I feel so terrible about my recent break. It has been forever since I have updated. I feel really bad. But here is the new chapter. I hope you guys like it. Read & Review!

I laid back in exhaustion. My breathing was shallow, my heart quick and blasting in my ears. Erik slid his warm arm around my small frame and pulled me closer to him. I laid my head against his chest and listened to Erik's heart rate slow. His fingers slid up and down my spine sending chills throughout my body. He was staring up at the ceiling deep in thought. He began to hum a beautiful melody. It drifted lightly through the air before falling down and tickling my ear. He looked down at my face and smiled. His deep brown eyes were smoldering and set my heart racing again. He placed his hand firmly behind my neck and pulled my face to his. His lips were strong against mine. The force behind his passion was almost too much to handle. Instead of fighting it though I gave in. My lips moved in unison with his.

The connection I shared with Erik was so simple. He knew exactly what I wanted and what I needed. He pulled me closer and knotted his fingers into my hair. His lips slid across my jawline and slipped down to my neck. His tongue followed my collarbone.

…

I sighed and stretched out my sore muscles. I slid off the bed and found my silk robe in the closet. My knees were still weak with the thought of Erik. When I walked back into the room Erik sat up gazing at me. "What would I do without you, my Christine?" His voice was a soft velvety purr. I climbed back on the bed and kneeled at his side. His hands grasped my waist and quickly pulled me back on top of him. My face was only inches from his. His warmth breath tickled my cheeks begging me to come closer.

"I think it is time to get up, Erik." He looked towards the window and realized that it was about noon. He sighed releasing me from his grasp. I sat up and he followed suit. I kissed him lightly on the lips and watched as he rose from the bed to get dressed for the day. His movement was so smooth and elegant. I left the room before my instincts took over. Raoul was sitting at the table eating lunch humming quietly to himself.

"Hello, mother!" He looked up cheerfully. I tossed his hair and kissed him lightly on the forehead.

"Good mo- afternoon, darling. What are we going to do today?" His lips twisted into a nervously.

"Well actually I was going to a local circus today with Gangle, Fleck, and Squelch."

"Oh well I assumed we could spend the day together."

"Well we wanted to compare our show and see what kind of acts there are here in Paris." Dr. Gangle walked into the room then. He was dressed in a fine black suit.

"Good afternoon Ms. Daae. Are you ready Gustavé?" Gustave looked to me for confirmation. I nodded my head and he slipped off of his chair and ran off into the next room to find Fleck. I shook my head half missing my son and half glad to see how happy he was. He quickly rounded the corner again and ran up to me. I bent down and he placed a small kiss on my cheek.

"I love you mother."

"I love you too, Gustave." He smiled once more before running off again. I heard the door shut behind him as he left the mansion. I turned around and saw Erik leaning against the dining room's doorframe.

"An entire day to ourselves, how exactly will we ever manage to spend it?" Erik sauntered over to me and placed his hands around my waist. My hand slipped into the bodice of my dress and pulled out the envelope I had slipped in it. "What is this?"

"An invitation to the Opera Populaire's annual Masquerade ball. Meg must have sent it through the mail. Would you like to go?"

"I do not see why we wouldn't attend."

…

Apparently I still held my noble title in France. Seamstresses fanned out all around me, fitting me into the most sophisticated dress I had ever seen. It red silk slid skillfully across my body hugging all of the right curves. It was held together with perfect architecture. In a moment all of the women stood back and allowed me to see the finished product in the mirror. I couldn't help but think how stunning I looked. I could feel myself blush in shame for my vanity. The women all looked at me in pride and admiration. They helped me out of the dress and hung it back up while I slipped into the less then spectacular dress I had arrived in. Erik was going to love it. They put the dress in its garment bag as I paid for it at the register. I walked out into the busy streets of Paris and got into my carriage ready to head home.

…

My corset was pulled to rib cracking tightness and I slipped into my gown feeling confident. I knew Erik would be sitting patiently in the parlor waiting on me and yet I took my time. I had to create perfection. I pulled back the curls from my face and pinned them into place. I then took my sharp eyeliner and with the precision of any woman in the arts department drew a mask onto my face. It had elegant swirls and twists and accented my cheekbones, making them sharper and more pronounced then they naturally are. I sighed and stared into my reflection. Meg and Raoul were returning to night in time to meet us at the ball and so I could help but question my own appearance to that of the beautiful blonde ballerina I had once envied. I turned on my heel and walked out of the bathroom to my bedroom door. I took and deep breathe and tried to regain my confidence. My hand sat on the cold door handle for what felt like an hour until I finally had the courage to twist it open. I walked down the hall anticipating Erik's reaction. When I finally reached the parlor Erik, who must have hear the clicking of my heels, stood up and turned to face me. His eyes lit up and his jaw dropped. My reaction was a reflection of his. Erik was wearing the most stunningly tailored suit. But it was his mask that caught my eye. It looked like it was made of cracked marble. It had bronze wiring over and inside of the marble. It was impossible to describe. It was remarkable how such a thing could be created. I covered from his forehead to right above his upper lip.

"My God, you are breath-taking." I took a step towards Erik, needing to fill the empty space between us.

"Erik you look-" He turned his face away almost as if he was ashamed of his own appearance, which was one thing that would never surprise me about Erik. "-beautiful. You are so handsome." He stepped towards me and kissed me lightly on the lips before grabbing my hand and placing a long stemmed rose in it. Around it's stem was a black silk ribbon.

"For you my Christine. Though its beauty is comedic next to you." I closed it tightly in my hand feeling the familiar prick of the thorns. It was amazing how well Erik knew me. One of my favorite parts of a rose is the thorn. It symbolizes so much that it always irritated me so much when Raoul pulled them off of all of my flowers. I looked back done at it. I grasped the stem into hands and broke it. I placed the flower in Erik's breast pocket.

"Flowers mean nothing to me, for I have the true prize in front of me." Erik smiled and held my hand in his. "Shall we go now darling?"

"Yes." He pulled me along after him and helped me into the carriage.