Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Phantom of the Opera. Only original stuff is mine.

AN: Someone flamed me and said that my character is a Mary Sue. She also said that there's no way a guy could fall in love with a girl at a distance. Hello, isn't that what the Phantom did with Christine while teaching her through a wall? Okay, so my character may resemble a Mary Sue, but the definition of a Mary Sue is that she's "perfect and able to do everything/anything flawlessly," which Alisa doesn't. She's human, she's got flaws, so there. To all my other readers, enjoy and review!

Chapter 6: The Phantom's Manor:

I was in complete awe as Erik's limo pulled up to the sidewalk, halting with the door right at my feet. From the moment I'd met him, I had guessed that, if he owned the Opera House, he must be rich; however, I didn't expect him to be this rich! I hadn't known that a beautiful black limo was his daily source of transportation, given that he'd walked me to the restaurant, but to have that type of car roll up to the sidewalk just for us took my breath away.

I'd never ridden in a limo before, and I felt like a princess as Erik handed me inside the luxurious car. Quickly scooting over to make room for my date, I felt the soft leather seating give way like melting butter as I settled in. The interior was all black, from the elegant wood paneling to the leather seats, and the only illumination came from the single light at the ceiling. A short distance away was a mini-bar with all sorts of glass bottles, most of which were written in French, though I could clearly see that one or two were a bottle of American rum or cordials. I was tempted to try one, but felt it might be rude to help myself without Erik's permission. Instead, I merely settled back into the seat and savored my first limo ride.

A few moments after the car had pulled into traffic, I felt something slide across my shoulders. Looking to my left, I saw Erik's hand resting there, his touch warm and gentle. He seemed a bit hesitant to move any further, and I couldn't help but smile at his shyness which so mirrored my own.

'He must not have much experience with women,' I thought as I very slowly moved closer to him, letting his arm and hand settle further around my shoulders. 'Then again, I don't have much experience with dating, either, so I suppose we're even.'

I heard Erik inhale sharply as my right shoulder made contact with his body, but from the way his arm tightened around me, I could guess that he didn't want me to move away. Smiling to myself, I let him pull me closer to him, until the back of my head brushed against his shoulder. My natural instinct suddenly took control of my body, and before I could stop myself, my head was comfortably nestled against Erik's shoulder. I could feel him hesitate briefly, but he quickly slid his arm into place, letting his hand settle upon my hip as the car drove down the road to his home.

'How could a man this sweet and romantic not have much experience with women?' I thought to myself as I snuggled closer to him.

It just didn't make any sense! Was it because of his face, I wondered? No, it couldn't be. Then again, people were so shallow and vain these days, so yes, it could be his face…or rather, it was his mask. In all probability, it was that small piece of white leather that made all the difference in his social life. I, myself, was fascinated with it, and it was likely the mystery of what was behind it that drew women towards Erik. But what actually lay behind that barrier was most certainly something that horrified whoever was shallow enough to not see the soul that was inside. The man that was behind the mask was the most romantic person that I'd ever met, and I was looking forward to getting to know him much better, especially when he held me so close with such a gentle touch.

Wanting to have the experience last as long as possible, I closed my eyes and savored the moment.

As Alisa nestled closer to him, Erik felt his heart beat faster. For the first time in his life, a woman was happily snuggling up to him without having an ulterior motive. Many women had attempted to worm their way into his arms and his heart, but they were only after two things: one was his money, and the other was the need to satisfy their curiosity of what lay behind the mask. After so many years of fending off "gold-diggers," Erik had become experienced in avoiding such people.

However, Alisa was different. When the limo had been pulling up, he had expected her to squeal in delight at the sight of it. However, she had surprised him by looking at it in awe as they had gotten in, and had looked around the interior of it with curiosity. It was evident that she had never ridden in a limousine before, and Erik had felt a sense of pride in being the first one to give her the pleasure of doing so.

Once they were safely tucked within the luxury of the vehicle, Erik attempted to do something he'd never tried before: wrapping his arm around a woman's shoulders. He'd been hesitant about it at first, but she looked so lovely sitting there on the black leather that he wanted her close to him. The warmth of her body called to him as nothing had before, and he had to have her touching him. So, ever-so-slowly, Erik stretched out his left arm and slid it behind her, gently laying it between her and the seat.

