I do not own Phantom of the Opera or any of its characters. I only claim to own my imagination and my notebooks, which are filled with my imagination.

Thanks must go to all of my supporters: Meresta, Nimrod the Writer, Cyprith, Kit-Pocket, and of course Lucifer Rosemaunt, without whom I wouldn't be writing any POTO. Thank you guys so much! And if I missed anyone, kindly let me know and I will add your name to the list. Enjoy!

I lie in my lover's arms, enjoying the night. There is a fire blazing only feet away; it keeps the cold of the night at bay.

I am dozing, and as I doze, I think of nothing and everything. She comes to mind, but now she is just a fleeting picture, a memory in my mind. I will not see her again.

My lover has a firm, yet gentle, grip on me as he stares into the fire. I gaze up at him lovingly. He is perfection in my mind, no matter what the world thinks.

We have been on the run for weeks now. Ever since the mob first formed to track down my lover, we have run. I think it was in his moments of desperation that I first truly saw him for what he was. In those moments, I made a decision. And I don't regret anything I did in that time.

Snuggling closer, I smile at him as his attention shifts to me. The mask has long been discarded and I can now see him fully. I never cringe; I have no reason to. I love everything about him.

He smiles back at me, amused. There is a loving look in his eyes, though, one he once reserved for her. Now it is all mine.

"I love you, Erik." I whisper, settling back down. His name is something he never even gave her. She probably never thought he had a name; what a silly girl.

He squeezes my shoulder a little and rests his head on mine, staring into the fire with a serene expression.

His voice is soft, melodious, gentle. He murmurs, "I love you, too, Raoul."

I smile and close my eyes before drifting into a fitful rest. Tomorrow, we will finally escape to a new place and start a new life, one in which he needs no mask. We will find acceptance from others. But for now, all we need is our love.

Seriously, this is starting to get irritating. I am so annoyed right now. I don't know why this story won't load right, but I can assure you that it is not supposed to be underlined, bold, or italicized, aside from those few normal places. If anyone has had similar problems, I would appreciate some help.

Review? XD