Erik's POV

"Christine, Christine, always Christine!"

My eyes shot open the moment I heard the gunshot. I sat up in that hospital bed, gasping for breath and looking down at my body. It was only a dream, a dream and nothing more. My room was dark, due to the fact that it was the middle of the night. Christine had left me a few hours ago, taking Gustave with her. Oh, how I missed her already, how I wish I could call her back to me. I hated hospitals with a passion. They frightened me to death… I laid back down against the mattress, closing my eyes to try and fall back asleep.

When I heard the door opening to my room, I thought it to be nothing more than the doctor. He came in to check on me every few hours, poking and probing me with his tools while I tried to sleep. It was annoying, but I knew he was only doing his job.

"Look at your hideous self."

When I heard that familiar voice, my eyes shot open, my body rolling over onto my back to see Raoul approaching my bedside. How did he get in? I had instructed the doctors to only allow Christine and my son to visit. I knew without that restriction, I would be having my employees wishing to visit me. It was a kind gesture, but none of them knew what I truly looked like without my mask, and I wanted to keep it that way.

"W…What are you…doing here?"

"It's true." He growled, grabbing me by the throat. His hand was pressing against my windpipe, causing me to have trouble breathing. My hand flew to his own, but my operation had weakened me. Any other day, I could beat him, but now, I was weak and ill.

"You raped my wife! How could you? How could you touch her!"

When he let go of my throat, I gasped for breath and reached over for the button that I was told to push incase I needed immediate attention from one of the doctors. Raoul grabbed hold of my hand before I could do so, looking me straight in the eyes.

"She refuses to leave this place." He barked. "Refuses to leave with me. She pities you, monsieur, pities your hideous self."

"Sh…She lo…loves m..me."

"Loves you?" he mocked. "Oh, monsieur Phantom I believe not. What woman could, or ever would love something as twisted as you are. Didn't you ever wonder why she only slept with you in the dark?"

"T…Th…that was…my…idea." I lied, not wanting to listen to this horrible man. Yes, it had been Christine's idea, but I knew it was because she was still frightened of my face. Not anymore…Oh, not anymore. Things have changed, haven't they?

"She is repulsed by you…You believe that she is going to stay here? With you? Your music may speak to her, but her heart will always follow me. It's over, monsieur, let her go…release her back into the rightful arms."

"I…I have no control over how she feels." I weakly replied. "Sh…she is not under my command."

"Only because she pities you. Tell her that she can leave, tell her that you will be fine without her at your bedside."

"N…Never."

Raoul placed both hands at my sides. The only separation from his flesh touching my own was the blankets that were covered on top of me.

"So, we're going to play this game, are we?"

"I…I will…tell Christine…about your…vi..visit."

At that moment, his fingers dug into the back of my right side; the exact spot where my stitches were, from when the doctors removed my kidney. I wailed out in agony, a burning sensation coursing through my veins.

"You will tell her nothing! Tell her about my visit tonight and your son will disappear. You will believe me soon enough about Christine only pitying you. In time, she will break your heart and wallow right on back to me."

He released my body, causing me to become stunned with pain. Raoul then walked to the door of my room, spinning around one last time with his final warning.

"Speak about any of this to her, and Gustave will be no more."

I refused to believe that my angel was repulsed by me. She had seen my face and yet, she hadn't run away.

Christine's POV

"Sweetie, don't touch anything that isn't yours."

The following morning, I woke to find Gustave sitting at Erik's desk rummaging through his drawers. After leaving the hospital during the previous evening, I checked out of the Phantasma Hotel and had our belongings moved to Erik's home. I had hoped to find Raoul there, but sadly, he wasn't anywhere to be found. But, being the loving wife that I was, I moved his belongings to Erik's home as well. I knew I would bump into him sooner or later around Coney Island.

"Mother, Mister Y has so many beautiful things."

"Indeed, sweetheart." I said, lifting him from Erik's desk. "But you shouldn't be touching them without his permission.

"Could we get dressed and go to the hospital to see him?"

"Yes, I think we should. I hate leaving him for long amounts of time."

Gustave went into his luggage bag and pulled out a pair of shorts and a shirt.

"I'll be dressed in a few seconds, mother. Then, we can go and visit him."

I had slept in Erik's four poster bed. It was comfortable and smelled of him…The mere scent made me miss him even more. After making up his bed, I dressed and prepared myself for the day. I would have stopped at the bakery to get Gustave some breakfast, but it wasn't healthy to constantly be eating pastries for breakfast.

"Mister Y has some jam and bread in his kitchen." I told Gustave as we headed towards the hospital. "After we visit, we'll go back and have some lunch."

