Hey guys! So I can't believe I have to talk to you guys about this, but I've had some problems with a few other authors starting stories along the exact same lines as this one. And while I have talked to them about it, and I would like to stress to them that there are absolutely no hard feelings between us, I would like to ask all of you that if you come up with a fic idea similar to mine, or any other author's for that matter, it's always best to ask if they mind, or even just give them a shout out saying "hey, so and so wrote a really cool fic and it inspired me to do this one". It takes thirty seconds to do and gives credit to someone who spent a lot of time working on their story, and frankly it's just the right thing to do. I'm sorry I had to talk about this, but I feel it's important for me and other authors on here, and I'm sure you guys understand. On a lighter note, here's a new chapter for you guys to read and I hope you enjoy!

~nibblesfan

Erik could feel his heart pounding in his chest like never before. Mia stared at her reflection in the mirror with one hand on the bruise on her face as he stammered apology after apology. "Oh my God," she whispered again. "It was a memory."

"Mia, I didn't mean to hurt you, you have to believe me," Erik pleaded as he knelt beside her. "I was fighting with Amelia and I lost my temper but you were caught in the crossfire. It wasn't your fault."

"You hit her."

"I am so sorry."

She lowered her hand as her eyes widened. "You hit her."

"Please Mia, you have to believe me."

"But you hit her."

He realized that her tone wasn't accusatory. If anything, she sounded like she was trying to rationalize with herself. "Mia…"

"Amelia provoked you." She turned to him. "You wouldn't hurt me though right?"

Erik didn't think that Mia was making any sense. He had hit Amelia, which in turn meant Mia was suffering from the same injuries. But if she was trying to rationalize, that meant she was trying to shift the blame from him to Amelia. And he didn't dare risk alienating the half that was cooperating with him. "No, no of course not."

"Good." She wrapped her arms around herself. "But if I remember that, does that man Amelia and I are one? But there are still so many holes in my memory."

"No," Erik replied softly. "This isn't something we can fix in one day. I wasn't even trying to combine your memories just yet; unfortunately, this wasn't my doing."

"But if you didn't do it, then how do I remember it?"

"When I hypnotized Amelia, I think that she willingly shared the memory with you, so that you would turn against me."

"Why?" she asked softly.

"Because Amelia…" Erik exhaled slowly. "Amelia doesn't want me to help like you do. She doesn't trust me. She thinks I'm trying to hurt you. She's afraid that by helping you, I'd eliminate her entirely."

"I thought she was supposed to protect me."

"Mia, you have to realize that Amelia sees herself as a separate entity from you. She has her own interests. And it seems that they're beginning to work against yours."

"What am I going to do?"

Erik reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I'll help you however I can, and I'll do everything possible to protect you from Amelia."

She leaned against him, and he could feel her trembling. He hesitantly put his arms around her, trying to comfort her but ready to pull away at the slightest sign of rejection. To his surprise, Mia scooted closer to him and laid her head against his chest. "Do you know what it's like to be afraid of your own mind, knowing that you can lose control of your own body at any second, that when you lose that control, you have no idea when or even if you're going to get it back?"

He rested his chin on the top of her head. "I have no idea what it feels like to be going through what you are, but I promise you that I'll do everything in my power to make sure you won't have to feel like this anymore."

"Why do you care so much?" Mia asked. "My family has brought you nothing but woe." Instead of answering her with words, Erik tilted her head towards him and leaned in to kiss her. Like before, Mia didn't fight him at first, but unlike before, Mia didn't push him away as the kiss went on. When they finally parted, both slightly out of breath, she lowered her gaze. "Erik," she whispered. She sounded on the verge of tears. "Erik, we can't do this."

"I'm sorry," Erik said, turning away, not entirely sure he was ready for the sting of rejection again.

Mia put her hand on his cheek and made him look at her. "Erik, believe me, it's not because I don't want to, but Gaston…"

"You don't love him, do you?" he asked.

"No, not at all but we're still…."

"And he doesn't love you."

