Availre: Thank you for the review and I'm always happy to give out reccomendations!

Phantom Serenity: I apologize, hope I didn't scare you too much.

thatgrrl not logged in: Things do work out for him.

Trrmo77: In this chapter things will be better.


Chapter twelve

"Ouch!" Nina said dropping her box as she fell forward. "Oh!" she groaned,

"What is it?" Erik said running over to her.

"Oh," she groaned as he pulled her up from the ground. "I tripped over something."

Erik helped her up and he frowned. "A saber." He picked it up. "That boy."

"Now Erik," she said tugging at his lapels. "Be nice. Remember?"

Erik groaned.

Andre fortunately was kind and told her later that the reason he volunteered to be the one to look after Erik, well, the other one's wouldn't have been lenient towards him. If Nina and Erik were talking about private little things, he'd go wait in the next room until one of them came out of the room. If Erik played the piano for her, he'd leave and lean against the wall and listen.

Right now he was helping cart the boxes of Erik's stuff up the stairs. Today, Erik was disassembling his organ and carefully placing it. He didn't allow her or Andre to help, so they were packing all his books.

Nina shook her head, "I'm all right. Come on, let's get to work."

Erik yanked her by the arm and tugged her back to him. "What? All work and no play?"

She smiled. In the last week, their bond had become so much stronger. Erik was finally branching out. He'd purchased a house with her grandfather's help and they were moving all his things there. After fifteen huge boxes, she hoped the house was big enough.

Nina smiled and tapped his lip. "What kind of play did you have in mind?"

Erik nervously leaned forward and kissed her. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. Erik now knew explicitly that she loved him and would never deny him a kiss at any place or time. She leaned closer and smiled against his lips.

Erik pressed closer to her and she felt the atmosphere change around them. It grew headier and so did the kisses. Nina's head warned her things were getting out of control. She broke the kiss only to feel his lips against her neck.

"Erik." She gasped as his hand gripped her leg. "Oh, erik!"

A loud yell made them jerk apart and she stepped back as soon as her leg was released. Erik looked towards the entrance just as Andre picked himself up from the ground. She flushed and whispered a silent prayer to heaven for his interruption.

"I keep missing that last step." He muttered.

Nina giggled nervously and turned to Erik who was standing their confusion on his face. she nudged him, "we better get back to work." she could feel his eyes burning into her back as she walked away. Everything had changed in an instant and she knew that what they had would never be the same again.


Erik watched as Nina surveyed the house. She was all smiles, so that must have meant she approved of the house of his choice.

She clapped her hands. "It's perfect." She gave him a nudge. "And I love the lake in back with all those willow trees around it!"

"I thought you would." He cleared his throat. "Several of these rooms need some new paint and….wallpaper, I believe that's the word."

"Yes."

Nina pushed open the next door to the master bedroom and paused in the doorway. Erik studied her face and he saw a strange look in her eyes. She cleared her throat and closed the door. "Very spacious."

He gripped her arm. "Nina, we have to talk."

She smiled weakly, "about what?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about."

He pushed the master bedroom door open and Nina carefully followed him in the room. Her whole body stance reminded him of a rabbit ready to flee from danger.

Andre cleared his throat; "I'll be outside if…you need anything."

Nina was nervous, he could tell from the way her eyes kept darting around the room. She had been like this since he'd kissed her yesterday; but that wasn't their normal kiss. This kiss had held so much more than that; it held the promise of the future. But he didn't know if she was willing to let their relationship go much further than that. He was counting his blessing everytime she smiled at him.

"Erik?" Nina said quietly. "You said you wanted to talk but…you've been…. Staring at me for five minutes."

"I'm sorry!" he said. "I-I was thinking."

"I noticed." He wet his lips nervously and Nina prompted him again. "Thinking about what?"

Erik inhaled and blurted. "You."


Nina's heart jumped in her throat. "Me?" she said quietly.

Erik started pacing nervously and she leaned back against the wall for support. "Look," he stuttered. "I-I," he groaned. "Why can't I just say this?"

"Is this about yesterday?" Erik nodded and ran his hands down his hair. "That happens sometimes."

"Nina." The words burst out of him and he walked up to her. "I-I…why is this so difficult? If I speak, I could loose you. But if I remain silent," he exhaled and rested his arm above her head. "I'll go crazy."

Nina's heart pounded and her throat was scratchy. "Then…say it."

"Nina…. I love you." her heart stopped. This was the first time he'd actually verbally said it to her. "You've said you love me…many times. At the trial, you said we were very good friends. But…I think…. We're more than that." Nina felt tears in her eyes; she was finally starting to understand what Erik was trying to spit out. "I-I want to more than that." He then noticed the tears in her eyes. "Oh, Nina I'm so sorry." He dried them. "I won't speak of this again."

"Erik."

"I can be content with your friendship. Just, don't leave me, please." He backed up, "I won't approach you about this subject again." He turned to the door. "Excuse me."

"Erik!" she ran after him as he ran out of the door.

"What's up?" Andre asked, resting his hand on his pistol.

"Erik!" she shouted. "Yes!"

Erik stopped on the stairs and frowned at her. "Yes what?"

"Yes!" she said with a laugh as tears ran down her face. "Yes I'll marry you!"

Erik blinked then he charged up the stairs. Nina reached for him as he swept her off her feet. She laughed and she saw Andre staring with his mouth hanging wide open at them.

"Why?" he asked. "Why me?"

"Because I happen to be in love with you!" she said. "You crazy man." She caught Erik's arm. "And don't even think about getting on your knees!" she said pulling him towards her. "I don't want to be looking down at the man I love."

Erik leaned forward holding her hands tightly together. "Nina, will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

Erik kissed her hands. "Oh Nina."

She laughed. "Erik." She glanced behind him to see Andre had buried his face in the corner. She giggled and pointed to Andre. Erik laughed outright and she stared at him. "I've never heard you laugh before."

"I've never been this happy before!" Erik pulled her close. "When can we get married?"

She laughed, "how about as soon as this house is repaired and furnished?"

Erik made a face. "That'll take almost two weeks!"

She arched a brow. "I'll make it worth the wait." She leaned forward. "In a few years, this house will be full of running feet and musical notes."