Erik pulled Mia into his embrace, holding her tightly against him. He didn't know where she had come from, she just appeared with no explanation and threw herself in his arms. She laid against his chest, sobbing, the few words she could get out were completely incomprehensible. But he didn't care. She was here, really truly here, in the flesh, her warmth in his arms. He pressed kisses to her hair and murmured softly in her ear, trying to comfort her. The only word he understood was "Gaston".

"What happened?" She just shook her head and sobbed her husband's name over and over again. "Did he hurt you?"

"He was so angry."

His eyes widened. "Mia what did he do to you? Did he hit you?" She shook her head. "You have to tell me, what did he do to you?" Erik looked her over, trying to find some sign of abuse on her. He saw hand-shaped bruises forming on her upper arms.

"Gaston was so angry," she repeated. "He kept going on and on about me trying to humiliate him. He threw me to the ground screaming about secrets, screaming about men I had convinced to humiliate him, screaming about finding out the truth. I don't even know what he was talking about."

As she began to cry again, Erik remained silent, guilt crashing over him. It was his fault. It was his fault she was hurt. He had lashed out against Gaston in his anger, and in return, Gaston lashed out against Mia. "I'll keep you safe," he cooed. "I won't allow him to hurt you anymore."

"I never want to see him again."

"And you won't have to. I'll make sure you won't." She buried her face in his shirt and began to sob louder. "Everything will be okay. I promise you. You're here now." He leaned in and began kiss her tears away as she clung to him.

"No," she murmured. "No, isn't right. I shouldn't be here! I have to go home!"

"What?" Erik asked. "No! Mia, you just got here, you can't leave."

"I…I have to. Gaston, when he finds out I'm gone, he'll hurt me again. I have to go now before he realizes I left!" She climbed out of his arms and began to run. Erik was quick to get between her and the mirror, forcing Mia to change directions.

He found her in the kitchen, drawers ripped open, the room already in disarray, a knife in her hand. "No!" Erik shouted, grabbing her wrist and forcing it out of her hands. "Mia, you promised me you wouldn't."

She let out a cry as she reached for the blade. "I have to! Erik, as long as I am alive, Erik, he'll come after me. He'll hurt me Erik!"

After throwing the knife aside, Erik wrapped her arms around her waist and dragged her from the room. She was hysterical as she tried to get to the weapon. "Mia, Mia you promised me you wouldn't hurt yourself again!" Mia screamed and thrashed in his arms, trying to escape. He enveloped her in his embrace and tried to soothe her. Erik pressed his lips against her ear and began to sing.

"No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you"

Erik knew it was Raoul's song; he had heard him singing it to Christine that night on the roof. But he thought maybe if Raoul knew it, then maybe Mia did too. As he sang softly, she slowly began to stop struggling against him, encouraging him to continue.

"Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you"

He didn't know if it was the song or his voice, but Mia's loud sobs quieted until they were nothing but soft whimpers. She twisted her fingers in his shirt and clung to him. He continued to sing as he scooped her up and carried her to the swan bed and sat with her in his arms.

"Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You're safe, no one will find you
Your fears are far behind you"

Mia closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest. He rubbed her back and continued to sing, anything and everything that came to mind. She eventually laid down on the bed, pulling him with her. It wasn't a sensual embrace, nor was it meant to be, but instead it was one of comfort. "Erik?" Mia whispered a long while later. Her voice was thick, like she was about to cry again.

"Yes Mia?"

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," Erik replied. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Where is she?!"

Hazel cringed at her employer's raised voice. "I…I don't know Monsieur."

"You don't know, or you don't want me to know?" he demanded.

"Please Monsieur, I don't know anything! Madame Barineau left without a word! She was very distraught, whatever you said must have upset her."

"DON'T," Gaston shouted, before continuing with a softer, more threatening tone. "Try to pin this on me."

"No Monsieur, I would do nothing of the sort! It's just that she's been acting so distraught that even the simplest of things might have set her off," Hazel said quickly, trying to save her job.

Her employer gave her a dirty look, but seemed to let her slip-up go. "Even if you do know something, I promise you, I will find Amelia. Even if I have to tear Paris apart brick-by-brick with my bare hands, I will find her."

Mia woke in a strong embrace. She turned and saw Erik sleeping beside her, his arm around her and his lips turned slightly upwards. It was the first time she had seen him truly at peace and seemingly happy. As she nestled closer, his brow furrowed and his eyes opened. "What…?" he started to say, clearly still drowsy, but before he could get another word out, Mia leaned in and kissed him. When they broke apart he smiled. "I could get used to waking up like this, with such a beautiful woman." She pulled away silently as a thought struck her. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Did I say something that upset you?"

"I shouldn't have done that…"

"Why? Because of Gaston?" She nodded. Erik exhaled slowly before sitting up and pulling her into his arms. "Mia, listen to me and listen to me carefully. If you're uncomfortable doing something, you don't have to, and I won't make you, but I promise you Gaston won't find you here. You can do whatever you want here." He was silent for a moment as he took her hand into his lap and stared at all the new cuts from the last time she was here. "Except for hurting yourself. I won't allow you to hurt yourself."

She stared at him with watery eyes. "Why do you care so much whether I cut myself or not?"

"Because Mia," Erik replied softly. "I love you."