So, this update was a little quicker. Yay! Thank you so much for the reviews. As of late I have received some really insightful reviews and advice and i very much appreciate it! Please let me know what you think of this chapter!

Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Weber

Erik awoke to find that he was freezing; shaking uncontrollably. His arms were entwined with Christine's as always but she was doing the same. Shaking, inhaling sharply and shakily. A small sigh of relief escaped him as he realised that he wasn't fevered, the house was undoubtedly freezing.

The window.

He cursed himself. He had of course smashed the window in order to enter the house and they had failed to board it up afterwards.

"Christine…" He whispered. "Christine…" He was loath to wake her but he needed to know that she was alright. Also he was desperate to hear her voice. That had not changed.

Slowly she opened her eyes, breath escaping her mouth visibly as she opened it to speak.

"It's… freezing…" She managed.

"I know." He nodded. "Wait here..."

With great difficulty he sat up, leaving the warmth that Christine provided. She shivered as he did so. Standing up, with one arm to his side so as to stop his broken rib from moving he pulled the blankets up around her. He smiled as she curled up into a tight ball beneath them. With an irritated sigh he slowly walked to the window. Why was he never able to achieve rest? How difficult could it possibly be?

It was snowing heavily outside. This was worse. With a grimace he left the room and knocked loudly on Nadir's door.

"Wake up." He said as he shivered. Nadir was fast asleep, of course. "Wake up!" Erik repeated, entering the room and kicking the bed.

Nadir jolted awake.

"Allah… what is it?" He squinted up at Erik. "What do you want?! It is freezing!"

"Precisely. We have failed to board up the window downstairs and the house is likely filling with snow as we speak."

With a groan, Nadir rose from his bed and pushed past Erik who was now standing in the doorway glaring at him.

"Also… we must re-ignite the fire." He added as Nadir had began down the stairs.

"No. No it is too dangerous."

"I know that."

"In the daylight things were different… but it will be seen now!"

"I know that, Daroga! Don't you think that I know that!?"

Nadir stared at him expectantly. Surely he would explain himself further…

"But… we need it…" To Nadir's surprise, Erik's voice softened. "She needs it. She is shaking."

"As are you." Nadir added with a smirk.

"Nonsense."

Nadir sighed.

"Whatever you say, Erik." He said with a shake of his head. Erik's eyes narrowed as he followed him down the stairs. There was, in fact, snow spilling through the shattered window.

"How are we to board this up?"

Erik brought his free hand to his face, apparently a sign of deep thought.

"That." He said, pointing to the dusty table in the kitchen area. "Break off the legs and burn them. Use the top for the window."

"And just how am I to do that? Have you any nails? A hammer?"

To this, Erik smirked.

"Where is your sense of resourcefulness, Daroga? Your sense of adventure?!"

"What?"

"Start the fire." Erik replied, his face straight again. He took some matches and one of the few candelabrums remaining in the house and opened the door, shivering as he did so. "I will find what you need and when I return I will bring Christine down here for warmth."

"And how do you suppose to do that given your state?" Nadir asked, gesturing to his chest.

"Well… whose fault is that, Daroga?" He asked before closing the door behind him.

Nadir rolled his eyes before starting toward the table.

The wind was biting, and it was strong. Erik cursed himself for not donning a jacket as he struggled to the back of the house through the thick snow. He told himself that he needed to check on the horses as it was. Thankfully, the door to the small stable had remained shut and he was relieved upon opening it to find that both horses were, in fact, still inside and seemingly alright. They needed to eat, of course, but didn't they all? It would have to be dealt with tomorrow. He closed the old, wooden door behind him and dusted some of the snow off his shoulders before it could wet his shirt. He hadn't brought that many. With a fond smile he embraced Caesar, running his hand over his nose and back affectionately. He gave the other horse a similar greeting before lighting the candle he had brought with him and setting it down on a small bench inside the stable. It took a few tries as he knew it would because most of them were now wet…

Now, the nails… he made to approach the cupboard he had intended to visit upon leaving the house, only to lose his footing slightly. He looked down at the offending object… Objects… Several blankets lay in a pile on the ground. Smiling, he picked up two, draping them over the horses backs. It would have to do. They whinnied in what he would take as appreciation. He set the others aside to take back into the house. He picked up the candelabrum once more, holding it closer to the cupboard as he opened it. He jumped as a number of cockroaches scattered out before him. He cringed, dusting himself neurotically before taking a deep breath. One would never get used to such things, even after having lived under such circumstances…

He had always loved this part of the house. For one, it was outside and he was seldom allowed to leave the house. Also, it contained numerous curious objects that would no doubt peak the fancy of any small boy, particularly one with interests in anything to do with design and invention such as he. He knew there would be nails here. There always had been. At a small age, he had taken over maintenance of his mother's house. Any attempt to please her… But he had always enjoyed it; creating, designing, building… doing things with his hands. The hammer was easy to find, but he had to open a few small drawers before finding the nails he was looking for. There was only five, but they were long. They would suffice.

