So sorry fellow readers! I have been grounded because of some horrid grades I got from school. I am aloud to go on weekends but that is all. I will let you know when I my grades are back up. My friend got the Susan Kay book from the library. I nearly had a heart attack when I knew she had it. So naturally I stole it so I could read it -don't worry its returned now- I got to read it. It is so sad! Erik's life was really bad, his mother was horrible to him. When I got done I kind of felt that I'm not doing Erik right…….I keep getting compliments on how you guys like my Erik so I will try to keep it the same.

Rue Marie-Yes I thought it rather amusing that Meg said hello to the floor. For the homonyms, I can never point out my own mistake as I have said earlier. No one had ever replied me about being a beta reader……Makes me mad.

Blondeducky77- thanks

ElvenStar5- No you where not harsh at all, I understand that I make….quiet a lot of mistakes. I'm sorry that the way I use speech confuses you. Maybe when I go through at the end of the story I will change it around.

witchcat- I Think you will really like this chapter, its what everyone has been wanting!

ModestySparrow9- -Glares-(jk) He has been hurt enough in his life he just needs…a talking to. Lol

Like I have said earlier I have had several people contact me about editing it my story. Everyone's I replied to over email. Guess what not one of them has ever replied so my search goes on for someone to correct my posts! So someone please come along. This chapter is mostly at meg's point of view, Also I said that this chapter it gets fluffy-so get ready!

I used a bit of the song Wandering child, so I just want to say that I do not own it. I also added my own verse to it to make it fit the situation.

-An angels pain-

Alexander's arm that lead her up the cave was to no comfort of the pain she had. Unseen in the dark, silent tears fell from Meg's eyes. She did not try to resist them from flowing. Her heart ached not only for the love that could never be but the loss of a friend. She knew that he would always be there down below the opera house, he would always hold a piece of her heart.

More tears fell as she thought about how he turned her away again and again. He really didn't care for anyone but himself. She looked up surprised to see that Christine had stopped in front of both Alexander and herself. They where at the mirror already?

Meg knew about the mirror to Christine's room she once herself had moved through it but had been stopped. Thinking about the trapdoor in her own room Meg wondered if Christine knew about the other doors in the opera house.

Christine quickly found the small lever that opened the glass and opened it. All three of them stepped into Christine's old room. Alexander seem to realize that Meg was not going to fall at any moment so he let go of her arm. Meg felt more relaxed when he did. Meg started walking towards the door, she didn't want to stop here. Christine looked sadly around the room before following Meg out and into the hallway, Alexander was behind her.

Feeling dazed Meg walked towards the large open room with the front doors. She stopped and looked to both Alexander and Christine. Christine face lightened a bit and she quickly brushed past them murmuring something about getting the carriage.

She quickly was out of the door and gone. Meg stared at the door perplexed by her strange behavior. Feeling slightly awkward she let her gaze move over the top of the room and the balconies. She had hope that there would be a flash of white or the sound of a gentle swish of a cloak. Nothing came into view and nothing was heard. She lowered her head, why did she even think that he would be there? He didn't care about her!

"Are you sure that you are alright?" Alexander's concerned voice cut its way through Megs sadness. She felt a bitter spark light in her. Was she all right? She almost screamed at him with her frustration and pain but was able to stop herself. She turned to look at him and realized that he was only concerned. She let out a large sigh and replied quietly "Yes I am fine, thanks for your concern"

Once again her mind slipped away into her own world, what was she going to do now? She was only staying here because it was the polite thing to do. It was not that she did not like Alexander; no he was very nice and would make great husband to some lucky girl. But she didn't think that she would be that lucky girl. No the high class life was not for her. All she had ever known was the very lineate world of the opera house. If she had to be perfect every day she would go crazy. Pulse she would have to give up dancing.

Bringing her back to this world her eyes fell on a large poster. Another Masquerade ball was coming? It was always so much fun to go to, a night of dancing. What would she wear? She would worry about that later, if she had to she could wear one of her mothers old dresses. In fact there was one that had always caught her eye. Her mother had worn it to her first masquerade; maybe she would wear that…if she even went.

Alexander was staying quiet besides her also zoning out, or so it seemed. Meg's tears had tried on her face leaving streaking marks down her face. The sound of a door being open made Meg turn towards the entrance. Christine was returning to tell Alexander that the carriage was ready.

