Anyway, sorry for all of these slow reviews.

I really apologise.

Seriously.

Erik blinked as he stared up at the whites of the ceiling. The light was piercing on his tired eyes; the trauma to his head now only a dull ache. Nadir had left his domain a while ago, probably to go spend time with her.

Achingly, he lolled onto his side. Wincing slightly with the effort, he reached across to grab a book. Though his eyes scanned over the words he could only pick out certain words, little phrases as images flashed in his mind. 'Red, anger, lust, revenge.'

Red, anger, lust, revenge. Red, anger, lust, revenge. Red, anger, lust, revenge. Dazed, he kept scanning over those words repeating them over and over in his head. It soon became as rich and as soothing as a melody. The feeling to compose was strong and he was already creating the music in his mind.

So with throbbing limbs, he dragged himself to his piano and began his scribblings. Sheet after sheet, after sheet of music until he had it perfect. It had to be if he was going to present it to her.

Rain pitter pattered along the roof, the smell of tea was lingering in the air. The fire next to the two was crackling away, fighting away the cold from the lashing rain outside. The occasional thunder strike shook the room and made Cynthia gasp a little. She never was fond of surprises.

Nadir sat opposite her. She hadn't been looking very good for a few days but at least now she had some colour in those porcelain cheeks. All of that rough confidence and strict demeanor was gone though. No sitting tall, no high head or deliberate movements - if anything she was very clumsy.

But she seemed to be eating again at least, she was so in shock about it all Lily said she had locked herself in her room and stayed under her covers. It was so strange that someone like her could turn so shy and shut in. Then again, anyone with a face as hideous as Erik's...

"Nadir?" Cynthia called out. It appeared he'd been staring into space for some time, so long she was stood up and holding a tray in her hands.

"Oh, yes?" He adjusted himself in his chair as he snapped his way back into reality, examining her. The tray she was holding was rather fancy. It was a silver dinner tray, littered with cute little cakes. Polished to a gleam i her hands as she presented him with them.

Now this was awfully strange. Anyone with maids would get the maid to get them, especially Cynthia. She was just to proud and made of finer stuff to drag herself down to catering or manual labor. Even her eyes and her smile was shy now.

"Cynthia..." The Persians voice trailed off as he looked at her, now able t see the tears in the corners of her eyes. SHe was welling up. Eventually a tear fell, then two, then a stream and she had to turn away.

Quickly, he moved over to her, arms open and ready to console. Yet, when he neared she pulled away. Soon she was edging so far away he feared she may tip over the back of the sofa.

"Just...Just go Nadir. Y-You have been awfully kind, too kind. But I can not stay in your presence knowing that I broke your heart." She sniffled through her words. "knowing that I broke your heart because of that... that... that monster!" He sighed sympathetically.

"Nothing breaks my heart more than seeing you like this." Stated he as he pulled a handkerchief from his velvet lined pocket; pressing it to her tears, catching them before they fell. Eventually her fretting and crying ceased. She moved closer to him, edging closer and closer every moment.

Nadir watched her, seeing a glint of he confidence coming back into light. That's when he felt her skinny little arms wrapping around him, closing and locking behind his back. Hesitantly, she rested her head on his chest.

For a while she sat there, just listening to the beat of his heart. For a while he sat there, just feeling the warmth of her body against hers. And they couldn't imagine anything more soothing. It was a moment of sweet and friendly bliss.

But that's all it would ever be,just friendly. No matter what Erik did to her, Nadir always and should have known that he was only good enough to be friends and it broke his heart even more. Until... Until it happened.

Raising up shakily, she pressed her lips against his. Her face was all a flush, as was his. It was long and sweet, unlike Erik's which were hungry and lustful. In a way it disappointed - yet confused her. After all, she didn't really think of herself as the type to lust after something.

When she pulled away Nadir smiled. He closed his eyes and savoured the taste of her red lipstick on his lips for a little while as she leant against his chest again. He knew that he had to be places, be anywhere but here - preparing for the ball tomorrow night. But he was so glad he had come.

Because he'd won, he'd finally won!

Erik watched, with his hood up over his face. Watched as that monster he had once considered a friend held the devil woman in his arms. She was a little vixen. She would squeeze all the life she wanted out of one man, take all of their love and then slip away with their heart.

And him! Kicking him whilst he was down and weak! How dare he go after her, how dare he hold and console her like this as he stood outside. He would pay for such a bold display!

Gripping the music sheet in his sodden hand he roared with the thunder. In a moment of madness he tore it up. Shoulders heaving and breath heavy.

"Oh... no... no, no, no!" He dropped on his hands and knees, scrabbling around in the boggy mud for the scraps of paper that was once a beautiful piece for a beautiful woman. It was to no avail of course, even though he had the pieces they were too wet. He hadn't another copy either.

As he stood, he wiped some of the mud from his eye with his soaken coat sleeve. Only to spot something through the window he hadn't seen before. Lily, sat hiding behind the grand staircase, her eyes red.

He tilted his head sympathetically, she'd been crying. Her clothes looked freshly pressed, her hair and make-up had much attention taken to it. Poor, poor girl, so naïve. All along she must have thought that these little visits from Nadir were secretly because he had a fancy for her. She certainly had a fancy for him.

The two of them, that devil and that man would pay! It would have been a misfortune to break his heart, but to break his and Lily's?! That was an out right sin! Admittedly, he had never been much of a religious man, but lots of things have changed since then.

The Phantom took out a long piece of rope from his belt, looking down at it for a long while before back up to the happy couple inside. Swinging and feeling the weight of his old friend in his hand, he smirked.

"Now let it be war, upon you both."

Do apologise for the long update.

Hey, but at least I updated.

I do so miss all of your splendid reviews.

That is if many of you stopped reading because of the gaps.

Once again, sorry.

Thanks.