This one is long, but I don't think you'll mind. I didn't want to break it until the end. :)

Chapter 10

Christine could tell immediately upon waking that her eyes were swollen from all of her crying last night. She rubbed at them as she sat up, feeling both foolish for the way she had blubbered all over him and filled with sudden elation when she remembered the conversation they'd had.

While Erik had never really apologized for what had happened in Paris, he had least promised that when the time came for him to leave Boston, he would treat her differently. He would make sure she knew he was leaving instead of just vanishing into the night. It was the most she could ask for right now.

Christine took a few gulps of the glass of water by her bed and splashed some of it on her face. She wished her bathroom was attached to the bedroom so she could dip in and freshen up before seeing Erik. She felt more than a little shy after crying all over him last night.

Before she could peek into the living room, there was a soft knock on her bedroom door.

"Awake, my dear?" Erik asked.

Christine settled back into bed and pulled the covers back up. "Yes! You can come in."

Erik entered with a mug of coffee. She tried to hide her delight and probably failed, so she let her grin free anyway. He handed her the cup and stepped back, tucking his hands into the front pockets of his pants. He had changed back into his own pants that she had gotten dry-cleaned, but he wore the black shirt she had bought him. Dressed all in black, his slim yet muscular form outlined by the well-fitting clothes, he seemed as mysterious as ever. She was at once aware of the ratty pajamas she wore.

"Thank you so much," she said, taking a sip of the hot liquid. It felt heavenly on her raw throat. "This is exactly what I needed."

"The least I could do." He watched her slowly drink her coffee, not saying a word. She tried not to squirm under his intense gaze.

Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore. "What is it, Erik?" When he didn't quickly answer, she ventured hesitantly, "Is this about last night?"

"No, most definitely not." He settled onto the edge of her bed, far at the end to keep a proper distance. "You have been everything I could ask for, and certainly more than I deserve." He held up a hand before she could protest. "Nadir is on his way here, to Boston. He wants to see how you are doing for himself. I… do not want to involve you in any of this more than you are willing. If you wish, I can meet him somewhere else instead of your home."

Christine thought for a moment. This was new. For Erik to actually ask her opinion and give her options, he was definitely trying to be more respectful of her.

"It's fine for him to come here," she said. "I told you before – I want you here. That hasn't changed."

He let out a slow breath as though he had been holding it. "Very well. What are your plans for today?"

"No plans. No work today since it's Sunday. I should probably read a bit for school."

"You are in school?" He shifted a bit on the bed. "This is not something I know about."

She gave a carefree laugh. "I suppose you didn't go to college?"

"I did not attend any school. The woman who birthed me would not let me attend because I scared the other children."

God, did every subject have to turn dreadful with him? "I'm so sorry, Erik."

"I have led a different life than you, Christine. I don't wish to speak much of it." All of this was so serious, but his eyes were warmer than she had seen in a while. "I do enjoy talking about yours, however."

"All right." She pushed her hair back from her face and sipped more on her coffee. "I graduate in December with a major in stage management."

He frowned at that. "Not singing? My dear, you should be the one on the stage, not behind the curtain."

"My mother wouldn't hear of it. I told you about this before, didn't I? My father played the violin but never made much money doing it. My mom wanted me to go into something more practical."

"What is the point of practical if your heart doesn't follow along? Eventually, you would wither away. Is managing the stage something within your heart?"

"Not really. But it gets me on the stage in some way, which I like."

"Your answer is right there."

Christine sighed and set aside her empty coffee cup. "I can't just change my plan, Erik. Besides, you've only heard me sing a few times. You can hardly know."

"I knew the first time I heard you sing, my dear," he said, all seriousness. "I needed no more than that one listen." He stood and headed toward the bedroom door. "Daroga will be here within the hour. I suggest you dress and do whatever else you need before he arrives."

He left her alone, shutting the door behind him so she could have privacy.

Christine pulled on her robe, chose fresh clothes for the day, and headed to the bathroom. As she passed by, she saw Erik settle onto the couch with one of the library books she had chosen for him yesterday. The scene made her grin, and she didn't want to be staring with that gleeful expression on her face, so she hurried into the bathroom.

A shower later, she emerged in a white knee-length skirt and cute blouse. She might normally wear shorts in this hot summer weather, but she didn't want to flaunt that much skin around Erik. She had spent a little extra time on her hair and make-up, though he hadn't needed all that to think she was beautiful last night. She flushed with pleasure as she thought about his words.

