Disclaimer: I don't own any of this at all.

Erik sat at the piano wanting to work on his music, but being distracted by the woman cooking in the kitchen. She was so beautiful even when she was sad. He was relieved that Christine and Raoul decided not to come looking for Meg. He didn't delude himself into thinking however, that they would be distracted forever. Eventually they would grow worried about Meg and attempt to find her. When that happened she would go and he would be alone once again.

Depression settled over him like an old coat. He heard Meg whimper from the area of the kitchen. He ran into the kitchen to find her clutching her hand tightly and grimacing.

"Meg? Are you alright?" He asked worriedly as he rushed over to her. She nodded but Erik didn't believe her. "Give me your hand." He commanded and gently pulled her hand into his. His hands were beautiful; they were pianist hands with long fingers and large palms. Meg's hand was enveloped in their warmth. He reached over and turned on the water.

"This is not too bad, but it's a little deep." He said as he studied the cut closely. The way they were positioned Meg was smashed against Erik's side. Her breasts pushed into his arm and she was suddenly distracted from the pain. A whole new ache was coming over her. He pulled on her hand to look closer causing her to rub against him slightly. She liked the friction but before she could do it again Erik thrust her hand under the water pulling her back into the present.

"Ouch." She gasped.

"Sorry." He apologized and actually sounded sorry. "There. I think that should do it. Let me just get my bandages." He led her to the table and went to get the bandages.

Erik rummaged through his supplies looking for the bandages. He'd felt Meg's body pressed tightly again his and the feeling of her pert breasts against him. It had almost been too much. He'd had an urge to reach around and grab her and kiss her soundly.

He'd resisted though because he knew there was not really another option. With that thought he went back into the kitchen armed with bandages. He sat in the chair across from her and pulled it close. Their knees were almost touching and he longed to close that one last inch.

"You hand please." He asked politely. Meg complied and gave him her hand easily. It was still bleeding and it burned as he began wrapping a piece of cloth around it.

"Does it hurt greatly?" He asked her softly.

"Not really, I'm just a baby about this stuff." Meg offered him a small smile.

"It is just a small cut." He teased her.

"Well you came running as if your life depended on it." Meg retorted.

"How was I to know you hadn't chopped a hand off in here? It's been so long since it was actually used for any substantial cooking." He gestured around the barren kitchen. It was actually a nice kitchen just sparsely equipped.

"I love to cook. I just wish I wasn't such a klutz." She shook her head at herself.

"I refuse to believe a woman who dances as graceful as you is anything of sort." Erik complimented her and Meg didn't know how to react.

"Woman? Earlier I was a child." Meg told him as she remembered how it had hurt her feelings so much when he'd called her that.

"What are you talking about?" Erik asked puzzled.

"Before you left earlier you called me a child." She told him.

"Did I hurt your feelings?" He asked, shocked to find he had that sort of power over her. "I only meant that you were so innocent. You remind me of a child because you are such a trusting innocent but clearly you're a woman." He assured her, holding her hand softly. He'd finished bandaging it a while ago but was reluctant to relinquish his grasp.

"Oh." Meg said simply. She was unsure what to say next. She stared into the Erik's eyes and noticed that in the first time in a long time they didn't look so sad.

"I'm sorry if I offended you. It wasn't my intention." He told her softly. He didn't apologize often and he wasn't sure how she'd react. Maybe she'd throw it in his face like everyone else.

"It's ok. I was just upset that you thought of me as a child." She told him before she realized what she was confessing.

"Why Meg?" He asked leaning in closer to her. He wanted to know what she was thinking.

Meg stared into his eyes for a second and was lost. She was torn between telling him the truth, that for some inexplicable reason she was drawn to him or lying to protect herself.

Meg's silence told Erik all he needed to know. Abruptly he leaned back in his chair and began to stand when Meg put her hand on his knee stopping him.

"I'm not sure why exactly, but I can't stand the thought of you seeing me as a child. I like you. I can't explain it but I'm drawn to you." Meg confessed.

Erik continued to stare at her hand on his leg. The whiteness of her skin contrasted sharply with the black fabric of his pants. Now he was the speechless one.

"Say something." Meg rubbed her hand slightly as if to wake him from a dream. "I don't expect anything from you though, we can just be friends." When he continued to be silent Meg began babbling in full force. "I can leave if you want. I don't really want to but I will if that's—

Erik interrupted her babbling when he grabbed her gently and pulled her from her chair and into a warm embrace. He kissed her softly, hesitantly at first. When Meg began kissing him back he became more passionate.

Meg hadn't ever been kissed like this. He tasted like nothing she'd ever known and she wanted more. She never wanted him to stop because she was afraid this would never happen again if he did. She ran her hands gently over his back and into his hair. His mask pressed softly into her cheek as they kissed. Gently Erik disengaged himself from her and pulled away slightly.

"Meg-" Erik began but Meg interrupted him.

"Don't you dare apologize to me." She told him quickly. "Unless you didn't mean it." Meg said as she considered the horrible idea that maybe he'd just done it to shut her up.

"Do you think you can finish dinner even though you're injured?" He asked with a grin. A real grin. Something Meg hadn't seen since she'd been with him. Her heart was soaring.

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a/n: hopefully they didn't move too fast! I just had to do something exciting! Beside that I was stuck and this is what came out. And Yes you're right about the shower thing but I forgot. They'll take baths from now on I think. Thanks you guys for reading and for reviewing! Both give me inspiration to keep writing even though I'm stuck. THANKS! Next chapter will be soon I hope!