Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, which I regret. I do own the Theater and all who inhabit it.

Hellcat the Wicked: I know it could have been longer, but I was running short of patience and I had to get that chapter up. This one chapter will make up for it though I swear.

Jilly: I'm actually already using " Someone Like You " somewhere else in the musical but you and I are practically on the same page with this. Don't worry your not stepping on my toes, I have my ending planned out and i'm sure you'll love it. Thanks for the help.

Count Orlok: I live off your encouraging reviews I swear. Thank you and hopefully I won't disappoint your confidence in me monsieur.

Lioness-Rampant: I'm glad you like Veronica and Darius so much and i'm very glad that everyone likes Malcolm. lol about the puddle thing. I got the wanted reaction then.

Eilianu: Thank you, I couldn't do it without you and everyone else though so you guys are just as great for keeping this story going.

Lusiki: And more I shall give. :bows:

To all reviewers: Thank you so much for all the great reviews on the last chapter. This one is not far off from the end. After this chapter is the first half of the musical, but first the moment everyone has been waiting for. The reason everyone is reading a romance fic. For the romance. There will be no songs in this, or at least you won't know what songs their using. You'll get to hear them in the musical though so just be patient. Right now i'm going to be mean to our lovebirds.

Happy Valentines Day!

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Chapter 17: Wakey Wakey

" Do you think we should wake them up?" Darius asked, looking at the two sleeping figures on stage. Erik sleeping at the piano and Ariel sleeping close to his feet in a flurry of blankets.

" Maybe we can play the overture for ' Phantom '. That would wake anybody from a deep sleep, especially if we put it on the sound system." Veronica said thoughtfully with her arms folded over her chest.

Anthony overheard the conversation and decided the idea was getting out of hand. " You two are glutton for punishment, have you already forgotten both Erik and Ariel's tempers? They'll kill you." But Veronica and Darius didn't pay much attention to Anthony's warning.

" Good thing we can run really fast, I doubt Erik's had enough exercise in two years that he could keep up with us. And Ariel is so not a morning person!" Veronica said with a scoff. For once Veronica was only wearing a pair of worn jeans and a ' Wicked ' t-shirt. At least the woman was dressed for running.

Anthony just shook his head and went to run rehearsals in Erik's place until his rather rude awakening. There was no way he was going to stick around and suffer the couples wrath. " Tony what are they doing?" Giselle asked, catching his arms in hers. He smiled and kissed her. " Morning sweetheart. And as for those two, their signing their death warrant." He said, watching Veronica and Darius rummaging through the cd's Erik had left on the piano until they found the ' Phantom of the Opera' soundtrack.

Giselle made a wounded sound. " But they look so peaceful, we could just gently shake them awake. Why startle them?" Anthony smiled at his sensitive wife. He loved her so much and Anthony had Erik to thank for the chance to be Giselle's husband. Which is exactly why he pulled Giselle out of sight with him when the overture for 'phantom' blared out on the sound system and every stage hand and cast member who hadn't been expecting it covered their ears. Both Ariel and Erik, who had been sleeping contently sat up straight. Ariel was bleary eyed and still out of it while Erik slammed his head against the piano when he tried to detangle himself from the blanket draped over him. Veronica and Darius were stupid enough to stand next to them and laugh.

Erik was the first one to reach full consciousness, with his black hair all over the place and his mis matched eyes blazing, the phantom was not a happy person.

" Run." He hissed. Veronica and Darius finally realized why waking Erik had been a bad idea. " Out of the way!" Darius yelled and Veronica screamed as they made a break for the lobby.

Erik made to go after them but stopped when he heard his name spoken by a rather sleepy voice from the floor. " Erik?"

Erik turned to see Ariel still sitting on the floor amid her blankets only half awake and trying to focus her sleep covered eyes on him. Ariel's auburn hair was an untamed mane about her shoulders. And her jewel eyes were half lidded and constantly blinking to wake up. Erik's breathe hitched at the sweetness of vision before him. She was beautiful. Erik forgot where he was or what he'd been doing and went to her side. Kneeling down on the blankets with her and brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. " Good morning." He said with a amused smile. I love you. He thought but did not say.

" What time is it?" She asked and leaned forward until her head rested on his shoulder and she closed her eyes again. Erik chuckled and tried to move her. " No!" She moaned like a stubborn child, holding on to his waist so he couldn't dislodge her. " I want to go back to sleep, its too early."

Erik looked at the clock that was offstage and smirked. " Ariel its noon." He said. A few of the cast laughed good naturedly as Erik was forced to brace his hands behind him while Ariel stayed cemented to his chest on her way back to la la land. " Have you been down here on the stage all night?" He asked incredulously and stroked her hair not fully wanting to wake her up now.

