I think I'm going to thank all my reviewers who have, in a continued effort, read my story. Without further adieu I give you Aylah, my friend and trusted grammatical error finder…yay! An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin…your reviews make me smile! Countess Alana you da bomb! Orli's EEPs Chica thanks for reviewing twice but where did you go man? Sarah the same thing goes for you! Anyway, I just thought I'd do that because I'm in a really good mood. OK, on with the story!

He wanted to apologize. The way they'd left things did not suit him at all. Her touch had frightened him, made him feel things he'd never felt before. Never had someone voluntarily touched him. If anyone had been forced to even lay a finger upon him it would have been with disgust and pity.

He had to talk to her.

The rehearsals went smoothly. So Erik, cleverly concealing himself in the column directly beside box five, had been able to take in Claire's performances thus far. He enjoyed her graceful movements and calm serenity that never left her face. She was also simply the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. Maybe his infatuation was partly lust but he longed to know her intimate details, not just the things he'd overheard her talk about.

Antoinette had talked to her about him, he knew this. He also knew that Antoinette had known he listened. The gentle and hurt words that had come from Claire's mouth pained him deeply and yet, when she had said,

"He loves me?" with such surprise and longing, he knew his heart belonged to only her. But he knew he could never tell her that.

So while he watched her dance on stage he knew he had to talk to her. When rehearsals had ended he quickly left the box and followed her. She stopped to talk to a few dancers who asked her out to shop but she declined. This news thrilled him. He watched as she slowly but surely made her way to the place he knew she'd go.

The roof was quiet, Claire not yet there. He hid behind a massive gargoyle, making sure she would not be able to see him when she entered the area. He listened carefully, wondering when she'd finally emerge from the inside. He heard the door open and close softly. He peered around the other side of the gargoyle and watched her approach his hiding spot. She was simply stunning in the outfit she'd worn during the rehearsals, one of the many costumes she'd change into during the Opera that night. It was a simple off the shoulder number, skin tight around the waist and looser around the breasts. She wore a worn skirt, which fit the part of the dance she would be dressed for.

Claire came closer to the gargoyle and sat beneath its shadows. Erik's breath caught in his throat.

"Only a dream," he heard her say. Finding this the only opportunity to reveal himself Erik replied,

"Dreams can sometimes become reality." He stepped out from his hiding spot and stared at her. She turned and the look of shock that crossed her face had almost made him burst into laughter. But instead of insulting her so, he kept a blank look on his face.

"You scared me!" she cried. Erik, not wanting to insult her by saying anything out of turn, stayed silent. He wanted to pour his heart out to her in that moment. He loved the way her expression soured at his leaning against the statue and her tiny hands balled up in fists.

"It would be most gentlemen of you to speak when spoken too," she snapped, confusing Erik. He had hurt her, shoving her to the ground when all she did was show him kindness, and now she wanted to speak with him? She got to her feet as he deliberately moved closer to her. He wanted to touch Claire.

"Will you not speak?"

Erik almost stopped coming closer to her. Her voice had lost its harsh and demanding tone and now was only filled with pain and confusion. He reached out his hand and cupped her face in his hand. He dared not get more intimate then this. Her eyes closed and Erik felt the passion between them. When she finally opened her wide, soft eyes she took her hand and placed it on his. This time Erik did not fear her touch. He started to say something but she cut him off.

"Now you can't speak," she said, "We're past words now." Without warning she removed her hand from his and reached out to touch the unmasked part of his face. When her fingers connected with his cold flesh he gasped. No one had ever touched him so intimately and lovingly. She ran a single finger up and down his cheek. His eyes closed, soaking in every moment.

Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known?" she whispered to him, still continuing her sweet caress. Erik opened his eyes. He wanted to see her, take in all the beauty of this young woman.

"Why?" he asked, "After what I did to you?" This seemed a simple enough question to ask of her, but when her eyes began to fill with tears he feared he'd hurt her. He scolded himself for speaking out so boldly. But the smile that crossed her angelic face brought ease to his troubled mind.

"Because I," Claire started to say but Erik could not bear to hear it. Those were words that meant commitment and no one could commit to him. He placed a finger on her lips.

"Do not say it," he commanded, "If you say it I will never be able to see you again." The tears trickled from her eyes and one landed on his finger. He pulled it away.

"But if I don't say it I will burst," she cried, "I hardly know you and I'm feeling all these things I've never felt before." The honestly on her face amazed Erik and made him do something he thought he could never bring himself to do, he took her hand in his.

"You're but a child," he whispered, "These feelings; do you even know what they are?" In truth, he didn't even know what he was feeling.

"I feel for you what you feel for your music," Claire answered, the smile on her face reaching out to him, stroking his soul.

"And I feel, I feel so many things when I look at you," Erik responded, and Claire brought their entwined hands to her chest. He wished he had taken off his gloves; the warmth of her bosom would have warmed his cold skin.

"My heart is now bound to you," Claire spoke. Erik acted on what his heart was screaming and moved ever closer to her. Their bodies would have been pressed together if it weren't for their hands resting on Claire's chest.

"Ask it of me and I will give you the world," he whispered bringing his face closer to hers. His body was not his anymore, it was pure instinct. He'd read in books before that in order to kiss a woman you must show you are interested in doing so by leaning in. If the woman leaned in as well you knew she accepted your invitation. Her next words were more powerful then anything he'd ever read about intimate moments like this.

"But I don't want the world," she whispered sensually, "I want you." He placed his lips on hers. It was his first kiss, ever. He didn't even worry if he was doing it right or not, all he cared about was making it last as long as possible. He had become apart of her with that kiss. Their lips slowly parted. He didn't even know who broke it. All he knew was that he wanted more. He leaned in and kissed her again. The pressure of her lips was a comforting feeling and with each pass of his lips against her own he felt love.

Claire broke their union. She dropped his hands and took a step back. Her cheeks were a shade of pink and her hands fluttered by her sides.

"I must go; they'll wonder where I am," she said, "If you ask me I will come to you tonight." Erik felt his hear thump in his chest at her proposal.

"I will come to Sorelli's dressing room once again," he said and Claire smiled. Surprisingly, she came to him again and gave him a soft kiss. He took in her scent. She smelled of roses.

"Tonight we will be together," she said softly and Erik nodded. He decided it would be best to leave the moment at that and disappear from view. He quietly hid himself once again behind the statue, sure that she would not look there. He was right, and she moved towards the door. Erik still felt her, wanted her.

Then a thought crossed his mind, she had not seen what lay behind the mask. When she saw it…would she leave him forever?