I sadly don't own the Phantom or any other characters created by G. Leroux, S. Kay and A. L. Webber, but they always have a place in my heart. Thanks to my beta Luthien Saralonde for helping me! And a big thanks to all the readers, and especially the reviewers! I am amazed how many reviews and hits I got so far! Thank you all!

Girl Talk

The morning after, Erik did not come down to breakfast, and secretly Joséphine was glad that she did not have to face him. For a long time, she had tossed and turned in her bed, not being able to fall asleep, thinking about the events that had transpired earlier that evening.

She had kissed him. It was true what she had told him, she had wanted it, but in the end, she had no idea what made her do it. He had been so close, and suddenly she couldn't resist the temptation. She had simply wanted to know what his lips felt like. They were colder than hers, just like his whole body was always a little bit colder than everybody else's. But the difference between his cool lips and her warm ones was like an electric jolt; it sent shivers through her body although it lasted only a mere second.

When he had jerked back and left so abruptly, stammering a lame excuse, she had felt deeply disappointed. And she was pretty sure she knew the reason for his behaviour. He probably thought kissing somebody else would blemish his love for Christine. She was only his wife out of convenience, and the singer was the one Erik really wanted.

Until now, it hadn't disturbed her, but recently, it seemed that her feelings towards Erik had started to change. It was ridiculous to be jealous of a girl she had never even met, but yes, she wished that this wouldn't stand between her and Erik. Finally she fell into an uneasy sleep, dreaming of a young girl in dancer's clothes taunting her.

For two days, Erik had shied from her presence. He passed the whole day out of the house, supposedly meeting with clients and colleagues. While he was at home with her, he opted for taking his meals in his room, avoiding every opportunity to see her. It gave her ample time to think about what she would say when they finally spoke again.

Friday morning, Joséphine received a letter from a befriended couple, asking if she was well enough to call on her the next day. She knew that she had to let Erik know, and ask permission to accept the offer.

Pacing in her room, she waited for him to return home, thinking about how best to approach him. Lost in her thoughts, she did not hear Mathilde come in, bringing her some tea.

"Joséphine? Are you alright?"

Joséphine's head jerked up. "What?"

"I called your name, but you did not seem to hear me. Is everything alright?" Mathilde asked her, a concerned look on her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mathilde, I was just…" With a sigh, she walked over to her bed and fell down on it. She rubbed her face with her left hand, trying to clear her thoughts.

"I received a letter from the Douvilles today, they want to come by tomorrow afternoon and await my answer this evening," she told her friend.

"You have not yet replied? This is going to be your first visit in months, why would you decline?" Mathilde asked perplexed.

Joséphine tilted her head towards the connecting door.

"I need to tell him, and I don't want to, not after…"

"I already figured that something happened between you two. Do you want to tell me?" Mathilde asked gently, sitting down on the bed next to Joséphine.

Sitting up, Joséphine drew a deep breath. "We kissed," she stated simply, eliciting a gasp from Mathilde. "More like, I kissed him, and then he ran away."

Mathilde simply looked at her, curious.

"Well, I told you that this was only a marriage of convenience. I needed a husband, and he thought he would never find a wife the way he looks," Joséphine explained. Mathilde nodded.

"Yesterday evening, we sat in the salon, reading, and conversing lightly. Then, I told him that I was glad it had been him I met before the ultimatum was up. That I could not have found a better man at the short time I had. He came closer and before I knew it I pressed my lips on his. I guess I was about as much surprised as he was. We…kissed again, and suddenly he stepped back and left."

"But why? Why didn't he want a kiss from a beautiful woman like you?" Mathilde inquired. Joséphine blushed at the compliment. "He should be glad you wanted to kiss him, scarred as you say he is," she said further.

"I don't mind his looks, Mathilde, I only know him like this. So please refrain from bringing that subject up again," Joséphine said, exasperated.