But when Ariel was reminded that she had slept on the stage she was wide awake suddenly. She remembered the chat with Meg yesterday, finding out she loved Erik, finding out Erik loved her, the script and more importantly that she had added to the script. Oh my god what's he gonna do when he reads it! Ariel bit her lip and released Erik. He looked a bit disappointed and Ariel almost smiled at the idea. What do you expect the man is practically going to serenade you in a week. Ariel's heart stopped for a moment when she saw the gleam in his eyes that she could now recognize. My god I love this man!

" I have to go get dressed !" Ariel said suddenly and stood, leaving a bewildered Erik still sitting on the floor. Ariel looked around at the cast who grinned like cheshire cats and waved smugly at her. She glared at them and made to leave but Erik gently caught her wrist.

" Your no more presentable then I am at the moment mademoiselle Gentry and I still have work to do." He said playfully and Ariel almost gave in. But she somehow knew he hadn't read the manuscript yet.

" I really need to get dressed. " She repeated and pulled away and ran upstairs. Leaning against the door after she shut it, Ariel waited.

Erik was hurt by her cold reaction. Ariel had never acted this way before, of course he'd never seen her when she'd just woken up before either. Erik brushed the apprehension that tried to creep into his heart away quickly. Ariel's not a morning person. Erik reminded himself and tried to run his fingers through the mess his hair had become.

When Erik turned back to the stage everyone was instantly back to work and the phantom sighed irritably. " And I thought Meg and the other ballet rats were terrible." Erik muttered under his breathe when Anthony approached him. " Is there anything we should be practicing today in particular?" He asked. Anthony was pretty much Erik's right hand when it came to the musicals production, the man did his job well.

" Yes, there's one new act we need to work on. It's only a two character scene and I need you to take the music up to Tom so we have it on the playlist." Erik said, trying to keep his mind off following Ariel and telling her how he felt. But he knew that was his downfall last time.

Anthony nodded and started to leaf through the newest pieces. " But there's two new scenes here, do you want us to practice both?" Anthony said and Giselle looked over her husband's shoulder. " Wait, Erik this doesn't look like your handwriting." She said and Erik took the libretto from them and read the last few leafs of paper that had been added by someone else.

He read the scene written in Ariel's small, flowing script. The words sometimes blurred where tears had fallen on the wet ink. For the second time that morning Erik fought to breathe. She's read this and she knows. Erik thought as he sat down on the piano bench, a bit shaky in his movements. The lyrics to the song she wrote herself singing said everything. Erik quickly turned to the cd's on the piano and rummaged through them madly till he came upon the one he wanted.

" Take this up to Tom along with the one I gave you. But have him play the one from the last scene immediately." Erik said and Giselle plucked the jewel case from his hand and made for the sound booth with a girlish grin. Did everyone know except for me? He wondered and couldn't help but grin madly himself. The music came on and Erik let the song envelope him.

Upstairs Ariel could hear the music as well and she smiled against the tears on her face. She stood up and let the music take her, she had refused herself to let go last night but now she would let herself be heard. Through her tears was a smile that betrayed the streaks on her face as joy.

On the stage Erik didn't hear the voice that came over the sound system but the one that drifted down to him from above. It was like his last night in the cellars of the opera house. Entranced by a voice and the meaning of the words he followed until he came to the door of the apartment. Beyond it was doubt and fear. But as Ariel's voice rose with the music Erik's heart began to beat faster and he knew that love was beyond this door as well.

Ariel caught up in her song, the emotion she wanted to shout to the heavens didn't notice when the door opened. When the last note faded away she felt light, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. I should tell him myself. Ariel thought and turned to go, but she need go no further.

Erik stood in the doorway, chest heaving from the sprint he'd taken the stairs at. Ariel stopped and they stared at each other like two statues in a garden never destined to meet. Now what?

Chapter 18: Love Changes Everything

Erik was the first to move, opening his mouth to say the exact words Ariel expected. So she put up her hand to stop him, Erik did.

" The best thing you can do right now is say nothing at all." Ariel said with a twinkle in her eyes. Erik saw it and filled his lungs, thinking of taking a different approach. " And don't sing." Ariel added and he frowned, letting the air leave in a rush. " Then how should I express how I feel mademoiselle as those are the only ways I know how?" Erik asked and drew nearer.

Ariel smiled. " Your a genius as i'm told. Think of something." The way she saw it, adding to the script had been her move the next was his. But she would not have her life turn into a cliché, not even for love.

Erik nodded and pretended to think seriously on the subject. He started to pace around the room, in the process around Ariel as well. She followed him closely with her eyes, waiting for the unspoken move he would make. He came up behind her and leaned forward so his lips nearly touched her ear.

" Do you trust me Ariel?" He asked. Ariel shivered when his warm breathe played over her throat. " Yes." She whispered. Ariel trusted this man with the theater, her life and most importantly her heart.

