A/N: Bonjour! Thanks ever so much for the great feedback! Your reviews had me ear-to-ear grinning! Lots of helpful details about what you liked! I was so pleased/inspired! Loved them. Thanks so much! :)

Hope you enjoy! It's a little shorter, but it was necessary-and I got it out a mere 24 hours later. :) I figured a little shorter was acceptable if it was updated so immediately.

-o- Chapter 13 -o-

As predicted, Meg fell deeply in love with the apartment and even flopped down on her uncovered new mattress with a little squeal to prove it.

Erik watched, quite amused, and Christine explained as patiently as any indulgent parent, "Sometimes she just has to squeal when she's excited."

The apartment manager, Bill Wilkins, did exist; he showed up at their future apartment with the appropriate papers for them to sign and he pointed out the eight thousand places for them to sign while Erik supervised.

Just before applying the last signature, Meg paused with her pen a few inches above the paper and asked Bill, "And you're sure the apartment is only 900 a month?"

Although he nodded, neither girl missed his gaze momentarily jump to Erik, as if seeking permission to agree to such a ridiculous rate.

Just as quickly, his gaze jerked away and he smiled, saying, "You had the good luck to come across this apartment during our fall special—unbelievably good deals."

"Like the Black Friday of apartments?" Meg questioned.

"Sure, yes, exactly like that," he replied easily.

"Except before Thanksgiving and for no apparent reason?" she concluded sweetly.

His smile waned, and he shrugged. "What can I say, the owner is eccentric."

"I'll just bet he is," Christine stated, even less convinced that Erik had nothing to do with it than she had been before.

Once they finished signing the appropriate paperwork, Bill Wilkins took the papers and looked pretty pleased to be leaving, which left Meg and Christine in their new apartment with Erik.

"Well, you guys should be able to move in whenever you would like to. If you need any help moving your things in, I'll be glad to help or arrange for someone else to."

"You sure are helpful," Meg told him, smiling. "Tell you what, for all your kindness, I'm pretty sure we owe you lunch. Are you free now? Your pick."

"Lunch?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Meg returned brightly.

His gaze flicked a bit uncertainly to Christine.

Seeing that, Meg added, "I mean, it's all three of us, so it wouldn't be inappropriate. Not that it would be inappropriate without me—and not that you would do anything inappropriate, I'm just—"

"Meg," Christine interrupted, lifting a hand to her forehead, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "Just stop talking."

Sighing, Meg said, "Whatever, the point is, you obviously had a hand in getting us this apartment, so why don't you let us buy you lunch?"

"I agree," Christine seconded.

A little hesitantly, Erik said, "Well, I could probably do a quick lunch… I have to meet with Nadir this afternoon, but I have a little time before. We could go to the café downstairs," he suggested.

"Okay, that's fine, but you are not paying," Christine stipulated firmly. "We are treating you to lunch."

With a mysterious little smile, Erik said, "I promise I will not even think of paying."

"Very good," she said, nodding her approval.

They made another little loop around the apartment, Meg and Christine happily exchanging ideas about what—if any—new furnishings they might need, then they left the apartment and Erik handed Christine the key, informing them he would have one made for Meg that afternoon.

Once in the hallway, Erik explained to Meg about the private elevator and its rules of use, then all three of them stepped inside and went down to the café in the lobby.

"So, I've only been here once," Christine informed them as they entered the bustling little café. "I really liked the soup, and the French bread here is like a little taste of heaven."

"Indeed," Erik agreed. "Nearly as good as bread in France."

Shaking her head, Christine said, "You would have to brag that you've been to France."

His lips curved upward again. "I'm sure you'll make it to France, too, so don't get travel envy."

"Oh, of course," she relied, feigning a haughtier air than was natural. "I was just thinking of going there next week to do some shopping."

"You need to do some shopping," Meg interrupted. "As nicely as you fill out my dresses, you should have some of your own."

"I have a nice dress," Christine defended. "And you've never complained about me borrowing yours before. Are you going to be finicky now that we're living together?"

"You need more than one. You have a job now that actually requires you to dress nice," Meg informed her friend, lifting an eyebrow.

"Meg's right," Erik agreed with a small nod, his hands shoved casually in his pockets. "You should have some nice dresses of your own."

Grinning, Meg said, "I knew I'd like him."

"Hey, I'm getting double teamed here!" Christine objected.

"Meredith has a shopping addiction; employees at her favorite stores practically give her clothing. You two seemed to get along well, perhaps you could accompany her on one of her shopping forays," Erik suggested.

"Oh, I don't know if she'd want to take me on a shopping trip—we only met once."

