Victoria opened her eyes slowly, groaning softly as her stiff muscles protested any movement. She looked around, unsure of where she was. After a few moments of blinking and looking around she recognized the room. Early morning sunshine streamed through the windows.

'The music room? How did I get here?' She shook her head, trying to clear her foggy mind. She felt a warm body shift slightly against her; glancing down, she saw Erik slumped against the bookcase with his head resting on her shoulder. The memories of the previous night came flooding back. She rubbed her temples slightly, ignoring the hiss she heard from next to her.

"Forgive me…I hadn't…it was not my intenti…" he fumbled for words.

She furrowed her brow and waved a dismissive hand. "Don't give it another thought; neither of us expected to fall asleep…" she stood slowly, wincing.

Erik rose as well, straightening his cravat and jacket. They stood there in silence for a few moments before Victoria finally spoke.

"Raoul will most likely return today. Something is bothering him. He wouldn't have showed up without prior warning like that if something wasn't wrong." She paused, unsure if she should tell Erik of her fears. He'd figure it out soon enough anyway. "I believe Raoul and Christine are having some…difficulties in their marriage. I had been given the impression that she remained in London while Raoul tended to my brother in Marseilles."

Erik stiffened slightly.

'So, perhaps Victoria thinks Christine returned to Paris to look for me?' he mused to himself. Victoria's stiff posture and the underlying fear in her eyes told him he had indeed read her thoughts. 'She thinks I will return to Christine, and leave her altogether. How can I convince her that I could never leave her?'

Victoria waited for him to assuage her fears but he said nothing, standing there against the bookcase with his face contorted in thought. Unable to take the pressure of waiting for him, she rubbed her temples, warding off the headache that had begun to prick behind her eyes.

"Please excuse me, Erik. I'll leave you to your day," she said weakly as she turned and tried to hurry from the music room.

She'd nearly made it when she the familiar weight of his hand on her arm; she looked at him over her shoulder and saw the pleading look in his golden eyes.

"Please don't leave," he begged, his voice barely above a whisper.

She was torn; she wanted to escape to her room so she wouldn't have to watch Erik struggle with himself. "Victoria, you have nothing to fear from Christine. Nothing could make me leave you." He released his grip on her arm, but trailed his fingers down to her hand and took it in his own. "For so long wished for someone who made me feel alive; I've lived as a dead man for so long. Christine awakened something in my heart, but I'm not sure what it was. What I do know is that while she awakened a heart that had never known love in any form, 'you' are the one who has guarded it as closely as your own." He caressed her cheek with the long fingers of his other hand, and watched her eyes drift tightly closed at the sensation of his touch on her face.

"You mean so much to me, my dear, far more than Christine ever could." Her eyes snapped open; she looked deeply into his eyes, searching for any untruth. "How could I abandon the lady who holds my heart in her delicate hands?" he asked, as he grasped both of her hands and placed a light kiss on the back of each, one by one, before brushing his lips against her palms in their turn.

Victoria felt her heart nearly burst from love. She still couldn't bring herself to tell him that she loved him, but she felt that somehow he sensed her feelings. Erik leaned down and placed the lightest kiss on her lips.

"Never doubt me, my darling," he whispered into her ear.

"I won't, please forgive me for even thinking it."

Erik chuckled. "I already have, how could I not? I would never wish to cause you any distress, but I must…" He was unsure how to finish his thought without hurting her more.

"You need to speak with her," Victoria finished for him. "I thought you might. I can't say that I know how you feel about her, or my brother, but I do understand your need for closure. You loved her very much; that is not something that you can forget or push aside. You will be happier in your life if you are able to lay to rest some of the demons of your past."

Erik kissed her temple, holding her face in his hands.

"You are so wise for someone so young, ma belle."

She looked up into his eyes.

"Christine will be here within the hour; the drawing room will provide you with privacy for as long as you need to speak with her."

"You never cease to amaze me. Thank you, darling," he whispered into her hair.

Reveling in having his arms around her, Victoria was hesitant to pull away but knew she must. "I have to go change. Raoul will be here at any moment and I daresay Christine will be with him. They will never understand if I greet them still dressed as I was last evening!" She gave him a quick departing kiss before hurrying to her own room to wash and dress for the day.

An hour later, Raoul and Victoria were hidden away in the study while Erik and sister-in-law were closeted in the drawing room. Raoul had been more than hesitant leave his wife alone in the room with the Phantom of the Opera, but Victoria had assured him that no harm would come to her.

