I don't own POTO or any of its wonderful characters.


Hey everyone!

Well, are you suprised? Two updates in two days WHOOOOOOOOO! And this chapter is even long :) Though...it is mostly fluff and really holds no IMPORTANT plot, it's still somewhat good :)

Thanks to all my reviewers, and I hope you enjoy this chappie!

Later Freaks,

Ryan


It was all she could do not to cry.

The pain searing through her body was making her double in on herself, and the words echoing through her mind seemed to cut her with every pass. Curled up under the many duvets and quilts covering her bed, Haydee grasped her knees as if to protect herself from the painful memories.

"It's your fault your mother died. If you weren't so greedy, then she would still be alive."

"I won't hurt you Haydee. I just want to play with you."

"Silence stupid girl! How dare you make such monstrous claims against your own family! You lying little wretch!"

"Filthy little half breed. Not good for anything but eating our food and stealing our money."

"You will be leaving for the Asylum in the morning. I cannot have a liar and seductress in my home. Do not try to contact this family again. You are nothing but a disgrace to our name."

"I love you Haydee. Never forget my dear; Mamma and Papa love you so much. Be happy little one. Be happy and thrive."

A sob erupted from Haydee's chest. Why Mama? Why did you and Papa have to leave me? Why did you leave me in that place, all alone? Did you not know? I want to be happy Mama, but it seems like God has other plans for me…

Another sob tore its way through the girl's throat. Letting go of her white knuckle grip on her tears, Haydee let them stream down her cheeks unchecked as she fell into a fitful sleep.

oOo


It was long after midnight by the time Erik made his way back to Madam Giry's bedroom. He had finished preparations for Haydee to stay with him in his lair. During that time, Madam Giry had explained something that held semblance of the situation to M. Daignault and the M. le Manager so that they were not suspicious as to the disappearance of the artist. If he was to understand it correctly, the story was that she had fallen ill and would not be able to come to work for several weeks. Influenza was the cause he believed.

Rapping lightly on the hidden panel in the ballet mistress room, he waited for the older woman to open the wooden door before making his entrance.

Stepping out lightly, Erik nodded at Madam Giry's tight expression. The poor woman was as conflicted as he was about this. After all, letting someone know about his lair, let alone a woman, was a dangerous game indeed. Anything could be in the cards. Haydee may run scared and give away his secret, or if she wandered, she could fall into one of his many traps. The probability of something going very wrong very fast were high and the thought had set Erik on edge all day. But when he reviewed the situation, it was the best way. He could not always be with Haydee to keep her safe. This way, she would be safe during the day, and at night, if she wished to go upstairs and continue with her work, he would be able to watch over her.

"It is time Madam." Erik's warm voice filled the room in a quite whisper. Nodding, Madam Giry gathered up her shawl and made her way to the door. She had packed Haydee's things and had them moved to the lower floor while the girl had been sleeping. All that was left was to move the girl herself.

Walking along the deserted corridor with Erik trailing close behind, Madam Giry gave a small sigh at the blue eyed girl's fate. What had the poor child done to deserve such cruelty? Madam had told Erik not to let thoughts of hate consume him, and yet, she was having trouble with that.

Some part of her felt that she had failed the girl. After all, was she not under her care? Should she have done something more to protect the girl? Could she have done anything? They had never had anything happen like this before and Madam Giry was completely unprepared for the results of such a monstrous act.

And so it happened that by the time they reached Haydee's room, both parties were so deep within their own thoughts that they almost didn't notice that Haydee was not in her bed.

Panic filled Erik's mind at the sight of the empty bed. The bedclothes were rumpled and tossed to the ground, and the vanity was overturned with its contents lying spread across the ground. He was about to begin scouring the entirety of the opera when a small noise behind him. Turning swiftly, a small sigh of relief made its way from between his lips. Haydee was leaning wearily against the doorframe of the bathroom. She was here. She was safe. Though, if she was safe within her own mind, he could not tell. Her eyes seemed hollow and lifeless. He gave a silent shudder at the thought.

"Are you alright mon chere?" asked Madam Giry, gesturing towards the disheveled room. Nodding, Haydee replied in a monotone voice,

"Yes Madam. I simply had a bad dream. Nothing more"

Looking up, a thought crossed Haydee's mind. Looking quizzically at the pair standing in her room she dug in her mind. Why were they here?

"We have come to help move you to a safe place." said Madam Giry. Haydee hadn't realized that she had said anything out loud, so the woman's words came as a bit of a shock. Glancing from Madam Giry to the Phantom, Haydee took in his appearance. It was the same as that afternoon, only he had shed the long black dress coat. His cravat looked somewhat mussed as well, suggesting that it had been put on in a hurry. A small smile spread across the girl's face at the thought of the Opera Ghost being anything but perfectly presentable.

