Erik stood silently in the middle of Sabrina's room, watching Bastiana waddle back and forth on her perch. His bottom lip puckered out in thought, accentuating the small cleft in his chin. He was thinking of the perfect song for Sabrina. It had to be odd, like her, and beautiful. Sunlight streamed through the window next to Sabrina's bed, warming Erik's back, he didn't think he'd ever get used to the sunlight, there seemed to be an eternal chill in his body from all those lone years under the cellar.

Bastiana let out a chirp as Erik turned to face the window, his hands clasped behind his back. His lip stayed puckered out, indicating he was still deep in thought, but the subject had changed from a song, to the girl it was dedicated to. Erik still found it shocking how much Sabrina cared for him, and how easy she cared for him. She spared his mask second glances, her eyes never lingering on the smooth surface of it. She already knew, obviously, what lied under his mask, so he supposed it held no interest for her. Yet Erik could not allow her to look upon him without it on. He was afraid it would ruin them, like it had with Christine. He knew his fear had little ground, but it still stood, blocking that one milestone.

Erik let out a grunt, turning back to the excited bird, reaching out he stroked her chest feathers, he contemplated Sabrina's feelings, wondering if they were true enough to consider investing his own. He was still weary, and worried that she'd disappear one morning, or finally see the monster in him and run in fright. Erik's spine chilled at the thought. He could not handle that pain a second time. He sighed and sat down on Sabrina's bed, and for once took a good look around her room.

Her walls were covered in drawings of owls and wolves, her own drawings. Sabrina seemed to love birds (Bastiana squawked from her perch) and owls were her favorites. She drew them constantly, mostly barn owls, with lovely heart shaped faces and rich peach to dark brown and tawny feathers. Erik contemplated their noble looks silently. He had felt the way Sabrina's heart swelled whenever she saw the majestic creatures, or read the Ga'Hoole books. He almost thought she would spread wings and soar off as a barn owl herself. Erik shook his head. Sabrina had a broad imagination, but he highly doubted it had the strength to transform her shape.

He continued to walk in small circles around the room, thinking, contemplating, wondering what melody would fit such a girl. He would write her a lullaby, that was for sure…one of wings and dreams. One that would make her heart flutter like the wings of the owls she loved so dearly. Suddenly, a song was piecing itself together in Erik's mind, coming together in a beautiful harmony. Owls were his inspirations, owls held Sabrina's soul…Sabrina's soul was that of a noble loving owl, and so her lullaby proclaimed.

On wings of silken

Hazelnut

White face heart

And speckled spots

You soar above

Waves of plain

O fly

And take my heart

Away

I'm yours

Yours only

White face heart

Bring winds of music

Upon your feathers

Let me

Realize

Love

Without pain

Wings guide me

Through dark night

And lead me

To a world unknown

Take me

Upon the sea

Of dreams

To which you fly

Just let me

Believe

With you

Forever

In your wings

Let me be

Yours

It was a short poem, but Erik realized it was perfect nonsense, that had meaning only to he, and Sabrina. It filled his heart with warmth. He had created this for her, he did hope dearly that she liked it. He quickly wrote the lyrics down in his neatest writing and carefully tacked it to the wall. He could not wait until tonight, when he could sing it to her.

Sabrina, on the other hand, or wing, was panicking.

"Relax!" Eva cried, exasperated, plunking down next to her twitching friend and throwing an arm around her shoulders, "Erik will be fine, I've left him alone plenty of times!"

"But Eva!" Sabrina refused to be consoled, "I was there still, I knew what he was up to! Or in to! Or if there was anything wrong!" Sabrina had started to hyperventilate, and Eva raised a brow at her friend.

"What's her deal?" Sirius asked curiously as he and Peter sat at their table. Gerard was at a school closer the group's neighborhood. Herron was a charter school, and the friends had yet to convince Gerard's parent's how great Herron was.

Eva rolled her eyes, "worrying about Erik." She grumbled, lifting her arm from Sabrina shoulder and beginning to dig through her lunch box. She pulled out an orange and began pealing boredly. Sabrina was no fun when she was being a worry wart.

