A/N—To my dear friend: @EkaterinaKittyR , who showed me the short-form 'Mamour', and who is truly awesome and amazing! I love her soooo much! She is completely wonderful! Please follow her; because she is one of my closest friends, my first follower, and has been encouraging me from this story's baby-hood! She is truly the best!!!

Christine

"Erik...I was wondering if we could play Truth or Dare again..." Erik looked up from Pride and Prejudice, shocked. "Don't you remember how the last game went?" "Please?" I asked hopefully, giving him a pleading glance. His face softened completely, "Of course, Christine. But if I embarrass myself, I am blaming you." I glared at him playfully, "And if I embarrass myself, I will know who to blame." I teased.

I got out the hats from my room, where I had hid them from last time.

"Alright Erik! So, you remember, neither of us won last night. Winner take all, yes?" I asked, grinning. Erik's competitive side flashed. He grinned back at me. "Let the game begin!" He grinned again. "Who gets to go first, Erik?" I asked. "You, of course." Was his reply; his standard reply to anything. I grinned at Erik. "Truth or Dare, Erik?" I asked, excited to be playing a game with him. He grinned at me, "Dare." I reached into the 'dare' hat; pulling out a small, folded slip of paper, "Erik, I dare you to take off one item of clothing." He looked puzzled, "Did you not throw that slip of paper out?" He seemed uncomfortable. "Yes, I threw out all the slips we used...Meg must have written that one twice." I sighed, knowing that Meg probably did what I said she had. "So, will you take off an item of clothing for me? Or will you back out and lose?" I grinned. "You'll not win that easily!" Erik grinned, his competitiveness in full glow. "So take off an item of clothing, then. And nothing stupid. I want one proper item, Like your mask, or your shirt, or your pants, or your shoe—socks included." I crossed my arms with a huff. Erik looked at me quietly. He raised an eyebrow that had me hiding my face, flushing crimson. "You wish me to remove my dress pants, Christine? And I thought you were innocent and pure." I grabbed the nearest thing to me, which was a pillow, and flung it at him. Of course he would focus on that! "And there I was, sitting innocently, when you decide to assault me!" Erik cried dramatically. "Please, just take a shoe off..." I cried. Erik said nothing, just raised the eyebrow again, one that made me go even redder. Why was he being like this? "Erik, are you drunk?" I asked, thinking of the stories I heard about how people acted oddly when they were inebriated...Was Erik drunk? "I am not." Erik said with tremendous dignity. I looked down at the floor, embarrassed, "I'm sorry, Erik...Can we just play the game?" I asked hopefully. "Of course." He murmured. I looked up to see him sliding his shoe off, then his sock, "Technically, this is taking off two items of clothing, however, I shall not say anything more on the subject." I knew otherwise. Erik would say more on the subject, would hold that against me for a dare or two. I looked at his foot, naked and pale. When we were on the beach, I had not bothered to look down at his feet, occupied as I was with the sunlight, and his 'face' in the sunlight. Now, I had the chance to study his foot. I stared. His foot was long, which I had guessed when I saw how long his shoes were. It was thin, elegant. If I had not known better, I might have said his foot was a girl's. His toes were thin, but not goblin-ish or pointed at the ends; they were a proper size, the big toe being the biggest and the longest. Overall, his foot was sort of...dainty.

"May I put my sock and shoe back on?" He inquired softly, making me look back up at his masked face, "Oh, of course.." I blushed.

He put his foot attire back on, and I handed him the hats. "Truth or Dare, Christine?" "Dare." I responded immediately. He grinned at me, his long, gloved hand reaching into the hat. "Christine, I dare you to..Go outside and stop a moving carriage. When the window is rolled down, tell them their wheels were moving." Erik couldn't keep a straight face while he was reading this. "Do I have to?" I asked hopefully. "Oh yes." Erik grinned, his eyes filled with amusement, "And of course, to make sure you do this, I shall accompany you." He was holding back a laugh. "You just want to see me make a fool of myself!" I accused. "Oh, no. I do not just want to see you make a fool of yourself." That didn't answer my question at all. I huffed, and stood up, Erik following silently behind me. I opened the door, getting ready to hop in the boat, but Erik placed a hand on my arm, "Not this time, Christine. This time, we shall go another way." He took my arm, leading me away from the boat, towards a blank wall. He tapped the wall in a place three times, and a passage opened up, large enough for two people to walk side by side. Erik pulled me into the passage way, the door closing silently behind us. I looked over to my silent companion, who's face was pulled into a smile so wide it could light up the world. His heart, I thought absently, could hold an entire empire...

