[A/N] - Erik's lair. It is quite hard to describe it since book, movie and Broadway; each has it differently set. I might have only seen the movie but I do my research; especially on the book and the live adaptation as there are so many things that can fit into this story and in Erik's timeline.

In the book, Erik's lair is actually only partially connected to the lake but the rest of it is like a small apartment with small windows. However, I did love how the movie showed it so I will mix a little bit the two of them.

Her eyes wide and her ear pressed against the wooden door, Antoinette Giry felt the earth beneath her feet disappearing as the so familiar voice was heard.

"I am here nightingale"

Erik was alive and kept living inside the Opera House. All this time, she was unaware and thought he had disappeared or worse that he was dead but the musical genius was very much alive and apparently close to the middle child of the Farrell.

She heard them talking, no fear in her voice and even heard him laugh. She had never heard him laugh and she actually wondered if it was the same Erik she knew. A hissing sound was distinct in her ears and for a moment she wanted to barge in, afraid that he might have hurt her.

"Let me see",

"They are not that bad"

"If this is not that bad for you then I really do not want to know what it is….. Come, I have what we need in my lair"

Hearing carefully she realized that he hadn't hurt her, yet. Once the place was quiet, she opened the door but saw that both of them were nowhere to be found. Worried about Morgana and shocked that Erik was still alive; she quickly headed to the Prima Donna's room where the mirror was located.

The only entrance she knew that lead to his lair.

She couldn't believe herself that she was going there again but as she pulled the switch and then pushed the mirror out of the way; she erased all second thoughts and walked in.

Morgana sat on a red comfy armchair in Erik's lair. The said man was kneeling in front of her and was wrapping her fingers with some bandage after he had properly pulled the thorns out and cleaned the old blood.

"I cannot believe you hurt yourself like this"

"Well, it was the only way to keep control over myself. I couldn't risk giving away your secret or we would both be doomed"

"We?", he asked as he stopped and looked at her.

"Yes, we. You and Me and possibly my brothers… not to mention that I want you alive and not hanging from the gallows"

A smile graced his face as he slowly kissed her wrapped fingers.

"My nightingale, she cared about me", her free also bandaged hand went to his masked cheek and she pulled him closer before kissing him softly.

Erik quickly returned the kiss that lasted for a few seconds before the two of them parted.

"Of course I do you Stook. How can I not?"

"Indeed how can you not?", he said as he stood up and placed the first aid kit back at its place.

Morgana smiled and once again took in the amazing lair Erik was living in. She simply loved it, the candles, the statues, the lakes, the organ… everything was simply amazing in her eyes and honestly, she wouldn't mind staying there.

Giry walked down the path, carefully avoiding the old traps that were still functioning and then she reached the lake. Seeing that the boat was on the other side, she searched the wall and pushed a specific brick.

The wall parted away and showed a pair of stairs which she took and lead her to a bridge high above the water that then descended into another hidden staircase that led right at the side of the lair.

There, a small path for once person, closely attached to the wall existed and lead to the main place of the cave where the organ, couch and chairs were placed.

She stopped behind the turn of the cave and listened carefully at the small talk the two of them had.

"I cannot believe you hurt yourself like this"

"Well, it was the only way to keep control over myself. I couldn't risk giving away your secret or we would both be doomed"

"We?",

"Yes, we. You and Me and possibly my brothers… not to mention that I want you alive and not hanging from the gallows"

She turned her head and stretched her neck as she watched carefully the two of them. Erik kissed her now bandaged fingers with care and love while she smiled at him.

"My nightingale, she cared about me", her free also bandaged hand went to his masked cheek and she pulled him closer before kissing him softly.

Giry watched with wide eyes as the two of them kissed, not believing that this was the same man she knew. The Erik obsessed over Christine was kissing another woman without a care in the world and Morgana was actually caring about Erik, not scared or anything with his masked face, lair or actions.

The two of them parted and exchanged a few more words before Erik stood up and left to leave the first aid kit.

Now is the time. No more hiding¸ she said to herself.

Morgana leaned back on the armchair, a smile on her lips. She closed her eyes but opened them when she heard steps. She expected to be Erik but no, it was none other than Giry, walked to her with a very stern look at her face.

Her jaw dropped and before she could say anything, asks anything; Erik beat her to it.

"Antoinette?"

"Erik", Giry said as she stopped walking, a candle holder with three candles on her right arm.

The Phantom walked and stopped next to the still shocked Morgana, now by the familiarity of the two since they did call each other by first names. She was about to stand up but he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his skin felt smooth against her exposed shoulder.

He had taken off his gloves when he was attending her wounds and the same went for his vest since he was now on his white shirt that was opened; exposing his well-toned chest.

"What are you doing here?", he asked and she looked at Morgana before looking at him.

"I… I better go. So you two can talk", she said and stood

"Stay", he said and pushed her to sit back down.

"It's getting late and I have to put Keegan to sleep", she said as she placed her hand on top of his and they looked at each other.

"Okay"

She smiled and kissed his cheek before standing.

"Goodnight Erik. Goodnight Madame Giry", she said and walked out of the lair, taking the path she knew that would lead to her room.

Erik looked at Antoinette and she looked at him, the silence between them. The Phantom took a step forward and she moved one back without realizing it.