Erik looked up as she came into the living room, but she held up her own book. "Please, don't let me interrupt. I'll use the waiting time to read a bit for my classes."

He tilted his head in agreement and went back to his reading. The two of them sat in silence for a while on the couch, both at opposite ends. At first, she sneaked a glance at him from time to time, but eventually, she relaxed enough to delve into her own textbook. She pulled her feet onto the couch, folding them at her side. The movement caught his eyes, and those yellow depths followed her bare feet as she tucked them onto the couch.

As he stared, she wished she'd thought to freshen up the paint on her toes.

"Hey," she said, and his eyes jerked to her face. "Should I put on some socks?"

Oh, he knew he'd been caught staring. The corner of his mouth turned down and he was suddenly fascinated by his book again. She felt so smug by his reaction. But it was good thing she hadn't worn those shorts after all.

Some time passed before she heard a rhythmic knock upon the door. Erik didn't look up from his book, so she got up to answer it. Nadir Khan stood on the opposite side, looking rumbled in his brown suit, his black hair a little ruffled, dark circles under his eyes.

He did manage a smile when he saw her. "Miss Daaé. So good to see you again."

"You too," she said, stepping aside so he could enter.

He glanced about the apartment before settling his gaze on Erik, who didn't acknowledge his presence. "You are alive after all."

"Ha." Without looking up, Erik pulled a phone out of his pants pocket and tossed it to Nadir, who caught it easily. "This one is yours. My number is already in it."

"You have been busy," Nadir said, raising an eyebrow.

Erik closed his book with a snap and laid it aside. He steepled his long fingers and leveled a cool look at the older man. Christine stood between them, not sure what to do. "I swept the city. You will be thrilled to note that our presence has not been detected here."

"Well, that is some good news." Nadir strode further into the room, stopping in front of Erik, who didn't seem to mind that he suddenly had to crane his neck back. "For what it's worth to you, I am glad to see you doing well. You sound better than you did on the phone yesterday."

Erik gestured to Christine, who suddenly had both men trained on her. "Christine is an excellent hostess."

She fought a blush. "I'd be a better host if I offered you something to drink. Mr. Khan?"

"Thank you, Miss Daaé. Tea, if you have it. The drive from New York was a long one."

She made her way to the kitchen and prepped two cups in case Erik wanted some as well. While she waited for the water to boil, she listened in to the two men's conversation. Nadir settled onto the couch next to Erik who crossed one long leg over the other at the ankle. Erik seemed pleased enough to see Nadir, though Christine knew he would never admit it.

Before they delved too deep into discussion, Nadir tilted his head at Christine. "Forgive my bluntness," he said, "but is she allowed to hear all of this?"

Erik waved a dismissive hand. Christine couldn't see his expression as he was facing away from her, but he seemed calm enough about it. "Let us not be rude, Daroga. This is her home."

The two men exchanged some kind of meaningful look, and Nadir looked away first. That seemed the end of the argument as they began to speak of various places Erik had apparently visited yesterday. Christine recognized a few street names and businesses, but none she had frequented before. They didn't talk about what Erik had done, but their conversation was dipped in mystery and vague language. They obviously had done this before, maybe many times before. These two had a long history, after all.

The water boiling, she poured it over the two tea bags and waited as it steeped.

"I would suggest you contact Darius," Erik said to Nadir.

Nadir nodded. "He knows we are stateside, but that is all for now. If you have given Boston a clean sweep, is that really necessary?"

"I have a theory, and to follow it, you must map out the group's movements from the past year. Darius should be able to provide what you need, correct?"

Nadir gave a loud sigh and rubbed his forehead. "Can I at least get a few hours of sleep first?"

"Of course, Daroga. You are welcome to waste my time. Shouldn't you have slept on the plane?"

"That was yesterday!"

Christine interrupted the two of them with cups of tea, along with anything they would need to fix it the way they liked. She handed Erik his teacup first. "Mr. Khan won't be any good if you exhaust him so quickly."

Erik snorted and stirred an obscene amount of honey into his tea. He didn't argue with her, which pleased her.

Christine turned to hand Nadir his cup of tea, but she paused with the cup lifted. He had reached forward, but when she didn't hand it over, he faltered.

"Miss Daaé?"

She looked him straight in the face. "I want to make one thing clear, Mr. Khan, before we move forward in any way. I forgive you for what you did in Paris. You were looking out for me, and you were looking out for Erik, and so I understand why." Here she leaned forward, the teacup steady in her hands. "But if you ever pry into my private life again, I won't bother to save you from the punjab. Mr. Khan, here is your tea."