The passageway was short, and soon we emerged near the side of the Opera House. Erik pulled me to the open street, where we stood waiting. Soon, a carriage came, gently strolling by. "There is your chance, Christine. Go for it!" Erik whispered, unable to keep a snigger out o his voice. I glared at him, but sighed. I walked out into the road as the carriage approached us. I called to the driver, who looked bewildered, "Sir! Sir!" He looked puzzled again, "Yes miss? Do you need a ride or something?" "No, no. Your wheels are turning!" I exclaimed, blushing furiously. The driver looked patronizingly at me, "Yes, miss, they are..." He muttered something and tried to continue on, but I persisted, "But sir, your wheels are turning!" I cried again. He ignored me, rolling along. I continued to call after him, until the coach was out of sight.

I came back to where Erik was stooped over with laughter. "Have you had enough fun at my expense?" I asked teasingly. He stood stooped over a few more minutes before he managed to stand, still chortling. "That is a memory, I think, I shall cherish for ever." He snickered again, stroking my cheek with his gloved finger. "Well, I am glad you enjoyed it. Now can we please go home so no one else sees me?" I begged. He nodded, and we returned back home.

Erik

Christine sat in the chair across from me, still pink about the face from her little escapade. Oh, how amusing it was to see her yelling "Sir! Your wheels are turning!" to that driver. I nearly cried from amusement.

"Erik, Truth or Dare?" My Angel asked. I saw the wicked glint in her eyes, and knew she would be more than happy if I embarrassed myself. "Truth?" I asked and she scowled at me so fiercely that I sighed, "I meant dare, of course." She grinned, dipping her dainty little hand into the hat, retrieving a little slip of paper. "Erik, I dare you to...um, you have to do ten squats while I lie underneath.." Christine went redder than I had ever seen her. I felt my face heat up, "Perhaps we should not do that..?" I mumbled. Christine looked away from me, blushing furiously, "Oh, but we couldn't! It would just end up back in the hat..." "Then, rip it up!" I suggested. Truthfully, something like that was my worst nightmare and something I only thought of in my wildest dreams. But no, I could never do any such thing with Christine. She was my angel, all that was good, honest, pure, perfect. She was the light, and I was the darkness. "We couldn't possibly do that...Erik, are you backing out? Do you wish to lose?" She had a wicked glint in her lovely eyes, and a smirk on her mouth. She was completely desirable to my wretchedness.

"Then, get on the floor... Or, would you prefer to do this on a bed?" I nearly bit my tongue the second the words were out of my mouth. What had possessed me to say such things?

Christine looked at me, "Erik, you-you!" She couldn't figure out a good enough insult for me, just went red around the cheeks. "You said we could not back out of this..." I reminded her. She blushed, "Oh, perhaps we should not so this...If you do not wish to, we should not.." She said softly. I nodded, "Thank you, Christine." Though she did not know how badly I did want to do that....

Christine ripped up the slip of paper, and reached for another slip, "Erik, I dare you to... straddle me." She looked up at me, her eyes wide. "Oh, I have to speak with Meg about this!" She wailed, "But you have to do this..." She said desperately. "Okay..." I whispered, embarrassed. I got up slowly, walking over to Christine. She looked at me mutely, nervous. "I won't stay on you for long.." I murmured. She nodded, as I sat on her, placing my legs on either side of her, straddling her as the slip of paper said. We were both blushing as I sat there, thinking that I would rather be somewhere else, and that I wouldn't like to be anywhere else in the world. Two thoughts, warring against each other, fighting for control. I fought for the honest and decent, knowing I could not give in to what I wanted. Never.

