Chapter 10: Moved

Antoinette watched as Meg paced by the door, waiting for Erik's return.

In the time that he'd been gone, they'd traversed the market for groceries and some fabric for, what Meg called Her Secret Project. Afterward they found a restaurant in the city to have a modest meal with money Alexander had left for them…a meal they found filling but not up to snuff with what they were used to. Then, once they came back, Meg instantly turned to her project, which Antoinette easily figured out once she got started.

Now finished, Meg was anxious for Erik's return as Antoinette sat at the table, mending their clothes.

"Meg, you'll ware a hole in the floor before Erik returns," Antoinette smirked, making her daughter stop and look to her with wide eyes. "You've been pacing for the last half hour."

Meg sighed and flopped into the empty chair at the table with her mother.

"I'm anxious to see how it went," Meg admitted, wringing her hands in her lap. She looked to the surface of the table and couldn't help but smile at the score still sitting there in a bit of a scattered mess. She reached for the sheet on top of the disheveled pile and her smile grew as she read the notes. "Have you seen this, mama?"

Antoinette glanced at the sheet in Meg's hands as the blonde gazed over it, adoringly before replying, "I looked over it earlier. It is a beautiful score. Erik wrote it."

"Yes," Meg nodded, still gazing at the page. "It's a ballet."

"I know," Antoinette nodded, focusing on her work. "It looks very promising. Has he come up with a story to it?"

"A tragic love story."

"How coincidental," Antoinette muttered.

"Mama, the story is rather different than what happened in France," Meg retorted.

"Shall I guess at the plot?"

"If you'd like."

"A woman must choose between two men, no?"

"She has already chosen."

"But one of the men refuses to leave her be? Not so coincidental."

Meg looked to her mother before looking back to the page in her hand and muttering, "Erik tells the story much better, in any case."

"I'm certain he does," Antoinette smirked, knowingly.

Meg glared at her mother as Antoinette only chuckled, her gaze on her task.

A knock on the door made them both jump before Meg shot to her feet and ran toward the door to pull it open with a wide-eyed grin. Erik couldn't help but give a small smile in return as he stepped in. She threw her arms around him, making him chuckle as he wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her up and carry her in. He kicked the door shut and set her down, giving a nod of greeting to Antoinette, who did the same.

"Well, that's quite the welcome, Meg," Erik chuckled as she took his case in one of her hands then his hand in the other to pull him toward the table and sit him down.

"I have something for you!" Meg grinned, rushing toward the cot where a bag sat and began shuffling through it. "I worked on it all day!"

"It's a wonder it came out well at all," Antoinette smirked, making Erik give her a frown of wonder as Meg ignored the quip before turning to him with her hands behind her back. "She's been anxiously awaiting your return to see what you think of it."

Antoinette set her own project down to stand from the table and head for the kitchen, announcing she would prepare their supper. Erik looked to Meg as she stepped next to him, a grin still plastered over her face and she pulled only one hand from behind her back to press it to his mask. He lifted a hand to hers, gently gripping it as his gaze shifted over her face, warily.

"Meg—?"

"Trust me, Erik," she whispered, still smiling, warmly.

He hesitantly lowered his hand and gave a small nod of consent. Her smile widened as she slipped his mask off and set it down on the table next to him.

"Close your eyes," she smiled, pulling her hand behind her back again. He gave her a skeptical frown, making her lift a brow at him. "Indulge me, Monsieur Deveraux?"

Erik kept her gaze for a moment before closing his eyes and Meg's smile widened even further before she pulled her hands out from behind her back. He gave a frown when he felt something cover the top part of his face, then a few small adjustments before her hands disappeared and he heard her give a girlish squeal.

"Meg?" he drawled, impatiently.

"Just a moment," she urged, and he heard more shuffling before he felt her take his hand and place something cold, round and metal into his palm. "Alright, look to the mirror in your hand and tell me what you think."

He opened his eyes and looked to the mirror, nearly dropping it in shock at the image he was faced with. He lifted the mirror up again, his eyes wide in disbelief as he realized the mask she'd made was a flesh color that, at first glance, looked like he wasn't wearing a mask at all. Instead of covering one side of his face, it covered the entire top half of his face, much like the mask he'd worn in Don Juan Triumphant.

