A/N: Can't thank you guys enough: I got a lot of wonderful reviews (not to mention some very humorous ones

A/N: Can't thank you guys enough: I got a lot of wonderful reviews (not to mention some very humorous ones!) I love writing for people that like my stories!

Erik: sigh

Me: "Problems?"

Erik: "I can't concentrate on my music with you rolling around the room in your desk chair, not to mention all of that ridiculous bouncing! How much coffee have you had?"

Me: "Not much…half a pot." runs in circles around him and his organ

Erik: groans "And I thought I was scary."

Me: "Gee, thanks. ONWARD!"

Chapter 8

"Having one of those days?"

Dawn jerked around, but there was absolutely no one in the hallway. No, that wasn't accurate. Erik was there, but he was well-hidden. Apparently, he knew how to throw his voice.

"Will you cut that out? My adrenaline glands can only take so much!" She stared into the direction where his voice had come from. Embarrassed, she realized he must have watched her at practice.

"And yes," she said, her voice dropping to almost a whisper, "I am having one of those days."

"Anything I can help with?"

Neither of them noticed Christine just around the corner. Her jaw had dropped open. Erik sounded so, so-...relaxed. It just wasn't like him. He usually sounded omnipotent and mysterious.

"I wish," Dawn mumbled, "it's an inside problem."

Squishie was scratching on her leg and whining.

"I'll see you later," Dawn said, "I have to change out of my costume and Squish here is dying for a walk."

She continued down the hall. Christine peered around the corner after her.

"Christine," Erik's voice said curtly. Christine spun around. The masked figure in question stood a few feet away. She had the look of a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.

"Hello Erik," she said, her tone cool despite her obvious case of nerves, "I was just-"

Erik held up a hand.

"Save it," he said acidly. Christine stared at him, her stomach souring. What were his intentions?

"You forget," he said icily, "that I studied you for years. And I know when you're hiding something."

Christine cringed. Curse his ability to read her like a book!

"Do you miss it, Christine? All the years I spent pouring my attention over you?"

The tiny hairs on the back of Christine's neck stood up. Despite the fact that she'd been afraid of him, he knew her weak spots.

"I gave you everything you had," he continued, his voice rising, "my music, my heart, my entire existence. You chose another. It wasn't easy for me to accept that, but I have. What happens between Dawn and I is our business. Stop trying to talk her out of it. If you think I can't make you keep your silence, you are gravely mistaken."

Christine couldn't believe his frankness. He had never once spoken so openly to her before. It was then that she realized she knew very little about him. She'd just assumed a lot of things.

A door slamming shut was an indicator that Dawn was emerging from her room. Christine turned to look. When she turned back again, the Phantom was gone.

Dawn walked with Squishie around the corner. Squishie seemed in a hurry to get outside.

"Hey," Dawn said, trying to keep her tone from getting acid.

"Hello," Christine said, barely above a whisper.

She stared at Christine.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Dawn commented, "come with us. Get some air."

Christine decided not to comment on the fact that she had, in fact, seen the ghost. Dawn was moving so fast that it was hard to keep up with her. When they were outside, Squishie took off.

"Don't worry about her," Dawn said dismissively, "she'll be back in a second."

Christine studied Dawn. Although Dawn had dropped some weight due to working, then dancing, she would never be a petite figure. She didn't behave as a lady should and Christine wondered what on earth Erik saw in her. Maybe he liked Dawn's raw honesty and unconventional manners.

"Have you seen Erik recently?" Christine asked, trying to be casual.

"Yeah." Dawn was being vague on purpose. Squishie came tearing back over to Dawn and Dawn patted her on the forehead. Squishie looked at Christine almost as if she knew something Christine didn't.

"Man, practice today was killer," Dawn said, stretching her sore muscles, "how are you holding up?"

"I am well," Christine said, "I've gotten used to it."

"I wish I would already," Dawn replied, "I feel like every muscle I have is one big knot right now."

She picked a flower and tucked it into Squishie's collar.

The two women didn't talk much for the rest of the walk. Just as Dawn asked Christine what had been bothering her earlier, she was saved by Raoul. Squishie, unfortunately, was not amused.

"Squishie, let go," Dawn sighed, trying to loosen the dog's grip on Raoul's pants leg. She growled and shook her head.

