Greetings All! And Happy Easter! I'm finally updating after... oh... 2 months-ish, well basically all of Lent. (which I honestly didn't mean to) Anyways, I am back, and hopefully I didn't loose too many of my readers by not posting in so long. But I have been extreamly busy. From coaching a little league softball team, to an internship in a Genetics lab, to massive amounts of essays and homework, to not getting much sleep over the weeks, I have finallly had time to write a chapter. Over that time I was on a kind of writers block, where I didn't have the energy to sit down and write. Also I am getting to a changing point in the story, and I wanted it to come out right, which hopefully it will.

Hopefully I will be able to write more in the future, even though once May comes I know I will be swamped again. But I will say that once I get out of school in the begining of June, updates will be a lot more frequent, especially since I want to finish this story by the end of 2006.

And a note to my reviewers- THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I got more reviews for the past chapter than I have for any other, which makes me very happy! I tried to reply to some of the reviews, but even if I didn't reply to yours, Iappreciatedeverything ya'll said!

Okay, on to the story. Oh, and the Disclaimer: I don't own POTO.

Having another person living with him was one thing, but for Erik it was all adding up very quickly, testing just about all of his nerves. Not only was another body in his presence, but she was a temperamental and moody presence. Aslynn was expecting him to communicate with her. She hadn't been the same since she came back from Garnier's house. When he asked her what was wrong and why she came back so early, she just said, "Nothing", and didn't make any attempt to chat with him like she usually did.

With his limited contact with others Erik learned to identify emotions and could see a deep sadness hidden in the young woman's sea blue yes. But what she was depressed about he didn't know, and decided to wait for Aslynn to tell him, as she usually did.

As the day turned into night down in the dark abyss under the opera house, the masked man grew frustrated with her silence. She retreated to the side alcove where the desk was, and he hadn't heard the metallic scratching of the pen in some time. He rose from the organ and glanced over to where Aslynn should have been. He scanned the alcove, but couldn't find her.

How did she walk past me while I was playing? I would have heard her. Just as he was about to leave the room, he glanced to the dock and saw her sitting with her back to him.

He silently approached the woman, whose head was bent, and her light brown hair flooded over her face. As he got closer he could see her shoes and socks placed beside her and her toes skimming the top of the ice cold water. Erik's catlike movement didn't work for long, because as soon as he was off the steps of the dock, Aslynn whirled around.

"Damn it Erik, you scared the hell out of me," she briskly said, turning back around to face the calm black water.

The masked man remained silent, lost for what to say. Finally the woman whipped around again. "Do you want something, or are you just going to stand there?" she snapped.

Taken back for her sour mood, Erik was quick on his feet to ask, "Is there something wrong?" His tone was dark, since he was not one who easily let someone snap at him.

"Is something wrong? No Erik, everything is just dandy. Nothing could be better, I feel like a million bucks." She thickly replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Well," he started, but was soon cut off.

"Yes something is wrong Sherlock." She turned back to the lapping water on the posts of the dock. In a softer tone she added, "I used to think that I had the most perfect life. I had a nice home, a loving family, a great fiancé, and a job I loved. But then things changed with Chris's death. I lost my closest and best friend… And now I'm stuck in an alien world of petticoats and quills. I don't have any securities and the things I do have are leaving."

Erik's temper was slowing inclining. He did not like being talked to like Aslynn was so freely doing. Then a little gear clicked when she brought up that 'pretty boy' she almost married.

"It's not my damn fault that you're stuck here. Feel free to leave!" He angrily yelled, his deep vibrato ringing off the walls.

There was a large splash from Aslynn kicking the water out of frustration. She then stood up and turned to face the man. With her eyes ablaze she shot back. "I wasn't referring to your damn home, I meant this whole world. A world I'm not used to!"

Looking down at the blue eyed woman he snarled, "Well you better get used to it, because you are NOT going anywhere else."

"I'm trying damn it! And you don't have to remind me I can't leave this hell hole, 'cause I've figured that out already!"

Stepping closer to Aslynn he roared, "So that's what you think of this place? A hell hole? You don't even know what hell is, or what its like to live there!"

