Okay here is Chapter 21! Akiko42 gets to hug Erik! Thanks for your reviews!

I sat at my chair in front of the vanity and brushed my hair, all of a sudden, "I have to go." Erik jumped from the bed and ran from the room. I stopped brushing my hair and sat at my vanity utterly confused. After a moment I heard him began to play his organ.

Perhaps he was eager to play. I almost got up to see if that was the case, but I decided to stay. It's best not to bother him when he is composing. I continued to brush my hair and once I was done I went to the closet. I looked through the clothing that was there and found a black skirt.

I put the skirt on my bed and went to my dresser. I opened one of the drawers and saw a white shirt. It was much like a man's dress shirt, but was made especially for a woman. I put that on the bed and found my white corset.

After I tied my corset a put on the shirt and then the skirt; I walked over to the mirror and decided to pin my hair back. After I had done that I went over to the Persian curtains. Erik was still playing his organ, I walked out of the room. I made my way to the organ and stood next to him.

His eyes were closed as he was playing Don Juan. I closed my eyes as well; his music could almost put you under a spell. Erik had stopped playing I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was just staring at me. "What?" I asked almost embarrassed. He smiled and looked back at his organ.

"You look beautiful." He said he picked up his pen and dipped it in the ink well.

"Thank you." I said blushing. I sat down beside him as he wrote. "When do you think it will be complete?" I asked him as I watched his hand glide across the papers almost magically.

"I hope to finish it sometime next year." He said as he put his pen down. I looked around and watched as the flames on the candles that were spread throughout the room flicker. "Emily." Erik said.

"Yes." I said looking into his eyes. He smiled and wrapped his arm around my waist. I smiled at him and leant my head against his shoulder.

"I have a surprise for you." I lifted my head and looked into his eyes.

"For me, you don't have to." I said feeling my cheeks turn bright red.

"Yes I do." He said as he unwrapped his arm from my waist. "I'll be right back." He stood up and walked to his room. I looked at the organ for a moment. What could he possibly have for me? I thought as he walked back out of the room. He sat down next to me and smiled.

"Close your eyes." He said softly. I closed my eyes and waited a moment. He grabbed my left hand and I felt him slip something on my ring finger. "All right open them." I opened my eyes and starred at the ring he had placed on my finger.

It was beautiful! It had a slick silver band and a beautiful large diamond in the center; around it were many smaller diamonds. "Erik this is beautiful." I said quickly turning my head to look at him. "How on earth did you get this?"

"That mon Ange is a secret." He said slyly. I stared into his topaz, eyes that were like jewels themselves. "I looked everywhere for the perfect one. Yet none of them could match your beauty." He said placing a finger under chin.

He leaned in and kissed me softly then stood. I stared back at the ring as he walked away. After a moment he returned. "Erik," I said as he walked closer to me. I looked away from the ring and into his eyes. "There is so much I don't know about you." I said standing. He dropped his head and starred at the ground.

"And you don't need to know." he said turning to walk away. I quickly rushed over to him and grabbed his arm causing him to turn back around.

"Erik, please." I said beggingly. He starred at me for a moment then turned back around and walked to his room, leaving me standing by the organ. I starred at the entrance to his room for a moment. He didn't bother closing the door.

"Erik." I said loudly. He came to the door but didn't bother looking at me. He let his head hang down. "I'm sorry I asked, but you're going to have to tell me sooner or later. Maybe you could tell me something simple." I said staring at him. He slowly brought his head up to look at me. "You could tell me where you were born."

"I was born in a small town outside of Rouen, France." He said as he slowly came toward me.

"That's good." I said as I stepped toward him. He grabbed my hand and we walked over to the swan room. He took the chair from my vanity and brought it near the bed. I sat down on the bed and he sat slightly in front of me. He hunched over in the chair and starred at his hands. "I-I was born with this." He said pointing to the masked part of his face.

"My mother was completely discussed by me; the first piece of clothing she made for me was a cloth mask." A tear fell from his eye. "I don't remember my father. But I do remember how much my mother loathed me. When I was seven I ran away, and a band of gypsies found me and made me one of their blasted attractions."

After a moment he looked up and continued. "They called me the devil's child. They used a horse whip on me. I was there for three years" I reached out and held his hand to comfort him. He grasped my hands tightly as a few more tears rolled down his cheeks.

"One day we came to Paris, near the Opera House. A group of young ballet girls had come to watch." He held my hand even tighter slightly hurting my wrist where the Viscount grabbed me. "After the show, those years of being treated like a monster overwhelmingly took over. I-I grabbed a rope and," he pause and looked at me, guilt welling up in his eyes.

"I killed him." he said. "I'm sorry." He began to sob, he dropped my hand. I felt tears fall from my eyes.

"Oh Erik." I said sadly as I reached up to touch his cheek. He flinched and backed away.

"Please don't Cherrie." He said and placed his head in his hands. I took my hand back and looked off to the side. "Madame Giry saved me; she was one of the ballet girls." He said his head still in his hands. "I've lived down here ever since." He sounded so sad; if he would let me I would have done anything in my power to comfort him. But he wouldn't even let me touch him.

I stood up and walked out of the room. I went over to the organ and started to sob myself. I hadn't even made it to the organ; instead I collapsed on the ground crying. I loved him so much and it pained me to see him so sad. Finally after a moment I stopped cry and starred at the lake.

I was concentrating on hearing Erik. But he made no noise. I stood up and brushed myself off. I walked back to my room as I brush tears from my face. I peeked into the room and saw Erik sitting where I left him. He wasn't crying anymore, he just kept his head in his hands. I walked back to the organ and sat down. I looked around and saw Don Juan lying on the organ. I picked it up and read over it.

"This is beautiful." I whispered to myself. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine Erik playing it. After a moment I felt myself drift. I remember the organ making an eerie on going sound as I fell asleep.

Erik's POV

I sat in the chair for a while after she left. She hates me I thought. No that isn't it, she said she loved me she does love me. I finally stopped crying and looked up. I starred at the bed where she had sat, then at the closet. I'll make her a lovely dress. I thought knowing she would love it.

After a minute of looking around thinking of a design I heard my organ emit a note. The note carried on for a while then stop. I stood up and walked out of the room I looked at my organ and saw Emily lying on it.

I walked up to the organ and found her sleeping, her head rested on her arm. She was bent over the organ with my Opera in her hand. She must have been tired, I grabbed the music form her hand and set it on the organ. Then I gently picked her up bridal style. As I adjusted her in my arms she stirred slightly then lay limp. I walked to her room and gently lay her on her bed.

I smiled and gently touched her chin. "I love you Cherrie." I said softly. I stood and pulled on a rope dropping the black curtain around the bed. I walked out of the room and went to my own. I entered the room and sat on my bed. I lay down on it and forced myself to get some sleep.

Backstories! Don't you just love them? Aww he gave her a ring. If you're wondering it looks a lot like the ring he gives Christine in the Movie. And I decided to make his life slightly like the book. Erik from Leroux's 1910 novel was born near Rouen, France.