Katdancer: Sparks fly in this chapter!

Ttrmo77: Thank you. Today was the first rehersal and I sounded like Sergant Carter when we were done! But everyone is dancing and sounding well, somewhat.

Phantom Serenity: Thank you for pointing that mistake out again. I was typing late and my head was playing tricks with me.


Chapter seven

Tina smiled as she sipped her iced tea. Ducky, that crazy cat kept rubbing her leg, trying to get the tea.

Edward let out a grunt and she looked at him as he pulled a baby kitten up by the scruff of the neck. He laughed. "Friend of yours?"

She nodded and stood up, smoothing her red dress. "Yes. I'm sorry."

"Oh don't bother, I think it's kinda cute." He turned to Elise by his side and held out the kitten. "What do you think?"

Elise nodded and petted the cat timidly. "Sweetie pie. What's the name?"

"Patches. I actually just got her a few days ago. Found her out in the streets. She's typically very shy."

Patches decided to lick Elise and she laughed as her pink tongue tickled her hand. Elise turned back to her salad knocking her glass of water into Meg's lap. Meg shrieked and jumped up.

"I'm sorry." Elise said, standing up.

"You better be!" Meg snapped. "This is an original for Paris!"

"Shut up Meg!" Edward said, surprising everyone. "It's just water and it was an accident!"

"How-how dare you!" she said. "Sticking up for…this…

Elise bolted pushing her way through the camera Meg. Edward grabbed the water pitcher and poured it over Meg's head! Her shriek echoed in the room.

"How dare you! Elise is a fine lady and it's a privilege to know her! I can hardly say the same about you!" Edward slammed the pitcher on the table. "I hearby withdraw from the competition."

"Good!" Meg garbled. "I hate you!"

"Feeling is mutual!"

He turned and ran after Elise. Tina jumped up when several cameramen went after him.

"No." she said, blocking the way. "Leave them alone."

"Hey, it's our job."

Tina swatted. "And this is my house! Leave them alone."

Erik grabbed the nearest cameraman and pushed him back. "Hands off her."

"Too bad!" Meg shrieked. "They have full access to the house!"

She turned to Erik, "keep them busy."

She ran down the hall, just as Edward headed towards the patio. "Move it!" she said.

He frowned as she ran up to him. "Get Elise, go to the back door. The camera crew is going to film this. If you two reach my room first, you'll get the privacy you deserve."

He nodded and bolted; she turned as a camera ran around the corner. She stuck out her foot and tripped him. He bellowed as she shrieked realizing that was her sore leg that she'd tripped the man with.

"What did you do to her?" Erik bellowed, his face held bloody murder.

She held up her hand as best as she could clutching her leg, "I'm fine."

"You busted my camera lady!"

"A pleasure!" she turned to Erik. "Can you help me up to my room please?"

He swooped her up and she snorted. "Can you think of a faster way?" he asked trotting up the stairs.

"Show off."

"Fairy!"

"Devil!"

"Angel!"

"Scoundrel!"

"Spicy!"

She shrieked. "Ohhhhhhhhhhh!"

"You sound like an angry Doris day." He remarked.

She laughed like a loon and saw Edward and Elise entering her room. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the camera crew coming up the stairs.

"Quickly!" she hissed.

A cameraman tripped Erik and she yelled at Edward. "Third switch! Turn it on!"

Edward slammed the door in the cameraman's face. She exhaled when she heard the lock in the door. The man tried the knob and got an electrical shock.

He yelled. "What the hell?"

"20,000 leagues under the sea, a marvelous movie." She said straightening her dress, tugging it back around her knees. "It works great. And no one can enter that door."

"You mean?" Erik gestured.

She nodded, "when you're a millionaire, you can afford anything."

"What made you install that?"

"Father had that installed in all our rooms, in case of robbery. I've had that on every night since I was twelve years old."

"What's the idea?" Meg said, coming up the stairs, her mascara running down her face.

Tina started laughing like a look and Erik joined in with her. "You….look….like ….pepe….lepew!"

"Funny Tina!" she yelled.

" Sound like…..jerry Lewis!"

"Tina! Stop it! grow up for once!"

she immediately sobered and sat up with a straight face. Erik immediately began howling again.

"yes Meg?"

"what is going on here?"

"easy." She said standing up and testing her foot. "Elsie and Edward deserve privacy."

"Elise and Edward." Meg sneered. "You make them sound like an item!"

"well," she said throwing her hair over her shoulder. "they are."

Meg's mouth sagged open, "do you mean to tell me, he's in there with…that…that."

"mind your tongue before I forget you're my sister." She said sharply taking her arm. "We need to talk."

"about what?" she demanded.

"about Edward and Elise's relationship."

Meg laughed, "their relationship? Ha! They just met."

"love doesn't know time, nor does it hold a stop watch." She said sitting at the foot of the steps. "Meg, I see a relationship in the making. There is something there, it needs time to grow. Edward, never cared for you, and I know for a fact that he was going to tell you."

"that's stupid!" Meg said.

"Well, it happened didn't it?" Erik said. "now, mind if I add to the excitement Meg?"

"sure." She said. "beat it Tina."

Tina stood, but Erik gripped her hand and pulled her back down. "it concerns Tina."

Erik's hear was pounding his throat and he tried to avoid the camera lenses. "this…is unpleasant for me, but after this incident Meg, I won't be silent any longer. Meg, I'm withdrawing as well."

Meg's eyes grew huge and she stammered. "what?" she laughed shortly. "you're joking."

Erik shook his head, "no. I'm not."

"what?" she stared at him.

"I've been patient. But there is not a shred of compassion or caring in you. I ask for at least compassion to be in the heart of the woman I marry."

Meg's shock turned to anger. "it's Tina! Isn't it?"

Tina stared at her, "me!"

"yes you! you…you…flirt!"

"me!" Tina said jumping up. "I've never

"don't patronize me! this is like sixth grade all over again!"

"yes, Tina is part of it."

"I knew it!" Meg shouted.

"thanks, Erik." Tina said. "brilliant wording."

Erik pushed Tina behind him, "now wait a minute Meg."

"you've been carrying on with her behind my back!"

"I did nothing!" Tina shrieked.

"she didn't do a thing. Now she told me many times to buzz off and that she wasn't going to put up with any advances while I was still seeing you. I hearby declare my declaration of independence." He turned to Tina. "I'm actually….much more interested in….Tina."

Tina stared at him, "Erik, not now." She hissed.

"how can you do this to me?" Meg shrieked. "say such a thing like that to my sister in front of me?"

"because, I care about her Meg." he said. "that's what makes it easier." He turned his gaze to her. "Tina?"

Tina blushed and cleared her throat, "Erik….you asked me a question last week in the hospital." Her voice was quiet. "do you remember?"

"yes." He nodded, "I asked if you were interested in me."

"what!"

"quiet Meg!" he snapped.

"and I said," he took her hand and she gulped. "when…you had sorted out your emotions, I'd answer you."

"and?" he said, coaxing her gently.

"yes."

"yes what?" he said.

"yes, is the answer to your question Erik."


OK, don't forget to review.