A/N: This is my first fic! It's a collaboration between myself and another. It's Erik x OC.

Enjoy and review!

As always, I don't own POTO.


Chapter Eight


The next morning, she woke and pulled on her everyday dress. Then she headed for the small storage area where Erik kept his food, intent on pulling out something for them both to eat. Had she upset him last night? Had she been too forward, asking him to help with her corset? He'd been almost… standoffish when she'd gone to say goodnight. She shivered slightly as she set some cheese on a plate. Maybe she should have put on the warmer dress… Or even a shawl.

Erik woke the next morning and slipped out of his coffin. He was glad Kate hadn't stepped further into his room and saw where he slept. What would she have thought if she knew he slept in a coffin? Once upon a time he had hoped that he would close his eyes and never wake but now...he had Kate. He wouldn't want to leave her.

He slipped out of his room and walked to the kitchen, stopping in partially shock to see Kate already up and making breakfast. He slipped in quietly and began to pull out some water for them to drink. He didn't think wine would be appropriate so early in the morning.

"Good morning, Kate," he said softly, "I trust you slept well?"

Kate looked up in slight surprise. She hadn't heard him come in.

"Y-yes," she said, turning with the plates in her hand. Well enough, she supposed. She'd tossed and turned and had at least one nightmare. She was sure she'd have slept better if he'd been with her, but wouldn't say so. "Did you?"

Maybe she should have gone straight to bed and not gone to say goodnight, disturbing him from whatever he'd been doing. So now she would eat and then head back upstairs. Give him space.

She stepped up and handed him a plate, biting her lip. "I'm–I'm sorry if I upset you last night. It wasn't my intention."

He shrugged. "I was alright. Granted there are plenty of things that I dream of at night but it has been getting better."

He stepped past her with his plate and placed it on the small table, he turned to her and took her own plate and placed it across from his.

"You didn't upset me. I was just…trying to give you space. I didn't want you to think that I wanted anything…not that I don't! I just…I wanted to make sure you were comfortable," he stammered.

Her eyes softened, and she moved to touch his shoulder. "I think we may have had a miscommunication, then. Because I would have been more comfortable with you beside me. I love you, Erik."

She reached up to press a kiss to his cheek.

Erik flushed slightly and allowed a small smile to cross his lips. "And I, you. Would you like to work on some of our music today? Before you must return...I'll let you know now that I will stay near the entire time to ensure your safety. I do not want you getting hurt by anyone."

She smiled back at him. "I'd like that. I'm sure they'll need me upstairs eventually, but it would be nice to be prepared." She sat down, then glanced up as she cut herself some cheese. "And I'll feel better knowing you're nearby. The stagehands… can be rowdy. Vindictive."

Eric chuckled. "Indeed. Hopefully they will fear me enough to leave you alone. As far as I am sure, no one is aware of our connection. I'd like to try to keep it that way."

Kate gasped as they reached her room. It was a mess–the mattress had been ripped apart, and whatever clothes she'd left had been torn up and scattered around the room. She began to shake, her heart pounding and her breathing shallow. She ducked back into the passageway, leaning against the wall and feeling sick.

The stagehands really did want to hurt her.

Erik heard movement in his passage and retraced his steps. He found Kate there, looking shaken.

"Kate? what is it?" he asked.

"My–my room," she whispered. "They–they destroyed it. It's completely torn apart. Oh Erik, what if I had been there when they came?" She started to shake harder.

"Ssh," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "All will be well. Here is what I want you to do. Run to Madame Giry in fear, and say I did it. Makes sure that everyone is nearby to hear. That may make the blame disappear off of you entirely."

Kate nodded, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him quickly. "I love you."

Then she slipped from the passage, took another glance around her room, and hurried into the hall.

"Madam Giry! Madam Giry!" She ran to the elder woman, who looked at her in concern, holding up a hand to stop someone who was talking to her. Out of the corner of her eye, Kate could see people popping their heads into the hall in curiosity.

"What is it, child?"

"My–my room! I slipped out to get some breakfast this morning, and when I returned, the phantom had torn it apart!" She let tears fill her eyes. "What does he want from me? What did I do to anger him so?"

Erik watched from the shadows, making sure that her story would be believed. He saw the ballet mistress wrap arms around her and pull her close in comfort.

"Relax child," she soothed, "Are you certain it was the phantom? He chose you to sing...why would he do such a thing if he has shown you favor?"

"I don't know, but it has to be him! Who else would do such a thing?"

Was Madam Giry not going to believe her? If she didn't, then maybe no-one but Erik could protect her. She let out a sob.

"Hush now child," Antoinette said softly, pulling her close, "Just follow his orders and no harm should come to you."

Silently she vowed to speak to this girl and then Erik in private. Erik nodded from his spot, glad to see several people whispering to themselves.

