Between the ninth or tenth carriage change, and after the second time Erik and I ducked into an alley to avoid a policeman, my eyelids began to grow heavy. The slow movement of the carriage became less of an annoyance, and started to have a sedative affect on my mind. Erik had barely spoken seven words since we had run from Paris two days earlier, but when my head began to drop to my chest with weariness, he slipped his hand over mine and drew me closer in such a way that I could lay my head on his shoulder.

"Sleep, little one," he murmured into my ear. "It does you no good to fight it…"

My sleep-deprived body twitched slightly at his touch, and I laughed hoarsely, my voice underused. "I can't fight anything these days. Well, unless I have a letter-opener. Give me anything sharp and pointy, and I'll be okay," I muttered nonsensically as I drifted into an area between Earth and Dreams.

He laughed, putting his arm around me as my eyes closed, softly stroking my hair. "That was a very stupid thing you did to her," Erik said, and I whimpered in protest. "Stupid, but incredibly amusing. If things were different…." He trailed off, and I roused myself long enough to look up at him.

Christine's gold ring was in his hand, and he turned it a few times, staring out the carriage window. I didn't know if it was my imagination, but I thought I saw tears in his eyes. I opened my mouth, then closed it again, trying to find something to say. Finally, I decided to change the subject into something a bit safer.

"Why are we going to London?" I asked. "It's so far away."

Blinking rapidly, he smiled and looked back to me. "That is the point, Mademoiselle. I have a little place I thought I could…or…well, we could…." Erik suddenly shut his mouth and I would have sworn I saw his cheeks turn red.

"We could stay until things settle down?" I finished, trying not to grin. He nodded, and I closed my eyes again, my heart singing. "Sounds good to me. I've never been to London."

Erik's arm tightened around me a little, and he rested his chin lightly on the top of my head. "I am sure that you will enjoy it. It is…exquisite."

Like you, I thought with a yawn. I finally surrendered to the darkness of sleep, in the arms of the Phantom...

Authors note: Thank you for the reviews :D I'll keep updating, don't worry. To Erik's G, All Apologies, Satha, and others: glad you appreciate a good fight :meow: A small update, I'll be uploading Ch.9 today, Chapters 10 and 11 tomorrow. I will also be changing the T rating to an M, due to Chapter 11's content. Until then, a votre sante!