Erik sighed heavily and wearily , She was gone , She chose That cursed Vicomte , He couldn't blame her . As he continued to clean up the mess the mob had left behind he picked up a sheet of music scoffing at it before crumpling it in his hand .

After all , He kidnapped her , Had killed a fair amount of people , And tried to kill her Fiancé , And forced her into marrying him . His liar was quiet , The only sounds audible were the shuffling of his feet , And every so often glass of the shattered mirror crunching under his foot .

The mob wasn't smart enough to actually attempt to look for any other secret passageways, He had hid himself in a small compartment until they had disappeared the same way they came .

Once he found the place a decent amount of clean , He set himself down on his piano bench and buried his head in his balmy hands .

" Christine . . . Christine . . . " He cried .

He froze when footsteps padding against the stone floor's echoed throughout the catacombs he called a home . He shot up , Knocking the bench over in the process ready to go back into hiding .

Until ,

" Erik?! "

His sprint came to an immediate halt , before he could even think of continuing to hide away again , he felt his body turn enough so half of his unmasked face was facing the lake .

His eyes widened , It couldn't be . . . Could it? Was he hallucinating? Had he finally lost his mind? She couldn't have come back! Not without knowing what he had done - What he was!

But there she was , Tripping over her discolored wedding dress , Now stained with dirt and dirty water , her hazy form now banging against the gate blocking the pair , She was soaked to the bone and he could see her shivering from there .

" Christine!? "

He ran into the lake without another thought , Pulling the lever to Raise the gate as he did so , she ran underneath struggling to pick up her weighted dress meeting him halfway to the middle crashing into his arms .

" Oh , Erik! I'm so sorry, I should have never left you! I am sorry! , I - I tried to come sooner - But Raoul wouldn't let me! I was so scared you had died! " She sobbed tugged his shirt .

Erik almost returned her embrace , But instead gripped her shoulders pulling her off of him . " Why? Why did you come back , After all I've done? WHY?!! " He hissed trudging away back onto land .

Christine's bottom lip quivered both in fear , And from the cold water soaking her dress .

" It doesn't matter - Take what you wish , Whatever it is you desire - Money? Come to destroy more of my belongings? Well go ahead! "

Christine didn't move , It was silent for a long time .

" . . . I needed to come back , I- I had to make sure you were alright - I wish I could explain - " She looked up to him , His back was facing her but she could tell he was listening so she continued .

" You - You have something that Raoul doesn't - And never will "

He turned to her with a look of confusion , Anger , and sadness " What can't he give you!? He has money , A happy life , a handsome face! , What could I possibly have that he doesn't? "

" Music , . . . And my love "

Again , The liar fell to silence , She dared to step closer bringing her hands to her chest nervously toying with her fingers . Her dress swished against the water her hair was dripping after having fallen in .

" Please , Just- Hear me out , "

" . . . "

" Yes , It is true , Raoul has Money , A title , But he's not You "

Erik's eyes clamped shut forcing his head down clenching his fist tightly .

" You're music , I live for it , And I realize , No matter where I go , How far apart we are , "

She stopped at the shore line .

" It - No , You , will always haunt me " She shivered , He turned to face her fully . " And I will never be able to love Raoul , Anyone , the way that I love you " She gazed into his sea blue eyes , Swimming with slight hope " Christine - " He opened his mouth to continue , But he couldn't find any words .

" . . . Are you going to make me leave? "

" No! God . . . No . . Did . . . Do you mean what you say? "

" Or course! I needn't lie to you any longer! Oh Erik! I love you so much! " She cried running back into his arms . This time he swung his arms around her petit waist pulling her impossibly closer .

Her perfume was sweet and smelt like roses , She was cold and wet , He made a mental note to go dig out some clothes for her . Her hair was damp and knotted from all of tonight's events " I love you , god , I love you " He murmured sweetly in her hair .

They fell to the floor , He felt his eyes watering , But this time from joy .

But he pulled away swiftly , " Are you alright? You're not hurt are you? " She shook her head , But she was always known to be a terrible liar . " No . No I'm - Fine " She took a shaky breath .

She looked incredibly dizzy , Almost as if she would fall over in seconds " Christine are you sure - " " Yeah - You might wanna catch me " And just like that her body fell unconscious into him .

Erik panicked , Pulling her into his arms and out of the water , He set her into the giant swan bed . He rested two fingers over her pulse , Sighing with relief as he felt her heart beating .

" Thank you god . . . "

He turned her to her side , to undo her now ruined dress , But stopped and mentally slapped himself . He couldn't just undress her like some perverted - he groaned rubbing a hand down his tried face .

It took him a good 10 minutes fighting between either letting her sit in the same wet clothes until she woke up to dress herself , OR Just change her himself potentially getting her mad at him , leaving him for Raoul and - Mybe he should just change her .

With shaky smudged hands he took hold of her turning her so she lie on her side , Taking the dress and carefully undoing the front . He could feel his cheeks warming up as he laid eyes on her brilliant bare shoulder's .

Once the first layer was removed , He set it onto a nearby chair to be tended to later . He groaned putting his head in his hands , God , Should he be doing this? He didn't want to without her permission, But he also didn't want her sitting in a wet dress for her to get sick .

But nonetheless he continued , Removing layer after layer , Until she laid in nothing but her corset and chemise . At that point he was quick to cover her body with the red velvet blanket .

Backing out of the room , Trying to cease his wondering mind from going into heated fantasies . Brushing his hair back tilting his head , His breath hitched slightly .

When Christine awoke , She could barely take her head from the warmth she was wrapped in . The silky velvet was soft against her tender skin , It smelt odd , Yet familiar .

Where . . . Had she gone with Raoul? , Wait . . . No , She remembered hugging Erik . She remembered burying her nose in his neck taking in the scent of his cologne strong and sharp , Yet brought her to a peace of mind .

She remembered his rough fingers , Holding her in a tight embrace .

" Erik? " She called , Sitting up the covers slipping off her body , She felt the candle's warmth hitting her bare shoulders . She gazed down to see herself in nothing but her corset and Chemise .

His heavy footsteps bounded closer , She was quick to cover herself with the blankets not comfortable with showing off that much of her skin to him .

" Christine? "

She smiled , His deep silky voice was music alone to her

" Ah , Umm , This is rather . . . Awkward . . " He said rubbing the back of his neck not daring to make eye cot act with her .

She nodded , Biting her lip lowering herself into the blankets .

" I'm afraid to say , I don't have any other dresses - Um , I can give you one of my shirts if you'd like- " This was one of the reasons he didn't like close relationships , social interaction with people was awkward for him .

" I can take you back up to get some of you're belongings soon enough "

She nodded biting her lip rolling her fingers over one and other , " Um - Yes that will do for now "

" Would you like me to go and fetch one for you? "

" Please , "

He left with a quick nod , Eager to escape from the awkward situation, Christine allowed herself to relax as he left .