Hi all, again I am so sorry for the delay on this chapter, I am trying the hardest I can to update whenever I get the chance. I hope everyone had a great holiday and I still enjoying it!

Here is chapter 20, it is kind of a short chapter, but I hope you all enjoy it. Please review I love to hear what everyone has to say, and I hope everyone has a great rest of their holiday!

Chapter 20:

Days had come and gone leaving long sleepless hours of concern and grief. In the few days that had passed, May barley even fluttered an eyelash. Her long lasting slumber concerned Erik, but he knew that she inevitably needed this time of rest.

Growing rather bored and tedious while waiting for the sick child to wake, Erik found himself participating in trivial activities to keep himself occupied. He would spend hours of time sitting beside the bed writing new music, reading books that he had read over and over again, playing his violin, and even drawing; most of his time was spent drawing. Flipping through his sketch book, Erik noticed that almost every page was occupied with some sort of depiction of Christine.

Christine. Oh how that name put him into despair. The woman he loved was now set to marry her beloved Vicomte. He hated thinking about it but yet found that his mind was wrapped too far into the thought to be drawn away.

An unwanted anger suddenly enveloped Erik's body, making him shudder with rage. That damned Vicomte, he thought to himself how dare he take what is not rightfully his. Christine is mine, all mine; I own her mind, her soul, and her voice. To hell with that man.

His eyes suddenly stopped on May. How delicate and fragile she looked in her deep slumber.

I have one thing that man can never own, and I'd be damned if he ever took her away from me. He lightly caressed her cheek.

Although the past days had consumed May in an endless sleep, Erik was growing quite fond of having her around. He would spend hours a day just studying the girl; everything about her screamed life, art, and beauty. In Erik's eyes she was very beautiful, and he only wished that he could share a tiny ounce of her beauty for himself so that she could actually accept him for who he truly is. He loved each and every imperfect freckle that flawed her pink cheeks, he would listen to the quiet sound of each intake of breath that she took, and he adored that no matter how perfect he thought she was he knew that the girl had so many flaws and imperfections. For one she was rather tall for her young age, her feet were also much larger than the normal ballerina size feet, her long dark blonde hair was nothing like the other girls, and over the months he had known her, Erik had taken notice to how clumsy she was. All of these tiny quarks interested Erik so much.

One night while watching May a person popped into Erik's mind; Jack. Monsieur Jack Oliver, the young rich courter of Maygen Daily. Erik's fondness of the boy was nothing grand, he hated how the boy always flaunted his money, and spoke down to certain people; just the thought of May being with the boy made Erik the slightest bit angry. Erik knew though that May was happy with him, and there was no way that he could strip a girl of her happiness especially after having a childhood of such pain and loneliness.

A day passed and as Erik sat beside the bed drawing aimlessly in his sketch book, he froze and quickly came in tune with a new sound. A light gasp rang out, making a flash of excitement and fear course through him. He quickly dropped his sketch book and pencil.

"Erik?" her voice asked questionably to the air. Suddenly May sat up in a strange panic, quickly becoming dizzy from her sudden movement.

"Whoa girl, take it easy." Sitting upon the edge of the bed, Erik gently laid May back down upon the mattress. He watched as her breathing quickened and her eyes searched the room in confused fright.

"W-wher- where…" before she could finish her question she began to cough.

Acting quickly Erik lifted the girl and propped her up upon the many pillows that lay behind her. He quickly turned to the nightstand and grabbed a glass of water. Turning back around to face the struggling May he quickly held the glass to her lips.

"Drink." He stated softly. With his help May took a few sips of the water then pulled away. Her coughing had stopped, and Erik took in a deep breath as he watched her.

May opened her mouth to say something but Erik quickly stopped her.

"Shhh, don't speak. My god, you're still so pale." He gently placed the back of his hand against her forehead. "Your fever is still present." He removed his hand. May curiously glanced around the room. It was a nice room painted a light color. There was a large wardrobe against one wall and a makeup vanity against another. The bed she currently resided on was very large and comfortable, and made her feel very small and meek. She looked back to Erik with the smallest gleam of fright in her eyes.