"I take my black, but thank you." To her extreme satisfaction, his hands shook slightly when he took the cup from her. Erik made some kind of weird noise, but she ignored him and went back to the kitchen to put away the tea supplies.

"Feel free to use my place as you need," she said. "I know you're far from home."

Nadir cleared his throat. "Thank you, Miss Daaé. I have checked into a hotel, so I will rest there soon."

"We have much to accomplish," Erik reminded him and took a sip of his own tea, careful to work around his mask.

"I know, I know. But it will take a while for Darius to collect and organize his data. We don't want to go into anything blindly."

"We are already blind! How could they possibly know I left France?" Erik pondered a moment. "Boston is quiet, but can they already have realized I am in the States?"

"Darius will be able to shed more light on that."

"Who is Darius?" Christine asked. If they didn't want to her to know, she figured they would be cryptic about it. However, they gave her an acceptable answer.

"Darius was part of my taskforce while I was in Iran," Nadir said. "I suppose you could say he started as my servant, but I quickly realized he had far better talents than running errands. He left the country with me when I was released from prison, and we decided he was best stationed in New York. He has been an excellent source of information for the past seven years."

"So he knows about Erik? He's trustworthy?"

"Oh yes, the very best. I have known him even longer than our mutual friend."

Erik rose from the couch as she started emptying the clean dishes from the dishwasher. He reached to take a plate from her, and for a moment, she stared at those long, pale fingers. Those hands could touch her so gently and bruise her so easily. The marks on her neck had faded enough that not much make-up was needed to cover them; luckily, she had done so this morning before Nadir arrived. She didn't want to have to explain to him when he already so often thought the worst of Erik.

She wished she had a piano he could play. She would love to see those fingers move across the keys one more time.

"Christine?" His voice was soft.

She jerked her own hand back, giving him the plate. "Sorry. I zoned out." She pulled out the container of flatware as he finished the plates and bowls.

"Is this too much for you? Tell me if so."

"No, I can handle it." She gave him a smile. "Promise."

Nadir cleared his throat. "I'm ready for that nap now." Erik glared, but the other man pointedly ignored him. "Darius won't have anything for us until much later today. In the meantime, I need a shower, a shave, and a nap." He got up and brought the teacup to the kitchen. "Thank you so much, Miss Daaé."

"I have stuff to make dinner, if you'd like some."

"I would be delighted." He turned to the fuming masked man who loomed over them both. "I bought you a room too, and your suitcase is there. I took the liberty of packing for you."

"Of course you did," Erik said icily.

Christine hadn't considered that. Now that Nadir was here and had access to all of Erik's funds, of course he wouldn't have to stay at her place anymore. She thought about the last two mornings, how nice it had been to wake up with him here. Could she ask him to stay? Definitely not in front of Nadir, so she would have to wait until later.

Nadir inclined his head to them both and headed to the door. "Until this evening."

"Bye, Mr. Khan."

But when he opened the door, Nadir didn't step outside. In fact, he just stood there in the foyer with the door open. After a few seconds, he found his voice, glancing at Christine. "Miss Daaé, you have company."

"And who are you?" came a very familiar female voice from the entryway.

Christine bit back a curse. "Mama?" She bolted around Erik, who was edging further back into the kitchen, and rushed to the door. It was indeed her mother, and she was carrying a small suitcase.

"Chrissy!" Her mother's face brightened when she saw her daughter. "There you are."

"What are you doing here?" Christine hissed harsher than she should have. She blocked her mother in the open door. Nadir stood uselessly beside her.

Anna pouted. "Can't a mother pop in for a visit?"

Of course she could, and she did often enough. Her mother showed properties all over the northeast, and the Boston area was an easy place to venture since Christine lived here. In fact, Christine would often give her the bed and sleep on the couch herself.

Christine gave her mother her best smile. "You just took me by surprise. I'm so happy to see you!" She would have given her a hug, but she was afraid that would let her mom a glimpse into the apartment.

Her mother looked pointedly at Nadir. "And this is..?"

"N- Mister…" Christine faltered, at a loss for what she should do.

Luckily, Nadir swept in. "Dr. Khan. Pleasure to meet you." He offered his hand and Anna took it. "I am one of Christine's professors. She's taking my amplifying sound for the stage course this semester."

Christine swung her head around, eyes wide. How did he know she was taking that? He was so dead. Nadir flashed her a charming smile. She might use that punjab on him herself.

