly I was holding onto you?"

He caressed her cheek. "Christine, I will never leave you again. I wish I could go back and…."

She pressed her finger to his lips. "I know. I do trust you. I only wanted to be crystal clear that you knew where you belonged. With me. With Gustave. For evermore."

"It's scripted in my heart."

They kissed for a few moments and then broke apart for air. She ran her fingers to back of his hair.

"I still don't understand how lucky I am."

"Hmm?"

"How was I lucky enough that your heart was waited for me? Erik, the way you love…. It's forever. Once you love, it never dies. How am I the only one to see you, your magnificent, beautiful heart and soul? Why me?"

He chuckled. "Long ago, you were probably thinking why me, but for other reasons entirely."

"Don't do that." She looked at him stone faced. "Don't try and be jovial right now. I was confused, young and stupid."

"I will not let you berate yourself like that. I was out of control. I went about it all wrong…."

"We both messed things up. We both were at fault. That doesn't change the fact that we both fell in love." Her voice softened. "Love means you forgive and move on."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just don't ever want to go back to that dark place and be that kind of man."

"You won't."

He smiled. "All I needed was to be loved, to truly become loveable. All I needed was you."

"So, there is my question again. How did I get so lucky?" She then eyed him playfully. "There really wasn't anyone else?"

Erik sighed.

"Erik?" She hoped he wasn't upset. "I was teasing…. I…."

He looked at her. "I have only ever loved you, but long ago when I was a boy…. A boy mind you, there was a young girl. The daughter of a man I met in Italy when I escaped the gypsies. The man was a brilliant mason and for a long time I thought of him as a father. He was a good man." His eyes drifted away from her.

"I didn't even know she existed until one day she came home from school. She was beautiful but very spoiled and mean. Giovanni had felt guilty for sending her away, so he indulged her at every turn. She hated me because it appeared as if I had taken her place in Giovanni's heart. That was the furthest thing from the truth. He loved her so very much, he was just lost on how to express it. She wasn't easy."

"What happened to her?" Christine tried so hard not to sound jealous as it was ridiculous, for she wasn't even born yet when they met, yet she still felt a painful twinge around her heart.

"I was a boy going through adolescence and over time, we seemed to reach a common ground. As in no fighting. I was very involved in Giovanni's business and the workers all seemed to like me. They listened to my instruction. They made my designs. The work spoke for me, it wasn't about my mask. I knew it was all because of him but still…. I had never felt that way before."

"Erik, you don't have to defend yourself. I would never have wanted you to be alone. I'm happy that…."

"Christine, nothing ever happened. She was convinced that I was hiding my good looks and that one day, I would show her my face and we would be destined to be together. She had mentioned this idea to Giovanni who was very displeased. He knew I wasn't beautiful, even though he never saw my face. He knew to never bring the subject up. Yet her carrying on was driving him mad and finally, he thought there was only one thing to do."

Christine reached for his hand when she saw his face tense up and he took it instantly.

"He forced me to show her my face."

"Oh, angel."

"He said 'show her now and we will be done with this madness. You two will either fall in love despite of it or she will know that there could never be a future for you two.'"

Christine thought those words were cruel. She knew disaster was coming.

"I refused but finally I did what he asked. I knew it would change everything. I ripped off my mask and she screamed, and he looked at me with such…Horror." Erik had said the last part so very softly. He realized he had never told that story to anyone else before.

"Erik, stop. Please, I don't need to know anymore. I am so sorry for…."

He shook his head. "I want to tell you. It's a part of my past and I want you to know all of it. You have every right to know now that we…. That you…." His eyes became misty.

"That I love you." She kept smiling at him, as she wiped his tears away.

"Yeah." He then exhaled and continued. "She screamed and ran to the roof. The roof's railing wasn't very strong. She heard her father calling her name and chasing after her… I stayed where I was but she… She must have thought I was following her too because she didn't stop to see. She just kept running until she slipped and fell.

"Dear God." She threw her hands over her mouth.

"She died instantly. Cracked her neck. Giovanni ran down and that's when I came out to see. She was lying down on the hard ground motionless. The railing gave out…. I saw Giovanni cradling her in his arms and crying. No words were spoken. I left that night."

She wrapped her arms around him and rocked him whispering, 'I love you' over and over again.

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After some time, they felt the train start to move and Erik slowly broke away from Christine's embrace.

"We should get dressed. I would like some tea. How about you?"

She nodded. "Love, are you alright?"

He smiled. "I am. Despite that story, tonight was the second greatest night of my existence." He kissed her cheek before leaving the bed. "I think you know what my first night was."

She blushed. "Erik, do you have any happy memories before we met?"

He spoke with certainty. "I do. Discovering music, traveling…. Italy was beautiful, and I did enjoy the challenges of creating new things. As crazy as it sounds there were friendships along the way."

"Friendships, as in more than one?" She giggled, hoping to keep him in a happy mood.

He pretended to be offended, as he got dressed. "Don't look so shocked." He then made face. "On second thought, you have every right to look shocked."

"Who? Dr. Gangle, am I right? Erik, I have been wondering what is between you two for so long. Tell me."

"Well, Gangle is my friend but before Gangle there was a man by the name of Nadir. Nadir Khan."