A/N: I've been having trouble with It won't allow me to upload any microsoft word documents. So I am sorry if there are any grammar/spelling errors here. Also, if you are anxiously awaiting the next chapter in "The heart's longing" it is coming soon dears. Also I have started writing another fanfic called "Remember" so please check it out and let me know what you think. Remember to R&R guys, its makes the updates come faster and makes me very happy.
PrimaDonnaKate: You've no idea how many times I've answered these reviews, but the frickin thing wouldn't work so hopefully this time all this work won't be for nothing. Continue reading hun.
Twinkle22: Well we all know Erik, he is stubborn.
AriaGothique: I love the name, I am glad you love the story.
Angel.De.Musica.: well there will be some twists coming up.
thePhantom'sEvenstar:Wow what a compliment. That touched my heart, thank you! And yes I did delete it so please resend it.
peachi: Thanks, I hope you continue reading.
GerrysJackie: Thank you! I do hope that you continue reading.
secretstrangeangel: yay! I haven't heard from you in a while. I am glad you are still reading.
For the next couple of months Erik and Christine spent time together either reading in the library, going for a walk or cooking together. Christine did all she could to show Erik that he could trust her. Erik did his best to be open minded.
As time went on, Christmas came closer. When it was a week before the holiday Christine knew that Erik's house needed some decoration. So one day when he went out to run some errands, she invited Madame Giry and Meg to help her make the house a bit more festive. They managed to get a tree and they put it in the library and hung oranments on it. Then they went around the house, putting candles here and there. Under almost every doorway they put a sprig of misletoe and on the banister they put some garland.
When Erik walked into his house later that night, his jaw dropped. He wasn't sure if he should be angry, although it was his house Christine did live with him. He knew she would want to celebrate christmas and she had every right to. If it kept her happy, well then he would learn to be happy about it too. He walked upstairs and into his room, he saw that she had left his room untouched. He was glad that she respected his privacy. He set down his purchased in his closet and headed downstairs to see what Christine was up to.
He walked into the kitchen and saw her cutting up some bread. "Welcome back." She said as she saw him, and then walked over to give him a quick kiss. He smiled and said,"I like what you've done." He said softly.
"Do you really?" She asked, her eyes sparkling. "Of course." He said. She smiled brightly and told him the Giry's had helped her and that they were over for dinner. Erik was grateful for the help and was glad to see them.
They sat around the dinner table that night discussing plans for Christmas eve and Christmas as well as New Year's. The Giry's invited them but Erik insisted that they come to his home. True Erik had spent time and money filling his home with furnishings and tapestries, candles and rugs. But his home still felt a bit empty to him. He had Christine now and that helped bring warmth and love to the home. But a home was a place for family, and Madame Giry, Meg, Christine and Nadir were the only family he had and he wanted them all around on an occasion such as Christmas.
Eventually Madame Giry agreed to coming over on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years. This made Christine very happy, and although Erik didn't show it he was very pleased as well.
The next day Erik and Christine spent most of the afternoon planning meals for the upcoming holiday. Christine insisted that they have turkey on Christmas, since that is what she would have with her father when she was a child. Erik had no other choice but to give in. They also planned on backing pies and making gingerbread cookies along with the other dishes that they would prepare.
They were both enjoyed cooking and were looking foward to making food for the people they loved. Christine never knew Erik would be so accepting to Meg. She always had known that he had a special friendship with Madame Giry, but she thought that Erik found Meg unbearable.
But she had seen him be kind to her, and treat her as he would a niece. It made her so happy to see them all get along. She finally had the family that she had lost so long ago.
The Saturday before Christmas Erik took Christine shopping for some gifts for the Giry's. They enjoyed walking into the shops together, even though it was early in the morning. Erik wanted to avoid being seen, so once more people started shopping he went to wait in the carriage for Christine.
On one of the occasions that Erik was waiting in the carriage, Christine took the opportunity to buy Erik a gift with some money Madame Giry had brought her from what was left in her room at their house. It wasn't much but Christine was determined to find the perfect gift for the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
The days leading up to the 24th and 25th of December were spent wrapping gifts, purchasing the things they wanted to cook and adding little decorations where Erik felt that there wasn't enough "cheer" as he put it.
The morning of Christmas Eve Erik left early and came home with a big fur tree. Apparantly he had cut it down from his own private forest. He put it up in the large living room, and then walked into the library through a little doorway. He took the ornaments off the other tree and put them on the larger on in the living room. When he was done he then put garland and other simpler decorations on the tree on the library. When he was done he felt quite proud of his work. Both trees looked wonderful, as did they rooms they were in.
