Hello my readers! I apologize for the delay, I have been very busy with school and just took my last test before the final in about a month. This chapter is extra-long to make up for the absence. I am honored to have so many readers from so many different places! Please feel free to leave any and all reviews, I am at a point where I really need advice on where to go with the story, up until this point most of the story has been pre-written (minus Erik's chapters) so postings may take a little longer. To review: I do NOT own any of the Leroux/ Webber character, then only ones I do own are my OC. Feel free to message me with any ideas. I remain your obedient servant,
~The Southern Rose~

I was covered in sweat, wood shavings, paint, and everything imaginable. The sets were not to Badeaux and Leroux liking so they made us fix them for their new prima donna. I just roll my eyes and do as I am told, I really don't know who is worse; Carlotta and all her raving or Christine and her passive aggressiveness hidden behind an angelic smile. There is one thing I had to admit about having the Vicomtess here; at least she was truly pleasing to listen to. Her voice was a beautiful soprano without being shrill and window shattering. During rehearsal everyone would quickly hush when she began to sing, especially her solo from act III. I spend days on end trying to clean the wine stains from her blush colored gown; so much so that I had my own cot moved into the seamstress's office. After days of soaking the fabric in baking soda from the kitchen and scrubbing and washing until my hands were raw, I got most of the stain out, a few faint blotches where the wine was concentrated.
"And what, pray tell, are you going to do about these?!" her long finger rubbing my nose in the faint stains.
"I was hoping to add some fabric over the faded stains, creating a gown fit for a queen; or in our case, a Vicomtess." My attempt to soothe the savage seamstress seemed to suffice. For she nodded her head and snapped her finger, my queue to get back to work. I spent the rest of rehearsal in the office, the gown on a mannequin and my fingers gingerly working. The sound of a cane bringing me back from my work induced daze.
"That shall be all for today ladies and remember to grab your costumes before you leave!" Madame why do you torture me so! I hear the patter of ballerina slippers as bobs of brunette, blonde, and black come bouncing.
"Ladies your costumes are in order by last names over on the…" but I am ignored and pasted over like a street beggar. Sighing, I return back to the grand gown for the prima donna, adding the last few touches.
"Is that her gown?!" I hear one rat cry, the rest of the pack following her to my corner of privacy.
"Girls don't touch!" Meg scolds, their claws retracting. She shoos them from the room with their costumes in tow.
"Thank you Meg." I cut the thread and put the needle back in the tomato.
"It's me who should be thanking you. Knowing her dress is even more beautiful than before will hopefully put her in a good mood." I cock my head to the side. Meg turns red as my tomato and whispers to me. "Things between them are not… ideal…" I begged her continue. "Well, ever since the baby was born Raoul has drastically changed. Drinking and gambling like a madman! People have been begging Christine to come back to sing, but they have all forgotten the Vicomte. He is jealous like a certain once was phantom, the one you have been seeing." My eyes go wide. I swore to keep him a secret, to keep him safe.
"Please…don't tell anyone…" her hard look remains, shaking her head.
"Now that she is back, you will only be a distant memory." She turns on her toes and walks out, her gauzy skirt lifeless. I run through the halls. She's lying, she has to be… I somehow manage to grab a candle in all of my rush, turning around corner and darting through hallway. She's lying, he loves me! …doesn't he…? The rustle of fabric catches my attention; my candle is the only source of light and the dark feels like a blanket trying to smother me out. Soon my candle is joined by another, I turn and am greeted by a glimpse of a blade glistening in the limited light. I dodge it long enough to grab my own and fight back. Once the steel of the two blades collided, I held my candle up to see the face of my attacker.
"Qui en enfer!?" but Erik stopped when he saw my face in the candle light with a knife raised in defense. Our knives and candles hit the floor as we embrace each other. "Mon ange, I'm so sorry, I.."
"Mon amour it's ok, we couldn't see because of the dark… we are both still spooked about what happened…." All we could do is hold each other.
"Belle what are you doing here?" he softly whispered. I shook my head, pressing my forehead into his chest. I can't lose you, I just can't… I feel his lips kiss my hair.