"Let...go..." Dawn said, trying to pry her jaws apart. Raoul jerked loose and crashed to the sidewalk.

"Sorry," Dawn said, actually meaning it. She held an irate Squishie with one arm and helped Raoul up with her free hand. Squishie had forgotten about Raoul at some point and had now turned her attention to Christine. Embarrassed, Dawn apologized and carried her back to the opera house.

"What is the matter with you? You're acting so weird," Dawn commented to her dog. She put Squishie on her bed. Suddenly, Dawn thought of something.

"Squish, what have you been doing during practice?"

She gently prodded Squishie's belly. It seemed unusually firm. She heard the mirror slide back.

"Squishie's going to be a mother," Dawn said, knowing Erik was coming up behind her, "I've been wondering why she's been so cranky lately."

A black gloved hand gently probed the dog's stomach.

"The question is, where did she-" realization struck Dawn's face, "uh-oh... I bet anything it was one of Carlotta's poodles. I'm pretty sure they were both boys."

Squishie affectionately licked Erik's hand. She stood up and wandered closer to him, tail wagging.

"How close do you think she is?" Dawn asked, wondering how she didn't notice how fat Squishie was.

"Not much longer," Erik replied, "a week, maybe."

She noticed the weariness in his voice and turned to look at him. Erik's face was paler than usual, except for the top of his cheek. There, he was flushed. Dawn's fingers brushed against that place, then across his forehead. Erik cringed a little, still remembering the times Christine had taken his mask off. Dawn didn't however.

"You have a fever," she informed him.

"I'm aware," he said irritably.

"You should stay up here tonight," Dawn said, "if your place is anything like the play where I come from, it's probably really damp down there and it's going to be really cold tonight."

Erik hadn't been feeling well for a couple of days now, but he really wasn't feeling well now. His joints ached and so did his head. Erik didn't eat much anyway, but his appetite was nonexistent. He was feeling decidedly tired and weak, but he'd wanted to talk to Dawn badly enough that he'd shoved his physical ailments aside. Now that he'd been reminded, they came back to the surface.

"You could stay here," she offered. Erik shook his head. He'd never get any sleep in the same room as Dawn. He'd be worried about his mask falling off.

"Let me guess," Dawn said, "you think it's improper for a man and a woman to be together at night in the same room."

Erik resisted the urge to sigh in relief. She'd taken his refusal as manners and not fear.

"All right. I'll talk to Madame Giry and see if I can get you a room on this floor or something. Then, I can bring you stuff. That sound good?"

Erik thought about going back to his lair, but there was nothing there for him but his organ. Everything else seemed unimportant. It would be cold down there; he didn't have nearly enough blankets to keep warm with. It would most likely make his congestion worse. He was running out of food again and he doubted he could conjure up the energy to make himself something.

"I'll be back in a second," Dawn said, "you should probably sit down."

She steered him over to the couch by the fire. It was pleasantly warm here. Squishie hopped up beside him to keep him company as Dawn dashed towards the door.

Dawn found Madame Giry talking to one of the managers. When she was done, Dawn pulled her aside and explained the situation.

"He must trust you," she commented, visibly surprised, "he wouldn't dream of coming to the surface when ill. He's usually afraid he'll get caught because it slows him down."

When they returned, they found a sight that made both of them smile. Erik had slid over until he was laying on his back on the couch. Squishie had come to rest on his chest and one arm curled around her. His lips were slightly parted and he was fast asleep.

"I guess I'll just leave him here," Dawn whispered. She retrieved a blanket and covered them both up.

"Here is the key to the other room," Madame said, handing her a skeleton key, "it is the last one on the right. I will bring a tray for him, some water, too."

"Thanks," Dawn said.

Madame left.

Dawn studied Erik carefully.

I can't say that I love him yet, she thought, but I definitely feel something. Without a doubt, I feel something. He's just so beautiful. I love his eyes. I love his voice- oh, that voice. I've only heard it a couple of times when he was demonstrating something with music for me, but he could make a flower grow out of an iceberg with that voice. It sends chills down my spine.

Dawn sat down in one of the chairs. She just watched him. Gradually, another hour passed and the gray sky began to turn darker. As she watched him, sweat popped out on his forehead.

