A.N: I am so so so sorry for taking so long to get this out… A little drama in my life… But here it is! Chapter Nine!

Chapter Nine: Forgive and Forget

After they finished the song, Amy asked Erik to stay and help out with teaching the girls their parts. Sarine silently walked to the door. Erik noticed she was gone and turned to her.

"Sarine? Where are you going?" he asked, walking to her.

She turned to him and smiled, "Oh, out."

Erik took her hands, "To see Jonathan?"

She nodded sheepishly. Looking at him, she pleaded with her eyes. She always did that when she wanted something badly. But Erik had already made up his mind. He knew that she had to talk to him.

"Be careful. If you're not back by nine, I'm coming after you," Erik said, taking her face in his hands and giving her a quick kiss.

"Bye," she whispered as he turned back to the stage.

She, in turn, turned and walked out of the opera house. Quickly she walked through the streets of Paris until she got to Jonathan's house. She knocked and waited. Jonathan's maid, Emily, opened the door slowly.

"I'm sorry, Miss Sarine. Master Jonathan is in no condition to entertain guests," She said through the crack in the door.

"I know Emily," Sarine said, putting her hand on the door. "But I really need to talk to him. I'm sorry."

She pushed through the door and walked up the stairs. Walking quickly to his door, she opened it silently.

Jonathan was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Quietly she walked to the side of the bed and sat down. As he looked to her and saw the bruise, he reached up and touched her face gently.

"My god, did I do that? Oh Sarine, I'm so sorry. I am so, so sorry…" he said, slowly sitting up.

He hesitantly reached over and pulled her into a hug. Sarine wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. Slowly they broke the embrace.

"No, I deserved it. I knew you liked me and I didn't tell you how I felt about you or Erik. You'll always be my Jonathan, my friend who was there, no matter what. You just can't be more than that… Do you remember what Xander told me before he died?"

"About the man you can't take your eyes off of?" Jonathan asked ruefully.

"Yes," Sarine said, him pulling her into a sitting position against himself. "Erik is that man. I just couldn't pry my eyes off of him since the moment our eyes met. I love him. I know that, deep in my heart, that I love him. I don't know why, but I do. I love you like a brother. Because of what happened with Xander, I could never love you like you need me to. And I can't stand seeing you so hurt because of it…"

Jonathan sat silently for a moment, his head leaning against hers. Finally he said, "I'm not hurt anymore. I'm glad you came. When I stop to think about it, courting you would be an insult to Xander's memory. I guess I'll forgive you… if you let me give you away at your wedding."

Sarine laughed and hugged his arms, which were wrapped around her. They sat there in silence, his arms wrapped around her. They stayed like that for hours, brother and sister, in perfect harmony. After a while, Sarine looked at the clock on Jonathan's bedside table. It read eight forty-five.

"I'd better get going… I don't want Erik scouring the city looking for me," Sarine said, sitting up.

"Oh, before you go," Jonathan said, reaching into his pocket. "These are the names of four actors that are intrigued by your play. I also have a young lady who is interested in the lead. Her husband is contemplating being the patron."

"But Erik wants me to be lead…" Sarine said.

"Yes," Jonathan said, putting the slip of paper into her hand. "But you would get a ver wealthy patron. At least meet them. It couldn't hurt."

Sarine nodded and gave Jonathan a hug. She then turned and walked out the door. Walking quickly, she reached the opera house at exactly nine o'clock. She bumped into Erik running out of the opera house while she was running in. They slammed into each other and fell to the floor, Erik on top of Sarine. They lay there for a while, either unable or unwilling to move. Erik then shifted so that his face hovered over hers and his full weight wasn't on her.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," she replied, slightly out of breath.

"You're lucky," he said, pushing her hair away from her face. "I was about to tear apart Paris looking for you."

Sarine smiled, reached up, and pulled his face down to hers, "I'm lucky I got back then."

She pulled him to her lips and kissed him fully. He took her face with a hand and attempted to hold himself up with the other. Before he could react, she pulled the supporting arm up to her face, causing him to fall the rest of the way onto her. She smiled in the kiss and ran her fingers through his hair. His hand moved down her face and up her arm to her hand. He pulled it from his hair and placed it on his mask.

"Take it off… please…" he said into her lips.

Sarine, instead, put both hands on his chest and pushed him up. Sliding out from under him, she stood up and brushed herself off. Erik was on his back, looking up at her, confused. He then, too, stood up and dusted himself off.

"What is it?" he asked, worried.

"We're in the middle of the lobby. Someone could walk in," she replied, taking hold of Erik's hand and walking into the amphitheater.

"Who? Amy and the girls wouldn't care. Are… are you ashamed of me?" Erik said, his eyes questioning.

Sarine walked to the stage and sat on the edge. Erik jumped up and sat next to her, taking her hand. Sarine looked around thoughtfully, then back down to their hands.

"This is probably the last time I'll be on this stage as a performer," she said.

Erik took her by the shoulders and turned her toward him, using his hand to have her face look at him, "What do you mean?"

"Jonathan found someone for lead," she said, a tear running down her face. "And she has to star in order for her husband to become patron. They're stopping by between now and next week."

Erik looked at her. He knew that she wanted to do the part, no matter how scared she got. He would not stand for it.

"Plus," she started, leaning against him. "I would get to do my management duties. Someone has to run the opera house."

"Let me do it then! Everyone who has ever loved you knows that you are good enough to perform opera. I do, Jonathan does, and Xander did. I refuse to just let you quit like this."

"Fine" she said, getting slightly angry. "And how will we pay without a patron?"

"Another patron! There are plenty out there that have no one in opera. And, if we need to, I'll become the patron! I have enough money to be a steady patron for years! Just, please, don't quit. I made this opera for you and you alone. Not some opera singer, who probably can't sing," Erik said, taking her arms and holding her at a distance, staring into her eyes.

Sarine laughed and gave him a big hug, changing the subject. "Well, I'm tired, dear. Would you escort a lady to bed?"

Erik stood up on the stage and pulled her up to him, "Of course. Where are your preferred chambers?"

"Anywhere you go," She whispered, wrapping her arm around his waist.

Quietly they walked back to the lair. They got changed and slid into bed, taking the usual position of his arm over her waist. This night it was Sarine who sang, filling the night with a sweet melody. Erik listened as her voice drew him into unconsciousness. And he slept the best he's ever slept in his life.