"You are afraid of me", he stated.

"After what you did Erik, I am simply cautious"

"I see", he walked passed her and made his way to his organ. "Why are you here?"

"I had you for dead Erik but then I started seeing the same signs. I followed Morgana to see what upset her and found you two talking"

"So you came down here because you thought I would hurt her or take her against her will, didn't you?", he said rather annoyed as he kept his back on her.

"I did that but I am more shocked with what I saw"

A sound of a fist slamming on the keys and random notes being played echoed throughout the lair.

"Of what you saw?", he asked, his anger taking the best of him. "And what exactly did you saw Antoinette? Is someone actually caring for me? Someone loving this monster?!"

"You know this is not what I meant Erik"

"And what did you mean then?", he looked at her faintly above his shoulder as his fist rested on the keys of the organ.

"That you hadn't kidnapped her and that you hadn't tried to hypnotize her into coming with you as you did with Christine"

Another few random notes were heard as he slammed his fist again on them. He had started to get over Christine but reminding him of her, of his past mistakes; it still hurt.

"I did not though!", he shouted as he stood up and turned to look at her. "I brought her here to help her with her fingers!"

"And how did she hurt her fingers, Erik?"

"That stupid patron! It is all, his fault! He started to suspect about me and accused her as a culprit in hiding me. She pierced her fingers on the thorns of the rose I gave her to help her keep her temper and not give away my secret", he explained, his voice dropping as he took a few deep breaths while remembering how his angel had defended him"

Antoinette listened carefully and also noticed the change of emotions on Erik's face and tone of voice. She would ask the redhead to confirm the theory tomorrow but for now, she had other things to deal with.

"I see. I do hope for everyone's sake that things won't repeat themselves. The Opera cannot stand another hit and who knows with what you might hit it this time"

"You came to say what you wanted, now go", Erik said as he tried to get a hold on his temper. "And things won't repeat themselves okay? You are not the only one who suffered that day and you are not the only one who got hurt", he muttered the last parts but Giry heard him and her eyes stayed on him as he took his place in front of the organ again.

"How long do they know?"

"Excuse me?"

"The Farrell, how long do they know you are alive? And which one of them?"

"All 3 of them and they know since the first weeks they came. Keegan found me in my box and I left letters to Cáel after Morgana asked for help since he was having trouble running the Opera"

"Asked help from you?"

"… Not exactly… Fine, she asked from her dead parents and I happened to listen and did want my Opera to suffer. But the only one who knows my true name is Morgana"

"Have you told her that?"

"I think she must have realized. She recognized him at the Masquerade, the first place we talked from close before you ask"

"*sigh* be thankful they are kindhearted and smart Erik. However, do stay on your feet. You are a wanted man"

"I know… Now, go… Let me be"

"Very well. Goodnight Erik", Giry said as she started walking before she disappeared at the turn, she stopped. "Good to know that you are alive"

With that, she disappeared; leaving a shocked Erik behind. He took off his mask and rubbed his face with his hands, flinching slightly as his scarred skin was more sensitive. Once gotten a grip of himself, he turned to his organ and started to play in an attempt to clear his mind.

Morgana pulled the lever and the wall slide to the side as it exposed a dark and empty corridor. Once she stepped out, the wall went back to its place as if it never moved. She left out a small sigh as she wanted to stay longer with him.

However, she knew that those two had a sort of past and definitely was better to let them talk and say what they had to say without her at the front. As she wondered and made assumptions on how the two of them knew each other, she started walking towards her room.

She opened the door and was greeted as usual by Cu and it was then she noticed that her brothers were in the room as well.

"Deirfiúr, were where you? And what happened to your hands?", Cáel asked as he noticed the few bandaged fingers and rushed to her.

"Relax Deartháir; I was at the dressing room"

"What were you doing there?", he asked as he took her hands gently into his.

"During the show… I… I remembered Máthair so after the area was clean I went to the dressing room and sat there…" I cannot believe I am playing this card "I took a needle and started to sew… it reminded me of how she tried to teach me but it also reminded me that I was never good at it"

A smile of nostalgia appeared on her brother's face. He kissed her forehead and looked down at her since he was almost a head taller than her.

"I remember…she used to say that a goat would sew better than you did"

A small chuckle escaped her lips but her heart felt heavy for lying to her brother and for actually using the mother card.

I am so sorry mother. I promise to light you a candle soon and pray… I didn't mean to use you as an excuse but you must understand… If he learnt about the count…

"Deirfiúr, are you sure you are okay?", Keegan asked as he hugged her leg.

"I am fine little fire. Just very tired"

"I do not blame you. Go get some rest", Cáel said and kissed her forehead once more.

"What about you?"

"I will join you soon after"

"Okay"

She watched as he walked away and looked down once she felt Keegan pull her dress. Looking carefully, she noticed he was holding a daisy.

"For you. Meg said that men gave you flowers for your singing. So I went out with her and big brother and took this for you"

"It is beautiful", she said as she bent down on his height and kissed his head. "Thank you very much little fire"

The boy smiled and hugged her which she quickly returned back.

"Now, off to sleep"

"Okay"

He went to lie on the bed as she went to the changing curtain to get out of that dress she almost forgot she wore.