"Don't worry, you're in my lair." May looked at him questionably. "You became very ill all of a sudden, so I have been taking care of you." He explained. Erik deliberately did not mention anything about the opera or their dispute that took hand before her illness struck in hopes that she had forgotten all about it.

May nodded lightly trying to show her understanding. Still confused and slightly disoriented she glanced down at her clothing and gasped. She pulled on her shirt to get a better look then with fear in her eyes glanced at Erik for the answer.

He examined the shirt she was wearing then gave a gentle laugh beneath his breath in response to the look of terror he had just received from the girl. "Yes, that is blood." Her horror filled eyes grew wider. "But don't worry. A few nights ago you woke up and vomited." A sheer expression of embarrassment came over May as her cheeks turned a light pink shade. "It's alright. I got you to the bathroom in time and once you were done retching into the sink your nose began to bleed. You vomited numerous more times throughout the night and so your nose continued to bleed."

May looked down at her lap completely mortified. Erik bent down and caught her eyes. "Hey, it's alright. It happens to the best of us." He joked.

There was a moment of hesitation between the two. "So how are you feeling?" Erik asked.

"I-…" she was cut off.

"Uh! Softer, don't hurt your voice."

She spoke softer. "M-my head and throat hurts," she stated.

"Anything else,"

May shook her head 'no'

"Do you feel nauseous at all?" she shook her head. "Dizzy?" he added.

"Not anymore."

"Good, do you ache at all?" he questioned.

"Yes."

"Where?"

"Everywhere." She replied pathetically.

"Well I don't doubt that. You are very sick, it's going to take a while for you to be back in full health." He explained. May suddenly gave a light shiver. "Oh, are you cold? Here" He lifted a dark blanket off of her lap, leaving the many other ones in place, and gently draped it over her shoulders. "How is that?"

"Better." She responded, as she grasped the soft material of the blanket pulling it tighter around her. May glanced over Erik for a short moment, and then looked down at her lap once she met contact with his eyes. He looked different in a way. He was wearing a loose fitting long sleeved light shirt, and dark pants; the shirt hung open a small bit revealing the beginning of his protruding collar bone. His normally pristine hair looked sort of shabby, and his eyes read that he had been sleep deprived.

In attempt to move May set her hand on something odd. She picked it up. To her surprise it was her stuffed puppy. She gave a light grin and glanced at Erik.

"Oh, Nadir suggested making my lair seem more at home for you, so I ventured up to your dorm and grabbed a few things." He watched her examine the dog with delight. "I also brought a couple of your nightgowns, and a few other little things."

"Thank you." She stated quietly. May turned her attention back to the stuffed animal.

Erik watched contently. He was so happy to see the girl awake but still very concerned. She was still so pale and looked unusually thin; her eyes had no glow to them, and her voice was horribly raspy. As he watched her he began to recall all of the incidents on the night of Il Muto. He remembered May's harsh words of fury, the scared tears that ran from her eyes. He could still feel her small hands hitting angrily at his chest, in an attempt to release the pent up feelings she had inside. He remembered the piercing sound of her scream, the look of her lifeless and soaking body lying limp on the bank of the lake, and the sheer expression of horror that she showed as soon as she saw his face. Did she remember any of it?

"Um Maygen…" he asked. He loved to say her full name. May looked up at him. "I-I know you don't remember much but, what is the last memory you have before you became ill?"

Looking away from Erik, May thought. She remembered seeing him the night before the opera; she remembered the medicine he gave her and how grotesque it tasted. She remembered feeling ill the next day, then spending the day rehearsing and nervously pacing. She remembered getting into her elaborate costume before the show, and she remembered talking with Jack backstage. But what happened after that?

"I-I guess the last thing I remember is talking to Jack before the show."

"Do you remember what he said?" he questioned

May racked her memory. "Not really."

"Ok, are you sure you don't remember anything else that happened?"

She thought again. "No that is all I remember."

"You have no memory of the Opera?"

"No." she stated.

"Odd." Erik was a bit happy that she didn't remember.

"E-Erik?" she asked quietly

"Yes dear."

She hesitated. "What did happen?"

He was not expecting her to ask that. What was he to say, he couldn't tell her she saw his face? Could he even tell her that she fell into the lake and nearly drowned? He had to make something up and quickly.

