Erik stepped into the kitchen and closed the cellar door just as Martha screamed and dropped the tray of croisants she was carrying. Erik reached out and caught them not dropping a single one,

"Oh mon dieu Monsieur you gave me a fright." Martha said covering her racing heart with her hand and laughing. "I would swear you weren't there a moment ago."

"And you would be right Madame, I was in the cellar putting a bottle of wine in the rack."

"Of course monsieur." She said giving him an odd look, "Forgive me Monsieur."

"Nothing to forgive Madame."

"Were you wanting breakfast Monsieur? I can have something ready in just a few minutes."

"Non, merci Madame. I will wait for Sabine and Helene." Erik said heading towards the stairs.

"Very well monsieur." Martha replied with a polite bow and a shake of her head as she turned back to her work. Joseph always said he could appear out of thin air.

Erik ascended the stairs and stood in the hallway, Hmm which room did I sleep in? He wondered as he walked down the hallway. He opened the door to Helene's room and slipped inside. He watched his baby girl sleep arms wrapped around her pillow, pride and love swelled in his chest. He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve this little angel in his life but whatever it was he would do it again. Helene stirred and he quickly slipped back out of the room praying he didn't wake her.

Standing in the hallway again he looked down towards the master bedroom where he knew Sabine was sleeping. Christine's words from the night before rang in his ears and he wondered if he would ever have the strength to tell Sabine the whole truth not just the edited version that Christine had proposed. He was fairly certain he already knew the answer to that and a part of him severely hoped it would never come to light. He looked at his bedroom again in vain. Wishing he could just slip into bed beside his wife and forget the whole of last night. Be honest with yourself you don't want to forget do you?

He shook his head and went into the guest room across from Helens bedroom. Last night put so many demons to rest he wouldn't have changed it if he could. And to have Christine in his life as a friend was more than he dare ask. Looking down at his pocket watch he realised that there were still at least a couple hours till Helene and Sabine would be awake and breakfast to be served. Well if I have to muss the bed I may as well do it honestly. He toed off his shoes, tossed his jacket, waistcoat, and cravat on the chair and got into the bed. He pulled his mask off and set it on the night stand and stared at it for a moment and then turned his back on it and went back to sleep.

He was woken up when a small little body crawled into the bed and snuggled up against him. He opened an eye and kissed his daughters curly head.

"Papa?"

"Hmm?"

"Good morning."

"Morning petite."

"Mamman says it's time to get up."

"Does she?"

"She does." Helene said with finality. "Why are you sleeping in here and not in your bed?"

"Well..." He started and then he realised that he couldn't tell her the truth and he didn't want to upset her by telling her that Sabine was angry with him. "Well ma petite you see last night your mother was snoring."

"Snoring?" She asked with a giggle.

"Yes snoring so loud I couldn't get to sleep." He said laughing building on his story. "So I had to come in here to get a decent nights sleep."

She crossed her arms and looked at him, "In your clothes?"

"It was so loud I forgot to put my pyjamas on." He answered hoping she wouldn't question it further. "Now you need to get dressed yourself and I need to get ready for the day. Shall we meet again at the breakfast table?"

"I think we shall." Helene said nodding.

"I am glad you see things my way petite." Erik said with a chuckle.

"If I bring you a ribbon can you tie my hair back?"

"Of course little one." He said pushing the covers off and sitting up on the edge of the bed."

"Amour vous papa." She said throwing her arms around his neck.

"Amour vous ma petite." He said reaching around and pulling her into his lap and holding her close. "We better get dressed and downstairs before there is no breakfast left."

Helene nodded and Erik set her on the floor and she ran out of the room. Erik stood and picked up his clothes and mask and made his way to his room to wash. A little while later he was seated at the breakfast table sipping his coffee knowing that Sabine was in her study and she would be coming to the table soon. Last night certainly wasn't the first argument they've ever had and he was certain it wouldn't be the last. When you have two people of certainly strong minds like Sabine and himself it was sometimes hard to avoid. And his past was a major player in the bulk of the arguments that they have had.

But their argument last night something about it made him uneasy. And it was the unsettled feeling that was causing it, for it was very rare, it basically never happened before, in an argument that they didn't resolve it before sleeping or slept apart. He sighed. Maybe it was just his anxiety over having to deal with it now when Sabine would come to breakfast.

He shook his head and topped up his cup. Helene came running in to the room with her favourite blue ribbon.

"Papa?"

"Oui petite?" He said turning to look at her and she held the ribbon out to him.

"Sil vous plait Papa?"

"Beinsure petite. Turn around."

She turned around and expertly tied her hair back with the ribbon. Just as he finished Sabine walked into the diniing room. Helene reached up and gave him a kiss and hurried into her seat. Sabine wrapped her arms around him from behind and kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Darling about last night." He started and she shushed him.

"I am the one who should aplogize." Sabine whispered in his ear. "You warned me that this wasn't going to be easy for you and I know better than to push you about it. "

She kissed him again and sat in her chair. "But know this Erik I do want to know about your past I know it may not have been easy for you and that telling me would be difficult. It's just sometimes I don't think I know you at all and that scares me. Sometimes I feel like I am standing on the outside of a whole other world that you and the others belong to."

"Others?"

"Nadir and Meg and Madame Giry. It's like your all in on this fantastic secret that I could only attempt to fathom."

Erik sighed, " I don't mean for you to feel that way Sabine. I really don't."

"I know. I..."

"Excuse moi Monsieur."

"Oui Marie?"

"Telegram for Madame." Marie said handing it to Erik.

"Merci Marie."

"Beinsure Monsieur." Marie said curtseying and disapearing form the room. Erik passed the telegram to Sabine and she opened it.

"Damnit! Not gone from rouen three days and everything is going to hell!"

"Darling what?" Erik asked looking at her in concern.

"There is an issue with one of the cork suppliers here in Paris." She said with a groan. "I have to get this sorted out today and I am the only one they will talk to they refuse to deal with Gerard."

"It's alright darling you go, this is important." Erik said gently.

"I was going to explore Paris with Helene today." She said reading the letter one more time and then looked up at Helene. "I am sorry ma petite. We will go another day, I promise."

"It's all right I understand Mamman." Helene said quietly and then looked at her breakfast.

Eriks heart ached for his little girl she had been looking forward to it he could tell."Would you be opposed to spending the day with your father Helene?"

"No." She said slowly looking up at him curiously. He gave her a look that said he had an idea.

"Well I must go. I have to deal with this immediatly."

"Sabine darling at least eat something." Erik said with concern. Sabine smiled at him grabbed a croisant and darted out of the room. Erik shook his head and smiled at his wife.

"What would you like to do today Papa?" Helene said looking up at him from her eggs.

"What would you think ma petite of taking in the matineƩ at the populaire and seeing Madame Christine perform?"

"May we?"

"Certainly ma petite. But you'll have to eat your breakfast first."

"I will."

A/n: sorry this was a little later than I had intended it. As always thanks to belleange48 and eriksrose you guys keep me going with this.