Disclaimer: I (sadly) don't own Phantom of the Opera. What I DO now own is a half mask charm and a Phantom music book that I got off of eBay! Yay!

Much credit goes to dreamsherry for Left In Darkness!

The following morning, Raoul woke up from an admittedly much happier sleep than the one he had to endure the night before. He turned over to see Erik, who was once again, awake and fully dressed.

"What time do you wake up at exactly?" Raoul asked as he wiped his eyes and looked at his watch.

"Usually around 8:30 when all of the stagehands come in. I have sensitive hearing, so it basically serves as a wakeup call. Get dressed, for I have an incredible sound in my head that came to me in a dream last night, and I must put it to paper." Raoul began his routine of grabbing a set of clothing and a candle when Erik suddenly felt the need to interrupt him.

"The closet has electric lighting. You don't need to bring a candle in," he chimed.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?" Raoul inquired, curious as to why Erik kept such a detail quiet.

"The first two times you used the closet, you were furious. I didn't feel the need to tip your temper further than it already was." Raoul nodded. He knew that if Erik had uttered another word, he would have been put over the edge, and done something stupid. He was rather grateful that Erik chose to hold his tongue.

"And what of the third time?" Raoul asked

"I simply forgot," Erik said with a shrug. Deciding to leave the conversation at that and not to press further, Raoul walked into the closet.

"The switch is on your left. Feel for it," Erik cried out. After extending his hand and feeling the walls for a few moments, he found the light switch and flipped it, filling the space with light. He saw Erik's closet full of fine suits, shoes, and cloaks of sorts. He looked to see two small wooden doors, which he prepared to open, but was interrupted by a knock on the closet door.

"Are you alright in there, Vicomte?" Erik cried out. "You've been in there for a while."

"Yes I'm fine. Just give me another minute," Raoul responded. He quickly changed into his clothing and left the closet, remembering to turn the light off. Raoul's curiosity of what was held behind the two doors had not quite faded. While having breakfast, another dish of Crepes Suzettes, Raoul decided to speak up about the manner.

"I was wondering Erik. –"

Before he had time to begin his question, they heard the indistinguishable sound of the approaching gondola in the main room. After exchanging glances at one another, the duo stood up and set off to find the source of the sound. As they arrived in the main room, they saw a tall figure in a black cloak. Approaching the figure, Erik quickly realized who it was.

"I was starting to worry about you, Madame," he started. To Raoul's amazement, the figure took off her cloak to reveal Madame Giry.

"I'm sorry I couldn't have come earlier, but things I had to keep away for a while to let things blow over," Madame Giry said.

"I understand, Madame. I'm just glad to see that you were alright after that night's events. I believe I heard cry out in pain. Did you take on an injury, Madame?"

"Not to worry Erik. It was simply a cramp," the old woman replied. Unable to think of anything to say watching the scene before him, Raoul had stayed silent up to this point. However, his shock in the situation faded soon after.

"Madame Giry?" Raoul cried

"Oh yes, this is important for you to know, Vicomte," Erik started. "Madame Giry will be able to get you anything that you need from the outside world. She usually comes down every two or three days or so to deliver food, ink, and my salary here. She also brings notes to the managers for me. She's the one who taught me to cook as well. Quite the woman she is."

"Why thank you Erik," Madame Giry said. "And you can write me a list and I will be sure to get you whatever I can."

"Wait Madame Giry, you seem to be less than surprised to see me here alive. Didn't Christine tell you I'm supposed to be dead?" As he said the last 5 words of his question, he glared at Erik, who in turn smirked at him.

"Yes, Christine told me about your supposed "death" but I was well aware of Erik's intentions," Madame Giry said. "I've known Erik for so many years, I can practically read his mind sometimes."

"But don't you find this wrong?" Raoul asked, begging that he could appeal to her sanity. Since she was so close with Erik, perhaps she could convince him to let him go. "I'm being held here against my will."

"Christine gave you to me," Erik said, turning towards Raoul. "As she whispered in my ear the answer to my ultimatum, she said, and I quote, "Take Raoul and let me go you monster." You entrusted your life to her and she gave you to me. Technically speaking, you allowed me to take you. You are mine, Vicomte, and more by your own choice than you originally thought." Raoul looked into Erik's eyes, hoping to find some falseness in the golden orbs, but found none.

Raoul turned to Madame Giry, "What are your thoughts on the situation, Madame?"

Madame Giry stood in silent thought for a few moments, before finally responding. "If what Erik said is true, and I highly doubt that it's not, than you do belong to Erik, Raoul." Raoul couldn't believe this. Has the world gone mad?

"Now," Madame Giry started, "if you'd give me your list, I should like to be on my way. I am meeting Andre and Firmin for brunch in an hour, and they would be suspicious if I were to arrive late."

"Of course, Madame." Erik turned to face Raoul, "is there anything you want me to include on my list for you?"

Raoul thought for a second. "Madame Giry, would it be possible for you to stroll by de Chagney manor and pick up a few of my belongings?"

"I could, but not for a few weeks. A lot of people are standing outside of your manor in mourning, and I do not want the possessions of a dead man to disappear just days after his "death.""

"I understand. But I do have a question for you Madame. Is Christine alright?" Raoul wanted to ask if she knew if he was alive as well, but he assumed that Madame Giry would keep it a secret.

"I advised her to take a few weeks to herself in the countryside to relax her mind and to reflect upon what's happened. Thankfully, she took my advice, and will return in approximately a month. Now I need to leave. Have a good day." Without another word, she put her cloak back on and walked towards the gondola. Rowing away, she left the two men, once again, alone.

