I dedicate this chapter to 2 of my favorite fellow phan phiction writers here on My-Echo and Des Ires, I love you guys! Thanx for the great stories! For the hope that you will someday read this story, I wish I had your incredible genius!

- veritasa- thanks! You make me feel good!

That said, proceed in reading yet another highly emotional chapter. Don't you all agree with me that Erik is a very...emotionally unbalanced man? Is he crying to much or does that add to the story?

Chapter 17 - Mending Hearts

For a long moment, I trembled, not so silently, gazing at her. She was as beautiful as I remembered; Aria's red hair splayed across her pillow, copper rays of sunset against a white sky. Her alabaster skin gave off a radiance no poet in the world could describe. Finally, I staggered over to the bed and stared into her face. Her beautiful green eyes were closed.

Now that I was closer, I realized something was terribly wrong. Aria's skin was so white it nearly blended with her linen bedding; Her crimson lips stood out, tempting me. She had dark circles under her eyes, and heat seemed to radiate off of her. I brushed my hand against her forehead; she was blazing!

"Oh, my love," I whispered, and sat down in the chair beside her bed, my body shaking hard. I picked up her hand and caressed it.

And that's when I see it. The plain silver chain around Aria's graceful neck; memories and tears flood me, and crystal drops fall on her hand.

She stirred. I shot up from my chair and leaned over her. Aria's eyelids fluttered open and stare up at me. My whole body shook, and I cannot speak for joy.

"E-erik?" she whispered, her voice feeble.

"Yes!" I breathed back, a soft, dazed smile entering my face.

"No!" she muttered, and squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm dreaming, this isn't real, just another dream..."

"No, no, Aria, I'm here!" I stutter gently. And I cannot withold any longer; I slipped a hand onto her face. "It's me..."

Aria turned back.

"Oh, God! Aria, I've missed you so...much..." My voice choked out, and I leaned down and buried my head in her shoulder. "So much..."

I pulled back a little and stare into her eyes.

"I missed you too, Eri-" she began, but instead began to cough. Her body was thrown forward in an attempt to issue the air from her throat, but she was too weak.

I lovingly slip my arms behind her back and hold her up.

Finally the coughing stops, and Aria sort of collapsed in my arms. Instead of setting her back down, I press her against my chest, needing her warmth.

She smiled up at me, her green eyes sparkling from fever, but behind that, I see broken.

Her eyes are broken, shattered, stabbed, wounded, hurt, sad. Why? Because I left? Would...it have effected her so?

I reached over and got the cold cloth, wiping her face with it. Tenderly, my fingers caressed her skin while the cloth cools it. Soon, her eyes closed in weariness, and I sing to her, my voice as soft as the night.

I stay with her for the rest of the day; I do not stir. She slept most of the time, but restlessly.

Nadir, Hans, and Madame Giry walk in the room. I stared rather annoyed at them...

Nadir eyes me cautiously but says in a soft voice, "We need to discuss her living conditions. Will you step outside?"

I growled, laid Aria's hand next to her, and followed them out the door.

"Hans may have told you; she lost her job."

I nodded.

Nadir looked down at the ground and sighed. "The managers also made her continue...her dancing."

"WHAT?" I roared. Pure, malicious wrath burned into my blood. I began to pace.

Hans sighed, rather irritated. I turned back. "She could live in my home."

Nadir and Hans mused for a moment, then nodded.

Madame Giry gasped. "No! That is not right! The shame-"

Hans and I, both ignorant to the rules of proper society, frowned. "Why not?" Hans asked.

"It is not appropriate! To live with a man one is not related or married to..." Madame Giry trailed off, shaking her head.

"Do you have a better idea?" I growled to her.

But she didn't. "Well...I suppose...under the circumstances...as long as Meg and I check on her every day..."

I sighed. "What ever seems necissary."

We talked over when and how, and decided the sooner Aria was out of the drafty, dirty Opera House. She would be brought over to my home tomorrow. I hated to admit it, but my blood pounded...every day...after so long without her I would be near every day!

Though I was loath to obey, I left the Opera Populaire to prepare my home for Aria. She would, of course, take my bed. My house was not large, but it did have a guest bedroom I had used for storage. I bought a stout, small bed and frame; I would sleep on it. After all, I rarely slept anyway.

I stocked up on food, as I eat very little, even now. But Aria I knew ate like any normal person should.

Suddenly, walking by the many shops and stores along a street of Paris, I spotted something. It was a wedding-band. Very simple, it was. A single, glinting silver ring with one lone diamond set into it. I imagined for a moment, letting my mind fantasize over asking Aria for her hand. I knew I had to get it; so I did, along with a pretty pendant of emerald that would match her eyes.

Back at home, I paced, anxious and restless. I shamelessly cleaned the bedroom, living room, and tidied the pantry. I may be a man, but I do like a sense of orderliness, and I had learned to cook for myself. I knew Aria would be proud. And still, I waited.