Returning to the house, Christine invited everyone into the parlor. She walked over to Erik and threaded her arm through his. "Will you play for us?" she asked softly, looking up at him.

"Of course."

Together they went to the piano, while Meg and Nadir sat on the couch, looking expectantly at the couple seated on the bench. Meg was in no hurry to go anywhere; she was staying overnight to help Christine prepare for the masquerade the following evening. She settled back to enjoy a little entertainment and some light doodling on the piano.

The opening chords of a Mozart sonata startled her. She wasn't very knowledgeable about music, but she knew enough to recognize true talent when she heard it. His long fingers had no problem spanning an octave and possibly a thirteenth, as they glided over the keys with the confidence of someone very familiar with a keyboard. He played beautifully. She noted that his eyes appeared to be closed as he played, fingers performing intricate variations across the keys. He was damned good. Hell, better than good.

He leaned forward slightly, head canted as he put himself into the language he understood better than any other. Christine sat quietly beside him, enthralled by the music. It was a rapturous melody with a thread of yearning through it. He plays like any virtuoso I have on CD. Better even. Businessman? What a horrible waste of talent.

When the last notes played out, the room was silent, then Meg started clapping. "That was great! You are so, so good."

He opened his eyes and inclined his head at Meg. Then he looked down at Christine. "Did you like it?"

She glanced at him, still hearing the beauty of the notes, and the remarkable skill that created them. "I agree with Meg. It was wonderful." You're wonderful.

He took her hand in his. "It was my pleasure. And now, will you sing for me?" She nodded, and he played scales while she warmed her voice.

After a few minutes she asked, "What would you like?" For an answer he started playing the Jewel Song, the aria from the opera Faust.

Christine stood in the curve of the piano, and at his nod, she pushed her slight frame straighter and took a deep breath from her diaphragm. She began singing in her precise and strong soprano, hitting the higher notes with very little strain. As she sang-Ah! Je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir-, Erik felt a frisson of pure delight race up his spine, and fell in love with her a little more. Her voice was his siren call and he shivered again, knowing he could spend a lifetime listening to her clear and beautiful tones.

When the aria ended they stared at one another, their smoldering glances causing Meg to snort. "Geez already. Why don't you two get a room," she muttered under her breath, and Nadir glanced at her puzzled. She caught his look and leaned a little closer, whispering conspiratorially, "I feel like any minute they're going to ask us to leave so they can get down to ah- business."

The Persian finally understood her tone if not her actual words. "Perhaps we should remind them that we are still in the room, eh?"

Meg laughed. "Good idea." She regarded the two at the piano and cleared her throat loudly, adding a dry cough for good measure.

Christine pulled her eyes away from his and glanced over at her friend, feeling a little self-conscious. "Better do something about that cough, Meggie," she said dryly, and returned to sit beside Erik on the bench.

"Beautiful, my dear," Erik said, taking her hand.

"You two are great together," Meg said admiringly. Yeah, I'll just bet they are.

She had to admit, Christine's Frenchman was quite a different man at the piano. He was the best she ever heard. She joined Christine at the Majestic Community Theatre for the productions they put on every year. Meg enjoyed dancing more than anything else, and realized Erik would be a wonderful accompanist for their group, maybe even music director. Hell, forget community theatre. He should be performing at Carnegie Hall and receiving standing ovations.

She didn't want him to stop his impromptu concert. "Uh, what popular songs do you know? Any show tunes?"

"No, I do not. Perhaps if I had the music..."

Christine got up and walked over to a cabinet along the wall. Opening the double doors, she grabbed a stack of sheet music and started going through it until she came to one particular song, and pulled it out of the stack. She brought it back to Erik, then sat beside him once more. He glanced at it and put it on the music stand in front of him. He placed his hands on the keys and started playing the opening bars of If I Loved You, from the musical, Carousel.

When he began singing in his gorgeous tenor, everyone listened closely, entranced by the lilting tones and emotional outpouring in the lyrics. It was obvious to everyone in the room, that Erik was singing for only one of their number. Meg watched him in profile, noting his gaunt appearance and how it clashed with the glorious sounds coming from his throat, and those he coaxed from the piano.

