Erik carried Christine down the flight a stairs. Her intoxicating scent filling his nostrils. The sweetness of her curves resting in his hands was almost enough for him to turn around and place Christine back in her bed. Here she relied on him for everything. She followed him like a lost puppy dog. Here she stayed by his side and wanted him to hold her in the middle of the night. To fight of the demons she was so afraid of coming to snatch her away.

Erik hesitated in his step. Maybe going home wasn't such a good idea. Maybe he was wrong in wanting to take her away from this place. The country God had forsaken. Erik smiled as he remembered the phrase she used to describe it.

"Can I open my eyes now?" Erik smiled at Christine's eagerness. He kept his hold on her arm tight as he lowered her to the ground.

"In a minute." He moved to sit behind her, placing one hand over her eyes. "Alright."

"It doesn't help if your hand is in the way Erik." She grabbed his hand and brought it down to her lap with hers. "Erik, why again did we have to come out when its dark?"

"You'll see." The sun slowly began to rise, and Erik heard a gasp escape her mouth as she leaned back into him.

Christine remained silent until the sun had risen fully. "It's beautiful, Erik."

"Yes, it is. Would you like one?"

"You would build me one?"

"For you, I would build a palace to rival any that ever been built."

Christine leaned back and placed a kiss on Erik's lips before settling back down and looking at the site before them. "I just want to go home, Erik."

Erik picked up his step once more and carried Christine out to the car that was waiting on them. He scooted in beside her. He smoothed her hair back and kissed her on the forehead. "I am so sorry for ever doubting what was best for the both of us. Nadir, are you ready?"

"Are you sure you want to do this, Erik?" Nadir looked questioningly at Erik. Normally, Erik's facial expression was stone cold. A mystery to beholder. But this morning, there was a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"No, but I made a promise." Erik's attention was focused on Christine. The loving, loning look that he gave her. If Erik had not responded, Nadir would have thought himself invisible to Erik in the presence of Christine.

"I am sure your mother will understand." Nadir replied before opening the door for Erik.

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Christine awoke in soft sheets that smelled of summer rain. A scent unfamiliar to her in the past month and a half. She sat up and looked around. It looked like her room. It smelled like her room. She sat up, pushing the covers off of her.

She climbed out of the bed and walked to the door. When she opened it and saw the banner and stairs, she ran down the stairs and quickly found the kitchen. She saw Sarah and raced back up the stairs where she found Erik. She threw her arm around his neck, giving him a hug.

"Thank you, Erik."

"You're welcome, mon ange. I have work to do, but Sarah has made you breakfast. And I have plans for the two of us this evening."

"Promise?"

"Of course."

Christine gave Erik a peck on the lips before running back downstairs to find Sarah in the kitchen. Erik watched the lovely view of her backside as she went down the stairs in search of food. He walked back to his office to finish his plans for the evening as well as get back to the work that he neglected for the past month and a half.

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Christine had been in bed for over an hour and was unable to sleep. She was exhausted, but no sleep would come to her salvation.

The night had been wonderful. Erik had taken her to one of the most expensive restaurants in town followed by the opera. Then they had taken a midnight stroll through the park. The evening had worn her out. She smiled at the memory of the night when she realized why she couldn't sleep.

She needed Erik. He had become her security blanket. It was in his arms that she felt at home. There was no place safer. She contemplated going to Erik's room and asking if she could sleep with him. She pushed the thought out of her mind with the reasoning that now they were home Erik would want a bed to himself.

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Erik sat with his back against Christine's door. He sighed. Maybe coming back had been a mistake. He longed to merely hold Christine in his arms as he done so many nights before. They should have stayed.

No, that wasn't right. Erik tried to reason with himself. Seeing Christine happy, truly happy, today had been worth losing her sleeping in his bed. The one thing that was missing from his bed those nights ago had been Christine never came out of love. She came out of fear. The need for protection.

He could hear her tossing and turning. Apparently, her sleep was as restless as his. He begun to sing softly, worried she would not sleep otherwise. When he could no longer hear her moving, he stopped and rested himself once more against the door to listen to sound of her soft breathing.

"Do not worry, my angel. Erik will be here all night to protect you. Not even death will take you this evening. For Erik always protects what's his. Always."

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A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long. Classes have started up again. Please review and let me know what you think.