Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Phantom of the Opera. Only original stuff is mine.

AN: Okay, I've decided to add a character from the Phantom of the Opera book into the mix. Truthfully, I kind of like Nadir Khan, and he makes a good sidekick/helper to Erik. No insult to Madame Giry, but I think Erik deserves to have more than one friend. Also, I'm adjusting it so that the movie and book crossover and fit each other. Hope you like it and will review! Thanks!

Chapter 18: What Might Be and What Might Have Been:

Going out into the city was dangerous for even the most common man. There were thieves, murderers, and criminals of all sorts lurking in alleys, but people still went out, no matter the perils. For Erik, however, going out into the world of light was far more treacherous. With a mask on his face, people would easily know him as a deformed monster, or even as the Phantom himself. Even with a cloak over his head to hide his features, there was the chance he would be recognized.

Fortunately, today was a cloudy, somewhat drizzly day, so a cloaked and hooded figure would not stand out on the busy Paris streets. Graceful and silent, Erik made he way to his destination, namely the house of Nadir Khan.

Nadir was a former policeman from the land of Persia, and had encountered the deformed child known as The Devil's Child while the gypsy caravan had been traveling throughout the world. When he had first seen the horrors and torment that the boy suffered through, Nadir had felt pity for the poor child, and had wanted to free him by purchasing him. To Nadir's disappointment, the caravan leader had refused, claiming that Erik was worth more than what the Persian could possibly offer him. The caravan left the next morning, but not without the Persian attempting to follow them, hoping desperately to free the poor imprisoned boy in the cage.

However, despite his best efforts to keep up with them, Nadir, as well as his faithful manservant Darius, found himself without the funds or means to keep up with the gypsies. Although the gypsies traveled with all they owned in their carts and on their backs, it was because of this lack of ties to possessions and land that the gypsies could travel great distances without much pause. Those in a gypsy circus also didn't have many family or friends besides the ones they traveled with, and a circus always pulled in money whenever they stopped, so there were no financial worries, either.

Nadir was not to fortunate. He didn't have the ability to bring in money at the drop of a hat, and after arriving in Italy, his money had run out. Forced to take a permanent security guard position at a wealthy Italian merchant's shop, Nadir had to work for years to save up enough to try and locate where the poor boy known as The Devil's Child might be. Over twenty years later, when a customer from Paris mentioned the horrific events of the Opera Populaire, as well as the twisted, deformed man who had destroyed the building and killed several patrons, Nadir knew where he had to go.

Bidding his employer a heartfelt farewell, Nadir had immediately left Italy and purchased a home in Paris, one that was less than five blocks away from the ruins of the Opera House. Darius, of course, followed, and the two set out to discover what had happened to the boy they had been trying to save.

However, the search was not an easy one. Since he was a foreigner, many people proved to either be eager to answer his questions, or hesitant. The gossips, of course, told Nadir and Darius much more than they asked about, but by then, the tales had all been twisted around so that Nadir didn't know what was true and what was made up. However, one lead he had came from a newspaper reporter, a young man who claimed that the former ballet mistress and her daughter might be able to help. As a man, Nadir had foolishly thought that all women liked to gossip like chickens; he had not counted on the ballet mistress to keep her mouth so tightly shut that he could not even get past the front step. After having the door slammed in his face for the third time, Nadir gave up and decided to try and corner the pretty little thing known as Meg Giry, daughter of the ballet mistress.

From the blonde wisp-of-a-girl, Nadir discovered that Madame Giry had been the connection between the Opera Ghost and the managers. She had delivered his notes, collected his money, kept Box 5 open for his use, and frequently voiced that his commands were to be followed to avoid mishaps. Meg had also said that it was because of the Ghost's anger and madness that the Opera House had burned down, as well as his unreturned love for a certain dancer-turned-singer named Christine Daae.

Upon hearing this, Nadir had grown worried about how the innocent boy had grown into such a monster. Desperate to try and save the man from himself, Nadir had tried to seek out the so-called Phantom. Then, an idea had struck the moment he'd heard that someone was going to try and rebuild the Populaire: if the Opera House had been the Phantom's kingdom, one which he had destroyed, it would certainly make sense if he still lived there and wanted to rebuild what had been his. And if the Phantom still dwelled at the Opera House, then he should be easy to find.

Using a few well-placed bribes, Nadir managed to get into the good graces of the architect designing the new Populaire, and discovered a set of redrawn plans. These new plans had been far different and more elegantly done than the originals, and Nadir was quick to ask questions. The answers involved a set of blueprints lost in the burned ruins of the Populaire, and the delivery of the remade prints to the office by a woman called Madame Giry.

Excited, Nadir had returned to the Giry home and once again cornered little Meg. After using his best interrogating skills, Meg finally gave him a rough set of directions to the Phantom's underground home, describing a pathway that she had used after Don Juan. It was in those caves that Nadir encountered a very angry Erik, and almost lost his life at the end of a Punjab rope. When Erik managed to recognize who it was and remember the kindness shown to him by the Persian all those years ago, he released the rope from the older man's neck. Erik then forced a promise from the Persian, ordering that the man never, if he valued his life, cross into the caves again. Nadir quickly gave his word, and once the matter was cleared up, Nadir invited Erik to his home for tea.

