Hey everyone, thanks for the reviews and enjoy the latest chapter of the story.
Over the next few days, Christine awoke each morning to Erik sitting at his organ writing music. She was glad that he was happy even though he didn't show it. One morning, Christine awoke very early to hear the rain pouring and dripping into the lake that was right beside Erik's lair. The ceiling of the opera house often leaked, causing the water to leak down into the lake that Erik's lair sat next to. Christine rolled over and noticed that Erik was still beside her fast asleep with the blankets pulled up on him. She smiled, and snuggled closer to him and was happy when she felt his arms wrap around her body. "Erik." she replied figuring that he was somewhat awake. When he didn't answer, Christine gently touched his arm and said "Erik, are you awake?" At that moment she felt him jerk calmly and say "now I am, what is it?" "nothing, I just lying here listening to the rain." she replied. "what time is it?" asked Erik. "well it's still dark so it must be early." said Christine. Erik sat up and reached out for his pocket watch that was sitting on the night stand. He opened it, and said "it's three thirty am." "that is early, what time did we go to bed?" asked Christine. Erik lied back down, and covered himself back up. "we went to bed at midnight, we had dinner with Meg and didn't get back to eleven thirty." he replied.
Christine wrapped her arms around Erik's chest and said "late nights are beginning to become a regular thing are they not?" "before I met you, my bed time was nine thirty. Now it has become anytime after eleven." said Erik. "is that such a bad thing?" asked Christine "of course, it just makes me sleep later." said Erik. "you're young, you can handle it." said Christine. "goodnight Christine." said Erik as he shut his eyes. Christine waited until Erik was asleep and then decided to take a walk. As late as she got back home, Christine wasn't tired at all.
When she was sure that Erik was in a dead sleep, Christine put on her cloak and walked through the rain soaked catacombs. Seeing the rain water dripping through the ceiling and landing in the lake gave Christine a sense of peace. When she entered the hallways of the opera house, she walked to the front door and walked out. Down the road she approached Nadir's front door and knocked. She was surprised when the door opened and saw him standing there awake. "Christine, what are you doing here? It's very early." he replied. "I couldn't sleep." said Christine. "come in, it's pouring." said Nadir. Christine entered his house, and Nadir took her cloak. "why are you up?" asked Christine. "I was at a party all night with some of the guys from town. I actually just got home a little bit ago, figure I would sleep most of the day." he replied. "I was over my friends house all night as well. We had drinks and ate dinner." said Christine. "that's nice, how's Erik doing?" asked Nadir. "great, he loves the organ." said Christine. "when are you two getting married?" asked Nadir. "I don't know, it's like he doesn't want to be married." said Christine. "but he gave you a ring." said Nadir as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "yes I know, I want to be married to him but he wants to wait I guess." said Christine. "he'll come around eventually." said Nadir. "were you ever married?" asked Christine as she sat down on the couch. Nadir approached her and had a seat as well and said "yes, I was. I once lived in Persia and married a beautiful woman Cecilia. The war was going on and one night the rebels burnt down the town and my house with my wife in it. I escaped and moved to Paris to become a doctor." "why not marry another woman?" asked Christine. "because after my wife died I couldn't have imagined being with another woman. I started to hang out with certain gay crowds and began to like men. It's been that way for many many years and I plan to keep it that way." said Nadir. "I couldn't imagine loosing someone that I loved." said Christine. "well If something happened to Erik would you be able to love another man?" asked Nadir. "I don't know because he's the love of my life." said Christine. "I bet if something happened to you, Erik would never be able to love another woman ever again." said Nadir. "I know he wouldn't." said Christine. "when the rain slows down you should go back to Erik. I am growing tired and need to rest." said Nadir as he finished up his coffee.
When Erik awoke, he noticed that Christine was no longer at her side. He sat up and reached out for his pocket watch to check the time and saw that it was eight am. "where could she be?" questioned Erik as he got to his feet. He looked all around his lair and then walked through the catacombs to keep searching for her. When he found himself on the rafters he looked down and sighed at the sight of his angel singing on stage. "She must have got a call to come rehearse." thought Erik as he sat down to keep an eye on her. As he looked out the small window that was next to him he saw the rain still coming down which made him happy. The worse the weather the less people who would come out to the opera house. of course people made the opera house rich, but the company of others made Erik uncomfortable.
As Christine stood on stage in front of Andre and Firman the doors of the theater opened and Philippe walked through them and down the isle to the stage. "Christine darling, how wonderful to see you." he replied. Christine stood there in shock, and didn't make any attempt to move a muscle. "ah my angel, I have come back for you." he replied. "do you know this man?" asked Andre in confusion. "no, I don't." lied Erik. "it is Raoul's brother." said Firman. "I shall leave you alone Christine, just tell me where the creature is." said Philippe. "I don't know, I haven't seen him in weeks." said Christine. "you lie, you lie Christine. I just came to tell you that I am back and that the creature's rain of terror will soon be over." said Philippe. "he isn't here." said Christine. "let us go check the basement shall we?" said Philippe as came closer to the stage. "can't you see that we're in the middle of rehearsal?" asked Andre. "this will only take five minutes, let Christine lead us down there." said Philippe. "Christine didn't say anything, and said "why?" "because if you say there is no opera ghost then there is no reason why we can't go have a look." said Philippe.
From the rafters, Erik angrily watched as Firman and Philippe walked away with Christine. They were going to his lair and he was sure glad he awoke when he did or else he would probably be dead. He had to do something, but what? All he knew was that he was going to think of something to scare Andre and Firman from ever letting Philippe boss Christine around ever again. With a wave of Erik's cloak, he was off, to hide once more from the dangers that were lurking around each corner.
