A/N: Seeing the lack of responses I can only guess that some people lost their interest, but that isn't going to stop me from working on this. And if there's confusion about this title, there's not. In Lessons on Love there was a chapter where Stephanie confesses to Erik and so the same thing happens in this one. Thank you Halley for a great job and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 12: Confessions Part Deux

Evening came to pass. Stephanie was in her room asleep and Etienne was hard at work on his new opera. Most of the servants retired once finishing their final chores, leaving Erik and Christine the only ones awake.

Christine was thrilled that her son was doing fine on his composition. She was positive the household wouldn't be able to stand if Etienne were to go into his tempers. She was beginning to have a feeling that her son may possibly be developing some attraction towards Stephanie Larson. It was there in his face when they ran into each other and there was a glow in his eyes as he alluded to his inspired muse.

As much as she was happy that Etienne might have found someone at last to love, Christine's heart ached for him. Stephanie was a fine young woman; there was no doubt in her mind. She would make a splendid daughter-in-law and wife for the right man and family. But there will only be pain for her beloved eldest child. Stephanie, in many sense of the word, was taken. She belonged to another man and if Etienne was to pursue her and she rejected him…

She wistfully closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. This could not come to pass. Stephanie loved Dan… Christine very well knew the story from her husband. She knew of the cruelties she had to endure, the lack of parental guidance, and suffering to finally find the love she longed for. In the short time span that Stephanie talked about Dan, the evident signs of love and adoration were written all over. This girl could never be another man's and Christine was certain.

"What sort of troubling thought has put such a dour frown on your beautiful face?"

Christine opened her eyes and smiled softly at her husband through the mirror. "Oh this and that," she replied absentmindedly.

"Oh?" Erik stood behind her and reached for her silver brush to help with her toilette. Running the brisk hairs through his wife's luxurious curls with reverence, Erik stole a loving wink with her. "Care to enlighten?"

She sighed. "Erik… I don't want you to take this wrongly but…"

His ministrations ceased. "What Christine?"

"Stephanie," she finally blurted. "I'm worried about her."

"Why?" Erik questioned, his brows furrowing. "Did something happen?"

"No! No. Well… maybe," she said. At his discern expression, Christine continued. "It has to do with her and M. Shaw. Haven't you noticed she doesn't talk much about him?"

"I have," he answered. "It's her choice of how much she wishes to voice."

"Yes but wouldn't she have provided us more details if their intimacy has grown? They're together for eight years and no engagement was produced. Doesn't that seem odd?"

"Christine…" Erik groaned.

"Hear me out Erik. I've watched her most carefully whenever Dan is brought up and I discovered the same despondent signs that Lizzie went through over Darren Hurst, though masked well. I believe there's more than Stephanie lets on. I think something awful must have happened between them…"

Erik swore and slammed the brush down causing Christine to jump. "She would have told me! How else can we figure out her reason for being here if she hadn't told me the truth? She said they were about to be engaged when this happened."

"Erik." Christine stood up and opened her arms for him. "I know. But haven't you felt there was something missing?"

He was silent and very quietly muttered "yes". Cupping his face, Christine forced him to look into her eyes. "Talk to her. Find out why she was hiding the truth."

"But… but… I don't understand," Erik whispered. "Why wouldn't she tell me? I thought we…"

"You are. This was all sudden and shocking for both parties. I'm sure she would have said everything, but from what you told me before… I think she kept it hidden in fear that you might be disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Erik pulled himself away from her grasp. "Why would she feel that way?"

Christine rubbed her hands. "Look at your life. Look at what you were able to achieve. She doesn't have what you have."

Erik thought for a moment and slowly nodded. "I see but I wish she gave me some credit to know the truth. If it what you think is true, then I don't love her any less. She's like a sister to me and there's nothing she can do that would take away my pride for her."

Christine beamed and jumped up to place a kiss on her husband's lips. Erik chuckled and twirled his wife around. Setting her down gently, he caressed her hair and murmured, "Tomorrow."

xxXXxx

Stephanie was surprise, albeit nervous when Erik asked to talk to her in private after dinner the next evening. There was something in his eyes that seemed to tell her that he demanded the truth. Almost like he knew she had been lying the whole time. She gulped and hoped to God it had nothing to do with Dan.

