a/n: thank you all:

Lilhikki : Susan Kay was so great:) Thanks for the review and I'm always open to an help you want to give!

Bastet Starwind: lol, wow, 5 reviews in one:D I'm so glad you like my work:)

Moonjava: Thank you!

inkie pinkie: lol, yeah, sickness stinks... oh well, it works out in this story!

wolfegurl006 : you know it. YOUR FAULT! you gave me the idea...

Now to the chapter:


Passing the time is difficult, but the main portion of my time is devoted to writing down my music. My poor angel has not yet woken up, and it is well past noon. I look over one more time, watching the rise and fall of his chest as he takes shallow and slightly labored breaths.

Just as I pick up page five there is a slight moan.

I spin around again to see Raoul's face, twisted in discomfort.

I rush to his side. Placing the back of my hand against his forehead I feel his temperature has dropped, but nothing drastic.

"Raoul, I'm here," I whisper, running my fingers through his hair. My angel's features relax, but they do not brighten.

Wearily he opens one eye. And then the other.

"Why are you still here?" he asks.

Taken aback my hand rests still for a moment, "Why wouldn't I be here?"

He coughs hard in response. Finally gaining control again he adds, "Have you even left my side?"

I sigh, seeing where this is going, "Only to get Madame."

"Erik," he scolds.

"I'm worried, Raoul. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you! You're ill and it's my fault!" I insist.

"I'm fine," he pushes to sit up.

"Monsieur," Madame Giry appears at my side, "You are in no condition to be sitting up. Please, lay back down, if for no one else do it for yourself."

"… for me," I plead.

He nods. I can see the sweat forming on his face as he lowers himself back to the bed. My poor angel!

I move swiftly to my "cooler", taking out the fresh water, pouring a glass, and then returning to his side. Supporting Raoul's head, I tip the glass to allow him to sip. He does so, exhausting himself through simply swallowing.

Wiping water from his upper lip, I lean forward and place a light kiss on his cheek. His whole face seems so hollow.

I whisper softly to him, "Get some rest, Raoul."

Without an argument he lets his eyelids close and his breath visibly evens.

I turn to Madame Giry, "Well that went well!"

"Erik," she places a hand gently on my arm.

"No!" I demand, shaking loose from her grip.

"Please," she tries again, "he is ill, I see that, but he is getting better!"

"Oh yes," I yell, "and that is why he can not sit up and he can barely drink. All because he is getting better."

RAOUL POV

I close my eyes, and slow my breathing, but I refuse to let myself fall asleep so fast.

An argument has started, I just wish I were not the reason it has.

"Erik," Madame Giry's voice, and it sounds close. A light hand on my shoulder confirms this, for it is far too small to be Erik's hand, "healing takes time. He will not get better after a day, but he will get better, I promise. You see he has already started."

When Erik speaks again it is a choked sob, "I'm sorry… I just want him to get better! I never should have let him get sick in the first place." His hand takes my own.

I'm here, my angel!

I squeeze his hand and he jumps slightly, "Raoul?"

I nod, "Yes, Erik, I'm awake."

"Oh, Raoul, I'm so sorry," his weight presses into my chest, his body sprawled. He manages to choke out once more, "I'm sorry."

I open my eyes to see his sad form lying across my chest, tears streaming down his cheeks, soaking the sheets below.

"Hush," I whisper, "do not weep for me."

I watch as Madame Giry leaves the room. I take this chance to gently remove Erik's mask, both hands instantly moving to his face and wiping away the tears.

"Stop worrying yourself with my health, before you get sick." I laugh lightly, "Then we'd both be sunk."

He smiles and nods, dropping his head, chuckling, then regaining his composure.

When he lifts his head he's the Erik I knew, the Erik I love, the Angel of Music, the Phantom of the Opera. My Erik, my angel, my phantom.

I feel my eyelids force themselves closed before finally drifting into a peaceful sleep.

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a/n: yeah, i had a hard time naming this chapter, it has really only to do with that one little paragraph two from the bottom here. PLEASE REVIEW!