Erik's POV

I led my angel to my restaurant, entering with her arm interlocked with my own. I escorted her to my back table which was secluded from everyone else. Like the gentleman I was, I pulled out her chair and helped her sit down. Afterwards, I took her cloak and handed it to the waiter that was standing beside me. After taking a seat across from Christine, I reached over for the bottle of red wine I had requested and poured my angel a glass before doing the same for myself.

"This is such a beautiful place, Erik." She said, looking above our table at the chandelier that was lit in beautiful, bright lights.

"I'd thought you would like it." I said, placing the glass down in front of her.

I raised my own glass to my lips, but Christine stopped me.

"Not yet." I lowered my glass in confusion. "I wish to propose a toast."

Christine raised her glass to my own. "…To old times and rekindled friendships."

"To rekindled friendships." I repeated, clanking my glass against her own. Afterwards, I sipped on the sour tasting beverage, lowering my glass only to hear Christine giggle.

"What's wrong?"

"Your mask…"

I lifted the garment from off of my face, looking down at it to notice that it was stained in red wine.

"Blasted garment." I cursed, placing it on my lap. "It's more of a hassle than you think."

"It's all right," Christine reached over and placed her hand over my own, lightly squeezing it. "You don't need to wear it in front of me."

My mismatched eyes rose to meet her own beautiful orbs. How could she stand the sight of me? How could she look at me and smile? The mere sight of it sent my heart fleeting.

"Oh, Christine…"

Suddenly, Monsieur Olivander appeared. When I noticed him approaching from out of the corner of my eye, I looked up to see that he had a look of pure horror displayed across his pudgy face. None of my employees had ever seen me without my mask, and I knew the mere sight of my horrid face had caused his heart to stop. Oh, but he knew better! He knew I would fire him for even mentioning it. My table was away from every other living soul dining in Phantasma this evening and damn it, I wanted a dinner with Christine! I wanted to live like a normal man, and sadly, I couldn't eat while wearing such a garment. Monsieur Olivander should consider himself lucky that I was wearing my wig. If only he knew about the disgusting and revolting exposed part of my skull that lied beneath this very garment. I could give him a heart attack this very instant by pulling it off and exposing it to his already frightened face.

"Good evening, Mister Y." he squealed, placing our menus down in front of us with sahking hands. "How is the wine?"

"What's the matter, monsieur?" I questioned, swiveling my wine around in my glass. "You seem as though you've seen a monster? Is that true?"

"No, of course not…" he assured. "Never, sir."

"Good. In that case, bring us some of that fresh bread I specifically requested to be on my table before I arrived. It's clear that you've forgotten it."

"Yes, sir."

As Monsieur Olivander began to walk away, I called him back.

"And monsieur?"

"Yes, Mister Y?"

"You are to be our waiter this evening. No one else is to be wandering around my table, you got that? And make it clear that if I should see any eyes peeking from around the corner, who ever owns those eyes shall be fired and have to answer to me."

"Yes, sir."

When Christine and I were alone again, I rubbed my aching temple, feeling Christine's hand squeezing my own again.

"I'm sorry, Erik."

"Don't be." I situated myself comfortably in my chair. "…Anyway, it's over now. This night is to be spent reminiscing on the past ten years, not discussing my workers and their fears."

Christine smiled. "Is there something you wish to know about me?"

"Since you asked, there is." I sipped on my wine again, feeling much more comfortable now that my mask wasn't in the way of things. "What have you done for work?"

Christine's other hand joined the one that was brushing over my wrist, both of her hands now playing with my boney fingers. Oh, how I enjoyed such a sensation.

"I haven't worked much." She confessed. "Raoul didn't like the idea of me continuing to sing after what happened in Paris. I argued with him about it for a few weeks after our marriage, but when I found out I was with child…Well, those arguments simply slipped away."

"Forgive me, Christine." I begged. "Forgive me for torturing your body with my seed. It should have never happened."

"I don't regret it, Erik. Gustave has been the best thing to happen to me since the night I made love to you. He has been there with me through thick and thin. Having Gustave was like having a small piece of you beside me. He was the only part of you that I had."

"If only I would have known." I said. "I would have come for you in a split second, angel. You shouldn't have had to go through everything alone. Forgive me…"

"Erik, you did what you thought must be done. What would that have looked like if you came running back to me after Raoul believed Gustave to be his? Paris still wanted you alive at the time…No, it wasn't meant to be. But I was ready, Erik. I was ready to wake and confess my love for you. I would have gone anywhere, anywhere with you."

I pressed my eyes closed. "I know. No regrets though, isn't that what we're supposed to say?"

"No regrets, Erik."

Just then, Monsieur Olivander placed down the basket of bread I had requested.

"Are you two ready to order?"

"Oh, Erik, we haven't even looked at the menu."