Erik spent the entire day thinking of how to approach Stephanie. As much as he would have loved to storm into her room and order the real story out of her, he knew that wasn't going to get him anywhere. Stephanie was stubborn like him and it became worse with age. Thus, recollecting from the lessons years ago, Erik knew he would have to be patient and calm. No first impulses were allowed.

He felt the best place for privacy would be outside on the balcony in Etienne's music room. His son was at the Populaire going over last minute instructions before the first show. He wouldn't be back for at least another couple hours.

The orange-yellowish sun was beginning to set, the sky becoming a disarray of pinks, reds, and violet. It was a beautiful sight though the warm colors did nothing but bring chills down Stephanie's spine. Silence stretched on as they watched the sun disappear over the horizon, the day coming to an end but the beginning of new honesty. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this, but a falsehood could only go so far and unfortunately time was up. She would have to swallow her pride and confess her secrets once more to the man who used to be a Phantom.

"I use to hate the sunset," Erik spoke. When she looked at him, Erik went on without pausing. "The day was done but a new one was around the corner. The first prickling of light in the morning started the pain and it wouldn't end until nightfall. That was my only comfort, the darkness. It was my shield from the world, from people. Night would cease my suffering and humiliation for a short time, though it was the time I held dear to me. I depended on the night for shelter and to hide my deepest secrets. I was safe in the solitude where I liked it. I never dreamt I would love the light again, but after I stepped out of the darkness I was able to find a new purpose. I wasn't alone anymore after I found love. Love is the light that never dies. It sets for a while but always return with the radiance that burns brighter each time. Dark is dark. There's no change. There's no warmth and understanding, even if you think there is. It's nothing compared to the rosy-fingered Dawn."

"Why don't you get to the point, instead of being so damn eloquent," Stephanie jested, but her tone lack the teasing humor.

Erik smirked. "I believe you already know. But I am trying to make a point here. There's no need for you to hide anymore Stephanie. I know all there is to know about you, except why you have to feel to lie about Dan."

Stephanie firmly pressed her lips together. "It's not fair for me to put my troubles on your shoulders."

"And it's not fair for you to keep them within you," Erik interjected. "I believe a wise person once said, 'A little confession frees the soul'. You can confide in me, Stephanie, like before. I would never judge you if you think that. Please tell me what has truly happened since I left."

She sighed, holding herself tightly. Part of her was begging to release the pain and hope, but another part wanted to hold back. She didn't want to ruin her reputation in his eyes, but the more he gazed at her, imploring her to speak, Stephanie couldn't deny that he was her closet confidante next to Veronica and he would be good to his word for not judging her.

"The truth is… Dan and I did date. For seven years." Her attention was to the grounds below, her pride not wanting to look him straight in the eye. Erik didn't pressure her to look at him, aware that she wanted some dignity to be kept.

"Those were the best years of my life. We loved each other very much, we were inseparable. I knew you would be happy to know that I overcame my insecurities and reservations to be with Dan and I was proud of myself for doing so. If someone were ever to make a rude remark about my eyes, Dan would put them in their place. He hated to see me ridiculed for the dumbest reasons and would do whatever he could to protect me. In time I was able to defend myself, but knowing that I had my knight in shining armor nearby was always a comfort."

She paused. A tiny, loving grin took over as she remembered the security she felt with Dan.

"Having Dan, I knew I was no longer alone. I didn't have to hide in my shell anymore. He was always there for me, something I never had to ask him to do. He just did and I loved him even more.

"After college, we decided to live together. We talked about getting married for sometime but never once did Dan take the step. I suppose that was my first warning, but I was too enraptured and I assumed we would marry. I never bugged him about it. But the question was hanging in the air above us whenever we woke up, ate, or even went to bed. Yet I knew we were soul mates and the wedding would eventually fall in place.

"Until one day after I came home from work. Dan was sitting in our den; he was so forlorn and lost that I was scared for a second. He didn't look like himself." Her voice was starting to crack and as Erik moved to embrace her, she waved him off, wanting to do this on her own. It was too late to go back now.

"He told me… he told me he had to go away for a while. On a trip. A trip to find himself. Dan spent his whole life trying to please others and follow the path that others expected of him without questioning. He didn't have to say the words but I saw it in his eyes that us getting married would be one of those paths. It's not like he didn't want to marry me. He did. But he wanted to make the decision on his own. So Dan left and has been gone for a year.

