A/N: Hi! Long time, no see! Sorry for the long wait, I've had a lot going on recently and I had the "brilliant" idea of updating old stories. However, I did just finish writing this chapter, so I hope you all enjoy it - I own nothing but OCs, the crazy plot, and any random "Don Juan" lyrics that are tossed in here. Please let me know what you think, and I'll see you all next time!

Chapter Twenty-Three – Angels on Earth

"What do you think of me taking on a new pupil?" Erik asked suddenly as they stopped upon a hill, riding the two horses that Angelique had inherited.

Angelique gazed at him in awe, a smile gracing her face. "Who did you have in mind, mon cher?"

He allowed himself a moment to gaze at her before answering, stunned by how regal she looked in black. In an effort to show she was in mourning, she had donned one of the new dresses he had bought of her, covering her body in dark, shimmering satin and chiffon, a matching hat and veil adding a strange, seductive mystery to her glimmering eyes and beautiful smile. "Your stable boy."

"Adrien? What makes you want to tutor him? I've never heard him sing before," she asked, puzzled by his certainty. "Then again, this is Erik I'm talking to…"

"Erik knows a passionate spirit when he sees one," he answered coolly, gazing out at the land under his beloved's possession. There were lush green acres that went on for several miles, some of them dotted with forest area. Comte Archambault had agreed to lease the land to many farmers, some of which had been there since childhood. Since his death, Angelique held possession, until she met with the accountant, Roscoe, and allowed for the farmers to gain their rights and claim to the farmland they obtained. This act of kindness only seemed to strengthen the people's love for the new Archambault successor, who was just as kind – if not kinder – than the deceased Comte. They renewed their agreement terms with her so that he would receive a small percentage of what they earned each year – with approximately fifteen different families and landowners, that added up rather nicely at the end of the year, even with such a small amount returning to her.

"I still can't believe how much has happened in such a short amount of time," she sighed, shaking her head. "It feels as if only yesterday I was scrubbing floors with Capucine watching over me, and now…I have so much more than I ever imagined or wanted."

"You deserve the world, mon ange," Erik insisted, taking her hand and kissing it reverently, causing her to blush. He smiled as he saw this – he loved being able to continue making her face flush such a delightful shade of rose pink, just for him.

"All I want is you, and your love, Erik," she confessed, reaching out so that she might touch his masked cheek. He remained heavily concealed whenever he left the cottage, but he was determined to venture out with her every moment possible, and for that she was most grateful.

He gripped her hand, his heart aching with joy and weariness. For so long, he had suffered alone, and now he had an angel leading him into a new world, one with hope and happiness and utter normalcy, which he had craved since he first saw his own face. Kissing her hand once more, he motioned for her to follow. "Come, Fanette must have dinner ready."

Together, the two rode their horses across the vast land, breathing in the cool air that drifted from the not so distant sea. The wind curled around them, tugging at their bodies as they rode against it. The horses moved swiftly towards their destination, slowing at their masters' command once they neared the stables. No sooner had they come to a stop and slipped off the magnificent animals, a cheerful whistling tune floated into the air.

"I wonder…" Angelique looked over at Erik, who simply smiled knowingly at her.

The couple guided their steeds into the building, their eyes falling upon Adrien. His back was facing them as he worked on tirelessly, preparing the stalls for their horses. Unaware of their presence, he softly began to sing an old countryside tune. His voice was clear, strong, and rich, causing Angelique to gawk and gasp. "Oh!"

At once, the boy stopped, turning around and yelping in surprise at the sight of his two new masters. "M-Monsieur Chevalier! Comtesse! I-I didn't hear you-!"

"That is evident," Erik chuckled, guiding his horse into the proper stall. Patting his steed's thick neck, he looked over at the mortified young man and said, "You have great talent, Adrien. Who is your tutor?"

The boy looked up at him, agog from the praise he had received, and shook his head. "No one, monsieur. I attended Sunday School as a child and the chorus master asked me to sing with the choir once I had gotten older. I only know hymns and folksongs, really-"

"Can you read music?" Erik interrupted.

"Well, yes-"

"How would you feel about having me as your tutor, Adrien? You have great potential, you could sing for the Garnier someday, I am certain of it," he insisted.

"M-Me?" he stammered. "Me in the opera? Oh, I don't think s-"

"You can do anything you set your mind to," Angelique grinned. "Erik is teaching me how to sing as well. "He's brilliant, Adrien, and he has a marvelous voice, too!"

"Angelique, we're talking about the boy, not me," he blushed, tugging at his cravat.

"Can you sing something now?" Adrien asked, his eyes glimmering with hope. "Please, monsieur, I've always wanted to hear something from the opera!"

A slow smile stretched over Erik's lips as he heard the request, surrendering at last. "Very well…" Closing his eyes, he saw words from his recently finished composition floating across his mind. Opening his mouth, he unleashed the magic.

"So you see, it's true–

I'm just as real as you.

I'm flesh and bone,

I'm, oh, so alone!

