Disclaimer: If Christine (Stupid girl) doesn't want him I certainly won't throw him back. Anyway not mine.

Review Responses:

Nicole: Thanks I definitely will.

starlightcrybaby: Thank you. They did carry a lot of meaning. Don't worry I spend all my free time writing. It's my passion. And I will never abandon a story until it's done.

Ethalas Tuath'an: I'm glad you like Lily. I try to make my characters more of the type that is strong, and more understanding of the wiles of the world. They tend to interact on a better level with others. I don't like characters that don't use the brains that god gave them. I don't want to make Erik completely soft, but he had to learn from his mistakes with Christine.

GerrysISUchick04: Yes Erik has changed. The way he was portrayed in the original story doesn't show us a lot of his own personality (other than his obsession for Christine), and I wanted to I guess you'd say open up what we didn't get to see. You're the second person to tell me they like the last couple of sentences. Thank you.

bahamakitty: Thank you for the wonderful email. It made my day.

Dangerous Thoughts

Lily kept watch as Erik slept. She knew what he was. She knew what was said to be under his mask. And even though she could imagine what he looked like it didn't make any difference to her. She had always known that a person's true beauty had nothing to do with their appearance. Her father had made sure she understood that at a young age. He had been a good man who wanted more for his daughter than the life of a Prima Donna. He wanted her to base her opinions of people on what was in their heart and soul. She had only once ever based her feelings on someone's looks and that had cost her more than anyone could imagine. It would not happen again.

No matter what anyone else might say she had seen what was in Erik's soul. He was not evil. He knew compassion for others even though most would never show it to him. "Your not alone, Erik." She whispered reaching out and smoothing his hair behind his ear. She began to remember the kiss she had given him earlier. Her face turned a bright shade of red remembering the unmistakable desire she felt for him. "I shouldn't feel desire." She whispered again. How could she feel that way? It was something she had never expected. She had never even dreamed of feeling that way for a man. But for this man she felt both passion and heartbreaking yearning.

"How can someone like me feel love?" She asked the air surrounding her. "But then with you how can I not?" The confusing thoughts plagued her for many hours, as she watched over him.

As Erik awoke he felt the undeniable yearning to keep his eyes closed and remain in peaceful slumber, but suddenly a sharp stab of pain in his shoulder reminded him of the events of the night before. Everything came back to him in a rush, and he remembered that he had almost lost Lily the night before. If his reflexes had been even a moment off that bullet would have surely killed her. That was a circumstance he could not have accepted.

He remembered how she had so bravely made her way to his lair, and cared for him the night before. He felt pride that she would do so much for him. She was so strong, yet so delicate, and innocent.

As his senses started to return he could feel something resting upon his chest. He slowly opened his eyes to a sight that surprised him. Lily sat on the edge of the bed with one hand resting on his chest. Her head was propped up by her other arm which was resting upon her knees. She was asleep. Sleeping sitting up was not something he had ever imagined possible. He knew the night had passed by the positions of the shadows reflecting through the catacombs. She had sat with him all night. He softly reached out enfolding her hand in his own. "Lily." He said softly.

She startled at his word. "Yes Erik. What's wrong? What do you need?" She said looking all around in confusion.

"Nothing is wrong." He smiled at her obvious concern. "You fell asleep, sitting up."

"I did." A frown crossed her face. "I didn't want to do that, in case you needed me." She said stifling a yawn.

"You need sleep." He squeezed her hand in a reassuring way. "I am all right. You lay down and get some sleep." He didn't want her to leave, but knew she would feel more comfortable in her own bed. He expected her to leave him then, but instead she looked down to his bed biting her lip.

"Do you mind?" She asked nodding at the bed beside him.

He was shocked. Did she trust him enough to stay there with him? "No, of course not." He said sliding over some allowing her room to lie comfortably.

But she did trust him. She couldn't dream of him ever hurting her. "Thank you, Erik." She whispered lying beside him and reaching out one hand to rest on his chest as she had while he slept.

"I won't stop breathing while you sleep." He tried to assure her. "The bullet was far from my heart."

"Just in case." She said smiling and closing her eyes. She added a thought in her mind that she did not say to him. 'The bullet may have been far from your heart, but watching it strike you felt as if it pierced mine.' But she could not tell him that. She had come to the decision that she indeed did love him, but he had already found the one great love of his life. And she would never be able to replace Christine. He himself had said she was not Christine. How could she compete with the woman he thought of as perfect? She could not, and she would never settle for being second best to his true love. So she would love him in secret, hoping someday that his broken heart would be able to mend.

"Lily. You sang for me." He said remembering.

"And you for me." She countered, as her eyelids fluttered open.

"But you said you couldn't." He wondered.

"Things change. For you I can." She tried to explain.

"But for no one else?" He asked.

"I sing for you alone, Erik." She admitted.

"Why me?"

"Your very important to me, Erik." She wanted so bad to tell him that he meant more to her than anyone else in the world, but held back.

"You said that you had lost the one person in the world that you sung for. Can you tell me about it?" He asked wanting to understand her better.

She didn't know if it was the feelings she felt for him, or maybe because she was so tired, but she didn't immediately clam up at his question as she always had before. She thought back to her past pushing through the painful memories and remembering the good ones. "He was the kindest man who ever lived. I loved him without any reserve." She started as a small smile played across her lips.

He wondered then if she had lost a lover and felt a pang of jealousy for any man she called love, but kept the feelings to himself.

"It was just the two of us for so long. Us against the world. He was never demanding, and he had the truest heart. He was a good person. But he is gone now. He was killed." She admitted as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes.

"You seem so young to have lost the love of your life already." He said covering her hand with his own.

"The love of my life." She said in confusion. Then realized what he implied. "I loved him without reserve yes. But that was because he was my father."

"Your father. I'm sorry the way you spoke I assumed…" He started but she just shook her head.

"I understand. He raised me, Erik. He taught me to sing. He taught me to be a good person. And I lost him at the worst time in my life. I have never been able to get over it." The tears were truly flowing with those words. "Until last night, I no longer wished to sing. I still love the opera, but I feel like I could never be a part of it again. I feel like I'm on the outside looking in at the most beautiful spectacle possible." She said going on when he did not push her.

"Do you think he would want you to give up on your passion, because of him?" Erik asked knowing if her father was the kind of man she claimed he would not.

"No, but after what happened I don't deserve to be happy. So his wishes mean nothing anymore." She said bitterness creeping into her voice.

"Everyone deserves to be happy if possible, Lily. What would make you think you don't deserve happiness?" He couldn't imagine anything she could have done to bring on such self-loathing.

"He's dead because of me, Erik." She whispered and then broke into sobs. She couldn't say anymore, and she was ashamed that she had broken down in front of him.

He didn't know what to say to her admission, but he did know what to do. He reached out pulling her into his arms. She didn't pull away this time. She laid her head on his uninjured shoulder letting the tears fall. Soon she fell asleep like that, lying on his shoulder with his good arm wrapped around her. "My precious angel, how could you ever be responsible?" He whispered kissing her brow.


Author's Note: I know short chapter, but it's so touching isn't it? At least I hope it is.