"I know it in my heart he'll return. It's a matter of time when he's back. I know it. I believe I was sent here that way when Dan comes to his senses, I will return from his volition. He couldn't come here on his own. He would panic right away. But not me Erik. Not me."

Erik was quiet for a moment, absorbing everything she said and trying hard not to seethe with anger at the stupidity of the young man he once held a high esteem for. How dare he do this! How dare he hurt this woman! Daniel Shaw surely must have known beforehand how much hurt he would bring to her from his leaving. And for her to carry on this hope… it was too much for him to bear. She deserved better and he said so.

"Erik! Look. I know this doesn't make Dan look good in your eyes as of now, but believe me when I say it will work! He loves me and I love him. That is all that matters."

"In any case, yes, but Stephanie listen to yourself! The reason for you being here is for Dan to figure out what he wants? That's absurd! I am sorry, ma amie, but I cannot forgive him as easily as you."

"I don't care. I love him Erik. And if you don't like that, then I'm sorry. That is how it goes. Dan will want me you'll see. And I intend to return and marry him as soon as possible," she said with a defiant lip.

Erik clenched his fists and strode over to her. "What if he doesn't? What if you're wrong Stephanie?"

She huffed and was about to turn her back on him when Erik reached out and turned her around to look at him.

"Enough of this! Stephanie, I understand if you're hurting but forcing yourself to go through this isn't going to do you any good. I would hate to see you build up this anticipation and have it turned against you. If it's been a year and he hasn't returned, then it must be a sign he doesn't share the same dreams as you. If he was a man true to his heart and love, then he would have never walked out on you."

Tears clung to her long eyelashes as she shoved Erik away. "Stop it! He does love me! Sometimes in the real world things don't simply fall in place right away! It takes time and patience!"

"And do you think it has 'fallen in place' for me? Stephanie, I had to fight to survive. I was fortunate to find Christine and have her be my wife thanks to you. If I were to travel in the same path as the many Eriks you shown me before, I wouldn't have any of this! I was patient and I was able to get what I want. But you… My dear, you're too young to have to go through this heartache! Can't you tell that this isn't right? That Dan is wrong to leave you in this condition?"

"Oh. So it's wrong for me to wait for the one man I love, but for you to wait on one woman is okay?" Stephanie's mismatched eyes were sparkling with anger.

The corner of his lips twitched, his palms hitting together as he tried not to lose his temper.

"That's different Stephanie and you know it. No other woman would want me, let alone affect me the way Christine does."

"Bullshit," she stated as a matter-of-fact. "If Christine never went to the opera house, there would be some other woman to steal your heart."

"Ah, but what good of a story would that be?" Erik couldn't suppress the pleased smile as she scowled. "The dashing masked man falling head over heels over any lady that sings? No, no. But, a dashing masked man falling completely head over heels over the purist and loveliest of angels, now that's better! Though, which one would you prefer?"

"Don't mock me," Stephanie gritted between her teeth.

"I'm not. I'm trying to get you to see the difference." Erik cautiously came closer so he could look at her levelly. "Stephanie, I want you to be happy. But this is not the way to find happiness. If Dan was aware of his feelings I have no doubt you two would have been married before this. But that isn't the case. I believe you know what I mean; otherwise you wouldn't be listening to me for so long."

She opened her mouth to speak but shut it, realizing (to her infuriation) he was right. Noting her grimacing, Erik was content he got through to her.

"However, what you do in your life isn't my decision as much as I rally against your waiting."

Stephanie, taken aback, gazed at him in shock. "You…you're not going to get all righteous on me?"

He nodded. "I, for one, wouldn't but it is your life. I just wanted you to understand but I can see the love for him in your eyes and in that confession, your voice too. I don't want you to make a mistake."

"And I won't Erik," she said softly. "Thank you. I do love Dan and as much as I hate that you're right, I know you were only looking in my best interest."

He opened the door and led her back inside the warmth of the house. Securely closing the latch, Erik asked her once more if she was certain.

"I am Erik. Nothing can change my mind about my feelings. I'm in love with Dan."

Exhaling, Erik said, "Then I give my blessing."

Stephanie hugged him, appreciating his understanding even though he was against it. "Thank you. I know we'll be happy."

Upon leaving the music room, a shadow emerged. Clutching the half-written score, bitter tears stung Etienne's eyes as his heart wept in agony.

TBC…