Ack, ack, so sorry! So sorry! Sudden Science Project snuck up on me. I procrastinated at the wrong time... Terribly sorry for the wait. I'm getting horrible at this, aren't I? Yes, I am. Anyways, here's your update! Apologies for the wait!!

DISCLAIMER: I haven't bought Phantom yet, so relax.


Part Twenty-nine:

There are many types of tension and some may be good or bad depending on situations and quite frankly no tension could have been like the one in the kitchen of that little house. This probably would have been a beautiful day for the skies were clear, bright blue and the air didn't have the dying heat waves any longer. Birds sang sweetly while a large crow or two cawed annoyingly among other noises of the late morning. Inside the kitchen where the tension lurked, Rachel observed the scene in an awkward silence. It seemed like an innocent enough picture with the three people sitting at the table together, a bowl of assorted fruits in the center of the table. Lark sat next to Erik while Richard sat across from Lark.

The young woman glared at her best friend with such fury Rachel was surprised the poor man didn't melt under her gaze. But perhaps it happened to be only because her gaze seemed off target from his face. More to over his shoulder and out the hall if one wanted to be specific. Richard, victim of this hate sent his own glare, different from the girl's. If the unease had been a cloud, it would have been pouring. Either way, both gazes made the air of the whole kitchen vibrate in its own tension. Erik, looking rather bored and unaffected by all this glanced up to meet Rachel's awkward eyes.

"Good morning," he said, "care to join our cheerful table?" His golden eyes rolled in annoyance but they smiled at her when they fixed themselves back on her face. She flushed slightly and settled down next to her brother who ignored her dutifully. Rachel looked at both of the competitors and sent a questioning stare at Erik who shrugged gracefully.

"They've been at it for a while now, mademoiselle." He said dryly, handing Lark an orange to tempt her into eating.

The blind girl took it after feeling his hand, but her anger barely allowed her fingers to wrap around it clumsily. She did not begin to peel it.

"All morning?" Rachel asked incredulously to no one in particular.

Her brother growled under his breath but still refused to speak. His older sister huffed and sat back, looking unhappily between them. A moment of the tense silence continued awkwardly. Then Lark broke the glare suddenly by shutting her eyes and relaxing against her seat. She then smiled sweetly in Rachel's direction, to the surprise of all of them.

"I'm so sorry," she said meekly, "I didn't mean to, Rachel. I was just a bit unhappy." She attempted to look back at Richard, but once again missed. "I apologize to Richard, too…"

Erik stared at his adopted child in mute observance but made no comment or signal that he found her sudden change in attitude odd. Rachel, relieved that one of them cracked got up and bustled around to make herself useful, stopping by the young girl to pat her fondly on the head.

"You are forgiven, dear," she assured her, "it seems almost shameful that a young, pretty girl has to apologize before some as old as Richard." She sent a meaningful glare down to her brother.

Richard, caught off guard by this, blushed shamefully. "I'm not that old…" he muttered, looking down. His older sibling snorted disbelievingly, an odd thing to hear from such a lovely person as herself. Indeed even Erik, who was beginning to feel like he could accept anything strange nowadays, looked up, cocking his head slightly. Rachel made her way over to her younger brother who scowled up at her defiantly.

"How old are we then if not 'old'?" she asked sourly. Lark suppressed a smile behind a hand as Erik smirked slightly. Richard's mouth remained a thin, tight line as he glared downwards.

"Exactly." Rachel said, putting her hands on her hips. "Twenty –eight isn't much of a spring chicken, now is it? Especially when one wants to join a childish sulking game."

Satisfied with this, the woman walked back over to the cabinets to see what she could make for her own hunger. Her younger brother barely held the urge to stick out his tongue at her behind her back as he always did as a small child. He hated the fact that she always seemed to win at everything, even their many, often pointless arguments. The tension had left, leaving the kitchen as peaceful as it should be. Richard cautiously glanced up at Lark and was bitterly disappointed to see that nothing seemed to affect her. She had stricken up a conversation with Erik who seemed rather grave.

Richard didn't bother to listen in to their topic. Instead, he ended up gazing at Lark, unwillingly admiring her. How could it be that she always seemed to pull off looking like an empress? A smile tugged on his lips as he noticed her hair, messed up from independent attempts. It seemed that she had refused any help from his sister this time in dressing herself. His smile faded when Lark's eyes flashed open, looking angrily in his direction, like she could sense his thoughts and strongly disapproved of them. He stood silently and left, disarmed by her scorching gaze. They had actually caught his eyes. Erik observed this absentmindedly and turned his attention to Lark again.

"We will be in need of you today," he told her again, softly.

Lark nodded solemnly while Rachel paused with a pounding heart at the counter, her back to them. Everything in her seemed to tremble with both excitement and worry.

"I'll be here," Lark said cheerfully, forcing a smile on her lips. Truly she was excited as well about all this, but inside she still felt so angry at Richard… How dare he threaten to expose her and Thomas when it happened to be Richard's fault that they had to meet in such a suspicious way! She now listened to her guardian and friend, nodding and agreeing about what she could do for them when Rachel would take off Erik's mask for the first time. Lark gave a shiver of delight. Oh how happy would Erik be if Rachel, too could accept him as she did so long ago! For the past few days Lark felt rather guilty that she had not paid much attention to her "father's" needs or hidden tips on how he felt. Now she would be able to help and make up for where she had failed to pay attention. Please, she said silently, let this be helpful to my Papa and Rachel. Let her see him for who he is…


I wanted this to be longer, but then it would've been...ah...too long. .;; Reviews are my life source! Thank you so much, readers for so diligently making them! I'm so grateful!

Erik: And so pathetic. It's a miracle they haven't murdered you. It's a miracle I haven't, now that I think about it...