Hello! I know that it has been months, but just know that I had always planned on continuing this story. I had added bits and pieces when i could but as you may or may not know I've started full-time work as a designer and as well as being sapped of creativity by my job, I'm also sapped of energy. So many nights I have begun writing only to fall asleep at my laptop. I mean, if I'm being honest, the bad diet probably doesn't help.

Anyway! Here is the next chapter! I have received a ton of inspiring/concerned reviews lately and I need to say that regardless of time between updates, I WILL finish this story. I won't just go missing, I promise. On that note I need to thank you all for your support because honestly, each time I received a review or message, it motivated me to just suck it up and write. So please continue with that because sometimes I need that. Many of you are already following my other story 'Time is Short', but if not, check it out. It is another EC, what if type story. One that I started first and I update that intermittently as well.

Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Weber.

Erik

It was a delightful evening. With Christine's help I was able to rise out of bed, and with her assistance I was able to prepare a meal for the both of us. So much had happened since we had last been able to take part in such a simple pleasure and while many concerns loomed over us, we were able to get through the evening relatively unhindered by them. We were also, surprisingly, able to get through the evening without thinking on them much. Once the meal was finished we lay down next to one another on the bed. I held my arm out on the bed; an invitation for an embrace from Christine which I received.

"Are you warm enough?" I asked her, pulling her closer. "Are you comfortable?"

She nodded with a smile.

"Yes, Erik. Do not worry about me. I am contented where I am." She said, her thumb caressing my arm gently. Would I ever tire of such a feeling? "What of you?" She asked.

"I am fine, my dear. I do wish that you would allow me out of this bed more often though, I cannot stand to be idle."

"…But you aren't being idle." She said, lifting her head to place a kiss upon my lips. "You have me here."

"Yes." I responded nervously, unsure of exactly what she was suggesting. "Of course."

"Kiss me, Erik."

I obliged. She pulled my head toward her, deepening the kiss for a few moments before I pulled away.

"Christine…"

"What? You don't want to?"

"Of course I do, but I am still in a great deal of pain and…"

"But that isn't the only reason why…"

Of course it wasn't. It was plaguing me but it wouldn't have stopped my intimacy with Christine, my sense of propriety was doing that.

"No. It isn't. My dear, we have discussed this once before."

"I just want you to kiss me, though! It's not as if I'm asking that we…"

"But its not that simple, Christine." I sat up slightly. "I don't wish to argue with you. Not now."

"I don't wish that either, I'm just asking you to explain it to me! Why cant you just kiss me, and then we can stop, what consequences could there be?"

"Life is made of consequences."

"Please, just give me a real answer."

"Christine…" I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. "We have spoken of intimacy. I cannot simply start, and then stop… not the way that you were kissing me."

"Stop what?!"

I could feel my cheeks reddening, both from discomfort and frustration. I didn't have the energy for this conversation. I could not go any further with her until we were married, or at the very least, engaged. It was then that I realised I had never mentioned that to her.

"Christine, please listen to me." I placed a kiss upon her forehead. "Please know that I want nothing more than to oblige, but I cannot yet." To my dismay, Christine sighed. "Do you remember our conversation on the roof? Marriage? Had you forgotten? I most certainly had not." I took a deep breath. Why were my palms sweating? We had spoken of our feelings in the past and I had already mentioned the notion of marriage and she had accepted. Suddenly I began to feel overheated; my chest was on fire where Christine lay. I took another deep breath. I had to say it before I was unable to. "Christine, when we leave here, I plan to marry you. You know this."

"Yes." She said, smiling up at me.

"Once we are married I will have no reservations at all and if you still decide that… you wish for your first time to belong to me… we can do what you wish."

"Erik…" She seemed shocked. Whether that was out of joy or something else, I couldn't tell. I prayed for it to be the former. Suddenly I felt constricted, suffocated. I even considered removing myself from beneath her. Unthinkable. I should be so lucky to be in such close proximity with this woman. But my skin was on fire.

"How…" I struggled, clearing my throat. "How does that sound? I plan to propose to you officially, of course. I am nothing if not old fashioned. For God's sake, don't think this to be my proposal…. Or what I said on the rooftop. I mean to say that… it will be under much better circumstances than this, but I think it fair that you know that my intentions have not changed." I felt my chest tightening with the helpless longing I had felt for her before I had revealed myself. My palms were still sweating and all of a sudden my mouth was in dire need of moisture. I was glad I'd finished all I needed to say for I was sure that I would not have been able to speak had she asked it of me.

"Of course, Erik." She spoke after an agonising moment. "Neither have mine." She held my face in her hands and rested her forehead against mine. I prayed to whomever would hear that she would not be able to feel my temperature. "I cannot wait for the day."

