Hello! I have finished the semester! Yay! More time for writing! Please review, friends. I loved the ones i received for the previous chapter and found them really motivational and helpful. :)

Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Weber

Christine

"Kiss me, Erik..." I repeated, hoping that he would recall my saying it earlier. Consciously, I had been yearning for this moment since then, but subconsciously; for much longer. As soon as the words had escaped me his lips were upon mine. As he carried me to the bed I began to remove his clothes; eager to see more, to taste more...

His body arched against mine as I lay on top of him and deepened our kiss. Every now and then I would look up to see his reaction and each time I was far from disappointed; his eyes were closed; a look of uneasy ecstasy upon his face. They were all devices which simply urged me to continue, told me that whatever I was doing, he was enjoying as much as I was. His grip on me tightened as my kisses moved under his jaw and down his neck. I felt him squirm slightly and inhale sharply as I reached a sensitive spot just behind his ear but I did not stop; selfishly I continued devouring his skin, any new area; a conquest... a triumph.

I began removing his clothes as I kissed him and he did little to protest. I began unbuttoning his shirt, placing kisses down his chest and stomach as I went. Part of me was lost in what I was doing... but part of me almost felt out of place; as if I was outside of myself looking down. What we were doing felt so unfamiliar and yet so natural. I had never done anything like it before and yet I felt so comfortable; so in control... I felt him shiver beneath me as my fingers accidentally brushed his nipple, smiling to myself I continued my kisses there, evoking a moan in response.

"Christine..." he growled. I smiled against his chest, pleased with myself. As I moved back up his body I felt his hands take hold of my hips... and as I felt him move against me I felt a sensation in the pit of my stomach and downward... unfamiliar yet warm, pleasurable in its urgency.

I began to move against him intentionally, and the feeling grew more intense. The experience heightened only by the fact that this was really him. He was no longer hiding from me. Each time I opened my eyes I saw his face; his whole face, but I was neither frightened nor disgusted by what I saw. I simply accepted it as part of him; part of this man before me...

We began to move in unison as I brought my lips back up to his mouth. Suddenly he pulled away...

"No..." He breathed against me. "We can't. We have to stop."

"What? Why?" I protested.

"This isn't right, Christine. It shouldn't be done this way."

"What... do you mean?" I asked, tucking my hair behind my ear irritably. I sat up. Erik sat up slightly too, leaning against his elbows and looking up at me for the first time, without his mask. Perhaps he'd been too caught up in it all to feel insecure about it, or perhaps he'd forgotten.

"I mean that you mean more to me than this." He said sincerely. I was confused. If I meant so much to him why did he want to stop?

"You... you don't want me? Have I done something wrong?"

"Christine! How can you say that! You have no idea how much I... want you." He ran his hand through his sparse, brown hair. "You have... no idea how hard it was to stop just now. But... If we are to do this, it has to be the right way. I am nothing, if not a gentleman."

Then I understood. I did... And I regretted my petulance but I wanted him just as much as he wanted me... whatever those words entailed. And he had awakened in me something that I'd never felt before; never knew existed. What was I to do now? Things were different. I wanted to kiss him all the time but I could not if it led to something I could not have; something we could not do.

"I understand..." I pouted. "And I appreciate it... but to hell with propriety, Erik!"

"Don't say that, Christine. You don't know the true extent of your words. I will not spoil you."

"Spoil?"

"Yes! I have only honorable intentions and there is only one first time..." He sat up further. "Are you... are you sure that you even wish for it to be with me?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. When would he understand?

I bent down and placed small kisses on the right side of his face; a reminder that I could still see it and a reminder that I had not changed my mind in spite of it.

"I want you..." I whispered. From his deformity I moved back to his jaw, then behind his ear again. He laughed slightly before gently pushing me away.

"No, no. We need to stop. Don't make it any harder for me." He smiled. "If you truly want... me, then we have to wait."

"Alright." I sighed, rolling off him and lying next to him on the bed. "How long do we have to wait?" To my disappointment he swung his legs off the side of the bed and began to button his shirt. All my hard work... undone...

"Well, I would need to sort some things out first..." he began apprehensively.

"Things?" I asked. What did he mean..?

"Would you like some more wine?" He offered, changing the subject. I sat behind him and wrapped my arms around him from behind.

"What things?"

No reply.

"Are you sure that you want to stop?" I teased, placing another small kiss on his neck.

"No I'm not." He said with a laugh. "That is why I must. I don't trust myself." He stood up and turned to face me.