"I was just leaving," Nadir said. "Thank you so much for going over those notes, Christine. I appreciate your input on our upcoming show."

"Sure," Christine said, dumbfounded.

Nadir tipped an imaginary hat at them both and swept out the door. It was only later than Christine realized he had taken Erik's hat and cloak with him, both of which had been hanging by the door.

Before Christine could react, her mother hurried into her apartment and set her suitcase down. Christine shut the door behind her and glanced nervously around. Erik was nowhere to be found.

"Really, Chrissy, are all of your professors that handsome? You've been holding out on me."

Christine resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Dr. Khan is married. What are you doing here?" she deflected. "Usually you call first."

"I did call." Her mother dug into the pantry and helped herself to a cookie. "I haven't seen my baby since you got back from Paris. If I wasn't so secure in our relationship, I would think you were avoiding me."

Christine sighed. "I've just been busy. And tired."

Her mother patted her cheek with a well-manicured hand. "It is school, work, or… you know."

"I've actually felt pretty good physically. I dropped my painkiller. I think it's just starting back with school and work at the same time. I need to get back into the groove of things."

"Well, I'm here now, Chrissy. How about I stay for a few days? We can bond over good food and drinks during the day and shitty girly movies at night."

Christine forced a smile. She needed to get her mother out of the apartment so Erik could escape from wherever he had hidden himself. "How about we start with lunch."

Lunch with her mother was strained, to say the least. On the one hand, Christine was thrilled to be hanging out with Anna after almost three months without seeing her. Connecticut wasn't that far away, and her mom visited whenever she had realtor business in the city.

On the other hand, Christine was distracted by the obvious fact that she needed to keep Erik away from her mother… or her mother away from Erik. She wasn't sure which way she should think about it. While Nadir was normal and charismatic, Erik would only be a huge heap of questions Christine couldn't begin to answer.

Her mother swirled her straw in her peach sangria. "So we've talked about your school, work, and my work and boyfriends. Now I want to know: are you seeing anyone?"

Christine choked on her own water. "No. Definitely not. Why?"

"I just don't want to see you alone forever, Chrissy. You're beautiful and smart – there's no reason you can't scoop up a man for yourself. What happened to that one guy you saw during the winter?"

"Raoul," Christine offered, so happy Erik wasn't around for this conversation. "He's nice, but too nice, you know? Boring nice."

"Oh, my girl, but boring is good. Boring is stable, and God knows you need some stability after what you've been through."

"I know, Mama. And I am happy, maybe the happiest I've been in a while. Or at least, happy enough."

Her mother laughed. "No one wants to just be happy enough!"

She was right, of course. Anna had a way of saying everything that Christine wanted to say herself. The other woman had little to hold her own tongue back.

They finished eating and headed back to Christine's place. As they rode in her mother's car, Christine knew she had to broach the subject of where her mom was staying. But she couldn't just refuse to let her mom stay with her – they'd always bunked together, and Nadir did say a hotel room was available for Erik should he need it. Christine hated this situation, but there wasn't much she could do.

"Hey, Mama," she said, nervously twirling a bit of her hair. "I already made dinner plans tonight with… a friend."

Her mother waggled her eyebrows at her. "A boy friend?"

"A friend who's a man, yes. Can you entertain yourself until later? Say, 10? I promise I'll tell you about it when you get back."

"I wouldn't dream of interfering, Chrissy! I need to meet with a few clients before the work week starts up anyway. How about I call you before I show up at your door this time, hmm?"

She gave a little laugh. "Thanks, Mama."

Anna dropped her off at the curb and waved goodbye as she drove off. Christine was relieved that everything had gone as smoothly as it had.

As soon as she entered her apartment, it was clear that Erik had vacated the premises as soon as he was able. On the kitchen table, she found a note with a phone number on it. Christine felt odd just calling Erik like he was any other person, so instead, she sent him a text.

All good with Mama, but she's staying at my apartment for a few days.

She didn't have to wait long for a reply.

I assumed. You can find the address of the hotel in your nightstand. I will stay there. –E

Christine was more than a little disappointed, but she pushed aside her feelings. She sent another text.

Are we still on for dinner? Mama won't be back until late.

If you still wish it.

I do.

A pause, then Erik sent, What time?

8, she replied.

