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 SO SORRY! I have not forgotten you all or this story! Life ( and writer's block ) have been a complete pain!

Apparently, Elizabeth did not believe the lie that had been spread about that I had simply returned to England to visit a sick friend. Aunt Giry had come down on one occasion and had told me that Elizabeth knew for a fact that I had no friends back home and that I was either hiding in the Populaire and that she would find me, or I had run off with Faucher and in doing so had made myself all the more ruined.

"Anne, does she know your circumstances?" Aunt Giry asked, taking a sip of the tea I'd prepared. Erik and Nadir had wrapped themselves up in the music room again, continuing to go over their plan.

I shook my head. "No, I don't think so. Mother would never have repeated such a thing to anyone, and Elizabeth was too young when it happened to really remember or understand anything."

"She seems to make a lot of accusations in regards to your virtue."

"I have no virtue left to give, Aunt. At least, not the kind that would matter to a respectable gentleman."

"Erik is a respectable gentleman," she replied, her eyes twinkling.

I blushed and looked away.

"He's come to speak to me, you know."

I looked up and my eyes widened. "He did?"

"He told me how he felt about you and wants for me to understand that, though you've been down here unchaperoned, he's never done anything to tarnish your reputation."

"Aunt you have to realize that me staying here is completely pointless. I need to be up there, taking on Elizabeth because so few really know how she works. If she suspects that I'm hiding here, she'll tear the place apart with her own hands if she has to."

Aunt Giry sighed and leaned back in her chair. She looked very worried, but she could tell that I was right. "I'll talk to Erik."

"That will not be necessary. I'll talk to Erik. It's my decision."

"She's been spending a lot of time with Christine, just so you know. Elizabeth has told her the most atrocious lies."

"I'll deal with Christine in my own way, Aunt. Just as I'll deal with Elizabeth. However, before then, I have to talk with Erik."

"And what, pray tell, do you have to say to me?"

We turned in our seats to find Erik standing in the doorway, leaning against the door frame, arms folded, and looking at us as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"I'll take that as my cue to leave."

"Traitor," I murmured good-naturedly and Aunt Giry gave me a kiss and left.

"Now, what do you have to tell me?" Erik stepped forward and I marveled in the sheer strength that seemed to emanate from him. Coming from his meeting with Nadir, it appeared that he seemed confident in the plan that they had assembled. He sat down in the chair that my Aunt had vacated and gave me a smile. I took a shaky breath, hesitant to see that smile disappear with my next words.

"Erik, I need to return to the Populaire...within the few hours."

"Of course, Anne."

Whatever words I had planned to say after that died on my lips. "Excuse me?"

"I agree with you entirely." I stood up and walked towards me, resting against the table in front of me. "After thinking it over, I realized that it was wrong of me to keep you here. You should be at the Populaire. You had a life before you came down here and I think you should return to it."

"I...well...alright." I stood up and made a move to walk away. "I'll go pack my trunk." I was so confused at this sudden change in him. Why would he let me go so easily when he had been so adamant to keep me hidden and protected? I went to my room and began to pack, pouring over that question in my mind.

"So eager to leave?" He asked.

I whirled around and gasped. I hadn't realized that he had followed me. "You know that to be a lie, Erik," I replied after my heart had resumed a steady rhythm. "I'm just ready to not be so dependent on you, despite the fact that at times I like it."

"You don't like being protected, is what you mean." He came into my room and sat on the bed, curiosity etched into his expression.

"Well, that's true as well. I've been protected for quite some time, either by you or by family. I'm ready for a change. But," I sat down next to him and took his hands. "I promise you that I'm not returning just to leave you and never return."

"Oh, I have no doubt of that, Anne." He leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to my lips. "You belong to me now."

"Oh, no, sir. I don't belong to anyone." I playfully pushed him back and made a move to rise and start packing. He, however, was not going to have any of it. He took my wrist tenderly in his hand and pulled me back to him. The next thing I knew, I was lying on my back on top of my bed and Erik had managed to lay over top of me.

"Erik," I laughed. "Get off of me!" I playfully tried to push him away but he would not move.

"Hmm...I don't think so." Erik's hand trailed across my side and it was only when I let out a squeal of laughter did he stop. "Anne, you're ticklish?"

I bit my lower lip trying not to laugh. Refusing to give in to him, I did all I could when he launched an assault on my ticklish sides. "Erik!" I screamed, writhing underneath him trying to break free. "Get off of me!" I laughed and saw his own face a light with laughter.

Eventually he released me but he did not sit up. I was still trapped beneath him and I saw the change in his eyes. They became dark and I saw them alight with fire. I supposed myself to look a mess as the pins that held my hair had definitely come loose. He ran his fingers through my hair and I closed my eyes reveling in his touch. I felt his lips against the small hollow behind my ear and my breath hitched. His gentle touch and caress sent shivers down my spine.

"I love you, Anne."

I opened my eyes and looked into his eyes. "I love you too, Erik."

"Promise me you'll return."

The promise was ready on my lips but it stopped when I saw the tears form in his eyes. He suddenly sat up and turned away. He put his face in his hands and I saw his shoulders shake with his silent tears. I sat up and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

"Do you really doubt I will return?"

"Part of me wants to believe, but I cannot allow myself to truly believe that you'll never really leave me. Such a glimpse of heaven...I do not deserve it."

"And what makes you think I deserve you?"

He gasped and looked at me as if questioning my sanity. "Why would you say such a thing?"

"Because it's true. I am just as flawed as you with my own dark past and belief that I am truly undeserving of anything so wonderful as the love you have for me." He started to contest my statement but I placed a hand over his lips. "Stop putting me on a pedestal, Erik. I don't belong there." I reached up around my neck and unclasped my mother's locket. "Here." I handed it to him. "If you want further testament that I will return, hold on to this." I tried to be calm about it, but his questioning my devotion cut like a knife.

"Anne..."

"Now, I don't want to hear another word on the subject, Erik." I got up up from the bed and began packing. Erik, soon realizing that I was adamant in not wanting to discuss that any further, soon left.