After that, a strange and uneasy friendship was born.

Ever since that encounter with the Persian in the caves, Erik had done his best not to be too involved in becoming friends with Nadir. It wasn't that he was afraid of the older man, as Nadir was hardly a threat to someone of Erik's height and strength. No, Erik was hesitant to become friends because he had never had one in his entire life. Still, Nadir was kind to him as no other man had been, so Erik tried to spend one day a week or a month with the foreigner. Since Aria had arrived, though, those visits had ceased, and no doubt Nadir would want an explanation.

Making sure his hood covered his eyes, Erik knocked on the door. Darius answered and bowed him in, shutting the door before escorting him to the parlor. A tug on Erik's shoulders, and his cloak was in Darius' hands before Erik could blink twice. Nadir was already there, a tea tray and a meal tray lying on the table before him. Taking a deep breath, Erik entered the room and took a seat, accepting one of the cups being offered to him and taking a drink.

For a while, the two men sat, ate, and drank until the food was gone and all that remained was to chat over a warm fire. Erik knew that Nadir could sense something needed to be discussed, and so he decided to speak before the Persian could begin a police interrogation of him.

"Nadir," Erik whispered, his eyes never leaving the dancing flames of the fire. "Nadir, I need you to procure something for me before tomorrow night."

The Persian started in his seat, surprised at the request. "You want me to procure something for you?" he asked in disbelief. "Isn't Madame Giry the one who usually makes your purchases?"

Biting back an angry retort and an impatient sigh, Erik turned his green eyes towards his only male friend. "This is something I know would alarm Madame and cause her great worry," he ground out. "I need you to do this, or else I will have to do this myself."

Nadir sighed and nodded. "What do you need me to get?"

Setting down his glass with one hand, Erik reached into his vest pocket with the other. "I need you to get this, in exactly the size I have written down," Erik said, pulling out a folded piece of paper and handing it to the older gentleman.

The Persian accepted the paper and opened it. Upon reading it, he nearly dropped it in shock. For a moment, his dark brown eyes glanced from the paper towards his guest, then back to the paper. The motions were repeated until Erik reached over and gently thumped the older man on the forehead with his forefinger. Nadir jerked back in his chair and glared at his masked friend before shaking his head.

"Erik," he said in an accusing tone of voice. "This is an engagement ring."

"Yes, Nadir, I am aware of that," Erik replied in a dry tone. "Will you please purchase it for me? I will pick it up tomorrow afternoon, since I have much to do before tomorrow night."

"Who is this ring for, Erik?" the Persian demanded. "I know that Christine is in town, and if you think to win her over this time, I swear I will tie you down and knock some sense into you!"

Erik stared at his friend for a moment before bursting into laughter. It was several minutes before he managed to calm down, and when he did, he could not find himself angry at the assumptions that the other man had jumped to. "Oh, Nadir," Erik said, still chuckling. "I am not doing this for that foolish child known as Christine. This is for another woman, someone whom I love and who loves me in return, despite my horrid face and all of the terrible things I have done."

An eyebrow on Nadir's face raised in skepticism. "Erik," he said in a soft voice. "You have not…forced this girl into anything, have you? Not like with Christine all those years ago."

The soft smile that spread across Erik's face surprised him. "No, Nadir, I did not," he said, though he only told half of the truth. If Nadir didn't know about Aria's kidnapping, all the better. "She has seen who I am and loves me. And I intend to make her my wife."

To his surprise, Nadir put the paper into his pocket and threw himself across the table to wrap Erik in a congratulatory hug. "Oh, I am so glad for you!" he cried, pounding Erik enthusiastically on the back. "You deserve this, dear boy! For all of the hardships you have encountered and endured, you deserve this happiness!"

Erik merely gave him an awkward pat on the back and waited for the other man to be seated. "I have it all planned out, Nadir," Erik said, a small smile on his lips. "I will spare no expense in this matter. I want the finest diamond ring you can procure." Erik removed a wallet from his pocket and tossed it at the man. "Spend everything in it, if you have to."

'And by the time tomorrow night is over, Aria will be mine.'

Erik was gone, and he seemed in a rather dark mood when he had left this morning. Yesterday, after doing his rounds at the Opera House, he seemed rather upset about something, and refused to tell me what it was. I silently guessed that it must have been something to do with the production of Carmen and left it at that, since that's all there was that could make Erik so angry. Instead of bothering him about it, I merely left it alone and let him pound his emotions out on his organ while I prepared dinner.

Last night's meal had been slightly strained, though Erik did his best to be polite and gentle with me. I let him know that it was alright to be angry, and that if he wanted to talk about it, I was here to listen. He nodded and said that he knew that, but that it was something he alone had to deal with. I could tell that he did not want me to worry, so I kept quiet and put the matter into the back of my mind. If he wanted to say something and ask for my help, he would do so.