His fingers came in contact with something else in the draw… A key…

His breath caught in his chest as the memory, long forgotten returned to him. His first experience with music…

He removed the key from the draw and squeezed it in his hand... Finally…

It was a key to a small storage area under his bed that he had constructed. In that area he kept only one item. His violin. He had found the violin one day during one of his mother's 'big cleans' and had requested to keep it. He had known its beauty then… He had not yet heard a single note of music but he had known. Of course as the years went on he excelled at it and took to the piano which was kept in the living room but which was 'never to be played'. Of course he had played it and he had suffered for it but nothing had stopped him. One day the piano was sold and his violin was locked away… As was he… both the key to his door and the key to his music were hidden. He had wept for days but to no avail. When he was let out of his prison, the key was nowhere to be found. That was shortly before he had left and he had forgotten about it until this moment.

Slipping both the nails and the key into his pocket, he left the small stable and struggled toward the house.

When he entered the fire had been lit.

"Allah… why were you out there for so long?" Nadir approached him, taking the candelabrum and blankets and setting them down. "Look at you!"

"Oh, hush, Daroga. It had to be done." He managed, shivering as he sat down before the fire.

"Did you get the nails?"

"Of course!" Erik replied, apparently outraged at such a question. "It is what I left for, isn't it?" He reached into his pocket and produced what was asked of him. "Do you need me to help you to…"

"No, no. Sit there. This table is light, it won't be difficult."

Erik nodded. In truth he lacked the strength to follow through with his offer and was quite relieved. In a few short minutes, Nadir had completed the task and had left to retrieve Christine. When he returned, Erik had fallen asleep. Christine opened her eyes as Nadir set her down beside Erik.

"What happened?" She asked. "You… lit a fire? Isn't that…"

"Dangerous? Yes. I told him that but he said that you needed the warmth."

Christine looked up at Erik and smiled.

"At least he is able to rest." She said, still staring at him.

"You really love him, don't you?"

Christine smiled bashfully.

"Is it that obvious just from looking at me?"

"More the way you look at him…"

"Yes." She said, still smiling. Nadir rose from his seat and returned with a blanket.

"Here. Erik found these outside. It's quite dusty… but… there it is."

Christine pulled it over her shoulders.

"He… he went outside?"

"I know. I know." He said. "But you cant tell him anything… not when it comes to your comfort…"

"Not when it comes to anything." She replied with a smirk, which he returned.

"You know… we will need to traverse into town soon… one of us… perhaps tomorrow. We are running out of food and…"

"I know." She said.

"Good." He nodded. They would discuss it tomorrow. "I'm going to fetch some more wood from outside and then probably return to bed."

"Alright. Thank you for everything, Nadir."

Nadir smiled and left the house, the door closed behind him with a comforting thud. Erik opened his eyes and jumped slightly. He turned to Christine and smiled.

"I'm convinced that was intentional. Are you warm?" He asked, putting an arm around her.

"Yes, yes. I feel much better." She smiled.

"The… window. We all forgot about it, it seems… but it's sealed now…"

"I saw." She said. "How are you?" She asked, peeling back his shirt slightly to peek at his bandages.

"Sore." He admitted. "Its more the side that troubles me." Trouble was an understatement. It constantly ached and it screamed when he moved it. "But being here, with you, in the warmth… knowing that I can relax somewhat is truly amazing. This is what I wanted for us."

"Me too." She said, resting against his shoulder. "Nadir was saying that tomorrow one of us should go into town for supplies."

Erik looked at her.

"I should like to go... I can buy some actual food so that we may finally have a proper meal."

"Mmm that sounds lovely." He said drowsily. "But have we any money?"

"I'll check the bag tomorrow… but … I would like to pick up some stationery to write to people."

Erik knew that 'people' meant the Girys but that it also meant Raoul. He had to tell himself though that that was ok. Deep down he knew that it was.

"Yes… well…" he began, suppressing a yawn. "We can sort it out tomorrow."

