Authors Notes: This chapter is dedicated to Blade for Hire who I love for their awesome advice. (He sleeps in a coffin??? Thats cool though I think Evie would have been a bit freaked out... I can't really change it now... Lets just say he left it behind in Paris or something :D And I've tried to fix the paragraphs and other things too ^^ *hugs*)

Also *hugs* (as always) for Suzette who edited this for me, and for Morii for being my loyal henchwoman and Cupcake. ^^

Okies, I know this is a short one, but it's quite important and fun, and so "Crowning Moment of Heartwarming" that I desperately need to write something violent. Plus there is more, longer stuff on the way. Hope you like this. Let me know if you do =]

~ White Lily, Blue Ribbon~

It was the evening before opening night.

Evelyn was curled up in one of the Phantom's deep armchairs, picking at the stitching of her sleeve. He had been working her hard, all night, and she was performing marvellously, although she still didn't have the heart in it that the Phantom had been bent on. However, he had all but given up trying to make her feel anything, focusing instead on her technical work.

"You're going very well, Evie, I think you will be quite ready for tomorrow night. The only problem I can think of presently is that you are cutting off your words. You must wait until the end of the bar to pronounce the 'n' otherwise it shuts off the sound-"

She was strangely silent, so he turned in his seat to look at her. Her head had fallen to the side, so that her hair partly covered her face. Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted and her ribcage gently rose and fell in a steady rhythm. He smiled; partly in amusement, partly in pride.

The Phantom stood and moved to where she slept. He was loathe to wake her; she had worked very hard and needed all the rest that she could get tonight. Still, she could not stay there...

After a moment of thought the Phantom decided what he would do. Scooping her up effortlessly, he carried her over to her nest, hoping not to wake her. Upon placing her amongst the pile she moved a little, nestling herself further into the fabrics and burying her face in a cushion. He heard a small noise and for a moment thought he had woken her, but she did not move again.

An idea crept up on him then, an idea which quickly turned into a short melody that tumbled lightly about his mind. He almost cursed out loud. Clenching his teeth in frustration he looked from the small figure of the sleeping girl to the old upright piano that now lived in one corner of the room, and back again. Eventually he sighed. There was no use for it. He made his way quietly over to the piano and sat, throwing one last glance over his shoulder before beginning, ever so quietly, to put his idea to music.

In little time at all he had strung his new melody to the one he had begun shortly after arriving in London, in place of the bridge that had failed. He smiled in satisfaction. It fit perfectly.

He liked this new melody, it was not sad, like the first and led quite easily back into it. With it he now played the song all the way through, from the start to the finish without one hiccup. At its conclusion he sat for a few moments gazing at the keys in satisfaction.

Then a tiny sound came from behind him; a sharp intake of air that sounded like the breath before a sigh: "Oh"

The Phantom's head snapped around in response, and there stood Evie in the middle of her nest, completely still and her eyes fixated on his hands. Blankets lay about her feet as if they had just fallen from her shoulders, her hair was mussed and her lips slightly parted in awe, but the Phantom's attention was fixed only on the tears that slid silently down her face.

A sort of shock went through him, as if he was descending the stairs in the dark and he had thought there was one more stair than there actually was. Her glassy blue eyes flicked up, from his hands to his face.

"Play it again-" She breathed, her eyes pleading.

"Evie," the Phantom began quietly- hesitantly. "Are you alright?"

Evie's lips began to pull into a smile, but then turned halfway through into a frown of confusion.

"Of course I'm alright-"

"You are crying."

Her eyes flicked down and she put her fingertips to her cheek, looking then at the tears that clung to her fingers with something of a surprised expression on her face. She gave a little frown as a new thought occurred to her.

"Did you write that?" she asked quietly, her wide eyes once again fixed on his.

"I did." he replied after a moment, his expression unreadable.

A series of heart-rending sobs suddenly shook the girl, and she put her face in her hands, shoulders violently shaking with each one. She made noises as if she was trying to speak, but couldn't; "I--I--" Still sobbing, she took her face out of her hands, attempting to wipe away the tears that poured relentlessly from her eyes.

She was a picture of utter sadness, the Phantom thought, a beautiful sadness he wished he might be able to capture, but knew his music could never do justice. She stood there, alone and crying, and he did the only thing he could think of then; he held out his hand to her, and she came forward and took it, as if doing so might save her life. She clung on to it with all her might and he used it to draw her nearer, putting his arms comfortingly around her, letting her bury her face in his shoulder, waiting until the sobs that racked her entire body died into silence. She wouldn't let go, even after that, her arms wound tight around his shoulders.

"Phantom?" The little girl asked, in a voice that was half a whisper. He pulled away so he could see her face.

"Yes?" he replied, pushing her hair out of her eyes as he spoke, almost parent-like. She stifled another sob.

"It's beautiful." she whispered, looking at him earnestly. He smiled in amusement at her sincerity, then stood, taking her hand once more.

"Come, you need some sleep."

He walked with her back to box five, not really because she didn't know the way, but because he had some absurd desire to make sure she got there alright. Before they parted ways Evie again hugged him tight around the waist, and the Phantom couldn't help but smile, and marvel inwardly at the strange events of the day.

"You will be wonderful tomorrow night, I am certain of it." He murmured, hugging the little girl back.

She moved to go but at the doorway she stopped and turned back.

"There's no need to be so smug." she shot towards his silhouette, and she heard him chuckle as he disappeared.