Juti's POV

Nothing interesting happened in the evening after we returned to our room. Erik did not take me to dance, though I wasn't in the mood for that anyway, and neither was he, as I noticed. We spent the evening together, quietly cuddled up, and I finished reading the Hobbit to him. We went to bed and nothing else happened… or so I thought.

I woke up to Erik's voice, he was saying some cute endearments to me, calling me "Dearest little wife" the "meaning of his existence" and "his little singing bird", but as I reached out to pet him, he was nowhere in the bed. I sat up and realized he wasn't in the room. At first I imagined he was performing ventriloquism as he adored to entertain me with it, especially that I complimented and admired his technique a lot, but his voice did not come from the walls or any of the objects in the room, but my phone on the end table. As I checked on the screen I noticed it was an alarm sound going on, Erik had made a sound recording and set it as an alarm clock ringtone. I found the idea very kind and cute, but just by the time I thought there was nothing more than a few kind words he recorded to wake me up, I fell to another surprise.

"Now you are most likely awake, sweetie" – Erik's charming voice, which wasn't even too much altered by the phone's speaker, continued to talk to me – "And now that you are awake I can tell you the reason I recorded my voice on your device. This take I am recording this, is the third one, and I do hope I will not fail as I did with the earlier two tries, but if I do, please forgive your little husband. You know well that Erik is not the man of words and he is afraid he can't express his feelings as much as you'd need them to be told, but now I am going to tell you what I think and feel about you and me.

Simply: I love you. I know it is not much, and I know it is not worded the most perfectly, but I feel I could write a confession of love in a length of an Opera libretto and it still won't be enough – and anyway I prefer simple things in general. Maybe I know I could tell you this more, but… you know it anyway and I am not used to repeating things over and over, but for you I'll do now: I love you, I love you, I love you, and I love you times infinity as I am tired of telling it so much. "

A small chuckle and some pause came on the recording, and I could almost see him sitting and trying to collect his thoughts. The background noises indicated Erik went outside, as I could hear some further noises of music when he wasn't talking.

"I wish to tell you that I love you more than music and my own life, and that you are the best wife ever. I know I can't really compare you to any other woman I had affairs with, as there were none at all, save for that miserable attempt of forcing my emotions on a kind girl… well you already know that story. Now though, that I am loved for myself, I feel that I am the happiest of men, and nothing can change my mind about I am a lucky fellow. God finally listened to my prayers and desperation when he sent you my way, just in time. You are turning me to a much better person and help me to defeat my inner demons and monster self, and the biggest proof of it was yesterday… with you I don't feel like committing stupid sins anymore. You are so good, an angel, helping me in every way possible. Thank you for being here with me. I told you this in a recording because I wished to say it somewhat closer to in person than in writing, and because you told me many times you loved to hear my voice, but I was nervous I started stuttering or could not word my sentences face to face. It is easier for me to record my thoughts in such a way. And besides… whatever happens to me, maybe… you at least will have a sample of my voice to remember your loving Erik.

To sum it up: I love you and you are the kindest, sweetest, most charming little lady I have met, and I love your silliness. Don't worry about anything. Whatever happens, I will always love you and be with you. Even if I shall die, my spirit shall follow you and watch over you as a guardian angel."

At this point I could hear he was nearly crying, but in the end he fought it back and cleared his throat, but he added:

"Now go practice my dear, the violin is at the side of the small table. I am gone, and will most likely only return by noon. Your most loving and loyal husband: Erik"

I was so touched by his confession he left for me and I nearly cried as well, especially about the part where he briefly mentioned his death. I knew he had a morbid sense of humor and a weird dark way to confess his love, but still it was sad to think of his passing. I can't even imagine what I would do without him, and sadly as there are 21 years of age difference between us to his advance, I am sad and terrified to think of the likelihood of the scenario of he will go first…

I had no idea why he ordered me to go practice, he did not actively order me around about practicing any instruments before, as he explained once, if he did, he would be too bossy about it, and he did not wish to turn out as a tyrant about making me work, and he explained I should feel the need myself to practice, as a true musician does not have to be ordered around and nagged to improve their skills, if the urge comes, a person obeys. It was unusual, so I got a bit of suspicious that he wanted me to open the violin case for some reason.

