Author's note: Please read this chapter even if you are not interested in Meg's POV, you may find her POV is quite fun! And the middle part is Christine's POV so read on!

Enjoy!

Meg

I sat to the side of the stage, pretending to stretch and watched three of my former friends flirting with Cameron. Julie was the ring leader. She laughed and tittered, touching his arm in a familiar manner and I almost growled. She had no interest in him and yet, would flirt just to make me mad. She was such a cow. I could hardly believe that I'd called her my best friend at one point. Christine showed me what true friends are like.

I glanced at Christine out in the audience area sitting with Erik. Their heads were close as they spoke of something and Christine suddenly laughed and touched Erik's leg. I smiled at the sight they made. I liked to give them trouble, but it was mostly because I was jealous. They were so in love and so blissfully happy and so in tune with one another. Who wouldn't want to be in love like that? I sighed and glanced back at Cameron. His eyes were on me and I smiled for him before lowering my eyes demurely and stretching my chest down to the floor.

I tried not to grin at the thought that he may still be watching me, even though Julie was trying her best to keep his attention. I still had yet to figure out how he felt about me. He was always kind and gentlemanly and was a wonderful friend, funny too, but he often made conversation with every girl who crossed his path. He was definitely a smooth talker. He often had not only me, but every woman he spoke to, giggling like a child. After spending one afternoon and a few dinners at his house with him and his grandmother, I decided that he didn't know what he wanted yet and was keeping his options open.

I heard him laugh and glanced back at the group to find Julie massaging his shoulders. She gave me a prissy smile behind his back and I schooled myself to look away and ignore her. Being Christine's friend was also teaching me how to be more ladylike and though I wanted to sneer and stick out my tongue at Julie, I decided to get up and go through some of the dances without music. Christine had kindly mentioned that Cameron's eyes always followed me when I danced, so I hummed a few bars of music and began twirling. No one was on the stage so I had the entire floor to move on and I used it. Dancing was the only time I ever felt free and I gave everything to the music when I danced.

My mother's nagging meant nothing, Julie and the other dancers' abandonment meant nothing, even Cameron's flirting meant nothing while I was dancing. I finished one of my solos and feminine clapping got my attention. I spun around and grinned at Christine who was smiling right back at me.

"Brava!" She called out and Erik almost smiled too.

"Thank you darling," I took an extravagant bow as much more masculine clapping tore my eyes from Erik and Christine. Cameron was clapping for me as well and I met his solemn eyes with my own.

"You were born to dance, Mlle Giry." He gave me the compliment right in front of everyone and I felt an uncharacteristic blush warm my cheeks.

"Merci Comte." My stomach fluttered nervously as he wheeled himself closer, leaving Julie and her minions behind. His dark brown eyes did not leave my face and I felt myself moving to the front of the stage, where he was headed, without actually making that mental decision.

"You have such effortless grace, it is not something that can be taught. You don't even need music to keep an audience riveted." The compliments rolled off his tongue and even as my heart sped to hear him say such things about me, my brain told me that he probably said it to all the dancers.

"Thank you again, but you will give me a swelled head with all this talk."

"We could speak of other things?" He smiled warmly at me and my lips curled with him, unable to resist.

"Such as?" I sat at the front of the stage.

"Oh, the weather in Spain, the price of a new pair of shoes or maybe why your mother hates me?" he asked softly with a curious light in his chocolate eyes.

I looked down at my knees as my face flushed. He knew my visits to his home were not allowed and most often Erik and Christine were my cohorts. "She doesn't hate you..." I started, but couldn't figure out what to say.

"Then why is she storming over to us right now." I looked around madly for my mother, but she was no where in sight, and Cameron laughed. "Just kidding." He grinned at me and I fixed him with a glare, even though his joke was a good one.

"Maybe she doesn't like jokers?" I wished my hair was down so I could play with it, but it was tucked away in its customary bun.

He was still laughing and enjoying his joke, "Maybe she doesn't like cripples?"

"Don't say that word," I grumbled and suddenly spied Albert Rinton walking hesitatingly down the aisle. I jerked and stood quickly and I saw Erik stand to come to my defense. Cameron glanced behind himself and his laughter died.

"Monsieur Rinton?" He turned his chair around and Albert looked frightened.

