Erik awoke slowly, and felt quite surprised that he had not been plagued by nightmares, he vaguely tried to think of the cause when he remembered what had happened the night before.
Erik quickly looked over to his left and saw that Christine still slept soundly beside him, then to his embarrassment Erik saw that his left arm was draped possessively over Christine's side.
Erik quickly removed his arm knowing that his lack of control in his sleep would do little to explain how his arm had come to be where it was.
Then Erik stiffened as he watched Christine roll over towards him, and slowly open her eyes.
"Mmm Erik?"
"Yes Christine I'm still here, but I'll leave if that's what you want." Erik explained as he started to move away.
"No stay with me, " Christine said quickly as she grabbed Erik's hand.
Erik flinched knowing that he wasn't wearing gloves, and the revolution she might experience by touching his actual hand.
Erik held his breath, knowing that his heart would break if she rejected him.
Erik looked deep into Christine's eyes and let out a sigh of relief when he saw that she was not repulsed by him, and quickly returned to the present when he heard her speak to him.
"I'm sorry what?" Erik asked, feeling embarrassed that he had made Christine repeat herself.
"I said were you able to sleep without nightmares last night?" Christine asked, feeling a little worried by Erik's obviously distracted demeanor.
"Oh well yes actually I was, it would seem that your idea has worked,"
"Oh Erik that's wonderful news then I propose we do this every night, after all you can only be at your best when you have a good night's rest. "Christine said, happily as she snuggled into Erik's chest.
Erik blushed profusely as he felt Christine settle into him.
I never thought I could be this happy or this lucky, I want to stay like this forever perhaps there is a loving God somewhere; Erik thought as he was about to gather the courage to put his arm around her when he heard Dominic begin to whine at their feet.
"Ah good morning my darling, I don't suppose you would be hungry now would you? "Christine asked as she lovingly patted Dominic's head.
Dominic barked happily, and licked Christine's face,
"I'll take that as yes, come on I'll make breakfast for all of us just as soon as I get dressed." Christine said as she grabbed a dress from her wardrobe, then went into the bathroom to change.
Later Christine set the table for breakfast then put Dominic's bowl of scarpes down beside her chair.
The breakfast was eaten in silence which Christine found odd, at the very least Erik would always mention her music lesson over breakfast.
Christine wondered if she had done something to displease Erik, perhaps he had thought she had been too forward, when she had proposed to help him when he didn't ask for her help.
Perhaps he didn't like the way she had snuggled into him in her moment of unbounded happiness. Christine thought about all these things when at last Erik broke the silence.
"Christine I was wondering if you would like to join me for a picnic this afternoon in the park, since it is Sunday after all and you had said that you would like to go on a picnic." Erik said, quickly hoping that Christine hadn't changed her mind .
"Of course Erik I would love to spend the day with you, and I'm sure Dominic would enjoy a trip to the park as well. " Christine said as she gathered the dishes, and took them to the kitchen sink.
It was during that time Erik had staged a surprise for Christine, and when she returned she could not help letting out a squeal as she saw Dominic dressed in an evening coat ready for an evening at the opera.
"Oh Dominic you look so gentlemanly, not to mention completely adorable! "Christine gushed as she threw her arms around his neck, then looked at him as he wore the biggest smile.
"I thought that since he spent so much time at the opera then he should look the part, and I think this looks much better than the bows Carlotta makes her dogs wear even if I do say so myself.
I also think that someday, this will become a common thing for people and their pets." Erik explained as he admired his handy work.
"Yes I completely agree the bows Carlotta's poodles wear are simply ridiculous.
I also think that the managers will love his new clothes.
This will also go along well with the new trick I'm teaching him, and I also agree that many people will like the idea of their dogs in clothes, especially the noble women."
A few minutes later Erik excused himself so he could go, and make lunch for the picnic while Christine went back to her room to decide which perfume and jewelry to wear.
A little while later Christine left her room with Dominic, when she heard Erik call for her then Christine saw Erik standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Erik was wearing a black suit with black gloves, a white shirt, black top hat, and a long black walking cane with a gold topper. Christine stood at the top of the stairs thinking that there was no way Erik could be more handsome.
"If you think the hat is too much I can remove it,"
"No I think it's perfect," Christine assured as she walked down the steps, and left the lair with Erik.
When they arrived at the park Christine noticed that she and Erik, were not the only ones who thought it was a nice day for an outing in the park.
All around her couples went about their business, some strolled along the stone pathways engaging in pleasant conversation, or gazing adoringly into each other's eyes as they went.
Others spread out blankets on the grass no doubt having the same idea as Erik, while men also rowed their lovers in boats across the nearby pond; while some lovers sat on benches and partook of the cold, but sweet treat that Meg had called Ice Cream.
Erik laid the blanket on the ground under the shade of an oak tree a few feet away from the other park goers then Christine took the basket, and set the meal on the blanket.
Erik prepared Christine a plate of pot roast, carrots, and a sweet roll.
Christine thanked Erik as she took her plate, and a bowl of scraps for Dominic.
As they ate, the pair talked about the weather and his opera, and how funny it was that everyone seemed to share their idea on how to spend a Sunday afternoon.
As Christine watched to other couples enjoying their afternoon, she found herself wondering if that would one day be her and Erik.
