Bon Appetite <3

You tried not to let what the shop keeper said rattle you on your way back to the opera house, and instead imagined how excited Erik might be when you deliver him the renewed music box. You hoped he wasn't mad that you took it without asking, especially since it seemed so important to him.

Your feet couldn't carry you fast enough, as you speed walked through the streets and across the square, and then up the front steps of the opera house. In just three weeks the opera house would be full of busy bodies, rushing to rehearse for what was to be the opera house's first opera since the disaster. Monsieur Martin still hadn't revealed what the first opera was going to be, and you wondered if Erik had any good ideas.

As you wound your way through the opera house and down the spiral staircase to the lagoon you couldn't help but hum in joy. Your humming ceased however when you found Erik waiting for you at the bottom, a dark look on his face. He did not meet your eyes, and you frowned.

"Erik, is something the matter?"

"No, everything's fine."

His tone was one, however, that implied everything was not, in fact, fine. Perhaps he was just upset about his music writing, he had been working on one piece for a while, or maybe it was just something one of the workmen did. At least, that was what you thought at first, but as he pushed you both closer to his lair home, you started to wonder if it was you he was upset with.

Your fingers gripped the music box gently inside your satchel and you wondered if he was upset that you had taken it, but you were afraid to ask and ruin the surprise. Your suspicion of his anger was confirmed when he failed to help you from the boat as he usually did. Instead he stalked angrily over to his pipe organ. You were suddenly very nervous at what you might have done to invoke his anger, and you felt your frown deepen. You silently prayed that you would not cry, as you often did, when people would get angry with you.

"Are-Are you upset with me? Did I do something to make you mad?"

He whirled around from his organ, and the fire in his eyes dimmed a little as he finally met yours and saw the expression on your face.

"You think just because you were somewhere you couldn't see me, that I couldn't see what you were doing?"

"What are you talking about Erik? Please just tell m–"

"I saw you holding his hand, laughing and smiling with him."

"Who? Who do you mean– Oh, you mean Paul? Erik, how much did you see?" You asked him, beginning to understand that he had missed some very important parts to your conversation with Paul. The fire in his eyes had reignited, and his gloved hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides. You were only standing a few feet apart but it felt like a chasm was opening before you.

"I saw enough!"

"Erik, will you just let me explain? I pr–"

"Are you in love with him?" He was shouting now. The fire in his eyes wasn't enough to mask the fear on his face, or his silent question, did you not want to be with him? You were starting to get angry that he wouldn't let you get a word in, and you also seemed to cry when you became angry too.

"Would you just let m–"

"Answer me!" He yelled, pleading, desperate, afraid.

"I'm in love with you, you idiot!" You gasped, afraid he wouldn't ever let you finish a sentence. "I have always been in love with you!"

Erik finally fell silent and stood there stunned. For what felt like forever, his expression and eyes laid blank. With the ferocity and speed of a struck match, Erik ran to you where you stood by the boat, and engulfed you in his arms. Cupping your face, he kissed you hungrily and longingly, savoring the feeling of your lips. When he pulled apart from you, he stared into your eyes, his full of affection and love.

"I love you too," he said then, "I know I hadn't said it until now either, but I was just so afraid that you wouldn't–"

"Shhhh," you shushed him, gently pressing your index finger against his lips. "Don't think like that. I wish you had just waited and seen the rest of my conversation with Paul."

"What do you mean?"

"Paul is not into women."

"Oh," Erik said, a bit surprised. Okay, very surprised.

"I was comforting him because he was afraid of my reaction to him, much like you were. And he did listen to me and let me comfort him, although I may have said something that I shouldn't have."

"And what would that be?"

You hesitated. Erik had just calmed down from his jealous outburst, and you didn't want him to be angry again. His expression looked expectant.

"Try not to be mad at me, but I may have accidentally rambled, and told him that I was in love with you..."

"You what?" He asked astonished, holding you a foot away from him now. You swore a spark of anger re-lit in his eyes.

"It was an accident. I was just trying to calm him down, and I wasn't thinking at all. If it makes you feel any better, he didn't believe me at first and spent a very long time laughing at me."

You smiled a bit sheepishly at him, and waited for the course of his reaction. Erik looked as if he were fighting internally over whether or not to be angry with you.

"How did he react when he realized you were serious?"

"He actually only said one thing. He asked me how handsome you were."

Erik seemed unsure of what to say to that. He certainly didn't feel very handsome most of the time, and usually avoided looking in the mirror.

You moved closer to him and cupped his cheeks with your hands, careful of his mask. Leaning towards him, you half whispered, "I told him you were very handsome" and placed a kiss on his lips. It only took a moment for Erik to return the kiss, this time with more fervor.

You spent many moments together kissing in the foyer of his home, before you gently took his hand and led him to his bed, where you gently undressed one another and spent the night together.

