Part Two

XI

"Leaving?" Colette asked, words hanging in the air while Erik calmly finished a sketch.

"Yes, leaving," he repeated, "or did you not hear me the first three times?"

"You cannot leave," Colette gasped, "where do you plan to go?"

Erik heaved a sigh and turned to face her, "Paris."

"But you-"

"I can and I will return!" Erik snapped, "I am in no danger living in the cursed city. Besides, I grow weary of the country. There is very little to do and much time in which not to do it."

Colette paused, as if trying to decipher exactly what he meant. She then shook her head, "And what do you intend to do in Paris?"

Erik lifted a paper from his desk and handed it to her. Colette took it and studied it for a moment, intrical designs for a house, with a small nod she placed it back on the desk where Erik dragged it back onto a small pile.

"Architect?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied irritably.

"And what brought on such a sudden decision?"

"It wasn't sudden at all," he replied, squinting at the page before him, "in fact it has been a long time coming."

"When are you going?"

"I have a meeting in Paris in two days, I will be leaving then."

"And you have a place to stay?"

"You are bothering me, please leave."

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Erik made sure to pack all of his belongings the night before he left, ensuring that he left nothing behind in the attic room. Fleur offered her help, which resulted in a long string of questions and very little helping. The next morning he ate breakfast and prepared to leave.

"You sure you'll be alright?" Colette asked as he carefully balanced the saddlebags on the black stallion.

"Yes," he replied irritably, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"You know of a place to stay then and have everything you need?"

"Yes, I do and yes I have," Erik snapped, "now would you stop with all these pointless questions?"

"You gonna come visit us, right?" Fleur asked.

Erik bit back a sarcastic remark and nodded his head, "Fine, I'll visit."

"Yay!" Fleur exclaimed hugging his legs, "you promise?"

"Fine."

Colette smiled and reached out to pat his arm, only to have it pulled away. She gave a small sigh and shook her head, "Good luck then."

"I won't need it," he replied, "but thank you, if for nothing else, then for saving my miserable life."

"Of course, good bye, Erik."

Upon arriving in Paris Erik found an inn to stay in until he could find a house and rented a room. It was a nice enough place, so he left his things there, took his portfolio and left to fine the Café Bleu that his meeting was to be held at.

"You're late," the young man informed him when he sat down.

"Am I?" Erik asked, glancing at a clock, "so it would seem."

The young man raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat, "I've already ordered us some lunch, I hope that is alright with you."

"Fine," Erik replied.

"Very well then, may I see those designs you promised me?"

Erik shrugged and took out a few of the designs he had worked on over the past few years. He didn't think them very spectacular, but they were good and by the look on the young man's face he seemed impressed.

"These are very good!" he exclaimed as their lunch arrived, "I am impressed, yes, very impressed."

"Thank you," Erik replied dryly, "I am glad you like them."

"Don't sound so thrilled," Charles Armand laughed.

Erik just stared at him and gave a small shrug, "They really aren't that impressive."

"Modest, aren't you?"

"Am I?"

"Well, I must say that with the evidence you have presented me I am more than willing to hire you to aid in the reconstruction of my new estate. What do you say?"

"I say that you are fortunate enough to have hired the best architect in all of France," Erik replied silkily.

Armand just smiled and offered his hand, "Very well then. How long will it take to finish the designs?"

"As long as it takes," Erik replied, hesitantly shaking the man's hand, "I would have to see the original designs and visit the estate to properly assess the amount of work needed."

"That is easily enough accomplished," he replied, digging out several rolled up pieces of paper, "here they are now, I trust you will find them all in order."

Erik raised his eyebrow and unrolled one of the papers, "My, my, you certainly are presumptuous, aren't you?"

"Optimistic," he corrected.

"Very well then, I will visit the estate on my own time. I hope that does not offend you?"

"Not at all."

Erik offered a small bow and stood up and left the café, turning back when he was called.

"You haven't touched your food!"

"I am not hungry, Monsieur, but thank you. It was very…considerate of you. Good afternoon, Monsieur Armand. I will be speaking with you again soon

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A/N: Well a bit of a short chapter, but hopefully enjoyable. Please leave me some reviews to read for I do love them so. Ergo, if you are reading review...even if you don't like it. I can take criticism!