Hey everyone, back from my trip, which means more chapters! Enjoy.

The following morning I awoke only to find that Erik wasn't laying beside me. The sheets on his side were cold, making it obvious that he had been gone for quite some time. When I stepped out of bed, I threw on my dress and then a sweater, for the cottage indeed had a chilly draft surrounding the atmosphere. Summer had indeed ended, leaving us with the chilly weather of November. Soon December would be upon us, bringing along snow, and my twentieth birthday. After walking down the stairs, I entered the kitchen, expecting to see him sitting there, but he wasn't. Madeline was standing over by the counter, preparing breakfast, and glancing out the window at Gustave who was swinging on the tire swing.

"Have you seen Erik?" I asked.

Madeline shook her head.

"I heard someone come down the stairs a little earlier, I guess that was him."

"Where did he go?"

"Try his study….he's probably in there."

After walking to the door of his study, I peeked in to spot Erik sitting at his piano, running his hands over the ivory keys. What happened next broke my heart….he laid his head down near the keys, and began to play with his eyes closed. I could sense his frustration of not being able to hear the music, because after each note, he would pound harder. I approached him from behind, and placed both hands on his shoulders only to have him flinch. I backed away, but his anger was already pouring out.

"How dare you come in here and scare me like that!" he shouted. "Does it amuse you to find that I cannot hear someone approaching me?"

"Why would that amuse me."

I said the words before I even remembered that he couldn't hear me. Such anger over took him as he pointed to his ear, signaling me that he hadn't heard a single word I had said. Once again I approached him, and placed my lips gently to his ear.

"It would never amuse me."

Erik had heard this. He took a few deep breaths before answering me once again.

"Sorry for my anger."

I placed a gentle kiss to his lips, and pulled him to his feet.

"Don't worry about it. Come and eat breakfast with me."

Erik followed me out into the kitchen, and I pulled out his chair for him. Once he took his seat, I took a glass out of the cabinet, and pointed to it. Erik immediately knew what I was asking him, and shouted out what he wanted to drink.

"Juice will be fine."

This had caught Madeline's attention, for when I opened the icebox, she nudged my shoulder.

"What's wrong with him? He looks tired."

I didn't answer at first, and poured some juice into Erik's glass. That's when I felt her nudging me again.

"And what the hell is he doing?"

I turned to face the table, to see Erik placing both his hands over his ears. He seemed to be in pain because of how tight he was closing his eyes.

"Yesterday Erik was trying to save me, when a gun went off. He hasn't been able to hear hardly anything since."

"So he's deaf?" questioned Madeline.

"I'm hoping only temporarily. After breakfast I'm taking him to the doctors."

"Why?"

"To see how bad the damage is…"

"You're wasting your time."

Before I could say another word, Erik's fists pounded down on the table so hard, that the whole kitchen shook.

"Do you enjoy talking about me behind my back! I see your lips moving over there and I know it's about me!"

I placed the glass of juice down in front of him, and embraced his neck with my hands to calm him down. Once again I placed my lip to his ear, and spoke softly into it.

"Erik, your mother was just asking about you….it's alright. Are you alright? You seem to be in a bit of pain…"

Once again his hands shot to his ears, pressing tightly against them.

"This ringing…." he whimpered. "It's so painful."

Madeline had heard this, and for once she seemed to care.

"I'll go see if there's anything I can whip up to ease it."

She took off her apron, and laid it aside, placing a plate pancakes down in front of me.

"While I'm doing that, make sure he eats something. He's going to need to have a full stomach for what I'm about to give him."

And with that she was gone.

I placed the plate in front of Erik, and gently took off his mask and put it aside. I had expected Erik to be hungry, but he only pushed the plate out of his sight.

"I'm not hungry. I just want to sleep."

I pushed the plate back in front of him, and handed him a fork.

Moments later Madeline came walking back into the kitchen with a small bottle of tablets in her hand.

