"Caught in the bliss of love's first sight

Erik and I made love till morning's light.

Touching and kissing as our bodies spoke

Tears were bottling as our voices choked.

We made love all through the night

Oh Erik, how we fit together just right…" - Excerption straight from the diary of Christine Daae.

Christine's POV

Erik and I had made love! I don't remember how we got to that point, but I didn't care. It was amazing, and for once, I felt like I belonged somewhere….with someone, that someone being Erik. He was gentle, cared about if he were hurting me or now…Erik was a gentleman. I don't remember much after that, because we had both fallen asleep during a kiss. When I came to again, I lay there wrapped in Erik's sheets, feeling a bit cold. I groaned, and cuddled into my pillow.

"Erik, could you throw another long onto the fire." I cooed. "It's rather cold in here."

When I didn't get a reply, or hear shifting of the covers, I opened my eyes, only to see an empty spot beside me. I had dreamed of waking beside him, and cuddling beneath the sheets, but he obviously had other plans. It was Christmas Eve, what other plans could he have possible had? I sat up, and called out his name, thinking that he was maybe in the kitchen. It was only when my eyes made contact with the floor did I realize that he was actually gone. Our clothes had been scattered all over the floor, but now it was only my own. I collected them, and threw the articles into the wash bin before grabbing something new from the wardrobe closet. This was not how I thought our wonderful night would have ended. He left me no note, or anything telling me where he had gone. I stayed calm though, hoping he had stepped out on an errand.

I prepared myself a cup of tea, and sat by the fire waiting for his return…. But as the hours passed, so did my hope of him returning. I tried to keep myself occupied with wrapping my gifts for Erik, but it wasn't enough to keep my mind off of his whereabouts What if something happened to him? What if he had fallen and hurt himself? I couldn't just sit there any longer. I finally threw on my cloak, and headed into town in hopes of finding him. The streets were lined with carolers and last minute shoppers. It was so crowded that I couldn't see past the person in front of me. How was I ever going to find Erik in this mess? I walked from one end of town to the other with no luck at all. I began to worry, and shot by Meg's place to see if maybe she had seen him.

I didn't knock on the old door of her apartment building this time around. Instead, I walked right in, only to get a few strange looks by the women who were smoking in the kitchen. I ignored their looks, and walked the stairs that led me to Meg's floor. The door to her room was shut, and I knocked hoping she was home.

"Meg, it's Christine. I need to talk to you."

I didn't get an answer.

"Meg, it's really important. Are you home?"

Maybe she was out. But it was snowing, and I knew how much she hated the cold.

"Meg?"

Finally the door opened, and she appeared wearing nothing but her thin night dress.

"Christine, what is it?"

"Can I come in?"

I looked in the room, and saw Roberto laying in her bed. It was obvious on why it took her so long to get to the door. She let me in, and I stood there as she crawled back in bed before lighting up a cigarette.

"What seems to be the problem, Christine?"

"Yes, has the monster raised a hand to you?" Roberto laughed.

"No, I can't find him anywhere."

Roberto took a puff of Meg's cigarette, and blew the smoke towards the ceiling.

"Have you tried the zoo?"

"Don't speak about him like that." I growled. "All I wish to know is if you've seen him or not? It's not like him to be gone for so long."

Meg grabbed her cigarette back, and looked my way.

"Well, it must have been something you did. What were you doing right before he left?"

I swallowed hard, wondering if it were the right thing to tell Meg or not.

"I…um…We…."

"For Christ sakes, Christine, spit it out already. You sound like Erik when he talks."

"We made love."

Both Roberto's and Meg's faces had turned serious, right before they both began laughing.

"Wow, Christine, scared another one off." Meg cruelly teased.

"That's not funny."

"You stole his virginity."

"Tell me, Christine," Roberto teased. "What is it like making love to a monster? Especially when you're married."

"Stop it!" I shouted. "All I want to know is if you've seen him or not."

I was on the verge of tears, but I refused to let them fall. Meg used to be the one I could tell everything to. I used to tell her my darkest secrets without so much as a laugh coming from her….but now, things have certainly changed. She was no longer the sweet, little girl I once knew….

"Roberto and I were only outside one time today."

"We were at breakfast." Roberto cut in. "At the "La Broado"

"We seen him strolling towards the bay."