Dismissing the idea, Erik replied, "Nonsense, she would enjoy the company. You'll need a new gown for the opera anyway, if you still wanted to go."

Having almost completely forgotten about the "field trip" opera he had invited her to, the one Luciana was going to be in, Christine was a bit startled. "Yeah, I still want to go. Um… I don't really know what to wear…"

"Meredith will help you pick something out," he told her easily. "You won't pay for that gown, it'll be by my treat."

"Erik…"

"You know how futile arguing with me is, Christine," he stated, shaking his head. "I'm not paying for the tickets, you can at least let me pay for the dress."

"Well, if I don't, you'll find a way to make me feel guilty about it, so I'll agree, but I'm not getting an expensive gown."

"Damn, I wish I had your problems," Meg told Christine, rolling her eyes.

"Be careful what you wish for," Christine muttered.

"But seriously," Meg stated, her voice taking on what Christine instantly recognized as her 'studious tone,' Meg went on, "Erik's not that far off his mark, he's just in the wrong century. Back in the day, when students were taught directly under master artists, it wasn't unheard of for teachers to indulge their pupils. Why, Leonardo Di Vinci himself brought pupils to live with him, to learn from him, and it was definitely not unheard of for the pupils to be indulged a bit with clothes and similar gifts. The one student lived with him, for, God, I don't know, something like 30 years? He actually left the Mona Lisa to him, and the student had her until he died."

"What a teacher," Christine remarked.

"Yep. Of course," Meg concluded innocently, "they were usually lovers, too." Missing only a beat, she said, "Mmm, that soup looks good."

Attempting to bite back a smile as her friend innocently flitted away to examine the menu, Christine turned to gauge Erik's reaction.

He merely lifted an eyebrow, a very small smile on his lips. "I take it you've shared with Meg."

"She knows how I embarrassed myself at the club, if that's what you mean," Christine said vaguely. "Don't worry, she isn't going to say anything."

Erik didn't respond, but he didn't appear to be worried, either, so Christine didn't bother offering more assurances. A moment later, they were ready to order, and they were greeted enthusiastically by the previously droning cashier. Christine noticed the way the girl's attention kept jumping back to Erik, a huge, fake smile on her face, even when she was taking Meg's order.

Handing them three clear cups, she said, "Okay, those will be right up. You can grab some drinks while you wait, and would you like a bakery item for dessert?"

"Cheese Danish," Erik stated.

"Of course. And for you two?" she asked, glancing at Christine, then to Meg.

"No thanks," Christine replied.

"None for me either," Meg said, holding up her credit card expectantly. "Total?"

Looking a little confused, the cashier looked questioningly at Erik.

Offering Christine a smug little smirk, he said, "I don't pay here either. Grab your cups, we're holding up the line."

Stealing a glance back at the impatient looking line of people, Christine merely fixed Erik with a withering look and then picked up her cup, walking down toward the beverage dispenser.

"Why did we just get free lunch?" Meg asked, confused.

"Because Erik mysteriously always gets free meals when he eats in this building," Christine stated, the suspicions and little puzzle pieces she had been gathering clicking together in a most unquestionable way. Turning back to Erik, she said, "Do you own this entire building?"

For the briefest of moment he hesitated, then with an almost guilty sigh he nodded. "I built it."

"And you own it," she reiterated, nodding.

"I do."

"So you've been lying to me?"

"No," he said quickly. "I have not lied, I've simply… left things out."

"A clever way of lying," she informed him, shaking her head. "So none of this is a coincidence or a stroke of luck, is it? You've arranged for all of it, you've made it all happen—and everyone else knows, which is why my boss treats me like a cherished guest every night instead of an employee. Is it even a real job, or are you paying me to sit at the piano every weekend?"

"I'm not paying you; Firmin pays you."

"Do you own the restaurant, too?" Christine asked, the idea just occurring to her.

"No," he said carefully. "I own… the building the restaurant is in, and… a small share of the company itself, but I do not own it in its entirety."

Shaking her head in disbelief, she said, "Next thing I know you'll be telling me my 'scholarship' came out of your personal bank account."

She had expected him to deny it, but she had not expected the momentary hesitation before he said, "No, of course it didn't."

Meg had just selected a seat and the cashier girl brought over Erik's cheese pastry, flashing them a smile and saying, "Can I get you anything else?"

Nodding vigorously, Meg said, "Popcorn."

Momentarily, the cashier looked confused again.

Offering her a slight smile, Erik said, "We're fine, thanks."

Gaping, Christine said, "Erik, how much did you have to do with my getting that scholarship?"

