Disclaimer: I do not own any of Gaston Leroux's creations. I only own Delphine Aubade and the few other characters that I have come up with, such as Robert Lennings.

Chapter Five- L'Epoque's Little Operetta

Delphine

As she entered the house the familiar sounds of her father and brother bickering reached her ears. It usually sounded much more pleasant than it did now. They sounded as if they were having a major row. Not something about who got the last piece of cake.

Since she had learned Erik's name a week ago she had felt that she could talk to him much more openly. She had visited him everyday this week. She knew that he was not used to such company, it showed in the way he was often at a loss for words. She knew better than to leave him in solitude though. While he might try and draw away from her she knew that he liked her company too.

They had a bond, a strange bond, but a bond none the less. It connected them through their pain. She knew that they had sadness in a different way. His might be more painful than hers. She had often seen the way he reacted to news of Christine. She often tried to keep her out of their conversations, but when she had to leave him it was more likely to see Christine, Raoul, and Henri.

Today they had been sitting next to the organ. He had showed her his opera. Don Juan Triumphant. It looked like he had spent his whole life on it. "How did you come up with it?"

He didn't answer her at first. "I'm not sure."

"Is it about you?" She asked. He didn't reply. She reached for his hand. "Why do you hide yourself?"

"What do you mean?"

"You live down here, alone. You wear that mask…" She said as she trailed off. She had only asked about his mask once. She had quickly learned that was as sour a point with him as was Christine. "Even these gloves hide you." Without thinking she pulled the glove off of his hand. "You are human you know. You shouldn't have to hide. Least of all your touch. There is no harm in touch."

"You do not know that." He said as he watched her hold his hand.

"Don't you miss the feel of something under you fingers? Don't you miss the feel of the organ keys?" She asked.

He shook his head. "There is no need to feel that. Flesh is the most intoxicating feeling, but that I must deny myself of."

"Why?"

"There is not a soul in the world who would want my touch."

Delphine rolled her eyes. "Deprivation…Here." She said as she brought his hand to her face. "I am not scared of your touch." She saw his eyes light up. She smiled. She had brought a light to his eyes.

That had been her triumph of the night. She knew that it was hard to bring light to the solitary, sad eyes of Erik. She knew that Christine had probably been the only other one to achieve such a thing.

Now as she removed her own gloves from her hands, she wondered how her family could be fighting on a night like tonight.

She entered the dining room. Her father and brother immediately stopped and looked at her. "What is all this about?" She asked with a smile. "I had thought that I would find you two doing anything but fighting. What are you fighting over?"

They both looked down at their feet. "Delphi…" Her brother said. She looked at his face. The humiliation was ripe on his face.

"Antoine, what is wrong? You look like you have been dealt a blow. Did someone challenge you again?" She tried to laugh but nothing would come out. She suddenly felt very uneasy.

Her father looked up at her. His expression was just as pained as Erik's had been earlier that night. "Delphi, what have you done?"

"What are you talking about?"

"How could you not know?" Antoine said. "Have you not been at the Opera House all day?"

"Yes, but what does that matter?"

Antoine shook his head. "You were not there."

"Of course I was." She said without fear of lying.

"I went there, to bring you home. I thought you would be embarrassed. They said you had never shown up."

She had gotten there early and went straight to Erik's lair. Had she really spent the whole day there? Of course she had. She had not dared find an excuse to leave him. In the end, he had been the one to suggest she go. "I…I was there." She said.

"You…lie." Antoine said. "Who is this new one?"

"What?"

"You think neither of us noticed the ring on your finger?" Her father said. She found herself twisting it on her finger. Why had she not taken it off yet? It was causing her nothing but trouble. Even Erik had observed it. He had said nothing. Only looked at it for what felt like hours.

"This? You can ask Christine. Henri found it in the Opera House. He gave it to me and Christine told me to keep it safe."

They gave her a skeptical look. "Delphi, everyone knows."

"Knows what?" She asked, her voice raising. What were they keeping from her. Antoine bent down and picked up the most recent edition of L'Epoque. He thrust it at her with such force that she stumbled back.

