So sorry this one took so long! I won't waste time with excuses, just here goes with the chappy!
Disclaimer: Let me tell you a lil secret... I don't own PotO. Now go spread the word!
A few days later, Jane awoke with a groan to hear someone knocking on her door. Her eyes opened silently, and she almost thought that she would wake up back underground, safe ion Erik's arms. Of course, that was not the case; she was in her dressing room, all alone.
She stood up from her bed and sluggishly walked over to her door and opened it. Meg smiled brightly, and the first thing Jane noticed was that she wasn't in her toe shoes.
"Hello, Jane," Meg greeted, "Got a bit of a late start this morning, did you?"
"Yes... Oh, and good morning yourself, Meg. But why aren't you in your dancing shoes? There is practice today, right?"
Meg laughed. "Of course not. Maman gave them the day to rest and get ready for tonight. None of the little girls are here either, so you have the day off as well."
"Oh," Jane murmured, scoffing at herself. How could she have forgotten? That day was the last day of the year 1871. That night would be New Years' Eve. It seemed that the ball was the center of almost every conversation. Even the young girls who Jane taught, though they were too little to attend themselves, talked about the flowing gowns covered in diamonds they hoped to wear to the balls of later years when they were old enough.
Meg cleared her throat softly, and Jane snapped out of her trance. "Do you think you'll be alright, though, Jane? I mean, going to the party?"
"I... think so," Jane answered, glancing at her mirror quickly, "I may have to tighten my corset, though. You know, I can never get it was tight as I want it by myself.
Meg giggled. "I never yet met a woman who could." Jane smiled and shook her head, mildly amused. A sudden familiar sick feeling came to her stomach, and she crossed the room to a small pot that Madame Giry had given her. She closed her eyes and heaved into it.
Meg stood, surprised, and she strode to Jane's side. Taking care not to look in the pot, she pulled Jane's hair back so that it wouldn't get in the way. A few seconds later Jane straightened up, sweat dotted on her brow.
"Thank you," she breathed quietly, putting a hand to her abdomen. Meg gave her a concerned look.
"Are you sure you'll be ok, Jane?" she asked, "Maybe you shouldn't go tonight... After all, what's one dance compared to your health?"
Jane dismissed the thought. "I'll be alright, my friend. It's just a morning sickness, you know that. It'll go away by tonight.
The dancer was unconvinced. "Maybe you should try to sleep, then," she suggested. Jane considered it for a long time, then finally agreed with her friend.
"I'll come back and wake you up with one hour to spare, so you can get ready," Meg offered. Jane smiled warmly and thanked her over and over again. The dancer insisted that it was no problem, and left the room, happy that she found some way to help Jane.
Jane rested her head on her pillow and was asleep almost instantly, praying that her dreams would, for once, not be clouded with visions of Erik.
Later that night, Erik finally decided that it was time. He approached his room and stepped inside, trying to ignore the broken bits of glass on the ground that symbolized what he had done to Jane.
Quickly he retrieved a clean dress coat, shirt, and pair of pants. With more of a spring in his step than usual, he changed his clothing, something he had been to depressed to do for a few days now.
Wait a few more hours, Death, he thought, I will be coming soon enough...
The thought that he was going to die that night hadn't really hit Erik yet, though. His mind knew that it was so, but it was as though his heart was still unaware of his plans. He could tell that the full impact of the weight of his decision was going to come later, and that made him wonder.
How would he feel about his plan once it hit him that he was going to die?
Meg finally came at an hour to eight and woke Jane up. Jane, feeling newly refreshed from her slumber, began to get ready as swiftly as she could. She slipped into her dress, soon feeling as sleek as the satin material it was made of. Meg changed into a light blue gown, one that matched the blue necklace she was wearing.
After a few minutes, Jane's corset had been tightened (to the point where she was sure she would faint), so she and Meg brushed their hair together and pinned it half up with jeweled clips.
"So you'll be alright, then?" Meg asked, wincing as she accidentally poked her scalp with one of the clips in her hand. She massaged the aching spot and waited for her friend to answer.
"Yes, Meg... I think I'll be alright," Jane assured for what must have been the tenth time. The dancer nodded, and proceeded to ready herself.
At long last they agreed that nothing could be done to further make them more prepared for the dance. Jane glanced at her mirror one last time before she left, but it was not to study her reflection. She searched the glass for some sign that Erik might be behind it. Finding none, she gave a small sigh and followed Meg to the main hall of the Opera Populaire.
Never before had there been so many people in the opera house. Jane found herself almost overwhelmed by the enormous crowd as she and Meg were sucked into it.
Many couples were dancing in the middle of the room, but there was a small group of women standing in a corner. Most of them were dancers that Jane and Meg recognized, so the two friends slowly made their way over and joined them.
"Hello, Meg," Little Jammes greeted cheerfully, "Hello, Jane. I haven't seen you in quite a while. Where have you been?"
"I have been helping the younger dancers lately," Jane answered, glancing self-consciously at her stomach to make sure her waist was pulled in enough. Jammes was about to say something when she was interrupted by another woman, Mademoiselle Karissa.