Sabrina was not very hungry and ate very little. What she did eat was nearly forced down her throat by her friends. All she could think about was Erik. Was he alright? Did he feel lonely? Did he run off? Was e in trouble? What if he was hurt! Sabrina started hyperventilating again, and her Latin teacher, Kizzia, gave her a worried look. Not soon after Jalgan ran into the room, taking a seat besides Sabrina.

"Where were you?" He asked, his voice perfectly mirroring the worried look Kizzia had just graced her with. His bright blue eyes studied her, and she suddenly realized she had lost interest in them, and that she only longed for the moss green ones, and the one visible dark eyebrow.

"I've been sick." She murmured, looking down at the paper Kizzia had passed around. She did not feel like discussing anything. It almost saddened her that Jalgan no longer interested her. She had had a crush on him for two years, but Erik just…made her warm on the inside, excited her even.

"That's what I heard." Jalgan looked like her wanted to question her more, but Kizzia began class right as he open his mouth to speak.

The rest of Sabrina's day went on slowly. By the end of it she felt like a scratched cd, repeating the same thing over and over again. I've been sick by the end of the day she felt like screaming at the top of her lungs I've been falling in love with a grown man!

It was the truth, though the word 'love' still faltered on her lips when she tried to say it. Thinking it was even hard. How could she even know if she loved Erik or not? She had never loved before, and besides, just because she knew what lie beneath that mask could she still look upon it without disgust? She had not been very impressed when she saw it in the movie, but that was on a screen.

She did not want to ask Erik to see his face to indulge in her own needs. She knew that if she asked that would destroy the trust he held in her. She could not do that, she would never betray Erik in such a fashion, that was just to cruel. And she could not bare the thought of Erik hating her, that was the selfish reason why she would not ask to see his face.

Sabrina was also making a great effort to avoid Jalgan. She felt like he was finally taking the step she had always wanted him to take, but now she could not find herself wanting to be with him…she wanted Erik, and Erik alone.

It was a relief to be back on her bike and headed home. She could not wait to see Erik, and to tell him of her day. Her mind felt empty without him, it was like she had last half of herself when they were separated, but she also felt wonderful now that she could actually touch him, and hold his hand, and look into his eyes.

Sabrina and Eva departed from Sirius and Peter at the beginning of Sabrina's street. They waved goodbye, then peddled down the quiet neighborhood. When they reached Sabrina's house Sabrina very nearly threw her bike to the ground in her haste to get inside and see if Erik was alright. She bounded up the stairs with Eva at her heels.

When she threw open the door Erik's look of surprise greeted her. Sabrina let out a huge breath of relief. He was sitting on her bed, with Bastiana on his shoulder, watching 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Erik smiled at her, sensing her great relief at finding him safe and sound and not partaking in mischief. Eva was cackling quietly behind her best friend and shoved her into the room, closing the door behind her.

Sabrina immediately went to sit next to Erik, who let Bastiana flutter to the blonde girl's shoulder. Eva plopped down in front of the television. Sabrina told Erik everything bout her day, starting from when she left all the way to her bike ride home. Erik sat and listened to her patiently, smiling and nodding at regular intervals. Gently he pulled the blonde girl onto his lap and began to comb her hair with his fingers. Sabrina continued to chatter away, not hearing the knock coming from down stairs. Eva did, however, and she looked up curiously, no one was do over. The boys would be busy at Gerard's place, working on some project they had been talking about. So Eva went downstairs to answer the door, wondering who in the world could be at the door. She grabbed the handle and jerked the door open, and giving a startled gasp at who stood there.

Sabrina giggled as Bastiana started cooing and rubbed her head feathers along Erik's cheek. Erik laughed as well, cooing back at the bird. Bastiana was delighted, and immediately began to sing with the former phantom. Sabrina laughed all the while, her cheeks turning rosy from smiling so much. Suddenly the heard the door burst open and an unbelieving gasp. The trio whirled around, their eyes widening at the sight before them. Or at least Sabrina's did, Bastiana just let out a shriek, and Erik was baring his teeth in a snarl.

Jalgan stood in the doorway, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Who are you?" He demanded, quickly snapping his mouth shut. He was only met with Erik's bared teeth and sharp glare. "Who are you?" He demanded with a sharper tone.