She took it from him and looked at the page. She could not see anything at first. She did not want to see anything. Anything about her in L'Epoque would not be good news. She didn't want her mind clear and find something about her connection to another man. Especially if that mad turned out to be Erik. She was terrified that he would be found out. She was terrified that he would be captured and thrown into some damp prison were she would never see him again.

Her other friends would never be able to understand her the way Erik did. She would do anything to keep him from getting hurt. She didn't know how it had happened, but she had come to realize that Erik was her best friend.

Numerous times she had been tempted to ask Christine more about him. He wouldn't tell her anything to personal. He was still a man wrapped in an enigma. Asking Christine, though, would mean her getting suspicious.

She didn't want anyone in Paris to find out that she was keeping him safe. It would completely defeat the purpose of protecting him. If L'Epoque had come up with some story about how she had brought in his letter…that would be horrible. Even more so if everyone thought she was harboring such a 'monster', as they undoubtedly saw him.

She didn't know what she was supposed to be looking at so she looked up to see the anticipation on her brother's face. "What exactly am I looking at?" She asked.

He snatched the paper from her and pointed at an article. It was a decent length. She leaned forward to read it. The title said in a big bold print, The Impressions of one, Delphine Aubade.

As she read on her face grew red. The article was an in-depth report on her argument with Robert. It stated how she had seemed consumed with shock and sadness at first seeing him. How she had tried to protect her mysterious lover who had been in the catwalks. How she had screamed her confession for all in the auditorium to hear.

She found it hard to believe that anyone in the Opera House would be so against her to report the whole story. There must have been a reporter. She struggled to keep her face from turning any redder. "Well?" Antoine asked.

"I…I…"

"Delphi," Her father said with a sad tone. "how could you? Really, not even after proper mourning time you have gotten a lover. You accuse Robert of that misdeed-"

"Which did lead you across the river." Antoine interjected.

"When," Her father said, as if to subdue her brother's anger from raining down on her. "you know that your new lover could have been the cause."

"There is no new lover!" Delphine shouted.

"Than where were you today?" Antoine said as he pushed his father's words aside. "Who were you spending all that time with, if not with him?"

Delphine felt the fear building in her heart. "I already told you, I was at the Opera House."

"Than you must have been with him." Antoine said. "If he's a singer, you must have been in his dressing room." He accused.

"He's not a singer…" She said. Suddenly realizing what she had said she furiously shook her head. "There is no man."

"Don't lie, Delphine." Antoine shouted. He seemed almost pained that he had defended her against Mariana Hefslot. He seemed to actually believe that she had given herself to another. That she was that horrible to give herself so freely.

"Are you implying that I am some call girl for some rich, arrogant singer? Are you implying that I would stoop that low?"

"You can't hide him forever!" Antoine shouted. This thought hit her in another way. Truly, she couldn't hide Erik forever. Look what she had gotten herself into already. "I'll find him. And when I do, trust me dear sister, there will be hell to pay."

Delphine felt like screaming, but what came out of her mouth was much less desirable. "You touch so much as one hair on his head and I shall make you pay." She said before she could stop herself. She watched as his eyes grew wide. Terrified she whirled around and flew from the room before another word could be hurled at her. Yanking her cloak off of the chair placed before the door, she threw it about her and descended into the night.

---

She wasn't sure where she was going. She knew that she was headed toward Christine's house. Why she was going there, she did not know. Her heart had began to beat furiously as she had said that to her brother. He had looked like she had thrust a knife into his side. She had no idea where that threat had come from.

The thought of her brother going after the man she was trying to protect made her nervous. The thought of what he could do to a poor, broken man like Erik made her frightened. She knew that Erik harbored great strength, but the chance of his using it was slim. His letter to the people of Paris had made that clear. What would she do if Antoine did find him out?

He would not hesitate to let those horrible thoughts step in his mind. She could see what he would do to Erik. Her brother was very protective over her. When Robert had run off with Nicole, it had taken her father, Raoul, and two police men to get him away from Robert.

