Chapter 10

The next few weeks were relatively quiet for young new couple, that is until Meg asked for something Erik wasn't quite sure he could provide for.

"Absolutely not, Meg." Erik said with a tone of finality that would have others cowering, but Meg was not to be bullied by him and he knew it. Meg wanted to go back to Paris to see Christine and tell her the news and to see her mother. While Erik had no problem with seeing Madame Giry again, he wasn't sure he could stand to be around Christine without making a complete fool of himself in more ways than one. In truth, he was afraid to go back. So many bad memories had come from there, he just wanted to start anew. He was even afraid to tell Meg he was afraid. She had already seen him reduced to tears and not like the terrifying opera ghost everyone had come to know, he would not be emasculated again in front of this woman.

"Why Erik? I know you are afraid but you have to tell me why. I will not think any less of you, everyone has fears and if we are going to spend our lives together you have to learn to open up to me!" She was very upset now, the most upset she had been since the fateful night that brought them back together. "I cannot, in good conscience, live my life as if Christine and I were never friends. She is my sister and I still love her. I have not seen my mother since the night I followed you out of the opera house, and have written one letter to her in the three months we have been gone!"

"I'm afraid to go back." Erik said hesitantly. What about this woman made him bend to her every will? "I am afraid of being so angry with the de Changy's that I will harm someone in the process. I'm afraid Christine will pretend like she didn't feel some sort of pull to me, like I manipulated her through everything, admittedly I did near the end of my reign. I saw your mother's most recent letter that Christine is with child. I'm afraid you'll ask me for that and I will make it look like the monster I am instead of the angel you are. I'm afraid I will know not of how to love it or care for it as my own mother neglected and rejected me. I cannot and will not subject you to the torture of my past regrets!"

"Erik you're thinking of this as if you're going through this alone. I'm here, I will always be here and you have to talk to me. We will go through this together, if you get uncomfortable with Christine and Raoul we'll leave."

"Alright Meg. We'll go. But you have to remember, dear heart, that I've been alone my whole life. I'm not accustomed to someone so quick and willing to listen and comfort me. My own mother did not want me." Erik consoled taking her hands she cast her eyes downward.

"I'm sorry Erik, and you know I want to help I just forget sometimes. You know I love you." She cast a shy smile his way.

"I do believe I could hear you say that a million times and it would never get old." He planted small kisses on both of her hands while she blushed.

"And I do believe you could kiss me a million times and I'd never stop blushing." She giggled. "I think we've survived our first of many fights to come as a couple."

"With your stubbornness and my temper combined I think that that won't be the only one."

"In all seriousness, Erik, what would you do if you saw your mother again?" Meg asked slowly. She didn't want him to be angry but what would happen if they met again on the street somewhere?

"I can't," Erik said keeping his face straight and his body stiff, his eyes not meeting Meg's. "She's dead. She left her home to me. But I haven't seen it since I was but a boy."

"What was she like?" Meg asked.

"She was beautiful. Never looked a day over twenty-five. She was a nice woman when not looking after me, she detested that I could come out of her body. I slept in the bed with the dog for a long while, as I recall. Although against her will, she kept me alive and sheltered me and protected me as best she could against the cruel townspeople." He said with a blank look in his eyes as if flashing back to his childhood.

"Erik. I'd like to see her, if that's alright. I just feel like you need to settle a few discrepancies with her, alive or not." Erik nodded once tightly. "You said she left you your childhood home, where is that?"

"A little north of here, a sort of middle-ground between Pantin and Paris, as I recall. I was thinking of showing you the grounds to live there if you'd like."

"Oh Erik I would love for you to show me where you were born." Meg hoped that I showing a positive attitude toward his old home Erik would be less bitter and more open about it. He didn't talk about his past much, just about his mother mainly, and she wanted him to know she didn't think any less of him as man because his past was not the most perfect.