Would they come here again, would Dominic be with them, would they someday bring their children here? Christine started ever so slightly as she realized what her last thought had been, having children would be no small matter; and Christine knew that it was too soon to be thinking of these things, but she still knew that if Erik asked her she would marry him and have everything that came afterward.
Then Christine was pulled from her thoughts, by Erik's voice calling to her.
"Christine why is Dominic trying to give me a stick ?" Erik asked quickly as he gave Christine a confused look.
"Oh it seems that he wants to play fetch,"
"What on earth is that?"
"It's a very simple game I'll show you," Christine explained as she called Dominic over to her then took the stick from him.
"The first thing you do is get the dog ready to fetch," Christine explained, as she motioned for Dominic to sit.
" Then you throw the stick Dominic likes his sticks to go long," Christine explained as she reached back then sent the stick flying a medium distance away, and smiled as she watched Dominic happily run after the stick.
"What happens now?"
"Now we wait for him to bring it back, is this your first time being around a dog?"
"No I had a dog when I was younger, but by the time I was born she was too old to play in the way you play with Dominic.
Christine wordlessly waited letting endless questions hang in the air, knowing that was not the time for inquiries.
"Sasha was the closest thing to a mother I ever had always by my side, and always accepting I 've missed her more than I could ever say; and having Dominic close by has been a great comfort to me."
"I hoped that he would be, and I hope that you seeing the way I love him would make things more clear. Christine said as she held Erik's gaze.
Erik returned Christine's stare as he tried to figure out if what he thought she meant, was actually true.
He looked deep into her soft brown eyes knowing that his world began, and ended with her.
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy couples whose hearts are free
And when I look at the man
At my side
I see the perfect life for me
At my side is the man I hold dear
How I wish we could always stay here
My eyes have been opened wide
My heart I no longer need to hide
In his eyes I can clearly see the future that was Meant for me.
What a glorious Sunday
This feels too good to be true
For once feel like normal men do
But I know they take for granted
The fake jewels they parade around
Unaware of the of the true jewel I have found
I the man that dwells underground
I am the one who taught her to shine
And now marvel at how she happily sits at my side
Yet my heart is filled with trepidation
At the intruder that still lurks
Far too near
I know he wants to take my jewel
Away
Even though he will never
Love her in the right way
I long for her to tell him that her heart
Belongs to me
But I fear that this is something that will never be
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy couples whose hearts are free
But when I look beside me
I see the perfect life for me.
I long for a life full of love and joy
Far away from that whining boy
I long for a night that will never
End knowing that my lover
Will always wait within
A song of love that will
Always be
For my lover our children and me
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy couples whose hearts are free
But when I look beside me
I see the perfect life for me.
In my lover's eyes I can see
The life I always wanted for
Me
A beautiful gaze loving
And warm
Within it I see
The reason I was born
Together we will
Have the life we always
Dreamed
A night of which
Beauty is only
To us seen
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy couples whose hearts are free
And when I look at the woman
At my side
I see the perfect life for me
I will make my feelings known
And with my lover I will finally
Have a home
I will protect him no
Matter the cost
And the boy will accept that
He has lost
Our hearts will be free at last
No longer burdened
By the past
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy couples whose hearts are free
And when I look at the man
At my side
I see the perfect life for me
The woman at my side is the
One that I hold dear
I will make it so she need
Not fear
I will make my feelings known
And with my lover
I will finally
have a home
I will protect her no
Matter the cost
And the boy will accept
That he has lost
Our hearts will be free at last
No longer burdened
By the past
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy couples whose hearts are free
And when I look at the woman
At my side
I see the perfect life for me
In front of my eyes all I see
Are happy and free
But when I look at the
One at my side
I see the perfect life for me.
Dominic returned with the stick, and dropped it on the ground at their feet.
Christine and Erik took turns throwing the stick, and engaged in polite conversation while they waited for Dominic to return; as the afternoon progressed Erik offered to buy Christine, and Dominic an ice cream which she accepted.
Erik ordered a scoop of Neapolitan for Christine , a scoop of Orange Sherbet for himself , and a scoop of Vanilla for Dominic. Erik thought Christine to be completely adorable as she marveled at how they could get three flavors in one scoop yet still keep each flavor separate.
Then smiled as he watched Christine giggle over the cold shiver she felt.
Then Erik let her have a taste of his, and they both tried to figure out how they managed to get such a fresh orange taste mixed in with the cream.
Then they shared a laugh, as Dominic got a piece of his scoop stuck to the roof of his mouth.
Later the basket was repacked and the happy trio made their way back to the opera house as the sun began to set, upon their return to the lair Christine had her music lesson; but found herself distracted wishing that she had more time in the park with Erik.
"I was thinking that next time we go to the park I would take you on a boat ride across the lake, or perhaps you would find that to be too similar to what we already do." Erik said as he climbed into bed feeling a bit more comfortable with their arrangement than he had the night before.
"Oh yes I think that's a wonderful idea, and I'm sure that Meg would love to go parasol shopping with me. Christine said as she settled into her side of the bed.
"Yes ,but since I know how tiresome you find shopping to be I took the liberty of making you one myself."
"Oh Erik thank you, and I could think of no better way to spend next Sunday afternoon."
"Neither could I good night Christine,"
"Good night Erik,"