"Comte Inninbalm." He bowed his head and then glanced at me quickly. "Bonjour Meghan." Cameron cleared his throat and Albert's eyes widened. "I mean Mademoiselle, Bonjour Mademoiselle Giry." He stepped forward and I could see Erik relax and sit back down beside Christine, even though their eyes stayed on this little show that I was the star in. "I wish to apologize for my behavior and I beg that you will forgive me. I swear I will never again..." his voice dropped, "Do what I did...to any woman. I am an ill bred scum who deserves any hatred you hold towards me and I will try for the rest of my life to make it up to you."

It did not sound like anything Albert would have come up with on his own and I looked at Cameron. He was watching me again and I felt my brow furrowing in anger. Was this some kind of test? Was this his way of acting as my knight? If it was, it sucked.

"Thank you Albert. Very nicely said, but I have already forgotten all about you and don't really want to look at your face ever again, let alone for the rest of my life. Do you think you could just leave me alone instead? Maybe get run over by a carriage too while you're at it?" With that I turned away from both men and went to hide at the side of the stage.

I was so mad at Cameron for humiliating me like that. I wanted to storm to the front of the stage, rip my slippers off and toss them at his head. How dare he make a public spectacle of my private business? I wouldn't have cared if he humiliated only Albert, but to make him apologize publically. Not only that, but to prepare him a speech too!

"Pompous, arrogant flirt!" I growled as I spied Cameron leaving the auditorium. Christine came quietly into the corner where I was childishly hiding and gave me a pitying look. "I hate him," I spat out, itching to go shove his chair over and watch him wiggle on the floor.

"You don't hate him," she put her arms around me, the epitome of reason.

"Yes, I do." I grumbled as I nuzzled into her hug. She was a good hugger. She had the ability to make me feel so right sometimes, like I was the center of her universe.

"Hate and love are both strong emotions," she patted my hair lovingly. "He probably thought you would want Albert to publicly debase himself."

"Hrmmph," I huffed and finally let go of Christine. "For a smart man, he's incredibly stupid."

"Erik went to speak to him. Maybe he will be able to shed some light on this...quandry we are all in."

I waved angrily, "What quandry? He doesn't care at all about me. He's a wanton flirt who would just as easily break my heart as make it soar."

"Now, Meg, Cameron is a gentleman. To give attention to anyone means he must give his attention to all."

I crossed my arms at her logic. "So is Erik not a gentleman then, because he gives all his attention to you?"

"Erik sees things a little differently. He doesn't think it's rude to only pay attention to me. He was not brought up like Cameron," her face looked distant and sad for a moment and then she caught herself and smiled at me. "And I know you don't hate him."

"Hmmph," I could only grunt.

"I've never seen anyone make you blush like he can. What did he say to turn you so red?" She was curious as a kitten and I squirmed on my feet.

"Nothing..." I looked off to the side, hoping she would let it go and she did. She was the best of friends.

"Well, did you notice how scared Albert looked? I wonder what Cameron did to make him so scared?" Before we could speculate any further, the music stand was rapped for our attention. Monsieur Reyer was back at his post and looking for everyone's eyes.

"From the top!" he called out and Christine waved as she dashed across to the other side of the stage where she would enter from. I leaned on the wall, already close to my starting position and grumbled to myself about men and their complicating gestures.

"Why did Al apologize to you?" Julie asked sweetly from my left.

"None of your business." I sneered at her, curling my lip up in disgust.

"Oh, is the poor baby jealous?" She flashed her teeth at me in an attempt at a smile and I uncrossed my arms and stood up to her.

"Why would I be jealous of an orphaned, old witch like you?"

Her face flickered and then turned nasty. "At least I don't have a crazy mother," she hissed. "You know craziness is heriditary?"

"Your mother probably left you in the street herself."

"You are just mad because I monopolize all of your boyfriend's time."

"And you are ugly," I stated matter-of-factly and she threw herself at me. We toppled over with a crash and she was pulling at my hair while I tried to wrestle out from under her. "Get off me, you're so heavy!"

"You think you're so great!" Her nails scratched at my face and I had to quickly grab her wrist to keep from getting claw marks on my cheek. A few men began pulling Julie off me and I brushed at my clothing while others helped me up.

"Keep your claws to yourself, you she-beast!" I touched my face where I thought she might have got me and came away with blood.

Julie pulled against her captors, "You've had it coming for a long time," she growled, "Always acting like you own the place."

