Madeleine rushed around, dressing in her room after waking in Erik's arms. She wished he had picked the night before to allow her to sleep in his room with him. She would have been able to just lie there that morning, but no. She had to get up this morning, she had rehearsals.

Sighing, and finally picking one of her darker gowns, she covered herself in her cloak, and shuffled her way lazily to the boat on the shore. "Madeleine, you look rather drained." Erik commented on her drowsy attitude. She nodded and practically fell into the boat, onto the pillows. "May I sleep until we get there?"

Erik chuckled softly and nodded. "I see no harm in a couple extra minutes." Within seconds, Maddy was asleep again on the pillows as Erik pushed them down the corridors of water. However, they seemed to reach the staircase way too quickly. Madeleine was woken by Erik's soft coos, and of course, she groaned but sat up and allowed Erik to pull her from the boat.

He carried her up the car, and stepped into the dressing room, setting her in the chair by the vanity. "Madeleine, you really don't look well. Are you sure your alright?" Maddy groaned and held her head firmly in her hands. She had a terrible head ache, and felt as if her head might split. "Erik, my head, oh my head. I feel as if it would split into two." She was breathing heavily, and Erik could tell she was in pain.

"Alright, alright. I'm going to take you home, and lay you down so you can rest." Maddy immediately started to argue. "No, Erik. I can't miss rehearsal. There's a new opera featuring in a few weeks. I need the practice." Erik shushed her gently, pressing his gloved finger over her lips. "No more of that Madeleine. Your not going to rehearsal in such a state." Madeleine sighed and saw no point in arguing. Besides, she didn't have the will power to argue further at that moment. "I'll let Giry know why your not going to be present, you just sit tight until I get back."

He slipped out the door, and into the shadows, leaving Maddy to lean over the vanity, rubbing her temples in an attempt to soothe her killer head ache.

Erik came back not but a few minutes later and carried madeleine to the boat again, laying her down and pushing them along as she slept heavily. The gate rose to let him into the lair once he got there, and he carefully lifted madeleine from the boat. He laid her down on her bed in her room, being sure that she would be comfortable.

Tucking sheets under her, he sighed and watched as she slept. Was she dreaming? What was she dreaming of? Of him? He smiled wider at the thought and stroked her cheek before dropping her curtain back over the entrance.

With Madeleine asleep, and not feeling well, he didn't have anything to do. He decided he would look further into Madeleine's masquerade. Pulling small cards of paper from a drawer in his small desk, he plucked the quill pen from black ink, and scribbled a note to the managers.

Gentlemen,

I am aware of the idea that you do not know of my divorce. Christine Daae no longer lives with me, nor does she remain present in the Opera Populaire. I am not sure of her whereabouts, and honestly do not care.

Mon amour, Madeleine, has requested that I take her to her first Bal Masqué. Therefore, I am sure you wont mind that the opera house is to hold one, in celebration of the new Prima.

I thank you gentlemen.

O.G.

He sealed the note tightly inside his envelope, and pressed his seal over the flap. Setting it aside, he sighed and stood, stretching his muscles. He heard Madeleine stir, and peeked into the curtain to check on her. He heard her talking, but she was still asleep. He listened curiously and smiled when he heard his name. Chuckling softly, he turned back, grabbing his note and cloak, and stepped into the boat.

Looking back over the lair, he pushed away, and disappeared around the corner as the gate descended behind him.

...

Madeleine sat up in her bed, pressing her palms against her head. She sighed and pushed the curtain back to her room, stepping out into the lair. Glancing into Erik's room she saw that he was gone. "Oh well, he'll be back eventually," She said to herself, padding her bare feet over to his room, laying down carefully in his bed.

She covered up in his thick blanket, shivering gently as the sheets adjusted to her body temperature. When she was finally warm enough, she felt her head ache soothe slightly. Reaching over to the little monkey on his side table, she pressed a small button on the back, and the soft melody began to play.

She listened to it and smiled as she felt herself slowly drifting off to sleep again as she wondered how long Erik would be gone.

...

When Erik did return, he was welcomed by the soft music of his music box. He wondered if Madeleine might have woken and triggered the soft melody.

He laid his cloak to the side, and peeked into her room. She was gone from the warmth of her bed and he was left even more so curious. He climbed the small amount of stairs to his room and peeked around the corner, finding her tucked carefully into his bed. He smiled and looked to the music box, which she had indeed turned on before she fell asleep again.

He had left to deliver the note to the managers, and hadn't expected her to wake while he was gone.

Sitting down carefully on the edge of the bed next to her, he saw her eyes flutter open, confirming that she hadn't yet completely fallen asleep. That or he had woken her when he came in.

"Bonjour, my dear." She smiled and yawned a bit, feeling relieved that her head ache had ceased. "Are you feeling better?" Nodding and relaxing into the pillow she was using she heard him chuckle. "Trés bon, trés bon." She smiled again looking up at his masked face.

Frowning a bit, she reached for the mask. "No, no. Please, don't Madeleine." A bit confused Maddy sat up and watched his hand as it remained firmly holding hers back from his face. "What lays behind this mask is horror." Maddy stood silent, giving him nothing but a pitiful face. "Erik...please. Trust me." She didn't want to say she already knew what lay behind it. It would only confuse him.

Erik sighed and closed his eyes, swallowing nervously as he let his grip fall from her hand. Madeleine carefully grasped underneath the mask, and pulled it off carefully. She revealed what looked the same as the man in her movie.

A twisted and distorted face that terrified anyone who saw it. There was a difference between everyone and Madeleine though. Madeleine didn't see a monster. She saw nothing but a distortion, and it was one that did not bother her. Madeleine set the mask down and touched his distorted cheek. Carefully, she leaned closer to him, and placed a soft kiss to the rolled skin of his cheek, causing him to let out a long and ragged breath as he opened his eyes.

Maddy leaned back and looked him in the eyes, seeing his sadness within. Erik expected to see the same horror on her face that he saw on everyone else, once they saw his secret. But Madeleine showed no horror, only a sad happiness that displayed on her features with truth. She wasn't scared, and she wasn't about to jump up and leave. She didn't care about the monster deformity that he was cursed with.

She had even placed a gentle kiss upon it. He then smiled, and a tear fell from his eye, rolling down the deformed half of his face. She wiped it away, and kissed him softly. He kissed her back, showing his pure relief that she simply loved him, for him.