His reply was brief, but it sent a thrill through her. Until then, my dear. – E

For the rest of the afternoon, Christine busied herself with getting ready for dinner. All of her meetings with the two men had been impromptu – this was the first time she was actually hosting both of them together in any formal way, and she found herself wanting to make a good impression. She planned a meal of creamy meatballs, mashed potatoes, and a side salad. It was simple food, but one close to her heart; she remembered her father often cooking this when she was little.

She did the shopping and cleaned the apartment top to bottom, which it needed desperately. After that, she was hot and sticky, so she took a quick shower and put on her best sundress, the one with fluttery sleeves and a v-neck that didn't reveal her scars, a soft blue frock with pink flowers on it.

She wasn't planning a difficult meal, and she still had a few hours until she needed to start cooking. After so many days of little sleep and stressful situations, Christine thought a little nap might help her stay sharp while juggling Erik, Nadir, and now, her mother. Plus, tomorrow was Monday and she had an 8 o'clock class.

Yawning, Christine tucked her feet under her and settled onto the couch. She propped her head onto her arm. She would just close her eyes for a moment, and after an hour, she'd get busy.

Christine woke to the soft gurgling sound of coffee brewing. She distinctly did not remember turning on her coffee pot, so she jerked her head around to see Erik standing in her kitchen. He was dressed exactly same way he had been the first time she met him. His black suit was free of tears, his cloak wrinkle-free. He wore clean black gloves. Obviously, Nadir had brought him fresh clothes.

He must have only just arrived. Christine didn't waste him on being unnerved that he had entered her apartment despite the fact that both doors had been locked. A glance at the microwave's clock told her it was 8:05, and she hadn't even started dinner yet.

She scrambled to her feet, smoothing her rumbled dress and pushing her curly hair from her eyes. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I fell asleep!"

A smile played across the corner of his mouth. "So I see."

"I'll start dinner right away. I still have time." She hurried into the kitchen and began to root in the fridge for ingredients. She needed the ground meat, shredded cheese, heavy cream, parsley.

His gloved hand upon her arm stopped her. "No need unless you need it for yourself. Daroga sends his regrets, but he must rest. We have much to do tonight, so it is best that he do so now. You know I have little need for food."

She was a little disappointed. She hadn't actually expected Erik to try anything, but she'd been looking forward to sharing a favorite meal with someone. Her body still felt heavy from sleep, though, so she didn't quite mind being able to relax instead.

She straightened and gave him a long look. Then, determined, she reached for his hat. It pained her how he automatically recoiled, thinking she was going for his mask. "If you're here for dinner, you should act like it."

"Ah." He relaxed somewhat and bent down so she could slip off his hat, mindful not to disturb the white porcelain on his face. He swept his hands over the slicked-back hair of his wig as though making sure it was still in place. She held out a hand for his cloak, and he obediently placed the heavy black fabric over her arm.

After she hung both up, she came back to stand in front of him. She hated seeing how guarded he was, as though waiting for her to ask something of him at any moment. Well, she was. She gestured.

"The gloves too."

"Demanding tonight, aren't we?"

"Always." She didn't want to stare as he revealed his long fingers, so she began to search in her cabinets for two glasses. "I appreciate the coffee, but after this weekend, I'm in the mood for something else." She set two wine glasses on the counter and held up a bottle of red wine. "Shall we?"

While he opened the bottle and poured them both a glass, she dug around in the fridge for the leftover Chinese food. It wouldn't be the most glamorous meal to go with wine, but since he wasn't eating, she would fix whatever she felt like. She piled her plate with an assortment and stuck it in the microwave.

Erik handed her a glass. "A toast?" he asked.

"Sure." She thought for a moment, and she couldn't come up with anything that didn't sound embarrassing. "I have an appointment with my oncologist later this week. It's my usual three month visit." At Erik's frown, she raised a placating hand. "It's mostly about my lingering pain, but in any case, it signals that I've now been cancer free for nine months." She raised her glass. "Go me."

"Go… you." Erik seemed to rouse himself from his thoughts. He clicked his glass against hers. "To being cancer free."

Christine sniffed the wine. "I warn you – I have no idea where this bottle came from." She took a sip and made a face. "Oh, that's not near as good as what you had in Paris."

"On that we agree. From now on, my dear, I will choose our wine."

His comment warmed her from the inside out. It was a comment about the future, like he saw the possibility of shared bottles of wine beyond this one. She knew that he wouldn't stay here in Boston forever. His home was in Paris, after all. But there had to be some way to work out a… visiting schedule? She had gone two weeks without seeing him, and after having him back in her life again, she wasn't so sure she could go through that a second time. Not silently, anyway.