"Don't get mad at me because no one wants you anymore. Even Raoul dropped you like a hot coal." It was extremely cruel of me to bring up Raoul when she'd told me in confidence that she hadn't seen him in quite some time and was hurt by his abandonment. I was hurt by hers! And she scratched my face! Wasn't I allowed to be mean?

"Meghan!" A cane rapped the floor of the stage and people scattered. My mother's face was harsh and though it softened when I met her eye, I still knew she was angry at me, again. "Come here," she demanded and I came quickly. Her hand touched my cheek and I thought I could maybe get out of this because I'd been injured. "Go see Francois and he will clean this, we don't want it to get infected."

That was all she said and she turned to Julie with a frown. I scampered off, glad that I dodged that! I hurried into the hall and Cameron and Erik were twenty feet from the door, in a heated discussion. They both stopped talking and looked at me. Erik reacted first, or maybe he just moves faster.

"Meghan! Your face? What happened? Is Christine alright?" He looked off to the auditorium and I laughed dryly.

"She's fine for now, but if Julie would cut me up then she probably dreams of doing much worse to Christine."

"Julie did this?" Cameron asked, coming close, with concern on his face.

"What do you care?" I felt petulant and my cheek was beginning to throb.

"I care," he said softly and Erik gave him a look before carefully inspecting my cheek.

"Go see Francois," he ordered and I rolled my eyes.

"That's where I'm trying to go, but everyone keeps stopping me." A little exaggeration never hurt.

"Go," Erik's brow was furrowed at me and I sighed heartily before continuing on my way.

"Meghan?" Cameron's voice sounded strained and I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Erik was gone and only Cameron was left in the hall with me. I stopped and raised my eyebrows at him, waiting for whatever he wanted to say. He did not speak but came closer and closer until he was right next to me. His knee brushed my leg and he took my hand to squeeze it tightly. "I do care about you, Meghan." His eyes were searching mine and they pierced me with his conviction. If I wasn't already jaded of men, and him included, I might have believed that he was trying to tell me he loved me.

I gently took my hand from his. "Maybe you should let me tend to my cheek, Julie isn't the cleanest person around." I had to throw in an insult towards her so he wouldn't even consider her as a possible paramour.

"We need to speak privately, Meghan." Now he looked distressed and those large brown eyes reminded me of a puppy dog's forlorn gaze.

"If this is about Albert, forget it, no big deal, what's done is done..." I backed up as I babbled, feeling way too hopeful at the look on his face.

"This is not about Albert." His eyes seemed to drink me in, "This is about us." He looked so sincere, like he wished there could be an us but circumstances were beyond his control. The look made my heart race, but I knew I should be reasonable.

"There is no us." I was able to keep the tears from filling my eyes as he tore to the surface all my dreams of love and children with him. Why did I still want to bear his children when he was a shameless flirt? Who knows! I had no answers about the way he made me feel or about the things I wanted to do to him...

"There better not be!" my mother's hard voice cut through my thoughts and she was there, with Julie by the arm, glaring at me and Cameron both.

"Francois!" I turned and ran down the hall to Francois' modest first aid room. He might not even be there but there was a bell that would summon him if he wasn't.

The cut was not too deep but the she-beast clawed three nails about two inches down my cheek, the middle scratch the deepest and bleeding. I hoped it wouldn't scar, but I was not thinking positively about it. It probably would scar and I would be so hideous that no man would want me.

I immediately felt childish for thinking such a thing. Erik's face was half missing and torn by nails as well and yet Christine loved him dearly. Was I so shallow that I thought only physical appearance would matter? I shuffled down the hall back to the auditorium, wanting to delay the rest of this day. Maman was going to lecture me about pursuing inappropriate men and the dangers of taunting other girls and on and on until I thought of smothering myself in my pillow. Christine would want to talk about Julie, and I would have to warn her to watch out for her nails. Cameron wanted to talk to me about us...

My heart fluttered with hope and I stopped outside the auditorium to lean against the wall. Why would he suddenly want to talk to me privately? What exactly did Erik say to him? If he told him I was pining for him I just might scratch Erik myself. I peeked into the grand room to see if Erik was sitting with Christine again, but she was alone and the chorus was running through a number.

"What are you doing?" Erik asked from behind me and I jumped and spun to find him a few feet away.

"I don't want to go back in yet," I whispered, moving closer to him so our voices could stay low.

"Your mother is still in the office with Cameron and Julie," he was studying the job Francois had done on my cheek.

