Christine

Our embarrassment knew no bounds, neither of us wanted to say anything. 

Whenever our eyes would meet, we'd look away going red in the face.

The cool-headed, confident Phantom was too embarrassed to look at me.

He wouldn't talk to me...

Seven Days Later

I awoke with a start.

 I dreamed that Erik had died, and that this black monstrosity had been coming after me to claim me as its!!!! 

It was just about to descend on me and it woke me.

I jumped out of bed and started running to safety, the only safety there was.

 The  wonderful safety of my Angel of Music.

I ran down the halls stopping before his door. Should I really and truly go through with this? Should I just go back to bed? I closed my eyes. The black menace came back, and Erik lay dead in my arms. My Angel was dead. He was gone, dead, deceased. I could feel his cold flesh on mine.  NO! 

I opened my eyes, on my knees, with tears streaming down my face. No!  I had to do this.

I opened the door softly and stepped into his room. I quietly shut the door and crept to his coffin. I opened the lid and carefully climbed inside, putting my head just where his heart was. I  closed the lid and shut my eyes. The dark terror came into my sight, leaning in and killing Erik He fell in my arms and lay there. He looked up at me one last time, his eyes teary. He looked about saying something, then his head fell and he was dead. My eyes shot open. I still wasn't safe?!? 

I reached for his arms in the darkness and wrapped them around me. There, now I was safe. And I felt safe, extremely safe.

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"Christine? What are you doing here?" His voice sounded sleepy, confused, and amused.

"Hmm...?..........! Oh! Um....Um.....Er, well, you see......Um?" I tried, and failed miserably.

"Well, what are you doing here?" He demanded again, sounding more amused. 

"I, um, had a nightmare and....well, I got scared....So.......I got in the coffin.....with you....It just made me feel so...um....safe. I, um, used to do that when I was little with  Papa....And....Um....Well, You just made me feel safe......Um..." I blushed and just hid my face in his shoulder. 

"I see. Well, then..." I could feel him smirking. I blushed deeper than I had ever before...

"You may sleep with me any time you wish.. You may come to me any time you're scared.." Again he was smirking. He was having fun with this!

 I buried my face in his chest. He sighed, wrapping his arms round me...

Erik's POV

My Christine had hopped into my coffin with me, though she wouldn't tell my what the dream was. That definitely made me extremely curious, why would she not tell me what her dream was? What would make her not tell me???

Eventually we got up. Though she kept her head down, I could see that she was cherry-red.

Interesting, very interesting; very very interesting. Whatever could that mean?

I made breakfast for us, and then called Christine for breakfast. She came in with her head down, sat down and began eating.Every time I looked over at her, I gave her a look. Then she would squeal and bury her face in hands, blushing.

She had come into my coffin because she felt safe with me!!!! She felt safe with me!

Me!

Not Raoul,or any other fop, me!

Did that mean she could possibly love me? Could she learn to love me?

I began to hope as I saw a soft smile grace her features as she tried not to stare at me....

Maybe, just maybe, she could love me.... 

And maybe, just maybe, she already did...?