She knew that Antoine had honestly believed her when she had said she did not go to that clinic. Now he knew the truth. Straight from her mouth, but not to his ear. He would be humiliated and hurt. The idea of her getting herself into the same situation probably seemed beyond him.

When Antoine had told her that she couldn't hide him forever the thought had ripped her heart to shreds. It was the truth. She could not hide Erik forever. She could not protect him forever. She had been in contact with him for a little more than a month and look what had happened. She knew that she would have to distance herself from him. She knew that once she was with Erik, in his world, she lost all track of time. If she wasn't careful things could go horribly wrong.

As she stopped in front of the de Chagny house, her mind raced. Why was she there? Did she really expect them to take her in without telling her family where she was. As she went to the door, her mind began to twirl. She would tell them she was leaving Paris. She would not tell them where she was going, she didn't know herself. What she did know was that she couldn't stay in Paris. She had become to attached to Erik and it was to dangerous. She did not know until Antoine had said what he would do to Erik, what she herself would do for him.

She would rather send sadness upon herself than see Erik found out. She knew that her life was to much for the secluded man anyway. She had no intention of letting him suffer along side her.

---

Christine and Raoul brought her into their den. "What is going on?" Christine asked as she took in Delphine's terrified face.

"It's to much to explain. Have you read L'Epoque?"

Raoul slowly nodded his head. "I can assure you that neither of us believe it." He said with a reassuring smile.

"Well you should." She said. "Someone was at the Opera Populaire when we fought. Someone heard my…confession."

"Than…who is the new man?" Christine asked curiously.

"That is were it gets complicated."

"Can you try and explain it?" Raoul asked.

Delphine shrugged. "I can try, but I guarantee nothing." She paused to see their reactions before going on. "There is a man, but not in the way L'Epoque depicted it. He is more like a very dear friend. I cannot let any harm come to him. He is a very…broken man. It would, more likely, finish him." She said. "That is why I am here."

Christine took her hand. "This man…if he cares about you he would distance himself to save you the pain."

"No, he does not know of anything happening outside of the Opera House." She said. "He thrives there. His life is there. He pays little attention to such trivial things as gossip." She added quickly.

Christine's face went white. "Why are you here, Delphine?"
"I am leaving Paris. I could not stand to see Erik hurt." She said before she knew it. There seemed to be nothing registered on Christine's face.

"Erik? That is his name?" Raoul asked with innocence. Delphine nodded. "You must love him, if you are willing to give up your life to protect him."

"I…I do. He is very likely my best friend. He is the only one who can understand me without my having said a word." She tried to explain. The couple nodded knowingly. "I wanted you to know. You can tell my father if you must."

"Where will you go?" Christine asked.

"I don't know." Delphine admitted. "I just can't stay here and put him in jeopardy." She stood at that and looked to her friends. "I will write you as soon as I know where I am." She moved toward the door, but stopped and turned around. "I am trusting you to protect Erik's name. You are the only ones who know his true identity. If you tell anyone, than my efforts will have been in vain." She said. With that she hurried from their house before they could question her further.

---

She had one more stop to make before she left Paris. The Opera Populaire. She had to take her violin with her. She could not leave it behind. As a gift from her mother, as all she had left to remember her by, she would not leave it behind.

By the time she had reached the Opera, she had convinced herself that she was not going just to try and see one more glimpse of Erik. She did not want to have to say goodbye, but one final glimpse of him would have made her efforts worth the try.

She crept into the darkened theater, holding her skirts above her ankles so they wouldn't swish. As she made her way to the pit, she felt a sudden sorrow overtake her heart. What was she doing? Running away from her problems, something she had never wanted to do. She slid into her familiar seat and felt around for her violin. With a sudden terror that gripped her, she realized that it was gone!

She felt panic rise in her as she crouched and searched under the surrounding seats. Just when she was about to give up hope a voice called to her through the darkness. "Delphine, are you looking for this?" She turned to see Erik standing in a dim light. In his hands was her violin.