"I'm not hiding from Maman," I tried to make him believe it but he raised his eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes. "So why is she in there with Mr Wheels and the she-beast?"

Erik's lips quirked at my nicknames and he led me slightly further from the door and around a corner. "We may fire Julie but she has no where to go. Cameron doesn't like the thought of throwing her onto the streets even though I don't particularly care what he does with her. Your mother wants her gone and she is very determined once she sets her mind to something. I agreed with her and it was only Julie's weeping and Cameron's stubborness that have them still in there deciding."

"Stupid Mr Wheels, siding with the she-beast..." I grumbled and Erik touched me on the arm.

"Do you not like Cameron?" he searched my face and I felt myself blushing.

I shrugged, uncomfortably, and tried to explain. "It's not that I don't like him, I just don't like some of the things that he does. Like flirt with anything with breasts and embarrass me in front of everyone with Albert..."

"I told him you didn't like that," Erik looked smug.

I had a strong urge to shove him, "Why didn't you stop him before he did it?"

"He doesn't share his every move with me," Erik looked at me like I was naive. "I could tell by your face that you were not happy with what transpired."

"What girl would like to have her laundry aired in front of everyone..." I was back to grumbling.

"He thought you might give Albert another chance."

"WHAT?" I goggled at Erik and he shushed me quickly. "Why," I hissed, "Would he EVER think that?"

"Well, you were intimate with him." Erik was studying me with those sharp eyes of his and I felt the blush rising up my face.

"I didn't realize it was such common knowledge," I gritted out between my teeth.

"Apparently Albert told him everything." My cheeks could not redden any more as I recalled everything that I'd done with Albert and now knowing that Cameron knew. No wonder he wasn't interested in me. "Meghan," Erik held my hand, his face showing his concern. "I have told Cameron he is a fool. He must get married and produce an heir to gain back his inherited lands and he thinks you are beautiful, but he doesn't want to tie you down."

"What? Isn't that what happens when you get married?" He thought I was beautiful?

"He thinks that by marrying you it would cripple your spirit." I was glad that Erik was revealing all this to me but it was making me think Cameron really was stupid.

"That is just dumb." I didn't know what else to say.

"I should not have broken his confidence like this, but the two of you are driving me insane. If he asked you, would you marry him?" Erik's piercing grey eyes were searching mine for the answer to his question and I looked away.

"I don't know, does he even know if he can have children?"

"Now that is something he certainly has not shared with me," Erik sounded like he was laughing at me and I glanced at him quickly.

"I probably would say yes," I replied quietly. "I really like him, Erik. He's so funny and sweet, even though he flirts with EVERYONE. But Maman would never let me."

"I can take care of her," Erik grabbed my chin to make me look at him. "Do you want him, Meghan?" His direct gaze was hard to look away from and the intensity in his eyes made me feel like he could make any dream come true.

"Yes," I answered weakly. Erik relaxed and released me and glanced around the empty hall.

"I will make it happen for you and for him. You are both being foolish about this. Now you best get back to rehearsal."

I hurried back into the auditorium with Erik's words swirling in my head. 'I will make it happen for you.'

Christine

I was packing a small bag of clothing when Meg knocked on my door and came in. Today was Christmas Eve and we were spending the next few days at Nadir's. There was no rehearsal until after Christmas, to give everyone a small break before debuting Hannibal and beginning a long series of performances. Meg looked fit to burst and her poor cheek was red and bandaged.

"He thinks I'm beautiful, Christine!" she beamed and then grabbed her face. "Ouch! Argh that cow!" she fumed. "Now I'm not beautiful anymore! Oh if I get a chance I'm going to..."

"This is from Erik," I handed her a small jar of ointment that Erik had made last night after the fight, hoping it would interrupt her tirade. The whole opera house was ablaze with theories of the fight and what the outcome would be. The talk annoyed me. Why didn't people just mind their own business? "He said to apply it tonight and make sure you do not sleep on it after you apply a thin layer. Use it every night and the cuts will vanish in about four days."

"Vanish?" Her face looked unsure as she took the jar. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.

"I don't know?"

"Don't you wonder?" she gave me a look and I shrugged lightly.

"It will work. Erik is a genius." I turned to grab the small parcel that I'd carefully wrapped. "Merry Christmas!" I handed Meg the fine gloves I'd monogramed with her initial.

"Oh," she squealed and hugged me. "I left your present for tomorrow. Maman said we will join you and the Karans for supper. Can I bring it then?"

