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: This chapter should really be entitled "In Which EVERYONE Wants To Talk." GEEZ! Does anyone else remember the chapters that were over 2000 words and actually had plot development?! I've reached the stage where I want to pummel everyone in my head! Grrr...

Chapter 49

"Oh, Anne, what about this color?" Meg asked, holding up a bolt of dark blue cloth.

"It certainly brings out your hair and eyes," I replied, lightly fingering a satin so dark red it was almost black.

"You've been staring at the same fabric for almost an hour Anne," Meg teased, playfully poking my arm. "It would be so beautiful for the New Year's Ball."

"Oh, Meg, you know I wouldn't buy something so extravagant for myself."

"Oh, right." Meg nodded in an all-knowing manner. "You're going to get something for him aren't you?"

I couldn't help but smile at her words. "I have always been pretty handy with a needle and thread, and this would be a perfect color for lining."

"What are you thinking of making?"

"Erik needs a new cloak," I said, matter-of-factly. "This would be something he could have for Christmas along with my other gift."

"What else are you giving him?" Meg looked at me with such curious eyes that I almost told her.

"No. Erik is always listening, regardless of where I am and so I cannot risk him finding out. Regardless, it's going to be hard to get the measurements correct without him knowing what I'm doing. I don't want him to know."

"Mother would probably know. I dare say she's had to get things for him when he couldn't."

I dare say? I nearly giggled with Meg's use of such an English phrase. "That's true. Suppose I'll put this on hold until I can come back?"

"Or just get a bunch and use whatever's left to make something for yourself. Mother does it all the time so if she's made something for the both of us, we somehow always match."

That was a good idea. I could use the scraps to fashion some sort of bag or small wrap for me. "Perfect. I'll do it. Now...how to work on it while Erik isn't watching..."

Meg laughed. "You will have to solve that mystery on your own."

Erik handed over a slip of paper to Nadir and then leaned back in his chair. He watched as a frown came across his old friend's face and then understanding dawned.

"You do realize you've just given me a ring measurements, Erik." Nadir looked up, a smile lighting up his eyes.

Erik nodded slightly. "I wish for you to make the necessary purchases for us and have them returned here as quickly as possible."

Nadir stood up to shake Erik's hand offering him his congratulations. "Though I'm still wary of her. She'll not make life easy for you."

"I'd like to know who said that life is supposed to easy," was Erik's reply. "Anne will help make life entertaining...that's for sure."

Nadir chuckled and held up the paper. "Well, I'll go purchase these things immediately. When would you like them back?"

"Before Christmas would preferable."

"Do you intend to live here beneath the Populaire?"

Erik shook his head no. "There is a property which was gifted to Anne upon her mother's death, I believe. It will be the perfect place for us."

"And you know all of this...how?"

Erik smiled and rose from his seat. "Because I gifted it to Anne's mother."

Nadir nodded. "I'm assume you're referring to Maria de Sauveterre, Madame Giry's sister?"

"Yes. We were childhood...friends, if you will."

"You were quite taken with her, if I recall."

Erik frowned, his dark eyes glared at Nadir. "I was not. She was older than me, and showed me a great a kindness I had never known. Gifting her that property was the least I could do when she married."

"The property that I had bought for you when you reached eighteen."

Erik sighed. "If you insist on bringing up the obvious then I shall have to ask you to leave." He pointed towards the door.

Nadir laughed and put on his hat. "I'll return, Erik. I'll return very soon with your...purchases. You however need to do two things. Plan a perfect proposal, and get ready for the Opera's grande opening which should begin in about twenty minutes."

Erik's eyes flew to the time piece situated on top of the mantel, cursing himself for allowing so much time to pass.

"A triumph! An absolute triumph!" Monsieur Armand read in the following morning's paper. "The diva Madame Carrolton astounded all of Paris with her moving portrayal of Juliette and Signor Matteo was a brilliant Romeo. The Populaire has certainly regained its footing and is destined to once again be the brilliant place it once was!" Armand chuckled and poured himself another drink just as Laurent made his way into the office waving his own copy of the paper.