As I opened the violin case, I laughed out. The violin, Erik's precious violin which could not even be placed just on a table, and I was only allowed to take it out of its case when he was around as well, was missing from the protective storage and it was replaced by a bouquet of pink roses. I picked out the flowers and kissed one of the beautiful small plants. I put them in a smaller bottle of water, as the inn did not furnish the rooms with vases, but I wished to preserve the roses for as long as I was able to. I took a picture of them both in the violin case and in the "vase" to have memories of them when they slowly wither away… and again it made me remember what Erik said about his death and I was silently crying for some minutes.

I knew though, that I should not make Erik upset by worrying about something so silly and I did not want to show him I was sad or frightened, especially not after such a morning and so kind surprises. I wanted to occupy my mind by playing music, so I decided I was going to search for the violin. Erik had to keep it somewhere in the room. I checked all of the suitcases, but it wasn't put in either of them, and neither it was in the nightstand, so I guessed he took it with himself for some reason. It wasn't likely without the case, but maybe.

I picked up my phone and mindlessly was browsing through the files, and just relaxing on the bed. Suddenly I had an idea. To settle my mind from worry, I picked up a stack of paper and a pen, to write something to Erik in return for the recording and the roses. I did a music riddle for him in which he had to pick notes out of the context and it gave away a melody in a melody, giving out the Don Juan Triumphant" theme of ALW musical, but it wasn't too obviously composed in the main theme, so he will have to work his musician magician brain a bit to get what I meant. On the bottom of the page I inserted a winking smiley and a heart. I inserted the paper inside of his violin case so if he happens to put away his precious, he will find it.

When he returned home, the violin wasn't with him though, so he did not bring it with him… or… did he not return it?

- Did you forget or sell it? – I asked with much surprise, after I kissed him as he returned.

- Sell what? – He tilted his head to the side as he did not understand what I wanted to ask. He was seemingly in a good mood, which was surprising if he had to sell the violin… I thought it would give him a heartbreak.

- Your violin. – I pointed out. – Its case was occupied by the beautiful flowers.

- It is under the bed. You aren't looking at the most obvious place?

- You are hiding your precious under a bed?

- YOU are my precious. – He pointed at me with a smile.

- And the violin. I wasn't even allowed to touch it without you for a time. – I teased.

- You weren't my precious back then, but you are now, and you can do whatever you want to with the violin. I know you would never harm it anyway.

As he opened the case and reached under the bed to pack away the instrument I was already grinning with happiness and was waiting when he will find out my message. He found the paper and started reading the music, sending a quick glance to the bottom of the page, and he looked up again with a knowing little smile. He already found out there was a trick in it he had to find out. It was only two minutes by the time he whistled the solution, giving away he understood the hidden message. He said nothing else, just showed a thumbs up, but I giggled, knowing it was actually a praise.

- This evening we are going out. – He informed shortly. – Wear the pink- lavender dress with white lace.

- Why?

- Because you look beautiful in it. – He admitted with a blush, which he tried to disguise by slightly turning away and covering his face.

- What do you have in mind? – I leaned closer, playfully examining his features.

- You are going to find out. Patience.

- I am impatient.

- So am I, we are the perfect couple.

He did not say any other thing, he seemed to be a bit of lost in his thoughts or slightly uneasy. When I asked him if he was all right, he just hugged me, and gave a short and soft kiss on my forehead with a nod. As I sensed, he was a bit uncomfortable about the thing which we were going to do in the evening, but he seemed to be excited at the same time. I was curious to find it out.

As I dressed up for the night and looked into a mirror, I had to admit I looked somewhat beautiful, really, so at least Erik can be a bit of proud of his wife's appearance beside him, and show off. He admitted he felt safe with me, he dared to do many more things since I was with him, which filled my heart with joy.

My dear skeletally thin, but otherwise lifelike Michael Crawford was waiting for me, dressed in formal wear, and ceremoniously bowed towards me when I showed up. He reached out his hand and sighed in relief when I took it. It was so cute and unbelievable he still could feel relief and happiness he could hardly disguise whenever I accepted if he offered his hand. I knew it was a major turn off for Christine in the book, and a major hurt for Erik about a love interest, but I was already his wife, he had nothing to lose anymore.

He took me to dance! The huge room was filled with many couples, dressed in the nicest formal, but colorful clothes, the crowd reminded me of the people I saw at the Opera when we visited the Opera house with Erik to watch Tales of Hoffmann, which instantly gave me pleasant memories. I think Erik was the same way, as he smiled at me and nodded, just as if he again read my mind, but it was his forte, most likely he did.