Later that morning, Erik and Meg informed Rachel and Daniel that they would be returning to Paris and then to Boscherville and would not return until the next fortnight. It took them nearly half the day to return to Paris, and Meg was overwhelmed with seeing her hometown and her mother for the first time in months, nearly bouncing in her seat in the carriage, so vigorously Erik had to literally hold her down in her place.

"Meg, I know you're excited but if you do not calm yourself I might just throw you out the window, and I'd much rather just keep you." Meg ceased movement as soon as she heard 'throw you out the window' but continued to babble unintelligibly about seeing her mother.

They arrived outside of the Opera Populaire and it looked very much the same as it had before the tragic events of the performance of Don Juan. Though when they ventured into the building it was not quite finished, plaster was still being put up and rooms were still being constructed. The only finished place were the lodgings, which made sense to both Meg and Erik because people were still staying in the opera house for a home.

Erik kept his hood around his face as they surveyed the building until he could get a new mask. As they past the entrance from the lobby into the auditorium he noticed a plaque that read 'Remodel courtesy of Monsieur Destler' in the doorway and Erik felt a swelling of pride and didn't feel much remorse about what happened so many months ago.

"Maugeurite! Oh dear child, what are you doing here?" Madame Antoinette Giry greeted her daughter as warmly as she thought possible enveloping her in the largest hug the petite woman was capable of.

"Erik brought me, maman, we are engaged to be married!" Madame Giry grabbed Meg's left hand to survey the ring laying delicately on her fourth finger. The ring was small and modest with a small white gold band, accompanied by a pear shaped cut sapphire set high in the medal and two small pear shaped cut diamonds just below it. Meg had asked for a modest ring and not a flashy one saying she liked people to know she was engaged without it being shoved into their faces.

"Oh Meg, darling it's beautiful. Where are you staying?"

"We're going to be staying here in the Opera House, if that's alright, and will be visiting with Christine and Raoul while were here for the week and then we plan to visit the house Erik's mother left for him in Boscherville."

"Are you sure you're both ready for that?" Madame Giry asked cautiously. The last thing she wanted was for another emotional breakdown to happen.

"I promised Erik we would leave if he became too uncomfortable." Meg assured her. If Erik could endure this, she was sure everything that transpired within the past few months would be out and behind them. They may not be on terms to visit with one another all the time, but Meg hoped it would be somewhat often. "So tell us. What all has been happening in Paris since I've been gone?"

"Oh so much to tell, well we started construction as fast as we could with what little funds we had and a couple months in, Erik came here and offered money for construction. He also asked for permission to have your hand in marriage. I've been so busy with helping here it seems I've forgotten to do anything else!"

"Oh maman, I've missed you." Meg said hugging her mother again. She had barely been away from her mother for a day and now this was the first time she was seeing her in months. She looked smaller, and over tired. She had been working very hard.

"And I you, dear Meg." Her voice was weaker, not as strong and firm as it had been in the past. Meg was hoping she would stop and relax herself but knew with her mother it would never happen. "Shall we go visit the de Changy's?" She suggested with a hint of edge in her voice. Hopefully the visit would not be as bad as everyone assumed it would be.

Rolling to a stop in front the the massive masion, (if that name even gave the home justice) Meg felt dwarfed by the size of it. To say it was gigantic was an understatement. She had forgotten it was this big when she stayed here, it seemed like so long ago.

Meg looked at Erik nervously, and wondered what was running through that tormented mind of his. She felt bad bringing him here after all the pain, but it was time to mend bridges. Not necessarily build friendships, but at least get an understanding of one another.

Erik steeled himself for the oncoming storm that was sure to be waiting for him just beyond the double doors.

A/n: I know it's been so long since I updated and I apologize! I'm gonna try to upload the next chapter within the next few days it's just hard with work.

Also, a disclaimer: I know next to nothing about France, so I'm probably all wrong with my locations and things but, whatever.

Good? Bad? Lemme know!