AN: So... apparently whenever I make promises about updates, something tragic happens to my computer (I'm death to electronics). So I'm going to stop doing that. Just know that I AM working on this and I'll get things posted as soon as they're ready. :)

-0-0-0-

Christine

I don't know what I expected a wedding with Erik to be like. I hadn't given it a great deal of thought, really. But I can safely say that I never imagined us eloping to Vegas.

Of course… where else can a guy in a mask get married in the middle of the night with no advanced notice and a homeless guy paid to be a witness?

So, yeah, it was practical. Just not very… Erik. Erik was all elegance and passion just barely shrouded in calculated restraint. This plan… well… made sense. And Erik is not supposed to make sense.

That's not to say it wasn't interesting. No, everything with Erik is something of an adventure. Right down to the plane flight.

Did you know Erik is a pilot? I didn't. Then again, it doesn't exactly surprise me. He can do all sorts of things. Which I guess is reasonable, given how smart he is and how much time he's had to learn.

My car was somewhat nondescript (that is, both cheap and popular), so Erik wasn't too bothered about driving it, though he did change the license plate numbers twice—once when we left the house and again when we left the hospital—and abandoned it altogether when we reached the next city.

His nonchalance about the whole thing amazed me, a little bit. I guess because, when people do a lot of sinister things, you expect them to go slinking around the shadows and looking around suspiciously. Not Erik, though. He stands tall and commands attention… unless he doesn't want to be noticed, in which case you never see him at all. Sometimes it's like the rules of reality just… flex to obey him. Even when he was locked up in that cell, dirty and dressed in rags, there was something regal about him.

Now that I was thinking about it, I recalled the many visions and dreams I'd had of his life and realized that I've never seen him bow his neck to anyone. Not since he was a child and, even then, not willingly.

Unless I was involved, that is. Then he is almost slave-like in his devotion. I had no doubt he'd kneel before me if I asked him to. That's why I never asked him.

Anyway, Erik parked my car in a rental lot and, with an appraising look around, simply… chose a new one.

He opened passenger side door and ensured that I was secure and comfortable before moving around to his own side. He had only just shut his door when a man came running out of the rental-office.

"HEY!" he cried, "What are you doing? You can't just take that!"

Erik rolled down his window. He coolly chastised the man, "Now that was impolite." The guy's eyes clouded over a little. "I assure you, everything is in order. My, you are scatterbrained today! Have you forgotten so soon? Go back to your office; I am certain you will find all the paperwork you require." Without a nod or any sign of acknowledgement, the man turned on his heel and headed back to the office.

Erik watched him, hawk-like, for a time. As soon as he disappeared from view, Erik started the car (without a key!) and we sped off.

For a while I just stared at Erik questioningly. Was all this really necessary?

He shrugged and remarked, lightly, "Your check-engine light was on." As if that was even an issue for him. With an odd glint in his eye, he continued, "Besides… this one is faster."

I almost laughed aloud. Of course Erik wasn't even bothering to acknowledge the fact that he'd just committed a felony. He was just attempting to justify why we needed this car. Erik may have the attributes of a mythological being… but sometimes he is just such a guy.

We sped along the highway for another hour or so before Erik abruptly turned onto a side road that I swear I'd never notice before. When I mentioned that to Erik, he merely smiled and shook his head.

"My sweet, oblivious, Christine. You should pay more attention to what is around you." You'd think that would be an admonishment of some kind. Stop being stupid and unsafe. But I got the distinct impression that Erik found it endearing.

I think I understood why. He wanted to be needed. He was convinced that I needed his protection—whether I'd admit to it or not—and it pleased him anytime anything enforced his conviction that he was right. I could argue until I was blue in the face, but he wanted to believe that I'd simply fall apart without him, and there wasn't a lot I could do to persuade him otherwise. With the bond in place, it's not like I could very well run off and prove it to him.

He stroked my hand and the scowl faded off my face. I guess it really wasn't that important, anyway. We were stuck together, weren't we? If he wanted to believe he was the one thing standing between me and certain death in the big, bad world… what did it matter?

And… as outdated as it seems to admit… I think I like being taken care of. Don't tell him that, though.

