Hey hey guys so here is some more fluff since it is the best thing in the world but we also find out a little more about our main character here :D As you know I don't own any of the characters from Phantom but I still own Charlene as she is my own character :D Anyway on with the show and all reviews are welcome as I love you guys for reviewing as they make my day and I appreciate the fact there are people out there who love my work :D

Heartache and Pain

Chapter fifteen: When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you...

Charlene's POV

I was walking through a park somewhere but there was something different about this dream over all the others as this time I heard several giggles coming from near the lake. I smiled as I saw Erik in the lake with three small children; two were girls and there was one little boy who was the spitting image of Erik. I started to make my way towards them to join them in the water but darkness descended the lake and they disappeared. "Christina, Rosa, Louis! Where are you? Answer me please!" I yelled out but there was no response and I also couldn't see Erik in sight. "Ah my little flower you will break all ties with this man and marry me or your children will meet their maker!" I heard a voice command; however I couldn't actually see their face but I could see my three children in cages and the last thing I remember doing was screaming out their names in anguish...

The first thing I did when I woke up was look around the room hoping to find my kids; but why was I looking for the kids that aren't even born yet? I mean that was the second dream I have had recently that was almost premonition-like in nature; why have I been having them lately? Were they trying to tell me something about my future?

"Charlene! Are you ok? I heard you scream!" I heard Erik exclaim with concern lacing his tone.

"Hold me, I'm so scared." I pleaded quietly. I then sighed a little as I felt Erik wrap his arms around me gently.

"It's ok, everything's gonna be ok. You don't have to be afraid anymore." I heard Erik say quietly and reassuringly. The last thing I remember was falling asleep in his warm embrace with what felt like a hint of a smile on my face.

When I woke up after being disturbed during the night I had to stifle a giggle when I saw Erik lying there with his arms around my waist and his hair sticking out at all angles. I admit I sometimes like to watch him sleep as he looks so peaceful and serene. I then felt him move and knew he was about to wake up.

"Morning, did you sleep well?" Erik asked.

"Yes I did thank you." I replied. I saw him in the process of getting up but I stopped him and explained quickly.

"No, you rest a while longer. I want to make you breakfast after taking me out on such a wonderful date and looking after me so well."

"Are you sure you're ok walking to the kitchen?" Erik asked.

"Don't worry I'll be fine. I'll use my crutches and go as slowly as possible." I replied reassuringly. After grabbing my crutches from beside my bed I made my way towards the kitchen; I got there after five minutes and proceeded to make Erik a lovely breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs and toast. After a few minutes or so of cooking I tasted them before proceeding to add a little bit of paprika to the mix. My parents always added paprika to my scrambled eggs as a child and I loved it so I hoped Erik would like it too. I placed everything on a tray along with a cup of tea and a cup of orange juice before carefully proceeding back to the bedroom. I got there and placed it gently on the bedside table.

"That's nice of you to make breakfast. I hope it wasn't too much trouble for you to carry it back here; what with your sore ankle and all." Erik explained kindly.

"Oh it was no trouble at all. I like doing things for you. Hope you like scrambled eggs on toast with an added special ingredient." I replied happily. I saw Erik then take a bite and he smiled a little which meant he was enjoying it.

"Is that paprika in there?" Erik asked. I nodded and he continued."I like it with the paprika in it; I never would have thought it would go so well with it at all."

"I'm glad you like it." I said happily. After he finished he was about to get up when the phone rang; I presumed he was going to take the dishes to the kitchen. I saw him nod a lot but not say a lot in response and wondered who was on the other end.

"Sorry but I have to dash; something urgent has cropped up at work. The boss said there is a tonne of paperwork to fill in and it needs to be done before tomorrow. Hopefully I shouldn't be too long but Nadir will be here to keep an eye on you. I'll try to organise dinner and a movie for tonight how about that?" Erik explained quickly.

"I would like that a lot." I replied quietly.