Then once more, she held me and I was able to relax into her embrace, exhaling into her hair.

"Nor I." I whispered. "But do you mean that?" I asked, my skin feeling instantly cooler. She looked up at me.

"Erik…" She began, seemingly quite frustrated.

"I know. I know." I said, rolling my eyes. "I just need to check…"

"No you don't." She said with a smile. Suddenly Christine pulled away and looked down at her lap.

"What is it?" I asked. Had she changed her mind already?

"I think…" She began. "I think that I wish to read that letter now…"

"Now?" I replied, an eyebrow cocked in surprise. What on Earth could have forced her mind to return to such a concept while we were sharing a moment? I cursed myself for my selfishness. She was allowed to think on things other than me… "Christine, this… is not a decision you should make lightly. This is from your father; this is likely the last contact you will have with him, and who knows what it might contain?"

"I know but Erik, who knows what the future might hold? What if something happens and I never get to read it… and I want you to read it too. What if something hap…"

She stopped herself and met my gaze. She bit her lip; a nervous trait I had not taken note of before now.

"If something happens to me." I finished. "You can say it. It's quite all right. I've gotten used to the idea; things do happen to me and they will in the future."

"But I mean because of Raoul…"

"I take your meaning." I said curtly. "It is your choice, Christine. You know of my secrets regarding your father, or lack thereof. I have told you everything regarding that…" I had to choose my words carefully for I had not told her everything about my life and a part of me believed that I never would. "I have nothing to hide and I have nothing to gain or lose from you reading that letter, I think only of you."

"I know." She thought for a moment before speaking. "Will you read it to me? I scarcely possess the strength."

I didn't think it quite appropriate but before I could attest, the letter was thrust into my hand.

"Of course…" I managed. Of course I would share her burden, whatever it was. I would carry it if I could. I would shoulder her every ounce of pain and discomfort, I would cry her tears, every bad feeling she was ever forced to endure I would take upon myself… So then why was this so difficult to do?

Carefully, I opened the envelope, the wax seal tearing the paper slightly as I did so. I rolled my eyes. That always happened.

"Sorry…" I said, looking at her.

"Don't be silly. It is the contents of the letter that I am concerned with, not the paper on which it was written."

"Yes, I know but perhaps you wanted to keep it and…"

"Erik. Just open it, please." She was smiling but I could tell from her tone that she was growing aggravated. I couldn't delay any longer. I nodded dutifully and unfolded the letter. I knew that it was not the right thing to do but I could not help but skim the contents before I began to read. Perhaps it was in aid of Christine's preservation, perhaps it was just curiosity. Whichever the motive, I did not expect to read the words before me. Not at all.

"Christine…"

"What? What is it?"

"He…"

"What, Erik!"

"Christine… This was dated a month ago." I looked up at her, not quite knowing how to deliver the next three words.

"He is alive."

Meg

Feeling flushed with both purpose and guilt, I decided to take a walk before bed. It was just after dinnertime and being winter, I could just see the remnants of the sun; a feint glow from behind the surrounding buildings. It would soon be gone and the city would be glowing with that rosy hue of twilight; the cold blue tinge complimented by the firelight of the street lamps. They were only just being lit. Soon, it would be dark, and I would have to be home. Maman didn't like the idea of me wandering the streets after dark, even if they were the surrounding streets of where we lived. She said there was too much bad in this world to take any risks. But this was my favourite time of the day, and usually at this time I took walks to enjoy it.

Not tonight.

Tonight I needed air, and I needed space. I needed time to think about what I had seen and what I was to do the next morning. I would tell le Vicomte what I had seen. Wouldn't I? Yes… Yes, I would. He had threatened me with my career; my life. What if he saw to Maman and I being removed from the Opera, forced to live on the streets that Maman so worried about. And what was I telling him, really? Where I saw Christine enter? There had to be several entrances to the Phantom's home and there were many caverns and tunnels beneath the Opera. I knew that for a fact, assuming that common Opera gossip was fact, which it usually was.

Raoul might not find anyone after all?

I was saving my career for allowing him some information; information that might not lead to anything anyway. I knew that this was desperate justification. I knew that what I was going to do was wrong but I knew that I was going to go through with it. I had made up my mind…

I pulled my wrap tightly around my shoulders as I walked, deep in thought, oblivious to the passers-by, oblivious to my surroundings, oblivious to the man walking toward me, several seconds away and with the same thing on his mind. Of course, I had considered options. At first I had made the decision in a rage of jealousy and hurt but afterward I had thought on it; I had considered approaching Christine and her Erik, asking for his help with this but the mere thought of having a conversation with him seemed unspeakable, and in reality, it was le Vicomte who had control over my career; control over the Opera. I had to appease him. Yes, I was upset with Christine, but I was doing this for myself. I had to admit it. I owed her that much.