"Of course, Erik already told me you were coming and I wanted you to be able to wear that tomorrow."

Meg's face looked thoughtful as she gently felt the package, I thought she was trying to determine what was inside but she startled me. "Maman suddenly decided we would join you when I figured it was the last thing she wanted to do...did Erik hypnotize her do you think?"

"He wouldn't..." I started and Meg cut me off.

"He told me about Cameron." Her eyes were huge with hope. "Erik says he can make it happen, says we are being foolish, says Cameron wants me. Do you think it's all true? Can all my dreams come true?" she was trembling and I sat her on the bed.

"If Erik says it is so, then I believe him. He does not tell lies, Meg."

"He needs to produce an heir, apparently, but doesn't want to use me," she rolled her eyes. "Little does he know, I want him to use me over and over..."

"Meghan!" I put a hand to my chest in shock and she giggled.

"Oh please," she laughed, "We're all girls here." I started giggling with her, knowing exactly how she felt. Erik could have me a million times and I would still want more.

Meg left shortly and I continued packing. Erik picked me up around eleven and we made our way to Nadir's.

"Are you excited?" I asked him, lifting my cheek from his shoulder where it had rested for some time.

"You will have to be more specific, my love? Excited about what? You?" his hand trailed gently down my side and I moved closer.

"Naughty, naughty..." I laughed lightly as I kissed his mouth playfully. "I meant about Christmas."

Erik pulled me closer, his hands fully caressing my waist and hips. "No," he said simply and then seared me with a heart stopping kiss. My breath was stolen as I melted against him, heat flushing through me. He ended it just as quickly and sat away from me, though his breath was uneven.

I sagged against the seat, not quite steady, and tried to recall what I just asked him. Was he trying to distract me? Was the question that intrusive?

"I'm sorry, Christine," he spoke softly, entwining our hands.

"Sorry? For what?" I was still muddled.

"I...I was trying to distract you, so you wouldn't be angry that I was not excited about Christmas."

I laughed. "I would never refuse a kiss from you, but that wasn't necessary, Erik." My face was spread wide in a smile and Erik looked serious.

"I did not want to disappoint you," he began and I stopped his words with my fingertips.

"You never have. No more negativity. It's Christmas!" I kissed him again and he relaxed.

"I am interested to see what you've been planning, but I would not say I'm all that excited. Are you excited?" he asked sincerely.

"Yes," I beamed and then cuddled to his shoulder once more. "Christmas was always a happy time, visiting with loved ones and exchanging gifts, eating food until you felt you might pop. I will miss Papa's music and his Christmas Eve story about Joseph and Mary but...my new life will eventually have rituals and I'm glad Mme Giry and Meg will join us tomorrow. Maybe I can try telling everyone the story of Jesus' birth."

"Whatever you wish, my dear," he murmured softly.

"One thing I wish we could change..." I trailed off, wondering how I was so bold as to bring this up.

"Yes?"

"Our bedroom assignments." My voice was small but he heard me. His hands tightened on mine.

"It is not proper for us to share a room before we are married and even then married people don't always share a bedroom. They have separate quarters and only come together for...relations." I couldn't help giggling at his discomfort. This man was wholly passionate when it came to so many things and he was having trouble talking about making love to me. My giggles sobered when I realized what he was saying.

"Are you building us separate bedrooms?" I sounded like I was pouting and pressed my lips together to keep them from jutting out.

"No." He paused for a moment before he continued softly. "Is that alright? Do you want your own room?"

"No," I answered quickly and kept babbling. "I want to sleep with you every night. I don't think I would be able to sleep with you down the hall. What a silly thing, separate bedrooms, why are you married if not to spend your time with one another?"

"I suppose some people prefer some privacy still, even though they have given their vows to each other." But not us. He was building us a joint bedroom and I was very pleased.

"I suppose I can manage two nights without you next to me," there was that pouting note in my voice again.

"Oh, and here I was going to scale the wall and come through your window like your fairytale lover." I laughed with Erik and we cuddled close for the remainder of the journey. I still wanted to ask him about Meg and Cameron and what he was planning for them but maybe I could bring it up tonight when he snuck into my room.

Meg

Erik was turning out to be quite a formidable man. I could see why my mother was frightened of him. First thing this morning Maman had come to tell me to get my nicest clothing ready to visit the Karan's house on Christmas Day. I was excited, certainly, to be able to see Christine and spend the holiday with her and Erik, but I was surprised Maman agreed to it.