"I know, Milady," she replied, using the formal address to tell her friend that the reprimand was just. "I just don't think I would be able to oversee something as important as looks. I always dreamt of a handsome prince to sweep me away." Both giggled at the thought.

"Looks are one thing," Joséphine said, becoming serious again. "But there are many other desirable qualities in a man. Erik is incredibly smart, and talented. He explained some of the blueprints to me and the details are amazing. He designed the Theatre Marigny! He plays the piano with a passion, just like my mother did. He can be the perfect gentlemen; and turn from stern and distant to passionate and agitated."

"You're falling for him, Joséphine," Mathilde stated, seeing the gleam that had come to her friend's eyes as she talked about Erik.

"My God, I know!" she exclaimed, falling back on the bed and burying her head in the pillows.

"But what's so bad about falling in love with one's husband?"

Joséphine chose her next words carefully to not give Erik away. She did not dare tell Mathilde that her husband was in love with another woman, too afraid that she would connect this to what had transpired at the opera house.

"The illness he had was sever, and caused him to suffer for a long time. The scars that remain are bad; they will always be a part of him and remind him of what he had to endure. He shut himself away from the world, only caring about his work and not thinking about anything else." She lifted her head to look at her friend. "I don't think he finds himself worthy of love, but in fact, it's what he desires the most."

"That sounds terribly complicated," Mathilde concluded. "You need to be patient with him. Give him time to get accustomed to your feelings." She took her friend's hand. "And let's hope that he will return them in time."

"Sooner rather than later," Joséphine said pouting. Mathilde smiled.

"Don't mention what transpired between you when you talk to him about the Douville's upcoming visit. Let him sort out his feelings without pressure," Mathilde advised her.

"You really think that's best?" Joséphine asked her confidante.

"I don't have a lot experience with romance, but everything I've seen of your husband so far tells me that he's very proud, but often lacks self-confidence because of his…appearance," Mathilde stated perceptively. Joséphine nodded, agreeing with her.

"Do you think he will have a problem meeting your friends?"

"My position in society surely was one of the reasons he agreed so fast to this marriage," Joséphine explained. "Erik can benefit greatly from my connections, even though they were a bit slack in the last year." Mathilde smiled at the understatement. "It would be unwise for him to ignore this first visit from my friends."

"Tell him about the letter and look for his reaction. If he is hesitant, tell him what you just told me," Mathilde suggested.

Joséphine thought about that for a second, then agreed with her friend. "You are right, I will do that."

"Now tell me," Mathilde said curiously, changing the subject, "how was the kiss?"

Joséphine blushed almost instantly at this inquiry. "I…it was…nice, I suppose," she stammered.

"Only nice?"

"The first kiss was, the one I initiated. It lasted only a second. The other kiss, well…his lips are a bit cooler than mine, and the sensation was nothing like I ever felt before. It was…" unconsciously, her left hand wandered to her lips, which did not go unnoticed by her friend, who could not resist a grin.

"Magic?" Mathilde offered.

Joséphine looked at her, smiling. "Amazing. I never thought a kiss would be that good." Suddenly, her head jerked towards the connecting door. Erik had come home.

Mathilde stood up from the bed and offered a hand to her friend. "Give him a few minutes, then go to him."

"But what if I blush? Or worse, start talking about what happened? What if he doesn't want to talk to me at all?" Joséphine babbled, insecure.

"You are a strong woman, Joséphine, you can do this. It will all work out, you will see," she said reassuringly.

"Thank you, Mathilde. Sometimes I really don't know what I would do without you." Joséphine drew her friend into a hug.

"You're welcome, Milady," she answered, smiling. Then she gave a small curtsey and left, leaving Joséphine alone.

"It would all be much less complicated if I didn't like you that much," Joséphine said towards the connecting door. "Or if you weren't in love with someone else."

Checking her appearance in the mirror of the vanity, she crossed the room and knocked on Erik's door.