Amelia's eyes fluttered as she sensed the bright daylight flowing through the window of her hotel room. For a moment she forgot where she was, until she felt movement next to her in the bed. Smiling she turned on her side facing her, now unmasked, paramour. He still slept his deformed face oddly peaceful, his deformed lips parted slightly.

She could not resist touching him, some way validating his existence. She ran a hand gently across his cheek. Erik stirred slightly, twitching as if to shrug her hand away. Her lips smiled of their own volition and she let him sleep. Before he awoke she laid in bed, awake, remembering their love making last night. Erik was much less timid this time around and the result was incredibly passionate and satisfying.

As Erik showed signs of waking, Amelia put a quick order in to room service for some breakfast. She scooted back into bed just as Erik opened his eyes. He seemed a little disoriented until he saw Amelia and smiled.

"You're still here. None of this was a dream."

"You too," she mused.

There was a swift knock at the door causing Erik to jump out of bed distressed. Before Amelia could turn around he was gone. Impressed with his stealth, she found a robe to put on before allowing hotel service to wheel in a cart with some breakfast choices. Erik peeked out from the bathroom.

"He's gone, Erik," she said uncovering the pastries which were on the first plate. She inhaled the fumes from the coffee, her mouth watering. "You guys sure know how to make a cup of coffee," she said pouring a cup and added a sprinkling of sugar and a splash of cream.

Erik emerged, clad in a hotel robe, sans mask, looking out of place. He walked slowly, but gracefully, over to Amelia who was currently sipping her coffee, her eyes glazed over a bit. "Just coffee in that cup, my dear?" Erik teased.

"Sorry, I think we need to be alone," Amelia quipped back, "Would you like a cup?"

Erik shook his head, "No, I prefer tea," he said searching over the plate.

Amelia put down her coffee and picked up the tea bag holder, "What kind of tea would you like, Erik?"

Erik raised an eyebrow, "What on Earth is that?" He picked up the holder and began to examine the tea bags. "Tea bags, Erik, um, I guess you haven't seen those either. Here let me show you." She decided on a black tea variety, ripped open the paper, and showed Erik the teabag. She poured hot water into a cup and steeped the tea into it, dipping it a few times until it was dark, finally adding a lemon wedge to complete it.

"Here," she said, handing him the cup, "what do you think?"

"Ingenious," he said sniffing the cup and taking a sip, promptly spitting it out, missing Amelia. "Although hardly worth the convenience, this is terrible."

Amelia, about to tease him back, suddenly lost interest in favor of some anxiety. What on the heck were they going to do? Erik could barely stand to go out in public, despite a slightly more tolerant society; would he ever feel secure enough? How would he exist in this time? He had no papers, no ID, they surely couldn't go back to the State without a passport. How would they live?

"Amíe, my dear, your thoughts are piercing, where are you?" Erik whispered in the same voice he used as the Angel of Music. It brought calm to Amelia's heart for a moment and she felt drawn to him, melting into an embrace with him.

"Oh Erik, I am so happy you are with me, but I'm scared. Where do we go from here? How will we live?"

"Do not worry so much, I am pretty clever you know," Erik mused stroking her hair, "together we will create a solution."

"But Erik" she protested as he kissed her hair, "how? What about your music? You need to compose and create and maybe you could even perform!" she exclaimed excitedly jumping up and pacing to keep up with her racing thoughts.

"I mean it's perfect, maybe this is why you disappear at the end of the novel, I mean, maybe this is the time you're meant to be in. Maybe this is the chance, maybe this it meant to be!"

"Cherie," Erik gracefully arrived next to her, forcing her to stop pacing, "slow down, I am having troubling translating and it is just too much for now."

"Erik," she said slowly, taking off his mask so she could see his face, "do you already have a plan? I'm feeling very insecure with your level of problem solving."

Erik laughed fully at her and even with the mask off, he looked like so young and vibrant all of a sudden, "Only a second ago you were in a panic. I do not admit that I have all the details settled, I will indeed need much of your futuristic expertise to guide me to my goal, but yes, I have a plan."

Amelia picture Erik trying to use a computer and instantly giggled, "If you insist, but maybe you should clue me in or…" she rephrased due to his puzzled expression at her colloquial phasing, "inform me of your plan."

"First," Erik exclaimed, picking up his waist coat and shirt from the floor, "it would seem I am not properly attired to walk around this future of yours."

"If you give me your measurements, I can go out shopping for you," Amelia offered.

Erik smiled, "I suppose I could entrust my outer appearance to you. But I cannot allow you to purchase anything for me."

Amelia stared at him puzzled but before she could open her mouth Erik had answered her unspoken question, "Do you think I have come to this time empty handed?"

"Erik, wait, seeing something from your time could trigger you back. There's no telling if you could return!"

"Which," he replied smoothly, pulling out a small pouch from his pocket, "Is why I'm giving them to you."

Amelia held the deceptively heavy pouch and was about to open it and take a peek inside.

"Wait," Erik said, "I will tell you what is inside as well as how much the trinkets were appraised in my day."

Amelia bit her lip, "Um, I have no clue how to sell these things."

"I suspected as much, but do not worry. I kept my selections very simple. These are timeless piece with rather large stones. Almost any diamond or jewelry dealer should be delighted to assist you."

"This would be a lot easier for me in New York City, Erik," Amelia replied, so tempted to see what was inside the bag. "How are we going to get back there? As far as my world is concerned, you don't exist! How are we going to get you papers? It's not as easy as it may have been in your time. You cannot fly without a passport."

Erik stopped pacing for a moment, "Fly?"

"Shit, yes, fly, on an airplane. Maybe you need a few more days at the library to catch up…"

"Indeed," Erik mused, "Your French should be strong enough to sell at least one of the pieces I have given you. Is Mellerio dits Meller still doing business?"

Amelia was not sure, but a quick phone call to the Concierge downstairs confirmed that yes they were still in business. As she began to dress, Erik looked at her strangely. She felt his eye on her, and was feeling self-conscious, "Erik, why are you staring at me?"

"I admit that I am not an expert on your fashion, but if you are to go into such an establishment, you must look wealthy and powerful." Amelia rolled her eyes and removed the offensive dress from her person. "So," she said standing in front of Erik in her slip, "what do you suggest?"

His eyes roamed her figure up and down, "Tempting as you are, Amíe, we must both get dressed and find you some appropriate clothing. Do not worry about the expense; I will make sure to reimburse you." They both dressed hurriedly and Amelia called down to the desk to fetch a car to Avenue Montaigne. Before going downstairs, Amelia grabbed a French Vogue from the room and handed it to Erik.

"Maybe this will help you get acquainted with proper fashion, although none of it seems to have helped me much," she quipped.