A/N: By now, you should all realise that I don't own Phantom, nor the characters. I will take the blame for the plot though!

I don't, personally, know what to make of this chapter, and so will highly value your thoughts. I'm loving these flashbacks at the beginning myself. Hope you do to :) Oh and Bec? I can't remember if I wrote this flashback before or after the whole RP mirror/tantrum incident. I think it was before, so :P Feel free to Punjab me now...

Thanks to my reviewers and regular readers! You all make it worthwhile :)

Flashback

"Ann?"

"Erik?"

She'd been coming back from rehearsals when she heard his voice.

"What are you doing up here now? There are people all around! Where are you?"

"In the walls."

"How…!"

"Oh, I don't have time to explain. I need you to come down right away."

"Why ever should I do that? People will wonder where I've gone. It's not safe right now!"

He groaned.

"Please Ann…! Bring a bandage."

"Erik? Are you hurt!" She called out softly in alarm.

"Yes…"

Down in the cellars, Antoinette spent the next hour plucking glass from Erik's palm and bandaging it. Glancing up at him, she just had to say something.

"If I may offer some advice, Erik… Next time you feel like taking your rage out on a mirror, don't use your hands!"

End Flashback

Giry didn't see Erik for the rest of the day. He was certainly mad at her. But then when wasn't he in some kind of foul mood? It just seemed to suit him. She left him dinner by his door and said goodnight.

A few hours later she sat, ready for bed, at her dressing table brushing her long hair. She started to braid it when the softest noise reached her ears. Not bothering to turn around, Antoinette spoke,

"Come in Erik."

The door opened and the man stepped in.

"How did you know?"

She grinned.

"I can sense you…" Antoinette turned to him. "Did you want something my Dear?"

He stared at her for a long moment before finally shaking his head. She sighed softly and motioned for him to sit. Erik's head and shoulders fell as he went and perched himself on the edge of her bed. Giry went and sat beside him.

"What is it?"

"I got a letter from Meg…" he muttered.

"I know. Me too."

"She's grown up hasn't she?"

"Yes, she has. I'm very proud of her."

He looked away from her, cheeks a little flushed.

"I shouldn't have…"

"No, you shouldn't. But when did 'shouldn't' ever stop you." She replied light-heartedly, trying to ease the mood around his very uncharacteristic and courageous attempt at an apology.

He looked at her now and nodded a thank you.

"Are you alright? You look weary."

"I can't sleep Giry… I can't stop thinking of her…"

"Do you wish to talk about it?"

He shook his head and whispered.

"No."

"Very well." She reached out to stroke his hair but he flinched back stiffly. Giry huffed, frustrated, and stated,

"Oh Erik, you really must overcome this."

"I don't like being touched." He growled back.

"Well, get over it!" she blurted out unthinkingly.

Erik rounded on her, the fury back in his unending eyes.

"That's easy for you to say! You've had a family; a daughter and a husband who loved you. What have I had? A kiss from a girl who despised me! How is that for a lifetime's experience of touch!"

"I'm sorry Erik. I didn't mean to…"

"What?" He snapped viciously. "Hurt my feelings? Well, you're about 16 years too late, Giry."

Antoinette gasped.

Did he really just say that? Could he still be angry at her for marrying Jules? Of course he could! She'd abandoned him like everyone else in his life. His only friend, his rescuer, his Angel and sister. She had left when she swore she wouldn't. Was it any wonder he was as he was? How would she be if she'd been left alone in the darkness for so many years!

Giry sucked in a deep breath and realised she was crying again.

"I'm sorry, Erik. I was a terrible sister to you…"

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"You still don't get it do you? After so long…? I never wanted a sister, Giry. I wanted a lover! But I was denied, twice. And for what? Some handsome creature with deep pockets."

She had to know for sure. Had to ask.

"Are you still angry at me for that?"

He sighed.

"I don't blame you for leaving me Ann. I never did…"

He pointed at the photo of Jules on the dresser.

"I blame him."

"Erik, don't be spiteful!"

"Why not? Am I not permitted a little spite once in while?"

He leapt off the bed and stormed about the room as they spoke.

"You are better then that!"

"Better!" He scoffed. "Better then what? A dog kicked in the gutter perhaps? Because it certainly doesn't feel that way! I am a hideous beast with no soul and the Fate's won't let me forget it…"

Antoinette's patience snapped.

