Disclaimer: Oh all right. I'll let go of him. (For now.) Not mine.

Review Responses:

Ethalas Tuath'an: All is revealed in this chapter, and I promise you if the last one made you tear up you might want to remove your contacts for this one. Lily's secret is a painful one.

GerrysISUChick04: Yes Erik is very complicated, and I like to show his different sides. I'm glad you liked the last chapter. It is leading up to the discovery in this one.

PhantomPhluter: Well I have to admit I have a guy similar to Erik, so I'm writing from experience. I love the strong and sensitive type. Please don't go insane. (But then again you'd be right here beside me. So don't worry I'll move over and make room.) Thank you for saying this is incredibly wonderful.

potostfbeyeluvr: Your wish is my command but not for a few chapters yet.

Flowersarefalling: More and more Phantom fanatics are born every day. Welcome to the club. Don't worry I will continue.

Author's Note: I feel I must warn my readers that part of this chapter centers on something very horrible that happened to Lily. I promise it is not graphic, just suggestive. So I don't think it will offend anyone. But if it does I apologize.

A Star Is Recognized

Lily enjoyed the freedom her job as costume designer allowed her. She came and went as she pleased, working when she wished, which afforded her the opportunity to visit Erik often while he recovered. She spent time with no one other than Meg Giry. The other ballet rats avoided her. In a business where beauty was key it was not popular to sport a scar such as the one Lily had gained. She was not overly concerned with the fact that the others avoided her. She did not need their company.

It was a busy day at the opera house. They were about to start practice for the opera Hannibal, which she knew well. The owners were even in house that day. There was quite a lot of excitement floating around the backstage area, as it was rumored that the opera house had gained a new Patron. Lily noticed a rather large man standing with the owners speaking. She guessed he was the man the rumors were all about.

She cringed as the owners started over to her. "Ah Lily, please come meet Viscount Chenard. He is to be our new Patron." Monsieur Blanchet requested pulling her over to them. "May I present Mademoiselle Lily. She is the finest costume designer I have ever seen."

"Monsieur Blanchet, please you flatter too much." Lily complained bowing her head. Her face had taken on a ghostly pallor as she heard the Viscounts name. He could not recognize her.

The Viscount bent over her hand placing a kiss there. "Enchanted Mademoiselle." He gave her the most gracious smile he could. He didn't immediately let go of her hand, and Lily did not wish to make a scene. "Pardon, my stare. But you look so familiar. Have you ever been to Venice?"

Lily swallowed hard trying to control her reaction. "No sir. You must mistake me for another. Pardon me. I have work to do." She pulled her hand from his and made her way off of the stage. She ducked into a dark corner backstage taking deep breaths trying to control her frazzled emotions.

"That was too close, Lily." She whispered to herself.

She had tried to put the Viscounts visit out of her mind, hoping not to see him again. She made her way to the underground lake ringing the bell that Erik had tied to a pole letting him know she was there. He would soon come to her in the gondola he used to cross the lake. All disturbing thoughts left her mind as she saw the gondola come into view. She treasured her visits with him so much. She began to get into the gondola as he poled it to the lakes edge but he shook his head. "No. Tonight we go elsewhere."

"Where?" She asked.

"I wish for you to do something for me." He said taking her hand and leading her back through the tunnels.

"Erik. Why such mystery?" She asked as he refused to say anymore.

His answer was nothing more than a smile. She looked at him in confusion when he led her to the stage. He placed her in the middle of the stage, and then took up a place in the orchestra pit at the organ. "I wish to hear you sing, Lily." He said simply.

"But you have heard me sing, Erik. I sing for you everyday." She said staring at him in confusion.

"I want you to imagine it is opening night and you are the Prima Donna performing on this stage. I wish to see the exhilaration you spoke of upon your face." He explained.

Lily looked around the empty auditorium. "Erik I…" She began to object.

"Please. For me." He asked. "No one else will hear you. They are all snug in their dormitory. It is just we two."

"What shall I sing?" She asked giving in to his request.

"What do you wish to sing?" He asked.

She remembered the last performance she had ever gave. It was the opera they were performing then, Hannibal. "The aria from Hannibal." She answered and then waited for the music to start. Her voice lifted with the aria from the third act.

Think of me

Think of me fondly

When we've said goodbye

He would not tell her that, that was the first solo Christine ever performed on the stage. It would not sit well with Lily. But as he listened he forgot about the past and just concentrated upon her performance. She was hesitant at first but as the music formed in her mind the words began to flow. He could see the pure exhilaration on her face as she became lost in the performance. Her passion for the music and song were beautiful to behold.

At that moment Monsieur Blanchet was leaving the building with the Viscount. "Wait. What is that music?" The Viscount asked.

"It is the aria from Hannibal. Our Prima Donna, Angelique must be practicing late." Blanchet suggested.

The Viscount shook his head. "The voice sounds so familiar. Please can we not look in upon her?"

"Of course. Come." As they made their way into the owners box Blanchet was shocked to see the woman on the stage. "Lily."

The Viscount was standing in awe listening to the familiar voice. "Lily Giroux." He whispered. "I knew she seemed familiar."

"What do you speak of, Viscount?" Blanchet asked still in shock at the performance he was watching.

"Lily Giroux was the Prima Donna of La Fenice opera house in Venice five years ago. She was magnificent. She still is." He answered watching Lily. "Blanchet, who is playing the organ?" The Viscount asked noticing Erik.

Blanchet looked for the first time to the man playing the music. A shocked gasp left his lips as he saw the mask. "We must get down there." He said in a panic leaving the box.

Lily was on the last line when the two men came from backstage. She looked at them in shock realizing they had heard her. Then turned to Erik knowing he could not be found there. But he had already seen them and had disappeared. She let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Lily. What goes on here?" Blanchet asked staring into the empty orchestra pit.

