Authors note: I know I'm dragging it on a bit long, but I spoil you all too much. I need to prolong your agony a bit. (Ok in this chapter things do speed up) Review or I'll never post another chapter!

(Scott and Eos tell me if a part sounds familiar. I recall you commenting my dancing skills in this matter before.)

About the whole eye color thing, they are dark brown, almost gray with a brown spec in them. I meant that the gray in her eye (which was what I referred to as the speck but really took up most of her eyes) was what Erik had seen. Many had looked into her eyes and sensed something, but Erik new it was pain because he had experienced the same pain.

Hey Iwanna Scott, is this chapter long enough?

Exhaustion, it showed so perceptibly. The air reeked of it. I could almost taste the sweaty humid air and it was almost too much too endure. Despite their exhausted flesh they struggled within to maintain their poise.

I felt no pity for them. Hate me if they wish, I will not lift a finger to stop them. In time they will learn to respect me.

My eyes caressed the crowd of graceful minions and fell upon the usual suspect. The young ballerina couldn't have been more proud of herself. I almost felt sorry for the poor girl. She proudly smiled with her head raised to the ceiling in satisfaction. Little did she know that her hands resembled more of a monkey then a dancer.

I slowly walked towards her, swinging my cane to the beat of the creaking floorboards. As the distance in-between us narrowed, I watched as the poor girl's confidence went up in flames. The eyes of every ballerina watched intently as I, once again, corrected the position and grip of her arms. A few snickers from the front row met my ears. I shot a cold stare at those who had turned around to watch sending a wave of fear through their bones. If the room wasn't sweaty enough before, their fear added to the odor.

"Madame," whispered a mild voice from behind. I closed my eyes and slowly turned around to see who had interrupted my session, but my trace of anger soon vanished when I met the eyes of who had called my name.

At first I couldn't distinguish who she was, because her eyes were pinned to the ground and the smile that she always wore was missing. I knew such light blond hair and perfect complexion could only belong to Jolie. Behind her stood Christine, oh dear Christine. They both had grown so. It seemed as if they had been in the crowd of ballerinas only yesterday, but the women that stood before me now were living proof that such a theory was wrong.

I knew something was wrong. Pain was to hovering over our heads. Christine desperately clenched her fist and bit her lip to try and contain her tears. Jolie was already leaking, but kept her head down to try and hide it. I knew that it had to be serious. The two of them, having been in my ballet before knew better then to interrupt me. They both knew, despite the fact that I loved them, that my tolerance runs thin. So I knew that the situation had to be intense.

"You're dismissed," I shouted to the class without bothering to turn around. With that, a huge sigh of relief from the entire class filled the room as they scrambled for the nearest exit.

"Christine, Jolie? I said looking from one to the other. "Do you dears wish to speak somewhere more private?" I asked patting one of their hands.

Christine nodded her head in response.

"Come," I said directing them to an empty dorm room. Once we had entered, I offered them to take a seat, but they uncomfortably stood in the middle of the room.

"Is there something you wish to tell me?" I asked staring into both of their teary eyes.

"It's about him," Jolie leaned in and whispered.

I immediately knew who she meant. I had known for quiet some time that he was missing from the opera house. I no longer sensed those pair of sad eyes watching me any longer. Now, without him even silence seemed to be too quiet.

A wield of fear slowly crept up my lungs. Had he gone to drastic measures once more to be with Christine even after she had married and given birth to a son?

"It's about Erik. There are a lot of things about him that you haven't been informed of." Jolie said straitening up and struggling to maintain her composure. Christine quietly sniffed and nodded her head. She appeared almost relieved that Jolie was doing all of the talking. I nodded as well, even though all I wanted to do was shake the answers to my meaningless questions out of the both of them.


I took no time to carefully pry the door open and ask politely for Rebecca as a kind lady would. Instead, I left a hole in the wall from swinging it open with as much force as I did. I grabbed the nearest nurse buy her collar to guarantee her attention. "Where is Rebecca," I demanded.

The nurse calmly lifted my hand and stepped backwards. Clearly she was used to this type of behavior. "Are you family?" she asked casually smiling at me. The action deeply angered me.

