Author: IflyNAVY

E-mail: Nope I still don't own POTO, but I'm working on it!

Author's Note: I am assuming a few things in this chapter. I assume that Erik has more than just an organ and a bed down there, so I have added a few homey touches!  Once you past the swan bed there's a hallway to your left. At the end of it is a bathroom. The room to the right of the hall is a second bedroom and the room to the left is the kitchen, which then leads into the library and organ area again.

Chapter 2

February 1, 1875

Erik's Lair

As Erik stepped out of his boat he thought of Madame Girry. She had been so helpful to him over these past four years. He'd learned so many things from her, like how to move on, how to realize he was obsessed with Christine and not in love, and most importantly how to let someone into his heart again. He had just come back from collecting his "salary" when as he stepped into the lake, his boot hit something. When he looked down he realized that a young woman was lying in the lake. The water reach up to her neck, and her head seemed to be the only thing on dry land. He also glanced over and saw what he presumed to be her bag lying in a heap near her face.

As Erik pick up the woman and began walking back to his swan bed to lay her down he was confused. Who was she? What in god's name was she wearing? And why was she in his lair?

After lying her down in the velvet sheets and pulling up a chair alongside the bed, he came to a realization. She was soaked to the bone and shivering in her unconsciousness, he would have to undress her. As he unbuttoned her white, wet, and now see through oxford shirt, he tried to detach him self from his feelings. She's just some girl, nothing more! Yet she was very pretty, and after taking off her shirt he realized she must have been older than Christine. Her body had more curves and her chest was larger. Then after taking off her skirt and the shorts that were underneath he covered her with the covers, and went to grab a good book and let her clothes hang to dry.

As Elizabeth slowly gained consciousness, she raked her brain to try and remember what had happened to her. She remembered being raped and then crawling around the alley, and then falling. Where was she now? Maybe she was home or in the hospital, she felt like she was lying in a bed. As she laid her hands down on the sheets she suddenly realized she was in neither of those places. The sheets were velvet, something she knew neither her home nor the hospital possessed.

When she opened her eyes, she slowly began to adjust to the light. What she saw didn't frighten her; she'd seen this place before. It was Erik's lair. What frightened her was how she got here and where Erik was now.

She then turned to her right and saw who she'd been looking for; Erik was sitting next to the bed reading a book.

"Hello Mademoiselle. Glad to see you've finally woken up. My name is Erik and this is my home. May I ask who you are and how you ended up here? Erik asked looking up from his book into chocolate brown eyes that didn't seem frightened at all

"Hello, my name is Elizabeth Langlois" Liz said realizing that the site of Erik didn't frighten her, yet in some ways she felt comfort.

"Well with a name like Langlois you must be French!" Erik said smiling and trying his hardest to strike up a conversation.

Liz smiled, "Yes I am, and to ask your second question I'm really not sure. The last thing I remember is that I was raped in an alley and then left lying there, as I began to crawl around…. I don't know the ground seemed to give way and I was falling. Now I'm here."

"Well Mademoiselle, I suppose you can stay here for now until we figure things out." Erik said trying to show some compassion

"Thank you Erik, and please call me Elizabeth or Liz. Can you answer one more thing, what year is it?" Liz said nervous that the answer wouldn't be what she wanted to hear.

"Elizabeth the year is 1875 and we are in Paris France." Erik said getting up from his chair.

"Wait! Erik there is something I have to tell you. When I was in the alley and was raped….well the year was 2005 and I was in California." Liz practically whispered, the only person that could give here refugee and a place to stay now probably thought she was nuts.

"Elizabeth are you trying to tell me that before you 'landed' here you were 130 years in the future and were an ocean away from here?" Erik said trying to get a grasp on the situation.

"Look I know it sounds crazy! But you have to believe me, why would I lie to you?" Liz said quickly sitting up and pulling the covers around herself that she now realized was practically nude.

"I do believe you Elizabeth, I have no reason not to and your brown eyes don't look like you could lie." Erik said lifting Liz's face and looking deeply into her eyes.

Before Erik started to walk away he spoke. "I am going to make dinner and you can go shower and clean up if you like."

Elizabeth nervously look down at her body clad in nothing but a bra and panties. "Couple of question before you go. One- why am I undressed, two- what can I put on, and three- where is the bathroom?"