Christine's POV

Erik and I had been so busy talking to one another that we hadn't even glanced at the menu. When Monsieur Olivander mentioned dinner, Erik and I opened our menus, looking over each entrée to decide upon what we wanted to eat. There were at least twenty different pasta dishes and they all sounded great. I went with an Alfredo and shrimp linguine, while Erik ordered a simple salad with water. When we were alone again, I looked my angel in the eyes, already curious as to why he ordered such a simple thing.

"Out of all the things to eat, and you order a salad." I teased.

"I have a lot of stomach problems." He began. "It's hard for me to keep certain things down, especially meals covered with a lot of sauce. Sometimes it's best that I eat dry meals before bed."

"Where did these problems come from?"

"A long history of abuse, Christine. When I was a child, I was moved around in a cage on wheels. The movement and uncomfortable shifting did horrors to my upset stomach."

"I'm sorry." I said. "I didn't know."

"It's all right."

"So, is there anything else I should know about you?"

Erik interlaced my hand with his own.

"What do you mean?"

"Your health, your eating habits. I wish to know everything."

Erik shrugged. "Besides problems with eating, there isn't much to say. Besides that, I'm healthy as an ox, I guess. Of course I have the aches and pains like everyone else does, but for a man with one kidney, I think I'm doing quite all right."

This made me giggle, for I wasn't used to Erik cracking jokes. If anything, back in Paris, he was always so stiff, so cold and personal… Oh, how ten years can change a man.

"What about Gustave?" he asked.

"What about him?"

"Well, I'd like to know more about my son. What does he like? What doesn't he like? What is his birthday? What instruments does he play? Everything, Christine."

"We could be here all night." I said, smiling at him.

"Wouldn't make a difference. I do own the place."

Oh, another joke. How strange it was to have my angel of music sitting beside me and smiling. It was strange, yet wonderful.

"Well, his birthday is November seventh."

"That's only a few months away." Erik mentioned.

I nodded. "Yes, Erik, he'll be eleven soon."

"That's wonderful."

"Gustave was number one in his class. Though, with a father as smart as you are, it didn't surprise me. Ten years old and he can speak three different languages, write music and play four different instruments."

"School will be starting again soon enough." Erik said. "I'm not sure what your plans are, Christine… As far as staying here goes. You're more than welcome to stay as long as you wish. Coney Island has some of the best schools. I could enroll him myself before the fall semester starts."

I nodded. "That would be nice. I'm sure he'll make friends quickly."

"You do wish to stay here, don't you?"

Erik squeezed my hand, causing me to look him in the eyes. Oh, he looked so desperate, as if I would leave his side at any second.

"I don't believe I could ever return to Raoul, Erik. Perhaps for a split moment I believed there to be salvation, but not now, not after what he did to me the other day."

"Take as much time as you need, Christine." Erik offered. "Take the rest of your life if you must. Just know that having you here beside me does not necessarily mean that you need to be bound to my heart. I understand that I broke yours a long time ago when I left. You must have felt like a whore when you woke alone and naked in that motel room. I wish I could take it back…I wish I could have woke and stayed beside you. But, oh, look at me…"

Erik was crying now, silent tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Forgive me, Christine."

"I already have, Erik."

"Just tell me that you understand what I mean. If you never wish to be beside me in such a way ever again, I understand. I care deeply about your well being, both yours and Gustave's. If living here to be happy is all that you wish, then it is good enough for me. Just being able to see you every day would be a blessing in itself."

A few moments later, our meals were placed down on the table. As I cut into my own meal, my angel began to pick at his lettuce and croutons.

"How is your meal?" Erik asked.

"Delicious."

"Good, I'm glad."

"Would you like some?" I asked.

"Oh, Christine, I couldn't possibly…"

"Yes, just a bite won't kill you."

I scooped a forkful of my noodles onto my fork and held it up to Erik's lips.

"What are you doing?"

"Sharing." I said. "Now eat it."

Erik opened his mouth nervously and I placed the small portion of food into it. When I pulled my fork away, he chewed, seeming astonished that I had let him eat off of my fork.

"Good?" I asked after a few moments.

Erik nodded and went back to eating his dry salad.

"This place has a very good selection of desserts." Erik mentioned. "Perhaps we could split a slice of cake?"

"I'd like that very much."

Even when we finished our meal and ordered dessert, Erik's stunned attitude didn't change. As we indulged into a slice of chocolate cake, Erik watched my eyes, never dipping his fork into his end of the cake before I got my share.

"This is absolutely delicious, Erik."

"Yes, it is."

When our meal was over, I was stuffed beyond words. Even if I wished to eat another morsel, I wouldn't be able to. Only then, did Erik pay and place his mask back over his face to escort us out of his restaurant.