"There's no need to go to the doctor." she replied, placing a few of the tablets into a glass. "My Charles had the same exact thing happen to him before he died. Years ago the mayor wanted a mountain on the other side of town blown up to extend it. My Charles's job was to light the dynamite and run for cover. The blast was so loud, that it took away his hearing for several weeks."

"He did get it back though, right?" I questioned.

"Yes, the doctor said that being close to loud noises can harm the inner ear. He said until it heals, the hearing isn't all there…."

Madeline then placed the glass down beside Erik. It was a cloudy white color, and smelled like sulfur.

"Charles was experiencing painful ringing to the ears, and so the doctor gave me these tablets to mix with hot water. He told me to have Charles drink it at breakfast and before bed to relieve the ringing."

"Thanks Madeline." I said. "For helping out."

"Don't thank me…." she replied, turning to the sink to wash the dishes.

I stood to my feet, and placed my lips at Erik's ear once again.

"Erik, you have to eat something so you can drink the medicine. It's going to make the ringing in your ears less noticeable."

"Does that horrible excuse for a mother even know that I'm sitting here unmasked?"

Madeline turned around from the sink, and shook her head.

"Tell my son that his…disfigurement still disgusts me, but I try to ignore it for his sake."

"What did she say?" asked Erik.

I ended the confrontation before it could go any further, by placing the glass of medicine in his hand.

"Drink this." I instructed.

"That woman could be poisoning me for all I know."

Madeline then turned around in anger.

"If I wanted to poison you, I would have done it years ago!"

I was sick and tired of this nonsense. Without another word, I forced the glass up to his lips, and held it there forcing him to drink it. When every last drop was gone, I snatched the glass away and placed it in the sink.

"How long until this stuff takes effect?" I asked Madeline.

"Not too long. Take him outside and have him lay in the hammock. He'll be more comfortable if he breathes in the fresh cool air."

After helping Erik into his jacket, I placed on my cloak, the same one Erik had given me the previous winter. Once we were outside, I helped him lay down in the hammock, and kissed him on the mask.

"Relax now, Erik."

"I want to go home." was his next reply.

"Why?" I asked.

"I need to get back to work. Coney Island is going to be closing down for the winter soon, and I need to make sure my park is sealed tightly. I can work for Madam Giry in the opera house, writing symphonies during the remainder of the year."

"Erik…"

"My mind is made up. We're leaving for New York in the morning."

I heard laughing, only to glance over and see Madeline pushing Gustave on the swing. Why did I feel bad to be taking Gustave away from her? She had been so cruel to Erik in the past, but why did I feel she could change? Why did I feel she could be good in Gustave's life? A few moments later, Erik had fallen into a pain reduced slumber, and I let him be. I stood next to Madeline while she pushed Gustave, waiting for the right moment to tell her the news.

"We're leaving in the morning."

"Who?"

"All of us. Gustave, me and Erik. He owns an amusement park in Coney Island. They'll be closing for the winter, and he needs to be there."

I had never seen Madeline so upset as she was now.

"I finally have a grandson, and a daughter…..and Erik is pulling you both away."

Did she like me? If she did, I didn't know it by the way she treated me half the time. Why was she considering me as her daughter? I wasn't even married to Erik….but god how I wished I was. Then I still wondered if I was carrying Erik's child….I didn't throw up this morning, but then again I didn't know how many days morning sickness lasted.

"Do you think Erik could forgive me for treating him so cruelly as a child?"

That was one thing I didn't know…could he? I know he loathed his mother with everything he had….

"I don't know."

"I don't want to be away from my grandson. I love Gustave with all my heart, and yet, Erik and I are two worlds apart. What do you think he'd ask of me, if I asked him what he wanted for all those years of suffering?"

"You don't understand, Madeline. Erik's suffering didn't end with you."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Oh the horrible things that happened to Erik after running away from home. I wanted to tell her right then and there, but having Gustave around to hear wasn't a good thing.

"Could we go inside, and discuss this."

When Madeline nodded, I gave Gustave a big push to the swing, and told him to continue playing. I knew Erik would be fine for he was sleeping. Once we were inside, I sat down on the couch with Madeline to continue our conversation.

