"What are you doing up?" Erik asked coming into the kitchen to find Christine sitting there with a book, her bare feet tucked under her as she read and sipped at her tea. She looked up, startled.
"Oh! I just...I couldn't sleep and this book is so addictive..." She said, nervously, shutting it as he sat across from her, rubbing his eyes. He grabbed the book and rolled his eyes.
"Trashy romance novels?" He asked, straightening his hair. She laughed, yawning.
"I know...it's pathetic, but I love them. What about you? Why are you awake?" She asked, offering him some tea to which he nodded.
"Same reason. Not to mention this horrible headache. Remind me never to drink again." He muttered, sipping the tea. Her head was tilted and she smiled slightly.
"What?" He asked, his voice laced with sleep, "What are you looking at?" She smirked.
"You're not wearing your mask." She said and instantly his eyes widened and his hand moved to cover his face, but she caught his wrist.
"I don't think so...you shouldn't hide who you are. At least, not with us." She said and he set it back down.
"I hate being without it though." He said and she nodded.
"I know...but aren't you more comfortable without it?" She asked and he sighed.
"I suppose Christine...you really want to know why I am up?" He asked bravely. She nodded.
"I kissed Roxana tonight." He said blatantly and she nearly coughed up her tea.
"You did?" She squeaked and he sighed.
"Yes...she smacked me good across the face. Why did I do it? I don't understand...I've never been brave enough to hardly touch a woman...much less kiss her?" Christine had raised her eyebrow at him, telling him he was wrong.
"No dear...you touched me...remember...I was afraid to breathe around you for fear you would disappear or break...with her, it's like...I want to strangle her and rip her clothes off all at once." He stopped, clapping a hand across his mouth. "Oh God, pretend you didn't hear that." He said and she shrugged, opening her book.
"Don't worry Monsieur...your secret is safe with me." She said winking over her book.
"I don't understand...how can you just sit here with me as if nothing ever happened?" He asked suddenly and she set the book down.
"Ah, now it comes..." She said with a quick grin. He looked at her expectantly. She sighed. "I have spent too many years clinging to the past, reliving my mother's death, my father's death...I am so sick of it...If we cling to the past we can never have a future...weren't those the exact words you said to me the first night you sang to me?" He stuttered,
"Yes...I said that, but Christine that was before..." She held her tiny hand up.
"It doesn't matter Erik. Past is gone...and we must all move on with our lives. Even you...even you." She said firmly and looked at him as he stared at her, biting his lip. "Your tea is getting cold Erik." She said softly. He looked down at it. Let it go...His mind screamed at him.
"She deserves to be so happy Erik..." Christine's voice came through his thoughts. "Roxana does...and whether you want to admit it or not, you care for her. You do...the love you thought you had for me has turned into a different kind of love. I can see it in the way you look at me." She said and he shook his head violently.
"No Christine...you are the only woman I will ever love...I swear to it." He said looking away from her and she grabbed both of his hands suddenly, moving around to sit beside him.
"No...you can't swear to it because it is no longer true. These past two months you have grown into a man much different from the man I knew. You are Erik, not the ghost, nor Phantom, nor Angel...just Erik." His eyes grew narrow.
"You cannot tell me how I feel and don't feel..." He said looking at the table and she sighed loudly.
"Maybe not, but I will damn well prove it to you..." She said and grabbed his face, kissing him as hard and long as she could. He touched her arms and kissed her back, as if fighting to feel that intensity they had shared that emotional night.
She pulled back and wiped her face breathlessly.
"Well?" She asked, sitting back down and grabbing her tea. "What do you feel?" She asked and he stared at her for a moment, scratching his head.
"N-nothing. Not one thing..." He said, surprised, frowning. How was this possible? Christine had just kissed him again. The touch he had longed for and all he could think about was kissing that woman, that damned woman sleeping upstairs. He began to cry, unable to control himself as he laid his head on the table. He felt like he'd betrayed everything he'd ever vowed. He felt Christine's hand come to his bare back and pat it as a mother would comfort her son. He turned and sobbed into her shoulder.
"Alright...I know...it's a lot to take in...but doesn't it feel good to get it off your chest?" She asked and he nodded, clinging to her as a child clings to the dress of his mother.
"When did you become so wise?" He asked her and she wiped under his eyes with her thumb, more careful on the marred side.
"Ha! Hardly...I am just tired." She said and messed his hair, pulling him to his feet. "Now I want you to march straight up those stairs and go to bed...sleep off that alcohol...it's going to be hell for you in the morning." She said and he nodded, the throbbing in his forehead becoming more evident.
"Yes...sleep." He said and she threw her arms around him. "What about you?" He asked and she nodded toward her book.
"Just as soon as I read this chapter...and I can't very well do that with you all in my face now can I?" He chuckled and embraced her back.
"I suppose not...goodnight Christine..." He said, sighing in relief, almost happy...She held his hands and smiled at him in her gentle innocent way.
"Goodnight Erik...and I want you to know...I love you." She said and he nodded, knowing exactly what she meant by it, and it didn't break his heart.
"I love you too Christine...for always..."
"And forever." She laughed, settling back into her chair. He looked at her once more before taking the stairs two at a time to find Roxana draped across his side of the bed as well as her own.
Gently, he lifted her and brought her to lay back down draped across him. Her head rested on his chest, her arm lay limply over his stomach. When he kissed the top of her head unknown to her, he could have swore he heard her sigh in her sleep. Goodnight Roxana...I will try to put the past behind me. For you...and for Jamie. He wasn't sure if they could fall in love...or if she could ever love him in any way...but he was going to make her as happy as a man could make his wife, whether it be in love, friendship or partnership. Whatever path they ended up on, they were in this together and it was time he thought of someone other than himself.
