I woke up to a room full of light. I couldn't see anything and it was incredibly quite. I found the source of the light. It was a large opened window shiny directly on my face. I lifted my arm to block the sun out. My arm felt heavy and it took to much effort to move it I almost decided to go back to sleep until I saw the room I was in. With the light block my eyes adjusted to the room. The walls were made of a tan rock giving the room the feel of a cave. Sheet music crowded the large black grand piano in the corner opposite of the bed I laid in now. The bed! It was made around me, so that I was completely tucked in. The bed was covered with black silk sheets and black silk pillow cased pillows. The pillows were fluffy and made from the best goose down, I imagined anyway. Well some things never changed. This was Erik room and this was Erik bed. His scent clung to the sheets and I snuggled closer to them. Suddenly a sharp pain ran through my side. I groaned in pain and tried to grab my side stopping only when I saw, through the lace nightgown I wore, the big bandage covering my side. Suddenly the bed moved and I looked to my right and saw Erik's exhausted head pop up.

Erik crawled on to the bed and gathered me up in his arms, being very careful not to cause me any pain. He was crying and I lifted my hand to wipe away his tears. He held my hand to his face and we just sat there staring into one another's eyes without saying a word. Erik and I didn't need words because our souls were so closely woven that we understood one another's silences. He rocked my back and forth and sobbed into my hair. Suddenly a sickening feeling came to my gut. I looked up at him.

"Where's Gustave?!" I couldn't hide the octave jump in my voice. I was so worried about our son. Erik looked up at me with innocent eyes.

"He's with Squelch, Fleck, and Gangle. I didn't want him here if anything, if anything-" He couldn't finish his sentence because he was crying so hard. I grabbed his face and ran my hand through his hair hushing him into silence. He stopped crying long enough for me to pull him down to lie beside me. I pulled his face to mine and kissed his as hard and as long as I could until I winced in pain. He suddenly broke away from my kiss to make sure I was okay. But the pain from the bullet whole wasn't too bad. What hurt the most was the idea of dying without kissing him as much as I wanted to. What hurt was not telling him every second how much I loved him. What had truly killed me was the idea of never being able to look into those eyes and melt into this embrace again.I pulled his face back to mine and let my finger find the buttons on his shirt. He quickly pulled back.

"I'm not sure that this is the best time for-" I stared back at him without even the start of a blush on my cheeks.

"It's the perfect time for it!" I grabbed his face in my hands and brought it level to mine so I could look into his eyes. "Erik I almost lost you forever! I almost lost you before I told you I loved you!" I could feel the tears fill my eyes and I didn't dare to brush them away. I buried my head into his shirt and breathed him in. I felt the warmth of his chest and I could feel the bare skin, where I had successfully unbuttoned his shirt, against my ear. "I need you Erik and I want you. Here and now and always." With that he pulled my head towards his and kissed me hard. He placed my hands back on his buttons and his fingers gingerly found the bottom of my night gown and carefully pulled it off. We stayed in bed together for the rest of the day, just basking in the bliss of holding each other in our arms. I was amazed at the way our skin tingled whenever it touched, the way my body fit perfectly into his embrace the way our lips melted together when we kissed. We were one and we were meant to be together forever. I couldn't get over the beauty of the way he whispered 'I love you' in my ear or how gentle he was with me because of my wound. When I begged him for more he gave just enough to satisfy and never too much to hurt my side. I couldn't get enough of the way his hot breath tickled my skin. I couldn't resist the feeling of his lips on my collar bone. But most of all I couldn't fight the urge to rip of his mask and kiss every inch of his scared face.

There was something about Erik and me that was so easy. There was never any pressure to look a certain way or to be a certain person. We didn't have to worry if we were doing something right and since that night ten years ago Erik made sure to keep his temper in check. There weren't any more walls separating us either. This day was just exposing our true selves to one another and finding the joy as the other accepted who that was.

Erik was helping me slip my nightgown on when there was a small knock on the door. I looked at him and smiled. I knew who it would be and so did he. He gathered his clothes, which were all over the floor now, and went into the bathroom to get dressed. I slowly got out of bed and opened the door. My wound didn't hurt as badly as when I woke up and I now had full control of my limbs. I opened the door to find a troubled little boy looking up at me. When he realized that it truly was me and not trick he wrapped his arms around my waist, just barely missing my wound. I kissed his head repeatedly and held my son to me. Erik came up behind me and nodded at Gustave. Gustave nodded back and smiled. Erik chuckled and walked out of the room, leaving us alone.

I pulled Gustave over to the piano and placed him on its bench. He automatically started fiddling with the keys. Then he looked up at me and grinned. "How do you feel Mother? Father said you would need rest and so I waited. I've been playing with the performers here! They are so very kind, Mother! I can't wait for you to meet them, but Father said you would need to stay in your room for a few days after you woke from your long sleep." I looked at him confused. I had been so caught up with Erik's body I forgot to ask him how long I had been asleep. What all I missed? Gustave and Erik were smiling at their inside jokes and Gustave was calling him Father now…

"Gustave how long was my sleep?"

"Um… about three weeks Mother. I missed you so much!" He through his arms around me and held me tight. I pulled my son close and stroked his hair.

"Oh darling I missed you too! I dreamed of you every night!"

"And Father?"

"Why of course I did. How is your father? Has he been treating you right?" I tapped him lightly on the tip of his nose.

"Oh yes mother! He is going to teach me all the ways of Phantasma. And every night when you were sleeping he taught me more about music!" He leaned over the piano and grabbed a thick folder and opened it. Inside I recognized both Erik and Gustavé's handwriting. I couldn't but tear up at the thought of both of my men playing and writing beautiful operas together.

"What's the matter mother? Is everything alright? Do you hurt?"

"I'm fine Darling! I'm just so happy that you connected with your father so quickly." He chuckled for a moment. It was a younger version of Erik's laugh and I was shocked to find that I had never heard such a joyful noise come from Gustave. He leaned in very close to me and whispered in my ear.

"He's just like me mother! We dream the same dreams and see the same things. He understands and accepts me mother!" I shuddered at the way Raoul had forbid music from our home. But when I looked over I couldn't help but smile at the happiness that filled my child's face. Just then Erik walked in.

"I think it's time your mother got some sleep Gustave." He turned and looked at me. "She could use some rest. She's had a very busy and tiresome day." And then he winked at me. Both of them were the happiest I had ever seen them and it warmed my heart. How could I ever have had any doubt in my choice?

I looked back at Erik and challenged him. "I wouldn't say that it was too tiresome. Everyone seems to be extra gentle with me, much to my dismay." He smiled and walked over to us. He scooped me up in his arms and brought me to the bed. He tucked me in to bed and whispered in my ear.

"I'll be better tomorrow." And then he turned away but he didn't get far before I grabbed him and pulled him back. I pulled his head down to me and my response in his ear.

"It was beautiful and amazing and I thank you for today." Then I turned his face so it was facing mine and I kissed his lips and whispered into his how much I loved him.

"I love you too." This he said aloud and he kissed my forehead and went to the piano bench, taking a seat next to Gustave. Immediately, they began playing beautiful harmonies. I lay back on my pillow and quickly realized how true Erik had been. I was exhausted. I was sound asleep moments later dreaming of a land where we were picnicking on a hill together with unearthly melodies filling the air.