To his surprise, not only did Alisa not move away, but she seemed to encourage it by moving closer! He felt her slowly move into the crook of his arm, then press herself against his side, his arm now able to fully wrap itself around her and her sweet warmth. Inhaling sharply, Erik felt his hand move under its own accord and clutch her shoulder, pulling her fully against him. Fearing that she would pull away at his boldness, he held his breath, his heart pounding until Alisa's head leaned back and rested against his shoulder, a contented sigh escaping from her lips as she did so.

As much as he wished to cuddle closer, Erik managed to barely hold himself back, instead keeping his arm firmly around Alisa's body until his home came within sight. Her lack of response to the magnificence of his house was a tell-tale sign that her eyes were closed as she rested against him. Even though it tore him apart to do so, Erik moved his shoulder and whispered down to her.

"We're here, my dear," he said.

Waiting anxiously, Erik held his breath and waited for Alisa's reaction.

I opened my eyes and saw something that belonged in a movie. The gates we pulled through were huge, and the driveway looked to be a mile long. On both sides of the road ran a row of trees, all of them standing tall and offering a natural overhang against the elements, protecting the cars that ran underneath it. The road was remarkably well-paved, and I couldn't help thinking that it had to be horribly expensive to keep it this smooth at all times.

Looking up, I set eyes on the most magnificent house I'd ever seen. I was sorely tempted to call it a palace, but it seemed smaller than that, so I decided that it was a very large mansion instead. Rather, it was an estate, as I could clearly see lush gardens and orchards both close to and distant from the house, and it vaguely reminded me of the Darcy mansion in the two film versions of Pride and Prejudice. It was only two levels, but the windows were tall, so the rooms had to be incredibly large. The stonework bore elegantly made carvings, and beautiful stained glass decorated a few windows on both the top and bottom levels.

"Oh, my," I whispered as the car pulled up to the front. "You could house an army in there and still have room for more guests!"

Beside me, Erik laughed. "Not quite, but it is fairly large," he replied as he opened the car door and got out, pausing briefly before reaching back inside for me. "Come, it'll be warmer inside."

I quickly accepted his offered hand and got out, the steps leading up to the front door incredibly wide and going up at least ten steps. "Oh, my goodness," I said.

Erik chuckled and tightened his grip on my hand as he led me up to the double doors, which were made from a wonderful cherry wood, and had perfectly polished brass handles. He then pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked them, swinging them soundlessly open and letting the glow of dozens of lights fall upon us in the evening darkness.

"After you," he said, stepping aside to let me through.

Holding my breath, I felt like Lucy stepping into the Wardrobe, half-expecting to end up in another fairyland much like Narnia. In fact, the hallway I walked into was like another world, one made up of carved marble, beautiful antique furniture, priceless artwork, and a staircase on the right-hand side, going up to another level that had to be as wonderful as this one.

The floor consisted of marble that was shot with gold or a gold-colored metal, and it felt as though only the rich or royal should step on it. Every piece of furniture in sight looked old, but in perfect condition, as though there was an army of servants kept here just to take care of them (it wouldn't surprise me if there were such a thing). The wooden railing of the stairway was either mahogany or ebony, and the stairs were covered in a thick, soft rug that begged to be walked upon in bare feet. Paintings of forests, gardens, Greek or Roman statues, and well-known legends decorated the walls, all of them so well-done that they took my breath away.

Without a word, Erik took my hand and led me down a lit hallway and to the right, stopping before a pair of white double doors that were the near twins of those in the front. Taking his keys from his pocket, he unlocked them and swung open the doors, one of his hands reaching to turn on the lights. Above me, light exploded from three crystal chandeliers, the clear gems in them reflecting rainbows and fairy-lights onto the white marble floor and the bits of white walls that weren't painted with Roman mythological creatures and gardens.

I was then led from that illuminated room to another room on the right side of the house, this one a dining hall which could easily seat two dozen people. However, from the lack of markings on the table, it must have either been used rarely or not at all. Still, the rich red wallpaper and gold paint made it a warm, inviting room for guests to chat over a good meal and wine. Four large, painted porcelain vases stood empty, one on each side of the room, all waiting to be filled with the flowers of the season that the dinners were to take place in.