We finally came to a stop at a private flight school. It suddenly dawned on me how many planes and helicopters I'd seen over my lifetime, considering we were a few hours away from the nearest major airport. I'd never given it a second thought before… but this makes sense.

Another thought crossed my mind. "Erik… a car was one thing but, you're not just going to run off with airplane, are you?"

"Why not?" he asked. "I own it."

-0-0-0-

As our car came to a halt, a smiling man came out of the building to greet us. One look at Erik, though, and his smile dropped. Actually, he looked downright terrified.

"Hello, Julian," Erik murmured. Erik looked like a cat about to pounce on a mouse—yellow eyes and all. I suspected his teeth might even be bared under his mask.

"E-Erik… I had-hadn't expected you. I thought… I thought…" The poor guy looked like he was going to faint or wet himself or something. I kind of felt bad for him. He obviously knew Erik. But… nobody really knew Erik fondly. I wonder what had traumatized him so much.

"You thought that I was out of your life forever, did you not? Well, I assure you, that is not the case. Why, Julian! You are positively shaking! What has you so afraid? Have you been naughty?" The man's eyes shifted; he was sweating now. "Did you think I would not find out?" Erik continued, bearing down on him threateningly. "Did you think you could deceive Erik and get away with it?"

The man—Julian, stuttered, "No… no, of course not. I just thought you were gone. It's been so long! I've taken care of your business, just like you said! It even turns a profit! Do you want to see the reports?"

"That will not be necessary. Besides, they will have been doctored, no doubt. No… I am simply in need of an aircraft for the next few days."

He breathed a little better after that, but his muscles were still tense, as if he might run. "Oh… well… most of what we have is either being rented or out for maintenance and repairs. We do have one small plane available… but I've got a lesson in an hour, so…"

"Reschedule," Erik commanded, simply.

"Look, I would—you know I would—but this client wouldn't take too kindly to it. Rich kid, you know, dad's real important…"

Erik clucked his tongue like a disappointed parent. "Julian… I am hurt! Truly! I believed you thought more of me than that. Perhaps it has been too long and you have forgotten what I am capable of." I could see his—Julian's—face turning almost purple.

I don't know why it was even a question. Yeah, I get not wanting to tick off big-shots and their spoiled children… but up against Erik? Isn't that a no-brainer? Maybe I'm biased. I've seen him do some crazy-scary stuff.

When he didn't answer after a few seconds, Erik continued with a long suffering sigh, "I think, Julian, that I should like to review those financial records, after all."

"NO!" he cried, and it made me quite curious what the guy had to be hiding. I tentatively reached out and felt Erik's emotions… whatever it was, he didn't seem to terribly upset about it. Just mildly annoyed and a little impatient.

Erik cocked his head slightly, as if daring Julian to give him a good reason not to.

"Take it! I'm sure the client won't mind. I'll just… I'll just get her fueled up for you, yeah?"

Erik nodded. "Very well. You do that. We shall be in my office."

"You have the key?" Julian asked, incredulously. "Nobody's been able to get into that room for years!"

Erik didn't respond at all. Just took my hand and led me away. We went down a long corridor and then some stairs and then Erik gestured to a steel door. It looked pretty banged up. Like someone had tried to force it open, tamper with the lock, and eventually used a welding torch on it. Erik rolled his eyes, did some fast and complicated rotations with the locking mechanism and swung the door open wide.

"Not even one of my more complicated locks," he muttered… more exasperated than bragging.

"How did you know that guy was embezzling money?"

He looked at me and blinked a few times. Sometimes I think he forgets that the things that are obvious to him aren't to the rest of us. It's not anyone's fault (I'm trying not to feel stupid, here) he's just had more time to observe people.

"Surely you noticed how agitated he was," he explained. "Since I have done nothing to him, it stands to reason that he had done something to me. And, with men such as he, finances are usually a fair place to begin. Guesswork and assumptions, really. I believe the expression has something to do with giving a man enough rope to hang himself."

"Huh," I said, unhelpfully. "So… um… this place is yours?"

"In a manner of speaking. I purchased it about twenty-five years ago—Julian was a young man, then, with great passion and little business sense—and turned it around. I helped him manage his debts and allowed him to retain the public image of ownership. In exchange for my services… he became something of an errand-boy to me. I used him to carry out tasks that I found impossible or distasteful for reasons that… I am sure you have ascertained by now."