"I love you so much Erik…" a hand slides under my chin and pulls my eyes upward. I see his neatly smoothed back hair, skin more porcelain than mine, a mask as ghostly as his reputation, and a pair of ice blue eyes. His lips softly kiss my hand as he leads me back to our home under the opera house. I slip into my nightgown, a pair of hands sliding around my waist and pulling me back.
"I love you too mon Cherie…." His lips press against my cheek as I am led to bed. We curl up for the night, but not for long. I awake in a panic, yet another nightmare. I can hardly breath and I am drenched in sweat. Erik is rolled on his back in a death like state. How I wish I could sleep like him… I get up and kiss his cheek softly before putting on my cloak and going for a walk. Though I may be free from DuPont and Foss, they still have my mind in their grip. I can't sleep, I hardly eat and in every dark corner of the opera house, every shadow and every silent space they lurk; waiting for the perfect time to strike.
"Belle, darling?" a sleepy voice calls out to me. I softly call back, wrapping my arms around myself as the cold of the night soaks through my cloak. I see him walk around the corner, a long candle in one hand and a longer expression on his face. "Why are you here mon amour? It's late…" His arms reach around me, a kiss placed on my head.
"I couldn't sleep so I though taking a walk would help. I came down here so not to disturb you while you slept…"
"You had another nightmare mon amour?" Erik finished. I nodded, almost shameful. He took my hand and led me back to his hideaway. He placed me at the piano and told me to play what he had written. "I'm in a bid of a bind. You see, Ma Cherie, I cannot seem to finish this piece. I have been working nonstop for what seems like an eternity..." He yawned in mid thought. I nodded my head, understanding what he meant; he needed a fresh perspective. I smoothed out my night gown and sat on my bench. Since Erik is a good foot plus taller than I, I built my own bench for when we play together. I let my fingers glide over the keys as I read the music. A few measures before I got to where Erik ended, I changed keys and added a counter melody. I looked back at him, who was wide eyed like a child at Christmas. He jogged to the piano and took over the counter while I continued with the main. We played for what seemed like hours until I added a retardando and finished it. Erik took my face in his hand and kissed me. I kissed back, but not before yawning once. "Why don't you get some rest ma amour."
"But what if Conner wakes up screaming? Or rehearsal begins earlier than planned? Or" Erik shut me up with another kiss, this one with more passion than the first.
"Belle look at me. You need to sleep. On the rare times I get to see you, you look like as pail as a ghost."
"But I can't. He still"
"Haunts you I know. But if you don't sleep, you will hurt yourself even more." Every time I tried to move something, I would shake and become dizzy. I shook my head and began to walk back to the bridge. Erik looked at me in dismay, then began to scribble what we had just played on his score. I don't walk very far, just out of Erik's sight. I find the one spot where the lake met the stone path to the bridge and sat down. I slip my shoes off and stick my feet in the water. The water hasn't warmed any, and the first day of spring is on the threshold. I can here Erik playing our duet and tweaking trouble spots. I hummed along and let my legs swing to the beat, my feet creating small waves in the lake. I replayed the past three months in my mind; from the night of the play, to Erik's gift, to being kidnapped. My ears caught something that I thought I would never hear; I thought my mind was playing tricks on me but it happened again. I stood up to see what was happening then the music just stopped. I halted in my steps. I let out a sigh and began returning to my seat by the lake. Erik has probably gone to bed. Well, I guess great minds think alike. Curious, I walked back to the piano and looked at his score. When I sat on Erik's bench, one of the legs moved. I put the music back on the stand and flipped the bench on its top. I touched the leg and it again moved. I tried to twist it to tighten it back in place but this wasn't made that way. I would need to fill this with my form of adhesive. I walked to the piano and grabbed a spare ribbon. Tying my hair back, I began to make a plan on how to fix this. When I took a closer look, all of the legs were in need of repair, the top was beginning to splinter and had a large crack in the trim. Why repair when I can make him a new one? I run back to my spot and thankfully Erik has gone to bed. I leave a note on his bench saying to come find me tomorrow. Changing to a set of fresh work clothes, I tip toe to the workshop and begin to make his new bench. In a few hours, I had the basic shape done. The clock said it was only four in the morning. I then add detailing to the legs and hollow out the seat so he can store music, paper and pencils. By seven, when rehearsal was starting, I had a bench fit for a king. Elegant scroll work all down the legs, on the sides of the bench and even his name etched into the seat. I quickly carried the bench back to my room and made it back in time for rehearsal. Lukas and Conner were wondering why I was covered in wood shavings this early in the morning. I laughed and said 'It's all part of the job!" The storm continued and the roof was leaking in places. While some of the guys were sent to fix that, I was left to carry their weight. If Erik was in his box, I didn't see him. Since they had a difficult time with the roof, we were given the rest of the day off. After a hearty lunch, I went back to my room. I cleaned up and got my flute out. Erik had written me new music several days ago and I couldn't wait to play it. After finishing the first song, my mirror began to move. Erik was in his casual clothes but is face said otherwise.