Erik walked over to the wardrobe to the left of the swan bed. As he handed her one of his shirts he spoke. "You can wear this shirt and I'm pretty sure your shorts are dry. You are undressed because when I found you, your whole body was underwater. I had to undress you to try and warm you. And the to get to the bathroom continue along the lake turn into the first left and there is a hallway. The door at the end is the bathroom, I hung you clothes in there. The door to the right is your bedroom and to the left is the kitchen I will be there when you are finished."

"Thanks" Elizabeth smiled at him as she padded barefoot to the bathroom.

After showering and changing into her shorts a very oversized see-through shirt of Erik's, she followed the smell of food into the kitchen. Erik was standing at the stove stirring a pot, wearing pants, a shirt, a vest and his cape and mask.

Elizabeth let him know she was there "Why Erik do I suddenly feel underdressed?" She said as she put her hands on her hips.

"That's a good look for you and I can take some of this off if you'd like, while I do that could you stir the pot for me?" Erik said smiling at Elizabeth, she certainly was beautiful.

"Sure no problem" Liz answered taking the spoon from Erik and stirring the heavenly smelling soup.

When she turned around she saw Erik, now standing just wearing his pants, open shirt and mask. He was gorgeous, she suddenly realized.

As he reached up onto the shelf to grab bowls, he brushed against Liz. She would have sworn there was a burn hole in her shirt; his sensual touch even just a brush burned. He then set the bowls next to Liz so she could fill them. As she carried them to the table he gently rested his hand in the small of her back guiding her along. He was surprised at his own actions yet they felt so right.

Once dinner had ended Erik walked into the library as he left Liz to finish washing up the dishes. When she walked into the warm and cozy library it suddenly hit her what she had to do.

"Erik, how long has it been?" Liz asked softly as she sat next to him on the couch.

"How long since what?" Erik asked looking up from his book

"How long has it been since you let Christine go?" Liz said quietly not wanting to upset him.

Erik sat there for a moment staring off into space until he finally answered, "It's been four years, and how did you know?"

Liz could see the pain in his eyes as she answered "Well they made a movie last year about what happened."

Erik seemed stunned "Then you know…"

Liz finished his sentence "What's under your mask? Yes"

At that Liz reached up and gently raised his head so she could look into his eyes. With a gentle slow motion she reached across his face and lifted the white mask to reveal the scars underneath. Erik covered his face with his hand but Liz moved his hand and leaned close to him. She placed small and soft kisses on the rough skin.

"I think it's beautiful." She simply told Erik

As tears fell down his faced, he was astounded "You don't think I look like a monster?" He asked scared of the answer.

"No Erik, everyone has imperfects and yours is no different than anyone else's. You are still beautiful in my eyes." Liz said telling him the words he longed to hear.

As she walked out of the room to go to bed, he followed her. Once she was settled in bed he walked in.

"Elizabeth is there anything you want to talk about, do you want to talk about what happened?" He asked still stunned from her compassion towards him earlier.

Liz thought, she knew that if she talked about what happened to her it would be easier to deal. But Erik had been through so much she didn't want to belittle his experiences either. "Are you sure? I mean it might be a heavy weight to bear."

Erik locked eyes with her "And one that I am ready and willing to carry."

"Well six months ago my parents died in a horrible accident. I was sent to live with a family friend, Ryan because I have no relatives. He never treated me like a human. For six months I endured his beatings and touches and horrible manual labor. For six moths I never had dinner and sleep on a concert slab floor. Then tonight as I was walking home I ducked into an alley because I thought someone was following me. When I stepped back a man grabbed me and put a knife to my neck. He then proceeded to rape me and when he walked away he said 'hush little baby don't say a word Pappas gonna buy you a diamond ring and if the diamond ring don't shine….' Right then and there I knew it was Ryan. That was the rhyme he left with me every night after he was done with me. When I was crawling around I was looking for something to end my life…. I had nothing left to live for. As Liz finished tears slid down her face.

"Elizabeth I am so sorry. No man should ever do anything like that to a woman. Since you know my story I won't retell it but over the past four years since Christine left I have grown so much. I've learned to forgive and realize I never really loved her and was just obsessed. I've also learned how to love again." With that Erik stopped because he could tell both he and Elizabeth needed their rest.

"Good night my guardian angel, sweet dreams." Elizabeth whispered into Erik's ear.

"Good night to you too." Erik said smiling was it just him or did he and Elizabeth have a special bond?

Hope you enjoyed! Please Review!

My next update might not be till Wednesday or Thursday because I'm leaving on vacation Sunday morning and wont be back till Wens. Of course my dad says I need to "relax" and can't bring my laptop. See you all then!

Love Always,

IflyNAVY