"How is it that you know so much about him?" she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I spend time with him, listen to him, and comfort him through his pain."

"I know his life hasn't been easy. Sometimes I think he would have been better off with me, sheltered from the world."

"No, Erik has seen the world. He's traveled everywhere, and experienced society for himself. He's become strong, and an educated genius. You know he was taken by gypsies?"

"I didn't know that."

"They locked him in a feces covered cage, and forced him to show his face to paying customers. They whipped him, and beat him every night for many years. The scars cover every inch of his body."

I saw pain within Madeline's eyes, but she refused to cry.

"Then after escaping, he became a stone mason's apprentice in Rome."

"I know that. It's why I faked my death to have him pay for the cottage."

"You know he fell in love with his boss's daughter. It was the first time he ever loved another being. Erik told me that he wanted her, and that he would have done anything to have her."

"Did she scream at him?"

"Erik being the kind boy he was, built her a garden on top of her roof. When he surprised her with it, she didn't seem to care….she only wanted to see what was under the mask. He was filled with anger, and tore it off. The girl didn't scream, she only backed up in shock, eventually falling off the roof and to her death."

Madeline's stare was now to the floor.

"I knew this was coming. I never expected anyone to love him."

"Then he went to Persia and became a dark magician to the court. As payment, the Empress began sending virgins to his tent…."

"That's disgusting. I know that this happens everyday. I myself have been to Persia."

"Erik refused them."

Madeline's eyes widened with surprise.

"Even after going through his whole life without it? He still refused?"

"They begged him to kill them. The girls said they would rather die than make love to a monster….Erik could have took them, because that was their job. But Erik let them go, and when the Empress found out, she punished him."

"What happened?"

"The Empress had one of the girls killed, and Erik was stripped down naked, and forced to make love to its corpse."

For the first time ever, I saw tears rush to Madeline's eyes.

"Oh dear god….what have I done… My son, my poor son….."

"Oh which reminds me. Do you know how Erik escaped the gypsies?" I asked angrily.

Madeline shook her head.

"His master forced him down on a bed, and raped him….."

Madeline's tears then began pouring down her face.

"This is all my fault….I should have gone after him when he ran away….No matter how hideous he was, I should have stopped him."

"He then took himself to Paris, and spent the remainder of his youthful years living in the catacombs of the opera house. He fell secretly in love with a young girl named Christine. She came to the opera house as an orphan, and Erik watched over her from behind those walls. When he could no longer hold back his love, he showed himself to her, hoping she would love him back…."

"But she couldn't…could she?"

I shook my head.

"No, she loved another. Erik set the opera house on fire, and begged Christine to stay with him, but she left….He escaped and found himself drunk at an inn. It was then that Christine came back….but only to get pregnant. See, her husband was emasculated so he couldn't have children. She forced Erik down on the bed, and raped him, keeping all their clothes on….Erik didn't even know of Gustave's existence until a few months ago. He was running a freak show, and that's when he met me. I ran away from my orphanage, and found my way into his freak show, attempting to steal. When I was caught, Erik gave me the choice to work for him, and we soon became friends, and then lovers. When we were forced to move to Coney Island, his old friend spoke of Christine, and how she died in a carriage accident with her husband. She then spoke of Gustave, and how he belonged to Erik…."

Madeline wiped her tears away, and grasped my hand.

"Could I ask you something?"

I nodded.

"If I asked, do you think he'd let me come with you to Coney Island?"

This was a question….a question I didn't have an answer to. If Erik said no, I didn't feel bad, not after what he's been through. If he said yes, then he was a better person than any of us. I knew if Madeline were my mother, I wouldn't let her come with me….

"Let me ask you something." I said. "If you were Erik, would you want you to come along?"

"No…." she cried. "I wouldn't….but I don't want to be separated from my grandchild…I shall ask him at dinner."