"Do you like it?" she hoped, watching his reaction closely.

Erik stared at his reflection for a moment before looking up at Meg, his eyes brimming with tears, making her smile fall as she took his other hand and kept his gaze. He instantly stood and threw his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

"Erik?" she whispered, but instead of responding he only pulled her closer to bury his face in the crook of her neck. She frowned in wonder when she noticed her mother glance toward them with a smile before she tried, "I…I just thought…you could wear this mask while you work and use the other mask for special occasions."

"You sweet girl," he chuckled, pulling back enough to look her in the eye. "You don't truly know what you've done, do you?"

"W-What do you mean?" she breathed, her brown eyes wide in sudden panic. "What have I done? I thought…this would be a good thing."

"It is, mon petit," Erik smiled, warmly as he lifted a hand to cup her cheek. "It is a very good thing. Thank you."

"Erik…I don't understand," she admitted.

"Meg, aren't you going to ask him how his meeting with the architect went?" Antoinette chimed in, making them look to her in surprise, both having forgotten she was still there. Erik instantly released Meg and took a step back as Meg turned to move the things from the cot and Antoinette chuckled at them both. "I hope you have good news, Erik."

"I…I do," he nodded, glancing to Meg as she tidied the cot before turning to him at his words. "He's agreed to make me his apprentice. He says I may finish my apprenticeship within the year, considering I am already so advanced."

"How wonderful!" Meg grinned, throwing her arms around him again in a congratulatory hug, making him grunt when she landed against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her in reflex. She gave a frown that neither he nor Antoinette could see. There was something in his tone that told her he was holding something back. Deciding to address it later, she only pulled back to grin up at him, "Of course, I didn't doubt for a moment that he would take you in as an apprentice. You showed him your plans for the theatre, I'm sure, and that's what convinced him."

"A theatre?" Antoinette frowned in wonder, turning from her task as the two met her gaze. "You drew designs for a theatre?"

"Yes," Erik nodded, watching her warily as she approached them, Meg taking his bag to open it and rummage through it.

"Mama, it's amazing!" Meg grinned, pulling the pages from the bag and hurrying toward her mother to show them to her. "Look! I especially love the design for the main lobby. Erik calls it the Hall of Mirrors. And look at the stage! Isn't it divine?!"

"Yes," Antoinette nodded, looking over the drawings and glancing at Erik who took a seat at the table, watching the two women. "Very nice."

"It was actually the designs of the house that he seemed to like the best," he explained, drawing their attention to him. "In fact, he wants to help me build it once I finish my apprenticeship."

"Erik, how exciting!" Meg grinned, handing the stack of papers to Antoinette who began shuffling through them as the blonde raced back to him to hug him again. "Things are definitely looking up for you, aren't they?"

"For us, Meg," he reminded her as she stood tall and he took her hands in his as Antoinette glanced between them and the pages in her hands that she still shuffled through. "Remember, you're living this life as well, and I plan to protect and take care of you in any way I can. It's the least I can do to repay Madame Giry for letting me take you away for a travel companion."

"I am not your charge, Erik," Meg smirked. "I can take care of myself. Perhaps I'll take up a job while you're away during the day, hm?"

"Don't jest that way," he warned. "I'm certain your mother would rather you be here and safe than anywhere else."

"I have to agree with Erik, Meg," Antoinette chimed in, stepping toward them to set his papers down on the table. "The designs are lovely. I hope all your plans will be fulfilled soon…for the both of you."

"Thank you, mama," Meg smiled, releasing Erik's hands and hugging Antoinette as he nodded to her in thanks as well. "But I will, effectively, lose my mind if I am forced to remain cooped up in this place for days at a time while he's off working."

"I had no idea you would take playing house so seriously," he smirked, making her turn a frown to him as he continued, "May I remind you that we are not married? You needn't take the role of Wife to the extreme."

"Monsieur Deveraux, I doubt even being married to you would change me in the slightest," Meg shot back.

"I'm glad to hear that," Antoinette smirked, turning to head back into the kitchen.

"As am I," Erik nodded before he noticed the score for his ballet sitting amongst the papers as well and Meg caught him reaching for the papers as she made her way toward Antoinette to offer help.

