Hey guys! Thanks to all the new followers and favorites. Thank you to ALL the readers. It means so much. I really, honestly appreciate the reviews you post. I do not exaggerate when i say that when i receive one it changes my whole day. So PLEASE keep reviewing... even if it is one word, so i know that things aren't getting stale and that people are still interested. Let me know if you like where this is going... or even if you don't!

Also, if you are a new reader, be sure to check out my one shot; 'My Legacy'. Based on Kay's Erik.

Thanks!

Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Weber.


When Erik awoke it was still day time. Drowsily, he opened his eyes and looked around the room. For a moment he had to remind himself of where he was; what had happened. He squinted as his eyes were met with the afternoon sun streaming through the drapes; he was not at all accustomed to waking up to sunlight. Once his eyes adjusted he found it somewhat soothing... he could get used to this. It was only when he moved to stretch that he was really reminded of where he was. His movement was restricted by the presence of Christine who had draped herself ever so casually across his chest and was still fast asleep. He smiled to himself and blushed as he recalled what had happened. As he looked down at her he could still feel her soft lips upon his, her delicate hands snaking up his shirt, touching his back... evoking pleasure from places that had only ever brought him pain. He could feel her body against his... This was real. It had all happened. She was there. Christine was there. Never in his wildest dreams had he conceived that someone like him would be allowed the honor; the mercy of fate and perhaps the complete luck of chance of waking up in such a way; waking up next to this woman or even in the same room as her. Waking up in such a state certainly seemed such a contrast to the eventful night that had passed. He had never felt more relaxed and had it not been for the severe pain lying like this had caused him, he may never have moved.

Carefully he removed her arm and grimacing at the pain such an action caused him, slid out from under her. He stood up and looked down at Christine, momentarily basking in this beautiful lapse in judgement that a higher power somewhere had surely made. He walked to the window and peered through the drapes, careful not to let too much light in lest it disturb Christine in her slumber. Letting her rest was the least he could do... He looked out into the garden and at the dirt road that had brought them here. It might simply have been the lighting or what the garden represented to him but it looked beautiful in the afternoon sun and part of him realized how much he had missed the sunlight. This could be a new start for him... for them. This would be.

Erik bathed and dressed in his usual, black attire. As soon as he had washed away the remnants of the night before and replaced his mask and wig he felt like himself again. Upon looking in the mirror he finally saw a face which he recognized; hopefully Christine would too. Then he remembered what she had said... or not said. If she did not love him would she leave the first chance she got? With any luck she would wake up and remember all that had transpired... remember that she had chosen him. He stared at his reflection; a pastime he had always loathed. He needed to look the best he possibly could for Christine... and this was it. He examined his face; cuts and bruises on one side, a white mask on the other. This was as good as it was going to get...

As he sat down on the bed next to her to put his boots on he felt movement behind him. She was waking up...

Anxiously, he shot up and stood to face her.

"Erik..." She opened her eyes. "Is that you?"

"Yes... good morning... Afternoon!" He replied nervously.

"Afternoon..." She said apprehensively. He looked at her, questioningly.

"Sorry..." She sat up. "Just... seeing you in those clothes is... strange." He looked every bit The Phantom again...

"They are just clothes, Christine. But I think I understand your meaning." He moved to sit on the bed."May I?" He asked formally before doing so.

"Of course." Christine replied quietly. He seemed to have forgotten all that had transpired between them... they had become so close and now he seemed a different person. Perhaps this was what he was like; perhaps each time she saw him it would be like beginning again... breaking down each barrier over and over again...

Carefully he sat down next to her.

"You look nice." She said.

Erik shot her a nervous glance; a flicker of a grateful recognition in his eyes. She had noticed the effort he had put into his appearance and better yet, somehow she had woken up to find him attractive. 'Nice' was not loved but it was better than nothing... wasn't it? Perhaps not, if she did not love him, better to ignore the compliment completely; Better to shut it out.

He scoffed before speaking. "I tend to disagree with you on that but I thank you. It feels better to be... myself again."

Christine could not help but flinch slightly at his remark. What did he mean by 'myself'. Was this his true self? Aloof and cold? She couldn't believe that. She had spent several hours with who she believed to be the real Erik and this was not him. He was upset about something; he had to be. "How are you feeling?" She probed.

"A lot better. Still in pain but that is to be expected."

"Did you want me to... change your bandages?"

"No I... managed myself thank you."

"What's wrong? You seem different? Have I done something?"

"No child, you haven't done anything." He said, looking down. Of course she had... she had done the unspeakable; given him hope and taken it away.

Christine looked at him, trying to read what she could see of his face. "Is it about last night...?"

Of course.

"Partly." He replied tersely.

"Erik, if you don't tell me I cannot hope to help you. Every time we have a discussion you are not comfortable with you turn into a completely different person; you turn into The Phantom, like you are now. And it isn't fair to shut me out like this."

"Fair." He scoffed. What did she know of fair?

"Don't do that. What is wrong?"

He sighed; an act that usually came before a rant or rage of some kind but instead of finding his voice to be filled with anger it was filled with emotion.

"Do you wish to know?"

"Yes."

"Partly it is last night. Again, I put my heart on the line and you did not return my feelings. Of course I would not force them upon you like... last time... But you must forgive me if I seem different or if I seem like 'The Phantom.' It is the only way I know to deal with such things. When I woke up I was simply elated that I was able to wake next to you... but I worried that your feelings may have changed since we had last spoken... then I remembered what you had actually said when we had last spoken."

