A/N: I do not own the Phantom of the Opera. Thank you.
Another short chapter, they will get longer, I promise.
And so the second part of the story begins, set two years after we last left our brooding phantom and his little artiste, I hope you enjoy the twist, it gets even better.
Two Years Later
Monsieur Firmin gave a sigh as the coach pulled him up to the wreckage of the opera house. Workers were busy, replacing windows and carrying out damaged furniture.
He shook his head, "Stubborn woman, wastes no time at all does she?"
Quickly he got out and braced himself. It would be fine. The ghost was gone and finally he could get on with his life.
"Where is Madame Durand?" He called as a worker passed.
"The stage," the worker replied slipping out of the theater.
Firmin walked quickly through the throng of workers that hurried to clear the theater. Most of it was burned and blackened but it was still relatively solid. There would have been a chance he and Andre could have rebuilt, if they could have simply gotten away from the stigma of the opera ghost.
He spotted Madame Durand on the stage yelling orders to the workers as they lifted the chandelier. She was an impressive woman despite her size. Very lovely as well, her creamy skin stood out from her black work dress and her ebony hair twisted up behind her head. She grinned beautifully when she saw him.
"Ahh, Monsieur Firmin! You just missed Monsieur Andre; have you come to issue cryptic warnings about my disaster as well?"
"No Madame, I have come to deliver this deed to you and wash my hands of this opera house."
Her dove gray eyes twinkled in the light, "That is the best news we have gotten all day Monsieur, I thank you."
She bowed quite deeply and took the deed he offered from his hand. He looked around,
"It seems that the repairs will go well."
"The foundation is still good, as well as most of the building, the entire roof must be replaced thought and now I am going to have to deal with greedy contractors and their ilk," she sighed, "but it will be worth it for this place."
"Madame Durand!"
A young boy, no more than six came running up the stage. Firmin noticed a brace on the lad's leg but he seemed to be moving just fine with it.
"A letter, Madame, from Master Durand," he offered it up to her.
Madame Durand rolled her eyes, "Blasted man, can't leave me to my work for one solid day," She quickly broke the seal then began to scan the letter. "Yes, I have the estimate. No, that will take much longer than you keep thinking it will. Of course I did that this morning, what do you take me for? I have the deed, I told you it was to be delivered today, and no, of course I do not have a patron yet, it is too damn early," Madame Durand shook her head and looked down at the boy, "he is getting bored Giovanni."
The lad nodded and took the letter and the deed from her.
Firmin blinked, "If I may inquire Madame, but was that a letter from your husband?"
She nodded swiftly, "Oui, Monsieur, you did not think that I myself owned the theater?" She shook her head, "No, it is my husband that has purchased this wreck and expects me to manage it."
"Can he not manage it himself?"
"Non Monsieur Firmin, he was a victim of an illness when he was a younger man, it left him without the ability to walk. He cannot leave our house without much assistance. I have helped him as much as I can. Yet, a few years ago he read the story of your Opera Ghost and it fascinated him. After he found out that the theater was for sale he claimed that he simply had to have it."
"Does he do this often?"
She smiled, "I have managed many estates for him in the past. This is nothing new, surely a bit grander than I am used to but it seems like it shall be exciting."
Firmin nodded at her answer, "Although it seems like quite a bit of trouble on your part though, managing a theater, especially one with such a reputation as this one."
She smiled, "The things we do for love are no trouble. He enjoys this theater and it keeps him busy, so who am I to argue with him?"
Firmin nodded and kissed the back of her hand, "You, Madame Durand are a singular woman."
"So I am reminded by everyone I meet," she grinned, "I shall see you to your coach Monsieur Firmin. Come Gio, let us be off."
The lad nodded and followed them off of the stage.
Firmin was taken aback by this Madame Durand, a strange woman seemingly wed to an even stranger man. She was young still, and yet she devoted her life to the whims of her husband. Every man should be so lucky.
Madame Durand watched Monsieur Firmin's coach make its way into the city and she grinned. Finally she had the deed and the work had begun.
"Madame Durand!"
A woman with red hair and a notepad was moving swiftly towards her. She grinned for she recognized a member of the press when she saw one, "Bon jour, may I help you?"
"I am from a local paper and was wondering if you would be willing to give me a few moments of your time?"
"Just a few, perhaps. I have work to attend to."
"I was wondering if you could comment on the opening of the new theater and perhaps… the ghost?"
Madam Durand chuckled, "Well, the Opera Fantome will be complete by the summer, God willing, and as for ghosts, I do not believe in them."
"Surely your workers have found something?"
"No, Mademoiselle, they have found nothing to my knowledge, nothing but charred music and broken violins."
"No traps or secret doors?"
"The original owners all boarded those up years ago and I am not going to disturb them for their sake. Is that all for today? I really must be going."
The woman smiled, "Just one last question, with the changed name of the theater do you believe that the opera ghost will return when it is finished?"
Madame Durand grinned, "Mademoiselle, if he were truly a ghost, then he never would have left."
Madame Durand watched the reported walk off towards the street. She wasn't the first she had to deal with and certainly would not be the last.
"Do you want to send a note back to Master Durand?"
She yawned and looked down at Giovanni, the orphan lad she had found in the horse stables only a month before, "No, Gio, I think I shall much rather go home for dinner and tell him myself, besides, I think we have worked you quite enough for one day."
She mussed his hair as she hailed a cab, "Go on and make sure the workers don't laze about, I shall return in two hours time. You are in charge until then."
The boy nodded proudly as she sped away.
It was a modest house and thankfully only temporary. She believed that she might go mad if she stayed in it another month. She tossed her cloak to the butler and made her way upstairs where the help was not allowed to go.
He was playing the piano when she entered, a deep rolling piece that made her giddy and lightheaded to hear it. She waited until the crescendo ceased and last vibrations of the music left the room.
"You are back early."
"I came back for supper and to toss your infuriating note back at you."
"I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget anything, Mon petite."
He turned slightly as she placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed his temple right where his mask met skin.
"Did you have yourself an exciting day, Katerina?"
"Everyday with you is an adventure, Erik."
A/N: Oooh, the story has changed! You're going to have to use your imaginations about what happened in the two years between part one and two. Though that may be dwelt on at a later time with one shots and sequels.