hello!hope you all had a good weekend!again thanks for reading!this is a short but sweet chappy hope you like it!

Chapter 17

Erik helped Nicole out of the small boat. The journey down to his home had been quiet, and smothering to Erik. He lead Nicole to the chair that was in front of his Opera replica. She sat down and waited patiently for Erik to start. He paced the room wondering where to begin. He took off his cape, but that didn't remedy his feeling of being smothered. He took off his jacket, cravat, vest, and stood before her, sweat coming off his brow. He even took off his gloves, revealing his strong hands.

Nicole sat still, worried by his obvious discomfort. She knew whatever he was about to tell her was going to change everything.

Erik sighed and said, "It all began two years ago when two new managers took over the Opera Populaire."

Nicole sat there after Erik had finished his tale. She didn't move, didn't blink, she merely sat. Erik's story Christine, Raoul, Don Juan Triumphant, everything leading up to that fateful night of the fire, she almost couldn't believe it. He told her everything, she knew. Everything except what was behind his mask. He would not describe, would not go into to detail, just said it wasn't normal.

"So," said Erik, "Now you know the whole story about the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera."

He said that sarcastically, but his eyes showed extreme sadness.

"Erik..." she couldn't say anything she was speechless.

What she hadn't realized was how hurt she would be after hearing his story, a story all about his obsessive love for another woman. The way he spoke of her, described her, even the way he said her name made Nicole's heart break. She hated that she was being so selfish.

He just bore his very soul to me, and I can't get passed the fact that he loved someone else! How did he find the strength to let her go?

She shook her head, confused, "Erik, how...did you continue?"

His face suddenly grew dark, and saw his knuckles go white when he clenched his fists.

"How did I live with the pain? The horrible pain of being rejected by someone I loved more than life itself? How?"

His yelling made her jump, having never seen him get this angry. He began pacing the floor, every so often picking something up and throwing across the room.

He came back to her suddenly, still very angry, but this time spoke in nothing but a whisper, "I drank, Nicole. I drank. Rum, brandy, scotch, anything. I drank myself half blind, I drank until I passed out and could get a few hours of blissful nothingness. Until I would wake up again, find myself still alone, still a monster. Then I would drink again. That is how I continued."

He turned his back to her, and tried to calm down.

"But you stopped?"

The question surprised him as he turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"After everything you just heard, that is the only question you have for me?"

She contemplated this.

Did I have anything else to ask? I know why he did all that he did, it was for love.

"That's it." She stated.

"Yes, I stopped."

He grabbed his jacket, put it back on, and ran his fingers through his hair. She unabashedly stared at him, taking in all that she could. He strong jaw was set tight, and his eyes closed. She saw under his loose collar toned muscles. Her mind started to wander to his lips on hers, her arms on his chest and she blushed turning her head.

Now is not the time to be thinking like that!

But with that simple thoughts, she realized she still loved him. After hearing everything he did, she still loved him. She knew that by him telling her his story, that he was asking for forgiveness, for a second chance.
And she was more than willing to give it to him.

He opened his eyes once more and looked at her, "Now you know what I really am. It's up to you if you want to continue with your singing lessons."

He turned and walked away.

He went and sat at his pipe organ. Anger and sadness welled up in him, until he finally screamed at the top of his lungs and banged his fists against the keys of the organ.

She will think I am a monster, like everyone else. Who could blame her?

He sat there for what seemed like hours, which in reality were only minutes. Until he felt Nicole's small hand on his shoulder.

"Erik?"

He didn't bother to look at her, he didn't want to see her eyes. He shut his eyes, worrying that she might be able to see them.

Her eyes, they would see right through me. Her eyes stripe me bare and expose my soul before her.

"Erik, I wish to continue with my lessons."

Erik snapped his eyes open. He turned to her with a look of utter surprise on his face. She smiled at him, making his heart swell. For one minute, Erik and Nicole stood looking at each other, neither one blinking. Then she smiled a very tiny smile.

"Would you like to continue now?"

She nodded eagerly and withdrew her hand from his shoulder, taking her warmth with it. He almost shuddered when he felt the cold air hit his shoulder where her hand had been. And he knew at that moment he was lost to her, forever.

Love. Yes, I love her. I cannot deny it.