A/N: Another update. Not much happens in this chapter except for Annika/Erik interaction, but these things must happen in order to further character development. I've decided that today's disclaimer will be stated by Buffy Summers, all the way from Sunnydale in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom!

Buffy: The Incredible Nameless Wonder owns nothing from this fandom or the books and movies that have been listed. No copyright infringement law can be broken here now that I've said that, so don't even bother.

Me: Read on, fellow Phans, read on….

Chapter Seventeen: The Music Lives In Him

After the initial shock of my horrific dream/nightmare thing, initial shock that had me curled up into a ball crying, mind you, the thing on my mind was making up with Erik.

I didn't mean to piss him off or whatever I did because I fucked with his brain a few times before, and the outcome was, as you all now know, less than awesome. I sighed and stood up from the chair, stretching my arms way above my head and cracking my back as per the usual ritual. I yawned and stumbled away from the chair towards the door, quickly running my hands through my messy hair that really could do with another wash before I raised a hand to knock on the door.

I was very glad that I'd made sure the puffiness around my eyes and the blotchiness of my face had faded considerably before I attempted to make amends with the Opera Ghost, as I didn't want to have to answer any questions. I finally moved the fist I'd raised to knock three times on the broken door, knowing that I could have easily just walked in if I really wanted to, as back then it didn't really have a lock system.

I held off though, as I was trying to make amends with the man, not invade his privacy and possibly drive him to murderous actions, I wasn't that stupid after all. I waited for what felt like forever before knocking again, tapping my foot against the wet ground in annoyance, making a hollow sound that echoed softly throughout the glorified cave.

All too soon however, my wait was over and my impatience ended for the door swing open five minutes later. I sucked in a breath and found my eyes looking at my feet as Erik appeared in the door way. I was suddenly aware of just how much I looked like a little girl who'd done something bad and was about to get scolded by an adult, and in a way, I was, I wasn't of legal age, and Erik was way older than me.

I stopped myself. I didn't know how old Erik was, the book never actually said how old he was, but it was supposed to be something crazy like fifty. The man in front of me did not, I repeat, did not look fifty, in fact he barely looked to be in his early thirties!

Anyway, I didn't really want to look at Erik, but I knew that I would have to eventually, and Goblin graciously reminded me that there was no time like the present. I grumbled mentally and allowed myself to raise my line of vision to Erik's eyes. They were not filled with hate or anger or sadness or anything really, they were blank and unreadable as his expression, as if he wanted to see how I would make it up to him before letting his emotions be known to me.

"I-I'm sorry." I said after a moment's pause and Erik sighed. I looked right at him again to find his icy blue eyes filled with disappointment. It still hurt to see that, but at least is was better than rage, anything was better than rage, I never wanted him to be mad at me again, yet here I was, apologizing after making a huge mistake of epic proportions again.

"You say that too often." He replied in a voice that held an emotion I could not place. Either way, his tone, although I couldn't sense the feeling behind it, filled me with the amazing hope that perhaps he could forgive me again and we could possibly be friends.

"That's because I make too many mistakes." I replied softly, fidgeting slightly and clasping my hands together behind my back. Erik sighed again and put a hand on the door frame, leaning against it and keeping the door wide open.

"You are young, to expect any more of you would merely result in even more disappointment." Erik admitted. I was sure that he meant it to be a comfort to me but back then, it only intensified my fear, as he admitted that he was upset with me. My heart sunk as I realized this and regardless, Erik seemed to notice my distress, for he un-tensed his shoulders and the look in his eyes softened. "But, I do accept your apology." He finally said and my heart skipped a beat on the way back up. I found a smile working its way onto my lips and for a second, I almost caught a flash of one tugging slightly on the edge of Erik's mouth, but it was gone before I could be absolutely sure, so I decided to let it go.

"Thank you." I told him and more silence filled the still air. I was suddenly reminded of a promise that he had made to me, and it seemed as though now was the very best time to bring it up. "Erik, it's time for you to hold up your end of the deal." I told him, my grin turning to a smirk and he sighed and nodded.

He didn't offer me his arm, which felt a little bit like a punch in the stomach, but I sucked it up and realized that I wasn't entirely forgiven yet as he helped himself down the stairs towards his organ. He looks surprised at the state of the place when he finally gets there and sits down, prompting me to speak up.