Erik let out a breather through his nostrils and he gently set Sabrina down on the bed, who seemed paralyzed from shock. "I am Erik." He said in a low growl. He knew who this boy was, he had been Sabrina's biggest crush, "I am Sabrina's friend." He grinned as Jalgan's chest puffed out at the challenge of the big man. Erik chuckled, but it was a dark chuckle. "Now, who are you?" He asked, coming to stand before Jalgan.

Jalgan swallowed, "I'm Jalgan." Jalgan said said, though not with the force he had used before. Sabrina finally sprang from the bed, hurrying to stand between them. "Erik!" She said with a sharp tone that made Erik blink at her in surprise, "stop threatening Jalgan!" Erik started to look like a kicked puppy. "And don't you look at me like that!" Erik harrumphed and crossed his arms, turning his back to the boy. Sabrina rolled her eyes t Erik, though he could not see, and turned back to Jalgan.

Jalgan's lip trembled for half a second, before he balled up his fists and turned on his heels and stalked form the room with his jaw set. Eva walked up to her best friend, inhaling a sharp breath through her teeth in the classic "holy shit" face. Sabrina sighed and shook her head, indicating Erik and shrugging. Eva got it, and winked at her best friend before smacking the former Phantom's behind.

Erik gave a shriek and nearly jumped five feet into the air. Eva laughed loudly, holding her stomach as she doubled over from the laughter. Erik looked very indignant, his chest was puffed out and he breathed harshly through his nose, which sent the two girls into another fit of giggles. Erik soon could not stop a chuckle from escaping him as well, but he gave Eva a reproachful look.

Eva merely shrugged and checked her watch, "Hey we'd better go, we're gonna stay in the tree house tonight."

"Erik blinked, "but tonight is a school night." He said, confused, "I did not think you stayed in the woods on school nights"

Eva nodded, "usually we don't, but this week is going to be the last of the nice weeks. The weather is going to get real nasty, so we're spending the rest of the week there." Eva grabbed two bags from Sabrina's closet, handing the blonde girl one. Eva went downstairs, quickly returning stuffing the bag full of foods and sodas. Sabrina began packing clothes and other things they might need. She even packed the bag with Erik's clothes(the ones they bought for him), along with the cape he had appeared in.

A few minutes later the trio were walking down the stairs and out to their bikes. Bastiana perched on Sabrina's shoulder, chirping happily. Sabrina watched Erik mount his bike and a smile slowly slid across her face.

"What?" Erik asked, finding Sabrina looking at him, but Sabrina merely giggled and mounted her own bike.

"Nothing," she answered innocently, giggling at the masked man's look of confusion.

The three friends were all on their way, traveling at a smooth speed so Bastiana did not get to jumbled on Sabrina's shoulder. Erik was getting used to riding a bike, and was no longer having trouble with it. He found the feeling of the muscles in his legs working while he peddled enjoyable. He almost felt more powerful on a bike.

The ride was quiet, but it was a comfortable sort of silence. Soon they were under the canopy of bent trees. Peter waved at them from the balcony as they emerged into the clearing. Sabrina and Eva waved back, but Erik kept both hands on his handle bars, still not trusting the bike enough to only use one hand.

They parked their bikes at the base of the massive tree and headed up the spiraling staircase. Stars were beginning to gleam through the thick cover of trees, sparkling through the little patches of sky that were visible. Erik could not have felt more at peace at the moment as Eva followed Peter through the door into the cabin like tree house. The boys were sitting on the floor before the small fire place, roasting marshmallows on sticks.

Gerard's cheeks were thoroughly covered in the sticky treat and he was desperately trying to lick his face clean, causing Peter and Sirius to guffaw at the ridiculous sight. Sabrina and Eva rolled their eyes to each other before plopping down at the floor in front of the fire place. Erik sat awkwardly next to Sabrina, not being able to sit without wincing at the sound of his creaking knees. Sabrina turned to him, grinning, and he had to suppress a groan.

"Want one, Old Man?" She giggled, offering him a marshmallow on a stick. Erik took it, grumbling at her, and held the mallow just before the flames, as he saw the others doing. Soon, however, he got his sticky treat to close to the flames, and the thing caught fire! Erik jerked it from the fire place with a startled cry, but Sabrina laughed and leaned over, blowing out the flames to leave a slightly charred marshmallow smoking. "Go ahead!" She said, grinning, "They're best that way!"

