Always Chapter 01

For a moment she had believed everything Raoul had promised her. She had wanted to believe it but as she descended down the stairs she started to doubt her choose.

Although the promise of daylight had lured her to Raoul she doubt if it was enough to replace what she felt for the music Erik promised her.

She suddenly felt the urge to have Erik close and since the rose was the only thing she had of him she went back to search for it, telling Raoul to go home.

When she found the broken rose she realised that Erik had been up here. She looked around trying to find him, but alas to no avail.

He muse be devastated, she thought, thinking back to her reaction after pulling his mask of and now declaring her love to another man. "Oh, Erik," she whispered as she wrapped the cloak closer around her chilled body.

"What are you doing here, Christine?" Erik's voice was carried by the wind making it difficult for Christine to figure out where he was.

"I forgot my rose," she replied, "I came back for it…"

"You do not deserve that rose anymore," Erik's voice rose, he was getting angry.

"I am sorry," she whispered lowering her head in shame. She jumped when she felt someone, Erik, place his cloak around her shoulders. She raised her eyes searching his, not daring to ask the question.

"You were cold," was his only reply.

A silence fell over them; Christine not knowing what to say and Erik awaiting her explanation.

Christine turned to Erik. "Erik, I'm sorry," she began, "I thought I wanted Raoul and the daylight he promised me but I realised I couldn't live without music. That wonderful music that made my soul soar. I realised I couldn't live without you."

"How can you say such things when you just promised that boy your love?" Erik threw back.

"He didn't believe me Erik," she replied. "He didn't believe me about you…"

"What about the murder? Do you still believe I'd kill you?" he asked dangerously.

"I was afraid, Erik. Everyone was screaming 'The phantom killed Buquet' I started to believe them." She shook her head. "It sounds so silly now."

"If you keep changing your mind accidents may happen, Christine," Erik warned his voice still sounding dangerously.

"I know," she sighed. "It's true sometimes I do not know what I want but I am certain about this," she took a step closer to Erik. "I want this," she stated and placed a kiss on his unmasked cheek.

Erik closed his eyes, relinquishing the feel of her lips against his cheek. It was his very first kiss and it felt like Heaven. When he opened his eyes they locked with Christine's innocent ones. "I could never ask that of you," he suddenly felt like he didn't deserver her.

"You didn't ask, I offered," she replied standing on tiptoes she kissed him on the lips.

It took Erik a moment before he responded to her kiss. A moan escaped both of them when their tongue met for the first time. When the need for air tore them apart the kiss was broken. Both their cheeks were flushed and they were panting for breath.

"Will you stay with me?" he asked.

"Always," she replied and kissed him once more. Tomorrow their lives together will start for they now find each other and together they'll be… Always…

The End
28 September 2008