"I clean up a bit when you were asleep before I…left." I said quietly and he nodded solemnly.

"Did you read any of it?" He asked and I didn't know how to respond, I just decided to stick with my not lying theory, even though I obviously was about my backstory.

"Yes, I read a small scene from Don Juan Triumphant." I flinched, expecting Erik to be angry, but instead, he looked almost pleased.

"And what did you think of it?" He asked and things began to fall into place. He seemed happy because he wanted to hear an outsider's opinion.

"I thought it was beautiful, but I think what it will do to the operagoers when they hear it will be much, much more than just merely stunning." I said, a hint of a smile forming again on my mouth.

"And what will it do?" I shrugged when he asked this.

"It will make them burn." I replied, smiling to myself at how true that was. Erik would crash the chandelier, and incidentally, he would burn the Opera house to the ground.

Erik looked at me for a few seconds before nodding. I finally noticed the barest hint of a proud smile on his lips that actually lasted as he set up some sheet music in front of him.

"Too true, my dear, too true." I was glad that I made him proud, and I took a seat nearby, waiting for him to begin.

"Who knows when love begins,

Who knows what makes it start,

One day it's simply there,

Alive inside your heart."

It was hard to tell how he sung, it was too early, but even still, I could tell that his voice was a sure-fire gift from God. Furthermore, I knew the song. It was the title song from Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. This was the song that Christine would eventually sing on Coney Island, it was hard to believe that he'd been writing it this whole time.

"It slips into your thoughts,

It infiltrates your soul,

It takes you by surprise,

Then seizes full control."

I let the biggest grin I'd ever smiled turn up on my lips as Erik continued to sing. It was hard to describe his voice, it was so beautiful and yet very rocky and dangerous, like nothing I'd ever heard before.

"Try to deny it,

And try to protest,

But love won't let you go,

Once you've been possessed."

I smiled even wider as he built to the chorus. I didn't even notice that I'd stopped breathing until my chest began to hurt. I immediately exhaled and tried to keep my air flow consistent, but it was hard to.

"Love never dies,

Love never falters,

Once it has spoken,

Love is yours…"

He trailed off and stopped singing, leaving me with an empty feeling inside. I looked to him quizzically and he shook his head.

"I'm afraid it's not finished." He explained and I nodded in understanding.

"That's okay." I replied and he sat up a bit straighter.

"What did you think of it?" He asked and I thought for a moment, trying to condense how I felt into one word.

"It's definitely Erik." I replied after a little bit and it was his turn to look a little bit confused.

"What do you mean?" He asked and I shrugged.

"There's really no other word to describe it. Erik is a word I have for something that goes past the point of beautiful, and there is just so much of you in it, I can tell." I told him honestly. The Phantom of the Opera didn't reply, and so is stood up and walked off towards the book case, pondering a good title that I knew to read and busy myself with until I felt tired again.

"Thank you, Annika." I heard him say quietly. I did not think he intended for me to hear him, so I remained silent as a gaggle of butterflies migrated in my chest. I settled down in the chair in front of the miniature model of the opera house after making sure that I tucked my gift away from the world so that Erik would never find it and I opened my book.

About two or three hours later spent completely in comfortable silence, I finally finished the book I was reading. I yawned again and set it down on the bookshelf, standing up and stretching. I yearned to go to sleep again, but the dreams that I had been having were enough to make sure I never slept again in all my life, and the chair was honestly not all that comfortable to lie down in.

"You may sleep in the bed, if you wish." I heard Erik say and I looked up to him. He had been scribbling down notes onto music sheets silently, with small breaks to play a certain piece on the organ to see if it flowed, but he never sang, much to my disappointment.

"Are you sure?" I asked carefully, just in case Erik felt the least bit tired.

"I am quite certain, I'm feeling quite inspired, and I believe I shall be up all right writing lyrics." He replied and I shrugged, heading for the bed room.

"Okay, if you're cool with that." I paused when I reached the door, turning around. "Good night Erik." I said across the lair. I suspected that he did not hear me because he initially did not reply. Once again I felt my heart sink.

Just as I was about to close the door, Erik surprised me once again.

"Good night, Annika." My heart did a particularly cheerful tap-dance routine in my chest as I skipped off to bed.

My happiness however, was short-lived, for if I knew the nightmare that I was going to have, I never would have dared to go to sleep ever again at all.