"Erik, why don't you tell mama about your ballet?" Meg called, working alongside her mother. "You tell the plot so well."

He hesitated before telling her the story of Brigette, Jacques and Andre. He had an idea of what she would think of the story, but if he was being honest with himself, he didn't care what Madame Giry thought. He only cared what Meg thought of it, and he knew Meg thought it was beautiful.

"Very charming, Erik," Antoinette nodded, still working on supper for them.

Meg glanced at her mother to be sure she wasn't looking before turning to Erik and rolling her eyes, making him smirk at her, knowingly. They both knew that was her 'judgmental' phrase. She was holding back what she really wanted to say about it, and Meg knew what it was she was thinking.

"Why don't we take an evening stroll, Erik?" wiping her hands from cutting up some vegetables and turning to him as he frowned up at her in wonder. "Aren't you curious to see the night life here?"

"Well…yes, but—"

"Then we should have a look!" Meg grinned, heading for the coat rack to pull her cloak from it and sweep it around her shoulders as she made her way toward him.

"What about supper?" Erik frowned as Meg grabbed his hand and pulled him from his seat.

"I'll take care of it," Antoinette assured them with a smile over her shoulder as Meg lifted Erik's cloak as well to place it over his shoulders and lead him toward the door. "Work up your appetites."

Meg dragged Erik out the doorway, shutting it behind them and keeping a tight grip on his hand.

"Meg, are you certain—?"

"Mama will be fine," she assured him as they slowed their pace once they were far enough down the street and she wrapped her arm around one of his to pull herself closer to him while they strolled. "I wanted some time alone with you."

"Dare I ask what I've done to deserve that desire from you?" he smirked, but it fell when she stopped and looked up at him, making his eyes glow in confusion at her. "Meg?"

"You were holding something back when you told us the architect would take you as his apprentice," she admitted, making his expression fall before he looked away, having been caught. "Erik?"

He turned and resumed their stroll as she still stared up at him expectantly, waiting for his answer as patiently as she could. He finally gave a small sigh before stopping them at a corner and turning her toward him, taking her hands in his. He gazed down at their hands, rubbing his gloved thumbs over her knuckles.

"He warned me about my mask," he began, keeping his gaze on their hands as Meg looked up at him in wide-eyed surprise. "He warned me that the others would ask questions. Human beings are naturally curious, after all. He told me to expect stares and things of that nature, but that he, himself, would not question me about it."

"Erik," she breathed, her tone of sadness making him meet her gaze. "I…I hadn't thought of that—"

"And yet, you did think of it," Erik cut in, making her frown at him in wonder. "You made me this mask. If you hadn't thought of it, you wouldn't have made it the way you did. That's why I was so moved, mon petit. At a glance…it looks like I have no deformity at all."

Meg smiled, warmly before lifting a hand to stroke his cheek then stepped onto her tiptoes to press a lingering kiss to the opposite cheek. His eyes slid shut as he gave a sigh before she finally pulled back and smiled up at him when he looked down at her, her hand still on his cheek.

"I'm glad I could make you so happy, Erik," she murmured as he smiled down at her…but he suddenly sensed that they weren't alone.

"Well, how sweet," a strange voice drawled from the dark.

Meg gasped and turned to the voice just as Erik gently, but swiftly pulled her behind him, making her grip his arm to peek up over it. Three men stalked toward them, Erik's eyes darting around at all of them as they stopped several yards away, surrounding them.

"You two make a lovely couple," the leader smirked, taking half a step closer and making Erik pull Meg a little farther behind him. The man's gaze shifted dangerously toward Meg before he nodded to her, adding, "And she's a beauty, isn't she, boys?"

"Stay back, if you know what's good for you," Erik ground out, his other hand slowly making its way toward his trouser pocket.

"And foreigners too, eh?" the leader smirked, taking another half step. "French by the sound of it. Never had a French girl, before."

"And you never will," Erik shot back. "If you want our valuables, we have none."

"Oh, we wouldn't say that," one of the other men piped up, stepping up behind Meg to lift a hand toward her, but she recoiled back as he added, "She's pretty valuable."

That was the last straw for Erik.

