About bloody time Erik realized Hope loved him...I say he earned browny points for apologzing for hurting her and then saying he needs to sort out his feelings for her. I think Hope can be patient with that as long as he doesn't go chasing after another girl...for if he does I think she might snap and pull a somewhat Erik manuevr and force Erik to marry her. The girl just went through two years and five months of watching the man she loves chasing after another woman...of course she is at a point where if there is a repeat she might snap.

Hope: I will not...I still have some sanity

Me: You're gonna need what's left then to help you keep your patience

Hope: -_-'

Me: I have a question...are you afraid things between you and Erik might be a bit awkward now that he knows you love him?

Hope: I don't think so...he did hug me.

Me: True...

Hope: Don't you have a story to write?

Me: *gasp* oh my gosh you're right!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own PotO or "My Jolly Sailor Bold".

Now enjoy the story my lovelies!

I poked my head out from the alley and looked around to see if it was safe. It was early morning and the police seemed to have left. I slipped back in the alley and knocked door to the secret passage. "It's safe." I annoucned.

Erik opened the door and I noticed he had changed into a dark grey evening suit and an old dark grey fedora that was tilted to cover some bandages that covered his deformity. He was leaning against a cane and I smirked. "I knew it. You are a boring old fart." I teased.

Erik playfully pretended to smack me in the head with his cane and he glared at me playfully. "It's just a disguise. Now this on." He instructed as he tossed over my duster coat that made it look like I had a dress on. "So that's where you disappeared to earlier. You went back and got our things." I commented as I pointed to the two luggages I noticed that were behind him.

He shrugged. "I made sure to check if the mob was gone before I came out." He assured me. I nodded and slipped on my duster coat. I buttoned it up and tied my hair back with a black ribbon. "Oh and you'll need this since all of Paris now knows who the l'ange des tenebres is." He told me as he placed his black fedora.

"I know it's not right but can you fetch the carriage?" He asked. I nodded and headed out of the alley. I called over a carriage and the carriage driver pulled over to the alley entrance and tiped his hat. "How can I help a beautiful lady like yourself this early morning?" He asked while flashing a smile with a few missing teeth and he gave a flirtaious wink. I felt a bit uneasy about the man.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked over to see Erik. "My niece and I need to return to our house that is outside of Paris. I'll pay you well for the journey and your silence." Erik assured him, while making his voice sound a bit older. The carriage driver nodded and climbed down and helped load our luggages.

"I take it you were returning from a trip and you were dropped off in the wrong spot?" He asked. Erik and I nodded as Erik opened the carriage door for me. He held out his hand and I took it as he helped me inside the carriage. He climbed in next to me and closed the door.

"Thanks for showing up. I had an uneasy feeling about him." I whispered. Erik looked over at me and nodded. "Anytime." He assured me. I looked at him curiously. "So what's really outside of Paris?" I asked. Erik chuckled.

"I did bought a house that is outside of Paris. It was orginally going to be Chrisitne, you, and I living there but I'm actually really glad it's just you and me living there." He admitted.

"Honestly, Erik, if you had your way with Christine...I wouldn't be living with you. I wouldn't be able to handle it." I admitted. Erik sighed and nodded. "I realize that now that I know who you were referring to. I was just being to selfish to think about how you would have felt." He admitted. I held his hand and gave a comforting squeeze.

"It's alright, Erik. I'm actually really glad it's still get to be you and I under the same roof. I think I would find life a bit boring living alone again." I teased, hoping my attempt to make him smile will work. He chuckled and smiled. I smiled back, happy that I did succed.

"True...besides...who else is going to be there to make me cite my ABCs when I'm drunk." He teased. I playfully smacked his shoulder. "Oh shush! I was trying to figure out how drunk you wre." I said defensively while pouting. Erik chuckled and I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"Well you should think about at least taking a nap. It's going to be a long ride." He told me. I groaned and rested my head against the side of the carriage. "Wake me up when we stop then." I grumbled and closed my eyes. I heard him chuckle softly and I smiled a little.

XxX

I woke up to someone's head falling onto my lap and I looked down to see Erik sleeping peacefully. I took off his dark grey fedora and petted his head. He must not have slept at all last night like he said he did. He needed the rest. Last night was pretty emotionally exhausting. I rested my head back against the side of the carriage. THe carriage slowed to the stop.

"The horses need rest. You can get out if you want but only for an hour." The driver called. I grimaced and peeked to see if he woke up Erik. Surprisingly, he didn't wake up Erik-whom is a very light sleeper. "Thank you, Monsieur." I called back and sighed heaily. Erik must have been very exhausted.

I started to hum "My Jolly Sailor Bold" from Pirates of the Carribean softly. I looked out the window while I continued to pet Erik's head, absentmindedly. "Did you write that?" Erik asked sleepily. I jumped and looked down to see Erik looking up at me with a curious sleepy look on his face. "Sorry. Did I wake you?" I asked. "A little but I don't mind, so did you write that?" He asked. I shook my head. "Nope. It's a song from a movie I loved watching." I told him.

He nodded and closed his eyes again. "I take it we stopped for the horses to rest for a bit?" He yawned. I nodded and yawned. "Just go back to sleep, Erik. You're exhausted." I mumbled. "Don't have to tell me twice." He mumbled sleepily.

I dozed back off to sleep. I woke up a little to someone trying to get me out of the carriage carefully. "Hope, you need to stay awak for a moment so I can get the luggage." Erik cooed. I groaned and letted him set me down on my feet.

I heard the carriage leave and I was picked up and carried bridal style. I dozed back off to sleep.

Well can't we say Hope and Erik are a bit tired from all of what happened in the last chapter. Don't worry. You'll find out what their new home looks like in the next chapter...let's just let Erik and Hope take a long nap.