I was missing an important part of the equation and I couldn't help wondering if Erik had indeed hypnotized Maman to get what he wanted.

I was glad that him and Cameron had purchased the opera house. They were far better managers then our last two, they had musical ability and a desire to see the cast rise to their best performances. Perhaps it was why Erik had hung around the opera house so much and been dubbed the Phantom. He was not really scary once you spoke to him. He was too polite and gracious to be scary, but I could see why he was feared. He could scowl with the best of them and was very intelligent. Brains were their own weapon. There did not seem to be anything he could not do. I tucked the tiny jar under my pillow so I would remember to apply it tonight. If he said the scraps would vanish then I would believe him and apply it diligently.

I pinned half of my hair up in a simple style and then left my bedroom to meet with Cameron. He had asked to talk to me and today he was firing a few crew members so he should have time for a meeting if I waited my turn. As long as Maman did not come down the hallway then I should be safe. I sat down beside a scenery painter who spent more time drinking then painting and he heaved a sigh of relief when I did.

"Does my heart good to see you here. I know you won't be gettin' fired so maybe I won't neither."

"Oh no," I patted his knee briefly. "You are being fired, but the managers are not cruel. You will get a severance to carry you through Christmas." He looked taken aback and sad but he didn't talk to me anymore and when Cameron opened the door to let one person go and call in the drinker his eyes landed on mine.

"Mlle Giry?" his voice...it was not the musical and throaty perfection of Erik's voice but it affected me just as much. Was it the timbre? Or the polite yet indifferent inflection? Or was it because he was speaking my name?

"You wanted to speak with me?" I blinked innocently at him and he started to smile.

"I will be a few more minutes," he waved for the drunken painter to come in and I patted him on the back.

"Chin up," I reminded him and then settled back down by myself in the hallway.

The minutes ticked by slowly because I was on the lookout for my mother. She had lectured me for hours last night, but I think the scratches on my cheek had kept her from really tearing into me. She wanted me to be this perfect person that I did not know and had never seen before. She herself could never teach me the tolerance required to be so perfectly forgiving because she was not tolerant at all, but she somehow expected me to be.

I slouched against the chair wondering what Cameron was going to say. Would he admit his feelings or keep hiding? Maybe explain why he was being so dumb? An explanation would be nice. Erik had shed some light on the situation, but it did not fully explain why he would not pursue me. Besides my mother being crazy.

The door opened and I stood eagerly and then wished I had stayed sitting to appear more nonchalant and at ease, but it was too late. The painter was walking away with some bulging pockets and a smile. I watched him walk away knowing he would probably drink himself silly with half his money.

"Mlle Giry," Cameron spoke intimately. "You may come in now." He turned without a response and I followed him in and shut the door. I was suddenly incredibly nervous and I stood at the door, leaning back on it for support. Cameron sat behind the desk and looked officious. "How are you today?" He did look genuinely interested and I took a deep breath, but my throat was closing with nerves and my heart was beating so quickly that I felt faint.

"Fine." What was wrong with me? One word answers were not very like me. I was always ready with something witty and funny to say, but suddenly I was a bumbling idiot.

"Would you care to sit?" he gestured to a chair across from his desk and I shuffled forward and plunked myself down.

"I love the way you move." He spoke quietly and almost conspiratorially, flashing me a quick smile when I glanced up. I did not stand a chance against this man. He was trained and schooled in how to send women swooning and I was just a silly dancer with too many hopes and dreams.

"I am a dancer, I suppose I should be graceful." I tried to poke some fun into my serious feelings.

"You are effortlessly graceful, I could watch you forever." Something about the way he said that made me blush and I couldn't look at him. "Meghan?" he tried to get me to look up but I kept studying my entwined hands. "Erik has said some things to me, he seems to think that you carry more than friendly feelings for me."

So Erik did tell him I was pining for him! I would be having a few loud words with Erik about butting out and minding his own...

"And I think it is time that I admit to you, that I also feel more than friendly towards you." I finally met his gaze and those dark brown eyes were weighing me down with his true feelings. "Could you really not tell?" his brow furrowed slightly. "Have I invited anyone else to my home to meet my grandmama?"

When he put it that way I felt sort of stupid myself, but it was Erik and Christine who brought me there and he flirts so well with others...

"Do I kiss any other fingers but yours?" Did he really not kiss other girls on the hand? How did I not notice that?