"Are you ready for his answer?" I asked. "Because if he says no, you can't go off on him. If you did, it would only make you look like a horrible person."

"I know."

Later that day, Madeline and I prepared dinner while Gustave played quietly on the floor. Erik who had woken from his nap was seated at the table, writing his music down to paper. I was relieved that we were eating soup tonight for dinner, making it easy for Erik to eat with his mask on. I dreaded the day Erik was going to have to show Gustave his face. Once dinner was on the table, Erik put aside his music, and smiled as I placed a glass of wine down in front of him.

"Thank you." he quietly replied.

I took a seat next to him, and began eating when I heard Gustave calling for him.

"Mr. Erik? Mr. Erik? !"

I touched the sleeve of Gustave's shirt to get his attention.

"Mr. Erik can't hear you." I replied.

"Why not?" asked Gustave.

"He hurt his hearing yesterday when a loud noise occurred. He's going to get better, but until then you can't make any loud noises."

"Then how does he hear you?"

"You have to place your mouth at his ear, and softly speak to him."

"Can you ask him if I can have a sip of his red juice that's in his glass?"

I giggled, already knowing what Erik was going to say. I did as he asked though, and placed my mouth at his ear, and asked the question. This made Erik laugh as well… His eyes then shot to Gustave and smiled.

"This is an adult beverage. You won't be touching this until you're twelve years old."

When I went back to eating, I noticed Madeline writing something down on a piece of paper. She then slid it across to Erik, who began to read it. Afterwards, he crumpled the letter up into a ball, and threw it at her.

"How dare you even bring up such a subject!" he growled. "After everything you've done to me, you expect me to want you in my life?"

"Erik, please, I beg you not to take my grandson away."

"I can't hear a god damn word you just said!" growled Erik once again.

This had caught Gustave's attention.

"What? Mother, we're leaving grandmother?"

"Gustave go to your room." I demanded.

"No, I want to know the truth…"

"Gustave, go to your room!"

"I want to know the truth!"

It was as if Erik knew we were arguing, for he pounded his fist down on the table and growled angrily at him.

"Go to your room!"

Gustave didn't have a problem listening to Erik, I knew how scared he was of him. Once Gustave was gone, Erik folded his hands and placed them on top of the table.

"Now what makes you believe you even deserve to come with Lauralye and I? You've treated me like the dirt under your feet, and called me horrible things. What makes you even have the galls to ask me to bring you to Coney Island?"

"Erik please…"

Erik cut her off.

"Have I made it clear that I can't hear you? Write it down…"

Without a moment to spare, Madeline began to write something down. She then slid it across to Erik who read it.

"Forgiveness?" he questioned. "Redemption? Is that the best you can come up with? You actually expect me to forgive you just so you don't lose Gustave? What if he didn't even exist? Would you still want my forgiveness?"

Once again Madeline began writing, and slid the note over to Erik.

"What?" he questioned. "You feel sorry that I've been denied and raped?"

His eyes then glared to mine.

"Lauralye, why would you tell her such things? I open my heart to you and only you….that doesn't give you the right to tell others."

"She needed to know." I replied in his ear.

"The hell she didn't…"

As much as I hated butting in, I had to do something.

"Erik, have a heart….Madeline has done horrible things, but she's sorry."

"Oh is that so?" he growled. "Where was she when I was being whipped? Where was she when I being raped by my master? Where was she when I was sick and being forced to fuck a corpse? Huh? Well? She was never there for me and so now it's my turn to turn her away!"

I knew the only way Erik was going to let her come, was to do the unthinkable. I pulled Erik out of his chair, and drug him up the stairs, as Madeline shouted for us to come back. I pulled Erik to Madeline's door, and opened the door.

"I'm not allowed in there!" he argued. "Stop this!"

I couldn't though, he had to see, he had to know.

I pulled him inside with a fight, and forced him to face the wall of drawings, his drawings.

"What is this?" he questioned.

I didn't answer, and it only took a few moments to realize who the drawings belonged to. He ran his hand over a pencil drawing of the Eiffel tower and smiled.

