Hey guys. Waiting for more reviews I have started work on 23. But what sucks is I have caught some kind of flu and even though I couldn't concentrate in class I can always concentrate on my writing. No fears. So let's get started then.

Chapter 23: Picking up the Pieces

Lotte woke up the next morning feeling so incomplete. Pulling her robe around her she snuck up one of her father's other secret passageways and climbed floor after floor till she reached the roof. It was still dark out, but Lotte didn't care. There was no breeze and the sky was so clear. She went to the edge of the wall and looked out over the city.

The towns' people were starting to go about their day and had no idea she was watching. A few pigeons landed beside her and started cleaning their feathers. When the sun started to peek out from behind the buildings Lotte folded her hands together and began to pray.

"Dear Lord on high, please grant us the permission to rebuild the Opera House. Reunite my mother with Father and allow them to live happily for all time. Bless Pierre and me with happiness for the years to come, and love for always. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Amen."

She watched the sun rise higher in the sky and sighed. The world was so peaceful that morning and nothing she thought, nothing was going to ruin it for her; until she took another look down on the street. Riding in his carriage with Meg and her Mother was none other then her papa.

"Father won't be expecting that. And he won't be happy about it either. I have to get back downstairs." She ran for the door and headed down through the stairwells to the lair as fast as her legs would carry her. When she came from behind the mirror she hit the floor now too tired to move.

Erik had seen her and hurried over. "Lotte what's going on? Why are you all out of breath?"

She took a deep breath and managed to push herself up on her knees. "Mother and Meg are coming as promised, but…" she trailed off trying to catch her breath.

"Yes, what is it darling?" Erik asked calmly.

"But papa's with them and he didn't look happy."

Erik groaned. "Why did he have to come? There's no way I'm letting him run this place."

Lotte grasped his arm. "Father there's got to be a rational explanation for all this. Don't jump to conclusions," she pleaded.

Pierre soon came from his room rubbing sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on?"

Erik decided to scare him a bit. "Meg's coming back."

Pierre's face went blank and he growled slightly. "I really don't like her. She came close to killing me."

"Oh, she couldn't kill anything even if she wanted to. Meg Giry is a poor excuse for a girl if you ask me," Erik said smugly.

Lotte coughed as she finally regained her ability to breathe properly. She was more worried about her papa coming closer and closer to the opera house. He knew Erik still existed, and had been down right rude to him right in front of her. Yet, he knew that Erik had fled Paris. Maybe there was some hope after all if her Father didn't intervene. "So what are we to do?"

"The two of you are going to wait here. I am going upstairs to watch them and maybe find out what the Vicomte is doing here."

"Do you think that wise? What if they see you?" Lotte questioned him.

"I know this Opera House backwards and forwards. I can get just inches from them and they would have no idea I was there. Oh, how I love this job."

"But Father. It's not your job to spy on people. I think it better we wait, because I'm sure Mother will explain everything to us. I…I just don't want to see you get hurt again," she muttered under her breath.

"So that's what this is all about. I understand now. If it makes you feel better I'll wait with the both of you until your mother does arrive. Does that help?"

Lotte nodded. She reached over and touched the mask. "Nobody deserves to be hurt, because of something they can't control. I don't understand why people can't see that. Nowadays everything is just a big joke. When will things be right again?"

Neither of them had an answer to that. "Honestly Lotte," Erik finally said breaking the silence. "I don't think the world will ever be right again. There's just too much hate and not enough love. And no one person would be enough to change everyone's minds. I won't stop you from trying, but…" he sighed. "I just don't see much hope."

He stood and went over towards his room. Lotte wanted to call out to him, but drew back. He knew exactly what she meant when she had said when everyone saw things as a big joke. He had been that big joke years ago. She cursed under her breath for being so stupid to forget that. The slamming of the door drew her out of her thought and she began to cry.

xxxxx

Erik had never felt so worthless in his life. He paced the room for awhile trying to collect his thoughts. Lotte's words had been true. Everyone had seen him as a big joke and now he had just dampened Lotte's hopes of changing the way people saw things. He gazed at the door every time he paced towards it. His daughter had probably been in a good mood that morning and he had probably ruined it for her.

He sat in his chair in the corner and looked at the candle burning on the table. A single candle can produce light when all the others go out. Suddenly something clicked in his mind. Every person had a candle in their heart and when the light went out they became cruel and evil, when it was semi-lit they could go between good and evil, and when it was fully lit they were the kindest person in the world. Lotte had a full lit candle and he was a semi-lit, because his temper would throw him off a bit before he could settle down.

But he was curious about Lotte. Was she okay or had he been so downhearted on her idea that she burst into tears? He had to check on her. But if he came out after forcefully slamming the door she might be afraid that his temper would rise again. Oh, why did things have to be so difficult all the time? After a few more minutes to think he decided that he had calmed down enough to leave the room. He stood and went to the door.

xxxxx

As he opened the door he was surprised to see Christine ready to knock on it. She just missed hitting him in the nose. "I'd like an explanation," she said looking at where Lotte was softly crying, and Pierre was having a staring contest with Meg.

"I have a perfectly good explanation for this," he said. "But I need to make amends first if you don't mind?"

Christine said nothing as Erik strode past her and kneeled beside Lotte. He whispered something into her ear and suddenly the tears stopped and she looked up at him, a pleased look on her face. She jumped into his arms and hugged him. Meg and Pierre continued to stare at one another ready to fight with one another.

"All right the two of you knock it off," Christine said sternly pushing on Meg's shoulder breaking her concentration.

"Ha you blinked I win," Pierre cheered.

"But she pushed me," Meg complained.

"Stop it now the both of you."

Lotte and Erik were now looking over as they stood up. "Pierre, why must you cause so much trouble?" Lotte asked him.

"She started it."

Meg stuck out her tongue and Christine smacked her. Then she looked at Erik. "You still owe me an explanation for what happened about Lotte."

Erik took Christine aside and explained the whole situation. Christine soon understood and was pleased that he had told her. But then she felt sorry for him. "Erik from what I've heard it sounds like Lotte really respects you. She's done so much for you already. And the last thing she wants is to lose you. I know you understand that."

"I do. I however have no idea when I will be ready to let her go. These last8 years have been one adventure after another and she's opened my eyes to a new way of living. I went almost a full week without my mask Christine. I feared nothing as long as Lotte was there with me. I used to fear the world when I was left exposed to it. But Lotte gave me enough reassurance to keep fighting for my freedom. She's a very extraordinary girl."

"Well she learned from the best. But before I forget Raoul has agreed to rebuild the opera house. He was here earlier to do some estimates on the damage and was all for the idea, but there is one problem."

"And what would that be?" Erik asked starting to be a little upset.

"He wants to be the new manager!"

Oh this is going to get really good I can feel it. Sorry if I'm bashing on Raoul a bit, but I really didn't like him. What good is someone who falls asleep on duty or leaves you to go and get his sword? I'm sorry, but if I was protecting someone from a crazed man I would carry the sword with me at all times. Its common sense or I would have taken Christine with me. But if I was Christine I would of said screw him and have Erik carry me out over the threshold. Chuckles Only in my dreams.