Down the hall Christine grinned to herself as she took off her robe and threw her book on the night table. Raoul was lying on his stomach, his long light hair wild and laying like gold silk on the pillow. She leaned down to kiss his cheek, brushing some of it aside as she slipped under his arm.
"Where were you?" He whispered, waking.
"Getting closure..." She said and his eyes opened.
"What?" He asked and she shook her head.
"Nothing dear...reading..." She said and he nodded, his eyes hardly able to open because of the splitting pain in his head.
"I am never drinking again." He muttered and she touched his cheek.
"That will teach you." She giggled softly and kissed his lips. "I love you Raoul de Chagny." She whispered as he settled back against the pillows. A smile played at his lovely pink lips.
"I love you too...Little Lotte. Are you happy?" He asked, touching her lips with his fingertips and she nodded, looking into the blue green of his eyes.
"So happy." She agreed and he fell asleep with a smile on his face, holding her hand. She turned in his arms so her back was to him and he was holding her comfortably. She closed her eyes and for the first time in a long time fell instantly into a dreamless lovely sleep.
"We shall have to get you a gown dear Meg! After all, if Andrew Westcliff is throwing a ball introducing you as his girl then you mustn't wait! You must have the most beautiful gown!" Jacqueline cried, nudging Sissy after they had gone to Meg's house and picked her up. Meg nodded shyly.
"Andrew gave me some money to buy whatever I wanted and I want to look perfect." She said, frowning as she remembered the argument she'd had with her mother earlier. She'd suggested that Meg should apologize to Christine for her behavior! The nerve! When it had been Christine who was trying to dictate her life. Maman had been so strange these past couple months. She'd hardly gone out at all.
"Well, I hear that Brett Reynolds is going to be at the ball! He's back in town you know!" Jacqueline squealed and Sissy nodded.
"I am sure he will notice you right away..." Sissy said, always kissing up to Jacqueline.
"Maybe we can pry Garrett out of Alana de Chagny's bony little hands for you Siss!" She giggled and Sissy snorted.
"As if he would ever look at another girl." She said and Jacqueline sighed.
"She's not so special...she's just a spoiled little brat who has a boy wrapped around her finger. I'll bet I could sway his attentions with a little...persuasion." She said and Sissy's eyes widened, along with Meg's.
"Oh don't look so shocked Sibylle! Don't even deny...you've used your charms to get your way..." Meg, frowned for a moment but thankfully they stopped talking about that.
"So what is it like? Being the love of Lord Westcliff?" Sissy asked and Meg sighed.
"It's only been a couple days...it's all so new to me...he's so...lovely..." She said dreamily. "He's the man I always dreamed of." She said and Jacqueline looked at Sissy before taking Meg's arm.
"Word is, that he is so taken with you...he's already considering marriage!" She said and Meg's mouth dropped.
"Marriage...to me?" She whispered and they nodded, like little vampires bloodthirsty for the next ounce of gossip. Something in Meg told her these two girls were not really her friends, that she was just the next best thing to come along. Yet, they had never been anything but kind to her so she wasn't going to protest their friendship. Not when Christine had been so horrid. After they'd picked a gown, she'd had it wrapped and they decided to get some lunch.
"There's the most beautiful woman in Paris!" Andrews voice came from behind the three of them. Jacqueline squealed in delight as Andrew picked Meg's tiny body up by her waist and spun her around in the air. She giggled as he kissed her.
"Having fun, I trust?" He asked, setting her gently to her feet. She nodded shyly.
"I got a gown for your ball this weekend." She said meekly and he nodded.
"Perfect! The invitations were sent today! And you...you will be beautiful Meg..." He purred to her and she was suddenly putty in his arms. "May I walk you home if your friends don't mind?" He asked and Sissy shrieked.
"Not at all! We'll talk to you later Meg!" They said as Andrew took the box from Meg and gently guided her toward her home.
"How do all the little chorus girls get the prime picks?" Sissy whined when they were out of sight. Jacqueline rolled her eyes.
"Oh darling...Westcliff is just looking for a roll in the hay! You don't think he actually means to marry the little wretch do you dear? Of course not! Gentlemen reserve marrying for the real ladies. Raoul de Chagny just happens to be an unfortunate exception, marrying that mouse. Don't you worry Sibylle Avenant...we will get our due in time."
Music. There was music playing. In the house. Erik looked up from his breakfast having left Roxana asleep while he took care of Jamie this morning. Raoul and Christine also looked up from their own meal in wonder. Christine nearly knocked her chair over getting out of it with Raoul close behind. Christine grabbed James out of Erik's lap as he got up as well, straightening himself. Moving into the sitting room he saw her sitting there at the Chagny's shining black grand piano lost as she played the notes before her with such a passion. He could see she was struggling to remember but she seemed almost free as she played the music, oblivious to her audience. She'd taken his advice...she'd actually listened.
As she finally finished, she began to laugh, a beautiful low sound as she noticed Christine who was smiling at her. She beamed as Christine set Jamie down and ran to her, throwing her arms around her.
"I haven't done that in almost three years..." She said breathlessly holding Christine's arms. She shot Erik a look.
"Satisfied?" She asked, challenging him as he folded his arms.
"Hardly..." He said, trying to hid his grin. "Practice makes perfect Roxana." He said and she pretended to glare at him.
"Oh go to hell, will you?"