Christine snickered.

"What?" He asked, perplexed.

"That is probably… the second time I have heard you yawn… since we've met." She smiled.

"Oh…" He began awkwardly. "Well you know that I…"

"That you don't sleep a lot…" She giggled. "Yes. You have told me several times and yet still, I do not believe you. Are you not tired?"

"Well… yes. Now I am tired, but after a few, short hours I will be well rested and I…"

"Rubbish!" She laughed. "Nonsense."

"Are you calling me a liar, dear girl?"

"Perhaps!"

"That is a mistake, Christine!" He jested.

"Oh, is it now? Don't try anything, Erik. You know what happens. I always triumph and you end up hurting yourself." She smirked.

"Is that so?" He purred, jumping when he felt her slip her small hand beneath his arm. He held it close to his body, tensing his shoulder but it was too late.

"Still confident?" She teased.

"Of course." He said, trying to make his voice levelled but snickering as he spoke. "But don't you dare move that hand…" He warned.

She moved her fingers slightly before acceding and removing her hand. Erik let out something of a snort before exhaling quietly and folding his arms.

"Alright." She said with a smile. "As long as its clear just who is in control here…"

"Yes… well… for now perhaps… But I will remember this when I have recovered!"

"That will change nothing." She shrugged "But… oh, I am trembling with fear!" She teased.

"So you should be." He smiled, moving in for a kiss. Christine took hold of his collar, pulling him toward her slightly and closing the gap between them.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you so much Christine…" He replied, kissing her again. He never conceived that he would be able to find such happiness in this house…

The front door opened.

"Ahem…"

Erik turned around to see Nadir standing in the doorway, pieces of wood in his arms.

"Oh, relax Daroga." He said, standing up and shutting the door behind Nadir. "Stop being such an old woman."

"Stop being such a child." Nadir retorted as he threw the wood down next to the hearth.

"I… I am not being…" Erik spun around, mouth agape to see Christine attempting to hide her laugher.

"Don't encourage him!" He said, pointing to Christine who was still laughing. He almost started smiling himself just from watching her. "And you…" He turned back to Nadir. "You and your impeccable timing can retire for the evening."

Again, Nadir rolled his eyes.

"Erik!" Christine laughed. "Don't be so rude!"

"It is alright, Christine. This is him being kind to me."

"Oh, alright Daroga. Let us not blow things out of proportion!"

"Why do you call him 'Daroga'?" Christine asked.

"You know that I was a policeman? It means police chief in Persian. It was my position a great many years ago."

Erik shot Nadir a sharp glance and it was then that he realised he had said too much.

Christine nodded. Erik could tell though that the expression on her face meant that she was thinking. And after thinking there were always questions.

"I think that you should take your leave." Erik said sternly.

"Yes, alright you great curmudgeon. Please… for Christine's sake… just relax and do lighten up."

"Stop telling me to lighten up."

"Good night." Nadir smiled; satisfied with the fact that he had sufficiently irritated his friend. "Bonne Nuit. Gute Nacht! Dobroy Nochi!"

"Daroga!"

"I'm going. I'm going!"

Once Nadir had left, Erik sat back down beside Christine.

"You two make me laugh." She said, touching his leg affectionately.

"So I saw." He smirked.

"Erik…" Christine began; she was now making small circles near his knee with her thumb. "Why did you go to Persia?"

He was so distracted by what her fingers were doing that he had completely neglected to mind that she would question him at all.

"What?"

She repeated the question.

"Christine… I… I don't think that you wish to know."

She sighed in frustration and removed her hand from his leg.

"After all this time, are you really saying that? I would not have asked had I not wished to know!"

Erik looked at her, taken aback. Why was she being so aggressive about this?

"You need to understand that…"

"I do! I do understand, I understand you better than anyone now. Wouldn't you say?!"

"Yes…" He said calmly.

"I understand that it is difficult for you to talk about things and perhaps there are things that will be difficult for me to hear but I still wish to hear them! You simply dismissing me before I have even heard anything is hurtful! And I know what you are afraid of, what you ultimately fear… but there is nothing you can tell me now that would make me want to leave you!"

"But you don't know what this is!" He reasoned.

"I think that you owe it to me to let me know!"

"Oh, I owe it to you? Why?" He stood up, holding his side as he did so. "I owe you something for being here with me, do I? For staying with me?! I don't owe anything!"

"Erik, that isn't what I meant! Please do not overreact..."

"Overreact?! I don't owe you anything!"

"I don't want anything!"