The fever's breaking, she thought. Erik twitched. Squishie, sensing something was going to happen, got up and relocated to beside Erik's legs. His twitching became more violent and an incoherent mumble escaped his lips.

Dawn ventured closer to the couch, knowing full well what was going on. He was having a nightmare. No sooner had she reached him, Erik jolted awake, his breath ragged. Dawn placed a soothing hand on his forehead.

"It's okay," she whispered, "I'm here."

He turned his good cheek towards her touch and waited for the inevitable to happen. But she didn't touch his mask. His hand covered hers. Whether it was the fever or something else, Erik was feeling decidedly intoxicated. He knew he needed to leave, so he tried to get up, but Dawn's other hand held him in place.

"Stay," she told him, "just stay still. Rest."

His breath began to smooth out and gradually slowed to normal.

Please, God, if there is one, don't let this be a dream, he prayed silently, please just let it be real, please let it last. Amen.

Dawn stroked his forehead gently. She retrieved a clean dry cloth and gently sponged away the sweat. She wished she had a change of clothes for him. Then, she reached the edge of the mask. He sensed her hesitation.

"Is it okay if I-" she started to ask, unsure of what to say after that.

Erik's heart began to pound. Holy crap! It was happening again! He stirred uneasily, but he was too weak to get up.

But he was going to do it this time. If things went to Hell, he would go with some dignity. With a trembling hand, Erik reached up and pulled his mask off. The rush of air to his exposed face made him shudder violently.

With a very gentle touch, Dawn wiped his face. She smoothed his hair back.

"There," she whispered, "your fever's breaking, but you're still kind of warm. I'm going to get you a cold rag."

She left.

Squishie, sensing Erik's apprehension, wandered up beside him and gave him a big, wet dog kiss on the deformed side of his face. He petted her affectionately and she curled up beside his other arm with a contented sigh.

Dawn returned and placed the cool rag over his forehead. It felt wonderful. He didn't realize how irritated his face got from the mask. She left again and came back. Moments later, he felt her rubbing some sort of cream on his deformed side.

"Your skin's really irritated," Dawn explained, "this will help it calm down."

Erik really thought this was a dream by now. He hadn't felt the slightest tension in her touch. She hadn't shuddered or screamed or even gasped. Her touch felt so good...

Erik didn't remember falling asleep again, but the next thing he knew, it was morning. Sunlight was pouring into the room. For a moment, he was very disoriented because he wasn't used to being in such bright light. He blinked several times, trying to get his vision to adjust.

Dawn stood over him. The sun was coming in behind her, casting Dawn in a golden glow. She looked like an angel in her white ballet uniform. Her hair was already up and everything.

"Well, good morning," she said affectionately, "you made it."

Erik turned his head to look around. He was still on the couch by the fireplace. Squishie was sleeping soundly on his stomach and Dawn's blanket still covered him.

So...it hadn't been a dream...

Dawn stepped forward, blotting out the sun for a moment. The light was so overwhelmingly bright that it was all Erik could do to keep his eyes open. She caressed both cheeks and his forehead.

"Your fever's gone completely," Dawn observed, "that's a very good sign. Madame Giry dropped some food by here a little while ago. Some old guy in charge of material for costumes is staying here for a few days, so you'll have to stay in here for a couple of nights. Madame Giry and I don't want you going to the basement until you regain some strength. Squishie can keep you company. If she gets too squirmy, just open the door and let her out. She'll come find me. Food is over there on the table. Any questions?"

His silence made her assume not.

"I'll be back to check on you the next break I get," Dawn assured him, "see you then."

She dashed out the door.

"What just happened?" Erik asked Squishie. She "whuffed" at him, then padded over to the table. Beside one of the legs, Dawn had placed a dish of meat for her. For Erik, there was bread, fruit, and hot tea. He didn't normally have much of an appetite, but he was starving today. Without his mask, he discovered that he had much more freedom.

He caught sight of himself in Dawn's mirror. Surprised, he placed a hand over the deformed side of his face. Some of the redness had gone down, fading to a light red. It actually didn't look that bad in daylight. He ran his hand over the skin. It was still slightly bumpier than the other side, but the skin overall was softer. He wondered what she'd put on him last night.