Christine whimpered softly, a sound I had never heard from her before. A sound I instantly loved. "I should get off..." I mumbled, before my self-control evaporated. "Yes.." Christine gasped, sounding like that was the opposite of what she wanted.... why was that? I reluctantly got off my Angel, and returned to my seat. Christine blushed softly. "Truth or Dare, Christine?" I asked gently, hoping to move past this embarrassing scene. "Truth, I think is safer right now, yes?" Christine said softly. I pulled a slip of paper from the truth hat, and read it aloud, "Christine, how many people have you kissed?" I asked, in that minute deciding I liked dares better. "Two people, Erik.." I raised an eyebrow, "Who?" Could jealousy burn as much as it did now? "I kissed Raoul, once," She mumbled, looking embarrassed, "It was just a little peck, I swear. I was so young and stupid then..." I nodded, forgiving her for that instantly. Then I remembered she said she had kissed another, "Who else have you kissed?" She looked down demurely, then with a flick of her eyelashes, her eyes were back on my face, "You."

Oh..

I smiled softly.

"Truth or Dare, Erik?" Christine asked, smiling back at me. "Truth, I suppose." I replied, sliding the hat her way.

"Okay, Erik, I think we should both answer this...Would you rather go naked or have your thoughts appear in thought bubbles above your head for everyone to read?" She looked up at me, grinning. "Um...I think I would rather go naked...I like my privacy very much, thank you." "That means no mask. And privacy is gone the second you're naked." She argued. "True, but I think I could bare all, if my thoughts remained my own." I said softly. She nodded understandingly, "I see your point. For me, I think that I would rather have my thoughts appear in bubbles above my head." "But then your most sacred privacy is denied you. The mind is your last and inner sanctum, why would you want that invaded?" I asked, curious. "I know how I sound, and I see what you are saying. You were at that freak-show, and had to show off yourself, yes?" She asked, gently concerned. "Yes.." I murmured. "And at first, you were disturbed, then over time you got used to it, but never stopped being disturbed...I honestly would not want either. I value my privacy greatly, but I think....I think you're right, actually.." She conceded with me, "As long as it isn't forever."

"Truth or Dare, Christine?" I asked, feeling closer to my love than I had before. "Truth." I reached into the hat, pulling out yet another slip of paper. "What is the first thing you would do if you woke up one day as the opposite sex?" I asked, grinning as I put the paper down. "If I woke up as a male, what would I do..." Christine murmured, thinking, " I would walk outside in only linen pants and wink at anyone who made a comment." She grinned brazenly. I raised an eyebrow, "Truly?" "Yes!" Christine grinned, "And you, what would you do if you woke up as a woman?" I thought about it, "I think I would put on the prettiest dress I could find, and then go outside, and bat my eyelashes at any man who would look at me." She laughed, "How is that any better than what I said?" "It's not.." I laughed softly. "Truth or Dare, Erik?" Christine asked, smiling at me, a smile that could light up the world, and it made my heart want to burst.

"Truth or Dare, Erik?" Christine asked. "Dare!" I announced, grinning at her. "Erik, I dare you to... go outside and howl like a wolf for thirty seconds." Christine grinned. "You want me to be a werewolf Phantom? Now the whole Opera House will talk about how it is haunted not only by a Phantom, but a werewolf also! Or, they will think that the Phantom is a werewolf!" I groaned. "Oh, let them talk!" Christine laughed, looking hopeful, "Please?" I could deny her nothing, "Oh, if you insist!" We ventured out of my house again, and I went by the side of the Opera House. Looking back at Christine, I saw her look at me in encouragement. I sighed, and howled into the night. When that was over, I looked over at Christine and caught a look I most certainly wasn't supposed to catch. She was blushing, but not in an embarrassed way, her eyes looking at me almost hungrily. Christine saw me looking at her, her eyes dropped to the floor. Why had she looked at me like that?

"Shall we go inside before people come out with pitchforks?" I teased. We walked back into the house and sat down.

"Truth or Dare, Christine." I asked. "Dare!" Christine giggled. "Christine, I dare you to...go outside and scream that you were adopted." I laughed. "Alright, then, let's go outside." She laughed gaily. We again headed outside. Christine stood on the Opera House's steps, "Nooooo!" She screamed into the still night air, "I WAS ADOPTED!!!!" Christine cried, the sound of her voice ringing through the still night air. There were birds' calls, and someone shouted a few times. She turned towards me with a grin. "That was fun!" She giggled, coming over and hugging me.