"I assure you, it did not come out of my personal account, all right? It is a legitimate scholarship from a legitimate business, I merely recommended that you receive it."

Luckily for him, the little buzzer went off, alerting them that their food was already done.

"I'll grab that," Erik said, taking the buzzer off the table and heading toward the counter.

"I'll help," Christine said, but before she could fully get to her feet Meg was pushing her back in her seat.

Checking to make sure Erik was far enough away that he wouldn't hear, Meg said, "I will help him. You sit here and cool your heels; the guy is all but your fairy godmother, and while his methods may have been imperfect, his motives were pure. Whatever reason he has for doing all of this for you, it goes beyond lust or any reasonable level of a charitable nature. He cares about you. A lot. Don't yell at him for it."

Christine's jaw went slack as her best friend finished delivering her lecture, and she could only stare as Meg went up to help Erik retrieve their lunch trays.

-o-

Since Erik's demands were always met in a timely manner, Meredith Destler showed up outside of Christine and Meg's new apartment in the middle of the week, a smile on her stunning face and a cheesecake in her hands.

"Hey, neighbor!" Meredith greeted. "I know we live in the city, so we're supposed to be very disinterested in our neighbors and never bring baked goods, but I figure since you and my brother are close, we should establish more of a friendship than that. Also, in case you've heard of my inferior culinary abilities, you should know I did not bake this cheesecake, I merely purchased it from a bakery."

Grinning and stepping back to invite Meredith inside, Christine said, "I believe Erik did mention something about you trying to burn his kitchen down last Christmas."

Rolling her eyes, Meredith said airily, "An exaggeration, I assure you. Erik's only so persnickety about it because he can cook better than I can. Actually, he can do practically everything better than I can; a lesser sibling would have been peeved about it, but I just love him too much."

Nodding sympathetically, Christine said, "I understand."

Meredith's gaze snapped to Christine's face as she arched an eyebrow. "Really?"

Realizing how it sounded, Christine flushed, saying, "About siblings—you know, sibling rivalry and all that."

"Oh, right," Meredith replied, nodding. "Did you say you have siblings?"

"No," Christine said lamely.

Biting her lip to control her smile, Meredith said, "Oh, I see. So, where should I…?"

"Oh!" Realizing Meredith was still holding the cheesecake, she chuckled, a little embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm easily distracted. Um, I'll take that, thank you."

While Christine took the cheese cake in to the kitchen, Meredith stayed behind in the living room, looking around and checking everything out.

"Nice place," she remarked when Christine rejoined her there.

"Thanks. It really is great. So, is this the floor you live on, too? Erik didn't mention…"

"Nope," Meredith said, shaking her head. "I'm a floor down. Erik told me he's taking you to an opera?"

"Yeah," Christine said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear and nodding. "I guess one of his former pupils is performing in the opera and she gave him tickets, so he offered to take me as sort of a field trip."

"Right, a field trip," Meredith drawled slyly. "I understand I'm also supposed to take you shopping to pick out a dress for the opera?"

"You don't have to do that—I told Erik it was unnecessary, but I'm sure you know how well he listens."

"About as well as a rock," she stated, nodding. "Anyway, of course we'll go shopping together; I love to shop, and it'll give us a chance to get to know each other a little better since our dinner got interrupted."

"Yeah, that was… awkward."

"No worries," Meredith replied lightly. "Clandestine relationships always come with their drawbacks, but they can also be exciting, hm?"

Jerking a startled gaze to Meredith's dancing eyes, Christine's eyes went wide and she said, "Oh no, Erik and I aren't having a clandestine relationship—he's just my teacher, that's all."

"And I'm the queen of Spain," Meredith stated. "I'm the last person in the world you have to hide this from; I want my brother to have some happiness after the crumby hand he's been dealt in life. He's known too little affection in his life, and I just find it appalling—Erik is such a wonderful person, and he doesn't deserve to be alone."

Softening, Christine said, "I assure you, I could not agree with you more. It's not… me, it's him. I have… expressed my interest in him, but he has assured me that it's not going to happen."

"Was this before or after he moved you into the apartment below his?" Meredith asked rhetorically.

"That's a living arrangement, nothing more."

"And the opera? Merely a field trip. What about the job? His distaste for the male friend that caused you to leave dinner so abruptly?"

"I know how it looks," Christine told her. "It's just not how it is."

"Because he's denying you his affections?" Meredith asked, a frown marring her lovely porcelain skin. "Bloody hell, my brother is obnoxious when he wants to be."

Biting back a grin, Christine said, "I'm inclined to agree."

Shaking her head, she said, "He obviously likes you, or he wouldn't be doing all of this. You obviously like him…"

"Very much," Christine agreed when Meredith cast a speculative glance her way.