"No it wasn't the bay." Roberto argued. "It was towards the Phantasma library."

"Like you would know…"

"Thanks. I'll check there."

At least I got a destination anyway. I first checked along the bay, but it was as empty as a ghost town. Nothing but ships barged at the docks, and the sound of water crashing against the shore. Here I was on Christmas eve, standing alone at the bay. I was supposed to be home, enjoying Christmas eve with Erik, not here. I stood there on the beach, the wind carrying the far distant sounds of carolers singing.

"Oh, Erik, where are you?" it was then that I finally let my tears fall. It scared me that I couldn't find him anywhere. What had I done to make him leave? Had I been a terrible lover after all?

"Christine?"

I stood there looking at the ocean, only to hear my name being called out ever so softly. It was him! It was his voice. But I was angry, and didn't want to turn around.

"Where have you been?" I shuddered. "Don't you know I've been searching for you all damn day? Doesn't that mean a thing to you?"

I now felt him standing right behind me.

"Oh, Christine. My Christine. In that time as we both laid bed…my Christine just last night right as we were led, Ah, Christine….We shared something of love, it made my soul soar up above….What a wonderful night…"

I shuddered. "Some night…"

Erik slowly spun me around to face him. He looked disheveled, and I could only wonder why he left me. If it had been wonderful for him, than why did he leave?

"Once there was a night, beneath a moonless sky, to dark to see a thing, to dark to even try."

"I strolled to your side, to sing and let our music grow. I couldn't see your face but sensed you even so. And I touched you."

I ran my fingers up the top of his shirt.

"And I felt you."

"And I heard those ravishing refrains. The music of your pulse."

"The singing in your veins."

"And I held you."

"And I touched you."

"And embraced you."

"And I felt you."

"And with every breath and every sigh."

"I felt no longer scared."

Erik placed his mouth at my ear.

"I felt no longer shy. At last our feelings bared beneath a moonless sky."

I broke away from him, and turned around to face the ocean once more.

"And blind in the dark, as soul gazed into soul. I looked into your heart, and saw you pure and whole."

Erik's arm then swung around me, as his other hand traveled up the side of my cloak.

"Cloaked under the night, with nothing to suppress, a woman and a man, no more and yet no less….And I kissed you."

I turned, and traveled my hands up and down his slender arms.

"And caressed you."

"And the world around us fell away, we said things in the dark, we never dared to say."

"And I caught you."

"And I kissed you."

"And I took you."

"And I begged you."

"With a need to urgent to deny. And nothing mattered then, except for you and I, again and then again…beneath a moonless sky."

It was then that I broke away from him again. I was angry…if everything was so wonderful, then why had he left?

"And when it was done, before the sun could rise, ashamed at what I was, afraid to see your eyes. I stood while you slept, and whispered a goodbye, and slipped into the dark, beneath a moonless sky."

"And I worried, yes I worried. I'd have followed anywhere you led. I woke to embrace your body, and found you gone instead."

"And I left you"

"Yes I worried."

"And I had to both of us knew why."

"I don't know why."

"And yet I won't regret from now until I die, the night I can't forget, beneath a moonless sky….And now…"

I turned to him, upset about what he had done. He could have been laying in an alley, and yet, he didn't even care if I knew or not.

"How can you talk of now?"

"I was ashamed of myself."

"And are you still? Am I really a horrible lover?"

Erik embraced my shoulders, and looked into my eyes.

"Christine, how could you ever think that? If only you could understand how ashamed I was for what I had done."

"You made love to me, Erik." I cried. "Is that what you're ashamed of?"

"No, heavens no, Christine!…I…I couldn't last longer than a few seconds. Do you know how embarrassed I was?"

Erik turned from me in shame. God, I didn't know! I had no idea that he only lasted a few moments. Still, that was no reason to be upset.

"Erik, you were a virgin. How long did you think you were going to last?"

This wasn't helping him, and then I remembered my wedding night with Raoul. I myself didn't last more than a few moments….I could only thank God for that. I placed my hand over Erik's shoulder, and calmed down enough to sound kind and soothing.

"Erik, I didn't last long my first time either. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Next time you'll be even more breathtaking than before."

This had lifted his spirits.

"Next time?" he questioned. "You mean you would….you would really want a next time?"

