The last performances went off without a hitch, it was weird not going out for drinks with Blaise after the shows. I felt a little drawn, like the shows weren't as good as they could be because I wasn't as happy doing them. I missed knowing Blaise was watching from the rafters, watching the actors have mini freak outs when they couldn't find a prop or something. My only consolation was talking to Erik, he knew everything there was to know about me, well, pretty much.

"Danielle, how are you feeling?" I looked up to Erik and shrugged; I've seen better days.

"I just can't believe everyone's acting so normal, someone died and it's like it's nothing. I just... don't know how they do it," I said. I'd been hanging out with Erik after the matinee, I could hardly believe that we had just finished a show without him.

"He was a stagehand, hardly anyone knew him." I scowled up at him, knowing it was true. "And because of me people have become used to not speaking of the deaths of workers." If he was attempting to make me laugh, it wasn't working.

"Oh, you." I sighed, not really up for banter right now.

"I'm not very good at comforting people." Erik was a little sheepish, like I'd expected him to be?

"No, really? I thought you'd have all the most comforting person in the entire world." I rolled my eyes.

"How was your lunch with the vicomte and... and..." He couldn't bring himself to say Christine.

"It was good, kind of awkward, but good." Raoul had come to pick me and Christine up after the matinee show and took us to a restaurant with a very french name, I'm still not very good at reading it. I didn't feel like being out, hell, I didn't feel like doing anything but being a mass of nothing in bed.

"Danielle, how are you feeling?" Raoul took me into his arms and gave me a long hug. I tried to name the emotions raging around in my head.

"Numb. Not good." I still didn't understand why Raoul would try to pull me up so soon after the funeral, it's like I can only have a few days to grieve and then I have to be done with it. I just wanted to be by myself, I don't even know why I was out.

"Getting out will help you feel better, staying in bed all day will make you sick." Christine put what was meant to be a comforting hand on my shoulder, but it didn't make me feel any better, I still felt like wallowing in sorrow and eating copious amounts of chocolate. Was that too much to ask?

"Sure Chrissy, seeing people happy and alive will make me feel better," I said bitterly.

"Stop that, Blaise wouldn't want you to stop living because he has; it's like your spirit has been sucked out of you and that was your shining feature, the thing we loved most about you, the thing Blaise loved most about you. It's disrespectful to let that part die with him." I was shocked that Christine had finally found her courage and said something useful instead of her girly crap. She sounded a bit like me. Christine suddenly flushed and looked down; well, one can hope.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"Ha, you've had a bad influence Chrissy." I smiled, it almost felt weird. "You must be listening to me too much. I'll try, just don't expect anything." Both of them smiled and hugged me, I pushed them away. "Still not in much of a hugging mood." They smiled apologetically before we went into the restaurant for some strange french food and strained conversation followed by gaps of awkward silence.

Christine had left with Raoul after the final show, they were going to his Paris estate to hide from the Phantom, I didn't doubt that he already knew and was letting them go. They wanted me to come with them but I declined, I didn't want to leave Erik alone for the holidays. They had promised to meet me for outings and such and I saw them off, promising I'd visit them at the estate.

"That sounds... uncomfortable to say the least," Erik said.

"You think?" I asked sarcastically. "I don't know, I'm trying to get back up on my feet, act like I want to, but it's hard." I shrugged and took in the whole room around me. "Getting a bit better every day I suppose." For lack of anything else to do I rubbed my arms.

"Come here." I looked up at Erik whose arms were held open for me, waiting for me to crawl into his arms and cry. Before I would be too prideful to do something so pitiful., but not anymore. Yes, I had curled in his lap before, but that was different, no one was dead. Slowly I curled into him, hugging myself to him. He wrapped his arms around me like he was taking care of a baby, rocking me back and forth.

"Thanks Erik." I refused to cry this time, I didn't think I had any tears left in me. I just sat there wallowing in self pity and eating away at Erik's time, time he could spend working on one of his great masterpieces. "I'm sorry." I felt him shift and something feather light press against the top of my head. A kiss?

"You have nothing to be sorry for, you are suffering now and I want to help you like you helped me when I suffer." Erik's arm moved and I immediately missed its warmth. I heard the soft clink on porcelain being laid on wood. I looked up in time to see Erik pull his wig off and toss it on the table next to him. "You and Antoinette are the only ones who have cared enough to stay with me. Even Christine," Erik stopped, trying to compose himself, "she is lost to me."

"Do you still love her?" I asked gently.

"I don't know anymore." I brought my hand up to his scarred cheek.

"You do know she's happy, right?" Erik nodded. "Here's a proverb: If you love something, set it free. If you refuse to let it go then you'll suffer alone." Erik gave me a sharp look. "Well, not that exactly, but pretty much."