"I remember this….I was sick with the scarlet fever…I dreamt of this beautiful far away destination and its architecture. I drew this….only it disappeared a few days afterwards."

He then went to another drawing.

"I remember this one too…."

Madeline's voice then echoed from behind us.

"Now you know…."

Erik turned around, and looked directly at Madeline.

"So all these years, you've been stealing my work to admire in your room. Is this why you never allowed me to come in here?"

Madeline nodded, and Erik continued to explore her room. He approached her vanity and picked up the picture of Charles.

"And after all these years, you couldn't even show me one single picture of my father…..you know he does look like me, only without the disfigurement. Perhaps you should have looked harder….but then again, you never looked at me at all."

Tears were falling down Madeline's cheek as Erik continued to look around the room.

"You admired my talents and work, and yet you couldn't find it in your heart to love me."

I began to think that perhaps this wasn't such a good idea to bring him in here after all.

Erik ran his fingers over the picture of his father, and placed it back down on the vanity.

"You know, if father were alive perhaps he could have loved me….but then again, who knows what his feelings toward me would have been. I'm going to be the better person…I'm going to do this for him."

He then turned to face Madeline.

"You do not have my forgiveness, but you do have my permission to come. You will not be living with Lauralye and I though…..you can stay until you find a job, and a place to live. That is as far as I'm going to go…"

With that, Erik stormed out of the room, leaving Madeline and I alone.

"Well, you better get packing. You heard him." I said, walking out of the room.

I then walked into Gustave's room, to see him sitting on his bed, holding Rupert in his arms.

"What's wrong?"

"Is it true that we're leaving?"

I nodded.

"Yes, but your grandmother is coming too."

"Mr. Erik let her?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad…"

I smiled, and began to pack Gustave's things. Once he was tucked into bed, I kissed him goodnight and walked down to the bathroom to mix Erik's medicine. After stirring the hot water with the tablets, I carried the foggy glass to his room. When I entered, all of our things were packed, and Erik was standing against the windowsill grasping his ears in pain. I approached him from behind, and placed the glass down on his desk, embracing my arms around him gently.

"Oh Lauralye…." he groaned. "If only you knew the agony I was in."

I pointed to his laudanum that was placed on his desk, asking him if he took it today.

"Just did." he replied.

I then handed him the glass of medicine, and he took it from my hands and drank it.

"Thank you….it does really take away my ringing; if only for a few hours."

All of our belongings were packed, making the room a lot emptier. After slipping into my nightgown, I turned to see Erik standing over by his phonograph.

"I must apologize to you." he replied.

A slow piano waltz began playing from the phonograph, and he gently embraced me.

"You don't have to say a thing." he began. "I won't hear you anyway."

Erik was taller than me, and I tried to stand on my tippy toes to reach his ear, but he stopped me.

"Please, let us communicate through music. I know how you're feeling just by the way you move."

He then took my arm in his, and began to dance with me. It had been so long since the last time I did this with him. He moved with every beat, and it amazed me how he knew how to move when he couldn't hear the music.

"I can feel the vibrations through the floor boards. I can hear a little bit of it, but it sounds too far away to make clear."

My eyes met with his, and I smiled.

"I must apologize to you for pushing you away. I haven't been acting like your lover, and for that I am sorry. I promise things will be different when we get back to Coney Island…"

I then lifted my hand up to his ear, and gently stroked it. His lips then kissed the bare skin of my arm, and then my lips.

"I love you more than anything in the world."

I opened my mouth to respond, but he only shushed me, and placed my hand in his.

"You don't have to speak, I can feel it."

His hand then placed itself at my chest, my heart racing against his flesh.

"Your heart agrees."

The remainder of that night was like a dream…..we danced together in silence, to music that was muted to Erik, but he danced as if it were so clear to him. When we fell asleep the final time together in the carriage bed, we did so within each other's arms…I was in heaven at last…..hoping things would be like this from now on…

Hope ya enjoyed….thanks again you guys!