Hey everyone, thanks again for the reviews. Now…on with the story.

When I closed my eyes, I had thought to be dying….but after god knows how long of being out, I awoke. I opened my eyes to find the room in complete darkness except for a lit candle that was on the nightstand. I was lying on my back, and could feel about five pillows placed beneath me. My chest was in complete agony, and I didn't dare move a muscle. I was dressed in a nightgown, and I wondered how I got that way? When I was shot, I had been wearing trousers and a blouse….where were they now? I could hear the sound of rain pounding on the roof, and thunder rumbling outside. I didn't know where Erik was, and I was too weak to call for him. I glanced over on the nightstand, and noticed a glass cup sitting there, with a blood stained bullet sitting inside it. Was that the bullet that was shot into me? I then noticed a small tube sticking out of my fore arm, a tube that stretched all the way to the headboard of our bed. I glanced up and noticed that the tube was attached to a sealed packet that was filled with blood. Was this how I was alive? Who's blood had been taken on my behalf?

I couldn't hold my eyes open much longer, and so I shut them. That's when I heard the bedroom door slowly creaking open. I didn't bother opening my eyes, and listened as I heard footsteps slowly approaching me. I then felt a cold hand touch the top of my forehead, and covers being pulled up over me. I smelled the familiar scent of French cologne, and knew right away that Erik was standing over me. I was tired, but not too tired to greet him. I then slowly opened my eyes to meet with Erik's. As soon as he seen me looking up at him, and smiled softly, and embraced my cheek.

"You had me worried…" he replied in a soft whisper.

I tried to speak, but when I opened my mouth, a violent cough erupted. It seemed as though Erik knew what to do right away, because in an instant, his arm snaked around my back and lifted me up. He then held a handkerchief over my mouth as the coughing continued.

"Don't try to talk." he replied. "You've got blood in your lungs."

Indeed I did, for as I glanced down into the handkerchief, I noticed that it was full of blood. When the coughing stopped, Erik placed the handkerchief aside, and lied me back down. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and as he was propping the pillow up behind my head, I noticed a bandage wrapped tightly around his fore arm. I gently touched it, causing him to glance down at it.

"Yes." he replied. "I have a rare blood type….then again I'm a rare man. You would have died if I hadn't offered to give you some."

The blood mystery was solved, Erik had given me some of his own….this only made me love him even more.

"Part of me now lives within you, my love."

I smiled, and placed my hand gently on his masked face.

"The bullet punctured you lung, my love." he replied. "You'll live though, Nadir made that possible. There was no way in hell I was taking you back to that godforsaken infirmary."

I lied there confused, why was Nadir even here? I thought he was in London… Erik being the mind reader that he was, saw the question burning within my eyes.

"Ah yes," he began. "I bet you're wondering about Nadir being here. Well I will tell you that I wrote him days ago to come out for a visit. I wanted him to give me more laudanum….he came to the warehouse yesterday, and I told him to go wait for me here. That's when you came barging in about having to find Gustave."

Gustave! That reminded me…..oh god he was so afraid yesterday, and I only wondered how he was now….but then again, Erik saw that question burning within my eyes as well.

"Gustave is fine, I just tucked him in. He's been crying all afternoon about you, but I told him you'd be alright. Bedridden for a while, but safe and sound now."

He then stood up from the bed, and walked towards the door. I wanted to call for him, but could only whimper….. Moments later, he returned, carrying a glass of water. Once again his arm snaked around my back, and lifted me up to drink.

"Drink this…" he instructed. "It will make you feel better."

I did as he said, and let the cold liquid run down my dry throat.

"Oh my love, I swear to take great care of you. I shall make sure to wait on you hand and foot…you shall see."

I still couldn't say anything, and found myself lying back down on the many pillows Erik had placed under me.

"I must work now, my love." he replied, getting up from the bed. "I must work on my music, and you must rest."

No, I couldn't….I wanted him here beside me. I had been alone long enough… I took a deep breath, and forced myself to call out his name.

"Erik…"

It was a muffled sound, but he heard me. He turned around and approached me once.

"You shouldn't speak." he began. "It could hurt you."

Once again I began to choke on my coughs, causing him to lift my head up once again to cough into the handkerchief.

"Now look what you've done to yourself."

When my coughing subsided, he placed the handkerchief aside, and lied me back down.

