Chapter 12

They looked around and saw that it was just Nadir. Erik and Paige both felt relieved that it was just him.

"What do you think you are doing? You startled both of us," Erik shouted. Erik felt a hand on his arm, so he calmed down some.

"I just wanted to surprise you guys with some dinner that I made," Nadir replied nervously. He looked at Erik, then at Paige.

"I'm sorry if I startled you guys..I..I..I didn't mean to," Nadir apologized.

"Its ok Nadir," Paige replied. She felt sorry for the man and she didn't know why. Maybe it was because Erik had yelled at him and all Nadir was doing was making supper for them.

"Thank you Nadir. Your very thoughtful," Paige replied. Very thoughtful Paige thought. Paige smiled at Nadir for his thoughtfulness. Paige and Erik both started walking towards the table full of food. Paige walked over to her chair and Nadir started helping her get seated when a blow from somewhere hit him in the jaw. Nadir fell to the floor. Paige looked up at Erik, stunned. Erik tried to finish the job that Nadir had started, but Paige pushed away and ran crying into her room. Erik frowned. He looked down at Nadir who was trying to get up. Erik held out his hand to help his friend up. Nadir just looked at it, accepted the help.

"I'm so sorry my friend," Erik said apologizing. Erik hung his head.

"Its ok Erik. I know you love her and didn't want anything to come between you two, I can feel it," Nadir replied. Erik looked towards Paige's room. Nadir followed Erik's gaze and realized what Erik was looking at. He must feel so horrible about what happened Nadir thought.

"You should go and talk to her Erik," Nadir said after a couple of minutes of silence. Erik just nodded his head and headed towards the door. Once Erik reached his destination, he knocked. A female voice answered.

"What Erik?" Paige replied somewhat coldly.

"I wanted to talk to you…I'm sorry about what happened," Erik said apologizing once again. He hated apologizing, but when it came to Paige, he would apologize all the time if he had to just to keep her with him. He heard footsteps approaching the door. Then he watched as the doorknob was turning and then the door opened. He looked at Paige who had a tear stained face.

"Are you seriously sorry for what you did?" Paige asked just making sure it was true.

"Yes, I am serious. Even Nadir forgave me," Erik replied. Paige looked at Nadir, who nodded his head to say that it was true. Paige looked back at Erik and lunged onto him. Erik tensed at first, but then relaxed as he put his arms around Paige.

"I forgive you too, My Angel of Music," Paige muffled into his shoulder. Even though it was muffled, Erik could hear it clear. I haven't heard Erik be called that for a long ol' time Nadir thought.

"Thank you my Angel," Erik said in her hair. I love you Erik thought. Paige pulled back and studied him for a moment. Erik hated when she would pull back and break the special moment that they would share.

"Were you about to cry?" Paige asked curiously. Erik looked embarrassed. Paige started to smile. Its really hard telling if he's embarrassed or is smiling or anything with that mask Paige thought. Another thought came to her mind. I don't want to be like Christine Paige thought backing away from Erik. Erik had a confused look on his face.

"Whats wrong Paige?" Erik asked still confused at her behavior.

"I…I…I don't want to be like her," Paige replied shakily.

"Her? Who's her?" Erik asked even more confused.

"Like Christine…" Paige said. Erik then had the realization kick into his head. His mask! She started to think about my mask Erik thought. Erik smiled. Now it was Paige's turn to be confused.

"What are you smiling about?" Paige asked. Erik started walking towards Paige.

"About what you said…'you don't want to be like Christine'," Erik replied. Paige started walking away from Erik. Erik kept following her until she hit a wall. Paige tried to run, but Erik pinned her to the wall.

"Well its true. I don't want to rip off your mask like she did…I want you to take it off when you feel the most comfortable," Paige replied not looking at Erik. Paige glanced at Nadir to see if he could do anything to help her out of her situation. Nadir just mouthed, 'I'm sorry'.

Erik reached under her chin and tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes once again. But before he could do anything, they heard a noise upstairs. NO! Please don't let it be anyone looking for me or anyone who whats to hurt my precious Erik Paige thought.

"I'll be right back. Nadir, keep an eye on my Angel," Erik demanded. Nadir nodded and put a hand on Paige's shoulder. Then Erik was off to see who it was.

"He'll be right back Paige," Nadir said trying to comfort Paige.

"I know he will be," Paige said trying not to be shaky. Why should I be nervous for him? He's the Opera Ghost for heavens sake, he's done this plenty of times. But what if he doesn't come back? What if I never see him again? Why should I care for anything? Do I have feelings for him? I cant though, I have a boyfriend Paige thought.

"Do you think he will be?" Paige asked just to be sure.

"Yes mademoiselle," Nadir replied nodding.

"Please don't call me that. Just call me Paige like Erik does," Paige replied smiling.

Three hours later….

Paige finally had to sit down from being exhausted from standing and pacing for so long. Now Nadir stood up and started pacing for Paige.

"Where could he be?" Paige asked. Nadir could tell that she was worried about Erik.

"I'm sure he's fine and is on his way back," Nadir said trying to calm Paige down. Paige smiled. She knew that he was trying to calm her down and it was helping…kind of. Paige went into the kitchen to get something for her and Nadir to drink. Paige got Russian tea for Nadir and sweet tea herself. She brought it out for Nadir and he accepted gratefully.

Then they heard a noise come from outside the door. When the door opened, Erik came in and fell to the floor.

"Erik!" Paige screamed. Paige was the first to run to him. Once she was by his side, she rolled him over. When she finished rolling him over, she noticed that he was laughing. Paige slapped him.

