Thanks again for the reviews. I guess you'll just have to wait and see who the mystery guests are... How's the suspense:) Enjoy...

Chapter 18

When Nicole made it back to the church once again, she found Erik frantically pacing in the front room with his hands clasped behind his back. She watched him go back and forth, back and forth, before she cleared her throat to get his attention. When he looked up, she came towards him, smiling cheerfully.

"So how did it go?" he asked, noting that he was still nervous.

"Actually, my dear angel, it went quite well," she said. "In fact, he has invited you to come to dinner tonight, though I must warn you. His business partner from Paris will also be joining for dinner, along with his wife. Father is anxious to meet you, so he's hoping you'll be comfortable with having dinner with us and our two guests."

She had a feeling he would decline the offer since it was stressful enough to meet her father, but to add in two other guests was perhaps too much to ask.

Erik sat down in a nearby chair, looking pensive. "Two other people, eh? Do you happen to know who these other two are?" he asked, obviously feeling uneasy.

"I only know they are from Paris. At least that's where Papa's business trip was to, and he said that it was his recent business partner and wife," she said, still hoping that he wouldn't decline the invitation. "I would really like you to come, but if it would make you too uncomfortable, then I understand. Perhaps we should postpone until tomorrow."

He looked at her, the optimism shining in her eyes. If she could accept him as he was, then he suddenly found he didn't care if anyone else could or not. "I would be pleased to join you, your father, and the mysterious Parisian guests for dinner tonight," he said, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

For the second time that day, Nicole squealed with delight, though this time it was Erik she hugged tightly. "Thank you, Erik. You have no idea how much this means to me," she said. "You have truly made my night," she whispered into his ear.

"You're more than welcome, little one," he said. He could feel the tears trying to build up, but for once, they were tears of contentment. By him agreeing to join them for dinner, he had made her very happy, and he found he liked the selfish pleasure of being the cause of her joy.

She reluctantly pulled away and said, "Father wanted us to try to come early so that the two of you would have a chance to talk before the other guests arrive. Would that be agreeable?"

"Your wish is my command, Mademoiselle," he said with a smile.

As she returned his smile, he leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss, knowing that he wouldn't be able to do that again until much later.

"How do I look?" he asked as they prepared to leave his lair.

"Wonderful as always, my dear angel," she beamed. "Your coming to dinner tonight means so much to me. Truly, Erik, thank you."

He smiled at her and then, curling her arm around his, he led her out the door and they made their way to the Clary family château.

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As they approached the house, Nicole noticed Erik's nervousness increase. She pulled him to a stop and made him look at her. "Hey…are you okay?" she asked, watching him closely.

"Yes, I'm fine…just fine," he replied, eyes darting back and forth.

She put her hands on his face and steadied him, forcing him to look directly at her. "You'll be fine. I promise. Now, take a deep breath," she said.

Erik closed his eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath and then another one. When he opened his eyes, he felt relaxed and able to continue. A small smile appeared on his lips as he wrapped her arm around his once again, and they resumed their walk to the château.

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"Where is that daughter of mine," Monsieur Clary mumbled to an empty room. "Perhaps she could not convince this angel of hers to do the honorable thing and meet her Papa,"

Suddenly, from the hall, Monsieur Clary heard his daughter shout out, "Papa, I'm back."

"In the library," he shouted back. He turned from the window, waiting to see this mystery man who had claimed his daughter's heart.

She led Erik to the library. She could feel nervousness coming off him in waves. She was starting to regret bringing him, but she knew it would have to happen sooner or later if she was going to entertain the idea of spending the rest of her life with her angel of music.

As they walked in the door, Erik was startled by Monsieur Clary's quick walk to greet them. As her father approached them, Erik was finally able to see why Nicole would never have been frightened of his own disfigurement.

Monsieur Clary's face bore a large scar down the right side of his face, both above and below his right eye, and his right eye was an eerie, milky white. From the looks of it, he had been in a battle and lost, or perhaps he had lost the battle but won the war.

"Hello Monsieur…?" he started.

"Erik will do just fine, Monsieur Clary," Erik said as he shook his hand.

"Well, then, Erik, it is. I've heard so much about you. In fact, you're all I've heard about from my dear daughter since my return from Paris," he said, smiling at Nicole. Nicole responded by rolling her eyes and smiling back, hoping he wouldn't embarrass her too much.

"Please…make yourself at home, Erik," he said, sweeping his arm towards the library in a wide gesture. "Nicole, my dear, why don't you go get ready for this evening? That way Erik and I can get acquainted. Right, Erik?" he asked rhetorically.

"Yes, Father," she said. She walked quickly over to Erik and caressed his arm. The expression on her face seemed to say, "Sorry, my dear. I'll be back to rescue you soon."

"Please close the door on your way out, Nicole," he requested as she turned and headed for the hall.

She closed the door and went upstairs to her room, wishing desperately that her father hadn't asked her to leave, though she suspected Erik would give her a full report later of what was said.

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"So, Erik…" Monsieur Clary began.

Erik simply looked at him, patiently waiting for him to continue. He desperately wanted Nicole to be there for moral support, but he knew he was on his own, so he vowed to himself to remain on his best behavior.

"My daughter tells me she was graced with her very own angel of music, sent from the heavens to guide her," he said, watching Erik closely.

Again, Erik returned his gaze but said nothing.

"And how is it, exactly, that you came to live in the basement of an abandoned church to begin with?" he asked.

"It's a long story, Monsieur. One that, if you'll pardon me, I'm not ready to discuss with anyone just yet," he said coolly.

Monsieur Clary met his gaze and then shrugged his shoulders. "Very well. I shan't press you," he said, giving up easier than Erik expected. "However, I'd like to know why you chose my daughter and what your intentions are towards her."

"Monsieur, I watched your daughter come in and out of that church for six months before I said anything. I watched her skill grow, but her style still lacked the necessary ingredients to make her a true prodigy. When she made yet another plea for an angel of music, I couldn't bear to ignore that request anymore," he stated.

"And so you called out to her, pretending to be an angel," he said, eyebrows raised.

"Yes. I was afraid she'd run from me, so I simply only allowed her to hear my voice," he said.

"If all you wanted to do was offer music lessons, why were you afraid she would run from you?" he asked, truly surprised.

"Everyone who sees me tends to run away in fear. I guess the mask frightens them, or what they picture to be under it, anyway," he said, looking away and out the window.

"Ahh, yes, the fear of someone who looks different. Yes, I know it well," he said with a smile. "However, you had no way of knowing the circumstances in which Nicole had grown up." Erik looked back at Monsieur Clary, knowing he was referring to himself.

"She never mentioned anything at all, so yes, it took me by surprise that she wasn't frightened at the sight of me. Instead, she did everything she could to take care of me and then she admonished me whenever I spoke ill of myself," he said, letting a single chuckle out.

"Yes, that's my girl," he said with pride. "Her mother was like that, God rest her soul. She would never allow me to feel sorry for myself after my…accident, so I know where Nicole gets it."

"She's a wonderful and kind young woman. You should be very proud," Erik said, returning his gaze to Monsieur Clary.

"I am very proud of her, Monsieur…Erik, I mean. She is so like her mother that it does my heart good," he said, beaming.

They both turned towards the door when the doorbell rang. Nicole's shout echoed through the hall, "Our guests are here, Papa."

"Show them in to the library, my dear," her father called back from the doorway.

Erik turned towards the window, not wanting to frighten the mystery dinner guests as soon as they walked into the room.