She walked with them after the opera had ended. Then entire place had been filled with applause. and all of it for Christine as she had sang, reminding Adellade of the young soprano her friend had once been-the very same soprano with whom Erik had fallen in love with all those years ago.

"I think it might've been the best one yet!" Gustave cheered, trying to stifle a yawn.

"And I believe you require sleep," Erik pointed out, picking him up.

"I'm almost grown!" he argued, laying his head on his father's shoulder. "I don't need to be carried like a baby!"

"Of course you don't."

"He is right though," Adellade murmured. "They just keep getting better and better."

"Thank you." Christine smiled. "Though you do sound like Erik, you know."

"Anyone who can hear knows that you have a lovely voice," he pointed out.

"I think she sings better than all the sopranos in Paris!" Gustave added. "Maybe better than all of France!"

"Not the entire world?" Christine asked.

"Probably, but I haven't heard any sopranos from the rest of the world, so how would I know for certain?"

Adellade smiled. She paused though as someone brushed her arm. She turned, eyeing the crowd of people around them.

"What is it?" Christine called out. "Adellade?"

"Nothing. Someone must've bumped into me. That's all." She sighed and followed them into a carriage.

They got out at their home and Erik paused, turning back toward her. "Why don't you stay for the night?" he suggested.

"I couldn't."

"It looks as if there's a storm coming, Adellade. You're certain you don't want to stay?"

She sighed and got out. "If there is a storm coming…."

XXXXX

Erik frowned, hearing the sound of small footsteps. He sat up and Christine stirred as he moved.

"What is it? Darling?"

"Go back to sleep," he murmured. "I'm certain it's only Gustave. The storm must've woken him."

He stood and went to his son's room, frowning when he didn't see him there. He walked downstairs and smiled a bit to himself as he saw Gustave curled up on the sofa next to Adellade.

"It's only a storm," he reassured.

"I'm not afraid," Gustave argued. "I thought Adellade might be afraid, so I came down here so she wouldn't be alone and afraid."

Erik chuckled. "Is that so?"

He eyed her, seeing how she curled up on herself, whimpering in her sleep as she did so.

"See?" Gustave whispered.

He frowned, hearing her muttering something as she slept. "Adellade?"

Erik reached out and gently touched her. Her eyes opened and she slowly sat up. She suddenly shot to her feet and began running toward the door. He reached out, grabbing her by the arms before she could run into the door.

"No!" she shouted. "No! Let me go! Why are you doing this? I have to go after them! I have to stop her!"

"Father?" Gustave called out.

"It's alright," he reassured. "It's only a nightmare. Go to your mother, Gustave."

Adellade broke free of his grip and threw the door open, running out into the night.

"Christine, Gustave!" Erik shouted at him. "Now!" He took off running after her, blinking away the rain as he chased after her.

There was a noise and he turned, seeing the carriage approaching. He turned back toward her and sped up. He caught her arm and pulled her back out of the way of the carriage. She still continued on, chasing something in her nightmare. She kept running, turning this way and that, climbing over things, never stopping…. She was surprisingly much faster than he had expected her to be-meaning that he could only hope to keep her out of danger while she was in the nightmare.

She climbed over a fence and landed on the other side, still chasing something. Erik paused, seeing that it was the cemetery…. He crossed the fence and looked around, trying to find her. He walked over to where she was, curled up in front of a gravestone. Erik sighed and knelt down, gently taking her head in his hands, examining it for any sign of injury. He was relieved to see there weren't any injuries at all on her. No signs of a fall nor any sign of her having hurt herself.

Her eyes opened and she sat up, staring at him.

"Erik? Where-what is this place?"

"That's not important." He helped her stand and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they walked back.

She eyed him as he walked her to her own flat.

"You are soaking wet," he pointed out. "Best you change quickly or else you may fall ill."

"Of course." Adellade nodded and hugged him.

He returned the embrace, gently holding her. She smiled and stepped back, walking into her own flat.

Erik sighed and began his own walk home, trying to silently compose inside his own mind. Sadly, he couldn't get Gustave's frightened look out of his mind, nor could he ignore the stone Adellade had stopped before.

You've already taken so much away from her, he silently thought. You're honestly going to try and take this last happiness as well? You're dead, Madeline Destler. And still you're going to try and take this away from her even after your death? Fine. Try and take it from her then! But know that Erik will protect her from you. I finally saw her happy for once in a very long time and you are not going to take that away. Whatever Erik has to do: he will keep her safe from you.