From there, Erik pulled me to the opposite side of the house, to the front corner of the mansion and into a living room that was a mix of dark red and chocolate brown, all of which made me feel like I was being hugged warmly by the room itself. On the opposite wall stood huge fireplace looked like it could roast a small calf with little trouble, and everything inside it was outlined in wood and brass. An invitingly thick carpet lay upon the hardwood floor before the fireplace, and in the far right corner stood a black piano. Beyond the grand instrument was an array of shelves containing books and a silver stereo system almost begging to be used. The whole room seemed to have been prepared in welcome of Erik's return, and yet it was probably the most inviting room I'd ever laid eyes on.

From there, Erik took me to a back room on the left side of the house, the door to this room possessing a lock that looked as though it were frequently being used to keep out intruders. I gave him a puzzled look, but all he did was wink at me before swinging the door open. As he guided me inside, the overhanging lights switched on, and I couldn't hold back a gasp of delight.

"Welcome to my work room," Erik's voice breathed into my ear.

I stepped forward and began looking at everything that I could. The room was huge, and it must have, at one time, been two rooms before a wall had been knocked down and wooden pillars put into its place. This made it easier to shift or move the dozen or so tables scattered about the room, all of them covered with pieces of artwork. Paintings, sculptures, models of buildings, drawing (in details and rough sketches), and even music boxes were everywhere. There were so many that my mind felt as though it were going to burst from all the excitement and wonder flowing through me.

"Do you like it?" Erik whispered, his voice soft and his breath warm on my ear as he spoke.

"Oh, it's…incredible!" I breathed, my voice soft as I answered him. "If I had all the money in the world, I would design and live in a house just like this one!"

It was exactly what he'd hoped to hear. Given time, he would woo her and make this house hers as well. Erik could just imagine the two of them spending the rest of their lives here in this place, growing old together as they sat before the fireplace. Would they become grandparents as well?

'Perhaps someday,' he thought to himself as he put his right arm around her waist. 'But first things first…'

Gently, he began leading her further into his art room, taking her to one specific table. On top of it stood a perfect working model of the Paris Opera House, an exact replica down to the last detail. The only things that were missing from it were the hidden passageways beneath it; he had purposely left those out, as the memories that they brought were far too painful. He wanted to forget that horrible, painful past and start again, hopefully with Alisa.

Meanwhile, the object of his affections had broken free of his gentle grip and was circling the table, her eyes drinking in everything that she saw. Fascinated, Erik watched her lips as they moved soundlessly. To him, she seemed to be whispering praise to the little replica, her brown eyes dancing with delight as she studied it. He hated to disturb this precious moment, but there was much more for her to see.

"Would you like to see inside of it?" he asked softly.

Alisa's head jerked up, her eyes meeting his. "There's more?" she asked in surprise.

"Of course," he replied with a smile.

Reaching out with both hands, he carefully took hold of the roof of the model and lifted it up. A gasp from Alisa was all the praise he needed for the tiny perfect world created within the small building.

I thought that I had inspected every detail there was to see about the tiny Opera House, but when Erik lifted the top off of it, I knew I had been wrong. Inside was the exact image of the place in detail; from the little red velvet seats, to the vast orchestra pit before the stage, to the crystal chandelier suspended from thin wires crisscrossing over the audience, it was the Opera House shrunk down to scale. Everything was like I had seen it earlier that day, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

"Oh, Erik, it's perfect!" I said while leaning in closer. "Look, there are even little musical scores on the music stands in the orchestra pit!"

He chuckled as his right hand pointed to the backstage area, hidden behind a little red velvet curtain. "Gently pull that little gold cord and see what else is there."

I did so, and nearly squealed with excitement upon seeing the little tables covered with props, as though the whole thing were waiting for the next performance. I even saw a few costumes on mannequins the size of my thumb, waiting to be put on by a diva or worked upon by little model seamstresses. One was a red gown with gold lace trimming, and another was a green gown right out of the Renaissance period.

"Erik, this must have taken ages for you to do!" I exclaimed, one of my hands reaching out to touch the miniature dresses before I could stop myself.

Once I saw what I was doing, I immediately stopped and pulled back. It would be a tragedy to break something that looked so delicate, so I quickly placed my hands behind my back, much like a small child would after being caught doing something naughty. I heard Erik chuckle softly, but ignored him, instead focusing on the incredible work of art that lay before me. Never before had I seen anything so amazing, especially something that would take a dedicated person a year to complete, if they were lucky. Much as I was loath to admit it, there was no possible way that I could do anything like this in my lifetime! I couldn't even make a decent paper airplane if I tried!

