Disclaimer: I don't own rights to Phantom, or any of the characters. I do own rights to my own characters, like Marie.
A/N:I've tried my best to base this Erik off of ALW version of Phantom, just FYI
After Christine left him alone in his lair, Erik considered himself lucky that he managed to escape the mob. They had just reached the bottom of the stairs when he swept his cloak around him and disappeared. Or so it seemed. He had made good use of the trapdoor he built behind his throne. He managed to find Madame Giry, and much to his embarrassment, asked for her help. Apparently, Madame Giry was planning to move to the United States with her daughter Meg, and offered to take him with them. Erik accepted, mostly because Madame Giry and Meg were two of the three people in Paris who didn't want him dead. Besides, what else could he do?
The Girys found a small townhouse in Boston, and gave Erik a room to himself. He spent most of his time in his room, coming out only for meals, or occasionally, to take walks along the streets of Boston.
Once again, Erik spent the evening wandering the streets. Whenever Madame Giry asked where he was going, he told her he was looking for work. It was a lie, but he knew Madame Giry couldn't afford to house him for much longer. He might as well make her think he was trying to support himself.
Luckily tonight was a cold night, so there weren't many people on the street. He had gotten used to the looks he received, as he had given up concealing his face with a mask, but he still enjoyed lonely nights like this. He had only seen one person tonight: a young man who seemed to be in a hurry, and therefore took no notice of Erik. He had almost reached the house he shared with Madame Giry when he heard someone speak.
"You have a lovely voice". Erik stopped where he was. "What?" he growled. He hadn't even realized he had been singing. But he was, about his music. The music he wanted Christine to sing for him what seemed like a lifetime ago…
He turned around a saw a young woman (no more than thirty) with a heart shaped face, and bright green eyes; her head covered in light brown curls, staring back at him. She flinched upon seeing his face, but did not look away. She swallowed.
"I said, you have a lovely voice. I hear you singing to yourself." She smiled slightly. "I wish I could sing like that." Erik said nothing, but continued to stare at her.
She gestured to the house behind him. "Do you live here?" He nodded grimly. The girl smiled again, this time her grin a little broader. "My name's Marie." Erik nodded again, and went into the house without another word.
"Any luck tonight, monsieur?" Erik walked past Madame Giry and went up the stairs. He longed for the privacy of his room, so he could be alone. So he could think. What an odd girl, Erik thought. Most women who saw his face with such clarity screamed or ran away. But she didn't. The girl, Marie, he remembered, had even complimented his voice. He had never received a compliment before in his life. Now that he thought about it, those were the only kind words he had heard ever since he had entered this blasted country. Maybe, Erik thought as he settled into his bed, this girl was different from others he'd seen.
The next morning, Erik sat at his desk. He was going to do something he hadn't done since he left France. He was going to write music. "Marie," he said. "I'm going to write music for her. I can teach her to sing, I can…" He stopped. "No, no, no!" Erik dropped his head into his hands. "What am I thinking? It's Christine all over again, this girl is NOT Christine!" He stood up and began to pace back and forth. "Why on earth would that girl want anything to do with me? I am a monster! A horrid beast!" Erik swept an arm across the surface of his desk, sending pens, ink and paper crashing to the floor. He grew angrier still. "When am I going to learn? How could anyone possibly love me?" He scowled. "Write music for her," he scoffed. "As if I can hide my face behind music and song…"
He heard a knock at his door. "Erik?" It was that silly little girl, Meg. What could she want? Erik stormed over to the door and threw it open. "When will you learn that I wish to left alone?" he roared. "Does privacy mean nothing to you? What is it that you want?" Young Meg's eyes filled with fear, but she took a breath and said, "There's someone at the door for you." Erik's heart almost stopped at her next words. "A young woman named Marie."
Erik opened the door and stepped outside. The girl he met last night was waiting for him. Seeing Erik, she stood up quickly. "I'm sorry to bother you. I wanted to see you again, you didn't even tell me your name." She looked up at him hopefully.
"Erik," he said, barely audible. "My name is Erik. Would you... would you like to sit down and talk for a while?" He gestured to the small garden in the back of the house. She nodded quickly, and Erik turned so she could follow him. What am I doing, he thought. I don't like to talk. Why am I doing this, especially for a woman? A woman I've just met. I am growing soft, what's the matter with me? He shook his head in disgust. Nonetheless, he sat down on a bench opposite Marie. Before he knew it, they had started a conversation. They talked for an hour, and before he could stop himself, Erik asked her to come back tomorrow.
Throughout the next week, Erik talked with the girl in the garden, each time opening up a little more. Marie didn't seem to mind his face; she always looked him in the eyes when she spoke to him. Sometimes he would sing for her. One day, as she was getting up to leave, she stopped in front of Erik. She stood opposite him and stared at his face, which bothered Erik. "What are you doing?" he snapped. Marie continued to gaze at him calmly. "I'm trying to imagine that this side of your face," she indicated the unmarred side, "reflected like a mirror." She moved her hand to the other side of his face.
"You could be quite handsome". This was almost too much for poor Erik. "Well I'm not!" he bellowed. "I am hideous! Or could you not see that?" Marie only stepped closer. What was she doing? Erik thought. "I've learned to see past the outside. I know what lies within." With that, she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. Erik was shocked, but even more so that he found himself holding her closer. She didn't back away, despite the ice-cold feel of his skin. Maybe I am growing soft, Erik thought. Or maybe… this is what it feels like to fall in love.
New author, please review, and thank you for reading!