Disclaimer: I own nothing save my two characters. But you knew that. So why am I repeating myself?

A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to post. I have three papers due for school so I've been working on those. Enjoy this chapter. Next ones are on their way!

Chapter 17: Bridging the Gap

The next few days were spent in interviews with Erik. He'd invite me up to the piano room, play something for me, and then drill me about my past. Or should I say future? It's all so confusing. He wanted to know everything and anything. So, I told him everything. There was no point in hiding anything.

Louise knew something was up. She'd heard Erik shouting at me, but not exactly what he'd said. She was very concerned. I made Erik promise me not to tell her anything about my being from the future.

"Please, Erik. You know as well as I that she would never understand. This concept is way beyond her. I love her like a mother, but she can't know. Please, don't ever tell. You have your secrets; I have mine. I've sworn not to tell yours. Swear not to tell mine!" Needless to say, he agreed. I believe that he knew Louise would not be able to comprehend or take it in. So, she remained blissfully unaware of what Erik now knew.

Erik questioned me most about inventions and music. He was fascinated when I told him about airplanes and men going to the moon. He confided in me that he'd always wanted to go to the moon. He thought it would be a grand adventure. I was disappointed to tell him that he would never live to see it, unless he lived to be over a hundred. I can't say he was too thrilled about that. I told him about electric lights; which were soon to come in a few years. I told him about compact discs and how you could record music on them. I told him about the famous songs and operas and musicals. He was so curious, I only wished I could have taken him there and shown them to him. He would have loved them. Then again, if they weren't perfect, he'd be very disappointed.

Another line of questioning was about my family. I told him everything he wanted to hear, though it was hard on me. I think he knew that so his questioning of that subject was gentle and slow. He was interested to hear about what my life had been like before I showed up in Paris. One day, while discussing my younger brother and his love of music, I asked if he was angry with me.

"Angry? Why should I be angry?" He gave me one of those curious looks. If that mask had been off, I'd swear he raised his eyebrow.

"I don't know." I fiddled with the cup in my hands. "I just thought since I lied to you, you might be angry. I know it's silly. But, I have to make sure. I couldn't stand it if you were angry or disappointed or anything like that." He took the cup away from me and clasped my hands. I could have swooned.

"Elizabeth, I would never be angry at you. You know that. You lied. I've done that more times than I can count. You had a very good reason for not telling the truth. I'm just glad it eventually came out." He smiled and squeezed my hands. "Though, next time, I'll remember not to startle you while you are doing house work. Who knows what other secrets I'd learn?" I laughed.

"That would be a very good thing to do. Who knows what else I might say?" We had a good laugh over that one. He stood up gracefully and pulled me up with him.

"Now, if I could have the honor, I'd like to take you somewhere." Take me somewhere? That didn't sound like the Erik I knew.

"Where?" I was very curious. Though we still went for walks in the park and to his students' houses, he was loath to go anywhere else. If I wanted to go anywhere else, I was forced to take Louise with me because he refused to go. So, for him to want to take me somewhere was a shock.

"You've never seen the outside of Paris and the surrounding country. I think it's time we took a ride out there. You would really enjoy it." I was ecstatic to say the least. I'd always wanted to go outside the city walls and see the country.

Our ride was very enjoyable. We saw farm land and I saw more of the city than I'd ever seen before. I could even see Notre Dame in the distance. I vowed before I died to go see that magnificent cathedral. It was a wonderful day. Through the whole ride, though, we still talked of the future and what life would be like then.

Despite the fact that he now knew that I knew about the whole affair with Christine and Raoul, he still forbid me to talk about it. I think the memories still caused pain and he didn't want someone prying around for the nitty-gritty details. I was careful to respect his wishes. Though, there were quite a few questions I was just dying to ask. Thankfully, I held my tongue.

Life soon returned to normal. Or, as close to normal as it could be with him knowing my secret. Now that he knew, I'd go to him with all my problems with the time period. There weren't many. In the two years I'd been there, I'd adjusted to pretty much everything. Except corsets and dresses. Those were still the most annoying things. Erik always laughed at me when I complained about those things. Though, I still like to think he felt some pity for me.

Nothing else really changed. Our walks through the park were pretty much regulated to every other day. We were both busy with the music lessons. I did most of the paper work and he taught the lessons. Both of the boys progressed beautifully. It was wonderful to hear them play.

I must admit, I was growing nervous with Erik's spreading fame. Neither Countess de Ray nor Jack's mother could keep their mouths shut in praising Erik to their friends. I was worried for I knew they would mention the mask. And if a certain viscount and his wife found out, I was sure bad things would happen. I decided to find out where they were and if it was at all possible for them to hear of Erik.

I never told Erik about my search. I had a sneaking suspicion that he had already looked up the de Chagnys and had made sure they would never hear of him. But, I wanted to reassure myself. After all, the music lessons were my idea.

My search was hard but after a lot of searching, I finally found the information I was looking for. It appeared they had left the country to go to England shortly after the opera fiasco. I was very much relieved. I could breathe easier knowing they weren't around Paris. Of course, that still didn't get rid of the possibility of someone else from the event finding out. I just crossed my fingers and hoped they never did.