Meg gave her worried friend a smile to reassure her. Christine once again rapped Meg in a tight embrace, she stepped back worry still on her face as she said "Well will see you Meg, Take care…please?"

Alexander stood a foot or two off from the two girls, Meg noticed this and she stepped away from Christine to give Alexander a curtsy. He gave her a smile, he then spoke mentioning to the large poster behind them. "It was good to see you again Meg, Maybe I will see you again at the Masquerade?"

Was that an invitation? For a moment she was silent thinking, she had no one else to go with so why not? She nodded her head in reply not feeling like talking. He seemed to understand to some extent and turned with Christine and they left Meg.

Where should she go now? Not really caring she let her legs just walk, not really knowing where she was going. Her mind was lost in thought, so she was going with Alexander to the masquerade. Well he was nice and the high life might not be as bad as she thought, who knows she might be able to keep dancing. Looking up she realized she had walked down to the chapel. She walked down the steps and into the small room. She kneeled down and lit a candle for her mother.

Grief ridden she begins to prey to the heavens. Her life was coming undone before her very eye. Her mother was dead, the man she had fallen in love with didn't love her back, and if anything found her to be a nuisance. After a few moments tears again to fall from her red eyes. She began to talk aloud somehow wishing that someone would answer "Oh God what am I to do? Alexander is wonderful, but I don't think I could ever love him as I love Erik."

She felt so lost, so helpless. She let tears fall from her eyes with out shame; no one was here to see her cry. No one was there to hear her confession. She planed to keep it that way, but even if someone heard her they would no even know who Erik was, they would just think of him as some other boy she was sickly in love with. They would never know that she had fallen for the Phantom of the Opera.

She had fallen silent now and was silently weeping to herself. She wanted answers, she wanted them now! Who was she though to demand these things from God? The silence in which followed her prayer made her feel even more lost in a large world that was spinning quickly, but she had nothing to hold on to.

At first she couldn't believe what she was hearing, it was so faint. She raised her head to listen closely to the sound of something that was very small, it was the sound of singing! Slowly it grew louder and louder till the room was filled with singing.

The voice, oh that beautiful voice! It was masculine yet the notes that where sung where higher than an average man could go. Its haunting melody sent chills up her spine yet she did not feel frightened. She wanted to reach out and grasp the voice itself, yet there was no one near. The Voice could only have been sent from heaven.

First the words where in a different language that she did not know. It all seemed very foreign to her, then the words changed and she understood what was singing. It was an answer to her prayers, the voice had to be of an angles! She listened to the words as it was spoken.

"Wandering Child
So lost
So Helpless
Yearning for Guidance

You have called upon a angel
Speak now
My Child
For this angel must return to above"

The voice then drifted into the darkness, Meg wanted it to goon forever. Once it was completely silent again Meg tried to catch her breath. She took in a shaky breath before speaking. She didn't know what to say really but words tumbled out. "I-I don't know what to do, I love Erik, but I don't know if he could ever return my love. His heart still belongs to Christine."

Her last few words were said with much mourning. She sounded like a whiny little child, but she had to know. Could Erik return the love she felt for him? She prayed that he could, but his heart still belonged to Christine and not to her. Perhaps she would just give up with love and go with Alexander.

The voice was silent, had she waited too long to reply? She felt like crying out to the angle tell it to come back. She needed some answer from heaven. She did not dare to breath for the fear that she might miss the reply. She was not let down as the voice again spoke, it didn't sing this time but the voice held power yet she found it very gentle like one who spoke to a frightened child. "You need to fallow your heart and what would be best for you. Sometimes….You need to just let go and be able to adapt to what you have. Treasure what has been offered to you Marguerite"

His words cut at her heart, how could he say that, she must of misunderstood him. All her life she had prayed that an angle would come and grant all her dreams, but in so few of words they all were crushed. He told her to move on, to follow her heart to adapt to what she had. But, why was life so hard? Her words where choked with a sob "you mean I should be with Alexander?"

She felt tears fall from the pain in her heart. She wanted nothing more for him to call her a foolish child and she should be with Erik. She looked around the room for any sign that this angle was not so but a demon playing with her heart.

