Erik took a deep breath as he watched Antoinette shut the door to her office. Erik knew that Jacquie had not followed them, so he was free to speak his mind. He most certainly did not want to be the one to tell her the news.

Antoinette sat down in a chair and welcomed Erik to do the same. Erik shook his head to decline. He preferred to stand.

And when Erik didn't start the conversation, Antoinette sighed. "Erik, what is it?" she asked gently. Erik looked up at her, his eyes wide. Antoinette bit her lip. What could possibly be bothering him now?

But Erik looked back down to the ground and gulped. "She's not safe," he whispered. Antoinette frowned, not understanding his point.

"Erik, what are you talking about?"

Erik took a deep breath. Why couldn't he just tell her what he wanted her to do? Why was it so difficult? He bit his lip and looked pleadingly at his friend. He didn't want to tell her, but he knew he had to.

"I don't want Jacquie to live with me anymore," he burst out. Antoinette jumped at the force in his voice, and gasped at what he had said. Erik began to fidget with his hands when she didn't respond immediately.

"What?" she finally asked, still shocked at what he had said.

Erik hesitated. "What I meant, was that, I don't think she should live underground any longer."

"What do you want me to do about that?" she asked shakily. She still could not see what he was trying to accomplish.

Erik looked up and Antoinette was taken aback when she saw pain in his eyes. "I want you to find her a place in the Operahouse. Give her someplace to live, something to do."

Antoinette didn't know what to say. She could easily tell that this whole conversation was difficult for him, but she didn't understand why he was doing it. Why he was trying to rid himself of the girl? "Erik…" she started.

"Please Antoinette. She's in too much danger with me. She'd be much safer up here with you. It's better for her," he interrupted.

Antoinette bit her lip. "You haven't told her this, have you?" But she knew full well that he hadn't. He hadn't seen the girl for the past three days. And each day, Jacquie grew more anxious about his return. She wanted to go home with him.

Erik shook his head. "I… I was hoping that you would tell her…"

Antoinette stiffened. There was no way she was going to let him off that easy. She shook her head resolutely. Erik's mouth opened as he began to gape in astonishment.

But before he could say anything, Antoinette had beaten him to it. "Absolutely not! I will not tell that girl that you left her. She's has been looking forward to going home with you ever since you left! I will not let you leave without saying goodbye to her!"

Erik swallowed and was effectively silenced by his friend. He looked up at her cautiously to see her seething. He bit his lip. "Antoinette, does this mean that you'll find her a place in the Operahouse?" he ventured.

Antoinette turned her steely gaze towards him. But when she had caught sight of his hurt expression, she calmed down some. She relaxed and nodded her head. "I'm not happy about. But I will if you tell her why."

Erik's heart skipped a beat at the thought of the upcoming situation. How would he be able to tell her that? It would break her heart! But Erik knew that it was for her safety, so he nodded his consent. And Antoinette couldn't help but frown at the man standing in front of her.

~*~*~

Erik found Jacquie where he had left her. She was reading aloud to Antoinette's daughter and Erik couldn't help the feeling of pride that swept over him. She was reading so well, and it had been he who had taught her how. He had succeeded in teaching her something useful.

But as Jacquie looked up from the book and saw Erik she stopped reading and grinned at him. Erik found that he couldn't return the gesture. This time, Jacquie noticed.

She whispered to Meg and the little blond giggled and took off from the couch and into the next room. Jacquie then shut the book and placed it on the table next to her and got up from her seat. She then neared Erik.

"Monsieur, is there something troubling you?" she asked sweetly.

Erik gulped and took a deep breath. "No Jacquie, there is nothing troubling me. But I do wish to speak with you about something. Come," he said and led the girl back to the couch. He sat down and motioned for her to do the same.

She sat down slowly and placed herself as close to him as she possibly could. Erik grimaced and moved away from her. Jacquie's eyes widened only slightly.

Erik sighed when he saw her reaction. "Jacqueline, there's something you need to hear. It will be difficult, but I ask you to be reasonable, and not act like a child."

