Christine's heart pounded with her chest as she took in the scene before her: the massive pipe organ sat in the corner, acting as no more than a coat rank for all of the garments strewn across it. Low-burning candles cast the space in a darkened hue that no longer frighted her and her eyes moved across the space, taking in the mess before falling to the man standing in the center of it. all. Even in the darkness, she could feel the weight of his gaze before his voice permeated the blackness."What are you doing here?"

She spoke before she lost her nerve, "I could hardly believe it when I heard the news today. I had to come and get it straight from you." When he offered no reply, she pressed on.
"They...Madame Giry and Meg, that is... said you were leaving."

"Someone's swept your heart away," he answered, tone void of malice, but full of candor. In the dim light, she swore she could see the corner of his lips curl into a wry tilt.
"From the look upon your face, I see it's true."

She swallowed. Hard. "So tell me all about it," Her voice was a challenge. "Tell me about the plans you're making."

The sound of heavy footfalls brought him closer and when she dared to lift her gaze, his gemstone eyes stared right back. "Then tell me one thing more before I go"

"Tell me how am I supposed to live without you? How, Christine? Now that I've been loving you so long."

She took half a step back, losing an ounce of her confidence with it. "Erik..."

"How am I supposed to live without you?" He asked again, "And how am I supposed to carry on?" He lulled to a whisper as he stepped away from her. "When all that I've been living for is gone."

Her eyes traced his path as her chin lifted higher. "I'm too proud for crying, Erik. I didn't come here to break down." She gave a half-hearted shrug. "It's just a dream of mine is coming to an end."

"And how can I blame you," he countered, bracing his hands on the bench of his organ, eyes falling shut, "when I build my world around the hope that one day we'd be so much more than friends."

Silence thickened the semi-darkness as she moved closer, reaching out to him. The moment her fingertips made contact with his shoulder, he broke away with a bitter laugh.

"And I don't want to know the price I'm going pay for dreaming," He dared to look at her then, and her heart clenched at the raw desire she saw burning in the depths of his gaze, "when even now it's more than I can take."

Lifting trembling fingers to her lips, she choked out his name, "Erik.."

"Tell me how am I supposed to live without you?" he cried again, collapsing onto the organ bench. "Now that I've been loving you so long."

"How am I supposed to live without you?" She whispered for the first time, the realization shocking her, shaking her to the core. Still, she took his hands, drew him to him to his feet, took a daring step into his space. "You were the only happiness I knew for so long..."

"And how am I supposed to carry on..when all that I've been living for is gone...when you are gone, Christine?" That sonorous voice was a pained whisper at the shell of her ear and, despite her intent, she suddenly knew that she needed him as much as he needed her.

"Erik..." His name was a sigh into his mouth as she surged forward and kissed him, fingers fisting in his shirtsleeves as she pressed herself closer. He made some sort of strangled noise in response, but his hands moved to gently cradle her face long fingers stroking her cheeks and jawline.

"This is a dream," he mused, but moved closer to take her mouth again. "I don't want to know the price I'm going pay for dreaming."

"Now that your dream is coming true,"she murmured, playing on the words he had muttered only moments ago.

Erik broke the kiss and pulled her against him, pressing her closer to his chest. "Tell me how am I supposed to live without you?"

"You don't, Erik," she soothed, trying desperately to get impossibly closer, .

"Now that I've been loving you so long..."

"I love you too, Erik!"

A quick hitch in his breath. "How am I supposed to live without you?"

"You won't...ever again..."

Quiter then..."And how am I supposed to carry on?"

"As we always have...together. I swear it."

"...When all that I've been living for is gone"

Pulling back to face him, she gripped his chin and forced his eyes to hers, his tears mirroring her own. "Listen to me, you insufferable man. I'm standing in front you. I am right here." Pushing up to her toes, she kissed him deeply, savoring the taste of salt and sweat that meant he was real and safe and hers. "I will always be here."

He stared down at her, as if waking to the realization of a dream, then kissed her again, with such force that she feared they would both break in two. "I love you, Christine Daae," he finally spoke, whispering the sentiment into her mouth like a prayer.

She smiled against them. "I love you, Erik."

And then they (finally) banged. And it was really (really) good.

Six months of no writing and this is what y'all get.
...I have no explanation and no regrets.

This story exists for the sole purpose of annoying one of my favorite people. (I know you're murdering me with your eyes right now)

On another note, I will never again confuse Michael Bolton with Michael Crawford...

...tho in my defense, I was stressed, exhausted, and hungry.

So...yeah. Hope it at least made you chuckle with the ridiculousness.

Thanks for reading!