Instead on dwelling on darker matters, I let myself think about how wonderful it was to be in love. Every time I was in Erik's presence, I felt so warm and happy, as though a pair of arms were around me all the time, hugging me and making me feel safe. Sometimes I felt as if I were in a fog of bliss, often having to pinch myself to come back to reality in order to prepare dinner or think sensibly. Often, I would giggle foolishly to myself whenever I looked at the roses or the gifts that Erik had brought me, my thoughts drifting towards the fond smile he would sometimes have on his face.

Sitting in the music room, the scent of my rose perfume tickling my nose, I couldn't keep myself from smiling. Erik was so thoughtful with his gifts, and I was always sure to let him know my thanks with a kiss or a swift hug. From the look in his eyes, I knew that he cherished each kiss and caress I gave him; at times, it seemed as though he were engraving them into his memory, just so he would never forget what it was like to have me love him.

However, what troubled me was that I couldn't stop thinking about how I had managed to get Erik to fall in love with me. Papa had always claimed that I was a softhearted girl, one who had such a sweet nature that any man with sense would want me as his wife. Whenever he said that, I smiled indulgently at him, knowing for a fact that if that were true, then most of the men in the world were probably stupid or blind.

'So how did I manage to become your love, Erik?' I silently asked the absent man.

Well, that didn't matter; what truly mattered was that we were both happy at having found love with one another. Erik deserved to be loved, and to experience so much more than that. As for me, I had finally found a man who treated me tenderly and equally, something not many men would do for the woman they loved.

'But what would it be like to be married to him?' my mind asked as my imagination exploded with possibilities.

I could imagine the two of us living here by the underground lake, our lives peaceful and quiet here in the darkness surrounding us, held back by hundreds of candles. Erik would play his glorious, passionate and emotional music every day, and I would either sit with him in the music room or in the library, savoring every note being played. Perhaps we would read a book together, wrapped in each other's arms during the day, and at night…

Blushing furiously, I pushed that image aside. Besides, it wasn't proper for a woman to think such inappropriate thoughts, no matter how much I wanted to fantasize about it. Was Erik experienced in that area? I didn't think he would be, but I'd heard that lovemaking was a sort of art form, and since art came so easily to Erik, perhaps he would be as much a natural in that area as he was in sculpture, paints, and music. If he was, then the person who would be his wife would likely be a lucky one.

But for now, I dared not get my hopes and my dreams up, for fear of them not coming true. If Erik wanted to marry me, then he would ask me, properly and with love and honesty in his eyes. If not…well, let me just hope that I was strong enough to bear the heartbreak.

On the desk beside her, Christine heard the clock chime the hour. Raoul was out for the evening, meeting with a few friends, so the young Countess found herself alone for the evening. Sighing, she turned her attention back out the window, looking out into the darkness. It was a drizzly night, and people rushed past the hotel under umbrellas, hooded cloaks, or wide-brimmed hats. The sight of people running around like panicked ants made her smile, though it did not last very long.

Tonight, Christine found herself lost in thoughts she had not considered in a long time, thoughts that involved terrifying darkness and voices that echoed inside her mind. After the incident at the Opera House, she had done her best to banish those memories and ideas from her mind and her heart, and after a year had past, she had succeeded. However, with the disappearance of Mademoiselle Craven, the darkness and her fear of the past had returned. What must the poor young woman be going through? Was she afraid for her life, just as Christine had been during her abduction? Did Aria fear for her father and her uncle if they should do something to displease the Ghost?

As always, the mere thought of the Phantom sent shivers of ice-cold fear through Christine's body. She could almost feel the darkness of the Phantom's cave pressing down upon her, though it hadn't always been that way. Before, when she had first been brought to his home, she had thought it beautiful and enchanting, like a dream. The Phantom's voice had been so deep and majestic, encouraging her and praising her voice and her performance in Hannibal. She thought it a gift and privilege to be with him.

'But then I saw his face,' she thought with a shiver. 'I will never forget the horrid, twisted mass of flesh that lay beneath the mask, not as long as I live! To think that poor Aria must be suffering through the torment of living with that madman! If it were me…oh, I can't bear to think of it!'

If it was her, Christine was sure she would have drowned herself in the lake which stood beside the Phantom's lair. The misty water had enchanted her at first, but after that first night with the masked monster, it held nothing but terrifying promises of death and eternal imprisonment. The darkness that filled every space of the caverns were stifling, and Christine knew that if she had been forced to wed the Phantom to save Raoul, she would have been long dead by now, either by her own hand or his.

'We must save her,' Christine thought with determination. 'Such a young life cannot be cut short or dimmed by having to live with such a creature as that!'

And they would save Aria. The unfortunate young woman could not be left down there for much longer, or she would surely lose her mind. The thought of eternal darkness and the dominating, forceful nature of the Phantom would drive any sane woman to weep in fear of him. For the sake of Aria Craven, both of the de Chagnys must go down into the depths of hell to save her.

'I only hope that Raoul's plan will work,' the young Countess thought with a sigh. 'Please God, for all of our sakes, let this plan work!'

AN: Review!