Looking left and then right for passing carriages I stepped out onto the cobbled streets, and began walking toward the café adjacent to my home. I knew that I didn't deserve it but I fancied something warm on this cold night.

I paid for my beverage and sat down at one of the empty tables near the window. It was a Sunday night and there were several spare. I took a sip of my drink and stared out onto the street. The chocolate was sweet. I looked down at it and smiled to myself. Memories. Memories of a time when things were much less complicated. I looked up to see Raoul de Chagny entering the café.

His eyes were searching the small space. He must have seen me enter, or perhaps he was simply in need of a warm beverage like myself. Either way, deciding to put him out of his misery I called to him.

"Monsieur." I spoke. Immediately he met my gaze and approached me.

"Have you thought on my offer?" He asked as he sat down without invitation.

I scoffed and looked down at the drink warming my hands.

"It is lovely to see you too…"

"I apologise." He began, his shoulders dropping slightly. "But I see no need to play games at this point."

He was right. There was no need. Perhaps I was intentionally delaying the inevitable.

"Would you care to order something at least?"

"No." He said abruptly. "I was on my way home when I saw you enter. I had planned to approach you tomorrow but saw no harm in checking in with you." He looked at me expectantly. His eyes, once soft and filled with the hopeless sincerity of youth, were now steely and they stared me down with a desperate determination.

I sighed and took a sip of the drink in my hands, using the time to consider my options one final time. Did I need to do this? Perhaps I could speak to her first? No. She wouldn't even make the time to speak to me. I looked up at Raoul before gazing out the window.

Why was it that Christine was worthy of vocal lessons, worthy of someone's attention and care when I was not? And mother knew, she must have. Perhaps everyone knew! Perhaps it had been mother who had allowed the farce between them to begin in the first place! That made it worse! My own mother! My own mother pushing Christine towards greatness when I was left to struggle in the darkness, work and suffer in the stark loneliness, un-noticed, un-loved. It was wrong. He was wrong. They were wrong.

"Tell me what you know." Le Vicomte spoke softly, lowering his head as he did so and intensifying his ragged glare. I looked at him. "Tell me." He repeated. Before I could stop myself I had opened my mouth and spoken and Raoul had whisked me out of the shop and back onto the cold streets of the 9th arrondissement.

"Show me!" He was whispering desperately as he dragged me along. "Show me where!" But his voice was not clear; it was like an echo, muted. He seemed very far away and so did the rest of the city. All I could think about what I had done. What I had started.

Erik

"I need to see her. I need to see Madame Giry! Now!" She cried after reading the letter. She stood up.

"Christine, calm down. Perhaps you should…"

"No. No! She must know. She must know something."

"She may very well know something but you cannot simply rush off to her without thinking anything through!"

"What is to think through, Erik? He is my father! He is alive!"

"He could be." I corrected cautiously. "Could…"

"Well it does not matter. We… we must leave!"

"Christine. Please, calm yourself and think about what you are saying! Think of the situation around us that is still very much a concern!"

She sat back down next to me and took me by the shoulders.

"Erik, you know what this means to me! You would know more than anyone. The hours spent weeping over my father when I first arrived here were heard only by you."

"I know!" I nodded, looking away. "God… I know." When Christine had arrived, I too had been at my peak of loneliness. For the first few years, I saw the Opera as a safe haven; the caverns beneath were a sanctuary, but as the years wore on, the realisation that I may very well see the end of my days in those same caverns settled over me like a thick, suffocating blanket. When Christine had arrived, the shroud had lifted. She had given me hope, light, purpose.

"We were going to leave soon anyway, were we not?" Christine continued. "Please, you must help me find him!"

I took a deep breath. Up until weeks ago, I had only ever had to worry about myself. Now, here I was, having to solve complex problems with the woman I loved. I knew that my answer could easily decide my fate; our safety… hers. This was a lot of pressure.

"You know that I would do anything at all… anything possible to ensure your happiness, to fill that void inside you that could only ever come from loneliness… the lack of a parent…" I cringed outwardly, unintentionally making reference to my own angst. Christine took my hand, apparently tuned in to such angst. "…And I will help you find your father, or at least help you get to the bottom of that letter. If that is that is what you want, I will do everything in my power." I squeezed her hand tightly. "But we should wait."

"…But Erik…"

"You have just been above ground and If anyone were to see you again it would arouse suspicion! Just wait until tomorrow morning!"

"I cannot! It is too long!"

