I can't believe how long it took me to write this chapter. Hope you like it.

Erik woke up to find himself in a warm and soft bed. He could smell a faint scent of bread cooking. "I could lay in here forever. Is this heaven?" He said closing his eyes again, snuggling into the covers.

"It's not exactly heaven, but it's place where one could call it home." Erik's blood froze. He knew that voice anywhere. That voice that was so sweet and pure. He slowly opened his eyes to find the one woman who haunted his dreams every night. The one woman who pounced into his thoughts when it was least expected. "How are you feeling?" Meg asked taking a rag out of a bowl of water; lightly dabbing his forehead with it.

"Meg? Is that really you? I must be dreaming?" He said, lightly touching her face with his hand. Meg Giry was more beautiful than she remembered. Her blonde hair looked like sunshine and her eyes were as blue as the sea. She smelled like roses fully bloomed. She looked incredible.

"It's me. Not as young as I once was, but it's me."

"It's been so long. I don't know what to say." Erik's face looked shock.

"You, Monsieur do not have to say anything. For you need your rest otherwise Mama shall be angry." She bent down next to his ear. Erik could feel her heat radiating off of her body. She whispered, "She doesn't like sick people. It makes her frustrated." Erik smiled. Right then he could have wrapped his arms around her neck and pull her into a passionate kiss and made love to her, but before he could do any of that she sat up and began heading towards the door. "Sleep my angel of music. You need your strength. We have a lot of catching up to do." Meg slipped out the door, leaving Erik bewildered, but at the same time in amazement.

Erik had done as he was told to do. He had slept for a long time. When he woke up he had expected to find Meg sitting next to him, but had found instead darkness. He had slowly and painfully climbed out of bed. He noticed that the mask was on the end table next to the bed and decided to leave it there for now. He walked to the windowsill and sat there, letting his thoughts take over. He wondered how Meg could be so cheery and act as if everything was alright, while he could never forget what he had done to her so long ago at Opera Populaire. The image of her falling to the ground crying caused a sharp pain in his heart.

The image was broken when there was a knock on the door. Meg slipped in balancing a plate and a glass on one hand. "I thought you might be hungry." She said walking towards him, showing him a plate of some sliced roast, peas, and a roll.

"Yes, thank you." Erik's breath caught in his throat when he saw how beautiful she was. As he ate Meg studied him closely. His light brown hair was turning silver and he was beginning to form wrinkles, but he was still the man who made her heart skip a beat, he was still the man that she secretly and wrongfully loved. Meg knew she couldn't love Erik; she was almost a married woman.

Erik looked up into Meg's eyes. She was different he knew that. She was no longer the girl she once was, but now a young woman, who looked like spring. But there was something different about her. She had lost her childish look. Her sparkle in her eyes had disappeared. "You've changed."

"I know." She said close to tears. Meg's heart was hurting her, she wanted to go back in time and never had that stupid fight they had. "A lot happens when you are gone for five years." Erik surprisingly took makes hand and yanked her into his arms, kissing her hungrily. He had tried to control himself. He had tried to resist, but he needed this. He needed her.

Meg wanted to continue. She never wanted to let go, but her mind unfairly reminded her she had a fiancée who had even help Erik too. Sadly Meg broke away. Hot tears streamed down her face. Tears that reminded her she would never belong to him. "I can't Erik. We mustn't do this. I am almost…" Meg had to catch her breath before continuing, "I am almost married." Erik's entire body froze. His heart stopped. He didn't believe what he heard.

"Ma…married?" He swallowed.

"Yes, in a month." Meg said more tears falling down her cheeks. "Oh Erik I wish I wasn't!" She sobbed into his arms. Erik wrapped his arms around Meg. He held her tight letting her cry till she couldn't cry anymore. He rested his head on her shoulder and just starred out the window, not being able to think properly.

"Oh Erik I wish I could take everything back. I wish we never had that fight. I wish I had tried to stop Mama, but I was too weak to stand up to her. I've been afraid of her, for so long. I'm so sorry."

"No, I should be the one who's sorry. If I never had sent you away things might have been different." He said letting his hands run through her soft, blonde hair.

"No, it wouldn't have." Meg pulled away and stood up, walking towards the balcony. "You would have been thinking always about Christine. You were still hurt by what she had done to you. Christine would be the one you would want not me." Erik knew Meg was right. Christine would always be his first love. He was a broken man when she had left and when Meg had left he was in pieces.

"Do you love him?" He asked suddenly.

"What?" Meg was startled by the sudden question.

"Your fiancée, do you love him?" Erik's voice was shaky.

"This is an inappropriate and private discussion that I refuse to discuss." Meg's face began to go red.

"So you don't love him." He said with hope in his eyes.

"I never said that!" Meg's face was red with anger. God I love this woman, Erik thought.

"It's a simple question. Either you love him or not.Do you or do you not love your fiancée?" Erik was now toying with her.

"Yes," Meg whispered. "Yes, I do love him." She said more confidently. Erik raised his eyebrows. He wasn't sure if he believed Meg or not. "Even though I'm not ready for marriage, I do love him, very much."

Before Erik could reply there was a knock on the door. "Madamoiselle, are you in there?"

"Meg, my mask!" Erik yelped.

"Uh, just a second." Meg called out, grabbing Erik's mask and tossing it to him. He quickly put it on before Meg let Isabel walk in.

"Madamoiselle, the count is here to see you." Isabel said while starring at Erik.

"At this hour? Never mind, tell him I will be down in a minute." Isabel nodded and left. "I must go." Meg said turning towards Erik. She could see the disappointment in his eyes.

"Goodnight Meg." Erik said looking out the window. Meg wanted to stay with Erik and let him hold her in his arms, but she had a fiancée waiting for her. Meg reluctantly left Erik.