"What is bothering you, Raoul? You look so tired!"

Her brother ran a hand through his hair.

"I've made a damned botch of everything!" he exclaimed suddenly.

Victoria frowned.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean"

"I mean, I spirited Christine away from Paris and married her to…" He stopped, as though some weight was pressing on his chest. He sighed and looked away from his sister. He couldn't bear to look her in the face when he told her of the consequences of his less than honorable actions. Philippe had already given him a sound dressing down by shouting at him for nearly an hour yesterday; he hoped Victoria's reaction would be less extreme.

"To give the child a name," he whispered brokenly.

Victoria frowned in confusion.

"But a child is the natural progression after marriage." She didn't understand why he was so unhappy; she had thought he wanted children!

The truth finally dawned on her as Raoul sat there looking chagrined; She gasped audibly while inwardly she cursed herself for the reaction. "Oh!" she said, unable to think of any other comment. She'd had no clue that Raoul and Christine had been involved like 'that' when they were courting.

Raoul slumped onto the divan next to her; she put an arm around his shoulders and rested her head on his shoulder.

"At least you gave the child a name; so many men often times leave their mistresses to raise the child on their own. I know how you love her, Raoul; you have nothing to feel badly about."

Raoul looked at her, his eyes bright with tears.

"But she doesn't love me, Victoria. She loves Erik! She never says anything, but I know; I can see it in her eyes!"

Victoria bit her lip.

"What are you two going to do?"

"What else can we do? We can't get a divorce or annulment now, not with a child." He clenched his fist. "I never wanted this for her. She deserves so much better than this."

"Listen to me, Raoul." she tipped his face to look at her. "You two made a hasty choice. I'm not going to sit here and insult your intelligence by telling you otherwise. But now, you both have a child to think about. You must put your own feelings aside and think about the child that you have created together." She took his hands in hers. "I'm sure Philippe has railed at you enough, so I'll not tell you how foolish you were. I am happy that I will be an aunt! I know how badly you've wanted children, and I know Christine has wanted children as well. You will work everything out; Christine is young and innocent, and new to the feelings of love. Give her time."

"When did you get so wise" he murmured.

Victoria smiled at him sweetly.

"It runs in the family." She kissed his cheek. "Now, tell me when is my niece or nephew due?"

Unfortunately, the conversation in the next room was not going quite as smoothly. Christine and Erik sat in a tense silence, neither of them wishing to speak first. Finally Christine could take no more.

"Erik, have your feelings for me changed so much that you cannot even have a conversation with me?"

Erik steepled his hands, looking at her through narrowed eyes.

"Indeed they have, Vicomtesse, I find that I have very little to say to you."

The icy formality of his address stunned Christine to her very core.

"Tell me," he continued, "When is your child due?"

Christine felt her face pale; she didn't know how he knew. She'd only just started to show and it wasn't all that noticeable to anyone. Her eyes filled with tears, she should have known better than to try to get anything past Erik's eagle like eyes.

"The beginning of August."

Erik's eyes narrowed even more, ice flowing through his veins. "So, my virtuous little singer was not so innocent after all. When she returned to my home, to me, she had already allowed another to taste her sweetness."

Christine felt her stomach lurch at the crude way he taunted her, but she knew he was right.

"How little you thought of me!" He stood swiftly, startling Christine. He crossed the room to stand before the window, clenching his hands. She sensed that he was barely able to control his temper.

The young woman stood and walked over to him, hoping to calm his temper. "Erik I never…I didn't want to."

He spun around, and with a sweeping gesture, sent the oil lamp on the nearby table crashing to the floor.

"Why?" he roared. "I never hurt you Christine! Not once did I do anything but treat you with the utmost respect and love! I kept a respectable distance from you while you remained in my home! I gave you your voice, a career on the stage! I loved you!" he shouted angrily. "I almost died for you! And this is how you repay me! By sleeping with another man before you returned to me! Spitting lies and poison at me!"

He kicked a chair away from him angrily; Christine paled again, but remained silent and still.

"Is my face and my person so absolutely terrible that you had to lie to me?" He stalked over to her still form, his eyes blazing. He grabbed her roughly by the arms.

"Was the thought of laying with me truly that horrible?" he rasped.

He didn't hear Victoria or Raoul enter the room. They had hurried to the drawing room from the study when they heard the first shouts and subsequent crash. Raoul had wanted to shout back at Erik, to protect his wife, but his sister's hand stayed him.