"What things do you need to sort out?" I repeated, feeling redundant but curious nonetheless.

Without speaking he took my left hand in his, taking care to place a small kiss on the ring finger. Then he looked at me, a smile on his face.

My ring finger?

...Marriage...?

With that he dropped my hand and left the room.

I sat on the bed, utterly bewildered by what had just transpired. Had he just proposed to me? Or perhaps hinted that he was going to propose? Ever since I was a little girl I had dreamed about my wedding; getting married to the perfect man. Meg and I had discussed it at length on many occasions. I had always dreamed that one day, when I was truly in love with someone we would marry and start a family. I had known of Raoul's intentions over the past few weeks and had avoided discussing it at all costs because I knew what I felt for Erik. But now that it was real, now that it was in front of me... now that he was in front of me I found that I was frightened. Not necessarily of Erik but of the whole process. I had never thought about what my husband would look like... or what his occupation might be, I only hoped that we would have shared interests, that he would be passionate and that he would love me above all else. And Erik was all of those things; he met those requirements. So what was the problem?

I loved him and I chose to be in his company above all others'... but was I really ready for marriage? Part of me was still frightened of what he had done and while I knew that Erik would never hurt me... that side of him wasn't really his to control. The Phantom came and went of his volition and I knew that if Erik ever truly lost his grip on him... there was no telling what he might do.

After ten minutes or so he returned with the wine. His glass was already half empty.

"Apologies for the delay, my dear. I had to... regain my composure..."

I noticed that he had also replaced his mask and wig. Slightly disappointed I took the glass he handed me and took a sip.

"You put it back on..." I said sadly. He nodded.

"I am... simply not used to being without it." He said. "Perhaps, in time?" He added reassuringly. I smiled in response. I knew that one night could not make up for a lifetime of hatred and revulsion. The fact that he was willing to take it off at all, if only to appease me told me all I needed to know.

"Do you need me to return you?" He asked, sitting down beside me.

"No." I smiled. "I can stay for as long as you are willing to have me."

"Then I am afraid you may never leave." He teased. He placed his wine on a table beside his bed and lay back on the sheets. I turned around to face him and ran my hand over his chest affectionately.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." He smiled, placing his hand over mine.

"When we were... being intimate... you didn't try to undress me..."

"The same reason." He said before I could finish. "I couldn't bring myself to do it. I wanted to more than anything but I knew that it wasn't right." He looked at my hand where it lay and smiled to himself. "Part of me simply couldn't think while you were kissing me..."

"Oh..." I said, blushing slightly.

"Can I ask you something else?"

"What is it?"

"Will you play something for me? I... haven't heard you play music in a long time..." Erik sat up immediately before placing a tender kiss upon my lips.

"I would love to."

Setting his wine glass down atop his organ he began to play. I sat down beside him and simply stared in awe as his masterful fingers raced up and down the ivory. I had never learned to play an instrument; my father had taught me a small amount on the violin but as life as a chorus member grew busier the time I could find to practise lessened.

He played for hours, breaking only to take sips from his wine glass and I simply sat, entranced. He did not look at me once during his playing and he often closed his eyes, lost in the melody... the narrative of whatever it was that he was playing. I felt as though I were caught up in his music, just like the night he had first brought me to his home. I was rising up with it... being enveloped by its warmth. As the music grew to a swell I almost felt as If I were floating... the expression on his face intensified and then... as abruptly as he had begun, he stopped.

"That is all I have so far..."

"What... you wrote that?" I asked, falling back down to earth. Those beautiful melodies had been his?

"Of course..." He said; a smug expression on his face. Living and working where I did, I had often seen the signs of inebriation around me. I was seeing them now and I found it quite entertaining. "That was the Opera the company is to perform next... the Opera that you are to sing... will you sing for me, Christine?" He asked hopefully.

"No no, I've had too much alcohol tonight." A sober Erik would have known that. I had had too much to drink, but not nearly as much as him. "Remember what you told me? It might damage my voice..."

"Ah, yes! How silly of me." He laughed to himself and turned back to his instrument.

I walked over to he had left his pocket watch and opened it; it was one o'clock in the morning. Where had the time gone?

He played for another hour or so and became increasingly inebriated as the night wore on. Perhaps it was in celebration? Perhaps he was simply in need of relaxation after what we had done... what we had to stop? Perhaps he simply felt at ease in my company?

"Enough now I think..." He said. He stopped abruptly and stood up, stumbling slightly as he did. I couldn't help but think it comical.

"How much did you drink, exactly?"

