Disclaimer: Do I really need one? This is If I owned anything in this story it would not be on this website!

**************************************************************************** *** Erik quietly followed her, being sure to stay hidden from the rest of Paris. When Christine returned to the Opera house she waited for Erik in her dressing room. Erik went to his 'normal post' behind the mirror, looking towards the door when Christine came in. "How was it, Christine?" "Oh it went alright I suppose... I am just not very comfortable at fancy parties like that. I would have preferred to have been here reading or talking with you, mon ange." Christine replied with a mischievous smile. Erik smiled to himself, absently tilting his hat. "You did sing, didn't you, Christine?" "Yes I sang Erik," she said thinking of Meg's nagging... "I'm sure you sounded wonderful," he replied.

"Er..."Christine blinked and looked around not quite sure how to reply to that last statement, after a few moments Christine pulled out a package with a black rose tied on."Er...This is for you Erik.." she said slightly embarrassed...even though according to Erik the other night they where supposedly engaged or married...she wasn't really sure which...

Erik looked at it from behind the mirror, quite surprised. "What is it, Christine?" he inquired. "Well perhaps if you opened it?" He nodded to himself briefly, opening the mirror and elegantly stepping through it. Christine handed the package to him it was a book and she prayed he hadn't read it before... Erik opened it, looking at the book. Surprisingly, he hadn't read this one before. "Why, thank you, Christine..." "Your welcome Erik," she said smiling at him. He half-smiled behind the mask, looking down at her. "So perhaps I should let you get reading?" she said thinking he might want to start his new book. "Yes, of course," Erik replied, nodding. "Alright," she said looking towards the mirror sighing softly. "You should get some rest, Christine," he advised her. "You look quite tired." Christine blinked for a second she had not been expecting him to say that! She thought for a few minutes remembering that it had been snowing quite heavily outside when she returned from the party how bad was it outside right now?

Erik looked at her, waiting silently for a reply. "Yes, your right I suppose I should get some rest," she said as she crossed to the window to see how deep the snow was and if it would be possible to get home without walking.
Erik looked over her shoulder, realizing what she was thinking about. "Would you be alright getting home?" "The snow is to deep to get a cab, and it's quite a long walk to my flat..."Replied Christine wondering what she would do as she looked at the plain gold band on her finger; the ring Erik had given her.

"Would you be comfortable staying here?" he asked her after a short pause. "With you?" she said looking up at him wonderingly. Erik nodded, looking towards her. "Yes. With me." "I would like that thank you Erik for offering to let me stay the night in your house, I should hate to be a bother to you. "Christine replied. "Be a bother to me? Oh, never, Christine," Erik replied sincerely. Christine smiled and looked down for a moment at the ring Erik had given her. "Well, follow me, then," Erik said, offering Christine his hand as he re-opened the mirror. Christine took his hand and followed him. He led her back down towards the lake, just as they had done so many times before. Christine followed him to the lake it was odd but she felt strangely happy going back to Erik's underground house. Erik steadied the boat, motioning for Christine to step in.

Christine got in the boat and waited for Erik to enter the boat as well. As she sat in the boat she hummed the song that Erik had played for her a few days before; the song that he had written; and wondered what would happen in their relationship since the Raoul in the house across the lake incident and the obvious fact that they both seemed to be uncomfortable speaking of it. "Do you like that song, Christine?" he asked her, beginning to push them towards the opposite bank. "Yes very much Erik."