Then again, when she did start thinking about a future with him? It hadn't been that long ago that she was so hurt and furious with him that she never even wanted him to touch her again.

She fetched her food and sat at the kitchen table to eat. Erik certainly hadn't tried to kiss her since he had been back in her life. Maybe he saw this as a friends only type relationship? She was someone to confide in. Someone who saw his flaws and accepted him, as a friend would.

Could she see a lifetime of having him watch her eat?

She finished quickly and stuck her plate in the dishwasher. He was so quiet tonight, his eyes distant as he swirled the wine in his glass. She didn't feel like forcing any conversation out of him. She was just happy to have him here, right now. Scooping up her own glass, she motioned to the couch.

"I'm tired tonight. Is it okay if we just watch TV?"

"As you want," he said.

She wanted to yell at him: yes, but what do you want? Instead, she waited until he had sat on the couch, in that way of his that made her smile, his free hand resting on top of his thigh, before she took a seat next to him. Up until now, she had kept her distance, but maybe it was the wine or the fact that he had called her beautiful last night. This time, she sat right next to him, so close that the edge of her dress brushed against his leg.

He sucked in a breath, clearly noticing. She was glad she had thought to sit on his unmasked side so she could read his face. She found the remote and clicked to something she thought he might like – a crime drama. It was halfway through, and she didn't know how much they would be able to follow along, but Erik didn't comment on it.

She took a large gulp of her wine and placed her hand on top of his.

There were many different ways he could have reacted, most of which he had done before. He could have squeezed her hand, and this she would have liked. He could have drawn his hand away, which would have been a normal reaction for him. He could have chosen to go beyond just hand holding – this was an option she had already entertained in her head.

He didn't. His cold hand was statuesque under hers.

"Nadir and I are leaving tomorrow."

She was the one who snatched her hand back. "W-what?"

His eyes were on the dark red liquid in his glass. "Darius has seen little activity in New York City to show that anyone suspects I have come stateside. However, this is not something I will leave alone without checking for myself. I expect my search will take a while. A week. Several weeks."

"Oh," was all she could manage for a moment. He had only just gotten here, and now he was leaving again. She blinked angrily at the sudden rush of hotness behind her eyes, furious with herself that she would get emotional so easily about this. She was a big girl. She would act like it. "Thank you for telling me, Erik."

His response was swift, his voice suddenly rough. "I didn't tell you because I swore to always say goodbye, Christine." When he turned to meet her startled gaze, she swallowed at his intensity. "I am not saying goodbye."

Wait, what was he saying, then? She finished her wine and set the glass down. "Then what?"

"I can make arrangements for you to come as well." He leaned slightly forward. "Come with us to New York, Christine. Come with me."

Go to New York? He wanted her to go with him? Her thoughts spun at the possibility. He wasn't saying goodbye! Still, she had to look at this from a practical point-of-view. "But what about my job? My classes?"

"The library?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is that job so important to you? It does not pay enough to cover all of your expenses. I have more than enough to provide whatever you need. As for your coursework, this trip is only temporary."

"Temporary! You said it could take weeks. I would fail all of my classes if I vanished for that long. Plus, I can't live off your money. That wouldn't be right at all."

He set his glass on the coffee table with a fierceness that showed his frustration. She sounded like she was arguing with him, but that wasn't what she meant. She touched his arm, meaning to placate him.

"You do not have to come," he said, his tone bitter. "I will not force you."

There was a time when she though he would have. He did, down underneath the Palais Garnier, when he had locked her in his bedroom that first night. But this Erik was now someone who was making a lot more effort to think about things from her perspective. He hadn't kidnapped her and dragged her off to New York. He had asked.

"I can't go for a long time," she said, keeping her voice soft. "I can't abandon my life here. But I would love to come for a few days, maybe off and on. Until you are finished up there."

"Ah, Christine!" With a quickness she had come to expect from him, but that still took her breath away, he swept her into his arms. His embrace was everything she imagined a hug from him would feel like – crushing, his hands gripping too tightly, his mask scraping against her cheek. She hoped the hug would last forever.

He spoke in her ear. "I spent a year in this city once, before Paris. I know just what I want to show you. I am pleased you will come with me. Very, very pleased, my dear."

She shivered. When he pulled away, she immediately missed the feel of his lean body around her. They turned back to the TV show, and this time, when she touched his hand, he entwined his fingers with hers.

Oh, what does he have planned for New York?