"Ah... exactly... quite a bit." He slurred with a smile. With my assistance he staggered up the stone steps and into the bed chamber we'd previously spent time in... "I am sorry, Christine... T-this is your b-bed but... I might just... lie here for a moment."

"Yes. That's alright." I stifled a laugh. He staggered to the bed, threw back the blankets and lay on his back. There he lay, motionless save for the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"Erik...?" I asked, sitting down beside him. He haphazardly removed his mask and wig and rolled onto his front, the right side of his face buried in the pillow beneath him.

"Yes..." he mumbled with his eyes closed.

"Are you asleep..?"

"No..."

I lay down beside him and gently smoothed back his hair, taking this opportunity to study his features. His face looked so relaxed and with the right side of it concealed by the pillow he looked nothing more than a normal man... a handsome man; sideburns, darker than that of his real hair color bordered a strong jaw; a jaw which looked freshly shaven only this morning but was now shadowed by a day's growth. I ran my fingers over his face gently, smiling as my fingers came in contact with the rough texture. Erik smiled to my touch.

"That feels nice..." He mumbled.

I stretched my hand out and ran it over his back absentmindedly. Then I recalled what I had seen...

"What happened to your back?" I asked, courageously slipping my hand beneath his shirt and tracing the scars on his skin.

"...Nothing."

"Obviously not nothing." I replied. At least he wasn't reacting as he had before. I'd chosen the perfect time. Perhaps I would ask him about the Ball as well?

"Something... happened." He said. "L-long... long time ago..." He turned to face me.

"Will you tell me about it?"

"Mmm y-you are asking me now because I am in-in-ebr-riated..." He slurred with a laugh.

"Perhaps."

"...A-And you think that I... will tell you."

"Perhaps."

"W-Well... y-you are wrong..." He smiled drowsily. I could not help but laugh audibly at his state. I could never have imagined sharing such an experience with such a man.

"Will you really not tell me?" I teased.

"N-no." He protested before proceeding to throw his head into the pillow and mumble further.

"Erik?" I smiled.

"Mmm..."

"Are you asleep?"

"Yes..." A muffled response.

"Erik?"

"Yes..."

"Will you escort me to the Bal Masque?"

"Mmm..."

"Erik? Will you?" I pressed.

"Mmm... Yes, alright."

"Really?!"

"Hmmm yes... that will be quite nice."

Yes! He had said Yes!

I knew that he wouldn't remember making such a promise but that hardly mattered, he had agreed nonetheless. He was taking me to the Ball.

I knew that he wouldn't be able to return me to the surface tonight. Truthfully, I didn't mind at all.

People would be looking for me. I knew that. I slipped under the blankets, wrapped an arm around his motionless form and closed my eyes. I would deal with the consequences tomorrow.

Erik

I awoke to a sore back and a pounding headache... but in contrast to that displeasure I awoke to my Christine beside me, her thin arms wrapped tightly around me; that more than made up for the discomfort. I found that in spite of the cramp that had developed in my arm and the stiffness in my back, I did not wish to get up. At some point in the night, Christine and I had found one another and had not parted... That seemed too special to sacrifice for something as trivial as comfort. So much had happened last night... and yet I found that I could remember very little. I remember showing her my face and I remember the look on her face; it is something that I shall never forget. That look is what I had been waiting to see my entire life; acceptance, love. When I saw her eyes I found that I could not contain my emotion... and then she spoke those words;

Kiss me, Erik.

I felt my cheeks redden as I recalled what Christine and I had shared. Part of me expected to awaken as I often did when i dreamed of such beauty; in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat... alone. What we shared was heaven... and I knew that there was more. I had never been touched like that in all my years and she did it as if it were nothing, as if she were actually enjoying it as much as I was. And i stopped it... it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I instructed her to stop. I had to. I could not let her make such a choice until she knew with unwavering doubt that it was the correct choice. And I wanted to know that she was the one making the choice, that it wasn't my influence in any way. I told her that I had to take care of some things before we went any further; Marriage. If she was going to do it, it had to be done the right way. Of course, there would be many things to do; many loose ends to tie up before something like that could even be feasible... but if she agreed, did anything else mattered? There would be time to think on that later...

I remember drinking quite a bit of wine. Partly in celebration of my feelings and partly just to calm myself after what we had done... or, almost done. The rest was a blur. I remember her asking me about my scars... and something else?

I couldn't recall.

I brought my hand to my face...

No mask.