"Are you trying to make me feel better or worse?" He asked me sarcastically.

"Do you want me to lie?" Erik scoffed, trying to smother a laugh. Miraculously a smile crept up my cheeks.

"Is that a smile?" I turned away, laughing.

"It can't be, no one's in pain." Erik let out a small laugh.

"Well, we've seemed to make ourselves feel better." I scooted out of his lap and stretched my legs.

"I guess we have." Erik replaced his mask and wig, I guess he was uncomfortable without them, he never spoke about it and I didn't want to bring it up if it did.

"What are you going to do now? there aren't any plays scheduled until after Christmas."

"I don't really know." Erik turned back to his music.

"Maybe you should take a break, you know, from shaking down our moronic managers. Lull them into a false sense of security and then BAM, hit them with your best shot!" Erik looked at me, amusement coloring his eyes. "I mean, we can still hang out, but I'll be practicing with Madame Giry and Meg, they're going to teach me some routines from past shows so I can get used to being en pointe." I smiled proudly.

"Don't forget you still have to clean my box." I groaned.

"After all you've done to me, you should be cleaning your own box!" Erik winced, I guess that was a low blow. "Sorry Darling, that wasn't nice." God, I had to apologize so much to make sure Erik didn't lose his temper and go into one of his rages or kill me.

"No, I suppose it's true; but, if you remember, it is part of your job to keep that box clean, or else you're out on your ear." Was he joking? It was nice he had loosened up.

"Not unless you make a fuss about it, and do you really want all this gone?" I struck a pose, making my ridiculous underdress show as I pulled it up and fluffed my hair up. Erik blushed.

"Stop that, it's childish." He looked away, I rearranged my dress.

"What child does that?" He still refused to look at me. I picked up my skirts and ran at him, jumping on his back and clinging to him like a monkey. "Surprise!" I yelled and kissed his neck. Erik stumbled and tried to pull me off. "Gotta keep on your toes darling, I could totally take you down right now!" Erik snorted and easily pulled me around and held me out, away from his body to demonstrate his strength, and set me down.

"Only in your dreams," he smirked. He stood straight, making the entire foot of height he had on me look all the bigger. I stood taller, trying to make myself look more intimidating. Erik only rolled his eyes. "I thought you knew better than to challenge the Opera Ghost?" I scoffed.

"What could you do to me and live with yourself afterwards?" I playfully punched him in the arm.

"Well..." I pushed him off balance and he laughed. Well shit, it looked like since we were depressed together, we can be happy together. "You should go back, Madame Giry and Meg shall be worried for you."

"Yeah," I turned to walk back up the passage, "see you later Monsieur Opera Ghost." I waved and walked back up to the opera above.

ERIK

I watched Danielle go, after more than a week of utter sorrow Danielle seemed to be on the path to mending. I was relieved, having Danielle so sad didn't seem right; she was meant to be happy and smile. She was beautiful when she smiled; when she was sad, she was beautiful too but that beauty was different, dull, washed out. Memories came to my mind unbidden, of Danielle's smile and her body pressed against mine; hips digging into me, her lips against my neck, soft and warm. No, I refused to think about it.

I tried to keep my mind on what I was playing, but the memories wouldn't stay away. I thought of her swaying hips as she walked away from me, toward the prewritten plot of Hannibal, to the people and their mundane lives out into the world that made sense. I slammed my fist down onto the keys, making an ungodly noise, but it didn't drown out the thumping of my heart in my ears. I tried to ignore the thumping and compose. I don't know how long I sat there, fingers poised over the keys; this was ridiculous! I stood up and paced along the bank of the lake, I couldn't think of anything other than her. What was wrong with me?

"Erik." I looked over and there she stood. Her hands behind her back, head cocked slightly to the side and smiling.

"Danielle." How had she gotten down here passed me? She held her hand to my mouth, gently keeping it shut.

"Shh." Slowly she pulled her hand away, placing both of them around my neck. I allowed her to pull me down into a soft kiss; I was too shocked to pull away. Slowly her lips left mine and hovered just close enough for me to feel her breath. She grinned up at me before pressing our lips together again. My shock faded enough for me to pull her close and kiss her back. I could feel her lips curve into one of her intoxicating smiles.

Too soon her lips drew away from mine again. I felt my breathing speed up along my heart rate. I gazed down at her sweet lips, now redding from our kisses. I brushed a stray wave from her face; her eyes followed each movement of my hand. Slowly she reached up and pulled the mask and wig away from me. "Danielle."

