Chapter 9: Vegetable Stew

Third Person P.O.V

Claudine paced the kitchen floor, why would he do that? Sure he wasn't complaining it was a damn good kiss but still he had no right to steal a kiss from her. A mix of emotions were flying through Claude, she didn't know if she should be happy, upset, or pissed. With a groan of frustration Claude started to prepare dinner. She pulled out the chopping board and somehow managed to locate the vegetables. There was no meat, so a vegetable stew would have to do for tonight.

She slowly started to chop the vegetables, her mind started to wander off. What was her mother doing? Was she lonely at all and did she miss her? Claude was so preoccupied by her thoughts that she didn't notice the Phantom come in. He snuck up behind her quietly and observed her chopping skills. She was obviously skilled in the culinary arts and he wondered where she had learned. "Wherever did you learn to cut like that?" He had startled her, her hand slipped and she cut her thumb.

"Son of a butternut squash!" She held her left hand in pain as she glared at the Phantom.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing sneaking up on me like that!" His mouth twitched, she was yelling at him yet again.

"I am only going to ask you this once, please calm down before I lose it again." His stern eyes bore into Claude as she took a deep breath.

"Sorry…" Her voice was quiet now, he took her injured hand into his and examined it.

"It's a deep cut, you're lucky it's not severed however you will need stitches." He sat her down in one of the kitchen chairs.

"Wait here Claude." He left the kitchen and returned moments later with a needle, thread, and anesthetic.

"Brace yourself, this is going to hurt quite a bit." He began his work as Claude hissed.

"Ow!" She glared at him.

"In all fairness I did warn you, so stop acting like a child." He continued to skillfully weave the needle in an out of her cut.

"Yeah but you didn't have to be so rough." Claude was pouting like a child. The Phantom looked up at her and hid a smile.

"You're such a baby sometimes I'm surprised you're not with a governess." He snipped the thread off and finished off his stitching.

"I'm nineteen years old I don't need a governess, besides not a lot of girls in America have Governesses anymore, we pretty much fend for ourselves." She stood up and went back to cooking.

"Where did you learn to cook like that?" The Phantom asked her slowly, it reminded Claude of a curious child.

"Well, after my Mama, Papa and I left France we settled in America it was hard for my father to support us so my Mama took a job as cook for a family I often helped her." Claude smiled at the fond memory.

"You mentioned something of being a pianist, where did you study?" Claude smiled softly.

"Both of my parents taught me, I was writing music before I was writing the alphabet." She giggled and the Phantom gazed at her.

"Monsieur Phantom? Are you okay?" She looked at him. He was suddenly quiet and that was unsettling to her.

"My name… is Erik." He hesitated with telling her his name, he had never told anyone before.

"Well then Erik, why don't you go get the dining table ready the broth should be ready soon." With that being said Claude turned her back to him and began to season the broth.

Erik's P.O.V

What in the hell possessed me to tell her my name. I swear each time I look into those beautiful violet eyes I lose myself. I can't afford to lose myself, Christine was going to be mine. I was in love with her not Claudine! But then again Claude was so kind to me, I mean she was very temperamental but she also has a motherly quality to her personality. But Christine was his goal, He'd spent years investing his love, he was in too deep to give up now.

Claude was cooking me a meal… something I haven't had in forever no one ever cared enough to cook for me. Even after how cruel I had been to her… I almost killed her last night. I'm sure by now her neck was bruised, not only that but I degraded her I made her feel ugly because I can't handle my own baggage. However, that can't change anything between us I can't allow myself to become her friend, I can't trust her. If I trust her she'll use that to her advantage and then she'll leave me.

"What are you thinking so intently about?" Claude's voice cut through the silence as I looked up.

"Nothing, is that supper?" I asked as I pointed to the pot she was holding, it smelled absolutely heavenly.

"Yes it is, I couldn't find any meat I usually use rabbit meat in this kind of stew but I couldn't find any kind of meat in there." Claude set the pot of stew down in the middle of the table.

"I'm sorry about that, I usually don't hunt let alone go to a market place." I pointed to my mask, her face fell slightly.

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot about that. How do you usually get your food then?" She sat down and began to pour the soup into her bowl, I followed suit.

"I wait till the kitchen closes, once the cooks are asleep I go up there and make myself something to eat." I said it simply, that was normal for me I guess.

"That's an awful long time to wait! Well from now on, for the time being at least, I'm going to cook your meals." She smiled and began to eat.

"Quite honestly that would be amazing it gets tedious having to sneak around like that." I took a sip of my soup and instantaneously I was hit with flavor.

"This is delicious! You're sure you only used vegetables?" I looked at her in disbelief I had never had anything so good.

"I used some basil and bay leaf, the only thing that is missing is the chicken broth it's usually better with the broth." She finished her soup and pushed her bowl away and sat back. I went in for seconds.

"Slow down there Erik, too much of it will come back to bite you later." She giggled as I nearly choked on my soup. In all of my years had I never heard a woman reference…bowel movements. But regardless I found myself chuckling. We laughed for a good few minutes, it felt good to laugh I haven't laughed like this in so long.

"I should start cleaning up, you can go relax or whatever it is that you do at night." She stood up and started to clear the table. She took the dishes and soup to the kitchen, I watched her leave and I kept my eyes on the door for a few minutes even after she left. Slowly I stood up and made my way to the kitchen.

Aaaaaaaand they're finally making progress! it would be a shame if something were to...happen. Mwahahaha! (clears throat) sorry about thatt guys I literally had a lot of Nutella... like a lot,... more than any human should ever consume... I have a problem. Anywaaaays, Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review! Oh! Theres a link to the vegetable stew on my page!

-Kara