A/N: In this chapter, time proceeds normally for the first part, and then you will notice that it speeds up significantly toward the end, covering many years in just a few paragraphs. That means of course that Bella is growing up and Erik is getting older. Also, the lyrics you see here are my own so no disclaimers necessary.

Ch. 44 – A New Song

Since Erik had retired from architecture, along with the raising of his children, he had dedicated himself once more to his music. When he and Bella were not on one of their many outings, he spent hours in the conservatory playing and furiously scribbling down notes. Even in his days below the opera house, he had never felt such urgency in his composing. The notes crowded his mind now, screaming to be released. He only felt relief once they were safely written down.

Even when he was working, Bella, now five, preferred to remain with him. She seldom wanted to play with other children or be entertained by her nanny, who although well paid often complained that she had nothing to do since the child was rarely out of her father's sight. Bella would bring her favorite stuffed bunny into the conservatory and sit listening quietly or coloring for hours at a time, never seeming to tire of her father's distracted company. Often, Erik would finish a piece of music late in the night, and upon breaking from the trance-like state he fell into when composing, he would find little Bella snuggled fast asleep on a cushion at his feet, clutching her ragged bunny in her tiny hands.

One particular morning after breakfast, Bella had accompanied him into the conservatory dragging her bunny as usual. He had settled her comfortably in the corner with her story books and dolls and sat down to work at the piano. It was a beautiful spring day, and early morning sunlight poured through the windows, bathing the room in warm golden light. He sat down at the piano bench distractedly, watching the morning sun dancing in Bella's mahogany curls and playing across her face. After a moment, he felt the familiar dawning of inspiration.

Something about her appearance that day brought a melody to his mind, and he began to work it out on the keys, first with single notes, then adding the bass hand, and finally the chords. As he worked, he could hear Bella humming softly along with the music. He smiled, glad that she seemed pleased by the piece for which she had been the inspiration. As he began to become more certain of the accompaniment, he closed his eyes and the words seemed to come to him as if he had always known them. Softly, he began to sing:

Child of blameless heaven

Born of darkness and of light

In you all the sin and sorrow of the past have been made right

Angel of the daylight

Soaring here on fallen earth

In you, even wretched demons somehow find rebirth

Strength of the mountains

In your tiny gentle hand

Holding tight the tethers binding God to mortal man

Sacrificing all of heaven-

Immortality, peace, and God's perfection

Down to chaos you have flown

To save this man from sin's infection

Fly now Angel

You are free

Your sacrifice lives on in me

Soar to heaven

Return to light

All in you has been made right

Erik opened his eyes, surprised at how easily the song had come. He started from the beginning wanting to be sure he had it perfected before writing it down. He did not sing this time, yet vaguely it seemed as if he could hear the words perfectly as he played. It was not his voice, however, it was a sweet, golden voice from somewhere beyond him, a voice both gentle and pure. As he played, he attempted to place the sound. It was familiar and yet unlike anything he had ever heard. At first he thought it only in his mind, and then he realized it was coming from inside the room. Continuing to play, his eyes fell on little Bella playing with her dolls in the corner. Her mouth was open, and she was singing along with the piano. In stunned silence, Erik began to play more quietly, watching her and listening in fascination.

Perhaps because of the difficulty of her birth, he had always been especially careful in his treatment of Bella, never wanting to push her to excel as he had with his boys. Now, however, he was ashamed that he had never noticed her exquisite talent. As he continued to listen, he realized at once why Bella's singing was so familiar to him even though he had never heard it before. Her voice was a perfect blend of Christine's and his own – pure and sweet, rich and powerful.

Tears streamed down his cheeks at this realization and he could no longer see to play. At the abrupt end to the music, Bella turned to look at him quizzically. Seeing his tears, she came at once to comfort him as she always did. Erik held her to him tightly and cried into her soft curls. Fearfully, she whispered, "What is wrong, Papa? Does it make you sad when I sing?" Her eyes were wide and concerned, and her lower lip trembled. "I won't sing any more if it makes you sad, Papa."

At this, Erik's heart nearly broke in two. Sweeping her up into his arms he swung her around and then held her up above him so that she could see his face. "No, Bella my angel, I never want you to stop singing. I'm only sorry that I have never asked you to sing for me before now. You have a voice that is a gift, much like your mother's and it would be a sin not to share it." He set her down before him and bent to touch her cheek. "Do you understand?" Bella looked up at him with adoration, pleased at his praise and glad that her Papa was happy again. She nodded solemnly, "Yes, Papa."

Erik spent part of each day that followed that sunlit morning in the conservatory giving Bella her singing lessons. He kept the lessons brief at first, not wanting to push her too hard as he had often done with Christine, but Bella always pleaded for more. She never tired of singing or of the precious time with her Papa. Even though they had always shared a special relationship, through music, they had become even closer.

With every lesson through the years her technique improved and her voice began to blossom, gradually gaining strength and control, then finally reaching and surpassing the enchanted sound of her mother's. And throughout those years after every lesson, Erik would furiously compose late into the night. He knew the reason for his urgency now. He knew the purpose of his inspiration. He only hoped he had time to finish it.

Every night when he stopped his work, he would sink down into his chair by the fire, exhausted by the day's efforts and await his beloved Christine. Sometimes in those hazy moments just between awake and asleep, she would come. He would see her perched lightly on the arm of his chair, or kneeling beside him resting her head against his knee. She had been coming more frequently in the last months, now nearly every night. She would come and they would talk over the events of the day, their boys, their new grandchildren, and always his work with Bella. At last when he was too weary to talk anymore, Christine would kiss him gently on the forehead and whisper, "Soon, my Angel. Soon you will be able to rest and we will be together once more." Then she would disappear and he would sleep at last.

A/N: Don't worry, Erik won't truly "rest" for many more chapters.