Erik eyed her suspiciously for a moment, but carefully stuck the still warm mallow in his mouth. He made a face as he chewed, making the teens laugh gleefully as he continued to scrutinize the taste of the smoldering marshmallow. "It…is slightly addicting in an odd disgusting way." He finally decided, sending his companions into another round of loud laughter. He smiled, keeping his lips closed as he was sure there were bits of black mallow all over his teeth still.

The sky outside the cozy tree house slid slowly down into darkness, first from a lovely lavender, to a sleepy navy blue, then settling soundly in a velvet black. As the stars winked at them from the windows, the teens began swapping ghost stories that would make them squeal in delighted terror. Most were just ghost stories of disappearing hikers and eerie voices, non like the gory horrific tales the dancers swapped about Erik at Opera House. It was a nice change to Erik, and Sabrina was settling herself cozily up next to him, leaning against his side in the most casual gesture. Erik still found it odd and a little difficult to get used to how easily Sabrina made contact with him. He always felt more human with her by his side.

The night continued to wear on, and finally the teens began to let their eyelids droop, and the dragged out their sleeping bags, crawling under the warmth of their covers with slight relief, shivering from the windy night. Erik felt a start when he remembered there were only enough sleeping bags for the five friends, but Sabrina scooted over and held her arms out for him. Erik climbed in the sleeping bag with her settling down hext to her he winced when his jeans pinched his waist.

Sabrina rolled her eyes, "Take em off." She whispered, "but of anything pokes me I'm kicking you awake!" Erik blushed furiously, but graciously took them off, not wanting to sleep in the rough things, sighing with relief as he was left in his boxers. However, for Sabrina's warning, she sure snuggled up to his side quickly enough. She buried her face in his chest. Jason's face distorted into n even uglier grimace as Sabrina made the fabric twist as she rubbed her face against the warmth of his chest. She liked the sound of his heart beat as it pounded a steady rhythm in the night. It made her feel so relaxed and safe.

Erik wrapped his arms around her, and it was then that he remembered the lullaby he had written for her. He combed her hair with his fingers, watching the smooth golden silk slid coolly through his fingers as he began to sing.

"On wings of silken

Hazelnut

White face heart

And speckled spots

You soar above

The waves of plain

O fly

And take my heart

Away

I'm yours

Yours only

White face heart

Hark! you do

Bring winds of music

Upon your feathers

Let me

Realize

Love

Without pain

Wings guide me

Through dark night

And lead me

To a world unknown

Take me

Upon the sea

Of dreams

To which you fly

Just let me

Believe

With you

Forever

In your wings

Let me be

Yours"

Sabrina trembled for a moment, finally looking up at him with tear filled eyes. "Oh Erik…" was all she could muster out before she buried her face into his shirt and began to sob quietly. Erik felt his heart nearly start at the sound of painfully abundant love in her voice. He could tell that writing her that song had touched her heart deeper then any touchable gift. He smiled, feeling the confidence to press his lips to the top of her head without fear, and he closed his eyes in quiet bliss.

Soon Sabrina had fallen asleep, her breaths deep and smooth as she slumbered soundly in Erik's embrace. Erik was up still, for quite sometime, thinking back on his previous life, and comparing to how the public viewed him, to how it viewed him now. He had to say, he missed his home, but he didn't miss it enough to want to go back. He was perfectly content here, happy, even. He had never felt this way before. Oh he had loved Christine, but he had deceived her, while he loved her. Christine had even loved him for a time, loved him as the faceless angel of music, loved the mystery of his voice, but never loved him as Erik. Sabrina loved him, Sabrina loved Erik, Sabrina had befriended him, knowing him, knowing Erik, and even knowing his face, though she had never seen it in person. Erik knew he was beginning to love her as well, and it was almost becoming easy. He did not have to pretend to be someone, he did not need to sing to her till she was completely hypnotized and under his control. No, she had him under her control, though she did not know it.

Erik let out a long breath through his nostrils, silently he pressed his lips to Sabrina's forehead and smiled as she snuggled even closer to him. She was so small, he felt as if he could crush her, if he had the heart to, her tiny toes were curled over his calf, flexing as if Sabrina was dreaming of running. Erik pressed his cheek to hers.

"Let me be Yours" He sang quietly, finally closing his eyes and giving into the sweet, dark thick velvet of sleep, and gave his mind up to dreams.