"Erik, my feelings haven't changed!"

Erik stood up and walked to the window once more. "And what are those? You speak of feeling for me but you do not love me. You could not bring yourself to say the words when I so desperately needed to hear them." He stared out the window as he spoke; his voice grew softer with each word uttered from his lips.

Christine stood up and walked over to him. "Surely you know what I feel for you after... what we did."

Erik looked down at her, his mask glowing in the sunlight. "What we did was truly wonderful. But all It did was make me love you more than I already had; more than I thought possible. It was the happiest I have ever been..." He held her shoulders gently and looked into her eyes. "But I need to hear the words, Christine. I cannot fully commit myself; my heart to you again unless I hear them. I have already suffered that pain once and it almost broke me. I should be happy with what I have... I should be. Part of me is; each waking hour I spend with you I have to tell myself that it is real... that I do deserve happiness... but there is a part of me, Christine and it is a large part that wants everything." He held her tighter and his voice began to grow louder; the words were cascading out of his mouth as if he had been waiting an eternity to utter them. "And... I curse myself for wanting more than what is mine to have. I curse myself for having to ask you... to beg you for this thing when all my life I have simply taken what I needed. I curse myself for being so weak... I curse myself and yet I do not care. I do not care what it takes as long as I... have you." Erik released Christine and looked away once more. He took a deep breath. "But I am weak. I am weak and selfish when it comes to you; I have tasted happiness and must now have it all... Having said that, I know what I am and cannot knowingly blame you."

"For what?" Christine said absentmindedly; trying desperately to keep up with his erratic train of thought.

"For not saying the words... no one has ever said those words to me and I daresay that no one ever will."

She stroked his arm as he turned back toward the window and peered out pensively. "Not your mother?"

His eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of this mother. Again he scoffed, his mouth curled in a smirk. "No, Christine. Certainly not my mother." Erik had never mentioned his mother but this was probably not the best time to ask about her.

"Well, I will. I will say those words. I just need time. You can be as selfish as you like because I am yours to have. If you truly love me as much as you say... you will give me the time that I need." She slowly turned him around so that he was facing her and embraced him. Immediately he wrapped his arms around her and exhaled. "The worst conclusion isn't always the right one." She added.

"A habit, I'm afraid." He replied softly, his voice muffled by her curls.

"I know." She smiled, holding him tighter. Erik seemed to spiral in and out of these self- destructive moods... Slightly embarrassed at his display of emotion and in an attempt to change the subject he spoke again.

"Still think that I look strange?"

"I never said that!" She giggled into his chest. "I said that it was strange to see you in these clothes... Because they are Phantom clothes, remember?"

"Right." He smiled. "This is what I always wear. Would you have me wear those rags from last night?"

"Of course not. You do handsome."

"Ah... well t-thank you." He stammered nervously. "Forgive me; I am not accustomed to compliments... shall we eat something?"

"Yes!" She said pulling away from him "I am still famished."


"You start eating, my dear." He said as Christine sat down at the table. "I need see to Caesar. I will return momentarily." He removed his jacket and cravat and set them down on the couch where he had collapsed, exhausted not hours before.

"Alright... Oh, Erik?" She called to him as he opened the front door and stepped out.

"Yes?" He asked, stepping back inside as he rolled up his sleeves.

"Where is your stationery kept? I... need to contact Raoul." Erik looked at her, his deep set, blue eyes compelling her to explain her statement. "Just to let him know I am alright..." She added reassuringly. I should contact Madame Giry as well... and Meg. They must be so worried."

If this truly was going to work, he had to trust her. After a moment, he spoke. "Yes, you should write him." He said, holding onto the door frame with one hand. "It would not be right of you to let him worry." Christine smiled at him. "The stationery is upstairs in the room opposite the bedroom. Take what you need."

"As for Madame Giry and her daughter, I do not expect that we will have to wait long for a visit."

"What do you mean?"

"Madame Giry is aware of this house. No doubt she will be worried for you and this will be the first place she will check."

"Will she think that you took me...?"

"That is likely. She does like to think the best of me but she cares for you like a mother. I do not blame her for any aspersions she casts or accusations she makes; it is only natural." He looked at her a minute longer; thoughts of what she would write to the Vicomte briefly crossed his thoughts but he pushed them to the back of his mind.

"I cannot believe it has only been a night since everything happened. It feels like so much longer..." Christine added pensively.

"It does feel like longer. That isn't a bad thing though. Not for me..." He said, smiling before dropping his gaze to the floor. "I won't be long." He said and closed the door.


Caesar was more than grateful for both the company and the food provided by his master. Erik thought it best to give Christine as much time as possible to do what she had to do. Perhaps the more time he gave her to think, the sooner she would be sure of her feelings; the sooner she would speak the words he longed to hear. Christine proclaimed to have chosen him but he could see it in her; the conflicting emotions. She did have feelings for the boy and be that friendship or otherwise that relationship was still there. He had to believe that if he gave her time, she would completely return his love and finally say the words. He had to.

After half an hour or so with Caesar, Erik decided to head back inside. He walked to the door and was about to turn the handle when something on the doorstep caught his eye. It was a piece of paper. Where had this come from? Had it been there all along? Who would be sending letters? Only Madame Giry knew of this house and she knew better than to send letters to him... Anxiously he opened the folded piece of paper and stared in sickening horror at the words haphazardly scribbled inside;

Found you.