What Dreams

May Come

Chapter 52

I Know Why

The Caged Bird Sings

AN: Hey everyone! I'm sorry it's been taking so long to update these stories. I'll try and update them faster. So first off, I want to give a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed, read and has been staying with this story. You guys are the best!

Indy's Green Hat: Yes something is going on with Erik, but you'll have to keep reading in order to find out. Thank you for the review and I'm glad your enjoying it!

Fae'sFlower: The reunion of Glinda, Pierre, Erik and Elphaba is coming up in this chapter I promise. Thank you so much for your review and for staying with this story. And yeah, it just seems right that Elphaba would accept Erik for his disfigurement, just like Erik accepts and loves Elphaba for her green skin. What they see is the person inside, and not their outward appearance

The Raven May Fall: Lol, maybe he is and maybe he isn't. You'll have to keep reading in order to find out

L8lyztnwer: Oh just wait, you haven't seen anything yet. Thanks for the review and staying with this story. You're a peach

Eeveeon 1105: Lol I'm glad your enjoying the story and thank you. Again, it just seemed right to pair Erik with Elphaba, but for a very long time, just couldn't think of how to write a story that could do that. And then I found my best friend Mad-Idina-Fan98 and I had shared the idea with her. We started a tentative Rp regarding this pairing and as we kept going, the story just kept getting better and better. She's the one who gave me the idea to officially turn it into a story and post it here on FF. So it's all thanks to her. And don't worry, it won't end, not for awhile at least. Mad-Idina-Fan and I have been continuing this Rp and believe me, we have at least…three sequel's that are complete. Were currently working on the fourth one right now. If things keep going as they are, those sequels will be posted here on FF.

First of all I want to let you all know about the time frame that is being used for this story so it doesn't confuse you all later, or I get reviews telling me the timeframe is all screwed up and doesn't make sense. First of all I own the libretto so this is accurate according to how Andrew, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe have written it. After Masquerade in the stage musical Raoul confronts Madame Giry who reluctantly tells him she had seen the Phantom once at a Gypsy fair, locked in a cage. And though she says he was a man at that time I've changed that to him being a nine year old boy. I'm not going any further since the entire story to Erik being with the Gypsies will be told later on in the story, but in order to make everything fit properly, I have made Madame Giry older when she sees Erik for the first time.

Of course, in the 2004, Madame Giry's flashback consists of her still being a young child, but in the musical, it's never stated how old she is when she sees him, so I played around with that and have put Madame Giry as a young woman in her twenties, and married to her husband and already having had her daughter. It's the early 18th century, so the idea isn't ludicrous really. Women married young in that age, since they did not live long. It was done mainly so it would make sense that Erik and Meg would kind of grow up together from childhood, to adulthood.

Anyways that's how the timeline is going to work for this story. If any of you have any questions or concerns regarding this or anything else that happens in the story, please leave it either in a review or you can pm me. I will respond back as soon as possible. Though it may take a little bit longer, I'm sorry but I'm a single mother and sometimes I cannot get on the computer as soon as I'd like.

Enjoy the next chapter and thank you all again for continuing to stay with this story. Your continued support means a lot to both Mad-Idina and I very much!

Erik let out a soft grunt of irritation as he arched a thin, raven eyebrow higher. He had been staring back at her for the past ten minutes, awaiting a slight twitch of muscle from within her cheek, a blink of an eye, anything.

Sighing, he lifts himself up on his hunches, and wincing slightly from the movement, lifted his hand and waved it in front of her still, pale face.

Flinching, he pressed the knuckles of his other hand against the mattress to stabilize himself as he waited for a response.

"Your starting to try my patience mon ange," he grunted out. Lifting his hand from the bed, he reaches out and grasps firmly, yet gently onto her shoulders, "Mon ange! Wake up!" he calls out, his voice rising in pitch slightly.

Elphaba continued to stare back at Erik with unwavering eyes. The logical side of her, continued to foolishly whisper softly within the hinge of a breath, to what she had just seen within a mere blink of an eye.

Could she have really seen wings? Wings for Oz sakes! The word to her seemed so simplistic, foolish, and yet it was laden with ridicule, laced and wrapped up tight, as if it were a fragile bauble. One touch and it would shatter within an instant. The thought alone seemed too preposterous for words, that for a moment, she mentally berated herself. No human man could have wings. Only fabled Angel's from Heaven, mythical creatures of lore possessed such things.

Perhaps she had been gone far too long from Oz that her mind was starting to dwindle; like embers sparking skyward against the midnight sky, in one last desperate attempt at staying alight.