Jacquie narrowed her eyes. In just those few sentences, Erik had turned into a completely new person. Firstly, he had called her Jacqueline. He always called her Jacquie. And secondly, he had told her not to act childish. He always allowed her to be a child, claiming that she hadn't time for that when she was younger. Jacquie bit her lip, suddenly feeling very worried.

But all the same, she wouldn't deny Erik anything. So she nodded her head and waited to hear what he had to tell her.

Erik took a deep breath and watched the girl. She had suddenly stiffened and Erik knew she was waiting for him to speak. He knew that he had to tell her, and he wanted it to be over with as fast as possible. But he also knew that he had to be careful. Jacquie had promised that she wouldn't act childish, but she didn't know what he had to tell her yet.

"Jacqueline, I've just spoken with Antoinette. And she has agreed to find you a place in the Operahouse," he started out, his voice official. He had noticed the girl's eyes widen, but she was keeping her emotions in check.

"You will not be living with me any longer. You will live in the Operahouse, above ground, and in a dormitory," he finished, feeling slightly better after saying it.

But the same could not be said for Jacquie. She was sitting beside Erik, her eyes large and teary. Her mouth was in a tight line, as if she needed to keep herself from crying out. She looked at Erik pleadingly.

Erik knew what that meant. She was asking if he was serious. "I'm sorry Jacqueline. I really am. But this is for your own safety. You are not as safe underground as you could be up here. Take your best interests to heart."

And suddenly, a tear trailed down Jacquie's cheek. Her entire body was shaking, and she was trying not to act foolish. But she just couldn't hold it in. Suddenly, as if she had exploded, she opened her mouth and let out a sob. The rest of her tears fell from her eyes and she tried to grab at Erik's hand.

But Erik stood up from the couch, away from the now sobbing girl. He felt disgusted with himself, for putting her though this. But he was also disgusted with the girl, for acting the way she was. It was as if her whole world was falling apart. And he knew it most certainly wasn't. She would have a much better life in the Operahouse.

So he stood and watched the girl cry, feeling pity, hatred, and disgust all at the same time. But he knew that she would have to get over it.

"Erik! Please don't leave me!" Jacquie cried out. For some reason, after she had started to cry, she couldn't get herself to stop. Surely Erik must think that she was so stupid! But she just couldn't believe what he had said. It just wasn't possible.

And unbeknownst to her, Erik became rigid at her exclamation. Never had she called him simply Erik. She had always placed the "monsieur" before his name. And she was begging him not to leave her. He felt his self-control wilting away, much to his displeasure.

All he wanted to do was to comfort the girl. To sit back down on the couch, pull her up into his arms, and tell her everything was going to be all right. But then, he wouldn't have accomplished anything. She needed to hate him. She needed to hate him so much, that she would never want to see him ever again. That way, she would always be safe.

So Erik let her cry. He let her fall to the floor before his very feet and beg to be taken back. He let her apologize for what she thought she had done wrong, when in reality, she had done nothing. He had been the one to do her wrong. He felt his heart clench, but refused to show any emotion on his face. He let her deal with it on her own.

And finally, when her sobs ceased to a small amount, Jacquie looked up at him. She couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't cared that she was crying. That he didn't even seem to notice that she was upset. So she ventured to speak. "Erik…"

"Are you through?" he asked, interrupting her angrily. Jacquie gasped in surprise at his tone. He was never sharp with her. But she nodded in response to his question.

"Good, then I will take my leave now. I wish you luck at the Operahouse," he said distantly and turned to walk away. Jacquie's eyes widened in shock.

"NO! Wait!" she cried and got up from her knees and rushed after him. She ran into his back and wrapped her arms around his waist. It was as if he was the last thing she would ever touch in her life. She tightened her grip when Erik tried to remove her hands.

"Jacqueline, let go of me now," he ordered. And for the first time in her life, Jacquie disobeyed him. She refused to let go. Erik hissed in anger. "Let go of me you little pest!" he yelled.

And instantly, Jacquie let go of Erik, as if the contact had burned her. She looked up at him with wide eyes and opened her mouth as if to speak. But before she could utter a word, Erik turned around and was out the door in a flick of his cape, leaving Jacquie heartbroken and confused in his wake.