When Christine walked into the library that same morning she was amazed. Erik had even added decorations to the room, and he had managed to make the tree look amazing without using any ornaments. The living room looked even better with a large tree standing before the large windows. The sunlight reflected off the ornaments and gave the tree a sparkley look. Christine knew that christmas trees weren't popular in France, but her father had always put one up, so the fact that Erik had put another one up touched her heart. He had also hung holly and other garland around the windows and curtains and he had even put a little nativity scene under the tree, which made tears come to Christine's eyes.
She couldn't stop smiling and when she found Erik in the kitchen she didn't say anything, but just gave him a rather tight hug. Erik held her, wondering what had caused the unexpected embrace. But he didn't question her, she never needed a reason to touch him. They planned to go to mass that night and then come home and have le reveillon, which would be a late supper after the midnight mass.
They made a goose for the late supper as well as two different salads, a bowl of wonderful fruits, an apple pie, a Yule log cake and Christine made some glazed Chestnuts which she knew Madame Giry liked. Madame Giry, Meg and Nadir would be spending the night, so before their guests arrived they went around the house making sure everything was in order. Christine also made sure that there was in fact mistletoe under every doorway. "Just in case." She said with a smile, as she followed Erik back down the stairs.
Nadir arrived first and Erik introduced him and Christine. Christine was amazed by the persian, he was the only other person besides Erik who seemed so well traveled and seemed to know so much about the world. Despite this though, he was a very warm and kind person and she liked him very much.
Soon after Madame Giry and Meg arrived and after everyone was introduced they all went into the living room until the time came to leave to go to mass.
They all enjoyed the midnight mass, even Erik who hadn't set foot in a church since he was a child. He sent up a silent prayer to God, asking him for forgiveness for all the things he had done that were wrong in his past and for ignoring the God that had always watched over him. He thanked him for Christine, for she was truly and angel to him. He prayed that she would never leave his side and that would live together happily, and that perhaps should would even marry him. As he prayed he squeezed Christine's hand softly, she looked at him and he smiled down at her. He couldn't believe how happy he was and how he had ever managed to live without Christine in his life.
They all enjoyed supper that night and soon the sleepy guests headed up to their rooms. Christine and Erik cleaned up the living room and went into the kitchen to clean the dishes. After they were done, Erik said he wanted to show Christine something. She saw the twinkle in his eyes and was anxious to see what it was he wanted to show her.
He took her upstairs and instructed her to put on a coat while he went to grab something. She did as he said and when he returned he took her back into the kitchen and outside the little doors. Cold air hit their faces, but she didn't care. Erik led her down a snowy path until they came to a fountain whose water was now frozen. Light from the house gave enough illumination so that she could see Erik's face clearly.
"Christine I wanted to give you this gift early and in private." He said as he reached into his pocket. Christine's heart began to race as he pulled out a black velvet box with red ribbon around it.
He handed it to her, and with shaking hands she untied the ribbon, she handed it to him and he lovingly tied it around her wrist. Then, taking a deep breath she opened the lid of the box. Her first reaction was disapointment when she saw it wasn't an engagment ring, but her disapointment was immediatly replaced with happiness as she saw it was a beautiful necklace. It was a white gold chain with a rose pendant. She saw that the rose itself was made of a blood red ruby, the stem being made of white gold. She looked up at Erik and managed to mouth "Thank you."
He smiled and took the necklace from the box. He instructed her to hold up her hair and then placed it around her neck and fastened the clasp in the back.
"Erik, thank you so much. No one has ever given me something so beautiful." She said with tears glistening in her eyes.
"I would give you the world if it would make you happy, Christine." He said softly.
"All I want is you, you are the only thing that makes me happy. Nothing else matters Erik."
He smiled and led her back inside. Perhaps she would marry him, he thought to himself as they entered the kitchen once more. The thought sent warmth throughout his body and caused him to smile. Christine looked at him suspicously but he said nothing. They walked into the library through its dark double doors and Christine grabbed his arms, stopping him from entering the room.
She looked up and his eyes followed hers. Hanging above them on the doorway was a piece of misletoe. He looked back at Christine and saw the smile that lit her face.
He placed his hands on either side of her face and lowered his lips to hers. She smiled and placed her hands against his chest and softly bit his lower lip. He growled and parted her lips with her tongue as his hands slid down to her shoulders. He pushed her coat off and it hit the floor. Her hands vent to the buttons of his shirt and she got a few undone. She trailed her fingers over the skin that was revealed to her as his tongue thrust against hers. His hands skimmed the swell of her breast and she let out a soft sigh. They both pulled away at that moment and looked at each other.
"Perhaps we should stop." He said gruffly. She nodded. He kissed her once more, but pulled away quickly. They both sighed, it was getting more and more difficult to control the passion that flowed through their veins every time they touched.
Once Christine layed down that night she fell asleep quickly, her exhaustion taking over. Erik on the other hand was not able to sleep as easily.
He sat up in bed, looking down at the box he held in his hand. He smiled down at a beautiful diamond engagment ring. He snapped the box shut, making up his mind.