"Truth!" Christine called, her checks flushed in pleasure. "If you could travel in time, anywhere, where would you go?" I asked. "I want to go to the future, to see what it holds!" Christine replied. "Oh? What year?" I asked, leaning forward. "A very long time, I think...Maybe the late 1900's, like 1987; if life is still going on, which I think it will be." She smiled wistfully. "Hmm, I think you might be right, late 1900's or, the 2000's, perhaps." I agreed. "You think the world will continue to the 2000's?" Christine asked. "Of course. Life will continue until the sun goes out, and by then, maybe 550 billion years in the future; spacecrafts will most likely be built and then life will move somewhere else." I said. Christine looked thoughtful, "That makes perfect sense to me."

I grinned at her.

"Erik, Truth or Dare?" I grinned, "Dare!" "Erik, I dare you to drink half a bottle of wine!" Christine grinned impishly. I grinned right back, "Only if you drink the other half." I grinned right back at her. She leaned forward, sloppily kissing me. I grinned again.

I brought the bottle of wine back to the room. "Drink it." Christine purred. So I did.

And after that, Christine, fluttering her hand over her mouth after every sip, drank the other half of the bottle.

________________________________________________________________________________

3rd Person Narrative

Christine giggled at Erik, who's head was swaying to some unseen music, as his body swayed with him. He looked up in shock, forgetting the room was occupied by someone other than himself. "Chris...tine?" He slurred, his eyes widening. How had she some to be here?

Christine, who was slightly less drunk than Erik, giggled at him, waggling her eyebrows, "Yes?" "Why are we here..?" Erik asked slowly, perhaps trying to pretend he was less sozzled than he actually was. Trust Erik to try and act normal.

"I think...." Christine paused, giggling again, "We were playing a....game...Yes! We...were playing....Truth or...Dare!" She finished excitedly. Erik sniggered, "That sounds fun! Shall we continue?" Christine looked at him excitedly, "Oh, yes!"

Erik grinned, leaning forward and pressing a sloppy kiss on Christine's flush mouth. He pulled back with a gasp, his glazed eyes wide, a hand flying to his mouth, "I'm so sorry..." he said in a hushed whisper, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Christine giggled, and flirtatiously touched his knee, "Do it again!" Then she too, seemed to hear herself say something she should not, "I mean..." She squeaked, but Erik wasn't listening, staring blissfully off into space. "Erik,.... forgive.... me...." She mumbled, her hand wildly flying about. In her hand's flight, she knocked the 'dare's' hat, and the little slips of paper fell, like little leaves, gracefully to the floor. "Oh, no!" Christine cried, lurching forward dizzily, trying in vain to catch the paper as it fell in one mass to the floor. All she succeeded in doing was making herself more dizzy and disoriented. Erik made a dismayed sound, and then his strong, powerful arms her surrounding her, picking her up. "Don't you worry....We'll pick them up....Erik will pick them up for his Christine! Erik would do anything for Christine, would he not?" He mumbled, getting slowly to the floor and picking the paper up. He gently placed the paper slips back into the hat, tipping it as his hand quivered. "Oh, Erik is so clumsy, is he not? Why Erik has to be this way, he does not know...." Erik muttered quietly to himself, eventually righting the hat and carefully getting back into his seat. "Where were we?" Erik asked slowly, swaying in his seat. Christine, too, was swaying, though she tried not to show it. Erik saw her swaying, however, and looked concernedly at her through the glaze of his eyes, "Is Christine all right? Does she need Erik to place her in bed?" Christine giggled at his talk, but Erik frowned, "Whatever is the matter?" She giggled again, hiding her mouth behind her hand, "Your...talk...It's in...Third-Person!" "Has Erik not always spoken so?" She wrinkled her nose, trying to make sense of his confusing sentence through her muddled mind. Now she had it: 'Have I not always spoken like this?'

