"There is a dark and trouble side of life, but there is a bright and a sunny side too. Though you meet with the darkness and the strife, the sunny side you may also view. Keep on the sunny side. Always on the sunny side."

Christine's soft voice floated through the air and found its way to Erik. Erik closed his eyes hoping to never let go of it. The sweet sight of Christine welcomed Erik. Her dark curls trailing down her back, completely loose. It was one of the few times that Erik had seen her in a dress, with her pale, beautiful face standing out against the others on stage.

As she finished, Erik prayed she would start on another song. Sadly to his dissappointment, she took her leave and run off to visit with various girls at different booths.

Throughout the rest of the day, Erik would catch glimpses of her or hear her singing back on the stage.

Nadir watched as Erik slept, a small smile of contempt upon his face. From time to time,

a slight whisper would escape Erik's lips. "Christine." It was the only word he said, but it was all that had to be said. Nadir, despite himself and all of his good intentions, knew the truth.

Erik's life had started on that day four years ago when he first saw Christine. There had been no going back ; he was consumed. When they had returned, Erik finished the palace the Sultana had him working on. The moment it was done, he was on a plane headed back to America. His only thoughts being of Christine.

Much to Nadir's relief, the Sultana ordered him to follow her prized pet and keep him out of trouble. It was easier said than done. Nadir had found that Erik listens to no one. The only person who had any influence over Erik's actions was Christine. Nadir used it to his advantage. Why did the Sultana not give him the three days? Why did she take Christine before Nadir had a chance to convince Erik?

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Erik sat in the chair, watching Christine. His plane had arrived in the dead of the night. He had left Nadir at the airport while he stole into the palace. Security was lacking. It was no wonder she wanted him back. The incompentent fools didin't know the first thing about how to do their jobs.

Erik sat,plotting how to get Christine out of here. The band-aid solution would be to simply sneak Christine out the way he had come, but it would not keep them from coming back for her.

Erik wanted to be her friend, her lover, her confident, but not her jailer. Not again. And that's exactly what he would become if he left without resolving the problem. His mind would not be able to rest for fear of her safety.

"It is good to see you home again, Erik." The voice floated in from the doorway.

Erik kept his eyes trained on Christine. "What is it that you want?"

"For you to do your job."

"Are you not pleased with your palace?"

"It is perfect, but I have had no one to entertain me since you've been away." The pouting in her voice was evident, and Erik gave not a damn.

"Let Christine go home."

"No."

"I am sorry. I don't think I heard you correctly."

"I said no, Erik. Her voice has grown on me. The canary will be a nice addition to our household, don't you think?"

"Let her go back to the States where she belongs."

"I've made my decision, Erik. If you're through with her, I am sure Hazif would like her. Goodnight, Erik."

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Erik continued to sit at Christine's side. It wasn't until the early morning hours that Christine awoke. Erik continued to hold her hand. Christine simply smiled. Erik's heart quit beating for a brief moment. "You came for me."

"Always."

"When are we going home?"

"Soon." His reply was followed with a brief knock at the door before Nadir entered.

"Erik, she wants to see you."

"Go back to sleep, Christine." Erik placed a kiss on her forehead before moving towards the door. He stopped and whispered in Nadir's ear. "You let her out of your sight before I get back, and I will kill you."

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"Christine, why didn't you just leave Erik? Your agreement was up months ago." Nadir questioned the young woman looking out the window.

"I don't suppose you know what it is like to sing on stage. The first few minutes you are so terrified that you are going to make a mistake and everyone will hate you. Then, you forget everything. There is nothing but you and the song you sing. When you are done, you want more. Music is a drug that you keep crawling back to, despite your fears. Erik is like music. He brought music back into my life. It wasn't that I didn't try to leave Erik. Erik wouldn't let me go. Despite my attempts and my insults, Erik loves me and wants to see me achieve greatness. There are times that I simply hate Erik and wish to be free of him, but now, more and more I am not so sure that I could go on living if Erik wasn't in my life. It would be as if I was living in a silent room. I think if music left my life again, the silence would kill me."

"Christine, you will have to forgive Erik's black mood."

"Erik's fine, and I have dealt with his temper before. It is not anything new."

"Christine, Erik doesn't like being here. It changes him into something dark and sinister. You will have to forgive for the things he does. He hates the fact that they brought you here, and he is worried for your safety. It would be wise to remember your own words, Christine. There is no thought to be had concerning Erik. The silence you speak of would kill Erik."

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The sultana walked down the hall, followed by guards. Her plan was to check on her pet. She wanted to make sure that he was getting settled back in. Maybe he was already building her a new toy or planning a new magic trick.. Her hopes were spoiled as she approached the door to his apartment to find guards and harem girls stationed at his door, trying to capture every last sound.

One of the harem girls noticed her and backed way from the door. The others soon followed in suite and waited for reprimand from the sultana. The sultana simply flicked her wrist to dismiss all of them. The girls took off running back to the harem while the guards went back to their posts. The sultana pressed her ear to the door to see what had captured all of their attentions.

The words were foreign to her, and she understood not a word. However, her soul was captured and never wished to leave the beauty of what it heard. She longed for more when the song ended and another one did not begin.

She had been right. The canary would be a nice addition to her house. Before tonight, she had never heard Erik sing, but now she knew, what angels sounded like. It was no wonder Lucifer had been in charge of worship before he was kicked out. Now she had an angel and a devil in her house. Their voices were perfect and made love to each other. She could hardly wait to show off her returning pet and her new one.

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Erik heard the light footsteps and knew who it was without ever opening his eyes. It was not for the beautiful sight that he knew awaited him, he would have kept his eyes closed. "Why are you not in bed, Christine?"

"I am too scared to sleep. Erik, could just this once I sleep in bed with you? Please?" Christine stood at the doorframe, trembling. Erik simply lifted up the covers and waited. Christine slipped underneath them, putting her back to Erik. Erik wrapped the covers around her and pulled her close to him."Hush-a-bye."

"What, Christine?"

"Sing Hush-a-bye Mountain with me. Please." The two managed to sing the other to sleep. Erik hoped for many more nights of Christine being unable to sleep by herself. Heaven could not possibly be as sweet as the feel of Christine in his arms. He just hoped they would be home in his bed soon.