"Do not do this to me, Christine. Do not do this when you know I cannot escort you!"

"I am not asking you to!"

"But you know what I would want to! Knowing you were up there once was bad enough…"

"You fell asleep!"

"I have been stabbed!" I shot, my face screwed up in stupefaction. Christine began to smile. Unsure of exactly what was funny about what had been said, I began to smile also. Perhaps it was just the sight of her smile that had made me do so.

"Listen, I am using whatever remaining clout I have from my teaching days and I am standing firm in this, Christine!"

"Erik, that won't work anymore!" She smiled.

"And why not!"

"Because I know you too well now." She replied, stroking my hair affectionately.

"Well then know that I am saying this for your own good!"

"Please allow me to see her. I would not normally take such a risk but… it's my father. I promise to be careful."

"I am not trying to upset you by doing this. I only want you to be safe and…"

"…And I will be." She said softly, stroking my hair again. It was as if she had already made her decision regardless of what I said, regardless of whatever valid points I made. Why could she not understand the dangers involved in what she was proposing? There I was, lying before her with a hole in my body due to my own carelessness, and seemingly it was not real enough for her to comprehend.

"I need to go." She said, placing a kiss upon my forehead.

"Christine, no!"

"It will be night." She began, apparently ignorning me. "There will be less people around…"

"That is exactly what I worry about."

"It will be safe!"

"You cannot know that!"

"I must go." She said.

"It seems as though you have already decided upon your course of action, Christine."

"I have." She nodded, looking down slightly. "…But I will not go unless you tell me that it is alright."

"I cannot!"

"Please, Erik."

"Why are you acting as though I am denying you something out of convenience?" I asked, frustrated.

Now completely ignoring me, she leaned in and placed a kiss upon my lips. When she pulled away, seconds passed before I was able to speak.

"What was that in aid of?" I asked.

"Persuasion." She purred, moving toward me again.

"Christine Daae! How dare you try and use…" Paying little regard to my protestations she kissed me again. Of course, I did not pull away; instead, I accepted her mouth eagerly.

I stared at her before speaking breathlessly.

"You- you are very much aware of your affect on me and you cannot use…"

I inhaled sharply as she pressed her lips to my neck. I could not speak, only take short, ragged breaths as she made her way down to my collar bone and back up to my chin. It tickled in the most unbearable, yet delicious way and I found that while I wanted to move away, all I did was tilt my head back further; encouragement for her to continue.

She needed to stop…

Did she?

She placed small kisses along my jaw. I took desperate handfuls of the sheet beneath me as I felt the unmistakable sensation of her tongue against my skin.

"You..." I exhaled a ragged breath once more as she moved behind my ear. "You cannot do this, Christine…"

Use me, manipulate me in a way that makes me want you more with each passing second.

"Yes, I can." She replied smugly as she breathed over my ear. At this I let out an audible moan and gripped the sheets harder. I could not let go of them. I knew that if I did, I would take hold of her, and that was far too dangerous given what she was doing to me.

"Will you allow me to visit her?" She asked as she placed gentle kisses on my ear.

"This is not fair." I breathed.

Again I felt her hot breath on my ear, sending my skin to gooseflesh beneath her. I began to smile as I felt her tongue border my ear, felt her teeth nibble ever so gently on my ear-lobe. It was unbearable, and yet so desperately bearable. I found myself frozen, eyes glued shut, never wanting it to end and yet I felt her hands holding me in place, as apparently I was pulling away.

"Allow me to go, Erik." She whispered. I made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a moan as I felt her tongue swiftly dip into my ear.

"Christine…" I growled.

Then, it stopped. I opened my eyes to find her sitting up, hands on my chest, giving me the most knowing, cunning smile I had ever seen upon her face.

"If you allow me to go, I will do that again when I return." She said.

I was exhausted and I was over-heated from what she had done, what I had wanted to do. I pushed the blankets down to my waist. And brought my hand to my forehead, exhaling as I did so; drained from the frustration she had caused me.

"Go." I said as I stared at the ceiling.

"I am glad for the change of heart." She said with a smile, running her hand over my stomach affectionately before standing up and walking away.

"Please be careful." I whispered.

It was utterly despicable for her to have used me in such a way but in truth, it was nothing short of glorious.

Every now and then I would be exposed to this side of Christine and as much as it shocked me I could not deny the fact that I was both beguiled and intrigued by it. She was mature, confident, dominant, sensual… everything that I once exuded, she now possessed. She knew exactly what she wanted and she knew exactly what to do to me to get it…

My weakness for this woman would be the death of me…

As soon as she had left I knew that I would have to follow her, injured or not.

Please review, you lovely people!