Once again she was in silence, maybe it was better that way she didn't want to know that answer. She wanted to run, but to where? The voice did reply it was no longer the large voice that had took her breath away, yet she noticed the resemblance between the two. She also recognized the voice that spoke now "No Meg, I'm just saying……I'm just saying that you should be with anyone else but me"

……:……

Why had he told her to leave? All he was doing was sending her away after he got too close to her. Then again that was why, she could never love him. No one could ever love him, he watched as she left and walked towards the other two. He cursed himself, he had done it again. He had let himself care too much, and yet he knew that he couldn't keep her down here like he had tried to do with Christine. This was no life for someone else but him. He was the only one who needed to be forced to live down here.

He was a ghost, a phantom nothing more. He was meant to be alone forever, all eyes who fell upon him where supposed to be with fear. Most the time he was not meant to be seen at all. That how it should be and how It shall stay. He watched as Meg fell and the boy rushed up to help her. He could not take it, with a quick turn he left them to leave on their own. He moved quickly threw the hallway and towards the back where the back entrance lay. He quickly opened the door and slipped through not caring that they where down in his house anymore. Caring was something he needed to do less of. As he had explained to Meg it only brought him pain.

He had got himself under control, or at least some what under control. He had run threw the opera and to the ceiling where he could get some fresh air. He was now…if one could call it normal, at least for himself. He once again returned to the opera moving through the walls and opening trap doors. He had to see if they where up yet from his house, he didn't want to return to have them still be there, even though he was calmer he was not sure he could take it.

He was not hiding from where he had hid last time, he never hid in the same place twice. At least not in the same day. He now was on the first floor watching from the hallway. The hallway was dark, like the rest of the opera house. The only light that was lit was a single chandler above Meg and Alexander's head. He rested his gaze upon the chandelier for a moment. How ironic that they where under it…..No he must not interfere, not this time. This is what Meg needed was a life where she could live without hiding away.

Erik made sure that nothing was showing, he had his cape draped over his mask so the light would not catch on it. He watched the two together, Meg kept glancing around as if expecting something. She turned his way but he was positive that she had not seem him. He watched as he saw….was it really disappointment? No it was not meant for him it was something else. She seemed to be annoyed with the De Changy, yet she showed kindness to him. This world was so confusing. He let out his breath slowly as she turned away. In his heart he told himself to never let him to get close to anyone again. He didn't care if they saved his life, he would spare their life and make them leave.

He had been able to watch for a while, he watched as Meg fell silent and looked around. The boy seemed to take the hint and shut up. The doors opened and Christine returned telling them it was time to go. Erik watched Alexander's gaze remain on the poster.

He knew the look in the boys eyes. When he turned to Meg and asked if they would see each other again, Erik turned. He did not want to hear anymore, when he was some distance away he still heard Meg's voice reply saying she would like to see him there. He picked up his pace and was swallowed be darkness.

Erik had moved threw the opera and found himself at the chapel. This is where he had given Christine lessons. He stepped inside his feet walked cat-like and he made no sound. He came to the middle of the room, no candles where lit but he stood there. He let out a silent prayer to God.

Help him to never love again, it seemed like something that was not to be asked of. Yet he was desperate he was tired of being hurt, feeling the pain. He looked towards the pictures of an angel, he was finding no comfort in this. He bowed his head, how dare a monster stand before God and ask something of him? Erik took a step towards the way towards his underground home. He heard light footsteps coming down the main way. Erik quickened his steps and disappeared into the darkness moving behind another trap door. Something made him stop though and listen to the other person.

For the longest time it was silent, he felt like he should not move though, some invisible force held him to the spot. Then a voice started to arise in the silence it was Meg! Erik could hear her clearly in the room, he heard her mumble then it grew in volume. She said the Alexander was great. He flinched at these words but kept listening 'but I don't think I could ever love him as much as Erik' In Disbelief Erik legs gave out and he sat down on the floor hidden behind the wall.

Was it true what she had said? Did he really love him? Shakily he laid his head back. Meg had to be sick or something it could not be true. He needed to know….He needed to know. Erik found himself rising to his feet, for the first time since Christine left him he found his voice. He found the voice that Christine knew as he angel, it came from all over the room. It was soft and he for the first time in months he sang. It's haunting but angelic tune smoothly rode upon the air. Words came from his mouth as he sang to Meg.

Wandering Child
So lost
So Helpless
Yearning for Guidance

You have called upon a angel
Speak now
My Child
For this angel must return to above

Erik let his last note hang in the air and it smoothly disappeared into darkness. He asked himself what he was doing, but he had to be sure. What if she knew it was him? What would he do? Fears ran threw his mind. What if this was a dream another fragment in his mind to torture him? He had to now….Erik closed his eyes and listened for a reply.