Please, forgive me the lies I've said…

But now that we have met,

Know that I am yours,

Yours alone…"

His voice twirled and leapt over their heads before diving into their souls, chilling them to the bone. There was so much emotion, so much passion and longing…his voice was soft and tender one moment, and the next thing they knew it boomed and rose above them before quieting once more. Even the horses seemed as still as statues as they listened to the music. At last, he opened his eyes and looked to his audience, not the least bit surprised to see Adrien in total awe while Angelique gazed at him with adoration. He accepted their applause with a humble bow, tipping his hat to them before chuckling and shrugging it off. "Well, Adrien, what do you say?"

"Can you teach me to sing like that, monsieur-?!"

"Erik," he corrected him. "My name is Erik, and you are to call me that when we practice."

"Yes, Erik," he nodded, an excited smile gracing his face. "I should very much like to learn!"

"Will your parents be all right with that?" Angelique asked, cocking her head as she raised an eyebrow at them.

"I shall speak with them, if you wish," Erik offered. "Surely, they cannot deny you such a small favor."

~OG~

"I don't see any reason why he can't practice, so long as he can complete his chores as he normally does," Lamar nodded as he and Erik sat before the fire that evening, sipping tea in the large, plush armchairs.

"Of course he can continue his chores. I shall visit Angelique's home regularly to call on her, you see, so I shall make it a point during the evening to have lessons with your son then, as so not to interfere," Erik explained, watching as the man nodded in consent.

"That would be good for him. He's rather shy, and I believe that my fault. He doesn't want to leave me alone, as I barely leave the house due to…well, you know why." He motioned to his face, shaking his head. "Adrien has always had a fascination with music that I could never quite comprehend…to be perfectly honest, I believe he admires you."

Erik doubled over and coughed, nearly spilling his tea.

"Monsieur!" Lamar gasped, reaching over to assist him.

"I'm fine," Erik choked, struggling to catch his breath.

"Have I offended you?" the butler asked, worry bubbling within his stomach.

"What? Goodness, no!" Erik shook his head, leaning back in his chair. He sighed as he set his cup down, lacing his fingers together and setting his chin upon his hands. He gave a wry chuckle as he confessed, "All my life, I have been an object of scorn…to hear that your son admires me is…very strange…but wonderful as well."

Lamar gave a crooked smile, his face a gruesome sight as he committed the action. "I believe I understand what you feel…I shall never ask what is under your mask, sir, for if I had one, I would never want to part with it. I know the humiliation and pain that comes with scars and defects."

Erik's eyes traveled to the man, sadness washing over him as he realized that he at least had a way to hide – this man didn't even have a single domino mask to conceal his face. His eyes widened as an idea bloomed into his mind, causing him to snap his fingers. "Of course!"

"Monsieur-?" Lamar asked, raising his good eyebrow.

"I shall make you a mask," Erik said suddenly, grinning from ear to ear. "However, it shall be life-like…it will appear like skin, it will move to match the other half of your face…" He stroked his chin, muttering to himself, "Erik would be wise to create one for himself…really, why didn't he think of this sooner?"

"Monsieur, please, I don't wish to impose upon you-" Lamar protested.

Erik held up his hand at this. "Nonsense. I enjoy a good challenge. It would benefit us both. Allow me to make a mask for you, Lamar. It is the very least I can do. Since my arrival with Angelique, I've never felt so…so at home."

Seeing the sincerity in Erik's eyes, Lamar heaved a sigh of defeat, offering his hand to him. "Very well…that is most kind of you, Monsieur Chevalier."

"Erik," he corrected him. "You may call me Erik."

Lamar smiled at him, a flickering flame of hope igniting within his breast. "Thank you…thank you, Erik."

~OG~

Two days later, the Joubert family packed their belongings and hitched the horses to the carriage, joining Angelique and Erik on their two-day return to Paris. The horses trotted along down the path as if there was not a care in the world. Gazing out the window, Erik found himself in awe of the world around him. He had spent years traveling continents only to end up hidden underneath an opera house…now here he was, traveling in the company of others that accepted him, especially one particular young lady who cast him a heartwarming smile.

"Erik shall have to visit you often now that you will be living I your uncle's home," Erik said cheerily, though his smile and eyes did not match his voice.

"Don't be silly – you can stay in the house!" Fanette insisted. "You may take the Master's room, he would have wanted it that way." She cast Angelique a knowing wink, laughing as the girl blushed. "The Mistress told us that you have a home under the opera house and that you let her stay in her own room, therefore it is only fair that she return the favor." Poking her head out of the carriage, she shouted, "Isn't that right, dearest?!"

"What?!" Lamar shouted against the wind.

"Monsieur Erik is staying with us!" she repeated to him.

"Well, I certainly hope so! I'm preparing his room myself," her husband called back.

Erik was dumbstruck by the news, his jaw slowly dropping. Angelique giggled, kissing his cheek. "You're part of a family now, Erik. I suggest you start getting accustomed to it."