- I hope you will be delighted… Erik has to admit this is the first time he… he is among such circumstances and… well. Here we go. Enjoy yourself.

- So it means you are going to dance with me as you promised?

- Will at least attempt to do so. – He worded cautiously.

- Don't worry, I don't really know what to do either. – I tried to ease his pain.

- Well, until that comes… we have some time to practice. May I have the first dance?

- Until what comes? – I inquired.

- Nothing. – He shook his head nervously, taking my hand. – So. Concentrate on the steps.

- If I step on your foot will you be angry?

- Not really. – He shrugged. – Unless you do it repeatedly on purpose. – He added. – But maybe you could just stand on my shoes the whole time so you won't step on it again. – He chuckled finally, starting to relax.

Waltz was rather easy to dance to, without even knowing anything of it, and Erik, contrary to he stated he never danced with someone, was fine, save from some occasional shyness and his hands trembling. No one was watching us, so we could relax and pay attention to only each other. Erik's mask made him blend in perfectly, though beneath the mask he was still my crazy and insecure but cute Opera Ghost. His gestures and acting remained the same and the new mask did not make me feel anymore that I am walking with a stranger who moves and acts like Erik.

- You are a cinnamon roll. – I smiled and whispered in his ear as he was finally as close to me as I always wanted, for a long time.

- I never thought someone would tell me such a compliment. – He closed his eyes. – Especially not my living wife… whom I adore.

- You are a great dancer, contrary to your inexperience. – I went on.

- Please don't embarrass me, I am going to miss the steps. – He chuckled. – And… so are you. – He added. – I did not dare to hope it was such a marvelous feeling to hold you in my arms like this and dance with you. I thought… I thought I'd hate to dance.

- Me too. – I admitted. – But it sounded romantic to be in a closer contact with you. And music is most certainly helping.

- It is. – He agreed with a nod.

At first the conversation turned to be a bit awkward, but after Erik was sure he did not mess anything up, he finally started to relax, and wasn't as easily embarrassed, and was able to take compliments, and give them, finally.

- You look stunning, my lady. – He bowed as the dance came at an end.

I thought there weren't any bigger surprises for the night. How wrong I was!

Erik

When that ONE special music started playing, Juti could not start dancing right away. She unintentionally fell out of the role of a serious lady taken to a ball, she was again that sweet little girl I adore, she could not help herself, but acknowledged one of her favorite pieces with a gasp, and her beautiful brown eyes popped tight open, and so did her mouth. This was instantly followed by a heartfelt giggle, and only to my mild patting on her shoulder succeeded in making her collect herself and join me to that final dance I was willing to have during the evening.

Yes, I knew that piece of music wasn't only one of her favorites- it was a special piece in her heart, which, with no doubt, changed her whole life. German dance by Wolfgang Mozart – the sleigh ride. That dance enchanted her on a music class at school when she was only 9 years old, and gave her the want and will to start to learn music, and graduate in that field. I was thankful to Mozart for one more thing, other than making my childhood and life livable – he accidentally showed Juti what she was talented in, and indirectly helped us to meet- Juti admitted to me she read Phantom of the Opera only because the musical subject at first. Her love for music flamed up because of this piece, and I wished to acknowledge that fact by choosing this particular music as the main attraction of the evening.

It required me some work, as this work was a lesser known one, of course the fools in the orchestra did not know it, so I had to give them sheet music, which, of course, had to be written down and copied by me, and of course, it meant they had to sight read. Thankfully they did not mess up. I hoped so at least they won't. In the end, seeing the spirit of that enchanted and cheerful 9 year- old little girl in her eyes, I know my efforts were well – paid and they did not seem to be as much as a pain as they were when I wrote pages of music, hunched over a table at a coffee nearby (of course I could not do it at home, she might have noticed). Those eyes were fixed at me with adoration, happiness and she was crying a bit, being so touched. Usually I hate when a beautiful woman cries because of a thing I did, but this time it only made me happier and surer I did the right thing.

When the music ended and we stopped, she hugged me tighter than she usually did, and I could hear her saying "Thank you, my love"

I think I have never been happier in all my life.

I am starting to learn one does not always have to buy expensive things to a woman if he wishes to make her happy. A gesture that means much to her for some reason, is enough to make her happier than if she just received a precious bracelet or earrings. How easy is to make someone happy – and yet how easy is to make myself happy and content with the same amount of effort! I wish to spend our lives together this way- to find out what would make her happy and after do it for her when she expects it the least.