Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Wheldon and The Phantom Of The Opera belongs to Joel Schmacher, Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The songs in this story belong to the songwriters who wrote these amazing songs. Please don't sue me, I'm completely and utterly broke and it's for entertainment purposes only.

Timeline: Post-season seven, Buffy and during the movie The Phantom Of The Opera.

Pairing(s): Erik/Christine, Buffy/Erik (friendship), Dawn/Erik (friendship), Willow/Christine (friendship)

Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews everyone! I'm glad you're enjoying this so far. As for the quickie updates, I have so many ideas for the first chapters that I couldn't keep them to myself and I decided to update as quick as I can before my job gets even busier. Anyway, this will be the last quickie update in a while but don't worry I will continue on with this story and three of my other fan fics. This is the edited version of this chapter, if you want to understand this chapter better, I strongly recommend you read the unedited version of this chapter on the website Twisting The Hellmouth. Otherwise, enjoy!
WARNING: Major angst ahead! Just to be warned.

Summary: The Phantom took Dawn, Willow and a badly wounded Buffy to his lair where he learned more about them.

Dawn sat at the edge of the lake alone staring at nothing in particular. Willow was with Buffy waiting for her to wake up and the Phantom was sitting in front of his organ busy with a piece of music that he was writing for an opera. Dawn couldn't help but glance up at him every now and again. There was something in his eyes that reminded her of Angel during the early days when he and Buffy were dating. The look of isolation, loneliness and desperation to trust people. It was something that made Dawn feel extremely sympathetic toward the man who saved her sister's life and whom she was beginning to trust more than anyone in her short life.

I place him in the same level as Spike.

Unable to bear the silence anymore, Dawn began to sing to herself softly. A song she had loved as a child called Bridge Over Troubled Water. As a child, that song was what put her to sleep. Her mother would sing it to her or played it on her stereo every night when she went to bed. At that point, Dawn was so engrossed in her song that she didn't notice that the Phantom had stopped what he was doing and was listening to every word of the song she was singing with a look in his eyes that would suggest it struck a cord within him.

The Phantom was in the middle of writing a song for an upcoming opera when he heard Dawn singing a song that he had never heard before but it sounded beautiful and yet comforting at the same time as well as the teen's voice. She had a near perfect pitch to her voice with a lot of clarity and a good range. He looked up and was surprised and the same time pained at the sad and sympathetic expression on Dawn's face and in her eyes as she was looking at him. He squeezed his eyes shut as feelings of sadness, pain and loneliness ripped through him like a tidal wave. The Phantom was so lost into his emotions that he almost didn't feel a small hand squeezing his own. He opened his eyes to see that Dawn was standing beside him with tears of pity in her eyes and a gentle smile on her young face. As they glanced at each other, Dawn continued her song.

As she did, Dawn could tell by the look on the Phantom's face and in his eyes that he was struggling with feelings of pain and loneliness the same as Angel once did so long ago. It made her feeling even more sympathetic toward the man who saved her sister's life. At one point, she saw a tear run down his face followed by another. Before she realized it, she knelt down in front of him and took him into her arms. He tried to pull away from her, even from her touch but she held him firm in her arms. Finally he broke down crying giving in to the emotions that he had pent-up inside of him for so long. Again, Dawn felt tears of pity pricking her eyes but this time she didn't fight them back and let them fall down her cheeks. She cried for Angel, for Spike, for her friends back home but most of all, she cried for the Phantom who spent his entire life without family and friends to back up on unlike herself, Buffy and Willow. As she cried, she finished her song unaware that Willow was witnessing the whole thing from the doorway.

Now, I understand why Dawn is willing to trust him. Why she's giving him the benefit of a doubt. She places him on the same level of faith and trust as she once did with Spike.

Willow was in the room with Buffy when she heard Dawn singing and came out in time to see what was happening between her and the Phantom. What she saw reminded her of what happened after she nearly destroyed the world and what Xander did to stop her. She was grateful for what he had done to save her and the world. The scene that unfolded in front of her made the redheaded witch think of something that she hadn't thought of before.

All of those years with no human contact. While Dawn has me and Buffy and everyone else back home, he has no one. No family, no friends. I mean, what kind of life has he known to live like this?

Feeling a big ounce of understanding for Dawn and a swell of pity for the Phantom, Willow walked slowly to the sight before her and went behind him. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back joining in with Dawn trying to ease his pain. Softly, Willow sang a song that she loved and listened to during the darkest days of her life. Just a song she learned when she was college but she felt it was approriate for the situation she and Dawn were in.

As she sang her song and reminisced of the darkest days of her life from the day Oz left her to Tara's death to when she nearly destroyed the world, Willow heard the Phantom say something so softly that she had to strain to hear.

"Thank you."

Willow smiled. "You're welcome …" Then she realized that she didn't know his real name but her question was answered a few seconds later.

"Erik. My name is Erik."

For the second time in a second, Willow smiled. "Erik." She whispered. Then she continued to sing her song this time with more conviction, more strength, confidence that she never thought she had and with more emotion as memories both good and bad rippled through her and her pity for Erik weighed on her soul.

I'm not really happy with this chapter. I think I might've put Erik out of character a little bit but I'll let you guys decide that for yourself. Sorry for those of you who were hoping for Buffy to appear in this chapter, you have to wait till the next chapter to see her. Anyway, please review and remember no flames. I will ignore them and I don't have the patience for them. Chapter 4 will be up soon (the chapter where Buffy will wake up).