Author's Note- Alright, here be another chapter…not entirely happy with it, but I don't know how to make it much better…so enjoy!

ErikandChristine- hehe, Edward isn't evil! Just…ambitious, lol. And, I am glad you are liking the pairing, as it shall remain for quite awhile

Ram Jas- lol, no he isn't…at least, not quite like Raoul…Eddy isn't a fop! Lol…though, he is rather determined it would seem…and we are co-ing the island one…

Rinny Leonhart Rikku- haha, good! It is supposed to! Lol, I prolly wouldn't react much differently than Jen…only a bit more panic-y…I don't really know! Lol

Tallacus- aye, poor Erik…well, not really! He still has me…er…Jen! Lol…

Chapter 31

Searching

When the pale light of dawn reached the Opera House, it was nothing more than a blackened shell of it's former self. The fire was mostly gone, yet the smoke still lingered. Luckily, some of the rooms had been saved. Edward was treading lightly through one such area. He had made it out of the Opera House, and followed the countless others down into the cellars in search of the 'Ghost', but they had had little success. He had fled. And Edward had lost track of Jen. Right now, any sign of her being alive was good.

The male percussionist walked through an ash-strewn corridor and found the door he wanted. The room had been scorched slightly, but the damage was not as bad as some areas. He searched through the desk and dressers, looking for something, anything. There was nothing. He then went to the bedside table and opened it's drawer. What he saw inside made him gasp. He pulled out a white half mask, a perfect duplicate of the one the Giry girl had found in the monster's lair. Was Jen in conspiracy with him? Edward looked around the room for more signs, and saw the broken mirror, shattered from the heat of the fire. There was a tunnel behind it. Carefully he made his way down the dark passage, and found himself in the lair, where he had been only the night before. She was! And, she could help him arrest the man who burnt down the Opera! After what he did, she was no doubt angry- she had no job or place to live. Edward had to find her, he loved her. He would not let that monster get away.

XxXxXxXxX

Jen woke up alone, covered with Erik's black cape. She looked around for him, but there weren't even footprints to show where he had gone. She tried to stretch, but her body was frozen it seemed. She sighed- sometimes Erik really did seem like a ghost. She would just have to wait. Hours seemed to pass and her freezing limbs seemed to grow stiffer. She sneezed and coughed a few times. "I better not be coming down with something." She growled, keeping the cape tightly around her. Her arm was nearly useless, she noticed, and hurt when she moved it. It would be a very long time before she could play again.

An hour passed, and Erik still hadn't returned. Jen didn't know when he had left, but she was worried. The police were looking for him, and if he were caught, she would never know. And, someone might find her. She shuddered, and it wasn't from the cold. Well, not entirely. "Where are you?" she asked herself, noticing how hoarse and weak she sounded. She sighed, and sank back into her little corner. It wasn't covered with snow, but hidden by a snow bank. She hoped it was hidden well enough.

Jen bolted upright again when she heard the sound of someone approaching. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her- she had moved too quickly. The percussionist groaned in agony, then nearly shouted as a gloved hand grabbed her from behind and whirled her around to find herself nose-to-nose with Erik. "Oh my God! Don't do that!" she told him, and he chuckled softly. "I am sorry, mademoiselle, but I had to be careful. I brought some food for us, and some bandages." Jen attempted a weak smile and scooted over to give him room. Before he could do anything she pulled him into a rather passionate kiss then grinned. "I was worried."

Erik smiled and pulled a pastry out of the paper bag he was carrying and handed to her. "I am sorry, but I didn't have the heart to wake you." Jen smiled and bit into her breakfast while Erik unwrapped her other arm. "This might hurt a bit." He said softly, trying to be gentle. It was rather unsuccessful, as the blood had dried on the bandage, sticking it to her skin. Jen winced each time a strip of cloth was pulled off. Erik grimaced at the wound. "We will have to find someone to look at it." He murmered while adding a new bandage. Jen nodded and shivered again. She felt out of it, like she was slipping. Erik glanced at her worriedly. He seemed…blurred, in fact, everything seemed less clear, out of focus. She sneezed and Erik's worry grew. "You have to get inside soon…" he said, pulling off a black glove and touching her cheek gently. The warmth of his hand felt like fire on her freezing flesh. Erik stood and picked her up, keeping her close. Jen coughed again, and realized how weak and out of it she felt. She was freezing. And then she began to loose consiousness. The world became even less focused, and soon blackness began creepy around the edges of her vision.

Erik had seen immediately that though she seemed perky, she needed help. Her night in the cold had not been good for her. Her arm was also in pretty bad shape. He hoped he could help her. Carefully he walked down the street, searching for an inn where he could help her. He found one at last, and looked at the woman in his arms. Woman, he contemplated, she was no girl. He had called her a girl so long, but she wasn't, he realized with a grim smile. She was slipping away quickly though. He knew he had to get her warm. And soon.

XxXxXxXxX

Nicole looked around again and sighed. Too many people. Because the Opera House had burned down, she was now having to turn away customers. She just didn't have space. Neither, it seemed, did anyone else in Paris. The young woman looked around and shook her head. Too many. Though she wished she could help, she only had one room left. And that was only because someone had left less than an hour ago to return home.

The innkeeper continued dusting the counter, and sighed. More people meant more money, but it also meant more work. Work she didn't need. But, it was a living. She turned to another section of the room and began humming to herself while cleaning. Whoever had destroyed the Opera, she didn't know whether to thank him or kill him if she ever had the chance.

A light tinkling of bells made her turn to the door. Nicole gasped when she saw the man step in, dressed in what seemed to be all black. His clothing was tattered and dirty, probably another Opera House resident she concluded. But what made her gasp was the body in his arms. It was a woman, around her age she guessed, with dark brown hair. She was dressed in a similar fashion as the man carrying her, and rather pale. Almost deathly looking.

"Are you the innkeeper?" the man asked, his voice strained with worry and desperation. Nicole nodded. "Oui monsieur, I am. Are you looking for a room…I am afraid I only have one-"

"I'll take it. Name your price." Erik set Jen's unconscious form on a sofa gently, then reached into his pocket. Nicole smiled, but it quickly faded as she looked at the man's face for the first time. The right side of it was marred and deformed. It frightened her. She was about to turn him away, but something in his eyes kept her from doing so. "How long to you plan to stay?" she asked. Erik hesitated. "A week at least. Maybe more."

Nicole smiled. "Pay me when you leave. Here is a key- the room is upstairs." Erik smiled in gratitude then picked Jen up again. When he reached the room, he frowned slightly. It was small, with only one bed and a tiny bathroom, but it would be enough. He could sleep on the floor. Carefully he lay Jen down and kissed her cheek. "Sleep my angel." He whispered before pulling the blankets around her shivering form. "Sleep."

Once he was happy with how she was settled he sat down on the lone chair and sighed. He walked into the small bathroom and decided to take a bath to get rid of the chill that seemed to dwell deep in his bones. When he saw his face in the mirror he gasped, realizing for the first time that he wore no mask. He looked around for it before realizing he had left it in the lair. Erik smiled at Jen. When around her, he didn't feel like he needed a mask. When he had been with Christine, he was afraid of what she would see beneath it, and she was afraid of his deformity. Jen wasn't. And, Erik realize, she was the only woman who had ever seen past the monster. And, he thought he might love her for it.

Author's Note- No, this isn't gonna be 'Jen wakes up and they get married' type thing…tis far from it…note the might, lol. Well, there is your chapter, hope you enjoyed it, and review!