If she thought his speaking voice was wonderful, listening to his singing was devastating. He was clear and concise at the lower register and achingly sweet at the higher. She was confounded to feel a lump in her throat at the longing she heard in Erik's voice. She closed her eyes and felt her soul melting at the luscious sound filling the room. She was finally beginning to understand some of the attraction her friend felt for him. Oh yeah. Hit me again, baby. Move over, Christine.

He tilted his head and looked at her imagining they were alone in the room. When he sang, it was for her alone. The evening was spent going through the stacks of sheet music, taking requests from everyone. Mamma Valerius joined them for a while, showing up with chocolate cake, and requesting Erik to play Moonlight Sonata. All too soon the evening ended, and Erik realized something that was to him rather profound. He had enjoyed himself in a gathering. Something he never would have thought possible. But perhaps it wasn't the others so much. Maybe it was all due to the young woman at his side. She made him want to be as normal as he could manage.

Before the get together ended for the night, Erik and Christine performed Othello and Desdemona's love duet from the opera. His voice was a powerful counterpoint to Christine's. They sang to each other, caught up in the moment, Erik's eyes blazing with love and desire. If singing together could show compatibility alone, these two should be together for life, Meg thought.

Christine couldn't take her eyes off of him. When the duet ended, she sat down and slipped her hand over his where it still rested on the keys. "Erik," she whispered, and he was gratified at the warmth in her eyes.

They said good night to Nadir. Meg, giving the couple a shrewd glance, left to get ready for bed. Wonder where those two are going to end up tonight? Horizontal maybe? With a grin she left for bed, not planning on waiting for her friend.

Last to leave was Erik. They stood in the foyer after everyone left, not saying anything. Finally he broke the silence and let out a sigh. "We shall both be very busy tomorrow." He looked at her with tenderness and pulled her gently toward him. "I would like nothing better than to spend my entire day with only you, but I have business to attend to and unfortunately, so do you," he said regretfully.

She leaned into him and slipped her arms around his narrow waist, looking up at him and smiling wistfully. "I wish you were going with me to the masquerade. We could have a wonderful time together."

He framed her face with his bony hands and gently touched his lips to hers. He pulled back and smiled. "I have no doubt of that, Christine." He gave her one last kiss, which she returned enthusiastically, then he reluctantly let her go. "Good night."

She stood absolutely still for all of ten seconds then called out to him. "Erik!" What are you doing? Say goodnight and let him go. No! I want a declaration of love from him. I want commitment. Stop this, Christine! Stop it right now.

He had made it half way up the stairs when she called out to him. She wasn't sure what she was going to say. Her thoughts were slightly muddled, and the only thing clear to her was her need to remain a little longer with him. She walked swiftly to the staircase and watched him as he came rapidly back down to her. Erik was mystified when she stood on her toes and slid her arms around his neck, dragging his head down to her level. She kissed him hard on the mouth, and melted into his arms as he wrapped her in a close embrace. They stood there silently, breathing escalating as the kisses became more heated. Then finally she came up for air.

"What is it?" he whispered raggedly, the kiss they just shared leaving him dazed and wanting more.

She shook her head. "N-Nothing. I just wanted you to know," she took a deep breath, "I just wanted you to know, that I enjoyed myself tonight. Thank you for dinner." Come on, girl. You can do better than that!

Erik was bemused. "You just kissed me like that for a dinner? That was the nicest thank you I have ever received." The only thank you I have ever received.

She should have felt embarrassment, but all she really wanted was to kiss him again. Instead, "It wasn't just my way of saying thanks. I like kissing you."

He felt warmth envelop him once more, and a strange feeling of urgency to declare himself to her. "Christine. When my business is concluded here, I wish to continue seeing you. Would you like that?" He tipped her chin up and kissed her lightly on the mouth, then regarded her silently for a moment.

Her hands framing his face, she proceeded to kiss every part of his mask, placing light kisses on his long nose then swooping down and whispering against his mouth. "Is that answer enough for you? I don't want you to leave. It might even become something permanent if we want it to. If we let it." She placed a last kiss on his Adam's apple then back up to his mouth where he returned the kiss with eagerness and fire. Mm...how did he get so damned good at this? More practice, though. We need to practice a lot more.