"What are you doing with that?" She asked. He did not answer, he started to play a song. A haunting rendition of The Resurrection of Lazarus. The song left tears in her eyes. "Why do you do this to me?" She pleaded. He stopped immediately.

"Delphine, what is wrong?" He asked.

"It does not matter." She said as she sucked in her sadness. "Please give me my violin and let me be."

He looked at her with a startled expression. "Did I do something to upset you?" Delphine shook her head.

"Erik…I need to leave."

"You have only just arrived." He said with concern. She knew she was acting strange but she couldn't bring herself to explain why. She left him in confusion.

"Just please let me go without an argument."

"I-"

"No, I have to leave Paris and I cannot do so without my violin. Please give it to me."

He held it out to her, trying to bring her close to him. Sighing, she scrambled to the stage and made her way to him. She tried to take it from him but he held it just out of her reach. "Delphine, you cannot just leave me without an explanation."

"Erik," She began. "you are my friend." That was all she said. The tears were threatening to stream down her face. Hating herself, she turned away from him to wipe them away with fury.

"Delphine, my darling, what is happening to you?" He asked as he stepped behind her. In a sudden movement she had thrown herself into him and clung to him as if he would save her from the drowning feeling she was experiencing. She looked up at him and saw the shock and concern in his eyes. That made her tears fall.

---

Erik

As Delphine cried into his chest he wrapped his arms around her. The violin was an obstacle, but he got around it well enough. When she looked at him a third time she seemed to hold herself in check. She gently pushed him away. "I'm sorry Erik." She said.

"For what?"

"For putting you through that."

He gave her a confused look. "I am not sure I understand."

"I have to leave Paris." She said. "My reputation is ruined as it is." She said as though this made perfect sense. He tilted his head to try and see if a different angle gave some new meaning to her. She sighed and went to the edge of the stage where she dropped down and sat with her legs swinging over the side. He followed her and sat down beside her. "That stupid L'Epoque, it was there when I fought with Robert. It heard everything."

"What is everything?" He asked not sure he wanted to hear. He had heard enough come from her mouth that made her life seem almost as bad as his. This poor girl couldn't stand much more pain.

"What I already told you. About the clinic. And than…" He watched her twist the engagement ring on her finger nervously. That was his, or rather Christine's, engagement ring. He had not had the heart to tell her that she had been wearing a monster's ring. A ring stolen from her friend. A ring used in his tragic play. He nodded, telling her she could go on. "He had accused me of having another lover, because of this ring." She said. "I don't know why but I didn't deny it."

"Do you?" He found himself asking. She threw her head back and laughed.

"No, of course not." She said. "I didn't deny it though. They must have had someone here." She seemed to drift away for a moment. "When I got home tonight, my brother and father were fighting. It was about me. I was just so embarrassed that someone else had heard the conversation. Than, Antoine had threatened to find out who I was spending so much time with while I was here. I just can't let him find you. Antoine is a very violent man when he wants to be."

Erik, who had set down the violin, stood so abruptly that it almost made Delphine sway away from him. He began to stride toward the center of the stage. "I can defend myself." He said.

She jumped to her feet and followed him. "I would rather you not have to." She said quietly.

"Why? Are you afraid that I would bring down my anger on the people of Paris?" He shouted. "Are you afraid the monster of the Opera Populaire would kill again?" The thought that this was why she was leaving made him sick. If it was his past that had thrust a wedge between their friendship than he deserved to have no friends. He looked to her. She had been by his side while he had been shouting. "Delphine…"

"Erik, I am not leaving because I am scared of what you will do. I am leaving because I do not…want to see you captured. I do not want to see you hurt because I was being selfish." She said. Her eyes seemed to shimmer with tears. He wished she wouldn't cry again. It was hard for him to see her cry. When a woman who rarely cried did cry, there was little anyone could do to help her. This thought flew through his mind. She was about to cry, he could sense it. "I do not want to leave…you." She said almost at a whisper.

"Than don't." Erik said as he held out his hand to her. "We'll just have to spend less time together." He said. She gave him her hand but her face showed doubt.