"Nothing, Monsieur." She stammered.

"Who was in that pit a moment ago?" He demanded.

"Just a friend, Sir." She answered.

The Viscount interrupted them. "I never thought to see you again, Lily. Your performance has improved if anything in the last five years."

She began to shake her head. He remembered her. "You are mistaken, Sir. I do not perform." She insisted.

"Do you deny being Lily Giroux?" He asked.

She hadn't heard her surname in five years, and wished she never would again. She knew he would not accept a denial. "I don't use that name anymore, Viscount. I am just Lily now."

"Why did you not tell me of this, Lily?" Blanchet accused.

"There is nothing to tell. I do not perform. I am a costume designer." She insisted.

"After listening to your voice I believe you belong on the stage. Why would you ever give it up?" Blanchet asked in disbelief.

She turned away from them not knowing what to say.

"You have not sung since it happened." The Viscount suggested, in a knowing tone.

"What happened?" Blanchet asked.

"Her father was murdered. Some say she witnessed it. Others say she committed it." The Viscount explained when she remained quiet.

She swung around in anger. "I don't care what your fancy title is. If you ever suggest I killed my father again, you will regret it, Sir." She spat as the rage took her.

"I was not suggesting that, Lily. I understand that losing your fathering the way you did, that you would have a hard time remaining in the opera." The Viscount tried to calm her.

"I no longer wish to have this conversation, Sir." She said still seething in anger, as she walked past them and off the stage. She went to her own room and locked the door behind her. In her anger she wanted to destroy the room. She settled for throwing a vase of roses against the wall listening to the crash of broken glass.

"Don't blame the roses. It's my fault they heard you." A voice spoke up from the darkened corner. It did not surprise her that he was there.

"How can people be so cruel?" She asked walking over and kneeling to pick up one of the roses, from the pile of broken glass.

"You think his death was your fault." He said remembering the conversation they had had about her father. "Can you tell me why now?"

Of course Erik would have heard what the Viscount said. She didn't want to tell him about it. But she knew he would never give up until he knew. "I was such a silly young girl." She started. "La Fenice opera house in Venice. It was so beautiful. I had just gained the lead a few months before. My father was so proud. We were performing Hannibal. I was staring opposite a promising young actor. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. And against my father's wishes I became infatuated with him. I was stupid not to have seen what he was truly like. I stupidly went so far as to tell him I loved him. I trusted him not to hurt me. I was wrong."

She paused remembering the most painful night of her life. She made her way to the bed sitting, as her legs began to shake. "He took advantage." She whispered. "He took everything from me. My innocence, my faith in the human race, and worst of all he took my father." She looked up at him and he could see the tears shining in her eyes, along with the worst pain he could imagine.

Erik flinched as she admitted the pain she had suffered. He knew men could be despicable, but the thought of her having to face such a fate hurt him more than he could imagine. He wished he could tell her that not all of the human race was that cruel, but he had, had very few dealings with people that did not leave him hurt himself. So he waited silently for her to continue her story.

"When my father found me in my dressing room, he didn't have to ask what happened. He knew. He left without saying anything. Later they came and told me that his body had been found in an alley a few blocks away. I still wonder to this day whether he was killed by the actor, or just in a chance robbery. I feel I know, but have no proof." Her voice was bitter with the frustration of not truly knowing. "I left Venice, and left behind who I had been. Now I see I can never truly escape my past."

He walked over to her and kneeled in front of her taking one of her hands in his. "Lily. I'm sorry. I had no idea it was that horrible. I wish I could remove the pain in your soul. I would take it upon myself if I could."

"No Erik. I would not wish this pain on you. You have had enough pain of your own. My pain is my own. It will remain. And I will go on as I have." She said reaching out and stroking his face. "If only things were different." She said wistfully.

"How would you have things to be, Lily?" He asked seeing the glassy look in her eyes as she imagined.

"If only I had not been that naïve young girl, my father would be alive today, and I wouldn't feel such emptiness inside." She wished aloud, and then added silently to herself. 'And if only you could love me, my life would be perfect.'

"Lily you must stop blaming yourself for his death. He did what any father who had been in his place should do. He did what I would have done. Only that young actor would be the one found dead in an alley." Erik vowed feeling immense anger at the unknown man.

"Don't talk that way, Erik. I don't want you to ever kill because of me." She said taking his hands in her own.

"He deserves worse than death, Lily." Erik growled.

"Promise me, Erik. Killing takes something from a person's soul. I don't want you to lose your beautiful soul. Promise me, Erik." She demanded.

"Lily. You know I have taken life before." Erik said not wanting any secrets between them.

"Yes I know, Erik. And I can see in your eyes already what it has cost you. But you must not become accustomed to it. It would destroy you in the end. Please promise me." She pleaded with him.

"I can't promise you that, Lily. If someone tries to harm you I will not stand back and let them. What I will promise is that I will not go looking for someone to kill." He tried to compromise. He could see that she would hold him to it to. He thought of something then that worried him. "Lily. You know that I would never do anything to hurt you don't you?"

She looked at him in surprise. She did not trust men. She hadn't in years, but somehow with Erik it had been different. She was positive he would rather die than hurt her. "Yes Erik. I know that. You are different from the other men I have known. I know you would never hurt me like that. I trust you, Erik." She whispered laying her head on his shoulder accepting the comfort he was offering her.


Author's Note: Yes they are still blind when it comes to their love for each other. But I promise their eyes will be open soon. Just as a side note La Fenice opera house is a real place. It's name means The Phoenix. It is an opera house originally opened in the 18th century in Venice. In the late 1900's it was gutted by a fire, but was reopened after a complete remodel 7 years later. Just a cool trivia fact.