Without another word Erik kicked Ariel's feet out from under her. Ariel screamed when she felt the short drop to the hard wood floor beneath her.

Her heart jolted when instead of falling on her back Erik's arms wrapped about her waist and shoulders and stopped her descent. She looked up into his eyes which glittered with amusement. Instead of cursing him, Ariel relaxed in his arms and laughed.

" Good." He said. " It needs a little work, but good." And before Ariel could come up with some smart remark he kissed her. Ariel arched her back in his arms like a cat, curling her hands around the lapels of his shirt turning her head to help deepen the kiss. Erik's hand stroked her back without managing to drop her at the extreme incline he was holding her at. As always his kiss took her breathe away like a dementors kiss. It only had the opposite effect, filling her with joy instead of fear. She fell dangerously again but only into the love he gave freely.

It was a minute at least before either of them pulled away and by that time Ariel was useless. If Erik wasn't holding her, Ariel's knees would have buckled beneath her weight. He kissed her again, this time only for a second and helped her stand. She smiled, he had done what she asked. But Erik wasn't finished yet.

He looked deeply into her eyes and Ariel felt as if something important was coming. " I trust you as well Ariel, very much." He said and took her hands, bringing them to his mouth he kissed the palms. And then he brought her hands to the back of his head and rested them on the black silk that kept his mask in place.

Ariel gasped, and she saw Erik visibly swallow. " I trust you." He repeated, more firmly this time. Ariel wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight, Erik did the same. Encircling her waist in a grip that pulled her fiercely against him. Neither moved or breathed. Ariel's face resting on his shoulder and Erik's pressed in her hair.

Ariel reached a hand back up to the silk and pulled it loose. With her head still turned away from his face she pulled the mask off and Erik let out a breathe as it slipped from his face. She tossed it aside, not caring where it landed. Let it break for all I care! She thought. Ariel kissed the flesh of his shoulder that his shirt had exposed and Erik shivered, she continued kissing his skin. Up his throat, his undeformed cheek and below his ear. She stopped and opened her eyes.

" I love you." She whispered in his ear and gently pulled back enough to take in Erik's face.

Erik trusted her, without trust there was no hope for love. It had been his mistake last time, he wouldn't be a fool twice. She had never pried before, never stared at his mask in curiosity. But even with her forced ignorance Erik could not stand hiding part of himself from her, especially at this point and time. When she had whispered those words in his ear Erik was terrified instead of relieved. You may love me now mon amie, but we'll see. But he knew she was the one who could see past it. She had to. She looked at him and that's when Erik heard her angelic laughter. He cringed.

" Erik look at me." Ariel said gently, the laughter still lingering in her voice. Erik braced himself and opened his eyes onto an expression that suprised him.

When Ariel looked at him every face that hollywood had devised for Erik had flashed before her eyes. But after seeing his face she laughed at how wrong they were. Not far from the line of where his mask rested was a face that wouldn't have scared her had he been a man on the street she hardly knew. His eye was pulled down at the bottom at an awkward angle and the side of his nose was deformed in the same fashion but beside that the rest of his face looked as if he had suffered a severe burn and nothing more. The skin was raised slightly in places but it was anything but frightening. Where the mask had met Erik's forehead was a small bald spot amid his healthy black hair where she had been expecting a wig. But no, there was no monster behind the mask. Only a man. A man she loved.

He cringed when she laughed and Ariel realized he didn't know her reaction. Did he think she was laughing at him? Oh Erik! She told him to open his eyes.

Erik looked into her eyes and saw the love and happiness there. Tears ran down her cheeks and met at the corners of her mouth, she was smiling. That warm, loving smile that made him take a sharp intake of breathe. Then she touched his face, the side that was now bare to her. Erik closed his eyes and sighed.

" Is this what you've been hiding all this time Erik?" She asked and kissed his deformed cheek. " This face." The corner of his mouth. " This mark on your flesh." His eyelid, she kissed every part of his face until she came back to his lips and took his breathe away as he always did hers.

Erik pulled away and simply stared at her. She smiled. " I love you Erik, you already know that. But i'm not the only one who won't shun you for your face, only half of them are on that stage downstairs. These are different times Erik, those who would shun you are shunned as well. Only bastards would do what happened to you before." Ariel said with such a passion.

Erik leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on Ariel's forehead. She bowed her head to his lips and closed her eyes. He caressed her face and laughed. " I love you as well mon ange. My sweet seraph."

" I know." She said a bit smugly and nuzzled under his chin like a kitten begging for attention. Erik simply chuckled. " As always mon amie." He said.

Ghost came upon the two people he considered his masters and started to bark excitedly when he saw them holding each other so gently. Dogs, especially wolves have a sensitive understanding of humans emotions and Ghost was happy to see his masters so at ease. Ariel and Erik looked at the hybrid who sat at attention at their feet with his tail wagging and they laughed.