"Um, well you see… a-after the Opera you were feeling very sick, so you came to me. For a while you seemed fine but eventually you just passed out in my arms, and I was left completely confused."

"I did?" she asked fairly shocked.

"Yes, I was just as shocked as you are." His lie seemed to work.

"Then why are there so many blankets on the bed?" she asked.

Damn he thought. "Uh, well after you fainted you began to shiver uncontrollably. I piled you high with blankets but you still continued to shiver." That was not a complete lie.

"Oh." Was all she responded. Erik nodded hoping that she had no more questions for him to answer. A few quiet moments went by. Suddenly May let out a few unexpected coughs.

Erik turned to the night table and grabbed the medicine he had been giving her. He quickly poured a small amount of the liquid into a glass and handed it to her.

"Here drink this."

May took the glass and drank the dark liquid inside of it. She grimaced at the taste but once she got it down her coughing had ceased. May sank back down into the pool of blankets and pillows that surrounded her.

Setting the glass down Erik turned back to May. She looked so tiny and helpless in such a big bed, especially with the amount of blankets covering her. She closed her eyes a bit, trying not to succumb to the slumber that called her. Erik smiled at her lightly. Grabbing her stuffed puppy, he placed it beside her under the blankets. Deciding to be daring he reached forward and lightly stroked her hair.

"Sleep my dear, you need it."

With that May shut her eyes and let the darkness of sleep consume her once again.

"May wake up," his voice played through her dreams. "Wake up May!" was it really him, or was she dreaming it? Suddenly someone was shaking her lightly. Her eyes snapped open as she looked around curiously. "Finally," Erik stated with a sigh.

May was confused; Erik bent down and lifted her from the bed. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Erik carried her to the bathroom and gently set her down upon a small wooden foot stool. The bathroom was a light color just like the bedroom, and was fixed with normal bathroom appliances including a lavish bathtub. Looking around more May noticed that upon the ground there were a few scattered and empty buckets, and chamber pots; all most likely from her vomiting. She suddenly wavered a little upon the chair in her sleep like state. Kneeling before her, Erik placed his hands securely around her waist just to keep her still.

Slightly disoriented from sleep, May had no idea what was going on. She felt something trickle over her lip and as soon as it entered her mouth and hit her tongue she realized what it was. Blood.

She gasped in fright and quickly looked at Erik in a panic. As soon as Erik caught her expression he laughed lightly.

"Hey it's alright. It is just your nose again. No need to panic." Hearing his calm response made May's nerves cool a small bit.

"Why does it keep doing this?" she asked quietly with such innocent. Erik stood and walked to the sink retrieving a wash cloth. Turning on the faucet he ran it under the cool water, and then retreated back to May.

"I am not sure, but it is most likely due to your illness." He kneeled back down before the girl and glanced at her for a second. Looking at her made Erik's heart break. Her lovely dark blonde waves had flattened out and hung lazily over her shoulders, her skin was such an unhealthy color of white, and her eyes had no glow to them at all. It was absolutely painful to look at the girl as blood stained her lips, and slid to her chin. She was so sick and Erik was so helpless.

"O-okay, just stay still for a moment." He brought up the wash cloth and gently dabbed at the blood above her mouth. The light cloth in his hands quickly turned into a dark shade of red that he hated to see.

As her nose ceased its bleeding Erik slowly moved the cloth away from her. Foolishly his thumb quickly came to graze over May's bottom lip. Both gave a gasp in shock and pulled away gaping at each other in an awkward disbelief. They stared at one another for a short while until Erik's gaze foolishly fell back to May's lips. Her once colorless mouth was now stained with the dark color of her blood; he was so drawn in by it.

Erik was slowly losing control of himself as he stared at her lips, the feel of their soft texture staining his finger. He remembered the night he was so daring as to approach her sleeping body for a stolen embrace. His mind was going insane with the idea of an actual kiss now; an actual kiss with an awake women. Would she protest, would she consent, would she run away and shun him, or would she return the pleasure and endow in the caress? The feel of her lips was slipping away from his fingers, and he needed to remember it.

