Disclaimer: I don't own any of this or the characters.

After he'd kissed her Erik didn't know how to act around her. He resorted to the only thing he could think of. He ignored her. He thought about the kiss they shared and how easily they used to talk at least twenty times a day.

That night as Meg lay sleeping Erik thought about the kiss they'd shared earlier. It had been something that he'd never felt before. When Christine kissed him it was out of pity and the prostitutes he'd had to pay to be with him. When he kissed Meg she'd eagerly kissed him back. Even now he still couldn't believe it as he waited for the other shoe to drop, for something to go wrong. Maybe Meg had only kissed him because she hadn't known what else to do.

He sighed and in frustration threw the bottle of ink that sat on his piano across the room. What if Meg was just trying to get him to relax so that she could escape later? What if she was just out to use him as a means of getting back at Christine? All these questions were running through his brain over and over until he couldn't hear anything but the voices in his head.

With a growl he stood up. His cape fluttered behind him as he stalked toward the room Meg was asleep in. At her door he stopped. What was he doing? What was he thinking in coming here? Would he scare the truth out of her? Sadly he thought, that was exactly what he'd planned to do. With a heavy heart he turned from her room and left his underground home before he did something that would show Meg that he was the monster that everyone thought.

Meg awoke abruptly. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones. Jumping out of bed, forgetting about the fact that she wore only a nightgown, she ran out into the hall in search of Erik. She ran to his piano only to find it empty, the kitchen was empty as well. As a last thought she went to his room. She knew he was very picky about his privacy and didn't want to make him mad but she was worried.

Hesitantly she knocked on his door. When there was no answer she pushed the door open.

"Erik?" She called as she peeked her head around the door. "Are you here?" She asked, pushing the door open all the way. She walked into the room a few steps and looked around the room. Meg was surprised that there were only a few pictures of Christine. She hoped that someday they would be gone completely. When Erik kissed her she'd been terrified that he was thinking of Christine instead of her. That thought still haunted her.

She decided that Erik must have gone out. She was still concerned about him, she hated to think of anything happening to him. She decided to wait up for him because she knew she'd never get back to sleep not knowing if he was ok.

"What do you mean Meg has disappeared?" Jean Claude asked Raoul as they sat in his living room. They were smoking cigars after dinner. Jean Claude was a good friend of Raoul. He was rich, handsome and titled. He was also in love with Meg Giry.

They'd met months before at the Opera and Jean had been taken with the dancer even then. When he'd seen her again at Raoul and Christine's wedding he'd been completely smitten with her. After that he sought her out every chance he could within reason. He doubted that she knew how he felt about her. She was too innocent and inexperienced to realize his feelings for her.

He'd actually been on the verge of asking her to marry him when she'd disappeared. His feelings for her were overpowering and he didn't know how to manage all the emotion that was within his heart.

"Her mother told Christine and I that she went to the Opera Populaire and has not returned." Raoul smiled as he thought about it. "Her mother is convinced that she has become a captive of the Phantom of the Opera. This, of course is impossible because he's dead."

"How do you know that for sure?" Jean Claude asked quickly.

"No one could have possibly survived that fire. It destroyed much of the building. It wasn't structurally sound after the accident; the new owners have had to rebuild most of it so that it won't crumble into a pile of rubble." Raoul told him as he took a puff of his cigar.

"You're positive?" Jean Claude asked needing to be sure that the terrifying opera ghost didn't have Meg.

"Yes. It's not possible. She'll show up in a while. I'm sure she needed rest from what her life has become and is off in a city relaxing." Raoul shrugged.

"With what? She has no money." Jean Claude argued.

"I don't know. It will be ok." He patted his friend on the knee as he told him sincerely. "She'll return. Everything she knows is here. She couldn't possibly leave and never return."

When Jean Claude wasn't convinced Raoul told him, "If she's not here in a couple of weeks, we'll begin searching."

"I'm not sure I can wait that long." Jean Claude said as he got up and began to pace the room.

Meg sat at Erik's piano looking at the music he was working on. It always surprised her that such beautiful creations were even possible. She knew that they were only possible for people like Erik with such vast talents and abilities. She reached out and ran her fingers gently over the keys.

They were smooth and cold. The candle next to her fluttered causing its light to flicker gently. Meg knew Erik had returned before she saw him. She just felt his presence in the room with her.

"What are you doing?" Erik asked as he approached Meg at the piano.

"I woke up and you were gone." She turned to face him. "I was worried about you."

"I'm fully capable of taking care of myself." He told her rudely.

"I know but anything could have happened to you. How was I supposed to know if you were ok." Meg told him. She felt hurt because of the way he was acting.

"Fine. You see I'm here now so go back to bed." Erik told her as he brushed by her quickly and returned to his bedroom

Meg sat on her bed with her legs crossed and her head gently resting on her fist. Her mind began to wander as she forced herself to think of other things besides Erik. She thought of the outside world, wondering where Erik had disappeared to. Briefly she thought of her mother. She loved her mother but she had become so emotionally taxing to Meg that it was nice to not be responsible for her all the time. Christine and Raoul were probably living their charmed life with their perfect friends.

Eventually she stopped thinking about people and began to think about her past life. Suddenly she had the urge to get out. She needed to see the world again. She wanted to see the stars and breathe fresh air. As soon as she had the thought she began to discard it because Erik wouldn't let her leave. She sat up more stiffly as she had another sudden idea. She should at least try and sneak up to the roof. If Erik caught her that was fine because then at least he'd be paying attention to her instead of acting as if she was invisible.

a/n: REVIEW! Thanks for all the reviews you've been giving me guys! I decided to add a little something with Jean Claude and hopefully it will work out well. We'll have to see. More dialogue with meg and erik in the next chappie. REVIEW PLEASE!