The tub in the washroom looked very inviting. Erik drew himself a bath. While the water was filling the tub, he caught sight of Dawn's iPod sitting on the bedside table. It was already hooked up to the portable speakers. He'd seen her play this strange thing many times before. But which button was it? He fiddled around with it until music came out, causing him to jump slightly in surprise.

Dawn's music was different, but he didn't mind. In fact, he liked some of it. He pressed the "forward" button the way he'd seen her do, fast-forwarding through songs. At last, he let it play and went back into the washroom.

The tub was full and the water was warm. He stripped, and looking around self-consciously, eased into the water.

Erik rarely got warm water downstairs unless he went to all the trouble of heating it over the fire. Usually that took too long, so he gave himself sponge-baths. In the summer when it was painfully hot, he would strip and dive into the lake to cool off. But this was much more pleasant. He lay his head back against the edge of the tub, just enjoying the feel of the water against his bare skin.

Once he'd sat there for a moment, Erik retrieved a spare washcloth that was laying over the side of the tub. Dawn must have anticipated that he'd need one and left it there.

His eyes fell on a strange-looking bottle. It took him a moment to figure out that the lid flipped up instead of twisting off. A very good smell came out of the bottle that was difficult to describe. Gently turning it over, he watched the dark blue fluid fall onto the palm of his hand. It must have been some sort of soap. Erik squirted a small amount on the cloth and began to scrub. The stuff began to foam when he washed and the surface of the water was soon covered in a thin coating of bubbles. Feeling much better, he got out and pulled the drain cover loose. After getting dressed again, he borrowed Dawn's hairbrush and slicked his wet hair back. He had just come out of the washroom when Dawn emerged.

"I see you found my iPod," Dawn commented, noting that he had not put his mask back on yet.

"Your music is very different," Erik commented as an electric guitar played in the background, "I haven't even heard of most of these instruments."

"That one there's an electric guitar," Dawn commented, "I have one."

She opened the case so he could see.

Erik knew how guitars worked, but this particular one was so different... he'd never seen such an odd-looking instrument.

Dawn plugged it into the portable amplifier and turned it down so it wouldn't blow Erik's eardrums out.

"It plays like a regular guitar, but it has a different sound."

She hit the strings. Erik stared at the box that the noise came out of. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not- it was kind of an annoying sound if it got out of tune. Dawn played a riff, then handed it to him. For a guitar, it seemed unusually heavy. He plucked at one of the strings, listening to the sound echo through the room.

"I gotta go," Dawn said, "Madame Giry's being a drill sergeant today."

Erik grinned. Madame Giry, even as a teenager, had taken everything seriously.

"Have fun with the guitar," Dawn said, "I don't care how much you play with it as long as you don't break the strings or something."

Squishie followed her, probably so that Dawn could let her outside for a moment.

Try as he might, Erik couldn't get used to the sound the guitar made. It was a very strange sound to him, sometimes musical, sometimes not. He pressed his fingers against the frets and experimented. Finally, he'd had enough and put the guitar back in its case. He'd leave it to Dawn; the piano and organ would remain his favorite.

Later that evening, Dawn came in, pushing the door open with her back. She was carrying a tray with two plates of food on it.

"Room service," she joked, putting the food on the table. By now, Erik had put his mask back on, but he was more relaxed than Dawn imagined she'd ever see him. Erik didn't talk much; Dawn was telling him about practice.

"Then, Christine ran right into Meg and they almost knocked each other over," Dawn laughed, "I thought Madame Giry was going to start yelling, but she didn't, surprisingly. I don't know how she does it. Anyway, then someone brought up Carlotta and everyone said things like 'thank God she's not here anymore'. Andre and Firmin had to go get a drink and they were both completely plastered by the time practice was over."

"I have only been gone one day, but it seems like much longer," Erik commented.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Dawn replied, "I had pneumonia once when I was twelve. I couldn't go to school for a month. I was bored out of my skull because my mother wouldn't let me do anything."

At the mention of the word "mother", a shadow crossed Erik's eyes, but it was the only indicator that something was going on under the surface. They talked about music for a little while as the sun went down. Storm clouds began piling up to the North. Dawn paled when she saw them.

"Holy-" she trailed off as the rolling blackness approached, beginning to blot out the red of the setting sun. Erik looked over her shoulder.

"It is only a storm," he told her, wondering what she was so worked up about.