And yet, in that one strange moment, she had seen them. She could still remember, even after the blessed, yet strange event had transpired, what the wings had looked like. They had been white; the purest white she had ever dared laid eyes upon, yet they glowed in what could only be described as a warm, iridescent light; Heaven's light. Yes that was the only word that best described it, for the wings were beautiful, Angelic.

Slowly, she closed her eyes; the image remained fresh within her mind. White, like new fallen snow, pure, and warm, yet somehow she knew they were soft like silk.

Tilting her head, the faintest scent of dew, of fresh rain still hung in the air, and for a moment, she dared to cling to this scent, unconsciously refusing to let it taper away.

Had that scent come from Erik?

"MON ANGE!" Erik screamed. Shaken from her thoughts, Elphaba jumped and nearly toppled off the bed.

Elphaba had turned her head and watched the floor scream closer and for a moment, she swore she could feel the impact of the cold wood pressed against her face.

Clenching her eyes, she awaited the pain that was sure to come, when suddenly she stopped, the air rushing around her, billowing her raven hair to spiral downward like a waterfall of raven silk, and pool against the ground and stilled, and instead of feeling the hard wood floor pressed against her bones, she felt warm, strong arms wrapped protectively around her.

Frowning, she tilted her head up and nearly gasped, for Erik's face was mere inches away from her own. The gilded rays of sunlight poured behind him, casting him in an almost heavenly glow.

His dark chocolate eyes gazed sternly back at her, and for a moment, she wondered if he was crossed with her. Course, those thoughts were quickly dashed upon seeing the love, the worry shimmer deep within his eyes, and she relaxed instantly.

Gently, Erik pulled her back up on the bed and pressed her against his chest. His warmth filled her, washing away any remnants of fear, of doubt from her mind.

Tenderly, his strong arms wove protectively around her slender waist and closing his eyes, he rests his head against hers. Smiling softly, she pressed her cheek lovingly against his strong chest, and relished the feel of his skin against hers.

"Are you alright mon ange?" he asks, his voice soft, yet filled with concern for her.

Elphaba couldn't help the smile upon her lips to grow, for not only hearing his term of endearment, but the softness within his voice always calmed her, filled her body with an indescribable warmth.

"I'm always alright, so long as you're with me" she says softly as she rests her palm against his chest. The tightness within her muscles relax more, feeling the soft thrum of his heartbeat, pulse against the soft pads of her fingertips

"What happened," feeling her confusion, Erik pulled himself away to gaze back into her eyes, "you went somewhere where I could not follow" he finished softly

Heat radiated deep within her cheeks at having been caught having spaced out on her love, and worrying him.

"What happened?" he continued. Tenderly he unwound an arm from around her waist, and lifting his hand, lovingly cupped her cheek.

"You'll think it's ridiculous" Elphaba said, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Try me" Erik chuckled.

Elphaba's heart fluttered in her chest. Strange how a simple laugh from this man could make her heart flutter wildly within her chest. Had Fiyero done the same to her?

Unconsciously, Elphaba leaned herself against Erik as a heart wrenching pain, overtook her. Fiyero. Her Vinkun Prince, her first love.

Was it right for her to have fallen in love with another so soon after having lost the man whom she thought she would spend the rest of her life with? The man who had seen her for who she was and not her verdigris. The man who had subsequently stolen and broken her heart all at the same time, the man who she had let die in her place by the Wizards guards.

Feeling her sadness, Erik lowers his head and kisses her hair as he wraps his strong arms around her once again, and held her close. He wouldn't push her; he would wait for her to be ready.

Fiyero. Slowly Erik lifted his gaze towards the window and stared. He supposed it would be only natural to despise this man, for he had been her first. Her first kiss, her first love, and the first man to show her what it felt like to be wanted, to be loved.

He had been the one to first show Elphaba the pleasures of the flesh, to hold her close and caress her soft, tender skin, run his fingers through her hair as she slept, bathed in moonlight beneath a canopy of trees and shadows.

Closing his eyes, Erik quickly shook those thoughts away. No, he couldn't hate this man, nor fault him in the least. In truth, if he wanted to be completely honest, he owed this Fiyero a debt of gratitude.

Silly how that may seem, it was true, for if it wasn't for Fiyero having shown, given Elphaba love, then she never would have become the woman she is now. She would never have known what it felt like to be wanted, to have someone care for her.

If it hadn't been for him, then Erik was sure that he and Elphaba would never have met, nor fallen in love, or created the little life now growing deep within her womb.

