Christine sighed soaking in the warmth radiating from Eric's body "we should get up." She mumbled closing her heavy eyes again.

Eric smiled listing for Rosa playing with Mrs. Smith in the other room. "How are you feeling?" He asked his voice low and concerned.

Christine shifted her position, "I think I will be ok." her voice wavering.

Eric swung his long thin legs over the bed with a groan, his fever was finally gone but his entire body ached. Slowly he rose to his feet, peeking over his shoulder at Christine who was getting up he opened the door.

"Daddy!" Rosa squealed crawling to his feet. "Up!"

Christine smiled adjusting her wrinkled dress as she came up behind Eric. He was such a great father to her, it shocked her that he never had a real parent figure in his life, the way he adored that child amazed her.

"Mama!" Rosa screeched her year old voice still learning how to be controlled. Christine laughed, stroking her black hair.

Eric walked out of the doorway and sat down on the divan his unmasked face glowing with pride and adoration for the girl.

"That child is going to be completely confused about her mama if Eric doesn't ask me to marry him soon." Christine thought to herself calling the baby.

Rosa stood up on her own her legs wobbling, awkwardly she bounced up and down clapping and congratulating herself. Christine knelt down on her knees clapping for Rosa and squealing.

Eric raised an eyebrow he wasn't sure how to react Christine and Rosa looked at him waiting for his response, "congratulations Rosa." He grinned.

Christine laughed, "you have a ways to go in fatherhood" Eric was confused about what she meant, was he supposed to react in that same squealing way that Rosa seemed to enjoy?

Rosa worked on her new standing trick clapping for herself each time. Eric tried desperately to get her to make her first steps immediately. Christine knew she was a perfectionist like her father she would not take another step up till she perfected the first.

Eric sat back down on the divan with a huff, "why can't she hurry up and walk?" Eric grumbled wanting his child to succeed right away.

Christine smiled "so impatient are you?"

Eric didn't answer he just watched the baby play with his shoe lace.

Christine leaned forward "when you were training me to sing, did you advance me to harder lessons when I mostly got the easy stuff down?"

Eric tilted his head thinking of what she said, "so," he said slowly "she wants to become perfect in her first accomplishment before she advances to the next?"

Christine smiled giving a slight nod.

"I have some paper work to do at the theater." Eric mumbled reluctantly, the last thing he wanted to do was leave her but he had been neglecting his work so much lately.

Christine gave a pout and a sigh. "Will you be long?" She asked her voice disappointed.

"No I shouldn't be." He answered cracking a fake smile.

Eric sat at his desk playing with a pen his eyes heavy.

"I didn't think you would be here." Raoul stated his voice mixed with concern and shock.

"And why wouldn't I?" Eric snapped glaring at Raoul his eyes filled with pure hate his fists clenching.

Raoul sucked in a quick breath turning his head away from Eric's unmasked face.

Eric shifted his eyes to the mask on his desk debating weather or not to put it on.

"What's wrong viscount? You can't handle the horrors of my face?" Eric growled standing up slowly inching toward Raoul. "You should feast your eyes upon it every second of your miserable life."

Raoul shifted his baby blue eyes toward Eric's. " I apologize for what happened in Paris." He murmured his voice trembling.

Eric was now standing over de Chagny, "nothing," Eric spit, his eyes locked on Raoul "can take back what you have done to me."

The viscount visibly swallowed a lump in his throat, "I know Monsieur Destler." He whispered shortly before leaving.

Eric sighed unsure of why he felt a deep pit in his stomach.

Eric studied his work sending himself into another world a world of bills, complaints on the unfinished production, and lists of things to be repaired. He didn't noticed the daylight fade into darkness.

The opera house was quiet everyone had retreated home except for Eric who was asleep his arms and head resting on the desk.

Christine walked slowly up the stairs to Eric's office listening for any evidence he was inside. She peaked through the door that was slightly ajar. She cracked a smile of hours of paperwork sprawled across the desk, and Eric awkwardly asleep his lips slightly parted with a faint snore being the only sound.

She stood at the doorway watching him sleep, he seemed at ease and vulnerable. Christine walked into the office and grabbed his long black cloak.

Eric mumbled causing her to freeze, he rolled his head back and forth, "don't hurt me." He cried.

Christine's stomach churned at his words.

"So cold," he panted "please let me out."

Tears began to form in her eyes as she watched him tremble. She prayed that he was not dreaming of something that happened to him in the past but she knew he was.

Slowly she tiptoed to his side preparing to cover his shoulders.

Eric's eyes flashed open before she could react he grabbed her shoulders slamming her into the wall, "Eric!" She screamed in a panic.

Her voice jolted him out of his dream state. Christine was wide eyed, as he tried to ignore the pain and fear.

Eric looked at her his horror filled eyes a softened. He collapsed onto his knees, turning his back to Christine.

Christine watched still shaken as he cried bitterly covering his head with his hands.

Slowly she walked over to Eric placing her hand on his bony shoulder, "Eric." She whispered trying to hide her shaking. Eric tensed up at her touch. The tears were now flowing down her cheeks.

"I can't get rid of them," Eric cried his steady voice now shaking, "I try not to sleep, but I fail and the demons great me, I try to forget the past but not in the past it's always there haunting me." Eric choked on his tears gripping Christine's dress. "I can't fight them, no matter how hard I try."

Christine was hugging his head his tears soaking her sleeve, "It's the same every time I close my eyes." He wept.

Christine closed her eyes trying to grasp his thoughts and what he has been through. "how could the world do such terrible things?" He thought to himself "He's such a wonderful man, but he had to hide behind his mask and tricks not letting his genius shine. His heart could hold the world, but when he tries to grasp it they throw it back in his face."

Looks like they both have some emotional problems to work out.