"We must leave Mademoiselle. Time runs short, and we must be gone by the time the Opera has awakened." Erik's voice cut into her thoughts effectively informing her that she had been staring. Something akin a smirk flashed across the man's face and then vanished again. Embarrassment was covered by confusion as she questioned Madam Giry in a soft and almost scared voice.

"What do you mean, gone? Are you going somewhere Madam?"

"Non, mon chere. I am not going anywhere. It is you who being moved." Seeing the quizzical and defiant look that was being tossed her way, Madam Giry continued.

"You will be staying in the opera still, so do not worry about you work my dear. You may return to the studio anytime, once your injuries have healed. Until then, you are to stay with our friend, Monsieur le fantôme at his home, where you will be kept safe. Your bags have already been taken to his home, and now all that is left is to deposit you as well. Here, I have taken the liberty of preparing your clothes."

Haydee nodded. She may have been stubborn, but she could see the sense in the older woman's words.

With that, Madam Giry handed the girl a dark grey wool skirt and black cotton blouse with a pair of sturdy walking boots and a shawl. Taking the items without even thinking about what she was doing, Haydee closed the door to the bathroom and changed into the heavy traveling clothes. Entering the room once again, Haydee stood stock still as Madam Giry and Monsieur le fantôme argued over something in hushed French.

"Il est trop loin pour marcher dans her état." (It is too far to walk in her state.)

"Alors que proposez-vous Madame? Transporter son tout le chemin moi-même?" (So what do you suggest Madam? That I carry her the entire way myself?) Came the annoyed reply. Haydee felt her blood start to boil. She knew that the two of them both meant well…well. She knew that Madam Giry meant well, but she did not enjoy being talked about like she wasn't in the room.

"Non, non bien sûr que non. Mais sûrement César serait capable –" (No, no of course not. But surely Caesar would be able-)

"César ne peut venir au début des catacombes et elle est trop lourde pour moi de porter tout le chemin. Si elle était plus petite peut-être, mais comme elle n'est pas ... elle doit marcher." (Caesar cannot come to the beginning of the catacombs and she is too heavy for me to carry all the way. If she were smaller, perhaps, but as she is not ... she must walk.)

With a shake of his head, the Phantom stepped away from Madam Giry thinking he had won their little argument. What he did not know was that he had also won the full right to the unequivocal bounds of a certain red heads fury. How DARE he insinuate that she was large! Even if it was true, he had no right to point out the fact!

Mustering up what little strength she had left, Haydee crossed the room and planted herself directly in front of the masked man Tapping him on the shoulder, Haydee brought her hand back and with full force (or as much as she could muster at that moment) brought it swinging back on the man's uncovered cheek. Surprise and fury crossed his face but Haydee didn't notice. She was too busy thinking of her own fury to take any care of his. Anger burning bright as golden met cerulean blue eyes, the girl spat out just what she thought of their conversation.

"How dare you" she seethed, "How dare you talk about me like I am nothing more than a…than a bag of potatoes! I will inform you that I am more than capable of walking on my own, I am not an invalid! And, Monsieur le fantôme," she mocked, "no matter what you may or may not think of my weight, I am fine size and have been told so on more than one occasion! So there!"

Anger gone from her system, embarrassment took over and turned her skin an unnatural shade of crimson. What had she just said? What had she done? Oh dear god in heaven help her if she did what she thought she had. Glancing back up at the Phantoms now red marked face, she was surprised to see a mixture of amusement and anger dancing around in his eyes. She had counted on the anger. If the stories of the Phantom held any semblance to the truth (and from the way that Madam Giry had held her breath when Haydee had struck him, they did), then she should be either dead or wishing to be by this point. So what was holding him back?

"I apologize for my indiscreet behavior Mademoiselle. It shall not happen again."

Haydee was shocked at his calm voice. Nodding, she accepted his apology and was about to make one of her own for hitting him when he continued.

"However, what I said was, in fact, true, and I do not apologize for that."

Haydee sputtered. He had to be joking! This man had no sense of decency. Any thoughts of apology pushed aside, Haydee lifted her hand only to have it caught by said man. Smirking at her with angry eyes, he all but sneered at the girl.

"The same thing won't work on me twice mon petit ami." Erik had to chuckle to himself. Here was the girl that had proposed war upon him. His little friend was back in all her feisty glory, and he found himself liking the sight of her eyes filled with indignation and anger much better than those lifeless, hollow shells of before. Grabbing her hand, he started to lead her from the room, turning so that she could not see the smile stretched across his features.

"Come, we have a ways to walk and dawn approaches."

And I wonder what it will bring with it.


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