Authors note: Reverant is the french word for ghost.

Erik almost ran a woman over as he ran up the stairs with Sara in his arms. He could feel the warmth of her blood spreading across his shirt and down his arm. He struggled to get the door open and kicked it shut, laying Sara down on the bed gently. He pulled off his cloak and jacket as he ran to get some towels and anything else that he could use to stop her bleeding.

He ripped open her dress, watching for a few helpless seconds as blood poured from her wound. He pressed a towel to her shoulder, praying that he would be able to stop the bleeding. Sara's breathing was becoming shallower by the minute as her precious blood leaked out onto the mattress.

He watched as her chest stopped moving and he picked her up, shaking her roughly. "Sara!" He said, snapping her small frame.

Nothing on her body moved, on its own, her head fell limply back and he crushed her body against his, tears pouring down his cheeks. He had already lost everything, but if he lost Sara he knew that he wouldn't be able to go on with his life.

"Stay with me." He sobbed into her hair. "Stay with me Sara, I can't lose you too."

He lay her back down, hoping to see some kind of rise in her chest, indicating that she was breathing again. When none came he punched her chest in frustration and laid his head down and sobbed against the spot he had punched. He showered the spot with kisses and apologies and almost fell off the bed when her chest moved again. He stared at it in disbelief, moving quickly to cover the hole in her shoulder as more blood came out.

Once the bleeding stopped and he felt that she could be left alone for a few minutes, he left the room and went to buy some supplies. He returned and removed the bullet, cleaned and dressed the wound.

Erik sat down on the floor beside the bed and stared at the rising and falling of Sara's chest. He was so worried that if he looked away she might stop breathing. He fought a losing battle against exhaustion, and his eyelids finally drooped closed.

Sara woke up with a start, the pain her shoulder had gone from a burning fire to a dull throb. She tried to push herself into a sitting position, but pain ripped through her body, making her cry out. Her cry of pain made Erik's eyes snap open. Ignoring the stiffness in his back and neck, he went to her side.

"Don't move, just stay where you are." He told her, grabbing a glass of water.

Sara took small sips and settled herself back against the pillows. She reached her hand out wanting the comfort of his touch. Erik grabbed her hand and kissed the palm several times. He then pressed it to his left cheek and pressed his hand against it.

"I thought I lost you." He whispered.

"Not yet." She told him with a small smile. "I feel so cold, hold me Erik."

Erik lifted the blanket and slid into the bed next to her. He helped her turn onto her side and pulled her small frame to his body. He sang softly in her ear and ran his hand through her hair. It wasn't long before the two of them were asleep, safe and comforted by each others presence.

When Sara's arm was healed enough so that she could move around with little pain, she and Erik left the hotel to find a home to live in.

"Stop touching your face." Sara told him impatiently.

Erik let his hand drop away from his face. How he had let her convince him to put the make up on his face, he would never know. He was paranoid that the make up would do nothing to hide how scarred he was, and that someone would recognize him.

They turned up the pathway to a large mansion, well with in the range of the substantial funds that Erik had accumulated over the years. They met the real estate agent at the door. The man eyed Erik suspiciously but would not say anything for fear of losing a substantial sale.

"Monsieur and Madame Revenant, welcome, come in, come in." The man said, ushering them in.

Sara was shocked to be referred to as Erik's wife the whole time they were being shown around. She and Erik had never discussed what they would say to realtors. After several minutes of listening to the two men discuss the house, they were left alone.

"You couldn't think of anything better then Revenant?" She teased. "Why not just call us the Phantoms?"

Erik gave Sara a dirty look; she didn't have to have sight to be able to see the look. "Do you find this house suitable?" He asked her.

"Erik, we could have walked around the same three rooms and I wouldn't have known the difference." Sara told him sarcastically.

"Right, sorry." He said sheepishly. "It's already furnished, so we don't have to worry about that."

"I'm sure the house is fine." She said, patting his arm gently.

"So do we get it then?"

Sara smiled. "Gee I don't know. I'm really not sure I want to live here with you. Could you sleep in the shed?"

"There is no shed." Erik said.

"At least you know that I was teasing you."

Erik chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I'll go sign the papers."

"Okay, M. Revenant." Sara teased as he kissed the side of her head and walked away.