"Let him finish. He won't hurt her. She brought this upon herself," she whispered to him. She watched with tears in her own eyes as Erik ranted at her sister-in-law, the pain he felt at Christine's betrayal evident, even with his mask.

Christine was crying, Victoria was crying and Raoul was watching Erik rage at his wife. Only when Erik grabbed Christine's arms did the other two people in the room react. Raoul ran to his wife, while Victoria ran to Erik.

Erik was so surprised to see Victoria that he released his hold on Christine, who fell into her husband's arms sobbing. Through the red haze of his anger, he saw Victoria's sweet face; the sight of her tears and the touch of her hand upon his arm brought his murderous rage to an end. All that remained was heartbreak, gut-wrenching heartbreak.

Victoria stepped closer to him hesitantly, wiping away a tear that had escaped during his outburst. Her finger upon his scorned face and the look of love in her eyes broke Erik. His knees gave out and he crumpled to the floor. The emotional baggage of the past year had finally caught up with him. The full weight of Christine's total betrayal weighed heavily upon his shattered heart.

If Erik's rage had bothered Christine, his tears shook her to her very soul. She approached him and put a tentative hand on his shoulder. He lashed out angrily, much like an injured animal.

"Get away from me!" he shouted "How dare you-" He could say no more. He was overcome with tears. He turned away from the people in the room, ashamed that they should see him in his weakness.

"Raoul, Christine, would you please wait in my study? Henri will bring tea in a few moments, and I'll be with you shortly." Victoria shepherded the young couple from the drawing room.

Raoul nodded, pulling Christine with him out of the room.

Victoria turned back to her broken phantom and rubbed his head gently, saying nothing. She could find no words to make him feel better. She was more than a little surprised when his arms came around her waist and abruptly pulled her down to his level. He buried his face in her neck as he cried, clutching her tightly to his shaking body. He needed her strength, her love.

Victoria ran her hands through his hair, kissed his face and let him cry. She wished she could take some of his pain away for him.

'Lord knows he's suffered so much from so many.' When he quieted at last, she helped him to his feet and moved him to the divan.

His face was expressionless as he absorbed all that had happened. Concerned about his apathy, Victoria kissed his cheek. The touch of her lips seemed to startle him out of his self-loathing.

"Please, Victoria, don't leave me," he whispered.

Victoria kissed him again.

"I must see to Raoul, but I'll return very soon, I promise." She rose to her feet. His tortured eyes looked into her own.

"You promise?"

She nodded and sealed her promise with a final kiss to his lips.

"I promise you, my darling, I'll be right back!"

She hurried out of the room and into her study, where Raoul was consoling his wife.

"Is he alright? Please? I must see him again," Christine begged.

Victoria steeled herself to Christine's pleas. "I'm sorry but I cannot allow you to see him. He has no desire to see you, and I must respect his wishes."

"But I must!"

Victoria's tempter flared.

"No!" she shouted, surprising Christine, who had never seen her friend's temper flare before.

"I will not allow you to hurt him anymore! It may not have been intentional, but he is hurt just the same! You have broken that man," she said, viciously stabbing a finger in the direction of the drawing room. "He did everything for you, and you repay him by having another man's baby! You try to weasel your way back into his life because you are selfish! This isn't one of your little melodramas, Christine! Erik is a human being and he has feelings, just as you do! He would have done anything you asked of him. It's time for you to grow the hell up and give the man what he needs most. That would be for you to leave him alone!" she shouted at her friend.

Raoul took Christine's arm.

"Come darling, we'll return in a few days." He gave Victoria an apologetic look as he ushered his sobbing wife out of the room.

Now all Victoria had left to do was some serious damage control…

Erik had composed himself by the time she had returned to her study, though most of the furniture in the room had suffered his wrath.

He loomed by the window, no longer her sweet Erik, but the Phantom, angry and brooding. Victoria knew she would have to tread lightly, lest she provoke his anger any further.

"They've gone, Erik."

"Indeed, I saw their carriage leave."

Approaching him carefully, Victoria came to stand next to him. "I'm sorry Erik, I had no idea," she whispered.

"Of course you didn't. Had I been in complete control of my faculties five months ago I might have recognized the signs, but I fear I was quite mad in those last months below the Opera house."

Erik's eerie calm bothered Victoria. When she had left him a few minutes before, he'd been sobbing on the floor; while she had been with Raoul and Christine he had vented his anger on her furnishings, but now he seemed devoid of any emotion at all as he stared through the glass.