Christine nervously walked with Philippe and Firman through the catacombs. "what if he was sleeping? What if he was playing his organ?" was all that Christine could think about. She sighed in relief when they arrived in his lair to find him not there. "I told you that Erik wasn't here." said Christine as Philippe looked around in disappointment. "oh for God's sake your all crazy." said Firman. "then why are there candles lit? why are there fresh bed sheets on the bed?" asked Philippe. "because I have been living down here." said Christine. "can we please get back to the stage now?" asked Firman. Philippe got into Christine's face and said "I know that you are hiding him and when I find the creature you and him will perish."
From the rafters of the hallway, Erik watched as Firman and Andre entered their office. Erik waved his cloak, and jumped down into their office, causing Andre and Firman to look as if they shit themselves in fear. Erik got into both men's faces, and said "I want you two to listen closely to me is that clear?" "yes of course." said Andre as his voice broke under pressure. "first off I want you two to know that if you ever speak of my presence here with you today I shall come back and make you wish that your mothers never gave birth to the likes of you. I am here only in worry about Christine's safety. This man Philippe De Changy is a very bad man who is not only after my head but Christine's hand in some sort of forced marriage. Let's get one thing clear, Christine is my fiancée and if you two let that man hurt her on your watch I shall have no other choice but to kill you both." said Erik. "that…that is very clear sir." said Andre. "I haven't heard a word from you Firman, is that clear?" asked Erik as he glanced at Firman's scared face.
Firman nodded, and said "the man has paid me to turn you in." "look men, I know that I have done bad things in the past but Christine is my everything. All I care about is the welfare of her safety and life. If something should ever happen to her I just don't know what I'd do. I shall remain gentleman with you two fools, but I ask that you watch over her when I cannot and don't let her go anywhere with that fool." said Erik. "if we protect Christine then you must do something for us." said Firman. "what?" asked Erik. "be Don Juan in Don Juan Triumphant." he replied. "and be caught?" asked Erik with a laugh. "you will be wearing a mask and in costume. No one will notice you and we shall not say who is playing him." said Andre. "how can I trust you?" asked Erik. "trust us by trusting us with Christine." said Firman. "I shall think about it, but until then if one single hair on her head is harmed you two will pay dearly." said Erik. "understood." said Andre in fear. "gentlemen, nice chat." said Erik. He then left the office leaving Firman and Andre alone once more.
When Erik returned to his lair, he noticed that Christine was sitting on the couch reading a book. "Erik? Where have you been?" asked Christine as she put the book down. "I have been around." said Erik approaching her and giving her a small kiss on the forehead. "I'm sorry I wasn't around when you awoke. I had to go to rehearsal." she replied. "do what ever you have to do." said Erik as he took a seat at his organ. "what are you going to wear?" asked Christine. "where to what?" asked Erik as he began to write his music. "to Meg's wedding of course." said Christine. "well what am I supposed to wear?" asked Erik in curiosity. "a suit with a color that matches my dress." said Christine. "why?" asked Erik. "well I am your date, it would only make sense to match me." said Christine. "what color dress are you wearing?" asked Erik. "well I am the maid of honor and the color she wants her brides maids to wear is red." said Christine. "then I shall wear my black jacket and a red dress shirt." said Erik. "that would look excellent on you." said Christine. "if you say so." said Erik. "it is tomorrow of course." said Christine. "I know, I wouldn't forget." said Erik. Christine smiled, and said "it will be a very nice ceremony." Erik stared down at his organ and said "yes it will."
That night as Erik sat in his tub full of water, he watched Christine as she sat on the couch reading. How he loved his angel so much and wanted nothing more than to marry her. What made him upset was the fact that Meg was getting married before he and his angel. Erik always thought that he and Christine would be the first ones to be married but it was turning out to be the opposite. She was wearing a ring but the date wasn't set in stone yet that is if there was even going to be a real date. He knew that his angel loved him, but enough to marry him? He wasn't sure and at the moment he really didn't care. Most of the time he wondered if she would even want to be married to him since he couldn't have kids. The day the doctors told him that he wasn't going to be capable of having kids shattered him. It was bad enough that no woman ever wanted to be with him, but it hurt more because even if he ever did get married he would never have kids.
"maybe it was for the better." thought Erik as he washed his distorted face. "what if the child came out looking like me? With a deformed body. He would live a horrible life like I once did." "Erik are you ready to go to bed?" asked Christine as she put on her night gown. Erik stood up and wrapped a towel around his waist before approaching her. "yes I am." he replied. Erik slipped on his night clothes and then lied down on the bed with Christine. "what time is it?" she asked. Erik reached out for his pocket watch and read the time. "it's ten o clock." "well we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow so it's best if we go to bed." said Christine. "you're the one that woke up really early this morning." said Erik.
Christine smiled, and said "Erik I couldn't imagine life here without you." "yea well you know I couldn't either." he replied. Christine lied down in the covers with Erik, and ran her fingers through his thin, blonde locks. "I love you Erik." "yea me too Angel." he replied. "will you love me tomorrow?" asked Christine. "Christine I would love you if I were nothing more than an animal. You are my one and only and without you I just wouldn't feel right." said Erik. "will you dance with me tomorrow?" asked Christine. Erik smiled and touched her cheek. "for you angel I would give you a thousand dances." "sing me to sleep." said Christine as she closed her eyes. Erik smiled and did as he was asked.
"Christine, Christine don't think that I don't care
Everything is up to you now….who will you
Choose? Who will you love? Everything in my heart
Has been shoved up above….marry me my beauty and forget
About fame. Stay by my side with me forever more….this is my
Love's door, this is my only cure….stay with me forever more..Christine I
Want you and that's for sure."
When he looked at Christine once more he saw that she was fast asleep. Erik then closed his eyes, nervous about Meg's wedding which was only hours away….
More to come R&R