Hey! Sorry this chapter had a long wait... I had a small case of writer's block. Well, "Our Music" is a little bit shorter. I liked this one a bunch... hehe! well, enjoy! oh yes, and I haven't mentioned this in a while, "I own squat" ha, there you have it.

Chapter 9 Our Music

Erik felt something. Her soft body cuddled against his. He opened his heavy eyelids and found April sleeping next to him. She looked so peaceful and calm. Then everything came back to him. He remembered that he saved her, and what they did… She had taken off his mask, without running away or screaming. His hand shot up to feel the right side of his face. The mask was still off. She had caressed and kissed his repulsive carcass which one might call a face. She didn't care.

Tears stung his eyes as he thought about everyone who did care about how he looked. But he looked down at the woman who loved him, no matter what he looked like. Erik put his face in front of hers. He kissed her lips as softly as he could, not wanting to wake her. She stirred a little, but didn't wake up.

He got out of the bed and realized that he wasn't wearing any clothes. Even though nobody was watching him, he felt embarrassed. He put on his trousers and left his shirt on the floor. Walking over to his organ, he saw the piece of music he started composing. His writing was messy for he was angry at the time. He took the sheet of music and ripped it in half. After getting a new, clean piece of paper, he started a new song.

The song "Masquerade" came to April's ears. Her eyes fluttered open, and looked next to her. A little music box with a monkey holding cymbals was playing the music. She smiled at it. Then she looked around her, at his beautiful crimson bedroom. Him. Erik. She closed her eyes remembering what had happened. A sweet smile spread on her lips.

Their love brought them to do what they had done last night.

Love was very powerful. It could make you do things you never dreamt of doing. She loved him. She couldn't deny it. No matter what happened between them, she would always love him. Drawing in a shaky breath, April opened her eyes.

Sitting up, she realized that she wasn't wearing anything. Erik wasn't next to her, which meant that he was already up. Modestly, she wrapped his soft sheet around her body.

Candles flickered as she walked by them. She hummed the tune of "Masquerade" while she looked around his lair. Then she heard an unfamiliar song playing quietly from the organ. She closed her eyes, listening to it. When it ceased, April looked over at the organ. Erik was sitting on the bench, shirtless. He had stopped playing because he was scribbling something down.

She slowly walked towards him. He must have sensed her, because he looked up. Running her fingernails gently across his back she said, "Hello, Angel." She felt him shiver before he turned around. He placed his hands on her hips, smiling.

April leaned down and graced his lips with hers. Flashbacks of the night before appeared in both of their mind once their lips touched. He took her hands as they pulled away, and then stood up.

"How come such a beautiful woman is so modest?" he asked, running his fingertips across her shoulders. She closed her eyes and smiled. "I had a great time last night, April," he whispered. Her eyes opened and gazed into his blue eyes, which were staring back at her with passion.

"Me too," she said softly. She tilted her head upwards and kissed him tenderly. His hand rested on her bare shoulder. After they pulled away, Erik said, "I've written some music."

"Oh?" April asked, interested. He looked at her eagerly. She smiled and requested, "Will you play it for me?" A big grin spread across his face and he sat back down on the organ bench. April stood next to him and listened.

Erik got himself situated and began playing. The beginning of the piece sounded mysterious, and then it became happy. His fingers pranced upon the keys as he played staccato notes. April smiled. After that, the happiness slowly dissolved into sadness. He played slow, depressing harmonies. She almost felt like crying from how sad it sounded.

Then it went into angry sounding chords. They were minor and he played them rather loudly. All of the sudden, after a clashing chord, he gently played the keys in a beautiful way. This went on until it started to sound romantic. It was drawn out and very pretty.

His fingers moved quickly up and down the keys, as the music was still romantic, but the tempo had picked up. She felt as though she could relate to all of the emotions he showed while playing the organ. The last part of it sounded distantly familiar to April.

