I'm finally back! Whew, being in Tucson for so long, it feels weird to be back in NV time...anyways...

you know what i have discovered? it doesn't matter if the X-mas chappys are late! XD you know why? cause it doesn't need to be corespondent to the real time! i mean, like in the Harry Potter's, they celebrate X-mas right? but you could be reading the story in June! so it really doesn't matter that i'm late! in fact, i'm not late at all! YAY!

(cough) oops, here's the next chappy...XP

Part Thirty-seven:

"We're getting so many guests today, aren't we?" asked Rachel, smiling at Lark who nodded in agreement; trying to smother her giggle. Richard gave them both a withering look before opening the door. The two females couldn't see out the doorway, so they didn't see the rather ominous figure of Erik. Richard recognized him, though, as he opened the door. "Ah! If it isn't Monsieur Erik!" he exclaimed, pleased, "Come on in, sir, Lark's in the parlor." Rachel, on hearing his name, craned to see her small friend's guardian. Lark, however, glanced hurriedly at the clock above the Bair's mantle piece. "Oh, Erik's not going to happy…" she muttered, biting her lip. It had been more than three hours.

"Indeed. I assume that she hasn't disappeared?" Erik's curt reply to the question startled a laugh out of Richard. "No, sir, she has not." He admitted, "Though, I'm guessing you didn't expect for her to be away so long." Richard bowed apologetically and stepped aside, letting Erik come into the mansion's hall. He looked around, faintly impressed with the luxuriousness of the house; it wasn't everyday that you could see these sorts of mansions. The host only glanced once, curiously, at his guest's mask before leading him back into the parlor. Lark was sitting on the sofa looking relaxed while beside her sat a woman, her face hidden by the shadows cast by the fire that was crackling merrily in the fireplace.

Erik walked into the parlor room, feeling a little uncomfortable in the enclosed space. Lark looked up at him and smiled, completely bemused to see her guardian. "Um…hi Erik," she said innocently, "what brings you here?" He glowered at her and crossed his arms irritably. "I wouldn't be here if you knew how to keep time, Lark," he growled, not noticing the shadowed figure beside her. Lark looked at the clock above the mantle and then grinned. "Yeah, I'm kind of bad at that, aren't I?" He rolled his eyes and sighed, defeated. There was no way he could be serious around the girl; and her scatter-brained personality was hard to argue with. Lark got up obediently and stood next to Erik, dwarfed by his towering height.

"Why couldn't you tell it was past your three hours?" he demanded angrily, "Do you enjoy making me go even more insane with worrying about where you were?" She bowed her head guiltily. "No," she said, "I didn't mean to stay so late, but it wasn't Richard's fault! I was going to just visit them and then—then I would have…" Erik cut her off by clamping a gloved hand over her mouth before she could launch in her long confessions. "Forget it," he sighed, "it doesn't matter now, as long as you actually listen to me next time." He removed his hand from her mouth. Lark nodded, beaming up at Erik, and suddenly threw her arms around him in a tight hug, startling him. "Okay, Erik!" she chirped, "I'll listen next time!"

His face grew hot, unused to such affection, but he managed to stay still until the young girl released him. "Oh yes!" she exclaimed suddenly, "I forgot to introduce you to my new friend!" Erik's head cocked slightly to the side as he stared at Lark. "Who?" The shadowed figure rose and walked into the firelight. "I believe it is me, Monsieur, who Lark wants to introduce." A hard lump rose in Erik's throat as an almost criminally beautiful woman came into view, her lips curled into a welcoming smile and eyes sparkling in some sort of private joke. Lark grinned and nodded. "Erik," she said, unconsciously taking his gloved hand, "this is Richard's older sister and my new friend, Rachel!" Rachel beamed and glided over to where they were standing. "It's my great pleasure to meet the man Lark has been speaking so highly about!" she said happily. Erik couldn't breathe, but he managed to turn to Lark with curious stare.

"'Highly?'" he echoed, bemused. Rachel laughed pleasantly. "Oh yes, she really does admire you, Monsieur! Always talking about you and saying what you like and don't like…" His gold eyes flashed in surprise while Lark blushed and tried to hush the older woman. "Shh! Shh!" she tried to silence her friend, "Oh, Rachel, don't tell him that!" Rachel looked surprised, but one could tell she had planned that. "But why ever not, Lark?" she exclaimed as the child fussed, "You know it's true, and everyone needs a little praise." Lark groaned and hid her face in Rachel's shawl in embarrassment. The woman only laughed and smiled back at Erik, winking. The lump in his throat became almost unbearable. What was wrong with him?

Much to Lark's relief, Rachel had distracted Erik enough so that she had had time to hide her package beforehand. If he had seen it, there would be no doubt that he would want to go through it. "You both should stay for Christmas dinner," invited Richard, who had come into the parlor behind Erik, "as our thanks for letting Lark visit us." Lark squealed excitedly and pulled on Erik's arm, pleading. "Ooh, it would be so fun, Erik!" she squealed, "Can we? Please?" Rachel nodded solemnly, "It would be our pleasure to have some more company besides each other, Monsieur, if you and Lark joined us." Erik looked back and forth between the two pleading women and Richard's amused expression feeling bewildered and slightly irked.

"No," he said firmly, there was no need for them to be here at all. The other two adults looked at Lark, expecting for the girl's face to drop and for her to become sad; but it didn't happen. She just heaved a rather dramatic sigh and smiled at them. "Oh well," she said, walking past Erik. He watched her suspiciously, golden eyes fixed on the innocent expression of the child. "I guess that means I can't give you my gift." She sighed again and walked to the door. Erik pursued her. "What gift?" he demanded.

He's so bossy! i lurve him! (gets Punjabbed)