~

You awoke the next morning to Erik's soft breathing in your ear and his arm wrapped softly around you. You heard your watch ticking somewhere nearby with just enough power left. You knew you needed to get up so that you could check the time, after all you still had work today.

As quietly as you could, you attempted to move out from under his arm so you could get up, but just as you were almost free Erik pulled you back towards him. Oh, to hell with work then. You could be late just this once. Or was it the second time Erik would make you late?

Closing your eyes, you drifted in and out of sleep for a while longer, spending some of it in half-dreams, until you felt Erik stir beside you. You turned over gently to check if he was actually awake.

"Good morning," you hummed when you saw his open eyes. "Are you going to let me escape now?"

Erik looked down at his arm wrapped tightly around you, and smiled softly. He pulled his arm away, freeing you to get dressed. You half covered yourself as you did, suddenly feeling very shy.

"I'm sorry I have to leave. I'd rather spend the whole day here."

"So do."

"You know I would if I could," you sighed, smiling at Erik lovingly, "but they would probably mess something up up-there without me."

"They would definitely mess something up without you."

You laughed and gazed at one another for what felt like a wonderful eternity.

"Oh!" You gasped suddenly, grinning. "I almost forgot! I have a surprise for you! Get dressed and I'll show you."

With everything that had occurred last night, you had completely forgotten to give Erik his music box. Although, you weren't upset to have forgotten. There were other things just as exciting. Heading back to the boat you grabbed your satchel and set it gently down on one of the tables near the couch you frequently read on. Erik came out then dressed in his usual casual attire, black pants and a loose white shirt.

"I hope this wasn't overstepping, but I saw how stressed you were in trying to fix your music box, so I had someone fix it for you."

Opening the satchel, you took out the music box and handed it gently to Erik, who took it from you gingerly. He examined the box in fascination, tracing his finger over the fresh paint, and clean edges.

"It works?"

"Yes," you said. "Go on, try it."

Erik began turning the crank for the box until it started to play its music. The little dressed monkey on top clapped his cymbals happily. For a moment Erik seemed to be lost in time as he watched and listened to the music box. As the song ended, Erik set the box down on the table and took your hand. After giving it a soft squeeze he delicately pulled your chin towards him and kissed you.

"Thank you," he said. "It means more than you know to me. I love you, Y/N."

"I love you too, Erik."

"I actually have something for you too. I wasn't sure when I should give it to you, but now seems like the perfect time."

Erik let go of you and rummaged around on one of his bookshelves until he procured a small red box that had been hidden behind a large book. You smiled excitedly and took the box from him as he handed it to you. Opening it, you absentmindedly tucked the box lid under the bottom before you froze at what you saw in the box. Tears welled in your eyes and threatened to roll down your cheeks.

"H-How did you get it?" You cried.

"I may have stolen it for you."

You were ugly crying now as you softly ran your fingers over the necklace. It was your Mother's locket. The one which had been promised to you, and yet had been given away to your Father's new wife.

"Thank you," you sniffled, trying to wipe your tears away. "Thank you so so much. I don't even know what to say, but I love you, Erik. I love you so much."

"Here," he said, taking the necklace from the box, "I'll put it on you."

You turned around and made sure your hair wasn't in the way as he pulled the necklace around you and clasped it closed. He turned you around with his hands and gave you a soft kiss on your forehead.

"You look beautiful."

"You're just saying that because I'm crying," you half-laughed.

"You're beautiful even when you're crying."

You sighed and hugged him, letting him hold you for a moment longer before you had to leave. It was only then that you realized your watch said it was 10 in the morning.

Erik walked you back up to the surface, leaving you at the top of the spiral staircase. You exchanged longing goodbyes and went to freshen yourself up before finding the work crew.

After brushing your teeth and hair and freshening up, you left the dormitories to get some breakfast, clutching your locket comfortingly the whole way down. You were so happy to have it back, you didn't think you would find yourself letting it go anytime soon.

To add on to the most wonderful last 24 hours you'd ever had, you found the work crew in the kitchen unloading the first delivery of non-perishable foods. Whole containers of pastas, flour, sugar, and some long-lasting fruits and vegetables had arrived. Additionally came more cookware and top of the line appliances.

"Where have you been?" Paul asked, rushing toward you. "The driver has been waiting for you to sign for this delivery. He says this stuff's too expensive and apparently Monsieur Martin told him not to leave it unless you're here."

"Oh no, Im sorry. I hope he hasn't been waiting too long. I was... I wasn't feeling well this morning, so I overslept. I'm sorry."

"That's what I told the guys," Paul winked somewhat unsubtly. "Although if you want them to believe that you might want to wear a scarf."

"A scarf? Why would I–OH!"

You covered your neck somewhat hastily and felt your face burning in mortification as you clumsily tried to sign for the delivery and escape to fix your neck situation. Thank you, Erik.