"What was this for?" He said my note in his hand. I set my flute on the bed and walked to the closet. Before I could reach it, he grabbed me by the waist. "You still owe me, my dear." I turned my head to see Foss's head on Erik's body. I struggled to get free but he was to strong. He flung me on the bed. I went to get up but he was on top of me. "There is one way you can repay me" and he began to kiss me. I screamed, then I jerked awake; a thunder clap echoing through my room. I was still in my room, my flute across my lap. I grabbed a candle, the bench and went to see Erik. I was to the edge lake when I saw Erik on the boat. I hid the bench and waited for him for him to dock.
"I got your note, what do you need?"
"Close your eyes." A puzzled looked played across his face. "Just trust me." He nodded and closed his eyes. I took his hands and led him to where I hid the bench. "Ok now open." When he did, he dropped to his knees. He ran his hands over the scroll work. He opened the seat and was amazed at the room inside.
"Mon amour, where did you get this?" I smiled,
"I made this." His head jerked up. He put it in the boat and we rowed across the lake. Once we made it to the hideaway, I moved his old one and put it into the closet. I came back to see Erik enjoying his new 'toy.' He began to play the duet from last night, and this time, he didn't miss a note. I joined him and we played like never before. When we finished, he had a tear in his eye.
"I can't thank you enough for the wonderful bench mon petit ange..." I stood up.
"You're quite welcome…" I walked over to the picture of me in the frame, still trying to shake myself of the dream. I could hear him stand up and walk toward me. I let out a long sigh. Erik wrapped me in his arms and rested his chin on my head. He whispered
"It's him isn't it?" I nodded my head. "He's dead, and unless the dead can come back to life, Ma Cherie, I don't think you have anything to worry about." I began to yawn. Erik didn't even ask; he just scooped me up and carried me to his room. He placed me in his bed, pulling the covers over me. He went to leave when I said "Stay with me?" I pleaded.
"I will, but I need to change." He returned wearing a sheer white shirt and black pants. He crawled into the bed and blew out the candle. "I sent Badeaux and Leroux a letter saying you are sick and need a few days off." I rolled to face him.
"Thank you." I whispered. I drifted to sleep but again, awoke with a start. I could feel Foss's body on mine. Erik woke up too.
"Him again?"
"Yes" my voice shaking. Erik sat up and turned my face to see his. He put his arm over me and said
"It's ok, I'm here." I looked at him and kissed him. He kissed me back harder. I leaned back until my head hit the pillow. I pulled Erik to me and kissed him again. He put an arm under me, making my back arch. This was the first time since that horrible night that I've felt safe and peaceful. Erik slipped a hand under my night gown, caressing my back and stomach. I pulled his shirt off and took him in my arms. He dug his fingers into my shoulders as I kissed his neck. I could hear him sighing in my ear, his hot breath making my skin rise. I wanted him so badly, and I could tell he wanted the same. His other hand joined in and explored my body, making me shiver. I looked into his light blue eyes, the grin on his face making me melt…the same grin Foss wore…soon everything about his face mirrored that monster. Panic flooded my mind as I began to squirm and whimper in fear. I closed my eyes tightly.
"Belle mon ange… what's…" I opened my eyes, to my relief Erik's handsome face had come back. He gave me that sweet, darling smile only he could manage and kissed my cheek. Rolling me on my stomach, he unbuttoned the back of my dress, sliding the top off and began to rub my shoulders. A soft sigh of content and relief escaped my lips. Like magic the pain in my body seem to disappear as he worked down my back and back up again, planting a kiss on my shoulder when he finished. He then took me in his arms and held me until I fell asleep. That night was the first in many nights that I slept soundly.