"I love you." Danielle looked at me in the eyes, professing nothing but love and truth. I dove down and caught her lips with mine, tongues met and clashed in a strange dance. Her small hands pulled my shirt away from my chest until it fung from my arms, wide open for her to run her fingers down. My fingers threaded through my hair as her arms twined behind my neck, holding me in place. I pulled away and pressed kisses down her neck as I reached for the laces of her dress and undid them, letting the fabric puddle around our feet; I pulled at the fabric separating us until she was left in nothing but her corset and bloomers. I reached behind her to pull the laces from that too, her ever encouraging voice in my ears.

I shot awake from the uncomfortable position I had fallen asleep in, my neck and back stiff from my impromptu nap. I stood and shook myself. Where had that come from? The dream replayed in my head and I felt heat flooding like fire through my veins. Was I fantasizing about Danielle? In my dream I held her and she'd begged to be closer. I'd never had dreams like that before, not with Christine or anyone. My skin felt too tight for my body and my stomach quivered, everything was too hot. I pulled at the lose poet's shirt off and dove in the lake, making the chill of the water steal the heat from my body.

DANIELLE

"Now, down." Madame Giry smacked her cane on the ground and I slid easily into the splits. I felt a grin spring to my face and sit there. "Now the sides." She banged her cane again and I slid my legs to either side of me. I smiled again, this in itself counted as an amazing contortion for me. "Very good Danielle, I'm proud of your progress, now you won't have much difficulty dancing with the girls who have been here longer." Meg smiled at me, she'd been helping me all week with stretches.

"Danielle, you're a quick learner; I'm sure you will get it all tomorrow." She helped me up, I still struggled with getting out of that position without help. Madame Giry was a bit put off that I couldn't, but Meg and I thought it was hilarious. "Let's go make dinner." I still thought it was weird how abandoned this place was when the shows were out. There were some male dancers still here, only three, but they usually went out until it was time to lock up. Some of the cleaning staff were still around, though we were the only ones who ate dinner there. When everyone left but us I'd asked Madame Giry why she and Meg didn't go home.

"We would stay with Christine, her entire life is here; sometimes we would bring her along, but she seemed more at ease here, even though our home is within walking distance. We go home most weekends, but we felt bad leaving her here." And that was the end of that.

We changed out of our dance clothes and went into the kitchen. Madame Giry handed me a potato peeler and told me to peel the potatoes for the beef stew. We all worked silently, it wasn't awkward, it was comfortable. With each of us doing something the stew was prepared quickly, all we had to do was cook it. I could feel my stomach beginning to eat itself. I fidgeted in my seat, trying to ease the hunger.

"Stop acting like you haven't eaten all day, it will be read in a few minutes." It was almost weird seeing Madame Giry do something so average, she was such an extraordinary person. After what seemed like an eternity the food was ready. I grabbed a bowl and spoon and dug in; Madame Giry and Meg said grace before they ate, they didn't mind that I didn't, I'd told them I didn't believe in religion and I explained how, in the future, most people didn't either. They had been upset at first but got over it after a few meals, or at least they stopped bringing it up.

"That was really good, thanks for dinner Madame Giry." I helped wash up and stretched.

"I think I fancy a stroll alone," I said. Meg frowned.

"You always go for a walk after we eat and you never want company; what do you do that is so private that you don't let us come?" I looked at Madame Giry, then Meg; surely Madame Giry knew where I was going, but Meg had no idea.

"I'm just the kind of person that likes to be by herself for a while; sometimes being around people wears me out." I rolled my shoulders and stretched, touching my toes. Weird ballerina habit: they always stretched without thinking about it, now I was doing it too. "It's nothing personal, really, I just need some time each day to be alone. You know I'll be in bed before you go to sleep." Meg nodded, never once had I gotten back after she'd gone to sleep.

Meg sighed, "I'm sorry Danielle, I don't know why, but it bothers me just a bit. Maybe it's because you are alone, even though I know that's what you want," she rubbed her arms nervously, "I just don't want you to get hurt. I mean, the whole thing with Blaise really... really..." Tears formed in her eyes and she looked down. I felt really bad for making her upset.

"It's okay Meg, I know you mean well. Don't worry, I'll just wander around the Opera tonight, I'll only stop outside to get a breath of fresh air." Meg wiped her eyes, embarrassed.

"Really? It would make me feel a lot better. I'm sorry." She apologized again. I rubbed her back.

"You don't need to be, I understand." I gave her a hug and walked away; seemed like Meg had a sixth sense for things that shouldn't be done; I knew Erik was dangerous and could kill a man without a second thought, but sometimes he looked so... so unhappy, I'd feel like a bitch if I didn't try to help him.