Christine sighed when she interpreted his sentence and, slowly, replied, "No." "But Erik has spoken like this since his birth..." Erik mumbled, confused. "No you haven't..." Christine whispered, swaying a bit more noticeably. Erik frowned, "Erik should really put Christine in bed.." He said. "Please...Don't." Christine begged, "Can we keep playing Truth or Dare?" She asked, struggling with that long sentence. "Oh...Erik can deny his Angel nothing!" He said, face softening. Christine clapped her little hands, looking blearily around the room, seeing the familiar sights, the sights of home. The bookcase right behind her, it soft cherry wood glistening slightly with the light from the fireplace behind Erik's chair. Her feet grazed the soft carpet which kept one's feet from getting cold, though that was silly when Erik always had the fire going. She looked in the corner and saw the baby-grand piano for when Erik was too lazy to go to his room and compose, its silky keys beckoning to her. She giggled. Yes, this was home.

"Christine, are you quite alright?" Erik asked, sounding clear. She turned her fuzzy head towards his beautiful form, "Oh...Yes." Christine giggled, completely sozzled. "Erik was worried." He purred, leaning forward, stroking her pretty cheek. "You worry too much." She gasped. "Not enough, that is how much Erik worries, not nearly enough..." He replied, confuddling her foggy brain. "Oh..." Was all she could reply. "Shall we...play?" Christine whispered, reaching clumsily for one of the hats. "Ask Erik first, won't you?" Erik muttered. "Oh...right...Truth or Dare, Angel?" Christine asked, reverting to her favorite nickname, a nickname Erik disapproved of heartily. "Erik is no angel, Christine." He said solemnly. "Oh yes you are!" Christine argued drunkenly, swaying forward, shaking a slender finger at him, "So stop!"

Erik rolled his eyes, but replied to her first question, "Erik chooses... Truth..." Erik said carefully, stroking his chin. Christine clumsily grasped a slip of paper. Squinting so she could see the paper, Christine read, "Have you ever kissed a looking-glass?"

Erik looked thoughtfully at her, "Erik has kissed a mirror..." He said evasively. "When?" Christine couldn't help but ask. "It was a night, long ago, when Erik had not yet seen Christine; when he was looking into her mirror, and she was so close, ever so close...Erik could not help himself, Christine must understand...She was so beautiful, Erik's Christine, and oh, how close she was...So he leaned in, and kissed the mirror, wishing he was kissing her..." Erik explained, using his hands when he was talking. Christine nodded too enthusiastically, bouncing up and down on the settée. "Do you want Erik to kiss you now?" He asked, grinning rakishly, swaying only a little as he leaned saucily towards her. "More than any thing!" Christine blurted, then gasped, "Oh, what you must think of me...I am so saucy, am I n-not?" Christine mumbled, blushing all over her pretty, heart-shaped face. The only place which did not house the red of her blush were her eyes, the blue found when you looked out at the ocean and looked at the middle of it. Her eyes were not the crystal aqua of the shallows of a beach, nor the deep indigo of the ocean on the horizon line. No, her eyes were the middle blue, the pretty, bluebird blue.

Erik grinned drunkenly at Christine, thinking how blue her eyes were, how chocolatey was her hair, how lush her lips, how perfect she was. The most amazing creature ever to walk the Earth.

"You are perfect, Christine...The most wonderful being...Even more charming and perfect than those mermaids Erik met on his quest...Oh, yes, more perfect, for you are Christine, and Christine is perfect to her Erik." Erik babbled like a brook. Christine nodded again, believing him fully in her condition. "Truth or Dare Christine?" Erik asked lazily, reclining in his chair, legs crossed. Christine tried to imitate his carefree and jaunty position. She only succeeded in looking adorable, at least that was what Erik though, as he peeked at her again and again. Or maybe she looked demure and sexy? That was it, Christine looked demurely sexy. So perfect it was impossible to concentrate on anything but Christine's perfection. She was sublime, superb, wonderful, impeccable...She was an Angel!