"Oh god, look at Sorelli!" she squealed excitedly. The group turned to see where she was pointing, and they all gasped. Sorelli was dancing with a rather handsome young man with brown hair.
"I hear he's the new patron, since the Vicomte de Chagny left," one woman murmured knowingly. All the women giggled and began to gossip.
Erik's breath caught in his chest at the sight of Jane standing with her friends. He was concealed in the shadows of the upper level of the room, watching everything. As soon as his eyes fell on Jane, he smiled, but his grin disappeared when he saw Meg.
No doubt Jane has told the little Giry of our escapade... Damn. The ballet rat might make a scene if I went to Jane now, he thought, I shall have to wait.
He sighed and slumped against the wall, his gaze not once drawing away from Jane.
Oh, my sweet angel... You look so incredibly beautiful tonight, my love. Another small smile crossed his face as he shifted his position to wait. He would go for Jane when the time was right. No matter how long he had to wait until that time came.
Hours later, the pace of the party had not slowed. People still danced and laughed with the same grand enthusiasm, thought Jane was beginning to get tired. She transferred her weight from foot to foot, half-heartedly joining in on the conversation going on around her.
"Are you okay, Jane?" Meg asked. Jane blinked once, coming out of her "trance," then she gave her friend a small smile and nodded slightly. Her eyes scanned the great room as she searched yet again for some sign of Erik. She sighed inaudibly and lowered her eyes when she saw none.
She was silent for a long time, seemingly out of the whole conversation as she stared into space. Meg did not prompt her to speak, understanding that she needed to not say anything, but Jane could sense that she was becoming a little bored.
Perhaps Meg was right, Jane thought, Maybe I shouldn't have come... She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, wishing she could go back to her dressing room.
"Excuse me, mademoiselle." A murmur broke the uneasy tension, and Jane looked up to see the handsome brown haired man she had seen dancing with Sorelli standing before Meg. Meg inhaled sharply and stared at him, almost in a trance of her own.
"Would you care to dance?" the gentleman asked, holding out his hand. Meg blushed and glanced at Jane, who nodded vigorously to encourage her. At last Meg agreed, and she shyly allowed the young man to lead her out onto the dancing floor.
Move your feet, Meg! Jane thought, wishing that her friend could hear her mental instructions. Move! Move! Jane rolled her eyes and giggled as she surveyed how well Meg was dancing, which wasn't well at all, then she smiled as she realized that her partner seemed not to care that she didn't know how to dance.
After a while of gazing after the couple, Jane's thoughts wandered to the first time she had ever danced with Erik. It had been a slow waltz, nearly identical to the one that was playing now. Jane's smile slowly faded, and she looked at the ground, now too shy to look up.
Suddenly, two black shoes appeared in her line of sight, which was aimed at the hem of her dress. Slowly she brought her gaze up to rest upon the face of the man before her, and she gasped.
It didn't matter that the man wore a jet black mask, for Jane could recognize those gorgeous aqua-green eyes anywhere.
Erik did not say a word, but instead extended his hand. Jane looked at it disbelievingly for a second, her mouth slightly open in wonder, then she took it, her small hand fitting easily in Erik's gloved one.
He led her deftly to where few people were dancing, then used her momentum to gently spin her around so that he could hold the small of her back, her right hand clasped firmly in his left. Without even a single moment's hesitation, he began to dance.
It was so glorious for both of them that it was nearly overwhelming. Erik, who had suffered inside so much without Jane, could hardly dare to accept that she was really there. He almost feared that he would wake up all alone in his coffin to find that all of this was a dream.
In an effort to try and convince himself that this was real, Erik pulled Jane closer, until he could feel the curves of her body against his chest. Half of his mind took care not to skip a step of the waltz, but he let the other half marvel at Jane's beauty.
Everything around them melted away in Jane's eyes, exactly like the first time they had danced. All she knew was Erik and herself, as she was in her own world where nothing but them existed. It was bliss, sweet bliss, and Jane wished with all her heart that it would never end.
Their eyes were locked together, their gaze so intense that they were powerless to break it. Jane's chest rose and fell slightly as she lost herself in those mystical orbs of her partner.
At long last, the music began to get slower. Jane willed it with all her heart to keep going, but it defied her and stopped. Erik ceased moving, and reluctantly brought her hand up to his lips. His eyes staring into Jane's, he kissed the soft skin of her fingers.
Before he left, Erik placed Jane's hand over his heart for a second. He held them there for a few moments, then hesitantly lowered them, and finally let Jane go altogether. Erik bowed and swiftly walked away, disappearing in the crowd of people.
Jane stared after him, even after he could no longer be seen, and suddenly shook herself.
He's alive, Jane! A voice in her head spoke, Go! Go after him! Jane didn't waste another second, but picked up her skirts and started to cross the room.
HeHe Hope ya'll liked that little teaser! What will happen next time? Review, Wait, and I'll tell ya when I update next time! Sorry this one took so long, Reviewer thanx will be in the next chappy!