I shyly nodded.

"Why wouldn't I want that feeling again, Erik? You were wonderful."

He lifted my cold hand to his malformed lips, and pressed a kiss to it.

"Forgive me." he cooed. "Forgive Erik."

"Only if you promise to stay in bed beside me next time. Raoul never stayed in bed after making love to me. I would really love to know what it's like to wake up beside the person I spent the night before with."

"You have a promise."

"You left me, Erik, especially on Christmas eve."

"Well then, we shouldn't wait a moment more to get home."

Erik playfully scooped me up into his arms, and I laughed.

"Erik, put me down."

"I'm sorry, I cannot do such a thing, my dear. It's Christmas eve and you wish to get home…"

"I can walk." I giggled.

Erik placed me down, and we began walking back to the flat. Once there, Erik threw a log on the fire, and removed his cloak.

"I'm going to get a bath." he stated. "I'll be back soon."

When Erik disappeared, I took the wrapped gifts for Erik, and placed them under the tree where he wouldn't be able to see them. Afterwards, I changed into my nightgown, and knocked on the closed bathroom door.

"Erik, could I come in?"

"Yes."

When I entered, I noticed Erik standing at the sink with a towel wrapped around his waist. He was soaking wet, and standing in front of the mirror wearing his mask.

"I just wanted my brush."

Erik reached inside the cabinet, and handed it to me.

"Are you going to take a bath?" he asked me.

"No, I'm going to get one in the morning."

I stood there in front of the cracked mirror brushing my hair as Erik stood beside me.

"Could I brush your hair?"

I couldn't believe he was asking me this. Never had Raoul ever asked me such a wonderful question. In all our years of marriage, Raoul never wanted to do this to me. Erik gained pleasure in the smallest things in life…..We were so alike in many ways…

"You want to?" I nervously asked.

"Of course, hasn't Raoul ever done this for you?"

I shook my head, and placed my brush into his boney hands.

Erik was so gentle as he ran the bristles through my curls. He took extra precaution with my tangled hair…it was as if he had done this before.

"So who was the girl?" I asked.

Erik chuckled, and pressed a soft kiss to my shoulder, one that sent shivers down my spine.

"What girl are you speaking of?" he questioned.

"The woman's who hair you brushed."

"Just yours."

"You're so gentle, Erik. It's as if you've done this before."

"There is an old saying, that having your hair brushed by someone other than yourself is the most amazing feeling. Tell me Christine, what does having your hair brushed feel like?"

"Refreshing." I sighed.

"I'm glad you feel that way. As you can probably see, I haven't any hair to brush."

I looked up at the thin strands of hair on Erik's bald head. My poor angel, life hasn't been fair to him at all. Playfully, I took the brush from his hands, and stood behind him, gently running the brush over his hairs.

"How does it feel, Erik?"

"You're too kind to me, do you know that?"

I looked down at the brush within my hands, and then back at him.

"I didn't used to be this way…."

Erik placed his finger over my lips to silence me.

"Don't speak about the past, Christine. Never speak about what happened years ago. You're kind to me now, and that's all that matters."

"If you say so."

"No, I know so…Now let me have a few moments of privacy. I must dress."

With that, I left the bathroom, and set a few pillows out on the floor, before laying across them with a blanket over me. With the flames warming me, and the pillows laying beneath me, I was able to close my eyes and relax. A few moments later, I felt the covers being opened, and for Erik to crawl in beside me. He smelled amazing, and placed his hand over my waist. I faced him, and snuggled my face into his chest.

"You should be sitting in your chair." I said.

"I'd rather be down here with you."

I smiled, and began kissing his neck. Soon he was laying on top of me, kissing my neck ever so passionately as the flames from the fire kept us warm.

"Are you hungry?" he asked me, still kissing my ear.

"Not really. Are you, Erik?"

"Perhaps, maybe we could eat something small for dinner."

I kissed him on the lips ever so softly.

"Sounds wonderful. I'll make you what ever you want."

Erik buried his face into my hair, and sighed.

"What ever you want, Christine."

Before I could answer, a knock occurred at the door. It was strange, because no one ever knocked.

"Who in God's name on Christmas eve would be knocking on the door?"

Erik stood up, and stumbled to the door. When he opened it, Mr. Squelch stepped inside covered in snow.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion, boss."

