Authors note
I am glad to update quicker the third time round. Hopefully I can write at a steady pace for a while ahead.
Thank you again for your kind reviews.
Disclaimer: I still do not own anything, apart from a few small character manipulations- but who are the Phantom and Christine really anyway?
Some time later that morning when Erik had calmed himself and felt more hospitable, he knocked on Christine's door to announce his decision. "Join me for a meal before we venture outside, Christine," and after a beat, "please."
With a sigh of defeat, Erik returned to his organ to await her reply.
Inside her room, Christine's mind was running wild. Rampant even. If only she had some food in her stomach to lessen the fatigue. Their earlier conversation kept repeating itself over and over again in her mind. If this is a prison to you, Christine, count yourself lucky... The world has shown no compassion to me Christine... The worse thing you can do to a man, Christine, is give him talents he cannot use.
Christine, Christine, Christine. She felt so nauseous! What can I do? She asked herself. What is the solution? Is there a solution? Is it my job to find a solution? Am I the problem?
She couldn't answer these questions, not now anyway. The world truly seemed to be revolving around her. Erik sure had a way of complicating things. It was so much easier when he remained an anonymous Angel.
Christine never had to deal with such an overly complicated situation. It wasn't simply a matter of yes or no, right or wrong. This new Erik was a powerful man, a skillful man, her friend. He scared her and yet she could not bring herself to sever all connection with him and take the easy path when things got tough.
He cannot be left in the past, Christine, he needs your help. He wants your help, but do you want to help him? She continued asking herself questions, hoping a definite answer would pop into her head.
She tossed to her side in the bed. She could smell his manly scent even in there. Such a beautiful perfume and yet so...alluring. Seductive even, she thought.
Christine abruptly sat herself up in the bed, chastising herself for her sudden impure thoughts. How can I leap from scary to sexy in almost one brainwave? Christine was all nerves.
Finally, she triumphantly registered a more mundane and welcoming smell- fresh bread and... bacon!
Remembering Erik's invitation to join him for breakfast-or lunch- or anything that would break her fast- Christine leapt to her feat and sped out the door without further thought of her dilemma.
It shall have to wait, nature calls, Christine told herself as she again patted her grumbling stomach.
Erik had to admit he was surprised at the eagerness with which Christine plodded herself onto a seat at the kitchen table. Unabashed she looked up to him expectantly, both elbows on the table and her knuckles resting underneath her chin. He couldn't help but smile at her bold and natural moves.
Natural is not a condition I am accustomed to, Erik thought.
As he served up Christine a generous plate of bacon, eggs, fresh bread and various condiments, he prayed that natural was something he could get used to. Something he was allowed to get used to.