Hope was alive again in a heart that had given it up years ago. But he remained uncertain as to what his treacherous ears had actually heard. Because it was impossible. No one could want him. "What? Christine? W-What did you just say to me?"

She looked into his eyes. She saw hope there, but also suspicion. He wasn't certain if he'd heard her correctly. Or maybe he just couldn't believe her. In some ways, Erik reminded her of a boy she knew in high school. Cameron was super smart, but nerdy- he was absolutely clueless about everything that kids their age took for granted. She decided to invite him to a friend's party one Saturday night, and he had looked at her the very same way- hope and suspicion warring with each other. Wanting very much to believe, but afraid of getting hurt.

She cupped his masked face with both hands, one thumb lightly caressing his lower lip, all the while holding his gaze. "I want to see where this relationship can go. I want to spend more time with you." She shrugged and kissed him again. "So...my answer is yes."

He felt something break loose in his chest. A tightness that was nearly always there. Bitterness maybe, or deep-seated despair that a normal life was forever beyond him. But the ache had eased somewhat, and the emotion he normally only felt while playing his instruments was present. It was something he was unused to, especially when it involved a woman. Happiness was strange to him- anger and melancholy were much more familiar. But he could learn to like the feeling. Like? No and no. Love. He kissed her then, slowly moving his mouth over hers, stunned that she would choose him.

"I should be getting to bed- it's nearly midnight," she said finally, rubbing her cheek against his hand.

He felt a moment of panic. He didn't want to let her go. If she was out of his sight, he would find this to be a dream. He would be alone again. He shook his head at the thought. No. That must never happen. This wonderful sense of completeness was very easy to slip into. Impossible to give up. He had to get this business out of the way before they could move forward. He was impatient now for tomorrow to come and go, so he could concentrate solely on Christine.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and painfully let her go. "Bonne nuit, mon coeur."

"Good night."

"Christine?"

"Yes?"

"Sleep well."

She turned and looked at him, feeling a nearly overwhelming tenderness grab hold of her. His eyes glowed as he watched her walk away. Christine headed for her bedroom, turning off lights around the apartment as she went. Mamma and Lucy had turned in a good while ago and Meg was already asleep. She showered quickly, and getting into her pajamas, slipped into bed.

She lay there tiredly, willing sleep to come, but her thoughts kept returning to Erik and her admission. She never felt hesitancy about him when they were together, but doubts had a habit of sneaking up on her as soon as she left him. She didn't think he would be like any of her former boyfriends when she decided to end their relationships. Like she did with Raoul. There was something dark in Erik, and she would have to be absolutely sure of her feelings before they got in too deep. He wasn't a young guy out for some laughs. His intent would be dead serious. It's a little late even now, I think, for commitment issues on your end. He loves me...he loves me not...he loves me. Yes. I think he does.

When he first walked away from her, she felt a curious mixture of yearning and disquiet. Before she realized her intent, she called him back. She knew so very little about him and his face was still a mystery. How many women can say they're interested in a man they would never recognize, because they've no idea what he looks like? Except for his yellow eyes. Don't forget those, Christine. But hey...they are pretty cool.

It was a little disturbing, and there was some doubt still present about their relationship, but it didn't change the facts- after their duet tonight, she knew she didn't want him walking out of her life. That knowledge raised her spirits, but they would need to take this slow. There was still so much unknown to her. Perhaps his other worldliness had her seeing shadows. She resolved to put this foolishness behind her, and with that last thought, she gave herself up to sleep.

At Chagny, Andre Moncharmin answered his phone, already impatient, his nerves stretched tight. "Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to call hours ago." He listened for a few minutes, then asked the caller. "How will you get in?"

He let out a sharp laugh, then nodded his head. "Very good. I'm impressed." He lowered his voice. A nervous edge had crept into it. "Between the two of us we should be able to take care of him. I'm more than ready to end this."

He listened a moment longer, then said in a near whisper, "The girl was a stroke of good fortune. You're absolutely right. I have to admit- he's much easier to deal with when he's lovesick. He's almost human.

"By tomorrow this time, we'll have used a dove to catch a crow."