Morgana looked at him as she finished, her chest feeling lighter now that she had taken it off her chest. However, she wouldn't go around and say her story to people. She didn't like it. It wasn't a happy childhood, the one she had.

No, it was one where you had to mature much earlier than you supposed to. One where you learnt how hard is to survive in the hard world and one where taking her of others requires personal sacrifice.

Her trip was long, tiring but she was thankful for it. She had managed to learn so many things. She had managed to evolve into the woman she was today. Other girls her age are still immature and naïve but not her.

She had faced life face to face and won, she had conquered each obstacle and now she was more experienced and stronger than ever before. She knew how to survive, how to take care of herself and the ones she cared about.

"When I was younger, this… deformity of mine didn't help me at all", Erik started. She didn't know why but she didn't want to ask, he also had a past he tried to forget. She knew it because they both had the same eyes. She squeezed his hands gently to remind him that she was there for him. "My first and only gift was a mask, by my mother, to hide the deformity. She didn't allow me to look at her, touch her, and talk to her; even call her mom. I isolated myself in my room, I couldn't go out. It was forbidden. I buried myself in the books, using them as a way to occupy myself and somehow make things a little… lighter… for me. However, after a certain age trouble came. A doctor my mother started to see didn't like me and tried to persuade her to lock me in an asylum. I didn't know if I could trust her from then, she hadn't thrown me to the streets but she didn't want to see me either… I never stayed to find out; the same night I ran away and never looked back. I managed to survive for a small time but I was getting hungry and tired… that was when I found a gipsy camp. I tried to steal but I was caught and exposed. Then, I was caged like an animal. The 'Devil's child' is what they called me. I would travel with them, locked behind metal bars. The show would start, I would get bitten for the sake of a show and then force everyone to… to see me…my curse…*sigh*

Morgana gave him time, she could see it buy how he closed his eyes and stopped that the subject was hard for him. She stayed quiet and let him continue when he felt ready, her thumb rubbing his skin all this time in a comforting manner.

Her heart aced so far and she felt like shedding a tear as just the thoughts of the gipsy camp and the humiliation because of something that made you different. She could understand now why he wore that mask, why he hid in the shadows and deep underground.

Why he was so cold and distant to most humans and so overprotective of what he cared about. After what he had been through, she didn't blame him; not that she ever did.

"One day, we were in Paris and after my usual beating and humiliation… I decided I had enough. I grabbed a rope that was close by and use it to choke the man who tortured me all this time. Once dead, I noticed that a ballerina had stayed behind and saw everything. I thought she could scream for her but she didn't. Instead, she set me free and helped me hide down here; away from the cruel world, away from the police and away from the gipsies. Her name *smiles faintly* was Antoinette Giry"

The Irish looked at him; her eyes were filled with an emotion she had never seen in anyone before. Empathy

Before Erik could register what had happened, he was wrapped in a tight hug. Once he realized that it was Morgana hugging him; he hugged back tightly and buried his head on the crook of her neck.

He could feel his eyes stung, the dark memories of his past always seemed to affect him more than he liked.

He held her there, none of them speaking or moving; just embracing each other.

They were both broken in their own way; both of them had passed through their own personal hell that made them who they were today. However, unlike then, they weren't alone anymore. They had each other.

After years of holding it inside him, Erik didn't feel ashamed that he had shared his sad story. He felt as if he was there, right where he belonged; in her arms. He took in her scent, his eyes closed and she felt his heart beat along with hers.

Her hands were wrapped around him in a welcoming and warm embrace, her skin warm to his touch.

So this is what it feels to be loved, he thought and smiled, finally relieved to have felt what he never had the chance to enjoy until that very moment.

Finally, the two of them broke apart and looked at each other. Her hand went to his chin and she pecked his lips slowly before sitting back on her chair.

"Now, I do not blame you to stop believing in god", she said as they interlocked fingers.

"I have started to believe once again, slowly of course"

They both cracked a smile.

"Call me crazy but this moment feels like having some alcohol. An Irish beer would do good, help mend the soul and make this storytelling much easier and slightly pleasant", she joked.