"Truth.." Christine giggled breezily, swinging her perfect little feet back and forth, giggling like a small child. Erik was amazed and enraptured by her bell-like giggle. "Erik is enraptured by Christine's giggle," Erik said simply. Christine repeated her giggle. "Christine, do you sing in the bathtub?" Erik asked slowly, squinting at the paper as if it were filled with ink blots, not words. Christine looked up thoughtfully, "Oh, yes. I've sang in the bath since I was six—no, since I was three...Or was it two? Anyway, I've always sang in the bath. It is a pastime of mine I enjoy so very much!" Christine gushed. Now, it was Erik's turn to nod enthusiastically and bounce up and down in his seat.

"Erik...Truth or Dare?" Christine asked, bouncing up and down like Erik. "Erik chooses Dare!" Erik announced, leaning forward, pecking his angel on the lips. "Pretend to be the person sitting across from you for ten minutes." Christine giggled. Erik answered her grin with a lopsided smile of his own. Erik looked thoughtfully at Christine, and assumed her pose. "Angel." Erik snickered, clasping his hands in a very 'Christine' gesture. Christine looked at him, awestruck. "I love to sing, and dance, and get caught in traps," Erik giggled, tweaking her cheek. Then his glowing eyes widened, "Oh, Erik did not meant that. Can Christine ever forgive Erik?" He begged. "You're forgiven, and you're loosing!" Christine grinned. Erik's tongue licked his lips languidly, as if tasting her and not his own mouth. Christine's pulse quickened, and her already red cheeks became all the redder. Oh, he was so scandalously delicious....

"Oh, Angel! You're forgiven, and you're losing!" Erik mimicked in her exact tone, standing up. He went to the fireplace, leaning on the mantle, assuming a dreamy expression that made Christine's heart melt. "Oh, I love my father, and I adore the Angel of music.." He sighed in her dreamy voice, moving his hand to cup his face. "And I love little birds, which sing in the trees, the animals, and everything beautiful.." He sighed again. Twirling girlishly, he snag a little ditty about innocence and beauty, causing Christine to sigh happily. His expression softened, and he kneeled down on the floor. "I am the most unselfish, sweetest, most wonderful human being on the planet, and yet I do not know it. I am naïve, in a few ways, and yet charismatic and perfect.." "Is that me, or what you think of me?" Christine asked, embarrassed at how flattering he was. "Does it matter?" Erik asked.

"I am an Angel..." He whispered, "Though I do not believe it..."

And then, he sat beside her, "I care about everything and everyone.I am love in its purest, most beauteous, exemplary, flawless, unparalleled form." He finished, patting Christine's knee. Christine blushed, hiding her face in her hands. "Oh, Christine...Has Erik upset you? Oh, if he did, Erik would never forgive himself.." He trailed. Christine looked up at him, and kissed his cheek. "Truth or Dare, Christine?" He asked dizzily, as though her kiss had intoxicated him even more than the alcohol had, which it probably had. "Dare!" She whispered, pecking him on the porcelain nose. It was apparent he was blushing. "Christine, Erik dares you to...Kiss him..." He seemed embarrassed and hopeful at the same time. She leaned in, blushing happily. Christine pressed her lips lightly to his, but he didn't want a light, carefree kiss. Erik wanted more, he wanted passion. So they kissed drunkenly, full of passion and emotions so strong they didn't quite know what they were. Her arms found his neck, his found her waist, pulling her so she was straddling him. Her hands moved from his neck to his hair, tangling herself in it, stroking his soft tendrils of hair. He started massaging little circles onto her hips, making her open her mouth with a sigh, Taking that as a sign, Erik slid his tongue into her mouth, erupting her mouth into flame. She gasped against him, accidentally nipping the end of his tongue, which made his make a very low-pitched, sensual sound. He retracted his tongue, settling for biting her lower lip. Christine's fingers tangled in Erik's hair, her legs wrapping themselves around his waist. She made a sort of giggle, then bit down hard on his lower lip, actually drawing blood. Erik pulled back, his eyes confused and dazed, "You bit Erik..." He accused drunkenly. She bobbed her head, then stopped, looking confused, "So did you..." "But Erik did not draw blood." He looked sternly at her, trickles of blood dribbling down his chin. Unabashedly; Christine leaned forward, licking his chin clean, then sucking on his lower lip 'till it bled no more. His gaze became unfocused. "You..." He trailed softly, and Christine stopped, looking up at him innocently, "I?" She asked, hiding a giggle. "You...do not know what you do to Erik. How he wants you...."