Satisfied with my answer, he held the door to the hospital open for me as I headed inside to sign myself in at the front desk. The nurse who was sitting there took one glance at me and said the words I thought I'd never hear.

"Miss Daae, Mister Y is in surgery."

I gasped, my heart stopping within my chest. "Surgery?"

"Yes."

"What for? Is he all right?"

"His stitches were torn sometime last night. He was found bleeding this morning. Seems as though he had tried reaching over to push the button in his bedroom, to call for the doctor but couldn't reach it."

"Is he all right? Can I see him?"

"Yes, he should be back in his room now."

I was bursting with anger! How could those doctors just leave Erik on his own? The poor man tried calling for the doctor, but couldn't reach for the button that was hanging on the wall.

"Mother, is everything all right?"

I sat my son down at a nearby table.

"Stay here, sweetie, I'll be right back. I need to speak with Mister Y alone for a few moments."

I hurried through the doors and down the hall to his room. When I was standing at the side of his bed, what I saw nearly caused me to break down in tears. There, on my poor Erik's neck lied a canvas of fresh bruises. My angel was sleeping peacefully, his side covered in fresh bandages. How had he obtained such bruising? My fingers brushed lightly over them, causing his mouth to cringe in discomfort, but he didn't open his eyes. I quickly dashed to the hall, grabbing hold of the doctor that was passing by.

"Mister Y," I scowled. "What happened to his neck?"

The doctor peeked back into Erik's room, looking down at the clipboard he was holding.

"He was found bleeding this morning from an incision that was made during his operation."

"His neck," I pleaded. "I know his stitches were torn, but what about the bruising on his neck? It's terrible…"

"We believe he obtained that from trying to reach for the button on his wall."

"Bruising?" I snapped. "That's preposterous!"

"Miss Daae, please."

"No! I demand to know who gave Mister Y those bruises. Did one of you mishandle him? Taunt him because of his appearance? I demand to know…Was there any visitors last night?"

"Madam, you're the only one permitted into his room."

"That doesn't necessarily mean that one of your nurses didn't make a mistake and let someone in."

I rushed down the hall as the doctor chased me. I marched right up to the front desk, grabbing the small sign in sheet that was laying there.

"Madam," the nurse grabbed hold of my hand, but I pulled away.

"Who let someone into Mister Y's room last night?"

The nurse grabbed hold of her list, looking up at me with a sincere look of concern.

"Madam, no one is permitted into his room but you. After you left, no one came asking to see him."

"Did you have visitors for any other patients last night?" I snapped.

"Yes, there were twenty visitors last night. None of them were for Mister Y…"

"Anyone could have signed themselves in walked right into his room. You're supposed to be helping him, and yet, he laid there bleeding for god knows how long last night."

"Miss Daae," the doctor embraced my shoulders, but I pulled away.

"Don't… Your hospital is responsible for him. You've done nothing but put his life in danger. I thank you for removing the bullet and possibly saving his life, but I believe it would be best to have him continue his healing at home."

"Christine, that isn't the smartest thing to do."

"Oh, really? And what is? Letting him continue to spend his nights in here? All he needs is a little pain medicine and a lot of bed rest. For the sake of Phantasma's future, I believe it's best that he continues his recuperating at home. I'm ordering him his carriage, and then, I'll be checking him out of here."

I left the front desk, scooping my son up into my arms and carrying him back to Erik's room.

Erik's POV

What an excruciating night. After Raoul left, I laid there, trying to slip back to sleep. But something was wrong, something was terribly wrong with me. In my backside, I could feel dampness and pain, more pain than I was feeling a few moments ago. I attempted to reach above my bed to push the button that would signal a doctor to come see me, but I could reach it. I tired myself out while doing so, passing out a while later from pure exhaustion. When I opened my eyes again, my world was spinning, making me feel nauseated in my stomach.

"Oh, Christine," I said her name the moment I noticed her standing at my bedside. My arms flew around her neck as she embraced my body as well.

"I'm getting you out of here," she cried. "No more pain, angel, this I promise you. I ordered your carriage. It should be here shortly, and then, you will do the remainder of your healing at home."

I never wanted to break away from Christine. I wanted her to hold me until the day I died. My angel broke away a few moments later, looking over at Gustave who was sitting on the windowsill.

"Sweetheart, why don't you go down the hall and get Mister Y something to drink."

"All right, mother."

I wasn't feeling thirsty, but when Gustave left and my angel began pulling out a fresh pair of clothes, I knew she had sent Gustave away in order to give us some privacy.

"Ange, what happened to your neck?" she cooed.

I would told her, but oh, what about Gustave?

"Ange?"

"I…I…don't…"

I was so weak, that I couldn't even finish. But my angel nodded, and caressed my cheek.

"It's understandable, Erik."