"Have you seen the reviews, my dear friend?" Laurent threw down the paper, this one reading a nice review about the sudden change in the conductor for the opening night's performance. "Mademoiselle Hillcrest herself has become an interest to our viewers. Some are shocked and some are amazed that we allowed a female to conduct the orchestra. However, all are agreed that she did wonderful things with the music."

Armand raised his glass as Laurent helped himself to the expensive wine. "By following our friend's advice, Laurent, we will soon be the richest men in all of Paris!"

As Laurent took a sip of his wine, he looked at the co-manager. "Do you think there is some truth to the rumors that our friend is in reality the Opera Ghost?"

"Regardless of who or what he is, we're making money and if paying some phantom is the only way to do it...then we'll continue to do just that. Now...I'm curious to know what other talents Mme Hillcrest has up her sleeve. Almost all musicians can carry a tune."

"We're not going to have another Christine Daaé on our hands, Armand."

"Nor do we intend to have one. But...such a beautiful girl as her does not deserve to spend all of her life in the orchestra pit."

The candlelight was dim as I finished putting the final touches on Erik's cloak. Meg had fallen asleep hours ago, as we had finally wrapped up the last performance of Romeo and Juliette. It had proved to be a bigger success than anyone had thought possible, and I was silently very grateful. I had heard the stories of productions that had gone terribly awry. The story of Il Muto instantly sprang to mind and I pushed the unpleasant thought aside. That was all in the past, and there was only the future to look forward to. Though uncertain in some respects, it was a lot more pleasant to dwell on than the thoughts of all those yesterdays.

As I fingered the intricate stitching that surrounded the collar, I was instantly reminded that tomorrow was Christmas. Everyone else's gifts had been purchased, wrapped, and locked up in the trunk that still rested at the foot of my bed. Erik's was the last I had to finish and I was filled with the silly fear that he wouldn't like it. I smiled to myself and gently folded up the cloak and placed it in its box. Wrapping it with a single ribbon, the box went into the trunk and would wait to be unwrapped tomorrow. I looked at the clock on the dresser and smiled. The time was 12:07 a.m. Tomorrow was officially today. Today was Christmas.

I took off the robe that was getting thinner with each passing month and settled myself into bed. I pulled out the notes that Erik had delivered to me over the course of the performance weeks. I knew he was going to be busy "discussing" the corrections needed for the Opera and he knew that I would be unavailable helping out when I was not desired in the orchestra pit. Fortunately, the conducting had only been for five performances, so I was able to help out backstage...something I was surprised I had delighted in. Madame Carrolton proved to be quite wonderful and not as much of a diva that most people had feared she would be. Her easy manner and minimal changes to her costume provided easy transitions and very little fuss backstage.

The notes Erik had sent, were the only way we could communicate. I was often so tired at the end of the day that I could not muster the strength to meet with him. So, in between acts and rehearsals, I would often find a note slipped into my pocket and it would bear his beautiful handwriting. They were filled with precious lines that reminded me how much I truly loved him and how much he loved me. Thankfully, I had not received any sort of correspondence from Grandmama or from Elizabeth. I had been surprised to receive nothing from the Vicomtesse de Chagny, regardless of our last encounter together. I could no only assume that any sort of contact between the both of us was now at an end. I was briefly saddened at that thought for, despite the fact that she had a lot of growing up to do, I was starting to genuinely like her. I blew out the candle and drew the covers up to my chin. Christine, in an innocent sort of way, was very much a lady whom Mama would have been happy for me to become friends.

I set aside all thoughts of Christine, Elizabeth, and Grandmama and closed my eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day as I had the morning and early afternoon with Aunt Giry and Meg while the late afternoon and evening was going to be spent with Erik. I had already been up far too late and knew that if I was going to have any sort of coherence tomorrow, I was going to need my rest.

AN: Yes...you all know what's coming. :-)