Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, or Meg, or Madame Giry, or any other characters from the ingenious mind of Gaston Leroux! Anne, however, she's mine...well, she resides in my head until her story is done.

AN: I'M BACK! Sorry it's taken so long! I had major writer's block and I hope this chapter doesn't show it. The song used in here is entitled "Slumber My Darling." And if you want to hear what it sounds like, just look up "Slumber My Darling Allison Krauss Yo Yo Ma" and you'll find it. I left this chapter with just enough of a cliff hanger to make you come back and to make me keep writing! Loves!

Chapter 42

Erik closely watched the corridors as he guided Anne back down to his home. Both of them had lost track of time and the sun had slowly started to rise when either of them made a move to let go. He, for some time, couldn't quite comprehend the feeling of Anne in his arms and knowing that she loved him…ugliness and all, she truly loved him. That she bore her feelings first was proof of how strong they were because she didn't have to follow him in reply. She was happy and satisfied with him and that made him feel as close to happiness as he had ever felt. What he had felt for Christine was nothing in comparison to this treasure that followed him so willingly, and without fear.

The Populaire was slowly waking up. Those who were responsible for cleaning and maintenance were already up and moving around. He had to be careful. Anyone seeing Anne would instantly know that she was not in England like she was supposed to be. He smiled to himself as he finally reached the dark safety of the tunnels which would lead them to his home. He had thought of Anne's safety and not his own, which was a new experience for him. He used to always be so cautious to make sure that no one saw him and now he was focused on Anne. Surely that was a sign that he truly did love her and this wasn't some passing fancy.

"Erik?" Her soft voice came from behind him and he helped her into the gondulet. "You've been quiet since we left the roof. You're not regretting anything are you?" She looked up at him from her seated position and he leaned down to kiss her.

"Never," he whispered, his lips just barely caressing hers. "I needed to make sure that you got back here safely, without anyone seeing you. You're supposed to be in England, remember?"

Her eyes dawned in recognition. "Oh…that's right."

"I think we when we get back, you should rest. We were out all night."

"But I'm not tired."

He gave her a pointed look as he reached for the pole. "I remember hearing that before."

She laughed and drew her knees up underneath her chin. "Alright. I'll go sleep. But I should fix you something to eat."

"I managed very well, somehow, without you for most of my life. I can survive a few hours while you sleep."

He didn't turn back to see her, but he did hear a soft chuckle. Reaching the other side, he turned to help her out, being very careful not to let his hands linger on her waist for too long. Her rest and health came before any desire to kiss her lips, and hold her forever.

"Good night," he whispered, kissing her forehead.

"It's more like 'good morning,' Erik. We stayed out all night." She kissed him and then made her way into the house and to bed.

Erik was left on the shore of the lake, pondering over the events of the previous nights. He felt as if he could write an entire opera in the next few hours. The first thing he would have to do, is finish Love Never Dies so that she might one day sing it…if she chose to. Now knowing why she refused to sing, he wouldn't force anything on her, but she did sing when she wasn't paying any attention and when she thought no one was looking.

Eventually, when he was sure that she had to be settled, he made his own way inside. The walls had been thickly built so that sound from his music room wouldn't carry to her room. He sat at his piano, the rough draft spread across the stand. He picked up his pen and began to write out melodies and words that didn't require him to play anything because everything played out like a beautiful symphony in his head. Everything was beautiful. Everything was perfect. Just like her.

I awoke feeling refreshed and well rested. However, I knew that I was going to be hard pressed to retire early tonight and to regain my sleeping schedule. A glance at the clock told me it was three in the afternoon. I stretched lazily and then suddenly sat up, a fear running through me. Had it all been a dream? Had I just imagined it all? I threw the covers off and ran out of my room trying to find Erik. He was just where I knew he would be, sitting at the piano pouring over his sheet music and scribbling away with a pen. For a moment I just stood there, staring at him, loving him all the more. He was truly a beautiful man both inside and out.

"Are you going to stand there much longer, Anne?"

I straightened instantly. "I'm sorry." The apology fell quickly from my lips. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

He stood up abruptly and walked over to me. At first, his expression seemed grim and harsh but when he stood over me, I could see the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You shouldn't tease me like that Erik." I was trying to be just as serious as he was but was failing just as miserably.

"You slept most of the day away, my dear." He pressed a kiss to my lips and I instantly relaxed. It hadn't been a dream after all.

