Angelfish2: I hope this chapter is "longer" to you. I noticed that my chapters are pretty short and I'll have to work on that. Thanks for pointing that out!

The Phantess: Thank you. I try to keep them in character as best I could. It's truly harder then I expected it to be.

Charity: Thanks. I have a lot of time on my hands and I love to write. I'm just like you. I love it when people update quickly as well. I just never knew it was such a pain to come up with ideas. I have one idea for the next chapter. Hint: Some fluff. Yay! I still need a bigger idea but I'm sure one will come out of no where. Most likely at two in the morning again. Lol!

Okay…so I'm typing this chapter at two in the morning. I'll try my best to make sense. Lol…Thank you to all my reviewers. It keeps me going just knowing that people actually enjoy what I write. Alright…On with the next chapter.

Chapter Eight: Friendly Joking

Meg

I woke up feeling quite rested. I sat up shakily and gazed about the room until I reached the sleeping form of Erik in the corner of the room. He looked so peaceful, so angelic when he is asleep. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up too quickly for right as I got upright a wave of dizziness flowed through my head causing me to lose balance and fall to my knees. As soon as the dizziness passed I stood again, this time more slowly, and clung to the nightstand for support. I made my way to Erik with slow, shaky steps. When I was about a foot away from him I sunk to my knees. I gently laid my hand on his knee and nudged it a little to wake him. His body tensed up when I touched him. Out of no where, his hand grabbed my wrist and twisted it roughly as he stood up. I cried out in pain and tried to struggle out of his ever tightening grip. He looked at me with angry amber eyes, but they softened immediately upon realizing who it was. He let go of my wrist and looked away ashamed of himself.

"I'm sorry. I thought it was someone else. I didn't mean to…" he trailed of.

"It's alright. You didn't know," I said, cradling my wrist.

He turned towards me and noticed that I was holding my wrist. "Dear God, did I hurt you?" he asked kneeling down taking my wrist into his hand. "I did this?" he said, seeing the forms of a visibly bad bruising. "I apologize, my dear. I had no intentions of harming you purposely."

"It's quite alright, Erik. It's not really that bad. You said it wasn't intentionally and I believe you."

"Mademoiselle," he said, just noticing her on the floor, "what are you doing out of bed. You are quite ill and shouldn't be up."

"I'm fine, really. I managed to get over here, didn't I?"

"True, but you should get back into bed until you are completely healthy once again," he said offering his hand to me.

Did he not think I can manage on my own? Do I look that helpless? "I am quite capable on doing it myself, Erik, but thank you anyways."

"You are very stubborn, Mademoiselle. If you think you can walk by yourself, then show me that you can walk from here to the bed, but if you falter, you will let me assist you from here on, until I pass judgment that you can walk on your own. Is it a deal?"

"It's a deal," I said standing up. I'll show him. I started to walk slowly back to the bed, grasping on the closest piece of furniture to steady myself.

"No using the furniture, mademoiselle," he said with an amused smirk.

"Fine. I'll play your little game." I let go of the piece and started walking to the bed once again. I was about halfway there when the dizziness came back and my knees buckled underneath me. I sunk to the floor once again, this time in defeat. I heard Erik give a soft chuckle as he walked over to me and held out his hand.

"You will now need my assistance until I say different," he said with a smile.

"I surrender, you win, but you don't have to rub it in," I said, taking his offered hand.

"That's what I do best, mademoiselle." He helped me to the bed and I sat down on comfortably on the edge. I hated the way he still called me mademoiselle and not by my real name.

"Erik?"

"Yes?" he said, kneeling down beside me.

"I call you by your first name, so I wish for you to call me by my first."

"It is not proper manners to address a woman such as yourself by her first name."

"The hell with propriety. Address me by Meg, as friends normally do," I said, placing my hands on my hips.

"Nice choice of unladylike words," he said, raising an amused eyebrow.

"You'll find out that I can be unladylike and act like a lady when I please."

"There is a lot of interesting things that I am certain I will find about you, but for now you need to rest."

"But I'm not tired," I pouted.

"You most certainly shouldn't be."

"How long was I asleep for?" I asked confused.

"For about three days."

"Three days?" I asked shocked. How could I have slept for three days straight? Well I won't waste anymore time sleeping.

"Erik, can we do something?"

"Not today, Little Meg. You need your rest to regain your strength. You will have to stay in bed for few more days before moving about," he said fatherly like. I decided to play along.

"Yes, daddy. I'll stay in bed and behave like a good little girl," I said in my best four year old tone. He gave me a puzzled look.

"Are you mocking me?" he asked astonished.

"Oh no. I would never mock the Opera Ghost," I said sarcastically. His eyes were blank.

"You better hold your tongue, Meg," he said darkly.

"Or what?" I asked. I knew I was pushing him, but it had to be done if I was going to break him in. He'll just have to get used to me and my stubbornness.

"Or I'll…I'll…" he gave a deep sigh and stood up.

"Is the infamous Phantom at a lost of words?" I asked jokingly, but he didn't answer back. He gave me a depressed look and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Did I hurt his feelings? I was only joking around with him. I will never understand him. I should still go and apologize though. I stood up, but instantly fell back onto the bed. There was no way I was going anywhere at the moment. My apology will just have to wait until tomorrow. I lay back onto the bed and sleep came a few moments later.

(The next day)

Erik

I was at my organ desperately trying to compose something. I was deeply concentrated on my music that I didn't even hear Meg come out of the room. I didn't notice her until she tapped me lightly on the shoulder. I turned around, surprised to see her standing and looking a little bit healthier than yesterday, but not much. It will be a while until she is completely healthy and able to move around more.

"What are you doing out of bed?" I asked shocked. She started playing with one of her golden curls that hung aimlessly in front of her while she tried to look for the right words.

"Erik, I came to apologized."

"What in the world for?" I asked surprised.

"For saying what I did yesterday. I didn't mean to upset you. I was only playing around with you."

"It's not your fault. I'm just not used to such kindness. I guess I had a lot on my mind and just had to go and calm down. I didn't mean to walk out on you like that."

"It's alright; I just wanted you to know that I was just joking around yesterday."

"I understand." We were at a loss for words for a several minutes and just stared at random things in the lair. Suddenly, an idea came to me.

"Meg, would you like me to play for you?" I asked almost pleadingly.

"I would love that." She took a seat on the floor next to the organ and I played tunes from opera's for what seemed like eternity. Eventually, she fell asleep leaning against the organ. I smiled at her sleeping form. She looked so peaceful, like an angel. 'Like Christine had.' Christine… I couldn't blame her for leaving me after what I did to her. It was best for her to go with the Vicomte. I had almost forgotten about her. I've been taking care of Meg that she completely left my mind for the past few days. 'It's for the best.' This time I won't make the same mistake. When Meg is healthy again, I will let her go. She doesn't deserve to live down here like a prisoner, but I don't have to worry about that right now for it won't be a while till she will be able to go. It'll be nice to have some company for a change. It will be nice to actually have a friend to talk to. I stood and picked up her sleeping form and carried her to her room. I gently placed her in the bed and tucked her in. "Goodnight, Little Meg," I said as I was leaving the room.

"Goodnight, Erik." I heard Meg murmur as she rolled over. I smiled at her and left the room heading to my room for a nights sleep. All I had to do was have my head hit the pillow and I was out like a light in a dreamless, peaceful sleep. One that I haven't had in a very long time.

Wow…I think this is the longest chapter I've written for this story. Well it is now three thirty. Woot! An hour and a half. I enjoyed this chapter and I hope you do to. Please review. Ideas are welcome