He moved so quickly, no one saw his hand even move before the pistol Alexander had left them was out of his pocket and aiming at the man nearer to Meg. The man's hands shot up in surrender as he stared at him in shock, but Erik kept the pistol aimed at him until he took several steps back. Erik shifted the aim of the pistol to point it at the leader of the three, who only smirked, smugly at him.

"You won't shoot me," he chuckled. "You don't have it in you."

"Forgive me, monsieur, but you know nothing about me," Erik shot back with a dangerous smirk. "I've killed men with my bare hands. Firing a bullet at you will be nothing compared to that."

Meg looked up at him in shock, still clinging to his arm. She wasn't shocked at the fact that he had killed, it was the smile on his face and the tone of his voice that shocked her…almost as if the thought of killing those people had been a fond memory. It more than shocked her…it frightened her. It seemed to frighten the other men as well as they saw the serious glare in Erik's eyes while he still aimed the gun at the leader who began to back away.

"Come on, boys," he called, waving them toward him as he still backed away. "This fish is too big for us. Let's find an easier mark, eh?"

The three backed off completely and sauntered back into the darkness as suddenly as they had appeared. Only when Erik was satisfied that they were far enough away did he lower the pistol to tuck it back into his pocket, Meg staring at him the entire time. He gave a tired sigh and finally turned away from staring at the place the men had disappeared to look at her, gently taking her arms in his hands and looking into her eyes.

"Are you alright?" he hoped before frowning in wonder as he noticed her stare. "Meg, what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing," she sputtered, shaking her head before taking one of his hands into hers and turning to pull him back toward the apartment as he only frowned at her, trailing behind her. "Mama will be worried if we're not back soon."

Erik said nothing as he let her pull him by the hand, but when they reached the, he gently tugged her to a stop, making her look back at him in wide-eyed wonder.

"I'm certain your mother will suspect something is wrong, but would you mind letting me in on it so that I won't be surprised when she slaps me for it?" he requested, making her frown before he explained, "I'm certain it's my fault for your mood. And if not, she'll certainly see it as my fault in any case."

Meg swallowed before looking away from him in guilt. She knew he would never harm her, or her mother, or anyone else, really. But the way he had said he had killed before…

"Sometimes…" she finally began, then trailed off before taking in a breath and trying again. "Sometimes…I forget what you've done. And the way you spoke about killing people to those men…it frightened me."

Erik felt a stab of guilt tear into his heart. The last thing he wanted was to frighten her. He should have guessed that was the reason all along. He lifted a hand to her chin to gently bring her gaze back to his, the guilt tearing further into him as he noticed the glassiness in her eyes.

"Meg, that is behind me now," he assured her, keeping his gaze locked with hers. "I said what I said to those men to warn them off. It is not something I wish to repeat. However, if you are in danger, as you potentially were, I will do whatever is necessary to protect you."

"Even kill again?" she shuddered, making him straighten slightly and lower his hand from her chin as she now kept his gaze on her own. She didn't glare at him. Instead, she searched his eyes for an answer she wanted to hear, but knew the truth was the exact opposite.

"If I must, Meg," Erik sighed, lifting a hand to gently stroke her cheek, and was a bit surprised when she didn't flinch away. "I made a promise to your mother, and more than that, I owe it to you for everything you've both done for me. I'll not let any kind of harm come to you."

Meg chewed on her lower lip and gave a small nod, but Erik could see that she wasn't happy with the answer. He refused to lie to her and pretend as though he wouldn't do everything necessary to protect her and Antoinette.

"We should go inside," Meg advised, gently taking Erik's hand from her cheek and holding it in both of hers. "Mama will be worried if we're out here any longer."

"Meg—"

"I'm alright, Erik," she smiled up at him, reassuringly, still holding his hand. "We can talk about this later. We should tell mama what's happened. And we must think of sleeping arrangements for all of us."

"But—"

"Please," Meg cut him off again, meeting his gaze as he frowned down at her. "I promise, I'm alright. In fact, I'm starving, and I'm certain you are as well. I'm certain mama's cooking is better than mine."

"I shall be the judge of that, darling," he smiled, making her give a small smile before she turned to open the door, but he tightened his grip on her hand as she still held it and leaned next to her ear to whisper, "This discussion is not over, Meg."

She swallowed before giving a small nod, murmuring, "No…I didn't think it was."