"You kept me out all night," I teased. He put his arms around my waist and I was very tempted to stay there all day, but I would not allow myself to live in a state of fantasy and overly indulged devotion. I stepped out of his embrace and made my way to his piano. "What have you been working on?"

I got to the piano before he did and saw that he had indeed been working on something.

"It's nothing, Anne." He walked over and made an attempt to hide his music from me.

"Your music is not 'nothing' Erik." I let him take the manuscript but I held my hands out. "May I please see it?"

I could tell that he was deliberating with himself but he finally acquiesced. I smiled at him as I opened up the first page and sat down at the piano. The words were beautiful and I played the melody as I whispered the words.

"Who knows when love begins? Who knows what makes it start? One day it's simply there alive inside your heart. It slips into your thoughts. It infiltrates your soul. It takes you by surprise, then seizes full control. Try to deny it and try to protest. But love won't let you go, once you've been possessed…"

There wasn't anything else written yet. Words and phrases had been scribbled to the side as if he had made mental note of lyrics for later. But it was truly beautiful, even in its partially completed form.

"Erik…it's marvelous."

"You didn't sing it."

I looked up at him and smiled. "Force of habit. Perhaps one day I will."

"Would you like to try now?"

I stilled. "It's been a long time. I don't know how I would sound."

"At least you're not worried about the reoccurring memories." He took my hand in his and squeezed it gently. "There's only one way to find out, Anna."

I smiled and shook my head. I really shouldn't allow him to call me Anna as it did things to my heart that should not be legal. "I guess so. But the only thing I know off the top of my head is the lullaby Mama used to sing."

"I can follow along." He sat next to me on the piano bench and I scooted over, entirely too aware of our closeness. "What key is it in?"

I chewed on my lips. I ran my fingers across the keys and played a few chords before deciding. "It's in three four, key of E major."

"Do you want to play a little so I can have an idea?"

I smiled, seeing his question for what it was. He was trying to get me comfortable by playing at the piano and then my singing would just naturally take over. I hoped he was right. I played a little introduction marveling at how his hands soon took over. The words fell from my lips like long lost memories and I felt the warm embrace of my departed mother.

"Slumber, my darling, thy mother is near,

Guarding thy dreams from all terror and fear,

Sunlight has pass'd and the twilight has gone,

Slumber, my darling, the night's coming on.

Sweet visions attend thy sleep,

Fondest, dearest to me,

While others their revels keep,

I will watch over thee.

Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,

The wandering dews by the flow'rs are caressed,

Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm,

And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm.

Slumber, my darling, till morn's blushing ray

Brings to the world the glad tidings of day;

Fill the dark void with thy dreamy delight—

Slumber, thy mother will guard thee tonight,

Thy pillow shall sacred be

From all outward alarms;

Thou, thou are the world to me

In thine innocent charms.

Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,

The wandering dews by the flow'rs are caressed,

Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm,

And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm."

It was beautiful, the two of using creating music together. I was surprised to have made it through without any hiccups and I felt a strange sense of peace as Erik sat next to me, playing as if he'd played this piece all of his life. When he finally lifted his fingers from the keys we sat there for a moment, as if trying to hold on to the magic that had surrounded us for just a short period of time. He turned to me, but I didn't want to face him. He was a teacher, a master of the arts and I did not want him to say something to me that would only make me feel insecure in my singing. I told him that it was bad. I told him I hadn't sung in years.

"Look at me, Anne."

I slowly turned my face to his, very hesitant to meet his eyes. When I did, I saw love and devotion and a passion that I had not quite expected to see there. "I'm sorry it was so awful. I haven't done this in years and it was probably too high and there were so many things that went wrong and…"

He placed his hands over my lips and I stopped talking. "It is apparent that you've not practiced in a while, Anne, but it is truly a most heavenly sound when you sing."

At first I wanted to shake off his compliment with some sort of "you say that to all the girls" thing but knew that would not be the best course of action. I simply smiled and nodded my head. "Thank you, Erik. I suppose you want to be my teacher and in a few short months I could be on the Populaire stage?"

"If that's what you want, but I have a strange feeling it isn't."

I fell in love with him all over again as he said that and I wrapped my arms around him. "I suppose it wouldn't be so bad to learn to sing again. Just have a little mercy on me, Erik." I teased and kissed his cheek. We probably would have stayed that way for sometime had we not heard a commotion outside. The front door burst open and before either of us could move Aunt Giry had come running into the room. She looked between a mix of fury and anxiety.

"Erik, something dreadful is going on! Anne, that sister of yours is back and she's threatening to tear down the Populaire!"