Kate nodded, brushing tears from her eyes. "I'll–I'll try. But he frightens me so."

She could hear the whispers beginning already. Good.

"Come now. Monsieur Reyer wished me to bring you to him."

Erik waited until Kate walked away with Antoinette before slipping away. He then slipped out to her room, hiding in the shadows so he could speak with her.

Madam Giry delivered a still-shaken Kate to Monsieur Reyer, who gave her a gentle smile.

"Do not fear, child. I simply wished to hear you sing before we begin rehearsals."

Kate nodded, biting her lip, before she softly began to sing something familiar.

"Think of me, think of me fondly..."

Madam Giry nodded to herself. Erik was right in choosing this girl. She had a wonderful voice. Possibly better than Christine's. She turned and headed for her room, hoping that Erik might be there so that they could speak.

Erik was standing alone in the room, hidden still. But his eyes were looking at the books on her bookcase. She always read such fantastical things. When the door opened, he stepped back further but soon showed himself when he saw who was standing there.

"Is she alright?" he asked quietly.

"She is very shaken, but I know Monsieur Reyer will watch over her. As will I and Meg. Who did this? I stopped by her room on my way back, and it is… I shall have to find her someplace new–someplace safe."

Kate looked at Reyer nervously, but he was smiling widely at her. "You have been well-taught. I have a feeling you will go far, Mademoiselle. Now, perhaps we could start looking at your part of the opera?"

Kate nodded and stepped over to him, taking the parts of the score that were hers.

Erik shook his head. "I know not who did this. I was with her all evening."

He looked away, thinking. She would need a safe place to stay.

"I'd suggest her staying with me but I am worried that may cause more problems than solve them."

Madam Giry frowned. "I suppose I can have another bed brought into my room. Or Meg's."

She sighed and kneaded her temple. "What are your intentions with her? If she is under my protection, then I need to know. Especially if the stagehands are seeing fit to terrorize her as I suspect."

Erik's lips curled into a small, rare smile. "I intend to marry her once this is all over. After my opera is performed, we will be leaving together. She will be my wife."

Madam Giry nodded. "Good. I will do my best to keep her safe. Meg likes her, she will too. And if Monsieur Reyer is pleased with her, he will wish no harm to come to her." She gave him a small smile. "It is nice to see you happy. I will have someone bring another bed in here."

He inclined his head. "Thank you, Antoinette. I really do not wish harm on her. But know this-if she is harmed in any way, this opera will feel my wrath."

Then he was gone into the shadows and out through the secret passage.

Kate sucked in a breath as she walked with Madam Giry to the stage the morning after the performance. Erik's opera had gone perfectly, and there had been a standing ovation. Kate could still hear the applause ringing in her ears.

She froze as she saw all the people on the stage–there were stagehands and–why were the police there?

"What's going on?" she whispered, taking a step backward.

Erik was proud of his opera. The night went off without a problem and even the lead tenor wasn't horrible. He stayed to the shadows at first but the moment he saw and heard Kate singing, he had needed to be there. He had knocked out the tenor and slipped onstage, effortlessly singing the lines to her from his heart.

Then he had disappeared just as easily once it was done. He went to his box the morning after the performance, wanting to hear what everyone who had participated thought of his production. But then he noticed the stagehands and the police on the stage. He knew that this could only mean trouble.

"You know something about the phantom, don't you?" Thomas, one of the head stagehands accused. "He killed Alain! He has to be brought to justice!"

Kate bit back the retort on her tongue, that Alain had tried to rape her. It would only show that Erik cared for her. "I know nothing! You are being ridiculous!"

"Last night you sang with him like you were lovers!"

"Because I was acting! That's what the script calls for!" She gasped as one of the other stagehands pulled her roughly away from Madam Giry.

Erik gripped the railing tightly, ready to launch over it and protect her. How dare those boys even touch her!

"Stop this!" Christine yelled, "She knows nothing! Can't you see that?!"

Raoul actually reached and took Kate away from them, placing her behind him. Even if the phantom was scary, something told him they loved each other. So the death of that stagehand must have been for an actual reason.

Kate felt like crying. They really did hate her. It had been bad enough, finding her room destroyed and then a lasso hanging in it a few days into rehearsals, but this…

One of the policemen stepped around Raoul and took her arm. "We'd like you to come down to the station to answer a few questions, miss."

"I told you, I don't know anything!" she said, gasping as another one grabbed her other arm.

"We'd like to determine that for ourselves."

Kate closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. It was no use fighting. If she did they'd actually arrest her.

"Can't you question her here?" Raoul demanded. "There's no need to go down to the station."

The policeman who seemed to be in charge frowned. "Very well. We shall use the managers' office."

They began to lead her away, and Kate wanted nothing more than to disappear into the floor, to be with Erik.


A/N: Most of this is already written so when I have time to actually post, I will!