Erik listened as Meg stuttered the same thing. She did love him, once again he sank to his knees silently. He listen to her say that he still loved Christine. He searched himself but found that it was not true. His love for Christine had died with the fever. He took a deep breath in and again leaned against the wall. What was he to say now? He was not in the mood to move out and tell her openly that he would indeed return the love. It was not meant to be, he could not have her hide for the rest of her life. He shuddered quietly and spoke again, he no longer sang but the voice was yet still musical. He tried to give her advise to do something else.

Erik fell silent, he sat on the floor his back to the wall of the chapel. He would never let her know how he felt for her. He could not make anyone live his horrid life. He was meant to live alone and that should not be changed. Erik slowly removed his mask and let his fingers run down the deformed flesh.

He heard her ask if she should be with Alexander, she seemed hurt by it. What was he playing at? He was no angel no one that could help her choose the right way. He heard her softly cry, the pieces of the puzzle where falling together now. Why kept returning, why she had been hurt, why she had tried to make him jealous. It was all because she loved him. He knew that he loved her back but still she could never be with him. It was all for his face his stupid face, He placed the mask back on and uttered a sigh. He spoke again but his words where choked there was no doubt that she would recognize his voice. "No Meg I'm just saying……I'm just saying that you should be with anyone else but me"

Erik himself began to weep at these words. Tears fell from his eyes and run down his cheek. He took in a few stuttering breaths. He closed his eyes, he should not have said that. He was just making it harder for himself for her too probably.

He had heard Meg's gasp but had said nothing in reply. He made himself stop crying for a moment to listen, he heard Meg move around on the floor. Was she trying to leave? Had she not really meant it and now she wanted to run from it?

Minutes past but Meg's moving around had not stopped, she was still inside the chapel. Then Erik heard the familiar noise of the wall sliding upwards from the counterweight. She had found the latch to the trap door? Before he could do much of anything she was at his side, a hand on his. He turned to look at her sadly, her eyes burned with a desire to know. She spoke her words where disbelieving "Erik, please what are you saying?"

Eyes where filled with sorrow as she spoke, no he could not do this. Slowly he stood and took a few steps away from her. Words speak out they seemed to be pulled out as if it had been hard to speak "Is it your turn to be so blunt Marguerite? I have tried to deny it but I know that I can not any more."

He wouldn't just say it out, it would be too much if he had said it then it all would have been a lie. Maybe it was still a lie, a dream that he was to wake up from. Maybe she was Ill and this meant nothing, it could be a trap. Thoughts ran threw his mind and yet more and more of the puzzle pieces come together.

Tortured hearts is what they both had. He heard her ask the question, the question he had been trying to avoid. "Erik do you love me?" For a moment he stood there silently, then he turned to face Meg. Erik watched Meg on the floor, his eyes still rimmed with sorrow. He watched her, why was the world so cruel. He knew what he felt but it could never be, he would have to tell her that. He takes a step foreword his voice barely audible with his reply. "Yes Meg, Yes I do"

Erik then crumbled down beside Meg. He came to face her from the front, tears in his eyes. Here was one of the most feared man in many nations. He had created ways of death all for the enjoyment of a bored lady. What would her reply be? What would she say, he had heard Meg say it but still she could change her mind at any time.

Meg had the kneeled up and rapped her arms around a surprised Erik's neck. Erik in turn rapped his arms around her small body. Warm drops soaked threw his coat, he looked down to see she was crying harder. She was shedding tears of….dare he say it? She was shedding tears of Joy.

He held her close to him He raised up his gloved hand and stroked the back of her hair. The he realized that he still had one last question to answer. There was one thing he need to know. For a moment he pulled her back and held her out at arms length. He spoke his voice held no playful tone. "Meg, are you sure this is what you want? Do you wish to hide away like I do…are you sure this is the life you want to live?"

He was not joking, he was not going to take a quick answer either. He needed her to really think about what she was going to say. His hands where shaking as he held her out, he had to be sure he just had to be. Now he was more timid like a school boy, he could by shattered-again. This time though who knows what would happen. He waits for her response with a small look of terror in his eyes.

He watched as she thought, she did not take long to reply though. 'Of course I want to be with you, but I'll have to leave slowly. If I were to disappear some people would worry. After the Masquerade ball, that way I can let Christine and Alexander know not to worry.'