A soft smile pulled on his lips at that thought. A life, a baby he and Elphaba had created by their love; a child that was his and his alone. He would be a father in nine months and he couldn't wait. Though inwardly, he was petrified. Would he be like his own father?

The thought of that chilled him down to his very core, and he couldn't help but shiver. No, he would not become like that man. He wouldn't ever lift a finger to his child. He would rise above what he had grown accustomed to in his childhood. He would be better.

Slowly, Elphaba pulled away and smiled up at Erik through long black lashes, "bonjour my love"

Erik chuckled and bending his head, lightly brushed his lips against hers, "Bonjour, mon amour" he says softly back.

Elphaba couldn't help but shiver hearing his voice, for it was soft, yet mesmerizing, entrancing at the same time.

"Are you cold mon ange?" Erik asked worriedly as his arms tightened around her slender body. Tilting his head towards the fireplace, he did a quick inventory to make sure there was a proper amount of wood near the hearth to start a fire.

Elphaba couldn't help but smile seeing the concern in his eyes. Reaching out, she gently brushed her fingers beneath his chin.

Feeling her touch, Erik returned his gaze back to Elphaba. The question dancing at the tip of his tongue is immediately silenced upon feeling her lips pressed against his.

Slowly, he relaxed into the kiss, "I'll take that as your feeling alright?" he mumbles against her lips

Elphaba laughed against his lips. Lifting her head, she gazed lovingly back at him and cupped his cheek, "Always the charmer" she teased lightly

Erik chuckled. Slowly his hand rose and cupped over hers and for a moment, he gazed down at her. And once again, he found himself lost within the darkened pools of her eyes.

Elphaba blushed and lowered her head slightly. No matter how much care he gave her, it still amazed her how much this man loved her; saw her not for her skin, but for the woman whom she was.

"You were saying?" she asks, lifting her head, and once again locking her eyes with his

Erik frowned back at Elphaba confused. The sudden change in topic threw him for a second, before his mind snapped back to their previous conversation. Relaxing slightly, he leaned back a little as his hand rose and cupped her cheek softly

"Mademoiselle Glinda is no longer dwelling within the chateau" he says with a voice as soft as a whisper

"What?!" Straightening, Elphaba all but threw the covers off of her and stumbled out of the bed, "What do you mean she's not here!?" panic rose more in her voice as she frantically went in search of her dress

Erik grabbed the covers and throwing them off him, rose on shaky legs to his full height. Grabbing the bed post, he forced his legs to straighten

"I don't know where she went mon ange…but I can no longer sense her presence here"

A flittering thought, rippled within her mind. How in Oz could he feel Glinda. He didn't possess magick, yet the look in his eyes, told her that he had, at one point felt her here.

"I need to find her. It's not safe out there right now" turning she reaches down and grabs up her dress and quickly throws it on.

Though he was still weak, Erik refused to allow his love to venture out into the beyond within him by her side. Biting back a wave of nausea, he grabbed his shirt from off the ground and turning, slipped it on.

Catching his movement, Elphaba tilted her head slightly and watched Erik out of the corner of her eye, and for a moment, her heart wrenched. So many scars covered his back. Scars from past pains, he had yet to share. And a part of her hoped, she would he would one day reveal his secrets, his shadows of the past.

"What are you doing?" she asks, straightening. She kept her dark chocolate eyes affixed to him

Buttoning up his shirt, he turns in one graceful motion to face Elphaba, "To aid you in your journey" he says simply

Though she was touched by his chivalry, she nonetheless, could not allow it. After all, he was still recovering from the bullet wound.

"No Erik. You need to rest" she says firmly

Erik grumped and gave Elphaba a stern, yet firm look. A look which meant he would not be swayed by his decision

"No mon ange. I'm coming with. You do not know Paris yet, and I will not have you venturing off on your own when there are others out there seeking your capture"

Elphaba sighed and relented. She didn't have the luxury to argue with him at the moment. And though she would never admit it, she was somewhat relieved that he was coming with her. For in his arms, she felt safe, at home. His arms, his warmth was like her own little piece of Heaven, and she craved it.

Smiling softly, Erik offered Elphaba his hand

"By your leave Mademoiselle" he says, bowing regally to her.

Chuckling softly, she cupped her hand within his and followed as he led her out of the chateau. He wasn't sure exactly where Glinda was, but he would allow his heart to guide him.

As Elphaba and Erik made their way through the woods, a large group of men hidden, crouched low within the weeds of the forest watched.

"So the bastard is still alive" one man with long raven hair grumbles darkly

"He won't be for long" another says. Cocking his rifle, he taps the shoulders of the other men before taking off after Erik and Elphaba.