Christine's cheeks lit up, crimson and warm. Erik's eyes zeroed in on her blush, as he placed a gloved hand on her cheek. Annoyed, Christine slapped his hand away. Erik tried to hide his hurt look, "What was that for?" He asked, eyes leaking a little. "Take that damned glove off before I bite your finger." Christine glowered, dainty arms crossed. Erik blinked a few times, "You wish Erik to take his gloves off?" "Yes. I want your hands, your ungloved hands to touch me...I mean..." Christine realized what she said, and the sober part of her—what little was there—was embarrassed. Erik did not seem fazed by her risqué comment, just complying with her request. Christine stared. "Are Erik's hands hideous, mamour?" She look up at the sound of his perfect voice; a mix of smooth, rich velvet tones and deep violin music, mixed with a hint of a French accent, and something so very Erik is was impossible to describe. His voice was like the music he created. Perfect and hauntingly stunning. "No, Erik. Your hands are, simply put, gorgeous. They are perfect!" Christine gushed, taking his surprisingly warm hands in hers. "Why do you not have your hands gloveless?" She asked, rubbing tiny circles on his hands. "It is cold..." He mumbled.

Erik leaned forward, more of a lurch than a graceful movement, and pressed his masked face in her hair. She giggled, feeling him breathe gently and deeply. "Your hair smells like silk...No, it feels like silk, and smells like roses and lavender, and Christine." He purred, stroking her silky hair. Christine grabbed a fistful of his shirt, pulling him closer so she could sniff his neck. "You smell like ink, roses, Erik, and....the smell when it's been raining for hours and then it stops. You know that smell, right? The Downpour smell!" Christine described enthusiastically, wrapping her arms around his neck. He nuzzled her neck in response.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Erik, Truth or Dare?" Christine asked dizzily, and a little sadly. She was lonely, Erik was back to sitting across from her. She sorely wanted him to come back and sit with her again. "Dare..." Erik mumbled. "I dare you to take your mask off." Christine announced, drunkenly bouncing up and down on the settée. "Erik's what?" Erik asked, confusion in his eyes; a starry smile plain and true on his face, as he twirled a rose in a circle. "Your mask!" Christine repeated, a sober part of her thinking how awaking it was that he was so relaxed, and so carefree. She marvelled that he had forgotten that which he never forgot. Christine reached up, leaning forward very ungracefully, and touched the porcelain which was always irking her. He blinked a few times, before shrugging and slowly sliding his mask off.

Christine looked at him, her vision blurry, obscuring his deformed face enough so that she cared not what he looked like—not that she would have cared about how his deformity made him look, anyway, for she cared so very deeply for her Angel.

"Truth or Dare, Christine?" He asked, his voice clearer and crisper, now that his mask was off. "Dare!" Christine announced, grinning. "Erik fumbled for the dare hat, clumsily pulling a piece of paper out. "Erik dares you to...lick his neck." Christine blushed, but came over and licked his neck, noticing how his adam's apple bobbed furiously when her tongue grazed it lightly. He sucked in a breath, arms clumsily holding onto her.

She stumbled backwards, sitting on the floor at his feet. "Erik..." She breathed shakily, "Truth or Dare?" She whispered. "Erik chooses dare!" He announced. She grinned, "Let me style your hair!" "Only if you climb up here." He grinned brazenly. "Deal." Christine crowed, slowly and teasingly getting up, then just as slowly climbing up on him. She straddled him, then mussed his hair up. She felt his heart hammering in his chest as she sat on him for a few moments too long. Then, realizing what she was doing, she squeaked embarrassedly, dismounting from Erik. He, of course, was no help at all; grinning at her like he could see beneath her stockings and petticoats, raising a teasing eyebrow as she blushed. "My, my..." was all he said when she was on the floor once more. "Christine, Truth or Dare?" He asked, leaning towards her. "Dare." She whispered. "Erik dares you to kick as high as you can." He had a very dirty look on his face, and Christine didn't know if she wanted to slap him, or kiss him....