He felt, dare he say it, joy sweep threw his body. She had agreed, she wanted to be with him. He smiled, a true smile not a smirk but a happy smile. He then brought her back into a large embrace he raped his arms around her once again. Once she was in his arms he spoke again. 'Maybe you wouldn't have to give up your dancing though. We would still be here at the opera.'

For now all his worries where washed away, he was not the opera ghost he was not the phantom of the opera or the devils child, right now he was Erik. He ran a gloved hand threw her blond hair, was this what it felt like to be loved back? He had never received love before. Remembering what she had said about Alexander and Christine. Erik then gave a laugh that was a bit cold hearted. He Then says with his humor in his voice "They won't believe a word you say, they think that I have put some curse on you and forced you to be with me"

……:……

Oh god she had told him every thing right to his face! Her face went from a pale white to a bright pink. Wow that was an embarrassing way to tell someone you love them. Still he had been able to speak to her he had to be some where near. Then again she never knew what to expect with Erik.

She could hear him crying, for her of all people. She had to get to him, she had to! Now it was a matter of time to find him, but it would be hard if he wanted to be hidden he was very good at it.

She moved against the wall there had to be a switch or something. She stopped, Erik wouldn't put a trapdoor out in the open. Meg crawled over to a dark part of the chapel and started moving her hands around. It seemed to take forever but she managed to stub her toe on a nail which had been the door opener.

She cursed the stupid nail and moved into the dark area where she was able to go. Scrambling in the shadows she tried in vain to find him. She found him after searching for a while. Crawling over to him she placed her hands on his. Her voice was desperate, wanting answers. "Erik, please what are you saying?"

Why was he doing this to her? Did he think her ill that she was just toying with him? She slowly sank to the floor, it was too much. She had to know, all the emotions in her, the love she felt for him, the fear of being turned away, she put at bay long enough to gaze up at him. She was on her knees begging him. Saying in the calmest of voice as she could muster "Erik do you love me?"

Would he turn her away, saying that he did not lover her? That his heart still belonged to Christine. Why was he making it so hard, did he not know how he felt or was he afraid of loving someone again, that they would leave like Christine did, she knew that if he said yes she never would.

She stared up at him hopping praying. What would he say? He seemed to be contemplating what he was going to say. Why was he taking so long? Was he thinking of how he was going to tell her that he did not love her? Would he spite her so? At last he spoke, Meg felt nothing but relief wash through her. As he kneeled down beside her she threw her arms around him. She cried into his chest, tears of joy now replacing ones of worry and fear. She had no words to say to him she just wanted to be held.

So this was how it felt to love and be loved back. Despite all they had to over come they had made it. But there was still one block in there way. Alexander. He had made it clear that he liked her and she had agreed to go with him to the masquerade. Well the red death could always stalk again.

She felt his arms wrap around her, his hand stroking her hair. She felt so content with him just holding her there. She let a small meep of protest as he held her out, but she could see that what he had to ask her was important. Did she want to hid away as he did? Of course she wanted to be with him! Even if it meant hiding her face from the world she would be content with her life. But she would have to leave gradually, if she were to just disappear it would cause worry. She explained this to him trying to hide the endless joy that was inside of her.

He had smiled, not his usual smirk but a true smile. He seemed thrilled by her answer as he pulled her back into his warm embrace. Wrapping her arms around his neck she felt as if the world had stopped and they were alone. He spoke of her not having to give up her dancing. That would make her life perfect she replied "I don't think I deserve such a perfect life you offer me." He chuckled to that remark she made.

He was right in saying that most would think that she was under some kind of spell. They would fear Erik even more for that, and what if they were to try and tear her from his side? Well she would just have to prove to them that she loves him with all her heart. She spoke softly to him whispering it in his ear her words coming out poetically. "Spite the world and every one in it, No mortal hand could tear me from your side."

He hugged her even tighter at these words. She felt the presence again of being safe, let the world think what they wanted to think! For once she shared his hatred of man kind. She hated them for casting him out all because of his face. He was no monster but a man, Curse all those who taunt him! A silent voice in her ear spoke, once again the voice returned its power and its angelic tone consuming her "Welcome to My world where darkness defines Beauty."

-It's so sweat! I love the way how they come together. Do not worry this is not the last chapter I have still more to come. As I said earlier I have this story be a split ending, so there will be a bitter sweat ending and a sweat ending. Hope you guys are still enjoying it-