A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews: Angel or Demon, Erik's Secret Admirir, lilblondegiry, Kalaia, verylittlelotte, Twinkle22, Indigo Spirit, and

Mademoiselle Fleur Augereau. A special thanks to my beta, Opera Dove. You are the best beta I've had yet. .

Chapter 15

"Christine?" Gustav asked, stirring Christine out of her deep thoughts.

"Yes, Father?"

"Could you pass the sugar, please?" Without a word, Christine handed him the sugar. "I was wondering, Christine," he paused, "how was your time with
Raoul?"

"Oh, it was fine," she said tersely.

"Christine, what is wrong? Why did you go to confession the other day? It's not like you, to just ask to go to confession," he asked. Christine looked up from her plate. "Nothing is wrong, Father." He raised his eyebrow. "Really, I'm fine. I just thought I should confess my sins. I felt guilty about what happened at the fair and the time afterwards."

"Christine," he smiled at her, "getting lost is not a sin."

"I know, Father, but disobeying you is," she frowned. Without another word, Christine walked away from the table, walked up the stairs, and in into her

bedroom.

XXX

Christine sat on her bed, looking through the pictures in her books. Erik glided into her room and leaned his back against the wall .

"Hello." Christine said, looking up from her book.

"Good afternoon." he said.

"It's past noon already?"

"Apparently." Erik said sarcastically.

Christine shot him a look. Erik smiled from underneath the mask.

"Do you have any paper and pencils?" he asked her.

"They should be somewhere near the bookshelf," she said pointing at all the books. "Why?"

Erik shrugged. "I feel like drawing."

"Are you any good at it?" she asked, cocking her head slightly.

"I suppose. No one has ever seen my work," he said grabbing the pencil and paper from the shelf. "Sometimes I am happy with my work and other times I am not."

"Could you please draw a picture for me," she asked with pleading eyes, "please?"

"Alright," he answered, picking up the pencil. "What do you want me to draw?"

"Anything you'd like," Christine paused, "Surprise me," she said with a smile.

Erik brought the tip of the pencil to the paper and began to draw. Christine started to look over his shoulder. Erik paused. He looked over to Christine.

"You know, it won't be a surprise if you keep watching me."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Beauty needs time to develop," he mumbled.

Christine looked away from Erik and continued on with her book until Erik made last minute changes to the drawing.

"Finished," Erik said at last, after what seemed like eternity. Christine looked over his shoulder. She gasped. She had not seen something so beautifully drawn, without something to look at. There on the paper was a big building.

"It's the Paris Opera House," he said.

"I-It's so beautiful. E-Erik, I've never seen a drawing this beautiful, this perfect...," Christine's voice trailed off in awe.

"I'm glad you like it." A triuphant smile spread accross Erik's lips.

"Like it! Are you kidding? I love it!" she exclaimed.

"Then it's yours," he said handing it to her.

"Oh no, Erik I can't just-."

"It's for you," he said, cutting her off. He pressed the drawing in her hand.

"Thank you."

"It was nothing."

"Did you know my father and I are going to be moving to Paris this week?" she asked.

"No, I didn't know."

"We are moving into the Paris Opera House, in fact," she said happily. "My father will be a violin player in the orchestra and I will learn to be the best opera singer in Paris."

Erik smiled at her.

Christine frowned at him.

"What is the matter?" Erik asked.

"But that will mean leaving you," she said, her voice cracking slightly.

"Not to worry. I can survive on my own."

"I didn't mean it that way. I mean that I will not see you again." Tears streamed down Christine's rosy cheeks.

"I will always be with you when you need me," Erik promised.

Christine nodded.

Erik left the room with the paper and pencil. He sat on his bed. 'How will I stay with her without her father seeing me. I can't let him see me, for it will all be

over if he does,' he thought. Erik smiled. 'I will leave as soon as I can, so that I can get settled in Paris, before she even comes,' Erik paused. 'Where will I

live?' he asked himself. Erik thought back to the drawing. 'I can live underneath the Opera House. The Opera House has a lake and cellars beneath it. I can

built my home on the other side of the lake.' Erik sketched his "soon to be home" on the paper. He drew trap doors and obstacles that will trap and confuse any

unwanted visitors. He looked over his work. 'It's perfect.'

XXX

After Erik's dinner, he decided to draw before he retired for the night. "What to draw?" he mumbled under his breath. He looked at Christine's bedroom door.

"Christine," he told himself.

Erik grabbed his supplies and hid in the corner of her room as she slept. She looked like a sleeping angel. Erik couldn't resist the thought of drawing her so as to

keep that image of her.

She looked so... peaceful. The moonlight from the window spilled onto her sleeping frame. Christine's bottom lip was slightly puffed out and her soft rosy cheeks

were round as her chin rested on her chest.

Erik took brought his pencil to the paper and began to draw.

A/N: I hope I caught Erik's personality. Tell me what you think of this chapter, please review. I like to read your thoughts and I like to answer your

questions.

-Jess-