She sighed, made a face, and kicked as high as she could, before she toppled backwards, her skirts flying everywhere. Crying out, she grabbed ahold of the nearest thing to her, pulling at it. She heard a grunt, then Erik was beside her, looking a little miffed. "What was that for?" he grumbled. "I needed help up...." She said demurely. He rolled his eyes.

"Erik, I dare you to sing for me!" Christine announced, grinning. He grinned back, "What does Christine wish to hear?" "A love song!" She replied.

He looked thoughtful for a moment, then his tremulous voice filled the room.

"Love...

Love changes everything....

Hands and faces,

Earth and sky....

Love,

Love changes everything....

How you live and

How you die....

Love can make a summer fly,

Or a night seem like a lifetime...

Yes, love,

Love changes everything...

How I tremble, at your name!

Nothing in the world

Will ever be the same!

Love,

Love changes everything....

Days are longer,

Words mean more...

Pain is deeper than before!

Love will turn your world around,

And that world will last forever!

Yes, love,

Love changes everything!

Brings you glory!

Brings you shame!

Nothing in the world will ever be the same!!"

He paused, stroking her cheek tenderly,

"Off into the world we go,

Planning futures, shaping years,

Love bursts in and suddenly,

All our wisdom disappears!

Love makes fools of everyone,

All the rules we make are broken!"

"How true..." He mumbled softly. Seeing Christine searching his face, he continued singing.

"Yes, love,

Love changes everything!

Live or perish, in its flame!

Love will never never let you

Be the same!

Love changes everything...

Hands and faces,

Earth and sky...

Love will never never let you be...

The....Same!"

He finished, gripping her hand tenderly. Christine's face was glowing. So was Erik's.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Christine, Erik dares you to play a round of Hide-and Seek with him!" Erik announced, standing up. "No cheating, now. Count properly!" Christine said firmly. He nodded thrice, before hiding his hand in the crook of his arm. "One..." He purred. Christine let out a whoop of excitement and took off running. "Where should I hide?" She whispered. Then she had an idea, "Under his bed...not the coffin, of course..." She mumbled. Christine heard Erik's voice call out "Seven!" and she giggled silently, dashing towards his room and wiggling under the bed, where she silently prayed he'd not find her. "Ready, or not..." His voice was silken and sexy, "Here...Erik...Comes..." Christine covered her mouth as she heard Erik searching. "Where could you be? Hmm, Here? No...Here?" She heard his footsteps coming closer, felt her face heat up as he came in the room. He hummed to himself, then became quiet.

Suddenly, a pair of arms grabbed her about the waist, and she was pulled out from under the bed. She was pulled flush against him, their hearts beating wildly.

"Truth or Dare, Christine?" He whispered, hands sliding warmly up and down her waist, making her shiver. "D-dare..." She whimpered. His mouth hovered over her ear, "Get on the bed and lie down. Erik must squat ten times, above Christine..." His husky whisper sent gooseflesh playing on her arms. She nodded, and climbed onto the bed Erik never slept in. He joined her in a few moments, after staring at her gorgeous form for a few precious seconds. Then, he assumed the proper position, and began to fulfill the dare, making Christine gasp and whimper each time he collided with her waist, which was covered in her little lavender dress.

Erik sat back with a sigh Christine felt. "Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?" Christine mumbled, regretting the words the second they were spoken. He grinned lopsidedly, before hovering over her; his mask back on, much to the confusion and chagrin of his companion. He teased her with a quick kiss. That one little kiss quickly deepened into a million more kisses, each more passionate than the last. His shirt slid off, and her dress slithered off, until she was in a silky shift and a few thin petticoats. He grinned, as he began kissing all her exposed skin. She breathed heavily; and when it was her turn, she kissed all the skin he left open.

Exhausted from their escapades; innocent enough, considering, and from the effects of the wine; Christine and Erik passed out. Erik's warm body was collapsed on Christine, his head pillowed in her chest; her arms about his back, securing him in place.

Their minds were miles away, content in the realms of dreams and wishes; unaware that they were having the same dream about each other—A dream of love which neither would remember once they awoke.