"A…family?" he echoed, his eyes stinging with unshed tears.

"Of course, Monsieur Erik," Fanette smiled. "We are all family here."

Smiling back weakly, he held Angelique's hand in his for the rest of the journey.

Thanks to the pleasant springtime weather, the roads had already begun to clear up from the slush and muck of thawing, making their ride smooth and quicker than expected. The little caravan arrived on schedule at the main Archambault residence and set to work once they stopped before the great façade of the grand house.

"Oh my," Angelique gasped, seeing the pristine pearl-white walls and glinting silver railing of the three balconies it offered.

"Welcome home, Comtesse, Maestro," Adrien grinned playfully as he saw the pair gape at the house.

"Go on inside," Fanette urged them. "We'll get everything inside, don't you fret your pretty little heads."

"Pretty indeed," Erik rolled his eyes.

"Let's go, Erik!" Angelique exclaimed, tugging on his arm as an excited child might do so to a parent.

Caving in to her request, he allowed her to take him inside as he drunk in every detail the elegant home had to offer. The Comte de Archambault was not without taste – many items in the home were expensive and decadent, and yet there was a homey feel to each room. Simple furniture would be balanced out nicely with gorgeous accents, wallpaper, or brick-a-brack, or vice versa, and each room appeared to be its own 'person'. The house was also extremely spacious, practically a miniature manor of sorts set in the middle of the city. A polished staircase stood before them as they entered through the front door, enticing them to climb to the other floors above.

Erik smiled, amused, as he let Angelique lead him, her eyes large with wonder. "As Erik recalls, you used to live in a fine house also."

"This is a palace compared to my first home, Erik!" she protested, peeping into each room before running to the next. "Oh Erik! I'm so glad you'll be here to share this with me…I wouldn't know what to do with all this on my own!"

"You need not share anything with Erik," he reminded her. "I do not wish for you to feel entitled or forced to-" Her lips silenced him, his heart jumping sporadically within him as she took him off guard.

"You were all I had a few mere days ago…you are my world, Erik," she reminded him, embracing him as he stood still, utterly bewildered. "I mean it when I say I'm happy to share this with you…if it weren't for you, I might not have met the Jouberts. I might have been taken away by Capucine, or even Maurice-" She could feel him tense at the mention of those names, even hearing him grind his teeth. "Erik," she said softly, taming him as she took hold of his face in her hands. "Forget them…we have so much to look forward to."

He smiled at her, nodding his head as he stroked her cheek with his knuckles. "Yes, we do…"

"Maestro?!" Adrien's voice echoed through the house, earning their attention at once.

With a frustrated growl, Erik bit his tongue and hurried downstairs, finding the young man at once. "Yes, Adrien? What is it-?"

"This just came in by a delivery boy, he said it was for you. He said it was urgent," Adrien said, handing a sealed envelope to Erik.

He took the slip from the boy's hand at once, reading the names off of the front. His eyes widened as he saw who had sent the letter, his fingers violently ripping the paper open until he had the letter in his hands. He read the message frantically, his face lighting up. "I can't believe it…!" he gasped.

"What is it?" Angelique asked rushing after him.

"Is something wrong?" Adrien asked, his eyes bulging as Erik quickly embraced him, nearly choking him in the process.

"No, something is right for a change!" Erik laughed triumphantly, clenching the note in his fist as he punched the air. "I must go – I have to see for myself!"

"Erik, wait!" Angelique called after him, latching herself onto his sleeve. "What's going on?!"

"You'll see," he grinned mischievously, winking back at her as he linked his arm with hers and stepped outside. "We'll take a cab!"

~OG~

Rupert Adelshire had just counted ten minutes when Erik burst through the door to the manager's office with Angelique beside him. "You were faster than I expected," the old Englishman chuckled, rising from his seat.

"Is it…?!" Erik choked, unable to breathe.

The young Comtesse glanced from one man to the other, her brows furrowed. "What in Heaven's name is going on?"

"It's a surprise," Adelshire winked. Unlocking a drawer in the desk, he opened the compartment and withdrew a thick copy of an opera, complete with a beautiful cover and gold words emblazoned on it.

Erik shook at the sight of it, grabbing onto the nearest chair as he allowed Angelique to support him by his arm. "…you…you did it," he whispered, tears spilling down his masked face.

"No, Erik, you did it," Adelshire beamed. "You should be very proud of yourself."

Angelique gasped in amazement at the papers before her, her own eyes spilling with tears as well. "You…published it, while we were away?"

"I read through the whole thing within two nights – I couldn't put it down," Adelshire laughed. "I have a friend who owns a publishing company here and I got him to pull a few strings…speaking of which…" He took out another document from the desk and placed it beside the opera, sending Erik's knees into a wobbling fit as he collapsed into the chair and stared at the papers. "That's right…you own the rights, as you should anyways."

Angelique gaped at the papers, the smile from her face never fading. The opera read in its sparkling golden font: "Don Juan Triumphant - Composed, Written, and Created by Erik Chevalier."