"Do you?" Mia shot back. Erik was about to answer her when he realized what she had asked. Did he love her? She was a de Chagny after all. But why else would he have done everything that he had for her? Not to mention him kissing her. He stared at her with his mouth open, his answer stuck in his throat, and even he didn't know what it was. "I thought so."

"Mia," he started softly, but she stood and walked away from him and over to the mirror.

"There's something else that I remember too," she admitted as she stared at her reflection.

"What?" Erik asked, rising to his feet and joining her. She reached forward and touched her reflection's bruise, which worried him. "What is it Mia?"

"You promised Amelia you would let her go," she whispered. Instantly Erik regretted his words. He had never intended to keep that promise. That was the only reason he had made it in the first place. A fight with Amelia he was prepared for, but this, Mia finding out, this changed everything. "You lied didn't you?"

Erik knew that he had to choose his words carefully. "Mia, listen to me, I have every intention of letting you go, but if you leave now, we both know that Amelia will never let me help you again. If you leave, there is no way I can help you."

"I know," Mia replied. "I know you're right but I couldn't help but think…." Her voice trailed off.

"Did you want to leave?" Erik asked cautiously. He wasn't going to let her go, he couldn't let her go, not without at least trying to help, but if Mia wasn't going to cooperate, that was going to be a problem.

"If anyone can help me, you can," Mia replied. "And I honestly believe that. Besides, it's not exactly like I have a choice."

He sighed. "But you do have feelings."

"And a husband who's eventually going to go home and realize I'm not there."

"Gaston Barineau is the least of my worries," Erik responded. "I'm far more concerned about Amelia." He lifted her arm up so that her scars were eye level to both of them. "And this."

Mia pulled her hand against her chest and lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes anymore. "Erik since I can't go home yet, do you think it would be possible for us to go up to the roof again?"

"Are you sure you're up for that?"

"Please Erik."

Erik let out another sigh. "Very well." He reached out, hit the switch, and the mirror swung open, revealing the secret passage before extending his hand to her. "Shall we?" Mia looked at him with wide eyes. Obviously she had been expecting to take the gondola like usual, but Erik was certain she hadn't seen how he had opened the mirror, and they were right there anyway. She slowly accepted his proffered hand and the two began to make their way through the passage.

The two were about halfway to the roof and near the ballerinas' dressing rooms when they heard voices. "Monsieur please stop!" a feminine voice cried. Erik was stunned to recognize it as Meg Giry. He had forgotten his promise to Antoinette that he would keep an eye on her, and it seemed she had indeed been in trouble. Erik grabbed Mia's wrist and pulled her in the direction of the cries had been coming from.

Mia gasped loudly when she saw what was happening. "We have to do something!"

"Oh we will," Erik growled, pulling out his Punjab lasso.

"No!" Mia cried, grabbing his arm. "You can't!"

"What else am I supposed to do?" Erik demanded.

"I can stop him."

"No!"

"You promised to let me go," Mia reminded him. Erik looked over at the desperate ballerina, then at the lasso in his hands, and finally back up at Mia. It seemed he had a decision to make.

Meg quickened her pace as she heard footsteps behind her. By some miracle, she had managed to avoid the patron for the past couple of days, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he caught her alone again. She all but screamed as someone grabbed her arm and whirled her around. "Hello Miss Giry," Gaston Barineau purred. "I hope you have considered my proposal."

"Leave me alone," she ordered as she pulled away.

Gaston pinned her against the wall, his hand on her throat. Meg's eyes were wide as her heart hammered in her chest. "I don't think so," he snarled. "See, you have two options here. Either you accept my deal and you give me what I want and you go on a happy little dancer here or you and your mother can pack your bags and move to the streets because you'll both be out of a job and I'll make sure you can never find another."

As much as she wanted to, Meg knew she couldn't fight him. The Populaire was their home, and neither she nor her mother made enough money to survive long without some form of income. "Monsieur please stop!" she begged as he shoved her into her dressing room and pulled the door shut behind him.

He ignored her protests and leaned in for what she assumed was going to be a kiss, but the door burst open behind him. Barineau whirled around and Meg gasped. She knew that no matter what, she was truly out of a job now. "Gaston? What are you doing?" his wife cried.