"Hm. Well. Sometimes my brother just requires a bit of gentle nudging. Luckily, I have his credit card and this perfect canvas in front of me," she said, leveling an appraising glance over Christine's entire figure.

"What are you thinking?" Christine asked cautiously.

"I'm thinking that my brother is very responsive underneath that veneer of chilly implacability he wears so well. He's probably pretty close to snapping since I could tell how much he hated your handsome young friend… There is nothing going on there, right? I wouldn't want to encourage this if you weren't genuinely interested in my brother. He's had enough experience with bitchy little divas who sought only to enhance their own vanity by capturing his elusive affections, I don't know that he would do so well experiencing the same thing twice."

"I'm not toying with him," Christine said, wide eyed. "Raoul's… an old friend, and my life would go on even if I never saw him again as a friend. Erik is the one I'm interested in, but I told you, he won't pursue a relationship with me. The teacher-student thing—"

"Bullshit," Meredith said dismissively. "He doesn't even need that job, and he was involved with a student before. Those are excuses. You probably scare him."

Choking, Christine said, "Me, scare Erik? What could I possibly do to him?"

"More than you think," Meredith stated solemnly. "Most people… love easily, and for those people, losing the object of their affection is painful, but survivable. My brother is… different. He's more passionate in his affections than most people, sometimes even a little overwhelming, but it's because of how rarely he bestows it upon someone. Since he rarely ever loves anyone, when he does love, it's not in half measures, not by any means."

"Is that a bad thing?" Christine asked, confused. "I would think having someone passionately devoted to you would be a good thing."

"It can be, but for some people it can be… smothering, overwhelming. If you've noticed, Erik has overtaken a significant chunk of your life and you're not even dating him right now. Can you even imagine how much more of it he would swallow if you were his?"

It was odd how Meredith described it, as while Erik was subtly invading every corner of her life, Christine scarcely noticed—she certainly didn't mind.

And the thought of belonging to Erik was too delicious to even consider—it sent a sort o primitive thrill down her spine just to think of being claimed by such an impressive man as Erik.

Shrugging, Christine said, "I don't find him overwhelming at all. Sure, he's meddled in my life, but every single thing that he's done has only been to make my life better. What kind of jerk would I have to be to resent that?"

Smiling a little, Meredith said, "You'd be surprised what jerks some women can be. You lasso the moon for them, and they still find some petty reason to complain about your methods."

Shaking her head, Christine stated, "I'm not that girl."

"Good. My brother doesn't need that girl."

"Regardless, your brother has resisted my every attempt, so… while he has moved heaven and earth to revolve a little better around me, I can't force him to change his mind about this."

"Oh, sure you can," Meredith said easily. "He wants his mind to be changed, so it's definitely possible. Even Erik doesn't want to be alone forever."

"He shouldn't be," Christine replied quietly. "He won't be. Someday he'll have to let someone in."

"Only if they barge down the doors, my dear. It's hard for normal people to understand, but Erik… has never been accused of normalcy. If that doesn't bother you though, I say 'full steam ahead.'"

"I've tried," Christine said, exasperated. "I completely humiliated myself—I tried to kiss him, and he couldn't get away from me fast enough. I don't know why he fights it so much, I know that he's attracted to me, but I also know that when I attempted to kiss him, he rejected me, and when I tried to make him jealous, he told me he didn't care. I don't know what else to try—if he won't even kiss me, I can't exactly show up on his doorstep wearing high heels and nothing else, y'know?"

Grinning, Meredith said, "It's not about switching methods, it's about persistence. If Erik's being stubborn, one attempt can be rebuffed, but continued attempts will wear him down. I promise you, if you really want my brother, you will have him—and you will have more than you anticipated, I can assure you. I only hope we're both right about you and you can take it, because if you secure his affections and then decide he's too much for you, I'm going to dangle you off the balcony."

"I can handle him," Christine assured her. "But how do you expect me to break down these doors? Am I just supposed to keep throwing myself at him every day until he succumbs? I don't think my self-esteem can handle it."

Shaking her head, Meredith was appraising Christine. "What are you doing right now?"

"Well… nothing, really. I was studying some Spanish, but it's not urgent or anything…"

"Good. Then you're coming with me."

"Where are we going?" Christine asked.

With a bright little smile, Meredith said, "Shopping."

-o-

A/N: Okay, so the juiciness I anticipated is extending to the next chapter—which is hopefully when the scene I was actually referring to last chapter will occur naturally. The good news is, I do believe you'll consider it worth the wait! :) As always, I love to hear what you think!