Erik's POV

I was amazed that Christine let me eat off of her own fork and share a slice of cake with her. To think, Christine Daae, letting me share a piece of cake, allowed my saliva to get onto her fork! After eating, I rose with Christine to leave the restaurant. Outside, the bright lights of Phantasma were glowing in the distance, the sounds of shrieks and screams echoing off the beach.

"So, where are we going now?" Christine asked, squeezing my hand.

"Anywhere you'd like to go, Christine."

"Could we perhaps take a walk along the beach?" she asked. "It's been ages since I last buried my toes in the sand."

"Anything for you, angel."

We stepped down the stairs of the Phantasma boardwalk, Christine stripping herself of her shoes the moment our feet met the sand.

"Aren't you going to take your shoes off too, Erik?"

I paused, not really knowing what to do. I hated my feet, for they were pale and boney, unlike Christine's perfect feet.

"I'm fine, thank you."

Thankfully, Christine didn't argue. While she carried her shoes with one hand, she interlaced my arm with other. She even rested her head against my shoulder as we walked along the ocean, the moon making the water glisten.

"It's so beautiful here." My angel mewed. "Reminds me of my childhood home by the sea."

"It does, doesn't it?"

"Could we walk here all the time?"

This instantly lifted my spirits.

"Of course, Christine, anything for you."

Just then, the Phantasma clock tower struck the late hour of ten, causing our walk to come to an abrupt end. My angel yawned and looked towards the direction where the chiming was coming from.

"It's getting late, Erik." She said. "We shouldn't be leaving Gustave alone for so long."

"You're right." I sadly said. "I'll direct us home then."

Home…Oh, to think that Christine would perhaps share my home with me. It could be here home, it would be her shelter, a place of protection from the cold… I would never be lonely again.

Once we were back at the door of my studio, I turned to look at her, pulling out my house key to unlock the door. Before the door opened, Christine's hand came over my own, stopping me from continuing to open it.

"Wait, Erik."

I quietly reclosed the door, turning to face my angel once again.

"Yes, Christine?"

"I had a really nice time tonight, Erik."

"So did I…The best night in ten years."

Christine smiled. "Yes, I think so too."

"We could have more nights like this, right? You did enjoy it like you said you did?"

"Yes, Erik."

"I was afraid I somehow ruined it."

Christine shook her head. "Though, there is something else I was hoping you would do for me."

"Anything, angel."

"Come closer." Christine said, smiling.

I leaned in closer to her, but that wasn't close enough, for she pulled my ear to her lips.

"Kiss me…"

Oh, that sweet seductive tone she used with me, her breath like hot honey against my ear. The way she begged me now was the same way she begged me ten years ago.

I closed my eyes and let her seductive voice fill my veins once more. Oh, how it burned me to the very core…

"Kiss me."

I opened my eyes, staring down at her with pleading, yet half open eyes. I was stunned, stunned and weak against her very voice. My hands were shaking as I lifted them and cupped her warm cheeks.

"Wait." That soft voice caused me to pause, her fingers reaching up to remove my mask. The cold air chilled my flesh, but oh, how her kiss warmed my blood! The moment our lips met, it was bliss, it was heaven! When Christine finished her performance the other night, we had kissed. It was hungry and lustful, but now, now was like the kiss lovers give one another. It was soft and beautiful, gentle and filled with passion. My blood began to boil as her tongue met with my own, a soft groan escaping her lips.

"Oh, Christine."

She was up against the wall now, my hips aligning with her own.

"Don't stop." She begged. "Don't stop."

My kiss became hungry, my lips trailing down to her neck as her hands roamed beneath my waistcoat. Our breathing was harsh and gasping as our bodies caressed one another. Oh, passion, such passion! Ten years, God, ten years! I needed this more than anything in the world.

"Let's go up stairs." She mewed.

"We can't…" I whimpered into her neck. "Gustave is there…"

Christine broke our kiss, giggling as she did so.

"Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

"We need our own room."

I pressed another reassuring kiss upon her lips, as I took her hand and led her up the stairs. Once back inside my studio, I led my angel over to my bed, laying her down as I crawled on top of her, maneuvering the privacy drapes around my bed. Once in the dark, I pressed my lips against her own again, caught in the passion once more.

"This will have to do for now." I cooed. "The rest will come slowly."

We crawled beneath the covers, Christine's hands roaming my shirt as my lips pressed against her own once more. I was going to confess my love to her tonight, but as of now, it was best to save it for another night. No, tonight I had gotten to kiss my angel once more, and that was simply satisfying for me. Everything would come in time, everything including my confession of love, the undying passion I held and always would hold for my angel. To me, she was my organs, lungs, breath, life itself! Without her, life just didn't seem worth living. Christine Daae, my world…my life, my angel…

Hope that date was satisfying for you all. More fluff to come soon...Please review!