A/N: I'm glad to see you guys liked the last chapter. It touched on some stuff that I felt needed to be touched on. I hope you guys like this one. As always, read and review. Enjoy!

Chapter 30 – How to Mend a Broken Heart

The lair was full of light and music. The music would shake the walls if it could. The organ had never felt such passion behind the playing.

Angelina was taking the opportunity to brush up on her skills. Erik was still sleeping in the next room. His fever finally broke and she was more at ease now and not constantly by his side.

It had been three more days since he had woke. She briefly asked Madam Giry and Meg how to break a fever without giving anything away. The remedies they had given her worked. Erik was nearly at 100 percent again and Angelina could not have been happier.

The organ felt her happiness. The notes she played were filled with joy instead of the sorrow she once possessed. She had spent nearly a week alone with Erik. Angelina began to imagine what it would be like to spend eternity with him.

Foolish thoughts by a foolish girl.

The thoughts made her smile. She had never felt so alive. Meg had told her, on several occasions, that her dancing had become more passionate and full of life. There was an explanation behind it but Angelina would not tell Meg. She would continue to keep Erik a secret until she truly had to tell someone.

Rene had also begun to notice her beam almost every time she took a step on stage. Her voice had begun to echo throughout the opera house. She had never been able to do that and Rene had complimented her on it. The conversation was brief but she would not soon forget it…

You have life behind your voice today, Angelina.

Do I?

Is there something you wish to discuss?

Rene, I am perfectly fine.

Is it Jonathan?

Far from it.

Then someone else occupies that heart of yours?

Someone does indeed.

Do you want to tell me who?

No.

Fine. Suit yourself. But I envy the man, Angelina. He is a lucky, lucky man.

Angelina would have never thought Rene to have been jealous of anyone. But he was more of a brother to her then anything. She loved him but not in the sense that everyone thought. Every waking moment, when she was not with Erik, she was with Rene. Erik and Rene were the two men who occupied her mind while her father and brother were back at home.

She was glad she had several people to protect her. It made her feel safe and loved. Erik was her knight and shining armor while Rene was her bodyguard. Both men would have no harm come to her. It made her feel warm inside.

"Can a man get some sleep?"

Her fingers slipped off of the keys. Erik's laughter echoed throughout the lair. Angelina turned to see Erik standing in the doorway of his bedroom. His black velvet robe was tightly wrapped around him. His hair was tussled but his mask was perfectly in place.

"I am sorry, Erik…"

"Mild humor, Angelina. I was up long before you started playing."

"How long were you listening?"

"Long enough to know you need to start practicing more."

Angelina was hurt by the statement. It had not been that long since she had played the organ. Teaching herself how to play was no small task. She knew she was not perfect but there was skill behind her playing.

She did not even notice him move from the doorway to the organ. The small space she had on the bench, he sat in. She moved over to give him some room.

"You should not be out of bed."

"I am fully recovered."

"So you say."

"I think I know when I am back to normal, Angelina. Trust me…" He began to show her how well he was feeling. His fingers glided over the ivory keys as if there had been nothing wrong with him. Music filled the air once again.

"You think playing the organ proves to me that you are well again?"

"Do you doubt it?"

"Erik, you could play this organ while you were unconscious. I do not doubt that you could still play it while you were ill."

Erik's hands snaked over to where Angelina's were. Taking her hands, he placed them on the keys in front of her.

"Play again."

"I am taking you to bed."

"This is rest for me. Play."

Angelina sighed and began to play the piece she had played only moments prior. His hands quickly covered hers and stopped them from playing.

"You are hitting the keys too hard. Your fingers should move fluidly over the keys. They are not beating on drums."

"I have been playing like this for years."

"But now you are in my presence. Trust me; the way you play is not the way an organ should be played."

The words were harsh but he needed to say them. Not only could she sing and dance, she had the ability to play the organ. But unlike her feet and her voice, her fingers were not as graceful as they should have been.

"Do you mean to say these words to hurt me?"

"I mean to say them to help you improve. In life, Angelina, there are great disappointments and heartache. I am not doing this to hurt you. I am doing this to show you that you can better yourself."

Angelina began to try again and again Erik's hands covered hers.

"What am I doing wrong now?"

Erik could hear the anger in her voice. "Begin playing again."

As Erik rose, the tie on his robe came undone and revealed his well sculpted chest. Angelina did not have enough time to see it as Erik stood behind her. His arms reached around and his hands hovered over hers.

"Go ahead and play."

Angelina could feel him lean against her and it distracted her for the briefest of seconds. She began playing again but this time Erik's hands did not stop her. They joined with hers, entwining their fingers. Her hands did not seem to touch the keys. They glided over them as if they were gliding through water.

Fluid…

"Can you feel the difference?"

Angelina could not find the right words. She was touched by the way she was making music and at the closeness of Erik's body.

"Angelina?"

"Yes, yes I feel the difference."

His hands lingered as Angelina finished the piece. He sat down beside her once again and looked upon her. Her eyes would not look at him.

"I need to tell you something, Angelina."

"You know you can tell me anything."

"I have had my heart broken…"

He watched as her eyes finally met his. This was not a conversation she was expecting. But Erik knew it was time to tell her.

"Erik, I do not think that you should…"

"She was beautiful and quite a talent in her day."

Angelina was not sure if she felt comfortable listening to his tale. Although she was concerned for him, she did not feel it was her right to hear.

"She left me for her childhood sweetheart."

Angelina's breath caught. It was much like her and Jonathan. The outcome, however, would not be the same. She would not be marrying Jonathan. Her heart belonged to Erik – even if he never found out.

"Erik, I know that I am not this woman. But if you are afraid that I will leave you because of Jonathan, you are mistaken."

It was Erik's turn to have his breath catch. His eyes did not break her gaze. There was no admittance of love but admittance of loyalty.

"I will not be leaving any time soon."

"I am glad. After all, who would be my student once you left?"

He would not admit to her it was love either. It was his secret to keep.

"Then the student/teacher relationship will remain. It is a promise I am willing to keep."

The hand that once claimed the organ was now outstretched in front of her. Instead of him just shaking it, he slowly raised it to his lips and kissed the back of it. Angelina did not have enough time to register the kiss before Erik spoke.

"Thank you, Angelina."

"Why are you thanking me?"

"For saving me. You brought me back from a fever and mended a broken heart. It is not an easy task."

The words he said touched her heart. She had not done it to save him. In fact, she did it to save herself.

"You are welcome."

They sat in the silence that seemed to surround them. Neither was willing to admit the feelings they had for one another. It was a secret both were willing to keep until their dying day.