I wasn't really sure, actually. Did he mean things like grocery shopping or, like… hiding murdered bodies? Because, really, 'impossible or distasteful' could mean a whole spectrum of things in Erik's world.

That would explain why the poor guy was so terrified of him, though. Working closely with or for Erik would have given him a taste of what he was capable of. And, yeah… in his shoes, I wouldn't want to upset Erik, either!

Erik must have considered the discussion closed, because he turned his back to me and began tinkering with something in his desk. There was an audible 'click' and then Erik made a hum of satisfaction as he removed what appeared to be a false bottom in one of the drawers.

From inside, he withdrew a folded envelope, a fat bundle of cash and a tiny bag which he later revealed to contain assorted keys and a few gemstones. He placed them in a pocket inside his jacket and turned back to me.

He was very serious when he spoke to me next. "My accounts were frozen twenty years ago, many of my assets seized. But, I want you to know… it is important that you know, angel, that I can take care of you. Will you believe that much, at least? Erik will always take care of you."

I was oddly touched that he brought it up. The sight of money had caused my gut to clench and my stress levels soared. I hadn't given much thought to finances until then… but seeing that bundle brought reality crashing down on me. For the last few days I'd been living in this sort of dream-world. But this was real-life and in real-life you need things to survive and those things cost money. The 'how are we going to make this work' question had hit me like a rock. My own funds were always close to nil, and neither one of us were in an ideal position to find jobs.

If Erik was alone, I suspect he'd have been perfectly content to go around extorting and manipulating people to give him whatever he wanted, but the fact that he recognized that I was uncomfortable with that level of dishonesty and sought to address it with me… well, it was sweet. And I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I just blinked at him, but my emotion must have come through because Erik's eyes seemed to soften a bit.

"Come along, my dear," he said, taking my hand. "It is time we departed from this place."

Julian was bouncing around nervously about ten feet from the door, when we went to leave. Kind of like he was afraid to get any closer.

"It's ready for you," he stammered.

"Well done," Erik replied, coolly. He walked quickly with long strides and both Julian and I ended up jogging to keep up. It was a pride thing, on my part; I didn't want anyone to see Erik drag me anywhere.

"The car we arrived in will need to be returned. Can I trust you to see to that?"

"Y-yes, sir," the poor man panted.

"Excellent. I am pleased with you." Erik stopped at the edge of the plane and helped me inside. Then he turned back to Julian and handed him the envelope he had dug out of his desk earlier. "I find that I am no longer in need of your services." The guy shrunk even further… I understood, sort of, because it seemed like the kind of thing a villain would say in a movie before killing off one of his cronies.

"Stand up and have a little pride, man!" Erik snapped. Julian nervously opened the envelope and his eyes widened. "Today is a joyous day—I am to be married—and so I have decided to give you a gift. This is the deed to your… little company. You will find all the paperwork in order. I shall not trouble you again."

So, that was that. We boarded the plane and… flew off.

-0-0-0-

Once we were well on our way, Erik turned to me with hopeful eyes.

"You are pleased with Erik, are you not? I have done a good thing for you?"

Well that was a bizarre question. "What are you talking about?"

"I sensed that you had a… kinship… with that man. I could feel it, Christine, do not deny it. I would have killed him, but I did not. I did not for you. Does that please you, angel? Will you love me now? Erik has been kind to two men… two in one day!"

Agh. Is that not totally heartbreaking, or what? Seriously… he's like a child, sometimes.

"Of course it pleases me! But… it wasn't like that, you know. I didn't have any feelings for him. I just felt bad for him, you know, because he was so scared."

"Yes, yes… sympathy… pity. You are so good at that. So good to strangers." Odd, but I couldn't tell if there was bitterness in those words. Couldn't tell if he was fond or angry. The emotion he was projecting was jumbled up, as well, so I didn't know what to make of that.

He shook his head—like a dog shaking off water—and changed his tone. "It matters not, I suppose. Christine will love me when we are married. Yes, then Erik will have a wife and he will be loved."

"Oh Erik… is that what this is about?"

