Chapter 5

Two weeks later, Erik was busy preparing for his upcoming wedding the following weekend. This week he worked over and didn't have time for his daily love making routine that him and Gabrielle shared since their first night. He was a lot more nervous now that the time was near because Gabrielle came from a large family and now that he was an established architect, everyone who worked for his small business was coming and bringing their spouses and children. Erik never was one for large crowds, but he knew that he would have to grow accustomed to it, for he now worked with the public of Paris.

Gabrielle was also more nervous about the wedding, but she was more excited. She loved Erik and imagined walking towards him knowing that they would finally be together as one forever. Christine easily made her way into Gabrielle's world, stopping by for tea almost every afternoon. Erik however did not approve of this relationship, for he knew what Christine's plans were and as his head filled with thoughts of forgiving his first true love, a part of his mind also opposed at this thought telling him to make her suffer for the despair she caused in him.

On the Wednesday before the wedding, Christine and Gabrielle were socializing in Gabrielle's flat when Erik decided to make a surprise visit to let his fiancée know he missed her since he was working harder than usual so he could take time off after his wedding. Gabrielle greeted Erik at the door kissing him and saying,

"Hello darling, what a wonderful surprise!" Erik smiled and noticed Christine in the background standing up to greet him when he grabbed Gabrielle forcibly by the waist and pulled her into him for one of the most passionate kisses he ever gave. Gabrielle lost all of her senses for a second then finally became surprised in this behavior and pulled away from him slightly and smiled,

"Gabrielle, I have missed you so much this past week, I cannot stand to be away from you for more than a second." Gabrielle blushed as those words struck through Christine like a knife. She wanted to scream as she watched how Erik adored Gabrielle. Memories flooded through her head of how Erik used to worship her like that. She remembered their first and last kiss wishing that he would set his lips upon hers as he did Gabrielle's.

"Erik, now is not the time, I have a guest." She said gesturing to Christine. Erik was quite uncomfortable with Christine being there and he thought that acting like a man totally obsessed with Gabrielle would ease the comfort level, but it didn't.

"Come inside darling." Gabrielle said shutting the front door behind him. He removed his hat and cloak and looked toward Christine.

"Good evening, Christine." He said sitting down on a nearby chair.

"Good evening, Erik. Are you excited about your wedding?" Christine asked trying to read his face as she said the words, your wedding. Erik was quite happy that she asked that question for now he could tell her how happy he was and make her feel his past pain. He explained that if he could marry Gabrielle today he would no longer wait for she was the love of his life. Christine gave her best fake smile to these remarks and shocked him with her declaration,

"I can't wait for your wedding; Gabrielle tells me it's going to be the most beautiful one yet." Erik's face grew pale, why would Christine be excited about his wedding? He wasn't exactly sure what that statement meant until Gabrielle chimed in,

"Yes, darling, I have invited Christine to the wedding. I thought you would enjoy having such a close friend of your past there and since Christine and I have grown so close lately." Christine knew that after her remark she was having an influence on Erik. The same influence she had in the opera house, the influence for him to fall in love with her, but this time she wanted his love and would stop at nothing to get it, just like he had for her six years ago.

Three hours later, the clock chimed 10 and Christine decided that she had stayed late enough to where Gabrielle would insist that Erik accompany her home. She looked at the clock and stated,

"It's getting late and I better be heading home."

"Erik, I think you should take Christine home, you know how these streets can be so dangerous at night." Gabrielle insisted. Erik knew that Gabrielle would say that and had already prepared for the small journey by putting on his hat and cloak.

"Oh Erik, really you don't have to." Christine said in an extra effort to make him think that she didn't need him.

"Nonsense." he said, giving in to her game and opened the door. Gabrielle walked to the door, said goodbye to Christine and then kissed Erik whispering,

"Come back."

"I plan to." He replied giving her a small smile as he closed the door and stood by Christine on the sidewalk waiting for a carriage to come by.

"You and Gabrielle seem very happy." Christine said cheerfully.

"Yes we are very much in love with each other."

Finally a cab pulled up and Erik helped Christine in. He looked at her in the dark and could see how beautiful she still was after six years. Christine couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to make Erik hers and couldn't stand to see him in the arms of another woman. She tried to make friends with Gabrielle in order to see Erik more often and make him feel uncomfortable to the point where he realized he was still in love with her. But her little game was taking its toll on her emotions for it wasn't working out as she planned. As they rode in silence, these thoughts filled her head and suddenly a slow tear trickled down her cheek. Erik became quite aware of this and pressed his hand to her cheek wiping away the tear.

"Christine, what is wrong?" He asked knowing exactly what she was thinking but wanting to hear it come out of her mouth once more.

"Oh Erik," she started only with more tears coming from her eyes, "I came back and gave up my life to be with you, but now it's all ruined and I have nothing. You don't love me anymore and Raoul doesn't love me anymore, I have nothing and no one. I wish I could go back in time and have your everlasting love. My life would be so much better and different. But now it's too late, I am paying for foolishness." Christine continued to cry burying herself into his cloak while he put his arm around her.

Erik waited so many years to feel Christine Daae leaning on him. Knowing that he still had feelings for her, he wanted nothing more than to be able to fulfill her wish. But he loved Gabrielle didn't he? Ever since Christine came back into his life he was an emotional wreck confused by his own mind and heart.

As the cab pulled up to Christine's flat she got out and Erik followed walking her to the door.

"I'm sorry I cannot be with you Christine. I want nothing more than to be able to help you, but I can't. My life has changed and even though my heart tells me to stay with you, my mind tells me to be sensible since this is the best life I have lived so far."

"I understand." She lied with tears still in her eyes.

"Well, goodnight." Erik said turning to leave. As he reached the cab, he heard Christine's voice yell,

"Wait Erik, please don't go just yet." Erik had waited six years to hear those words come from Christine's mouth. He often dreamed about her coming back to him and begging him to stay with her instead of pushing him away. Overcome with emotion, he quickly paid the cab driver and walked briskly back to her. Without holding anymore emotions inside, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her passionately on the lips.

As Christine watched Erik pay the cab driver after she yelled after him, she shook with happiness, he was going to stay and talk to her! She watched as Erik briskly walked back to her where he suddenly pulled her into a passionate kiss. Christine felt butterflies in her stomach as he continued to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders pulling him in for more until he pulled away. Afraid that she had done something wrong or that he knew what he was doing was wrong, she stood looking at him as he held on to her waist and said,

"Let's go inside."