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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Phantom of the Opera.


# Part Twenty-eight:

They crossed the lake slowly, much to Erik's annoyance, for Lark kept chattering on and on about…well about nothing in particular. She paused once to ask, "What's this lake called?" He barely noticed that she asked until the girl repeated herself. "What?" She sighed, smiled once and turned back around, "Never mind, Erik." He shook his head and continued rowing and nearly cried out with surprise as the boat hit the shore. Was the lake really that short? "Seems like ages, doesn't it?" Lark asked as she hopped out. He followed her noiselessly. "Indeed." He said, not really listening. They walked around the shore a bit until they came to a door. The girl stared at it blankly, and then watched with interest as Erik pulled out a small skeleton key. Shoving it into the lock, he eased open the door and let Lark go in front.

"Can I see that?" she asked, looking at the key still dangling from Erik's hand. "Hmm? Oh, sure." He handed it to her and continued to lead them out into the streets where it was, thankfully, not too bright out. He sighed appreciatively to the dark grey clouds above them. "Do you know where to go?" he asked the girl. She looked up from the key in her hands and glanced around her. "I think so, but can you lead? I don't really know any place good." Lark handed Erik his key and took his hand cautiously, in case he didn't want her clinging to him. He didn't seem to notice, she smiled, pleased.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Lark looked around the store eagerly, inspecting barrels and boxes while Erik followed behind silently, avoiding other people's curious or threatened stares. He hated going out in public. Everyone's eyes always found the mask first before him. But people seemed more relaxed around both of them when they saw Erik with a bubbly young girl that often ran up to him to show him something. "No, we don't need that," he said sometimes, looking at the box or item that she had found. Her face would fall, but it would be lit with another smile as the girl found something else that caught her eyes. Erik led Lark into another store to get food while he meandered over to the large book collection near the back of the store. "Don't get anything we don't need." That's what he instructed Lark before he headed to the back of the store.

The girl smiled as she looked around, sometimes grabbing items and placing them into her basket. "Oh, that's nice," she said pleasantly to herself as a fruit stand in the corner caught her eye. Coming closer she looked over the oranges, those were her favorite. They used to be Mama's favorite, too. What did Erik like? The smallest frowns crossed her young face as she pondered what he would like. "Not that he would eat it," Lark giggled to herself remembering Erik's explanations of not wanting, or needing, to eat. Finally she decided to get four of the bright orange fruits before heading back to Erik. "What did you get?" he asked, looking at her full basket warily. Lark changed the subject, "Did you find anything, Erik?" He glowered at her but shook his head.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Once the food was looked over, Erik removed about a third of what was in there, and paid they opened the store's door and went into the white, snow covered streets. Lark inhaled deeply, "I love the way snow smells!" she declared, not noticing Erik's questioning eyes. "You like the snowfall?" he asked her quietly as they walked down the streets. She smiled softly, "Mama and me would always sit outside when it snowed, on our big porch." Her eyes were far away now, in a memory, "We loved the snow as it came down, especially the way it smelled after it was done, all crisp and fresh. Once she put a bucket out so we could taste it, too." Lark's small hand wriggled into Erik's, she looked up at him. "Do you like the snow?"

Erik looked up at the darkened sky, his eyes narrowed. He looked back down at Lark's worried expression and his eyes gave her a rare smile. "I guess I like it, though I don't see it much," he said thoughtfully. A grin appeared on Lark's face and stayed on her face as they continued, snow crunching below their feet. "I still like the sun, too though," she added seriously. Erik laughed out loud as he listened to her state this fact so seriously, it was quite unlike her character to be solemn, and her face was hilarious. Lark looked confused at his laughter, but then she beamed, happy to make him laugh. She wanted to make him laugh more, and smile more too; she was glad that she made him happy.

The dark clouds had gotten bigger, so much now, that it began to snow. "Wow, that was quick!" said Lark, and proceeded to shout out her thanks to the clouds. Erik raised his eyebrows, amused. Lark turned back to him, her cheeks bright pink from the cold breeze that blew past. "We get a lot of snow for winter, don't we?" she asked breathless from shouting. "Mm hmm," Erik agreed. They continued on, with Lark sometimes looking up and letting the snow fall on her face and eyelids. A person passed them, bundled heavily in scarves. The person stopped as they passed and turned around swiftly.

"Lark?"


Updated. XD

I wonder who that could be??