"Ok, see you later." Erik replied and after kissing me on the cheek he left out of the door. After he left out of the room I decided to get ready for the day. But instead of dressing nicely for some reason I went straight for a pair of jogging bottoms and a very plain t-shirt. I then sat myself on the sofa and before I could stop myself the tears started pouring down my cheeks. How am I to survive without him when I am married and he works? I mean I haven't really been in a relationship with him that long and yet every time he leaves I seem to feel really miserable and my spirit is only lifted when he comes back home from work.

"My dear why are you crying?" I heard Nadir question which made me cry even more as that was the sentiment Erik used when we started dating.

"Is it normal to miss someone you love this much?" I asked tearfully.

"It is, when I first met my late wife I would miss her whenever she left the house." He replied with a sort of wistful look on his face. I wonder what happened to his wife and why he hasn't gone into another relationship since. Is it possible to love someone that much that you will never love another once they have passed? I decided against however to ask any more details about his late wife as it might upset him.

"I'll give you a tip; if you distract yourself by doing the things you love you don't realise how long he has been gone and before you know it he'll be back again." Nadir explained matter of factly. I smiled a little and decided to write a story as I could feel the creative juices flowing through my mind.

"Do we have a computer or laptop I could borrow please?" I asked Nadir.

"We should do somewhere. Let me take a look in our office." Nadir replied and he left the room momentarily to go and look for one. Five minutes or so later I saw Nadir come back with a laptop in his hands.

"There you go. There are some games on here as well as internet and a word processing program." He explained and after showing me how to connect to the internet he left me to play around for a bit.

I don't know how long had passed but as I finished writing a chapter for my new story I heard the door open; I proceeded to save the document then close down my computer.

"Hey Charlene what have you been doing?"

"I've been typing a new story. I missed doing it and I could hear the story forming in my mind. I use to write stories as a hobby before my parents died; I thought all creativity had died with them." I replied happily.

"I am glad you were able to keep yourself entertained whilst I was gone. Wait a moment have you been crying?" Erik replied.

"I have been a bit yes." I replied quietly.

"But why?" Erik asked curiously.

"I was crying because I was missing you; I know that sounds silly and I understand if you want to..." I replied but was promptly interrupted by Erik saying passionately.

"I am flattered with the fact that you miss me so much; I have never had anyone care about me that much before. But I understand that being in a big relationship is still a big change for you and I will take things as slowly or as quickly as you want them to." I didn't reply but instead kissed him gently on the lips; to be honest I was surprised with the fact I initiated the kiss rather than the other way around. I could feel Erik smiling as he returned the kiss.

"I've booked a table for us for six o' clock, would you like to get ready? I'll drive us up once we're done." I was confused momentarily but when I saw it was five o' clock I panicked and quickly ran upstairs to my room. As I knew we were going to the cinema afterwards I decided to get out a nice pair of jeans with a nice t-shirt and a smart tailored blazer in red; I wanted to look nice for Erik but not dress up too much. After getting my bag I went downstairs to see Erik with his coat on and his back to the front door. I saw him hold out my coat for me and he then proceeded to help my arms into the sleeves.

"Thank you." I said quietly.

"Shall we head off?" Erik asked and with that I nodded in agreement; Erik then turned around to open the door before proceeding to let me out first. After closing the door behind him he held his elbow which I took gently with a smile on my face. We went in the direction of the car park and when we arrived Erik opened the passenger door to help me into my seat; he then proceeded quickly to his side of the car and clambered into the driver's seat. We then went on our way towards the restaurant. We arrived and I knew it wasn't the same restaurant as last time; instead it was a little quaint restaurant serving home-cooked food that reminded me of the kind of food my parents cooked when I was a child.

"I thought you might like somewhere quieter this time since the last restaurant was quite large and crowded in size." Erik explained.

"I honestly don't mind where we eat as long as I'm with you although I am liking the quaintness of this place a lot." I replied happily.