Sitting motionless upon the footstool, May watched in fear but yet delight as Erik brought a shaking hand slowly to the air before her mouth. His hand seemed to freeze in place for a moment as it waited in the air. The anticipation of his touch was received as his careful long fingers came to caress her lips in the gentlest of touches. She couldn't help but part her lips as he stared; a gentle tingle shot through May's spine giving her a feeling that she had never endured before.

She wasn't rejecting the touch, she didn't even wince, and as Erik's eyes came up to meet hers May saw something in them that she had never seen before; a spark of passion and a longing that needed to be accomplished. This look frightened her in the slightest bit but excited her as well.

Erik's gaze went from her eyes to her mouth again. Would he dare do it, she's awake now so she would obviously know and remember. He let go of all inner thoughts and regrets and slowly began to lean in.

He was so close now, so very close. May could feel his warm breath stream over her lips and she could smell his musky yet handsome scent. She knew what Erik wanted, but he would never know that she was willing to assent.

He was about to do it, and May was about to allow it. Closer, and closer he got, anticipation and such an innocent fear rising in both of them threatening to burst forth. Suddenly his infernal mind and ridiculous guiltlessness interrupted him. Erik what are you doing man! In a flash he pulled away completely disgusted with himself and before she could even protest May was in his arms once again. He hurriedly walked her back to the bedroom and set her down upon the large bed.

Confused, May looked up at Erik who looked frightened. So many thoughts ran through both of their minds, so many feelings that would never be brought out and so many inner secrets never discovered. May watched as Erik took a breath and opened his mouth as if to say something; instead he gave her one last look then turned and ran out the door, shutting it harshly behind him.

Alone now, May sat on the bed and stared at the spot where Erik had just fled from. Without his presence she felt entirely empty and alone.

It has been almost a week since he had last heard from her. Almost a week since he had last seen her and almost a week since he had last held her in his arms and comforted her. Racing up the marble steps of the Opera House, Jack was in such a panic as he went in search for his May.

He had been racked with fear over the past few days, just thinking about where she could be, and why she fled from him so suddenly the night of the opera. He prayed that she was safe and he vowed that if she was in any sort of danger, he would make whoever hurt her pay.

Reaching the grand doors of the Opera Populaire, Jack pushed on them ready to search every possible place for his young love, but the door was locked. He tried the other, locked, and the last, locked. He pounded his fist numerous times against the door hoping someone inside would hear, but no one came to answer. He let out an anger grunt in defeat.

There has to be another entrance. He thought. Racing to the side of the large building before him he searched for any sort of entrance way every window or door that could possibly lead inside was locked. In a disgruntled anger, he spun around ready to attack every inch of Paris in search for May. He began on his way.

Nadir Kahn was making his way through the busy Parisian streets on his way to Erik's lair with new medicine for May. Weaving through the rush of people in their evening scurry, he would have gone completely unnoticed by any other passerby.

"Monsieur Kahn!" he turned quickly, responding to his name. To his surprise Jack Oliver the young courter of May Daily, was racing towards him in an anger filled panic.

"Monsieur Oliver, what is the matter my boy?" he asked.

"Mr. Kahn I am desperate, have you seen Maygen recently?" he asked in a panic.

Miss. Daily! He knew he wouldn't be able to tell Jack about May, and Erik for that case. He had to make a lie. Oh how he hated to lie, but he knew he needed too for the sake of their safety.

"May? No, no I have not. The last time I saw her was the night of the opera." He lied.

"That is odd, because the same goes for me. After the chandelier crash I found her but she ran from me in a rush. I have no idea why." He stated worriedly.

"Jack, calm down, I can assure you that wherever she is she is safe." That was not a lie. He knew that no matter what May was safe under Erik's watch. Nadir could see Erik taking a special liking to this girl; a liking that he had never taken to any other person, not even Nadir himself. "She's a smart girl, I am sure she will be okay." He told him reassuringly.

Jack's nerves calmed for a moment as he thought. "You are right." Nadir gave the gentleman a small grin and a polite nod. "Please, if you see her, tell her I am looking for her."

"I will make sure of it." He replied.

"Thank you Monsieur Kahn." He gave a nod

"Anytime my boy."

Nadir watched Jack hurry off down the street and disappear into the crowds of people. Letting out a soft sigh, Nadir turned and continued on his way to Erik's lair.

Thanks for reading, and please review!

Have a great New Year!(: