Chapter 10: Lessons & Dresses

Of all the things Erik wanted to do, teaching Meg how to swim was not one of them, and yet he found himself in the freezing water of the lake teaching the small girl how to float on her back.

"I'm going to sink I know it!" Meg cried in fear as she thrashed in the shallow water.

Erik gritted his teeth as a small fist hit him squarely in the chest, "You were the one who wished to be taught, and Meg you will not sink."Erik released Meg and set her standing in the water.

"I un-wish it! Really Erik it's too cold to even be doing this, if mama finds out she will murder us."

Erik sighed, "I will make a deal with you Meg; if you learn to swim then I will show you where I live."

"Truly?" Meg asked her blue eyes sparkling with joy.

"Truly." Erik nodded, "Besides how else are you going to get a dry dress? I would think your mother would be suspicious if you skipped down the halls in the wet one you are wearing now."

Meg giggled, "Alright Erik you have a deal but" She brought a hand up to her chin in thought, "But the dress must be blue."

Erik groaned in frustration, "Why is it always the color blue?"

"Because it's the color of the sky, and the color of the ribbon you gave me." Meg giggled, "Who doesn't like the color of the sky?"

"I'm beginning to think it's because your eyes are colored blue too." Erik mused; brushing a stray lock of hair out of Meg's upturned face.

"That could be a small part of it." Meg relented; she turned away from him to edge further into the water and looked back over her shoulder, "Only a small part Erik."

He laughed as he followed her into the cold lake water, "Meg, just try to float on your back."

It seemed like ages to Meg, but soon Erik had her floating on her back, and showed how with a small movement of her legs and her arms she could move herself a bit in the water. "Erik!" she cried in enthusiasm, "Erik I'm swimming!"

He smiled from where he stood, "Are you? I hadn't noticed."

"I am. I truly am swimming!"

"Yes, you are Meg. We will keep on practicing and soon you'll be able to swim in your sleep. Now Meg, I promised you a blue dress and if we stay out here any longer we'll have a cold and a stern scolding in store from your mother."

"Promise I can come down again tomorrow?" Meg pleaded, slowly standing up in the water.

Erik sighed, "I promise."

"Good." Meg giggled, wading through the water over to Erik who was unrolling and buttoning his shirt sleeves, "Now to see where you live!"

Meg glanced over the edge of the rickety row boat and sighed. Erik looked up from where he was managing the oars and raised an eyebrow in inquiry, "What's the matter? You're going to see where I live, and receive a new dress so why are you sighing?"

"It's just…" she trailed off.

"Just?"

"Why do you have a row boat instead of a gondola? Don't all Venetian's have gondolas? Not that this isn't a nice boat." Meg quickly assured Erik.

He looked at her for a few moments, trying to suppress his laughter until it erupted and reverberated off of the stone walls of the underground lake. "Forgive me Meg for not having a gondola, I've found that this row boat has been sufficient." He watched as Meg blushed and spun her head toward the front of the boat quickly with a huff.

Sighing Erik raked a hand through his hair, "I did not mean to laugh Meg, I was just not prepared for that question, but I will look into purchasing a gondola."

Her head turned quickly back to him and a smile broke out on her face, "Truly Erik? You would do that for me?"

"Yes." Erik looked uneasily over the boat at the churning water and thought to himself, "It seems I would do anything for you Meg."

The boat hit the shore and began slowing as Erik leaped out of the boat and held his hand out to Meg. "You live here?"

"Yes," Erik brushed off a chair full of blank music sheets, "would you care to sit down?"

"How could I sit down at a time like this? Your house, it's beautiful Erik!"

He looked around at their surroundings in confusion, could the girl be talking about the hovel in which he lived? The only thing that was beautiful was the organ that sat grandly in the middle of hundreds of candles, the floor was littered with crumpled pages of music, and the one chair that presided in the area was covered in bottles of ink and parchments. The small corridor that led off to other niches and crevices he called rooms, was covered in silk sheets, and other linen. The place reminded Erik more of the gypsy camp Julienne had helped him escape from than a place of beauty.

"If you say so," he replied looking at Meg who had almost danced up to the organ and was gently stroking the keys in awe. "Come over here Meg, let me get you a dress."

He took her hand and led her down the corridor of silk and into a smaller, and darker room in which sat a cot and a broken wardrobe. "Broken things that were to be thrown out," Erik explained to Meg as he pointed at the wardrobe. "In there you will find some dresses that should fit you. When you are done just come out to where the organ is."

Erik left quickly, and Meg barely noticed for she had opened the doors to the wardrobe and was delighted by the sight of three blue dresses hung nicely in a row. She carefully tried each on, but was disappointed to see that there was no mirror in which to see how the dress looked. Finally after minutes of deliberation she settled upon a dress made entirely of light blue satin, which matched the ribbon she tied her hair up with and made her way back down the corridor to where she could hear dark notes being emitted from the organ.

Erik sat hunched over his organ furiously scribbling in notes with his right hand as he played different chords with his left; he only looked up when he heard his name being whispered cautiously by Meg.

"Erik?" she whispered again.

"Yes?" he turned in his seat and smiled at Meg who nervously clutched the cloth doorway in one hand and the skirt of her new dress in the other.

"Thank you for the dress." She stepped out from behind the cloth barrier, and twirled in a small circle in front of him. "I'll return it to you as soon as I can."

Erik waved his hand, "Those dresses are for you, keep it."

Meg opened her mouth to protest, but Erik gave her a stern look, "Does it look like I have anyone else to give those dresses to?"

"No."

"Then keep it." He rose up from the organ seat and walked to where Meg stood, "It suits you well."

Meg blushed at the compliment and smoothed down the skirt once again, "Thank you Erik."

"This is what friends do isn't it?"

"Yes," Meg giggled, "I suppose it is."

Erik smiled, "I think it is time you got back to your mother. I have a feeling she's been very worried about you."

"Oh yes," Meg paled, "she's going to be very upset with me."

"Not if we get you back in time." Erik grinned and grabbed Meg's hand, "I'll show you a shortcut."

A/N: I don't know if it would truly be the greatest idea to go swimming in that underground lake, but let's pretend that it's quite a good idea for the sake of the story.

Wow! 43 reviews! Let me just say thank you to all of my readers you all inspire me so much, I still can't wrap my mind around reaching 43 reviews on this story. Thank you all again, I'm still in shock to tell the truth. I hope this chapter will help continue to keep your attention and interest.

Next chapter is set to be exciting as Christine Daae is going to be making her first appearence.

Thank you once again for all of the support I can't express how much it means to me!