Hi all, Beth here! So here is chapter two...dundundun! I hope you are finding the story okay, I will try and update at least twice a week, but we will see how that goes. I haven't yet received any reviews for chapter one, so please let me know what you think, as else I have no idea whether it's worth continuing or not! Thanks!

So here we go…

Chapter Two:

Bliss

Christine gazed tenderly up at Raoul, thrilled with his little speech that he had just made. She was over the moon that he would let her continue her remembrance of her Angel, even though he had just made such a dramatic exit of their lives. Her worst nightmare would have been Raoul refusing to let her remember him at all, and forcing her out of her music…his music…and making her give up her singing. She smiled at Raoul again, and planted another small kiss on his other cheek. Raoul lifted her chin up with his forefinger.

"I know how much the opera means to you, Christine…" he began. Christine's heart sank. She had just assumed that he would let her continue her singing; he had never actually said as much. Of course, that was the main thing that had linked her with her Angel…she supposed it was only natural that Raoul would want to rid her of that link, however much he may care about her. She drew in a breath, readying herself for the devastation that she was sure his next words would hold.

"Yes?" she whispered, trying not to cry. Raoul looked down at her, an air of puzzlement about his gaze.

"Christine…why are you crying?" he asked, concern filling his eyes. Christine couldn't help but stop and study his eyes. She had never really noticed them before, but now she stared intensely at them, she could see just how extraordinarily coloured they were. No painter could ever truly capture their beauty; perhaps they could get the colour itself, but not the life and soul that shone through them. They were such a pale blue, almost icy, and completely clear. Christine could understand what people meant when they talked about the eyes being windows to the soul. When she looked in Raoul's eyes, she could see straight through them and see all the things he cared about and loved: his brother Philippe, his parents, his estate…and herself. She could see herself reflected in his eyes, and not just literally. By one look, she could see all the concern and love welling up in Raoul's eyes, and it thrilled her. All she'd ever wanted was for someone to really care about her. Of course, her father had been there, but as soon as he died when she was just ten years old, she had barely ever seen this kind of concern in anyone's eyes. When Madame Giry had taken her in, she knew that she cared about her. But as Christine got older, the type of concern and love that she wished for had morphed into a different type of love; the more romantic, sensual type. No one had really fulfilled that need…even her Angel, whose eyes reflected love…but not the type she imagined. But now here were two ice-blue pools of love staring at her, and she could hardly believe it.

"Christine?" Raoul's voice prompted her out of her thoughts. "Are…are you alright? You're not thinking about…that thing, are you? He's gone, Christine! Gone, so we can be together! What are you so upset about?" Christine smiled through her tears, and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Raoul…" she trailed off. Raoul's face darkened.

"What is it?" he asked quietly. Christine tried (and failed) to stifle a laugh at his theatrical expression.

"When you said…you know how much the opera means to me, I thought…I thought…I thought you were going to tell me I had to leave it," she looked up at him beseechingly. "But that's not what you were going to say, is it? Please tell me it wasn't!" Christine grabbed the lace on the sleeve of her wedding dress and began to fiddle with it; simultaneously the rate of her speech went up significantly. "I could never do that, Raoul. I'm sorry if it's what you want, but I can't give up singing. Music…singing…it's my life, and I can't leave it behind by becoming a Vicomtess. I…I love you, Raoul. But if this is what you require for me to become your wife, I'm afraid…I cannot accept you. If this is what you want for me, you don't know me, and I shall return to being the opera's prima donna without you." Christine was slightly out of breath from her declaration, and it was all Raoul could do not to laugh.

The fierce way that she gazed at him, coupled with her slightly open mouth and panting, melted down all his defences. Before Raoul could think twice, he kissed her hard on the lips, letting his hands slide round to the small of her back. He felt her tense, probably in shock, and then she relaxed into the kiss, resting her hands on his chest, as all around them silence prevailed, apart from the occasional drip of water, or lap of the lake against the shore far behind them. As Raoul pulled away from Christine, he saw her eyes open, and they stared at him in wonder. Two green orbs peered out at him, framed by her ivory skin and slightly auburn curls, and he felt himself slipping further and further in love with her. Christine lifted her middle three fingers to his cheek, hesitantly, and he gently took her hand as she caressed the skin of his right cheek, carefully probing the cut that the monster had inflicted on him. Raoul winced ever so slightly, and she jerked her hand away, apologies written all over her face and in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Raoul…I didn't mean to hurt you," she whispered. Raoul shook his head, dismissing her concern.

"Does that answer your previous question?" he said softly. "I love you, Christine, and I would never take you away from what you love. Why the hell would you even think something like that?" Christine looked down sheepishly.

"I don't know," she muttered, feeling foolish. "But thank you, Raoul." He smiled at her, and then felt in his trouser pocket. His finger closed around the object that he sought, and he ran his free hand over her upper arm.

"But I believe, my love, there is one more formality for us to attend to…" he said, a smile playing on his lips. Christine tilted her head slightly, looking more than a little confused. Raoul smiled; her naivety was so sweet. He slowly took a step backwards, and then lowered himself to one knee. She gasped.

"Would you, Miss Christine Daae, do me the honour of becoming my lawfully wedded wife, mine to have and to hold, until death do us part?" he asked, his voice breaking slightly with emotion. The shock and love on her face was plain to see, and she knelt down to his eye level, taking his hand forcefully.

"Yes! Yes, my love, a hundred times over!" And this time it was her turn to kiss him and take him by surprise. She moved so fast that Raoul lost his balance and fell backwards, with her landing on top of him, still kissing him. They lay like that for a few minutes, with no words for each other but "I love you", whispered over and over, and broken up by fervent kisses. Amongst their laughter, they only had eyes for each other, and did not see the watery golden pools gazing out from the shadows, that blinked once, and then disappeared into the blackness of the cellars…

*GASP* So Erik is not dead and forgotten as a certain happy couple hoped! I know there is R/C fluff at the minute, but I do promise that it will turn out to be E/C eventually! You just have to be patient! Please leave me a review to let me know what you thought of it, any constructive criticism welcome! Just please don't be too harsh, and if you are, try and say it tactfully! Thank you so much just for reading, but I would love some feedback too! You guys are all amazing!