Even through her anger Aslynn noticed her mistake, "I meant Paris, not just your home!"

"OH, but its part of it! It's time you realized that you're not in your dream world mademoiselle." His voice rang through out the woman's bones. She shivered from the vibrations from his voice. His green orbs grew with a fury of an earthquake. Stepping back a bit, her foot missed the edge of the dock and she started to loose her balance. Her natural surfing instincts kicked in as she wobbled a bit before pulling herself back up. At the same time, Erik reached out and grabbed her arm. Once she was on her feet she shook Erik off her arm.

"I didn't need your god damn help."

Erik just stood in shock, mainly at how he just tried to keep her from falling.

"And do you know what? I've realized that I ain't in Kansas anymore."

"You mean North Carolina," the phantom injected, recalling one of there first conservations.

"NO, I mean Kansas idiot, and I know I'm not from there. Just forget it." she said in frustration, running her fingers through her hair.

"Don't you dare call me an idiot, you wrench!" Erik shot back, his anger quickly resurfacing.

"Oh, wrench? Is that all you can do? And for the record, I can call you whatever I damn feel like." She yelled, walking around him.

As Aslynn tried to get around the masked man, he reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Don't walk away form me woman!" he hissed through his teeth. His grip was strong, and Aslynn fought to get him off.

"What are you going to do about it?" she asked, still struggling to get loose.

He didn't verbally answer her question, but his eyes did. His eyes spoke as if all hell was to break loose. "You've insulted me, which is something I cannot stand for."

Even though her blood was boiling with rage, an ice cold fear started to grow inside her heart. It was almost like a timer to a bomb inside, nearing termination. She was starting to think that it was time to shut up, as feeling in her hand diminished. Erik's wrath was unlike what she had seen from him before. His whole body shook with fury, his hunched shoulders where moving up and down with his deep, heavy breaths.

'Just don't let your fear show,' she told herself, 'it would just feed him.' Her struggling against the phantom's grip was useless.

"Let go of me." She commanded, wanting to escape to her room.

"You better be grateful for what I've provided you with woman! And next time think twice about insulting me." He darkly threatened, letting go of her arm.

Aslynn staggered back, and up a few stairs. Looking down at him, with fear now visible in her eyes, she simply said, "You'll never understand." With that she closed her eyes briefly, and then fled to her room.

Aslynn didn't leave hear room for the rest of the night, nor most of the next day. She had lost her appetite and found no need to leave the room for food she wasn't going to eat. Also leaving the room meant another possible encounter with Erik, which she wasn't in the mood to face. Why was he so difficult? Why couldn't he just understand?

Curled up in her armchair, Aslynn pondered about how things were turning out for her. 'Is what Louisa saying right? Am I really in love with Erik? If I am, then why and how can I just blow up at him? And when he's mad, he doesn't just cool down like a normal person does. Well, then again, he's not a normal person. Especially with that mask he always wears. What is he hiding anyways? Maybe it's just a, well… I don't know. Maybe it is love after all.

But this isn't quite what it was like with Chris. That I KNEW was love. So if this is love I feel, shouldn't I feel a bit of remorse for our argument, 'cause I definitely don't.

Most of it was his fault anyways. Why can't he just understand? Why can't he try to comfort me? Couldn't he tell that more that something is wrong? Could he figure out that I'm losing Monsieur Garnier? It's practically like I'm losing my Dad. He has done so much for me here, and has treated me like family.

Now all that I'll have left is Erik. And I've been here for how many months? Three? I don't really have many friends either, there's Louisa, but that's really it. Maybe because I'm living in a cave. Which I'm surprised I haven't gotten like, anti-sun cancer or suffered a major cardiac arrest form being away form fresh air (except for the walk to work). If that's even possible. I'm a woman of sun and water, and I'm living in darkness.

Maybe that's part of my problem, not being outside enough. Not having my toes in the sand, or even in the bare earth.'

Erik left the opera house early in the morning. It was rare that he ever had the need for fresh air, but today was the exception. He strode down side streets and alley ways for no particular reason. The air was thick a heavy with fog; the sun beat down through the fog, causing small beads of sweat to form on his brow. Even though the weather was starting to get to him, he didn't want to go back. That girl! That girl!

The only reason he left his sanctuary was because of the woman who he violently argued with the previous night. He didn't want to face her today; he didn't want to deal with her. Finally he had wandered enough and decided to head back home.

No longer did he bother to take the side streets. It was shorter taking the main road. He walked in the shadows. His black hood was firmly in place, casting a dark shadow over his face, keeping any passerby from seeing even his eyes.

The rest of his way home was uneventful. He pushed open the door to go inside the opera house and a while envelope fluttered out. At first he stepped right over it, just a piece of trash that no one would bother to pick up. But then he changed his mind. He stooped to pick the parchment up.

In his hands, he turned the envelope. Mademoiselle Aslynn O'Neil. It was addressed to Aslynn. Why was the woman receiving mail?

A mixture of anger from their earlier argument and curiosity overcame him and he slipped hi finger under the wax seal to tear it open. If she was going to be as cryptic as she was, then he was going to have to do his own investigation.

Mademoiselle O'Neil,

I am sorry to inform you that M. Garnier has passed away during the night. His will shall be read before his funeral tomorrow afternoon. It is recommended that you are in attendance.

-Charles

The old man, the old man's dead. That's why the girl is upset. Erik folded the note and placed in back inside the envelope. He then carefully pressed down on the wax seal to look as if it hadn't been broken.

He made his way back to his house by the lake, thinking over the letter again. Who was this Charles? Why would he recommend that she attend the will reading? Once he got to the woman's door he knocked heavily.

Aslynn's thoughts were interrupted by a loud band on the boor. "What do you want?" she quickly snapped, remaining seating.

"I have something for you." He growled through the door.

An instant wave of realization washed over her as she lost all words. He said he would send a note if…

"Did you hear me?" the masked man snarled, wanting just to kick the door open and give the woman her damn note.

"Yes," she very softly replied, just loud enough for Erik's keen ears to pick up.

"Then may I come in?"

"Y-yes," she stuttered, not wanting him to give her what he had.

She didn't hear the door open, nor Erik walk across the room. Staring into the dim fire she subconsciously took the letter form the phantom as he stood next to her. With out looking at it she turned it over and traced her fingers over the wax seal. She recognized the seal immediately, because she had used it in sending off all of M. Garnier's paper work.

With out even opening it, she knew who the letter was from, and what it said. She let the envelope drop to the floor, as she started to get up. Staggering, she grabbed her stomach. "I think I'm going to be sick," she softly whispered, rushing to the bathroom.

Aslynn immediately started to run the cold water in the marble sink, and splashed her face with it. She then went to grab a towel, dampened it, and held it over her face. The nauseating feeling in her stomach started to go back down.

After five minuets, when she felt like she could walk again, she went back to where Erik was standing, holding the note. Seeing her run to the bath room, Erik didn't know what to do. She said she felt sick, but he didn't know what to do for her. From a distance he watched as she wiped her face with the wet clothe.

Finally when she came back in to the room he said, "I'm sorry."

Aslynn looked up from the floor as she caulked her head to comprehend what he was saying. How could he be sorry? He doesn't even know what happened, unless…

"How dare you read my letter! Can't I have any privacy?" she angrily yelled, walking right up to the man. She then raised her hand to slap his unmasked side of his face. Right as she was about to make contact with his skin, her knee's gave out and she just gently brushed his face as she fell to the ground. At his feet she could no longer hold in the grief that she had been carrying for the past day. She let the tears flow freely.

Erik prepared for the blow, ready to fight back at her actions. But when she didn't hit him, and instead fell to his feet, he was lost for what to do. He looked down and saw her tear drops fall on his boots. He just stood there for a few minuets, watching the woman cry. Finally he decided to put yesterday behind him for now, and try to do something. But what?

He bent down to his knees and reached out to Aslynn. Gently he pulled her chin up, so she was looking into his eyes. When she saw his warm eyes right beside her, she flung her arms around his neck, sobbing into his muscular chest. That wasn't quite what Erik was expecting her to do. It took another moment before Erik tenderly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his body.

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