" Either he's happy for us or he has to go outside." Ariel suggested. Erik smirked. " Perhaps we should take him downstairs, he's been up here all morning. And we still have a musical to finish." Erik said and gave her a meaningful look. Ariel started jumping up and down like a child and headed for the door. " All right lets go." She said with Ghost on her heels, the hybrid just as eager to see the other actors.

Erik hung back and picked his mask up off the ground. He stared at it and touched his unmasked cheek. Ariel calmed enough to take in the sight. She took his hand and he looked at her. She nodded. " I understand, your not ready." She said. That was all she had to say, Erik took a breathe and slipped the mask back on. Ariel helped him tie it back in place. " But it stays off when we're alone. No more hiding." She said and Erik nodded.

Anthony saw Erik and Ariel come back onstage. Ariel noticeably leaning her head on his shoulder and their hands intwined. Looks familiar. The actor thought, turning to his wife who was content snuggling against him in the chair they were sharing. About time too.

" So, how about those new scenes?" Anthony asked, not hiding his smile. Erik didn't glare, he actually returned the gesture. " After a few revisions on Ariel's part." He said. Anthony understood that meant more break time for everyone during the revision process, so Anthony didn't think there was a need for him or Giselle to get up from their comfortable position. He dozed off with Giselle curled up against his chest.

Ariel and Erik sat at the piano bench and for the next two hours, sorting through songs and started talking about Ariel's take on all the scenes Erik had compiled of their relationship so far. As she talked about their first kiss and how she felt around him, Erik fell more in love with her. She had done all she could to make him happy and he hadn't noticed. When Meg's appearance was discussed Erik wasn't all that suprised.

" I knew about her dabbling with the gypsy woman, I just never thought she'd be brave enough to try it. Though i'm glad she did." Erik said and Ariel smiled.

She played a tune on the piano. " We should use this song." She said and found the cd easily. He listened to her sing it and felt guilty. When he tried to say something she waved it off. " It was to be expected. I wasn't going to forget about her relationship with you. But i'm over it, I got you in the end didn't I?" She asked and kissed him.

" It's not over yet." He promised, wrapping an arm around her waist. He and the cast still had some secrets. There was muffled giggles coming from behind one of the curtains. Erik sighed.

" Come out if you value your lives." He said sternly. Nothing happened at first and then the curtain moved aside revealing Veronica and Darius as they slunk out like jumpy thief's. Veronica looked very pleased with herself and Darius looked like he was ready to make for the nearest exit at a moments notice.

" I only have one thing to say." Erik said in a deadpan voice. That made both of them stiffen and the phantom tried not to ruin it. He stood and they quickly backed away. " You did your jobs very well."

Veronica and Darius stared at him densely and after a while understood his meaning. The primma donna was the first to react. " We did it, we did it, we did it..." She started chanting, shaking Darius out of his shock. The flamboyant man instantly caught Ariel up in a hug and kissed her cheek. "Oh finally, I can sleep at night now. Sweetie, my love life has been suffering because of you." He said only being halfway serious. Darius tried to show Erik the same affection but the phantom backed up instantly.

" I'm grateful Darius, but remember you already have someone in you life to consider." Erik said warningly. He had nothing against Darius or his preferences. Erik just didn't want Darius showering that kind of affection on him. Darius ignored him. "Jeremy will understand." Darius said and he planted a kiss on the phantom's unsuspecting lips.

Darius giggled like a madman afterward and after Erik recovered from the shock, the phantom found a piece of rigging rope. Darius had disappeared as fast as the character he played would have at the sight of the punjab lasso. While Ariel and Veronica were reduced to rolling on the stage floor with laughter. Anthony and Giselle just stared at the scene confused. They'd missed the first part of the scene and silently wondered if their cast mates had lost it.

Author's Note: Mah ha ha! Darius was going to get what he wanted sooner or later. Of course he may want to avoid Erik for a while for his own health. How did you like it. I'm very pleased with this myself and thought I stayed clear of cliche's...hopefully. When it comes to Erik's face I took it from the new movie, after the ' Point of No Return' scene his face just looked like a bad burn with some small deformations. No where near the grotesque make-up job from the musical. I like it better for a modern story.

I actually fit in a nod to the original Gaston Leroux book with Erik kissing Ariel's forehead, my other favorite musical Wicked with Veronica's shirt and Harry Potter with the dementor's kiss thing. I couldn't help slipping them in.

Well the unmasking has happened, and as we all know that signals the end. But I promise three more chapters at the most. Two for the musical and one more for the epilogue. Keep reading and Happy Valentines! I made this chapter especially to be done in time for the holidays.

Please review and tell me what you liked about this chapter.

Next Chapter: Darius avoids hanging from the rafters and the musical begins. And Malcolm returns. Yeah! And being way too giddy, but I don't care!