He stood under the umbrella, staring at the gravestone as the rain fell around him. Erik had found her a nice spot to rest at the top of a small hill. She had a view of the city lights from there and a clear view of the stars above.

Still, looking over all of the flowers and things that had been left there, he couldn't help but feel the odd emptiness in his chest. He had been surprised that there had been no tears left. No tears left as he had shut himself away in his study to compose the one requiem he never wanted. No tears left as he sat there, listening to what everyone said, listening to them talking about her and offering their condolences. No tears left as he had watched them lower her into the ground. No tears left as one by one, everyone around him had left to return to their own lives as if time could still move forward without her.

"I expected you to still be here," Nadir pointed out as he joined him. " 'Adellade Matthews. Beloved angel and friend'. I was quite surprised you didn't put your name there. You were the one who raised her, after all.."

"Why should she remain tied to Madeline in death?" Erik argued. "Besides: there was once an innkeeper in England who was a far better mother to Adellade and myself. The one whose name deserved to be on that stone."

"Do you think I did the right thing for her in the end?" Nadir asked.

"We both tried our best, Daroga. In the end…. Who can say what made things worse and what would've prevented all of this?"

"Gustave seems to be taking things well."

"He's still a boy. Christine only told him she was dead. She never said how. Thought it would better to let him believe that she left this world peacefully."

"And how is Christine?"

"Mourning the loss of a dear friend. Adellade was her family as much as she was mine."

"You also seem to be handling this well after..."

"There's nothing left. I loved her, Daroga. She was my friend."

"She was also your sister."

Erik sighed and shook his head. "She was many things, but never quite that. My sister was held much higher than I could ever hope to reach. Adellade was my friend. She was the first friend I ever had-the first who never ran away…." He swallowed. "Nadir? What happens now?"

"I've no idea." He shook his head. "But perhaps this will help."

He frowned, eyeing the man as he took out two things from his pocket.

"What are they?"

"Her locket," he explained, nodding toward one. "Thought it wouldn't be right for her to be buried with that. She did once wish for it desperately to be returned to her brother."

"And the other thing?"

"Something she once asked me to pass on to you."

"And you never did?"

"She wanted me to specifically pass it on to Gustave, but I suppose that you may need it far more than your son."

XXXXX

He sighed and placed the locket on the shelf in his study, setting it just right. Erik glanced over at the envelope Nadir had given to him. He sat down and broke the seal, pulling out the parchments within.

Some people still think that the Angel of Music is a legend. All the stories say he is, but he really isn't. He's more of a man than anything.

You see, he's not really an angel at all. He has the voice of an angel, but that's not all he truly is. He's a man who can build wonders, who can create the impossible with his own two hands.

But most of all he's a guardian, a protector. Some say the Angel of Music comes to children while they sleep in the cradle and sings to them. That's not entirely true. Some children stumble upon their angel by accident. But he'll come when they need him most.

There are monsters in the world-monsters that want more than anything to make the world a dark and scary place. But then the Angel of Music comes and spreads some light, chasing the monsters away.

And if the monsters get you, he'll fight. He'll fight and he won't stop fighting until you're back safe in his arms. Even then he'll keep fighting just to ensure that the monsters are far away and will never touch you again.

That's what makes the Angel of Music so special. The children who find him-the ones who need him most-they're the ones he loves. He may not tell you he loves you, but you'll know. You'll know in the safety of his arms, in the warmth of his hugs and kisses. You'll know in the softness of his voice as he sings lullabies. You'll know in the way he stays by your bed, worried over a simple fever. You'll know in the way he opens his arms for you to run into whenever something frightens you. You'll know in the way his touches become the gentlest of things when caring for your wounds.

And if you look hard enough, you'll see his soul. A soul so pure and kind and full of love. A soul that has known sadness and pain and fear, yet can still manage a smile and a laugh. A soul that you will forever know is only a moment's glance away.

Even if that soul is fractured by heartache or the loss of one of his children, the love he has will never falter. It may change into one of regret and remorse before being one of fond memories and smiles for days long passed. Perhaps it may even change into the love of another child.

However it may change, the love will remain until the end of time, for once you have the love of the Angel of Music, and love him in return, that love will never die and will never leave you no matter what.

XXXXX

A/N: So, that's the end. A shout out to you guys for reading all three of these (hello to the ones who have been here since the beginning!) I love seeing your reactions and this has been a fun time.

Since this has been a super fun (and emotionally tormenting) series to write, I am actually in the process of doing rewrites that will more than likely end up on my...needing to be less empty...AO3 account (and somehow making all of this way worse on the emotional scale) so let me know what you guys would want to see more of across all the fics.

I guess that's it then. Read some other fics, pass around that box of tissues, and I'll see you at the next story.

Bye for now :)