"Perhaps, however now you will have to settle for tea"

"I guess I will have too"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of heartbreaking and sad storytelling of their pasts; the two of them laughed.

It has been more than a month, more than a month since Morgana and Erik dropped their walls and let their hearts become one. The exchange of their sad pasts brought them closer and helped them become stronger.

They kept meeting almost every night, talking, practising and playing music or signing. However, today this happy routine would be interrupted. The two siblings were invited to a big Gala at a mansion of the family of the De Changy.

Both siblings knew about the whole history of it and would have declined if they could. However, this was not something they could do. Their clothes were already chosen and there was time to spare before their carriage arrives.

One thing left, Keegan. The young boy could not be taken with them this time, unfortunately, and couldn't be left alone in the room. Morgana had suggested that she stays back but it was from the few times that Cáel wasn't allowing it and thus, the two siblings kept fighting in Irish.

"Come on brother. You can do it on your own"

"No I cannot sister and honestly, you are the last person going there but they invited you as well. She did"

"*sigh* I know but Keegan-"

"He is almost 11 years old. He can stay on his own"

"I won't allow it. We are not back in the house where it was okay to leave him alone. I cannot be calm in the thought of him being here alone"

"*Sigh and passes his hand through his hair* someone has to look after him but there is no one available at that moment"

"There is one"

Erik composed a new song, his fingers gracefully playing over the keys. He wanted to finish this song before his nightingales arrive, in hopes they could sing it together. Steps echoed in the cave and he frowned his eyebrows at who it could be.

The steps belonged to two people and he swore he heard a third sound. He wore his mask and grabbed his Punjab, ready to defend himself by the intruders.

"Erik it is us", Morgana's voice was heard and he left out a sigh before leaving his Punjab on top of the organ.

Wait a minute, us?

On queue, Cu came running in followed by Keegan. Erik was about to open his mouth and ask what exactly was going on but he stopped; his mind too focused now on Morgana who stood at the entrance of the cave.

She was dressed in a strapless and sleeveless electric blue silk dress with black fluff at the beginning of the dress, forming a circle around her collarbone and a black bow in the middle of her chest.

The dress was long and tight, showing nicely her curves and ending on a two-layer black cotton material that was brushing against the floor if it weren't for her to hold it slightly up. A blue chocker was around her neck and was also covered and decorated by the same black fluff at the top but also the bottom.

Her fierce red main was tamed, brushed and braided up, giving the impression of a crown made by the tight elegant braid. A few strands were left to hang loose and frame her face, those strands turning naturally curly at the end.

"Morgana, you look… absolutely stunning", Erik managed to say, his mouth feeling dry after being left open for so long. He had seen her in dresses before yes but this time, this dress that showed her shoulder and a lot of skin but also had a colour that made her red hair stand out along with her bright blue eyes.

Her cheeks turned a faint red and looked at her feet, her hands playing with her dress. She smiled and then looked at him.

"Thank you and I am sorry for such visit. I came to ask, if you could look after Keegan"

At that moment, Erik was snapped from his trance.

"You want me to do what?"

"Just for a few hours, please", she said as she let her dress fall and raised her hand while taking a few steps closer.

"What about Meg?"

"She and Madame Giry are out for dinner with a family friend. Please, Erik. I have no one else and I cannot take him with me"

"*sigh* Very well"

Erik agreed, understanding in which position Morgana was and he making it harder for her was the last thing he wanted. She quickly hugged him and he hugged back before kidding her head.

"Another gathering?"

"Yeah unfortunately"

Morgana kept to who invited them a secret from everyone, not wanting to upset the man in front of her. There were few taboo words that she was always aware of, a small fear of telling them that could possibly ruin what she had achieved so far.

She couldn't take that risk, not now. For the sake of both of them and the love they shared for each other, she had once again to be secretive with the man she cared about.

"Be careful"

"I will"

She gave him one last smile and picked up her dress before exiting the lair, leaving the strange duo or better say trio alone.