Erik tossed a look over his shoulder and suddenly laughed at her nervous expression. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

"Do you still fear me?" he murmured into her hair.

"No, I don't fear you Erik. But you destroyed my study but a few moments ago, and now you're perfectly calm."

With a grimace, Erik looked around at the destruction caused by his anger "Forgive me, I'll purchase you new furniture."

Again Victoria's temper flared.

"Damn it, Erik! It's not about the furniture! It's…" she stopped, running a frustrated hand through her curls. "When I left a few minutes ago you were sobbing, and I come back to find you perfectly calm!"

Erik took her hand and pulled her against him, looking into her eyes.

"You're not looking hard enough, ma belle," he whispered.

Victoria looked deeply into his eyes and recognized the turmoil and pain in those golden depths. His big body was trembling from the emotions coursing through him. Victoria rested her head against his chest, listening to the pounding of his heart.

Erik laid his unmasked cheek against her hair, closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensations of holding her close to him. He could feel her heart thumping in her chest in time with his own. He was indeed very hurt by what he had learned about Christine today, but feeling Victoria's slight body against his was soothing to his raw emotional wounds.

"Will you always be there to save me from myself?" he wondered out loud.

"Always, Erik." she responded, looking up into his eyes.

He lowered his head to brush a light kiss upon her lips. "My beautiful savior…my conscience."

The sound of a carriage coming up the drive alerted them to new visitors. Erik relaxed immediately when he saw Nadir step out of the conveyance and mount the stairs to the manor. Victoria and Erik walked out of the study just as Henri showed Nadir into the drawing room.

"I'll leave you two to your game," Victoria said, before gracefully leaving the room. Erik and Nadir wasted no time in seating themselves before the chess set.

Victoria made sure to stay away from the drawing room during Nadir's visit. She wanted to give Erik time with his friend without her interference. She busied herself in the gardens, telling her new young gardener exactly what she wanted him to do, much to the disgust of the poor lad who had not realized before that moment that he was working for a perfectionist.

She finally dismissed him; he left quickly, happy to be free of her demands. She walked back into the house just as Nadir was leaving.

"Leaving so soon?" she inquired with a smile. She was always happy to see the Persian.

"Alas, yes. I know when it is time for me to cease giving my money to him," he answered ruefully.

She laughed, "I understand. Please, come back, anytime."

He bowed "Thank you, Mademoiselle."

He got into his carriage and tapped on the roof with his walking stick, signaling his readiness to leave. Victoria remained on the front steps, watching the carriage pull away. She felt Erik approach her from behind and his hands on her shoulders.

"I hope you didn't take all of his money like you did last time."

He chuckled "No…not quite."

He looked over the landscape and saw she had been working on the gardens.

"I hope you did not frighten anyone off with all the work in that garden."

She grinned.

"No, but he did leave here rather quickly. And he'll most likely not return. But I got everything done that I wanted, so it's no matter to me."

He turned her around so he could kiss her forehead. She stepped into his embrace, laying her head on his chest, smiling when his arms encircled her and held her to him. They stood like that for a few moments.

She shivered as a gust of wind swirled around them. He pulled her back into the house and to the warmth of the drawing room fireplace. He procured a cup of tea for her; picked up the novel they had been reading the day before and continued reading where they had left off.

At dinnertime Henri came in, not wanting to disturb them. "Excusez moi, but dinner is served."

Victoria rose, with Erik's assistance and strolled with him to the dining room. He sat down at the table after she was seated and sipped his wine as she ate. She never could understand his dislike of food; he rarely ate in her presence, or at all, for that matter, according to Henri.

She finished the main course, a delicious concoction of salmon and grilled vegetables. She too sipped her wine.

"Tell me. Are you and your brother still patrons for the Opera Populaire?" He had wanted to know for a long time how his opera house was faring since the devastation he had caused when he cut down the great chandelier.

She swallowed a sip of wine and set her glass down "Yes, we are. Though it is still being renovated due to the damage from the fire. And, they are still attempting to hire more cast members. But last I checked, they were doing well."

She thought for a moment.

"It has been a while since I checked in on them…perhaps I should stop by later this week, to see how they are faring."

He chuckled.

"I'm sure the managers will enjoy your visit."

She frowned.

"They have always reminded me of weasels…oh well. I need not be there very long."

He nodded his agreement, as he downed the last of his wine.

"Shall I play something for you?"

She smiled.

"I would love that!"

He rose and pulled out her chair for her, then smiled lopsidedly when she looped her arm through his. They walked up the marble staircase to the music room.