I looked around, making sure I hadn't been followed. I checked the rafters, after the Buquet incident I made sure I was certain I was alone before I went anywhere, especially into the tunnels. Since I started using the one near the stage it has become easier to see in the dark, I didn't have much trouble finding my way anymore, I didn't even need to grope along the wall. The stone door leading into Erik's home was practically glowing, why did Erik have so many candles lit?

"Erik, you home?" I walked through the door and looked around. It looked like all the candles had been lit, even the ones across the lake that took forever to get to and light them all, Erik had complained about them once. I heard a rustle of fabric and turned to see Erik getting up from his organ. I blinked in surprise, trying to make sure I wasn't seeing things; Erik was dressed to the nines in full Phantom regalia. Erik smiled at me, seeing my stunned expression.

"Cat got your tongue?" For a second my mind went blank. He never got this dressed up just to compose, something was up.

"Are you feeling okay?" A frown passed over Erik's easy smile.

"Of course I do. Why?"

"No reason, really." I looked around the lair again, it was incredible

"Do you like it?" Erik asked nonchalantly. I could tell he really wanted a positive review.

"It's incredible, did you do all this yourself?" He nodded. "Must've been a bitch to get all the candles. What's the occasion?" Erik let out a low chuckle. What the hell had gotten into him?

"Do I need an occasion to do something for you?" Hokay, now this was getting weird. "I wanted to thank you for staying with me." I raised my eyebrows.

"Erik, you didn't need to do all this to thank me, all I need is a 'thank you' and a hug," I punched him in the arm, "but it's sweet."

"I want to give you something," he said. I held out my hands. Erik chuckled again. "But I don't know what to get you." I dropped my hands, I didn't really need anything and I didn't want to accumulate a lot of stuff.

"Sing for me." Erik lifted his one visible brow. "That's what I want." He nodded and tapped a few keys on the organ before he began to sing.

"Night time, Sharpens, Heightens each sensation," Holy shit, he's singing Music of the Night to me.

"Darkness, stirs and wakes imagination,

Silently the senses, abandon their defenses," his angelic voice wrapped around me; it was magical.

"Helpless to resist, the notes I write,

For I compose the music of the night." Erik lead me from the mouth of the tunnel to where he stood by the organ.

"Slowly, Gently, Night unfurls its splendour,

Grasp it, Sense it, Tremulous and tender," he ran the tips of his fingers across my cheek bone, I could feel my heart skip a beat.

"Hearing is believing,

Music is deceiving,

Hard as lightening, soft, as candle light,

Dare you trust the music of the night." I looked away, embarrassed that I was embarrassed; gently Erik took my chin and angled my eyes to meet his. His smile was now a soft smirk, not mean but... something. I couldn't think of an emotion, or anything for that matter; I was just happy.

"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams

Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before," Erik ran slightly ahead of me, turning suddenly, tenderly looking into my eyes and willing my soul to take wing.

"Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar;" I let my eyes fall shut, breathing in the sound of his voice.

"And you live as you've never lived before

Softly, Deftly,

Music shall caress you,

Hear it, feel it,

Secretly possess you." Erik's perfect lips were almost eye level, I stared at them, hanging on every word.

"Open up your mind,

Let your fantasies unwind," I don't think he'd want to see that.

"In this darkness which you know you can not fight,

The darkness of the music of the night." Erik opened his arms, like he was embracing the song.

"Close your eyes start a journey through a strange new world,

Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before," Erik Walked around a table with statues, masks and music sheets on it, letting me absorb everything, my heart was doing a circus routine.

"Let your soul take you where you long to be," Erik's powerful note made my body quiver down to the marrow in my bones. Slowly he approached me and ran his hands up my neck and rested them on my cheeks.

"Only then can you belong to me." He turned me around and pressed our bodies together, rocking with the soft melody; his hand ghosted across my stomach and down my hip.

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication,

Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation," he brought my hand up to the normal side of his face and, in between the word breaks, pressed a kiss to my palm.

"Let the dream begin,

Let your darker side give in," I let the jumble of emotions tumble out of my eyes as he spun me to face him; God I hope he didn't feel my heartbeat.

"To the power of the music that I write,

The power of the music of the night." I let out a few shaky breaths, letting the crescendo of the music wash over me. I hadn't realized I'd closed my eyes until I felt the brush of Erik's breath on my eyelids. I opened my eyes and looked from his lips to his eyes. Had we always been this close?

"You alone can make my song take flight,

Help me make the music of the night." Slowly Erik leaned down and pressed our lips together and kissed me.

Aaaand now you know why this chapter took so long. Hope you liked Music of the Night grapejuice101? Took a long time to put in, but I think it was worth it.

To anonymous reader who asked me a question about Erik's reaction on body jokes, I think she'd be pretty mad, sometimes she says things as a joke but accidentally hurts them. Review!