"How?"

"I'll just have to tell you when it's time for you to go when I know it." He said. He had known when she needed to leave every single day they spent together but he had been resistant in telling her. He feared her company, but also loved it. She often made him forget things about himself that he thought were planted firmly in his mind. The other day he had forgotten that he wore the mask until she had asked about it. Even the thought of Christine was becoming more bearable.

She let him draw her into his arms and they swayed to an invisible music. As they clung to each other, wanting never to let the other go he realized that she had become his best friend. He did not know how much longer it would last but he was determined to see it through to the end. He was so absorbed in these thoughts that he didn't see the pale face looking down at them from the catwalk.

---

Delphine

She was the first to draw away. The sound of his heart beating in her ears made her realize that her own heart was pounding faster than it ever had. With an embarrassed look, she stared into his eyes. He seemed determined and ready for what would come. She sighed as she nestled back into his arms. The feel of his breath on her head, the aroma of candles and water filled her nose. She could feel his own skin on hers.

It sent her mind spinning. The firmness of his strong body under hers made her shiver. Why was she suddenly feeling this way? As she became aware of this new sensation, she was unaware of his own contemplation. "Where will you go?" He asked.

"Back home, I guess. I have no choice, do I?" She looked to him. Hoping he would say what she wanted him to say. He shook his head. Her heart fell to her feet.

"No, I guess not." He fell silent for a moment and than a light entered his eyes. "Could you not stay with Christine?"

"What?" She asked with surprise. The thought of suddenly staying with Christine made her fume. The thought of him suggesting it made her feel like weeping.

"She is your friend, surely she would let you stay with her and…Raoul." He added as if it pained him to. She looked at him with a skeptical eye. "I only want you to have time without prying eyes. They should respect your privacy." He said. She nodded her head slowly.

"You want me to stay with them?" She said, not trusting herself to say Christine's name. He nodded. "Than I will." She looked about her with a sudden realization. "It is late. If I want to catch them awake I should go now." He nodded again. "Erik…thank you." She said as she brought a hand to his face. She kissed his cheek and let her other hand glide across the mask. She knew that if her curiosity got the better of her there would not be a happy ending. She let her hands fall down as she looked to her violin. "Will you put it away for me?" She asked.

"Of course." He said quietly. She smiled at him and pulled away.

"I will see you tomorrow than?" She asked as she moved off of the stage.

"Yes." He said. She turned and left him standing on the stage.

---

As she lay in the guest bedroom in the de Chagny manor she let her mind wander. It fell on Erik, as it had all night. She was greatly confused. Why had her sudden friendly feelings towards Erik turned to something more? She had know what she felt when she was standing in his arms. She had loved before so she knew what to expect. She knew the feelings of love she had towards Erik. Why though?

She had tried to fight these feelings back. He was still in love with Christine. There was no hope in him loving her back. Besides there was so little she knew about him. She knew he had traveled for a while. She knew his connection to Madame Giry. She knew the outline to his one-sided romance with Christine. Aside from that she knew nothing. She did not know his origin. She did not know why he had loved Christine.

What pained her most was that he had never shown any interest in sharing those stories with her. She had poured her whole life into his hands and he had taken it without a question. He had never given her anything in return though.

She would have asked Christine what one was supposed to do when they loved someone who loved another. The idea flew from her mind quicker than it had entered. How could she ask Christine when she was the other one?

She knew that she would not be able to stand being around him without letting her love show. She knew she did not have that ability. She had barely been able to do so with Robert, the feelings she felt for Erik were much larger than any she had had for Robert.

"What does one do when they love a Phantom?" She asked herself. She began to laugh and before she knew it she was asleep.

---

Author's Note: Another chapter done. I hope you liked this one. Delphine is really getting hard to write down. She keeps growing so quickly as a character that I am not sure I can keep up with her. Her sudden realization of her love for Erik came at an inopportune moment, which I did on purpose. Just you wait until the next chapter though. Thank you to those who have reviewed.

Until next time.