"What's the matter?" he asked, glancing down at me with an eyebrow raised. "Lonnie is dead, there's nothing to worry about now."

Once again Erik tucked me in, and stood up to leave. He disappeared behind the wardrobe closet, and came back out wearing his night slacks and robe. I watched as he took a seat at his desk and began writing with his quill, writing beautiful music, music that was in his head. He even placed his mask down on the space beside him. His face shun within the candle light, each crevice of his disfigured flesh glowing within the flame.

"It's best that you shut your eyes and go to sleep." he advised. "I'll watch over you during the night."

Erik was right, it was better for me to close my eyes and go to sleep. I couldn't hold them open any longer, and found it hard to try. I slumped into a dreamless slumber, only awakening to a crash of thunder. My eyes instantly shot open to a room filled with darkness. The candle on the nightstand was no longer burning, just blown out and smoking softly. I glanced over towards Erik's desk and noticed that he was no longer sitting there. I wondered where he was, that was until I positioned my leg closer to the left side of the mattress to feel another body. My face turned, only to see Erik lying fast asleep beside me. He wasn't wearing his mask, but his hand was lying on top of his deformity, covering it from my sight. I gently rolled myself over on my side, and brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. I had never expected him to crawl in beside me, but perhaps things have changed…. As I closed my eyes once more to fall back asleep, I felt the covers shift, and began hearing heavy breathing. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Erik sitting up in bed with a hand placed over his chest. He was gasping for air, as if he'd ran ten miles.

I tugged on his shirt, and he glanced down at me.

"Don't worry about me." he replied. "I just had a bad dream is all, like I always do."

I had expected him to lie back down, but he only rose to his feet, and began walking towards the door.

"I need some fresh air. I'll be back in a few minutes."

I could hear the rain still pounding at the roof, and hoped that he wouldn't stay outside too long. I didn't want him to get sick, he couldn't afford to be. I was going to stay awake and wait for him to return to bed, but I found it to be too much for me. Soon my eyes began to feel heavy once again, and I found myself back in a dreamless slumber. I awoke one final time that night, and only because I had to use the bathroom. When I opened my eyes, I glanced over and noticed that Erik was back to sleeping beside me once again. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully this time; probably because he took one of his sleeping pills. I thought about lying there until morning, but I couldn't. I didn't want to wake Erik because he hardly never slept, and so I decided to walk to the bathroom all on my own. I gently removed the blankets from me, and placed my feet over the edge of the bed. Sitting up was so painful, and I cringed at the pain coming from my chest. I gripped the top of the nightstand, and stood myself to my feet.

I began to weaken at the knees, but continued holding onto the nightstand. I then lifted the packet of blood from off the headboard, and carried it in my free hand. The first step I took was ever so painful. I didn't give up though, and clenched onto the mirrored walls as I took each slow step towards the door. By the time I reached the door, I was in complete agony, and exhausted. I didn't want to turn back though, and continued my way out into the hall. I grasped onto the wall, as I stepped my way towards the bathroom door. It took a while, but when I finally made it there, I collapsed onto the toilet. I sat there for the longest time after relieving myself. I didn't have the energy to stand back up. I waited for a few hours, before I finally stood up from the toilet seat. When I was on my feet, I grasped onto the sink before taking my first step. Everything happened so fast…one moment I was taking a step towards the door, and the next thing I knew, my face was against the tile floor. I had weakened in the knees, and fell without a single moment to grab onto the wall. I lied there in complete agony, paralyzed without being able to pull myself up. I opened my mouth to gasp for air, but I began to cough again, causing blood to seep out of my mouth and onto the tile floor. I couldn't breath….the blood in my throat was blocking me from getting air. From the bedroom, Erik must have heard me coughing, for within seconds, he was at my side. He didn't waste anytime in rolling me over on my back, and lifting my head up to breath easier as the coughing continued.

"Breath…" he demanded. "Breath for me…"

Moments later the coughing stopped, and I was left gasping for air with a blood stained mouth. I felt Erik's arm snake behind my back, and lift me up into his arms. He carefully and quietly carried me back to our room, and lied me down within the sheets of our bed.

"You could have killed yourself with that little stunt….." his voice was soft, but it still sounded angry.

He took the handkerchief from off the nightstand, and began wiping the blood away from my mouth.

"You need to stay in bed. If you have to go anywhere, I'll carry you."