Most of the time Erik was playing, his eyes were closed, and he swayed a little with the music. When he finished, they looked at each other.

"Erik, that was…amazing." She finally managed to say. He smiled modestly at her. She didn't smile back, nor did she frown. Sitting next to him, she stared at him with her mouth slightly open.

His smile faded and he asked nervously, "What?" She just gaped at him with no expression then kissed him. He kissed her back, but still didn't understand. "I don't get it?" he said unsurely.

Finally, April said, "Erik that was absolutely beautiful. There aren't any words that can describe what you just played." Her eyes looked dreamy. "Where on earth could you get inspiration for this?" she asked breathlessly. He smiled and said, "You." She blinked. "What?"

"This entire piece is about my relationship with you."

"Erik, where have I heard that last part before? It sounded familiar."

"Oh, that? I sang it to you last night before you fell asleep…" he said slowly. April's eyes looked longingly into his. "Sing it again," she said, wrapping her arms around him. He held her and began to sing.

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs, wakes imagination…"

When he got to the last line, April sang it with him, but an octave higher. "Help me make the music of the…night…"

They stared silently at each other. She almost always seemed to hate it when they didn't speak, though she loved staring into his eyes.

"Erik I-" He put his finger on her lips. "Shh… Listen to the music of the night…" he whispered melodiously.

April slowly closed her eyes and he watched her as her chest gently moved up and down. Her breathing was calm, as she looked. Her collar bone was easily seen when she breathed. He loved watching her. His deep blue eyes studied from her silky curls to her soft complexion, her eyelids, to her luscious lips.

She was listening intently with her ears pricked for any sound. April's emerald green eyes opened as she heard Erik lean forward. Then she closed them again as he lightly touched her lips with his. It almost felt like their first kiss, so innocent.

When he pulled away, she opened her eyes and turned towards the organ. Erik watched her as she gazed upon the marvelous instrument. Her back straightened up stiffly, her feet planted flatly on the floor and she curved her hands as she placed them on the keys.

He smiled at her rather strict posture. Then it appeared even funnier because she only had a sheet around her body to clothe herself. But his smile faded when she played. Her fingers danced upon the organ's keys. Her face kept the same stern, concentrating look.

When she finished, Erik stared at her. April looked over at him. "What? Was it that bad?"

Shaking his head, he said, "No. It was very excellent. But, may I give you a few tips?" She nodded. He got up and stood behind her, leaning over. His left hand touched her back, and his right held her side. "Don't be so stiff," he said trying to make her back relax.

When she did, he said, "Good, stay like that. It's a lot more comfortable while you play and after. And you're allowed to show emotion when you're playing." He smiled, still holding her.

"I was trying to concentrate," she said not realizing that he was teasing her.

"I know," Erik said chuckling. "Just don't think about it so much. You're trying so hard to get the notes right, you don't get the feeling or meaning of the song."

She looked up at him. "You can tell all that from watching just one song I played?" she asked gently. His eyes softened. He realized how much of a teacher he still had in him. Giving tips and criticizing what her face looked like while she played just showed him how much he paid attention.

"I only see the tiniest improvements that make the difference between playing a song, and understanding a song."

He kissed her forehead. "And," he added, "the difference between the composer's song, and our music."

She smiled. Our music. That's what she loved; music. It was practically her whole life. Her entire life had been filled with music. Dancing, singing with her family, her mother teaching her how to play the piano all taught her music.

It was a passion that excited his soul. Their passion for music is what kept them exploring and asking themselves, "What if?". He knew that she would feel the music. He would play, she would dance. Music flowed rapidly through both of their veins.

Their music.

Their passion.

Our music.

Yay! I really liked that chapter for some reason... smiles well, review replies!

Nixieharpist: oh no...I don't think that shall happen, dahling!

PhantomChild: thank you! keep on reading and reviewing!

Evilish Lullaby: lol, me too. ha... I'm glad you liked it!

well, you all know the drill. R&R: )