"Come, I have more to show you," Erik whispered as he gently prodded me with his fingers.

I giggled. "That tickles!" I exclaimed, squirming slightly.

The moment of silence should have warned me, but I still wasn't prepared when Erik began a full tickle attack on me. I was still squealing in laughter as he paused and proceeded to pick me up, carrying me away from his precious art to set me down in the hallway and tickle me some more.

"Erik!" I cried, my eyes flowing with tears from laughing so hard.

He merely laughed as he continued to poke me under my arms, which were the most ticklish places on my body. After a few moments, he finally let me go to catch my breath, which was a mistake on his part. Taking the opportunity in hand, I managed to get myself together and break free, running like a giggling madwoman to the living room. Behind me, I could hear Erik yelp in surprise before racing after me.

"You cannot escape me!" he declared just as I raced through the doors and into the room

Little did he know that I didn't want to escape him, letting myself be cornered in the room with excitement running through me as Erik entered through the double doors. I stood in absolute admiration as the darkness of the room swirled around him like a cloak, the determined look on his face making him appear mysterious as he stalked towards me. His white mask practically glowed in the faint light of the fireplace, and I wanted to melt right then and there. Before I could, though, Erik was there, his strong arms wrapping around my waist as he pulled me close.

Breathless, I waited staring up into green eyes that were nearly black in the darkness. Slowly, his face descended, and I barely had time to gasp before his lips were pressed against my own.

Only once before in his life had he ever been kissed, and that particular kiss had been under extreme circumstances. This one, though, was real, real in the sense that the woman wrapping her arms around his neck had true feelings for him and wanted his touch as much as he wanted hers. Christine had kissed him out of pity and to free herself and her beloved Raoul. Alisa, who was so different from his former protégé, wanted to kiss him, and was more than responsive to his touch and kiss. All this he knew from way she held him close and pressed willingly against him.

'She's so soft and warm,' Erik thought to himself through the fog forming in his mind.

The curves of Alisa's body fit perfectly against his own, and as he tangled one of his hands in her lusciously thick hair, he felt her sag against him, her body melting under his touch. As he pulled her closer, Erik slowly lowered the two of them down to the rug, laying them before the crackling fireplace. Beneath him, Alisa sighed into their kiss, her arms tightening around his neck and shoulders. Pulling back for a moment, Erik caught his breath before bending to kiss her once more.

'This…this is what I've been waiting so long for,' he thought to himself as he stretched his body protectively over Alisa's.

But a kiss can only last for so long, and sooner than he cared for, Erik pulled back, both he and Alisa were gasping for air. After they had both caught their breath, Erik found himself struck with an idea. It would have been scandalous to propose such a thing one hundred years ago, but now, it was something that he longed to ask her before it was too late.

However, it was she who spoke first. "I should be getting back to the hotel," she whispered, her tone reluctant as one of her hands began combing through his hair.

Momentarily distracted by her caresses, it took him a moment to fully comprehend what had just been said. Blinking rapidly, Erik brought himself back to the present.

"Stay here," he said, once again running his fingers through her hair, returning her touch. He watched with pleasure as her cheeks turned red. "I have many rooms, so we need not share the same bed." 'Yet,' he thought, grinning inwardly.

Alisa seemed to think about it thoroughly, chewing her lower lip as she did so. Finally, she stopped and looked up at him. "Well…alright," she said with a smile.

Slowly, Erik rose from the floor, taking Alisa's hand in his and helping her to her feet. After dusting themselves off, he led her up the stairs and down a hallway to the left. Just before he reached the end of the corridor, he paused before a door that was painted a dark blue. Placing a hand on the knob, he slowly opened it and revealed a room completely decorated in dark blue and silver. Alisa gasped as he flicked a switch, a small lamp lighting on the far side of the room and casting just enough illumination to see by.

Turning, she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before slipping inside, closing the door behind her. A moment later, she heard him enter the room next to hers before shutting and locking the door.

AN: Sweet chapter, wasn't it? I was thinking that perhaps I might make this story a bit steamier, and so the rating might go up. I'm not sure, though. Please review and let me know how your thoughts on this story!