"I guess you could say that," I said taking a deep breath and collecting the pieces of my sanity.


I ripped the curtain open, expecting familiar faces to greet me from behind, but no colors met my eyes. The room was completely gray. No body was in sight. I walked towards the bed to find the fossil of a child's form indented into the covers.

"Their gone."


Erik

"I'll never ever let you go," I whispered in Rebecca's ear while gently cradling her in my arms. Her smile warmed my cold heart.

"A living breathing miracle," all of the doctors had called her. They never expected to see her move again. Now she is slowly gaining control of her fingers and will be able to move her entire body on her own will soon.

"Pretty soon I'll be moving my wrists," she had joked playfully, even though the situation wasn't the slightest bit humorous. Her maturity almost scares me sometimes. Her experiences have made her such an aged soul. I pity her lost years. It's like seeing my life be relived, except she is handling everything differently.

"I made cake for a special someone," Addie cooed, waving a thick three layered slice of white butter cream cake with globs of white icing smothered all over it underneath Rebecca's chin.

"Mmmm," Rebecca said smiling. Addie had spent hours making it for her, because she knew Rebecca's weakness was sweets.

Addie wrapped her arm around my shoulder and sat next to me. She leaned in for a quick peck on my cheek before feeding Rebecca. Occasionally she would shoot me a sly grin.

"I've been blessed with three women in my life, three angels," I said as Liana walked in.

"Only three?" whispered a voice from behind the door that I used to know so well.

Yes, it was Madame Giry, behind her stood Christine and Jolie shocked as hell. I only wish I could have captured their expressions. Jolie was about to jump on the three of us, and Christine was smiling like a bride. Madame Giry, as always had a plain expression on her face so that no one could tell whether she was excited or if she wanted to shove something down my throat. She neatly folded one arm across the other and gazed strait at me.

"Why wasn't I invited to the wedding?" She said.

For such an interesting introduction after all of these years, I couldn't help but smile.


Addie

"Is Rebecca asleep?" Erik asked with his back turned to me as I tiptoed through the door. He softly ran a hand down the sheets, smoothing the wrinkles out of them and laid down on the left side of the bed. Through the dim candlelight I could tell that he didn't have a shirt on. He had tossed it off and thrown it on the small table. It is cold tonight, which explains why he's taken his shirt off. Obviously he has other plans then sleeping.

"You're still awake." I said surprised, sitting on the opposite side and throwing off my shoes. "Good, there's something I have to tell you."

I turned around and positioned myself on my side, resting my head on my palm and propping my elbow on a pillow for support. "Madame Giry and I were talking, and we both agree that you should be able to start a normal life. Erik, we both know you can't do that here." I said. I desperately searched his eyes for appreciation, or some sign that he understood what I meant. He shook his head to show me he was listening.

"What do you think about Italy?" I asked biting my lip.

His grin suddenly slid off of his face.

"What about your friends? Were will Liana go? Is she coming with us?" he asked leaning towards me and cradling my face in his hands.

"It's up to Liana were she goes. Erik, you've sacrificed so much for me. I want to see you happy. I want our family to be as normal as we can." I said kissing the back of his hand.

"I am happy," he said smiling.

"But we are always at risk here Erik. The doctors that saw you might recognize you, the patients might have, someone that passed us in the streets, who knows! There you'll be able to start fresh. I can't ask for more in your life. There you'll be able to give lessons and people will pay good money for it. This could benefit us financially as well Erik." I said leaning closer to him and kissing his ruff cheek. I could feel tiny hairs beginning to sprout out. I playfully ran a finger down the tiny facial hair, motioning for him to shave. Erik quickly looked away to hide his smile.

"I saw that!" I declared before grabbing his face and joining our lips. He didn't back away. Instead he positioned his body over mine and slowly slid his hands down the frame of my body. I gently kissed his bottom lip and let my head fall back on my pillow. I opened my eyes only once to admire his muscular chest, by then he couldn't help but start unbuttoning my dress.

"Is that a yes?" I managed to gasp. He shot an evil grin at me that I took as his answer.

Author's note: ok I would have Erik refer to Madame Giry by her first name, but I don't know it. If any of you do it'll be a big help.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to eat some cake now. Writing about it made me hungry.