Chapter 13

Morning came, though Erik was not sure what time it actually was, he decided to set to work anyway. Starting where his bedroom was, the swan bed had been left intact, but there was no point trying to move it, he would leave it. Next, he would eventually come back for his organ and piano, but most of his music had been trampled on, torn, or burned when he set fire to the Don Juan set. There were a few articles of clothing to grab, but other than those he had nothing really to his name. His music was really the biggest part, and he would either write more, or had it memorized. He grabbed the few books he owned, some poetry, mostly letters, essays, and historical books he collected to know a little more about what the world he was living in.

But before he left, he spotted the glimmering symbol of hope he once held for Christine. The ring he bought for her. Well. . .the ring someone else bought and he stole but, that was in the past. He pocketed the ring quickly and left, so he did not have to dwell on it for long.

He put his belongings in a satchel and left his old home for good, closing yet another chapter and starting a new one.

He rowed back to the passageway and traveled up, where he normally would have come out of the mirror in the dressing room had been blocked, so he took a detour through the hall of mirrors eventually leading to Madame Giry's dorms. He knocked twice lightly.

"Just a moment." Meg's voice rang out. Good, he was hoping it hadn't been too early.

Meg had been up for hours it felt like. The clock had just signalled seven in the morning, when she heard the two knocks on the door. Ultimately she knew it was Erik but just to be sure, she kept them waiting outside while she finished gathering a few things.

She had been waiting anxiously for her fiancé all morning to come collect her, just so she could see his face, make sure he was safe and okay.

She knew what they had to do this day, they had to visit his mother. Meg was both anxious and frightened, for whatever reason. She knew she did not need his mother's approval, there was not much she could do at this point, but just seeing Erik react to her so negatively and so stiffly made Meg wonder.

She finished packing her things, and opened the door to meet Erik's equally as exhausted gaze. She smiled tiredly and asked if he was ready to journey to Boscherville.

"I am ready, mademoiselle, but I suppose I should be asking you." He replied, taking her case from her. She remained quiet, as did he, for the journey. Neither knew what exactly to say to one another.

Erik thought about the last time he was at home. He had come back once since he had run away, just to see what had become of his home, but he had not gone in, and that was where he found the note from his mother sitting underneath a rock on the porch of the weathered home. It had talked about how she had been sick for a long while, and how she wished he had come home at least once since leaving. How she wished she could have tried to be better to him, and how she was leaving him her home.

Erik at first, was bitter that she never made an attempt at an apology for the things she'd done, and the trauma she put him through. She never felt remorse for scarring him mentally because of a physical condition. But he was also bitter for her referring to their home as her home. It had been his once too, and it was her cruelty and unloving attitude toward him that ran him away. And that was why he had never been back to claim the home. But, he made his payments on it, and kept the grounds under his name so it remained his.

Over time, Erik matured, and came to realize that his mother had been selfish and vain, and never taught to think of people other than herself. She had no reason to apologize to him, in her mind, and no reason to call it their home, he had left. So finally Erik was returning. He gave his mother credit, she hadn't had him taken away or killed, and often protected him from the world around him, however vain and selfish she had been. She hadn't known what to do with a child that wasn't as beautiful and talented as she.

When they arrived in town, it was larger than Pantin, but smaller than Meaux. It was quaint, and no one seemed to pay them much mind. The town had expanded from what Erik remembered, but in the opposite direction of his home, which now laid more on the outskirts of the town, which Erik was perfectly content about.

Soon after they rolled to a stop in front of the church, that had the cemetary in the back. Hand in hand they rounded the small stone chapel and easily found Adelaide Destler's headstone. It had no writing, just a name and years, and Erik wondered if she had wanted it on purpose or if the townspeople had really resented her. He looked at Meg for a moment, who smiled sadly yet encouragingly, and started on speaking as if she were right in front of him. He knelt down in front of the headstone, studying it.

At first it was slow, as if he did not know what to say, but then he went on telling no one in particular all that he had done since he left home, his accomplishments, his failings, in a way, he was sharing everything with Meg as well, for she had never heard of anything beside things that happened in the Opera House. Then, he talked about Meg. About everything she'd done for him, and about all the things he saw in her and how lucky he was that she saw anything in him.

"I suppose the reason for me being here, is that I just want you to know that I forgive you." He ended. Taking a deep breath he rejoined Meg who was standing underneath a tree not far from the plot. It looks like rain. How appropriate. He commented to himself grimly.

Next, it was Meg's turn to address. "I do feel rather silly," She began tentatively. "but I suppose it is appropriate to pay my respects. Erik is wonderful through and through, despite what has taken place, and I love him dearly. I do not hold anything against you, because Erik does not, just please, watch over him where I cannot. Be his angel, since I have proven I am nothing of the sort. We are imperfect and we argue, but he is learning. You created a wonderful soul and for that I am in your debt."

They walked back to the carriage, again in silence but it was not a heavy silence as before. Finally Erik spoke. "My dear, you are my angel."

"Why, monsieur, did you not know it's impolite to listen to a lady's conversation?" She asked playfully, smiling coyly.

"Damn, I never have learned my manners when accompanied by a beautiful mademoiselle." He laughed loudly when she blushed, and she thought perhaps it was the first time she had heard him genuinely laugh. It was the most beautiful sound she had heard, save for his talent.

They arrived at the home shortly, and it was weathered but Meg thought it was beautiful. It was a tall white-washed stone home, with faded black shudders and columns to support the balcony sticking out over top.

When they walked inside, it was a completely open space, with a staircase immediately to the right leading to a balcony loft that wrapped around the upper level, with a large chandelier reaching through the loft down into the sitting area. Down a hall to the left was a washroom and a door leading to the back, where there was another porch and open space for a backyard leading to woods. Back into the main room, there was a set of French doors that opened into the kitchen and dining rooms. Upstairs was another sitting area, three bedrooms, a washroom, and another set of stairs leading to a spacious attic or third floor.

It was dust covered and shabby, there was a lot of work to be done, but Meg thought it was one of the most lovely homes she had ever seen. "Oh Erik, can we stay here? It's so close to both Maman and Pantin?"

"If my lady commands, it will be done." Erik said easily. It was both terrifying and comforting to be in his old home again, starting a new life. He was so afraid of starting a family with Meg, and ending up on the same path, but was reassured when Meg grabbed his hands and lovingly kissed him.

He was happy. And his bride-to-be was happy. And all was well.

A/n: So I guess I kind of forgot about this story...I've been incredibly busy working 40 hours a week so, while I have today off I'll probably just post the last few chapters today.

This sequence lacks a lot and it's not one of the best chapters I've written, but I kind of lost inspiration by the time this scene was written.

Hope you enjoyed!