I took a deep breath. Yes, she had already seen my face but in the state I was in she could have been looking upon my face for hours without my knowledge. That made me uncomfortable... even now...

I carefully removed her arm and reached over to the side of the bed. Thankfully my mask and wig were there, apparently carelessly discarded the night before. How bad had it been? I replaced the items before turning back to Christine. She was so beautiful. In all my years of knowing her I had never had the pleasure of being able to look on her while she was sleeping. It always felt wrong. I hated being stared at and so I could not subject her to such a thing. But today was different. I simply couldn't help myself because I knew that she was mine. She would open her eyes and smile upon seeing me. That was more than I could have hoped for months ago. She was here. Here with me of her own free will. Still, I could not believe it.

Here.

In the morning...

Shame washed over me as I realized that I had not returned her to the surface the night before. Selfishly, I had given myself to the numbing sensation of alcohol instead of minding my responsibilities to her. Perhaps that was why she had stayed? Regardless... She was so beautiful...

Gently I picked up a strand of hair that had fallen in her face and placed it behind her ear. And then... she opened her eyes.

"Erik..." She smiled sleepily. My heart swelled with happiness.

"Good morning." I said. "Christine... I don't quite remember what happened last night, but I must apologize for not returning you to the surface... and for my..." I was silenced by a finger against my lips.

"I wanted to stay." She said, pulling my head down to meet hers in a tender kiss. "I can see that you are back to normal." She smiled.

"I am... sorry for last night. I regret that I... cannot recall a lot of what happened."

"Last night was wonderful." She said, lying against me once more.

"That doesn't often happen. I don't often lose control like that. It was my responsibility to return you and I failed to do that... I fear that I may have made things worse for us."

"Seeing you like that was a nice change and... whatever has happened as a result of this we can deal with when the time comes." She looked up at me. "Do you really not remember much from last night?"

"No. Is there something that I should remember? What did I say?"

"Oh, not much. I think that you will remember in time." She said. I gave her a quizzical look but she chose to ignore it.

"I remember that... you asked me about my scars..." I said apprehensively.

"You didn't say anything. Don't worry."

I nodded slowly. What could she mean?

"Come." I said, sitting up. "As much as I want you to stay here, I need to return you to the surface."

"Already?" She sat up beside me. "Why can't we just spent time in each other's company without having to worry about... anyone else?"

"That time will come, Christine. If that is what you still wish... but it is not now."

We shared another perfect kiss before getting dressed and heading to the dressing room.

"Will it be safe to enter this way?"

"Yes, of course. La Carlotta does not sleep here. She will have left straight after the performance."

"Yes but... last time... with Raoul."

"If that is the case, you need not fear. I will not do something so foolish again, I promise you." She looked at me, a stern expression on her face. "Still, I do not regret it." I added.

As we reached the threshold to her world once more, I pulled her book from within my cloak.

"You... left this. It is yours. A gift is a gift..."

Her eyes widened at the sight of it and she pulled me into an embrace.

"That is not all!" I laughed as I wrapped my arms around her in return. From within my cloak I presented her with a single, red rose. Tradition was tradition.

"Erik." She smiled as she took the rose. "Where do you hide these things?"

"Ah. A secret, I'm afraid." I teased.

"One of many." She mused. "Well, thank you. You never forget."

"You are very welcome." I said. This time, I pulled her into an embrace and she accepted it eagerly. How had something so glorious befallen me? I could not fathom it. But I dared not question it. "I love you..." I breathed into her hair. I had not meant to say it; not aloud. Of course, I wanted to tell her all the time; every time I set eyes on her but although she had already said it to me, I did not know if she was ready to hear it as much as I felt it. The words felt so strange coming from my mouth... they felt awkward; out of place, as if someone like me should not be saying such things. As if those words were reserved for others only. Perhaps this would change? Perhaps not. But she returned them as she always did.

"I love you too."

The four, sweet words put my mind at ease, at least temporarily.

"Until tonight?" She asked confidently. It had become somewhat of a ritual, just like it had been before... It seemed that neither of us could go very long without seeing one another and I saw no harm in it. As long as we were cautious and as long as our rendezvous did not affect her performances it could do no harm, could it? After all, I was her tutor... wasn't I? We agreed to meet at the same time and place.

"Until tonight." I smiled, placing a kiss on her forehead before stepping into the darkness.

I turned around and headed back down to my home to complete my Opera in preparation for the Bal Masque. If things went well I would have it finished in time to see Christine... I just hoped that my actions had not jeopardized her; jeopardized us once more...

MASQUERAAAAAADE

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