"Let's head to the music room at once!" Erik exclaimed "I fear that I am losing my memory of the melody I heard and must put it to paper immediately." He practically sprinted to the room in question, with Raoul following steadily behind. Upon reaching the music room, Erik sat at the piano bench, while Raoul took a chair from the desk and turned it towards the piano.

Raoul observed Erik as he recited is thoughts onto the piano. The melody he played was simply beautiful. Raoul could clearly hear Erik's heart and soul being put into every note he played on the piano. So this is Erik in his element, he thought as Erik graced the ivory keys of the piano with his fingers. How amazing, a true genius. Every time that Erik would pause to write down the notes of the melody, the soft smile on Raoul's face would drop a little. It was hypnotizing to say the least.

When Erik finished arranging his melody, he decided to play another. Raoul took the opportunity to explore the music room in its entirety. He felt the smooth surfaces of the drums and the cool metal of the brass instruments. However, what caught Raoul's interest the most was a small violin in the corner of the room, or the bottom shelf. It was clearly well over 50 years old and appeared to be working. Not having picked up a violin in years, Raoul's interest was clearly piqued. Raoul picked it up, and softly, started to play along in harmony with Erik, creating an enchanting melody between the two. Raoul felt such joy as he let his fingers work the violin, giving his thoughts into the music. He wondered if this was the same joy that Erik felt when he surrounded himself in his music. Raoul had become so engrossed in the music and his instrument that he had failed to notice that Erik had stopped playing and was walking over to Raoul. Erik simply stood behind him and gazed at the sight of the Vicomte playing. He had never expected that the Vicomte had any musical talent. Though he was far from professional, he was indeed very good.

When at last, Raoul stopped playing, he smiled, admiring the instrument and the sound that he had made, still failing to notice Erik's presence.

"That was very good." Erik said. Raoul jumped in surprise, his fingers clutching onto the violin tighter. He had obviously not expected Erik to have heard him play. "You went a little sharp, but overall, it was good. Where did you learn to play the violin so well?"

Raoul turned to Erik, blushing a bit from his jump earlier. "Monsieur Daee taught me when I was just a little boy." Raoul thought back in fondness to his violin lessons with Monsieur Daee. He had to have been only seven or eight years old when he had learned the violin. The lessons were some of the best moments of his childhood, some of the only where he did not have to meet anyone's expectations but his own. Perhaps that's why he loved the instrument so much.

"You seemed a little out of practice, though."

"That is because I only had two years of lessons before my father pulled me out of lessons. He worried that I would become a musician and disgrace the family name." He thought bitterly to the day that his father told him that he would stop going to Monsieur Daee's lessons. "I tried to argue, but my parents would have none of it. They locked me in my room for days and forced me to take etiquette lessons, feeling that it would be more proper for a Vicomte to know, until the thoughts of the violin were almost completely eradicated from my head."

"That is a shame. No child should ever be deprived of music, to hell with social customs. You have much potential, but your years out of practice have made you a bit stale and you could be better. Would you like me to perhaps give you violin lessons?"

After a moment's hesitation, thinking about everything that Erik had to offer him, Raoul said, "yes. Yes, I would like that very much."

"Good, then let's begin." Erik grabbed another violin and took a seat at the piano bench facing Raoul who was sitting on his desk chair.

For the remainder of the day, Erik and Raoul went over basic skills with the violin. Erik was impressed with Raoul's focus and improvement over the course of the day. He had never expected it from the boy. As for Raoul, he had never expected Erik to have been such a great teacher. He was well rounded, patient, and would explain anything that he did not understand. He was beginning to understand why Christine loved having him as a music teacher and how she got so good.

By the time they finally wrapped up their lesson, it was 8:45 according to Raoul's watch. The two men went to the kitchen for dinner, only to find their half eaten breakfasts still on the table. Not wanting to cook at this hour, they decided to simply heat up their unfinished food. "Why let good meals go to waste?" were Raoul's exact words. After spending a couple of hours in the sitting room, they headed back to their bedroom.

As Raoul changed into his sleepwear, the question as to way lay behind the two small doors still plagued Raoul. Though he had failed to ask Erik a first time due to Madame Giry's sudden appearance, he felt that he should try again. As he walked out of the closet and into his bed, he looked at Erik, who was reading a book.

"In your closet," he started, as Erik focused his gaze towards him, "there were two doors. What's behing them?"

Looking down, Erik replied, "I keep my masks there."

Raoul eyes softened at hearing this confession. It seemed like it was such a hard thing for Erik to do. Raoul truly sympathized with the man in front of him. Having to hide your face, your whole life behind a mask, it must have been torture. He looked to Erik, who looked like he was about to burst out into tears. He felt sorry for him. He was an overall good man who hardly deserved the hatred he got. He knew from his life as a Vicomte that people would be cruel enough to judge one by their face, but he had known better than to buy into it. He wanted to tell Erik that it was alright, that he didn't have to hide his face from him, and that he wasn't afraid. All those facts were true. He just wondered if he could, if he had the courage to say that to him. Well, Raoul thought. Only one way to find out.

"Erik," Raoul started as Erik looked to face him. "I want you to know that you don't have to wear your mask around me if you don't want to. I'm not afraid of your face."

Could he really mean that? Erik thought. Could he really be willing to accept looking at a face like mine all the time without fear or disgust? Finally deciding to answer Raoul, who was still looking at him, he replied, "I know that now," he smiled. "Thank you Vicomte."

"Erik," Raoul asked

"Yes?"

"Call me Raoul." For as long as he'd been staying with Erik, he'd noticed that Erik had not called him by his real name once. He was certain that he knew it, as Christine had cried it out multiple times in his presence.

"Thank you Raoul," Erik said, still smiling. With a new peace existing in their hearts, the two fell asleep.

A/N: Don't worry, it won't continue to be day by day like this, otherwise I'll be writing this forever. Please Read and Review!