He didn't answer; I'm not sure if I wanted him to or not. "Look, angel! We are going to land soon."

I my jaw dropped a little. "Vegas?"

-0-0-0-

The whole experience was bizarre, to say the least. Erik just marched along as if he had a plan and knew exactly what was going on. I didn't know how that could be possible, though, since we were practically attached to each other and I don't know when he would have had a chance to plan anything. I figured I'd just roll with it, though. His confidence gave me confidence, so I let him take the lead.

I was doing that more and more, lately. Letting him take over. Not like… him forcing control over me like he did before. Rather like me giving it to him freely. It was an odd sensation, not fighting. On the one hand, I felt like I should feel guilty for being weak and giving up so easily. On the other hand, I couldn't seem to make myself feel that way.

Erik didn't have mixed feelings about it at all. He was pure ecstasy every time my resistance slipped. It must be nice… to be absolutely sure of your feelings. To not be wrestling with your emotions all the time, like I was.

He secured a cellphone, first, and started making calls. I don't know who he was calling. Wedding chapels? Hotels? Evil henchmen? It was hard to tell… he's always so vague and mysterious when he talks. That's probably on purpose, come to think of it. If someone was trying to eavesdrop (like I was doing), they wouldn't really be able to tell what Erik was up to.

I found my mind drifting to different topics as I waited for him to complete whatever business he was planning. How were we going to make this happen? I kept staring at Erik's mask. Would they tell him to take it off? At least to sign the certificates and such. He wouldn't do it, of course, and given enough money, I suppose they'd be willing to overlook that sort of thing. But, still… it wasn't fair, was it, that someone would even bring it up? It was a touchy subject for Erik; it just didn't seem right to ruin his moment by mentioning his mask.

A thought occurred to me. Maybe I could help with that… make it more normal.

When Erik finished his phone call I asked him, "How do you feel about a themed wedding?"

His mien was one of hesitant disapproval—no doubt imagining gaudy lights and Elvis impersonations—though it quickly changed as I detailed my vision of a grand masquerade.

-0-0-

Funny thing about big cities—you can parade around in a gown and mask with an incarnate Red Death on your arm and nobody gives you more than a cursory, passing glance.

Erik was tense as a bowstring, but I did my best to act as if nothing was off. I chattered on about all sorts of random things that I don't think he was listening to, but that filled the silence. Occasionally I'd feel a swell of gratitude pass my direction, though.

When we reached our destination—a nice hotel with a ballroom for weddings—I found myself enamored with what Erik could throw together given a vague idea and a little bit of time. It was magical… in an eclectic, gypsy sort of way. There were guests… wearing mismatched clothes or rags, some with sparkly costume-shop masks and some with simple bandanas across their faces. I looked to Erik, questioningly.

With a shrug, he explained, "A man asked me for money, while you were changing. I told him to gather his friends and meet us here at the appointed time… that I would give a thousand dollars to anyone who showed up in a mask."

I took a second to phrase what I wanted to say tactfully. "That was… very generous of you."

"You are surprised I did not murder him."

"That's not what I…"

"It is what you meant. Do not worry, though, Erik forgives you." His voice was light, but I saw him look away and swallow visibly. "I meant only to please you, angel. Besides that, I…"

He looked confused. His head tilted ever so slightly and I could see him scowling even through that horrid skull-mask he was wearing.

"What is it?"

"I have… been… in that man's place. Hungry and cold. When I saw him I felt… I felt something foreign. Something I cannot articulate." He projected his emotions to me more strongly… a little like a frustrated kid, thrusting his homework at a parent to see if they can make sense of a math problem.

"Compassion," I translated. "You saw someone in need and you wanted to help them. That's compassion."

"Is it? I always thought… never mind."

"Have you never… I mean… you've never felt compassion before?"

He was silent for a moment. "Perhaps I have. It would have been so long ago… it is difficult to recall." Then, just like that, his emotions slammed down like they were beaten out of existence.

"I suppose it is lucky that he did not mean to pickpocket me… this would have gone down much differently for him, if that had been the case. But… it is of no consequence now. I hope I have made my bride happy. I wish for her to remember this as a happy day."

And I did… for the most part…