Title: Beauty in Madness
Summary: Here's part two. I am so happy with the response to this fic! Thank you guys for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, no copyright infringement is intended.
When the coach finally rattled to a halt, Antoinette's stomach lurched terribly due partly to nausea and nervousness. She paid the driver and disembarked quickly, clutching her carpetbag at her side. Her eyes immediately turned to stare at the little cottage at the end of the dirt road.
It looked quaint, rustic, and charming from the outside. A grin touched her lips. No one would ever think to look for the dreadful Phantom here, it was a wise choice on his part. Her legs seemed to move of their own accord, she approached the front door in a few swift strides and then her knuckles rapped upon it three times in quick succession.
She waited awkwardly for a moment, shifting her weight uneasily before she finally heard movement behind the wooden surface.
It creaked open slightly, as if he was not quite sure of her identity and then it swung wider as he verified that it was indeed her.
Antoinette felt a pang of uncertainty at the look on his face. He wore a mask, but all she needed to see were his eyes, those eyes that were currently filled with something akin to shock.
"Erik? I…I know that my presence here might be unwelcoming to you. I just…" She fidgeted under his scrutiny, "I just needed to know you were alright and-"
His lips had claimed hers before she could finish her sentence. Surprise flitted through her mind as his hands pressed firmly into her waist, holding her close to his body. His tongue coaxed her lips open and he kissed her deeply, the gesture felt more intimate than anything she had ever shared with her husband. Quite frankly, it forced all coherent thought from her head.
He began to step backwards, taking her with him. Antoinette dropped her bag onto the hardwood floor and kicked the door shut behind her.
"Are you alright?" He did not know what to make of her reticence, especially since she had not promptly disentangled herself from his embrace.
The first time she had come to visit him after he'd run away, he was quite angry with her. He had lots of time to think about all that had transpired. He was furious with the world, and it was all he could do to channel it at the nearest person, which happened to be her. Naturally, he had not received any visitors except her, and she handled his spiteful accusations with much grace.
The next few times she had come to see him, he was not so angry, only contrite at how he treated her. After all, Antoinette had saved his neck twice now, and she did not deserve to be repaid with insults. Erik could not bring himself to speak to her then. Guilt, his constant companion throughout his life, had robbed him of his voice.
She respected him and kept her distance, cooking meals for him and reading quietly in his sitting room. To Erik's surprise, it was pleasant having her around. She seemed to care for him more than he thought she did, her sweet smiles and glances betrayed her fondness of him. Soon enough, Erik found himself subconsciously gravitating toward her. He wanted to be worthy of her love more than anything.
It startled him, this recent realization of feelings. This was not violent obsession like it had been for so long with Christine. It was tender and fleeting, something warm and effervescent that made him yearn for Antoinette whenever she was gone back to Paris. His dreams had changed, it was her face he imagined, not Christine's.
He did not want to wait any longer. His usual eloquence had eluded him, so when he saw her standing at his front door, he surrendered to his instincts and threw caution to the wind. He wasted so much time already.
"I am fine, I just was not prepared for such a warm welcome." The happy lilt in her tone relieved him greatly.
"With your permission, my dear, I would like to do much more…" Erik faltered as he noticed her eyes fill with sudden doubt. Fear once again ran cold through his heart.
"Erik, I must tell you that I do not enter into such relationships lightly. If what you are looking for is a replacement for Christine Daae, then I cannot agree to this."
He inhaled sharply and hurried to assuage her, "I want you, Antoinette. I do not know what else to say, other than that I do not proposition women that I do not love."
Neither of them spoke for a very long time.
TBC…