"I hope you have been keeping the pressure off your ankle like the doctor instructed." Erik said teasingly.

"But my ankle feels fine and I hate using those crutches anyway; they feel incredibly uncomfortable to use." I replied stubbornly whilst pouting a little.

"I know they seem uncomfortable and it feels fine but you don't want a relapse in your condition and have to spend time in hospital do you?" Erik replied matter of factly.

"No I guess not." I replied meekly whilst feeling myself grow hot under his gaze.

"You know I care deeply about you don't you? I just don't like seeing you hurt that's all." Erik explained gently whilst holding my hands gently in his grasp.

"Thank you." Was the only reply I could muster.

"For what?" Erik asked curiously.

"Everything." I replied cryptically. Erik smiled a little then asked.

"Have you decided what you want to eat?" I laughed a little when I realised we were so distracted I hadn't actually picked something out yet.

"No I must admit I was so distracted by your thoughtfulness I haven't actually picked something yet. Give me a minute or so to decide." I replied meekly.

"Ok I have decided on the potato and leek soup." I said a few minutes later. I then saw Erik call the waiter over and knew he must have already decided what he wanted to eat too.

"So how was work today?" I asked.

"It was ok; it felt so long though since I pretty much spent the whole day filling in paperwork and thinking about you." He replied. Before I could reply to that statement I noticed the waiter coming over with our meal and so just before he came near our table I placed my hands gently on my lap.

"Here we go then; here's the potato and leek soup for you miss and for the gentleman steak medium rare with seasonal veg and mash." The waiter said whilst putting the relevant dish in front of Erik and me. Before eating I took a small sip of my drink then proceeded to take a spoonful of soup which I sipped after blowing on it a little.

"How's your soup?" I heard Erik ask whilst I was eating my soup.

"It's good thanks; do you want to try some?" I replied. I then scooped up a little soup in my spoon and fed it to him gently; he gratefully accepted it and after sipping it he said.

"That is really nice; that is why I like this restaurant so much." I smiled then continued to finish my soup. After half an hour or so our meal was finished and I decided to have peruse of the dessert menu.

"Are you still hungry?" Erik asked teasingly.

"I am yes; is there anything you would recommend from the dessert menu." I replied happily.

"Although I don't really have a sweet tooth I have heard the chocolate cake is highly recommended by a lot of customers here." Erik replied and with that I decided to give it a go. After ordering our desserts I took another sip from my drink.

"I understand if you don't want to answer as this might be a personal question but I am curious to know when you were diagnosed with Autism." Erik questioned suddenly. For a moment I was speechless at the question he asked; people usually just ask without thinking about my wellbeing but I always answer as I trust them not to judge me.

"I was diagnosed when I was four. I guess my mother knew there was something not quite right with me even from such a young age." I replied quietly.

"What did your mother do?" Erik asked.

"My mother taught nurses and she even did the job once we were born. My dad meanwhile stayed at home to look after us." I replied matter of factly. But before Erik could ask anymore about me I saw our desserts coming and after they were placed in front of us I immediately tucked into my chocolate cake.

"So was it a good recommendation?" Erik asked happily. All I could do was nod as I still had a mouthful of cake which I was part way through eating when he asked.

"I am glad you are enjoying my recommendation." He said quietly. After finishing and paying for the bill I realised I couldn't walk to the car without my crutches.

"Don't worry; I'll carry you to the car." Erik said gently.

"I don't want you injuring your ankle any further." He continued. Before I could say another word he lifted me into his arms and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. I giggled a little as I heard people cheering loudly and I realised they must have misinterpreted his actions slightly. The moment he placed me in the car I fell asleep to Hayley Westenra playing over the stereo. I vaguely remember waking up to him carrying me to my room and then I fell into a deep sleep that night hoping I wouldn't be plagued by nightmares that night. But I couldn't have been more wrong...