He took the blood packet out of my hand, and hung it back on the headboard. He was now on his knees, holding my hand within his, his deformity glaring me in the face.

"Promise me…." he began to cry. "Promise me that you'll stay off your feet. I don't want to burry you….do you understand? I don't want the next few dollars I spend on you to be for your coffin. Please…..it would kill me."

The words Erik had said were so heart wrenching. Seeing me dye would kill him? Why? I loved Erik, but I was still angry over him leaving me the other night. If he loved me so much, then why would he do such a thing? He was insecure, and sometimes I believed that he was putting on a show just so I wouldn't leave him. Could it be possible for him to put on a show just to have me in his life? Just so he wouldn't be lonely again? Only time would tell….time that I had plenty of. I wouldn't be going anywhere for a while…

When I nodded, he stood to his feet, and went out the door once again. I wasn't sure where he was going, but I knew he'd return. I fell asleep once more, but only for a little while, for Gustave came running in and jumped up onto the bed, causing my injury to be bumped. I cringed in agony, and within seconds I heard someone running down the hall, only to see Erik barging into the room; his masked face filled with fury.

"Gustave!"

The boy cowered as soon his name was called, and within seconds, Erik tore him from off the bed. I knew Gustave didn't mean to jump onto me, it just happened….he was only a child.

"How dare you come in here like some wild animal!"

"I didn't mean to…" Gustave was in tears…

Erik threw Gustave violently out of the room, and slammed the door shut. I was angry, angry that Erik had treated him like that. How was I ever going to get Erik to change his ways. He was more concerned about me, for within seconds, he was at my bedside once more, checking the bandage that was tightly wrapped around my chest.

"Are you ok?" he asked. "Yes? Oh that boy is such a wild animal at times…how dare he…"

Erik stopped, due to the angry expression that was on my face.

"And what's wrong with you?" he questioned. "Don't tell me that you're angry at me? He had no right to come in here and jump on you like that….."

I didn't turn away, and continued staring at him. Erik turned towards his desk, and pounded his fists into it, making a loud bang that echoed off the walls.

"I do everything for you! I care for you, feed you, love you! Is that not enough! Could I discipline my child, a child who that….that vixen Christine forced onto me! A child that doesn't belong to you! I can't do a thing without you telling me otherwise. Can I discipline my child on my own?"

I couldn't sit there quiet as a mouse any longer….I wasn't going to have it.

"You…don't discipline...you abuse.."

I began to cough once more, but not as violent as the previous night.

"Abuse? Abuse? Is that what you think of me? I'm a child abuser am I?"

I nodded.

Erik dropped down to his knees, and grasped both sides of his chest in agony.

"I'm a monster…..how could Christine even….even expect me to raise a child. I didn't want this…I didn't ask for this….I should be incapable of having children of my own….What have I done…"

Erik left the room again in tears. A little while later, the door opened again, and instead of Erik entering, Gustave did. He closed the door behind him, and stood there awaiting my permission to come any closer.

"It's ok…" I replied in a weak tone.

Gustave crawled into bed beside me, and cuddled up against my shoulder.

"Mr. Erik apologized to me." he said softly. "He said he didn't mean to throw me out of the room."

"Where….where is he now?" I coughed.

"Out in the kitchen, talking to himself…."

"Talking to himself?" I questioned.

Gustave nodded.

"Could I ask you something?"

I nodded.

"When you get better, are you going to leave me? Are you going to leave Mr. Erik?"

Was I? I was angry at him for several reasons now, but could I leave? Of course not….I loved Gustave, and part of my heart still loved Erik as well.

"Never." I said.

"Really? Because Mr. Erik seems to think so…..he's worried, I heard him tell himself so. I heard him swear to himself not to let it happen…"

"What…are you talking about?"

Before Gustave could answer, the door opened once more, and in walked Nadir. He was dressed in a white shirt, and his dark Mediterranean hair was slicked back today.

"Could Lauralye and I have a moment alone?" he asked.

Gustave nodded, and left the room. Nadir then glanced out in the hall, checking to see that it was clear before closing the door. His once happy smile turned to a straight and emotionless one as he approached the bed.

"I only have a few moments to tell you this, and you must listen to me…."

I couldn't understand why Nadir seemed so worried….what was going on?

"You don't know Erik the way I do." he continued. "He's not who you think he is, which is why you must do as I say. Do you understand?"

I shook my head.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about…"

I began to violently cough once more, and Nadir placed the handkerchief over my mouth to smother out the horrible sound.

"Don't talk….you'll only draw him down here."

Just then a knock occurred at the door, and for Erik's voice to call.

"Is everything alright in there Nadir?" he asked.

Nadir glanced over his shoulder, and responded.

"Yes, just fine…..I'll be out in a few minutes."

Nadir waited in silence, waiting to hear his footsteps walking down the hall. When he was sure Erik was gone, he glanced back at me and continued.

"You're going to live, that's the good part. I came back here today to tell you that, and to check up on you. When I arrived, Erik was in the kitchen babbling to himself, fake proposing by the window. I believe he's going to ask you to marry him sometime soon…"

A warm rush shot through my body. Erik was going to ask me to marry him? If that was true, it frightened me a slight bit, but it also excited me. Was I still in love with him? I thought so, but even if I wasn't, who was I to deny him love, especially after all he's done for me….I had thought Nadir's conversation to be over, that was until I heard the next few words out of his mouth.

"And when he does ask, I want you to say "no."

My eyes widened at his request. How could I say no? How could I?

"I...can't." I gasped. "Why would I?"

"I'm telling you to do this for your own good. I've known Erik a long time, and he's playing you like a fiddle. You actually think he's this nice charming prince with a slight disfigurement, when in reality he's a manipulative, obsessive criminal."

Nadir was lying. There was no way he was speaking about my Erik…..Erik was too kind to ever be that way.

"You're….you're lying."

Nadir grabbed onto my shoulders violently, and shook me.

"Stop lying to yourself! How much do you really know about him? Did he ever tell you that he killed two men back in Pairs, and many more in Persia? I was there, I saw it! Did he ever tell you how he terrorized Christine Daae, and locked me and her lover in a torture chamber? Did he tell you he dropped a chandelier on an audience?"

My body quivered in fear. Was this true? Was this my Erik? My love? No, it couldn't be…..he took me in, clothed me, cared for me, kissed me, loved me….

"No…" I cried. "He loves me. He cared for me when no one else would. He has a heart….he wouldn't hurt me…"

Nadir let go of me, and glanced back towards the door before continuing.

"I don't deny his love for you for one second, I'm just telling you not to marry him. He will bring you a life of suffering, this I assure you."

"How do you know?" I asked. "What if I was to say yes?"

Nadir's eyes were now staring at mine, and in the softest of whispers he said…

"Then may God have mercy on your soul."

"I don't believe you…"

"If you marry him, he will take you. If you marry him, you will become his property….you must understand that. And once you sell your soul to the devil, you will be his forever….there is no escaping it."

"I haven't the right to say no to him….not after he clothed me, cared for me, fed me, gave me a job….."

"I know Erik…." he replied. "And he knows you won't say no….he has it in his mind that you owe him your hand in marriage. He made Christine Daae feel the same way…..only she knew better than to say yes….and now you must do the same."

"It would break his heart…..don't you care about him? I thought you two were friends…"

"I am his friend, but I know what is good for him, and marriage is not. Remember when I told you not to remove his mask?"

I nodded.

"And what happened when you did?"

"He was sad, upset….furious I guess."

"And he will be furious throughout your marriage. You must say no to him. It will break his heart, but you must leave this place at once. If not, soon you will see the real Erik I am talking about, and you won't like what you see….I guaranteed this."

"What….what am I supposed to do?" I asked angrily. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do?"

"I leave for London tonight….if you were smart you'd meet me at the docks at sunset. If not, then may God have mercy on your soul…."

"I'm not leaving….I don't believe a word you say. Erik wouldn't treat me in any other way….I know this."

Nadir stood up, and smiled evilly.

"You shall see…"

He then approached the door, and before leaving, he glanced back at me.

"I do hope to see you tonight at the docks…..it be wrong not to."

Once Nadir left, I lied there full of anger. How could he say such things about Erik, and still call him his friend? I wasn't leaving, I couldn't leave Gustave behind….For the remainder of the day, I lied there alone, waiting for Erik to return. In the middle of the afternoon, I heard the piano being played from out in the main room. It was playing music, music I had never heard before. Was it something Erik had written the night before? I didn't know, but it sounded beautiful….I wanted to call him in to talk to me, but the music sounded so beautiful that I felt wrong disturbing him. However he did return to me that evening. He came in carrying a tray of food, and sat it down in front of me.

"Since you can't get out of bed to join me at the table…" he began. "I thought I'd bring dinner in here."

"And Gustave?" I asked.

"I fed him already….that fussy child."

I raised an eyebrow to him, causing him to change his tone.

"Well what can I say? He does have a picky eating habits."

I smiled.

"Takes after his father…"

"I know, it must be dreadful having to put up with the two of us…" he replied sarcastically.

I didn't answer him, and began to eat the broth that Erik had made me. I loved the way he made broth….instead of just serving me a nasty watery substance, he added milk and vegetables to make it not only chunky, but delicious as well.

"Aren't you going to eat?" I asked after a while, noticing that he wasn't doing anything but sitting beside me.

"I had some tea and a biscotti earlier today. I'm not hungry…"

"Are you sure?" I asked.

Erik nodded.

"I see that you can actually talk to me without choking on your own blood. That's a good sign….it's so boring to speak and not get a reply back….like talking to a wall or something. No offense to you or anything, but I did miss hearing your voice."

I took a sip of the water Erik had sat on the tray, before answering him.

"You're taking really good care of me, but I can't help but be mad at you. What you did still burns within my soul. It was wrong of you…"

"Which event are we talking about?" he questioned.

"You leaving me the other night…."

"I understand….you have every right to be angry at me. I should have stayed with you, but being the hideous coward I am….well you know what I did."

When I finished eating, Erik took the tray away to the kitchen. When he came back, he walked over to the tub that was on the other side of the room, and began to fill it up with warm water.

"Well I've fed you…" he began. "I might as well bathe you and put you to bed as well. Yes?"

I couldn't possibly bathe myself on my own, and so I agreed. Once the tub was filled up, he lifted the night gown from over my head, and gently unwrapped the bandage that was around my chest. It hurt, but not as bad as trying to stand up. Afterwards, Erik lifted my body up into his arms once again, and walked me over to the tub, placing me gently down into the warms soapy waters. Erik then rolled his white sleeves up over his elbows, and began to wash my hair. I glanced over at his scarred arms, and gently kissed them as he began washing my shoulders.

"Did you take your medicine today?" I asked.

"Yes." he replied.

"Are you in any pain right now?"

"Not much….the laudanum helps."

Erik was ever so gentle washing around my chest, and my scars. He washed me as if he were washing a newborn child, and I loved every moment of it. After he was finished, he wrapped me in a towel, and dried me off, before lifting me back into his arms once again.

"You don't have to carry me everywhere." I laughed. "I'm sure I can walk over to the bed, I feel stronger."

"Not yet." he said. "You need to stay off your feet."

After sitting me back in bed, he wrapped a new bandage around my chest, before placing the nightgown back over me.

"There you are…" he replied. "Nice and clean."

He was about to cover me up, when I stopped him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Could you hold me for a while?" I asked. "Just until I fall asleep?"

Erik paused a moment, and nodded.

"I will, just give me a few moments to change."

Once again he slipped behind the wardrobe closet and came out wearing his robe and dark slacks. He then crawled into bed beside me, and lifted me up into his lap. His arm snaked behind my back, and pulled me close to his chest. I lied my head down on his shoulder, and gently kissed his jaw line. I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep. I had thought about asking him to play me something on the piano, but didn't want him to have to carry me out to the main room. Then again I thought about his voice….if he could play such beautiful music on the piano, his voice had to posses some sort of melody as well.

"Sing me to sleep?" I asked him.

"Sing?" he asked. "You wish to hear me sing?"

"Please…" I begged him.

"Alright, if that is what you want."

I closed my eyes, and within seconds, he was humming a soft melody in my ear. It was the most beautiful melody I had ever heard, and his voice sounded like an angel's…..he had the most handsomest voice I had ever heard, and I wanted him to never stop humming. I fell asleep to that melody, and it continued to play within my dreams…..I wanted to dream about beautiful things, but could only dream about Nadir and what he told me about Erik. And all I could think about was how my Erik could be such horrible things……I only hoped I would never see it…

Wow, long chapter huh? Thanks again everyone, let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions let me know. I already had a few suggestions sent in and I love everyone of them. More to come soon!