"Yes! Yes, you do!" He argued. "You want more than I can give!"

"No, Erik. I just want…"

"And how dare you trivialise me as such! Tell me that you understand me… that you understand that it is difficult for me talk of such things and yet out of your own selfish need for affection, you demand it!" If an argument was what she wanted, that was what she would get.

"You didn't say that you couldn't tell me…" Christine stood up too. "You said that you didn't think that you should tell me! Don't you think I deserve a choice?"

"A choice in what?!" Erik challenged. "They are my memories!"

"Oh, lovely. There is no yours and mine, Erik! This is what a relationship is!"

"Do you think that I don't love you?!" He asked. So much was being said that it was difficult to address everything. "Is that it? Do you doubt me? I love you with everything that I am but it has nothing to do with that!"

"Oh, do not speak of doubt when you are the one who doubts me! WHY!"

"Why what?!"

"Why do you still doubt me!?"

"Christine… let us not get into this!"

"Why not!?"

"Because it will not end well!"

"Do not threaten me, Erik. I know that it is what you are used to, but do not!" As soon as the words had left her mouth, she regretted them. They had been hurtful. That much was evident on Erik's face.

"I…" he began, his voice thick with pain. "I have been nothing but kind to you. And yet you still hold this against me?"

"No, Erik. I didn't mean it. Please…" She walked toward him and grabbed at his arm but he shook her off.

"No. No." He said. "This is why I doubt you… No matter how much our relationship develops… you will always feel this way." He looked down.

"So you do doubt me!"

"…And, I daresay that someone who has had a life as perfect as yours could not possibly understand the doubt that I feel." He spat.

"You know nothing of my life!" She cried, filled with anger once more.

"I know enough!"

Christine scoffed

"And I know exactly how you know it all!"

Erik's eyes narrowed and he stepped toward her.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Just then Nadir came down the stairs, rubbing his eyes groggily.

"What is going on down here?" He asked. Both Christine and Erik ignored him.

"You know exactly what it means." She said, inwardly cringing at her own words and wiping the tears that had formed from her own frustration, anger and guilt.

"Do you wish for us to travel down that road, Christine? Do you really wish it? Why do you want to hurt me?"

No. No, she didn't. But she had too much pride to simply accede now and he had said some things that had truly angered her.

"What you know about me you only know because you watched me for all those years! Do you think that normal, Erik!? Do you think that proper?! How could you have deceived me for so long?!"

At this point, Nadir attempted to neutralise the situation.

"Ah… I think that we should…"

But again he was ignored.

"I… I opened up to you about everything… explained myself and you…" Again Erik chuckled cynically before speaking. "How could you have believed me for so long!?" It was cruel, yes. But what she had said had cut deeply.

"You found me at a vulnerable point in my life!"

"Oh, and you think that because your father died, you have lived a hard life?!"

"How dare you!" Christine cried, shoving him in the chest, causing him to yell, clutch his wound and grab the arm of the chair beside him for support.

"Christine!" Nadir yelled from the top of the stairs.

"I… I am sorry." She stammered.

"Is this what you really think of me?" He asked, slightly out of breath. He looked up at her, his eyes pained… but it wasn't from the wound in his chest.

"No… no, of course not." She reached out to him, but again he pulled away.

"If you really wish to pursue it Christine, I doubt you because you left me. You left me and you chose him." He chuckled dryly. "And like the others, it is a memory that I cannot quite erase… That is where it started…" He stood up fully and walked to the door

"Erik!"

"And that is where it ends."

"You are being ridiculous. We have been through this!" Surely he would not actually leave? Surely...

"Erik." Nadir rushed down the stairs. Erik turned to him. "Think about your actions! About your health! It is snowing outside and no doubt the wind is of a ridiculous temperature… and think of Christine… she loves you."

Erik looked at Christine wistfully before turning to the door once more and opening it.

"Please, Môn Ange." She said softly. "Don't do this."

"Listen to me!" Nadir began. "I did not risk life and limb to save you… numerous times for you to be so careless as to do something like this! You wouldn't do it to me." He pointed at Christine. "And I know that you wouldn't do it to her."

But Erik did not speak to either of them. He had spoken enough this evening. He simply strode outside and closed the door.

"Erik!" Christine cried, rushing to the door and pulling it open.

But he had already disappeared into the frozen darkness.

Suspense! Please review as always friends, they are so helpful and i love getting the little notifications telling me that someone has enjoyed my story. It brightens up my day :) Let me know what you think!