Gooooood morning :) I'm enjoying summer very much, especially since it gives me time to write~~ :D

All my love for reviewing:

Yamilian: I've been trying to keep him in character. It just doesn't make sense for him to be patient and silent all the time. Thank you, I'm really proud of how I write Nora :) She's one of my favorite characters. More flower details coming up :)

Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Love,

SarcasmIsTheBestMedecine

AKA: Maura

The Introduction

Chapter 14: Forgiveness is the Best Medicine

"De Chagny, calm down." I rolled my eyes at the Viscomte as he fussed over me, Meg doing the same. I lazily batted away their hands as I yawned, my eyes watering slightly. "Why are we even here, anyway?" I grumbled, looking around at the dress shop we were in. It was filled to the brim with lace and pink, and while I enjoyed the former, the latter held nothing for me.

"We're picking out new clothing for you, silly!" Meg said matter-of-factly, pointing to Christine, who was holding up two white dresses, a contemplative look on her face. "You need new clothes, Nora. What if we go out to dinner one night? All you have are your work clothes!" She seemed appalled at this, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. While I saw nothing wrong with wearing men's clothing out and about, the rest of 19th century Paris did.

"Not true!" I shot back, grimacing when Meg pointed to a pink and fluffy dress. "I have the dress Raoul lent me the first day." I glanced over at him and asked thoughtfully, "Why are you even here? Isn't dress shopping more of a girl thing?"

"You don't want male advice?" He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Pus Christine and I are going out to supper after this." She looked over at him and they smiled warmly at each other. Christine began to walk over, carrying several brightly colored dresses with only a few being neutral colors. I winced as I saw a deep purple dress and was brought back to this morning.

"Wake up," a voice murmured by my ear. I shivered at the hot breath tickling the side of my face and sat bolt upright, opening my eyes to see a trail of flowers leading to the door. My eyebrows drew together as I picked up the first flower, which was at the foot of my bed. It was grouping of violet-colored blossoms, each barely half the size of my pinkie finger. A hyacinth, I recalled. I racked my brains for its meaning.

"Forgive me," breathed a voice by my left, but when I swiveled in my bed to look, no one was there. I shoved the covers off me and tiptoed to the next flower, a red tulip. I picked it up and looked at both of the flowers together, brightly contrasting each other.

"I'm in love with you," the voice said again. I closed my eyes and breathed out deeply, trying to stop my pounding heart. I told him I'd burn them, I thought, and I marched over to my fireplace, staring at the flowers and not bothering to be quiet. Meg had slept over Christine's last night. When I reached the fireplace, I gasped.

The fire was out and Erik was crouched in its place, his green eyes glowing out of his sockets.

He handed me the third flower, this one a red carnation. I dropped the other two into his hand.

"My heart aches for you, Nora," he said, moving out of the fireplace into a standing position, a few mere inches from me.

This time I couldn't stop my heart from racing.

Bad Nora! The rational part of my brain screamed. You're mad at him! He called you a whore! Ohmygodhe'sreallyclose… My breathing shallowed as he stepped closer, leaving no distance between us.

He held up a fourth flower, letting it tickle my nose, and I compulsively stepped back. I can not let him get that close. His eyes flashed hurt, but only for a moment. He held out the tiger lily to me, pressing it into my hand and folding my fingers around it.

"I dare you to love me," he smirked, corners of his lips turning up as if he had heard the funniest joke on the planet.

I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining Erik and I at a wedding. Erik and I with a child. I smiled softly at the last mental image: Erik teaching our teenager how to play football.

"I dare you to accept," I said softly, fingering the lily's silky petals and staring at the ground.

He wrapped his arms around me suddenly. "I beg your forgiveness," he murmured into my hair. "I was rash and out of line. I implore you-"

"Oh, shut up," I muttered, blushing and burying my face into his chest. "I accept."

"Nora? Hello? Are you there?" Meg playfully waved her hand in front of my face and I blinked, snapping out of it.

"Yeah, sorry Meg. Just thinking."

I blushed as Meg winked at me. "Thinking about a boy, Nora?"

"Well…."

"It's that stagehand, isn't it!" I stared at her blankly.

"No, it's not Adam, actually." I looked away and crossed my arms. "I'm avoiding him at the moment, actually."

"Then who is it, Nora?" de Chagny asked, looking slightly intrigued. Christine laughed, sounding like bells.

"Leave her alone, she obviously doesn't want to share." I smiled gratefully at Christine and took one of the red dresses, walking into the dressing room to try it on.

After a few minutes of fussing, I cried, "Christine! Meg! Help me with this, please!"

They came in giggling and laced up the stays as I blushed. "You two don't need to make fun of me because I'm not used to dresses," I whined.

"Oh, shut up and look at yourself," Meg laughed, pointing at the mirror in the corner of the room. I gasped as I saw myself in the mirror.

"I look horrible," I gasped, scrunching my nose in disgust at the girl in the mirror. The dress looked absolutely disgusting on me in ways I couldn't even begin to describe. The bust was far too big, for starters, and the hip area was far too small.

"Nora, tailors exist for this reason," Meg cooed, patting down my hair. "You're not very well endowed in the bust area," she giggled.

"Not all of us are, Meg," Christine poked Meg in the stomach. "I suggest you learn that." Christine turned to me. "How about a more casual dress, Nora? I have a nice lace one outside, and a blue one as well.

"Please," I whimpered as Meg undid the laces on the back of the horrible dress.

Christine brought the other dresses in, and they left to let me try them on. These dresses had no uncomfortable stays, and fit me much better.

"I'll get these two," I said, once again in my comfortable male clothing.

"Raoul and Christine went out to supper already," Meg said, "But I'll walk with you back to the theatre."

We paid for the dresses, which were surprisingly inexpensive, and started to walk back the way we came, chatting about the theatre.

"So, who were you talking about before?" Meg asked after we had lapsed into a comfortable silence. "The boy, I mean," she amended as I shot her a questioning glance.

"Oh." I blushed, remembering the rest of this morning.

"Nora," Erik murmured, rubbing my hair. "Will you come see me tonight after practice? I'd like to show you something."

"A surprise?" I grinned into his chest and wrapped my arms under his. "I certainly will."

After a few moments of this, he pulled back, sighing as he did so.

"I have to go, Nora." He rubbed my cheek with his thumb and lightly kissed my forehead before disappearing.

"Eight o'clock," The voice echoed, "Madame Charmaine."

I smiled to myself and closed my eyes.

"I'll be there, monsieur Fantôme."

"You have to promise not to tell Christine, Meg," I whispered and stopped walking, looking at the ground.

Meg stopped walking and turned towards me. "Nora, if you don't want me to, I won't." She scampered back over to me. "Who is it that our one and only female stagehand is in love with?"

I hesitated before blurting, "The Phantom."

You like? Please review to let me know. I need constructive criticism :D