"For Heaven's sake! Do you honestly think you are the only person in the world who suffers? Because, believe it or not, I have seen worse things then your face on the streets of Paris!"

Erik's fists clenched as he began to tremble. He sneered bitterly at her. Madame Giry knew he was just trying to mask the hurt he felt at her harsh words. He turned towards the door but her hand soon clamped firmly around his wrist and swung him back around to face her. And face her he would. He was about to experience the full force of Antoinette Giry's fury.

"Oh no you don't! You do not get to just run away anymore young man. I'm sick of putting up with your 'Phantom Tantrums'! It's about time you learnt to face your problems and yourself. Come here!"

She pulled him towards her dressing table, but he resisted.

"No." There was a faint, almost imperceptible, vulnerability in his voice when he said this. His angry façade was weakening. "Let me go woman!"

"Come Erik!" She demanded and dragged him to the table. He tried to hold back but she forced him in front of it.

The mirror sat before him like a silent gloating enemy. That was what was causing him to lose his hold of a normally very stubborn temperament. In another situation, she would never have gained the upper hand; but he was tired and she had a rather merciless ally.

A broken tear trickled down his cheek as the furious older lady sat him down on her chair. He was face to wretched face with himself now and he couldn't bear it!

Erik turned away. Giry sighed in annoyance and moved to stand behind him. With his eyes firmly shut, he felt her abdomen rest against his back. She gently took his head in her hands and turned it forward again.

"Look." She quietly commanded. He shook his head as more tears spilled out.

"No."

"Look."

"Why are you doing this to me?" He sobbed. "You promised…"

"Because you need to see."

Erik slowly, painfully, opened his eyes and watched with a deep heartache as Antoinette's hands tenderly caressed his face.

"This… is not who you are Erik…" She moved her hand to place it over his heart. "This is who you are… Can you not see how you are letting your heart break and die over such a silly thing as a face? There is more to life then this! You have so many gifts, so much to give the world. Don't let one tainted thing stand in your way!"

Through his tears he laughed sceptically.

"You honestly believe there is redemption out there for me don't you?"

"I do."

He shook his head.

"What makes you think this is all about my face anyway?" He asked, on the defensive again.

"Because it always has been. It's your greatest fear."

"I'm not afraid of my face!"

"Oh yes you are! And you torment yourself over it. You have never allowed yourself any peace because of it. It's not that everyone hates you, it's that you hate this."

She pointed to the disfigured flesh and skin.

"If you can give me a good reason why not to, I'd love to hear it!"

"Urgh! You infuriating man! Will you never accept that some people don't care! Must you always push people away just for the fear of being rejected?"

"Yes!"

"Why!"

"BECAUSE YOU BOTH DID!"

She was a little taken aback.

"Erik…"

"You left Ann! You promised you would stay forever and you left…" Erik trembled, and this time she was unsure exactly why. He took a deep cleansing breath and continued, a bit more subdued and quiet now, "But that doesn't matter anymore. I got over you. I'm sure I'll get over… her too, eventually, but I will do it my way in my time. And I can do it alone thank you very much."

"Please don't push me away…"

"I don't want your help! Just leave me be!"

He looked into her eyes.

She looked back.

"Alright. If that's what you want… I'll be here waiting if you need anything. And this time, I'm not going anywhere."

He stood up slowly, sadly, and turned to her.

"That's what you said the first time… Goodnight Ann."

Erik stepped around her and made to leave.

"Wait! Before you go, can you tell me…?" She mumbled, not certain how to word it. "Please, I was never sure… How you truly felt about me, all those years ago? Did… did you honestly… want to be with me?"

He took another deep breath and spoke.

"Do you still have Jules' diary?"

"Yes."

"There's a letter inside it…"

He left it at that and went to bed.

Giry turned straight around and fetched the diary from her drawer. Flipping it open to where he'd once stored papers inside, she pulled them all out. At the very back, tucked into an envelope, was a letter in an awfully familiar red inked scrawl. Antoinette wondered why she had never seen this one before. She read it aloud,

"Monsieur… She said she loves you and that she wants to marry you. And maybe she does. But if you ever make my Beloved cry, even once, know this… I will hunt you down and kill you. You would be dead now if the foolish girl wasn't… oh my… foolish girl wasn't having your bastard. Yours Etc. The Devil's Child."

Her legs gave out and she fell to her bed.

"Oh Erik…"