"How dare you do that!" Paige exclaimed. Erik kept laughing and tackled Paige. He pinned her down on the floor and started to tickle her for no entire reason. Paige started laughing and screaming. Nadir just stood there wide-eyed. He never seen his friend do this before.

Nadir carefully and quietly snuck to the door and left the two lovers alone. He shut the door behind them so they wouldn't think that someone went in when they were having a tickle fest on the floor.

"Stop! Stop!" Paige pleaded. She kept laughing which made Erik tickle her more. When Erik was least expecting it, Paige started tickling him. Paige started to crack up laughing when she heard him squeak.

"You squeak?" Paige asked through giggles.

"I guess so," Erik replied laughing as well. Erik stopped tickling Paige and she stopped tickling him. He got up and helped Paige up and they both walked over to the couch and plopped down. Paige then remembered something.

Paige got up, and headed towards her room. She went in, grabbed a blanket, and walked back out. She looked at Erik and he had a confused look on his face. Whats with the blanket? he thought. Then Paige walked back to the couch and sat down. She unfolded the blanket and laid it on the both of them. Paige then got startled by the touch of Erik's arm around her.

"I'm sorry," Erik said when he felt her shiver. He thought that she didn't like his touch so he started to move his arm.

"No don't…I like you having your arm around me," Paige replied sheepishly. Erik started to smile and replaced his arm around her. He then felt her head rest up against him.

"I was worried about you," Paige confessed. Erik looked down at her even though he only saw her hair.

"You were?" Erik asked just to make sure he heard right. Paige looked up at Erik who looked down at her.

"Yes I was…and…I ..I…" Paige started to say. Why is it so hard to tell my feelings? Paige asked herself.

"You?" Erik pushed. Oh don't you even start that Paige thought.

"Never mind, I'll tell you later," Paige popped out.

"Ok," replied Erik, resting his chin on her head. Just tell me when you are ready my Angel Erik thought.

"Sing to me," Paige asked.

"If you wish it," Erik replied. He sung for nearly an hour and looked down at Paige to find her sleeping in his arms. I never get tried of this Erik thought. He scooped her up into his arms and headed towards her bedroom. After he laid her down and tucked her in, he started for the door.

"Please don't go. Stay with me," Paige pleaded. Erik turned around and stared at Paige.

"Its not right," Erik said.

"I know and I don't care," Paige replied.

"What about your…boy..boyfriend?" Erik hesitated to ask.

"I don't love him anymore," Paige replied. Once Paige said that, Erik knew he had captured her heart. Paige was to groggy to realize what she had said even though it was true. Erik walked over to Paige's bed and laid down right beside her. I didn't want to go to bed with her until we're married Erik thought. But he knew that she needed and wanted him so he couldn't say no.

Erik turned from his side to his back. After that he felt Paige's head resting on his chest and felt that her arm had wrapped around his torso. He looked at Paige and saw that she fell asleep. Erik responded by wrapping his arm around her. About a half an hour went past until Erik fell asleep.

The Next Morning…

Erik woke up to the sound of his violin being played. He got up and walked out the door quietly. When he turned the corner to go into the music room, he paused. There was another female in there with his Angel. Is this girl my Angel's friend, Heather? Erik thought. He saw that the other girl also had a violin in her hands. He watched both of them from the distance. Then he heard his Angel start speaking.

"Why do you want to learn the violin?" Paige asked Heather.

"Because guys dig chicks that play the violin and sing," Heather replied. Heather was about to start playing when Paige butted in.

"Please don't play," Paige pleaded.

"Why?" Heather asked curiously.

"Because you don't know how to play and that'll wake Erik up," Paige replied. Paige then noticed a figure lurking in the shadows. She knew who it was, it was her Beloved Erik.

"Heather, I have to tell you something," Paige said resting the violin on her lap.

"Yes, what is it?" Heather replied.

"I…I...I don't love Brandon anymore," Paige confessed. Heather looked up, stunned.

"You what!" Heather repeated.

"You heard me," Paige said.

"Wow! And I thought I heard a rumor that he was going to ask you to marry him," Heather stated.

"I know, I heard it too. And I'm going to refuse," Paige replied.

"Then who do you love?" Heather asked curiously.

"You'll find out sometime," Paige replied.

"Good morning Erik," Paige said smirking.

"Good morning my love," Erik replied. Erik stepped out of the shadows and freaked Heather out, which made her squeal. Paige started laughing. Heather just glared at her friend.

"That was so hilarious," Paige said through giggles. Paige then remembered something.

"Oh I made breakfast. I didn't tell Heather or have any yet so we all could sit at the table together and talk," Paige said standing up. Paige helped Heather up and almost made her fly into the wall from pulling to hard.

"Oops. I guess I didn't know how strong I was," Paige replied, flexing her upper arms. Heather just rolled her eyes.

"What? Do you think that your stronger then me?" Paige asked seriously.

"Nothing, and I know that I'm not stronger then you so don't challenge me," Heather replied quickly.

"Then lets go to breakfast. I'm hungry," Erik added in. Erik offered Paige his arm and she excepted. Once they were in the dinning room, Erik helped Paige get seated and made Heather seat her own self.

Erik came out with two plates of food and served one to Paige then the second one to Heather. He walked back into the kitchen and came back out with his. He sat down right across from Paige.

"Lets do something this afternoon," Paige suggested. Erik and Heather nodded in agreement.

A/N: What should they do that afternoon? Please answer that question and if you have a 'wonderful' answer then you might just get picked! Please think for this question! Thanks a lot! I already have a document ready for Chapter 13! Once I get an answer that I want for Paige's, Heather's, and Erik's afternoon, I'll post chapter 13 up, pronto!

Your Obedient Servant,

O. G. (aka phantomess08)