Christine continued to hold Eric she couldn't think of what else to do, he was such a delicate person that needed to be handled with the greatest care, but still pushed when he started brooding.

"What are your dreams about?" Christine finally risked asking, she felt Eric tence slightly and she wondered if it was too soon to ask.

Eric sniffed back the tears, "If I told you I would loose you for ever."

Christine closed her eyes he has entered his self pity and doubting stage now.

"How do you know that?"

"I could have killed you." He whispered so quietly that she struggled to hear his words. She thought for a moment about his sudden outrage, the look of fear and revenge was all over his face as he threw her to the wall.

"Eric look at me." Christine commanded slowly lifting up his head. she ran her knuckles across his deformed cheek, "You can never lose me."

His bloated lip trembled, "I see the shattered mirror first in it is my face with her standing behind me. Then I'm in a cage, I can feel the effects of the drugs and the pain is back." Eric lay his head on her chest he could hear her heartbeat and feel her breathing it calmed him enough to keep talking.

"I hurt me but there words hurt worse than the whips. Then I'm back in France," He paused as if he was debating whether or not to continue. "You aren't there, you're with him."

Christine held back a sigh in frustration, was he really still insecure at her and Raoul's friendship? "Then I'm back in the cage, this time Ice cold. I can't even feel the beatings anymore but the words still stung. Crowds of people are there and there you are watching." Eric broke down again, but this time he seemed more relaxed almost like a heavy load was lifted off his shoulders.

"Eric." she whispered softly, "You can't take away what has happened, but please believe me that you can heal and I will do all it takes to help you."

Eric slowly wrapped his long thin arms around her "How can someone like me have someone as beautiful as you?" he wept.

Christine grasped his face forcing him to make eye contact, "Because you are a beautiful person."

Eric choked up as she wiped his tears.

"Your heart and soul Eric, Is the biggest most beautiful in the world. You have to make the see past the mask people can and will treasure you."

"Who?" he asked her his voice shaking.

Christine closed her eyes, how could he still not see? "Me, Rosa, the Smiths, Nadir." We all love you and want you to become all you can be and everyone at the theater wants to accept you but you need to let them in."

Eric and Christine sat in silence. Eric's head was still on her chest his arms around her waist he was in a deep thought. Christine had her head resting on his.

"Should we get some tea?" She asked softly when he started to stir a bit. Slowly Eric sat up and nodded reaching for his mask.

The two made their way to the kitchen in the opera house.

Eric stayed quiet while Christine made some tea and nosed around the pantry and cupboards for a bit to eat. "How are you feeling?" He asked suddenly, startling Christine.

"Pardon me?"

"How are you feeling, after... The other night." He mumbled unsure of his wording.

Christine closed her eyes at the thought of that night, "I'm feeling fine." She lied, truthfully she didn't want to be in the dark fearing he was still watching her, and the bruises seemed to be getting more and more tender each moment.

Christine gave him some tea and sat down across from him. He nervously taped his fingers his eyes trained on them mindlessly. Christine cracked a smile, "composing?" She asked sarcastically.

"Pardon?"

"You're tapping your fingers I was wondering if you were composing."

"Oh" he said blankly his mind in deep thought.

Christine eyed him he seemed nervous, and jittery. She tried to read him wondering what had him in edge. She watched as he started tapping his fingers again this time bouncing his knee also causing the table to shake.

"Ok, what is it?" She finally asked getting bored of his horrible conversation skills. "You are letting your nervous quirks go."

"I am not!" He replied defensively clutching his knuckles.

Christine couldn't help but laugh, he was oddly cute with his awkward personality but highly irritating at the same time.

"Do you need to go to the post office?" He asked sounding nervous. Tapping his fingers again, but quickly stopped when he caught himself.

His random question caught him off guard causing her to choke form laughter on her tea. He looked up at Eric after pulling herself together, his face was white and his mouth open like he was about to say something.

"What are you trying to say?" She asked miserably trying to hide her giggles.

"To hell if I know!"

"I think you do."

Eric bit his lip shifting his eyes away from her glare. "Would you marry me?"

Christine's face flushed and her jaw dropped, "that was the worst proposal I have ever heard. What did a post office have to do with that?"

"I... I..." Eric stuttered his face as white as his mask, "I should leave." He mumbled his face saddened.

"Why leave when we have wedding plans to discuss?" She smiled leaping into his arms kissing him.

Eric stood stunned for a moment. He had just revealed to her his life now they were to be married.

Forcefully he pulled her to him her body forming to his. He kissed her back deep lustful kisses.

Christine moaned as he pushed her against the table fussing with the tie on her dress, "Eric" she moaned between kisses, "not here, not now."

Reluctantly he pulled away running his fingers along her soft blushed cheeks. "I love you." He whispered.

Well It's about time!