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DISCLAIMER: No Phantom ownage for me... maybe I can PWN it? Haha. Lame joke. XP

Part Thirty-six:

Erik spluttered and blushed shamefully as Lark stood confidently, arms crossed most unladylike in front of her chest.

"How did- I didn't- What?" He finally got out, staring hard at the girl before him. "You don't know what you're talking about."

She snorted disbelievingly and her dull, glassy eyes rolled back a moment in her head. Both she and her guardian knew exactly what they were both talking about without a doubt. Erik would only be fooling himself if he tried to talk his way out of this one. And Lark wasn't about to let him, either. It wouldn't be something she'd be able to overlook and leave be. She secretly hoped that Thomas would not be so dramatic over things such as this.

"Mon bonté, Erik!" Lark replied, grinning exasperatedly, "How could I not know what I speak of? Rachel and you, don't you try to discourage me, are crazy for each other. Vrai amour, tu comprendre."

Erik ran a hand down his mask, face burning underneath. He and Rachel tried to keep their affections hidden from the others, relying on Lark's blindness to hide small gestures they gave each other and Richard's obliviousness to the world for the rest. Unfortunately, the blind young woman seemed more perceptive than they hoped she would be. Now to make things perfect, Richard would have to have realized this as well. Most embarrassing. Especially when Lark seemed to have known all along. For how long, Erik could only wonder.

"How can you be so sure?" Erik asked lamely, trying to seem offhand even though the very thought of anything to do with weddings and bonding made his heart race overtime. "Perhaps you are mistaken." Right. And the sky above would turn purple with green clouds. Lark scowled deeply.

"The tension in every room you and she are in is unbearable. A babe would be able to see that you two are obviously in love." She remarked, setting off towards the back of the house to fetch another carriage. "Come, I can help you pick the best one out there!"

Still stunned, blushing, and completely embarrassed Erik followed grudgingly, wishing with all his might Rachel had never left to have him deal with so much stress.

O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Richard seemed to be picking up a habit of boredom these days for he did nothing but wander and read very little the entire afternoon. It didn't pass in his mind of the whereabouts of Lark for with Erik gone, she couldn't be with anyone else but with her dark foster father. He sat in the kitchen and barely batted an eye when they entered later that night. He only looked up when Lark stood right next to him and hugged him gleefully around his head squealing about something in such a high-pitched voice, it seemed to be a miracle Richard didn't loose hearing in that left ear of his. Erik took a seat across from them both, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I take it," Richard commented, his voice muffled by the smothering embrace encased around his head, "that you both have something to tell me?"

Erik smirked a bit at the scene before him but nodded all the same. Lark released her friend a bit unwillingly and threw herself ungracefully into a chair, almost missing the seat by inches. Richard seized her shoulder to steady her, but released the girl quickly and turned his full attention to the tall man before him expectantly. Erik coughed.

"Well," he began slowly, "it has been called to my attention that you know of your sister's and my…feelings for each other."

Lark smothered a smile in her hands while Erik glared for only a moment before continuing.

"I have been told by Rachel specifically that your parents are both deceased. As I see it, the agreement must come from you instead." He grimaced. "I would like to request your consent, Richard, to marry your sister."

There was a tense silence as Richard eyed Erik coolly, contemplating in his mind what he should choose. Truly, he did not mind the would-be groom himself. He knew just by looking at this creature that Erik had had his own share, perhaps more than he deserved, of hardships. Rachel, though, would be a different story. Even back in their youth, Rachel expected nothing from others and found joy in whatever she had. Richard turned out to be the opposite, always needing something else, or searching for one more thing that would hopefully make his life completely happy.

Richard knew he could say no to this proposal and the other man would respect it, even if it harmed him inside. It would give him no satisfaction, though. Rachel probably didn't even know that the man she loved would marry her in a heartbeat. She would not be affected by any of this. She would continue to love like there could be nothing in this world that she needed more. And he was angry. Angry at her for not needing anything yet always getting something while Richard himself knew what he wanted, but would never receive. His suddenly enraged eyes glanced at Lark and the fire dimmed. His shoulders slumped and he left out a sigh.

"I thank you, Erik for asking me," he replied, "but there was no need to see me. I wouldn't have stopped you even if you had not sought out my permission."

Erik turned his head, confused but the ecstatic light could not be extinguished from his golden eyes. He started to thank his future brother-in-law but Richard cut him off with an almost irritated wave.

"You may marry Rachel if you wish." Richard said flatly, his face emotionless. "I don't care. My good wishes for you both."

With that, the younger pushed away from the table and walked away from the kitchen that was filled with sudden, happy squealing of Lark's joy and congratulations. She did not notice Richard's absence.

"Rachel still has to agree," Erik reminded her, pushing the overly enthusiastic girl away from him though he smiled behind his mask. "And for that she has to come back."

Lark attempted to smother her guardian with hugs again.

"She will!" she gushed, "Oh, she will, she will!"

O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Back in Paris in the large house of the Bair's, lights flooded the single workroom where the painting sat gleaming with fresh paint. Much work on it had been completed, though there certainly could be more still to come. Rachel stood back thoughtfully, her hair pulled back messily and her dress and arms covered with both old and new paint smudges. Sometimes, even she could be impressed with her own work. Her brush carefully placed behind her ear, she rested from several hours of repainting, scraping, and drying with much success.

Anyone who would ever attempt to disturb her would be lashed out at and met violently with a half empty paint can. This was the work area. This was business. There could not be any distractions for her or else she would not be able to re-enter her "creative state of mind" as she put it once to her brother. Still, Rachel did admit to herself that she wouldn't be bothered too much had Erik gone with her. Then again…

She shook her head and cleaned out her dirty brush water bucket, glancing at the sketches next to the little sink conveniently installed for her workroom. What a face to paint, Erik's. It had to be perfect or she would never be satisfied. As she gazed fondly at the horrific face, a burst of joy erupted in her and she felt like dancing and spinning. Being alone with herself she complied for only a moment before stopping, dizzy.

"What was that about?" she wondered out loud, laughing at herself.

Pardon my French. P I'm not terribly good at it, but I like to add it in now and then...