The man's emerald eyes glared my way, and he smiled.

"Hello, miss."

I waved, and Erik interrupted.

"You were saying, Mr. Squelch?"

"Yes, sorry, you must come at once. There is a situation down at the Phantasma stables."

Erik seemed impatient, but paid attention to his employee.

"What kind of situation?" he growled.

"The animals are in a major uproar, and you can hear it all the way in Coney Island. I just passed the stables, and it's a bastard of a ruckus, sir."

Erik looked back at me in disappointment, and bent down to grab his braces to place them on. After throwing on his cloak, he bent down and pressed a kiss to my lips.

"I'm terribly sorry, Christine. I promise to be back as soon as I can."

"Do you want me to come with you?" I suggested.

"No, it's dreadfully cold out there. Just stay warm, and I'll be back as soon as I can."

I didn't want Erik to leave, but I knew he had to check on the stables. When he left, I kept myself occupied by reading and watching the clock. But Erik never returned. When the grandfather clock struck ten, I crawled into bed and looked up at the ceiling. I tried to stay awake as long as possible, but was too exhausted and fell asleep.

I don't know how long I slept, but when I awoke, I heard someone rummaging around in the other room. I rolled over and closed my eyes feeling better that Erik was home. When I felt two hands embracing my shoulders, I sighed, thinking they were Erik's. But in one fast motion, I was violently rolled over and in the dark, hovering over me was not Erik, but Raoul!

"Hello, Lotte." he growled.

I screamed! I screamed for Erik!

"Help! Erik, help me!"

Raoul laughed, and I could smell the whisky seeping from his breath. This brought back horrible memories from when Raoul used to beat me.

"You think you can just run away from me? You think by coming over here and hiding with the demon that I wouldn't find you?"

He leaned in really close, and screamed in my ear.

"I found you, Christine! You shall be punished! You bitch! You shall be punished!"

I struggled beneath him, and found a way to kick Raoul aside. I ran throughout the flat, screaming for Erik, pleading for him.

"Your monster's not here, Christine!" Raoul growled. "He had to pay."

When I entered the main room, horror stopped my heart. There on the floor, was Erik laying on a blood covered floor.

"I bashed his hideous face in, Christine!"

I stood there shivering, and sobbing. The room was filling with blood that was dripping from the walls, and it was then that Raoul spun me around and stabbed me in the chest.

I woke screaming, and covered in sweat. I looked around the dark room making sure it had only been a dream. It was, Erik was laying in the bed beside the one I was in. I sighed in relief, and laid back down. Only when I did, I heard a pounding against the window. Once more I sat up, too afraid to go back asleep.

"Erik?" I softy called his name, hoping he would wake.

"Erik, please wake up."

He softly groaned, and rolled over on his back.

"Erik, are you up?"

Finally, I heard his breathing become louder, and an answer.

"No, Christine, I'm talking in my sleep."

"I had a bad dream."

Erik's hand reached over on the night table, and reached for his mask.

"It's only a dream, Christine." he assured. "Just lay back and go to sleep."

"I've tried….Oh, Erik, I'm so scared."

He paused for a few moments, and I had thought he had went back to sleep. But instead, I head a groan, and his voice.

"Come over here and lay with me then."

I never jumped so quickly from my own bed to his own. I crawled in beneath him, and snuggled up against his chest.

"Erik, what was all the commotion at the stables?"

Erik ran his fingers through my curls, and placed a kiss to my forehead.

"I'll explain it to you in the morning." he yawned. "It's been a long night, I just want to sleep."

"Ok, Erik."

I closed my eyes, and got began to drift off to the sound of Erik's heartbeat against my ear. It was then that the grandfather clock struck midnight. I sighed, and felt an exciting warmth gather within my stomach.

"Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

"Merry Christmas…."

And with that, we both fell asleep. But I couldn't help but feel excited over spending Christmas with Erik. The holidays with Raoul were always so dull and filled with boring dinner parties, but this was going to be different, Christmas with Erik was going to be the best Christmas ever…..

Ok everyone, please review! Christmas day is going to be in Erik's POV so if you have anything you want to add into it, then I suggest you PM me. I always add stuff into my stories that Phans want to read. Thanks! Love you all!