Oh, how I loved when she used my name. No one ever called me by my first name, and I absolutely loved it! She lifted me up into a sitting position, reaching out for the shirt I was wearing. No…I couldn't let her see me like this.

"N…No…" I grasped her hand that was unbuttoning my shirt. "N…not that."

"Erik, what's gotten into you?"

"C…Christine, please…"

My angel looked me in the eyes with just as much sadness as I had in my own. I was repulsed by my own body, let alone having her see me naked.

"Please…" I begged. "N…No…"

"You poor man." She cried. "What has this world done to you?"

"I…I'm so hideous." I was sobbing into her shoulder now. "So…So hideous. Please, please don't."

"I dressed you in a shirt just the other night, Erik. There is no need to feel repulsed."

But as I looked up into her eyes and she seen the pain my heart was in, she placed the shirt into my lap.

"All right. I'll be right outside if you need me."

When Christine left the room, I sobbed into my hands. I was hideous…Raoul was right; Christine would never find me attractive or appealing to her eyes. I stood up from the bed, my legs aching with every step that I took. On a nearby wall, there was a large mirror hanging there, depicting every detail of my hideous body. When the nightshirt rolled off my shoulders, I stood there naked, the thousands of scars and lacerations covering every inch of my rotting flesh. I pressed both palms of my hands against the glass, laying my forehead on the chilled surface as well.

"She'll see me and shun me like once before…" I whimpered. "Darkness is all she'll ever want to see me in."

I slowly placed on my shirt, buttoning it up before placing on my vest and trousers, finishing off the ensemble with my mask and wig. Even with my mask, I still looked unattractive. If anything hurt me worse than my side, it was the flashing of cameras as Christine helped me out the doors of the hospital. How I hated the press! They were nothing but blood sucking bats! Always wanting to be in my private business, always wondering what made me tick. Christine was trying to assist me and hang onto Gustave at the same time as we made our way through the crowds that had gathered outside of the hospital.

"Mister Y, why are you leaving the hospital so early?" one asked, flashing their camera in my face.

"Why is Christine Daae accompanying you?" asked another. "Wasn't she supposed to be leaving Coney Island today?"

"Have you and Christine met before?"

I held up my elbow to shield my face from any pictures. I hated being on the front page of the morning newspaper…It irritated me to no end. What was worse than being in the paper was the cruel gossip they posted about me. Some of their accusations were so ludicrous it was a wonder how anyone could believe it. Waiting for me at the end of the sidewalk was my carriage that I traveled in when making my way around the city. Mr. Squelch held open the door, as Christine helped me inside.

"How are you feeling, sir?" he questioned, helping Gustave inside.

The press was standing nearby, and therefore, I didn't wish for them to hear me saying anything. One word out of my mouth about my condition and they would make it out to be a three page story filled with nothing but nonsense and lies. Therefore, I waved my hand for him to close the door and get us moving away from this hospital. I rested my head against the seat, closing my eyes and swallowing painfully as Christine sat beside me and rubbed my thigh.

"Mister Y?" when I heard my son speaking to me, I opened my eyes just enough to make eye contact with him.

"Yes?"

"Are you hungry?"

"C…Can't say that I am, Gu..Gustave."

"Mother makes a great jelly sandwich. She's going to make me a sandwich when we get back. You should have one. It will make you feel better."

"I'd rather lie down."

"Mother said you had a kitty removed from your body."

I couldn't help but grin at his statement. My child was so innocent, so innocent and happy.

"No, Gustave, a kidney." Christine corrected.

"Like the beans we have back home in Paris?"

"No, not at all. You're born with two of them, and Mister Y had one removed."

"Then how can you survive without the other?"

"You just can, Gustave."

"How about your back?" he then questioned. "Does it hurt too? Mother said you had some damaged nerves."

"It..it hurts, but my side is in worse pain."

"You should try playing music." He suggested. "Music always helps me through anything."

When we arrived, Gustave ran ahead up the stairs as Christine assisted me out of the carriage. I wasn't sure how much longer I could go before I would simply collapse, but she kept a firm grasp on me as we walked up each step, taking a break after each one so that I could catch my bearings.

"Erik, can you make it up here?"

I nodded. "Just give me a moment."

"Take all the time you need."

Yes, I could have done as Raoul told me to do and tell Christine that I didn't need her here with me, but that would have been a lie. The truth of it all was that without her, I wouldn't be able to climb the stairs or even walk on my own. She was making life much easier for me, and I wasn't about to let it become complicated. She was here, beside me without so much as a single beg from my part, and that was simply good enough for me. I knew I hadn't seen the last of Raoul, but when the time came, Christine would have to make a choice. Is it him, or is it me? I could only hope that it would be…

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