"You don't understand," Dawn objected, "I am deathly afraid of lightning. My dad died because he was struck by lightning. I saw it!"

A crash of thunder made her yelp and cringe. She wrapped both arms around herself, shaking hard.

"It was so beautiful, but it was the scariest thing I've ever seen," Dawn continued, sounding choked, "it hit him when we were walking back home from the movies. I was only five. It was blinding white with a blue tint. It lit his whole body up for a second, then he fell and there was this huge crash that was deafening. Dad looked like a burnt piece of charcoal. The skin on his left side was completely melted and it was already starting to come off when the paramedics came. They said it went through the pacemaker cells in his heart and that's what killed him. It was so hot that it literally cooked his insides."

Another bright flash and Dawn had dropped to the floor, shaking. Squishie kissed her on the arm, trying to calm her down.

"It's stupid, I know," Dawn whimpered, tears coming out on her cheeks, "but it was horrible. I can't shake that memory no matter how hard I try."

Erik understood completely. There had been several occasions when he'd been afraid and certain things triggered the memories.

It was strange to see someone who was frightened, but not of him. Erik knelt next to her. He placed his hand on her back, rubbing it gently in small circles. Before he realized what had happened, Dawn had buried her face in Erik's shoulder and was holding onto him so tightly that it almost hurt.

"Why don't we sit by the fire? It's chilly in here," Erik suggested, getting up and taking her with him. Each time the lightning would flash, she would cringe. She sat huddled beside him, looking more embarrassed by the second. Unsure of what else to do, Erik wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She leaned into his touch, trying to stop herself from shaking. Dawn's face was white as a sheet.

"It will be over soon," he assured her. Dawn had cupped both hands over her mouth and was trying to slow her breathing down.

I have to do something, Erik thought uncomfortably, she's going to have a heart-attack if I don't. But how do I deal with this?

Erik did the only the only thing he could do: he sang. Pulling Dawn closer, he sang the only song that he knew would have the desired effect:

"Nighttime sharpens,

heightens each sensation,

darkness stirs

and wakes imagination

Silently the senses

abandon their defenses..."

The tears had slowed and were beginning to dry. Squishie had settled next to them as the rain came down in buckets outside.

"Slowly, deftly, night unfurls its splendor,

grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender,

turn your face away from the garish light of day

turn your face away from cold unfeeling light

and listen to the music of the night."

Dawn's eyes closed and she rested her head against his shoulder, listening intently.

"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams,

purge your thoughts of the life you knew before...

close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar

and you'll live as you've never lived before..."

A particularly loud crash of thunder shook the opera house, but Dawn was too transfixed with Erik's voice to even notice. He observed that she didn't even flinch.

"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you,

hear it, feel it, secretly possess you

open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind

In this darkness that you know you cannot fight,

the darkness of the music of the night."

Dawn had almost completely forgotten the darkness outside. The only thing that she was aware of right now was the warmth of Erik's body (at least where it was touching her back and shoulders). He smelled like her body wash and she guessed he'd had a bath with it. Chills threatened to come at the thought of Erik having a bath. His breath stirred her hair gently as he sang. Now, she was the one praying for it not to end.

"Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world

leave all thoughts of the life you knew behind...

let your soul take you where you long to be... (this time, she did shiver)

Only then...can you...belong...to me..."

No wonder Christine had a moment of weakness in the movie, Dawn thought, he's definitely got that gift. Erik's voice was making her feel things she didn't even realize were possible.

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication,

touch me, trust me, savor each sensation,

let the dream begin, let your darker side give in

to the power of the music that I write...

the power of the music of the night..."

Dawn had relaxed completely and her breathing was slowing, which told Erik that she was about to drop off to sleep. He hummed softly into her ear. When he was sure she was out, he lifted her carefully and carried her over to the bed. He was staggering slightly when he did; Dawn was about twice as heavy as Christine had been. He lowered her onto the bed and covered her up.

"You alone can make my song take flight...

help me make the music...of...the...night..."

The storm was almost over. The thunder was barely audible. Erik gazed at Dawn in the firelight. Her cheek looked so soft, so inviting. He couldn't resist, though he was trying. Ever so carefully, his lips grazed her cheek before he disappeared through the mirror.