I was having a hard time vocalizing anything and he began rolling around the desk. My heart thrummed into my throat as he stopped beside me and stared into my eyes. His hand rose to touch my torn up cheek, "You keep getting hurt..." His throat also seemed to be tightening and the sound of his voice strained gave me some courage. I reached up and took his hand as butterflies took over my stomach.

"Cameron..." he was so handsome, and his lips were so close...

I leaned towards him and half way there, realized what I was doing. I could have backed away. I had one second where I could have backed up and feigned light-headedness for my leaning, but Cameron leaned to meet me. Our lips met in a kiss that sealed my fate. I loved him. I couldn't explain it or rationalize my instant attraction. When it came to Cameron Inninbalm, I just felt.

Right now I felt like a surge of warm tendrils were spreading over my body...

The kiss only lasted a few moments before he stopped us, but his free hand stayed on my face and his eyes stayed closed. "I'm sorry, Meghan, I should not have kissed you."

"Don't..." I swallowed to ground myself. "Don't say that unless you really mean it."

He started to smile with his hand still on my neck, warm and smooth, sliding to the nape of my neck under my hair. "I didn't mean it." He said softly, his eyes drowning me with their chocolately depths. "I wanted to kiss you. I still want to kiss you."

I swallowed again to stop myself from saying alright and jumping into his lap. "Is there more we should speak about?" I felt like we were getting off track even though we had just taken a huge step forward. Kissing did not lead to marriage, it only led to the bedroom and if he needed a wife, I wanted to be that wife.

"Yes, there is." He took my hand into his lap and played with my fingers. "Even your fingers are delicate and graceful..." He was allowing me to see that his compliments were not just polite. He truly felt I was beautiful and graceful and his obvious attraction to me was starting to make me more confident.

"Are they too much of a distraction?" I asked playfully. "Should I hide my hands under my skirts?"

He looked up with a lopsided smile, "I am going to refrain from saying anything." I smiled with him and we shared a beautiful moment, looking into each other's eyes and feeling that connection. Whatever it was, attraction, lust, love, we were only just beginning to explore it, but it felt good. His smile dimmed and I recognized his polite manners taking over. I let go of his hand and gathered mine together, knowing it was time to get down to business.

"So, what happens now?" I managed to keep from sounding breathlessly excited.

"I don't know," was not the response I was looking for. I bit my lip and studied his bowed head and pleasing profile. Perhaps I should get him talking about something else.

"Do you have plans for Christmas?" Part of me wished I could invite him and Clotilda along to the Karan's, but that was not my place.

He studied me with an amused expression. "Erik told me to invite you and your mother for dinner tomorrow, that she may accept, but she flatly refused, saying you already had plans?"

My mouth hung open for a moment and then I burst out laughing, "So that's how he did it!"

"Who did what?" Cameron was smiling and watching me giggle over my mother and Erik's constant fencing.

I waved my hand, "Erik manipulated Maman perfectly. I wanted to have dinner with them on Christmas, but I never thought she would agree. She obviously thought Erik was the lesser of two evils." That thought sobered me because that meant she disliked Cameron more than Erik, which hurt me to think.

"What?" he asked, leaning towards me, his easy smile and warm, friendly eyes making me feel like a little love-sick kitten.

"Nothing," I shook my head and looked down at my lap, embarrassed by how strongly I felt for him. Silence descended and I chastised myself for giving in to the kiss. Now it was all I was thinking of.

"I don't know how to say this...I wish I could..." he shook his head. "Meghan, before I can even think of getting married I need to make sure...I need to..." he looked angry for a second and then took a deep breath to calm himself. "I need to produce an heir and I refuse to marry a woman who cannot produce me with one quickly."

I blinked at him as I digested his words. "So you want to sleep with me...before...?" my voice was slightly unbelieveing at his grossly improper suggestion. Granted, I was no longer a virgin and he knew all the details, but I never expected to hear him say such a thing.

"And if you become pregnant, then I will marry you on the spot." I had no reason to think I would not be fertile and I wanted to mention that a problem could very well lie with him, but the second scenario to his proposal had me standing angrily.

"And if I do not become pregnant, than you would just...move on to the next...contestant?"

"No..." surprise painted his face but then he looked thoughtful. "I don't know..." he was thinking and I turned and kicked the chair I had been sitting in to get his attention.

"You think I'm a faithless whore who will just submit to your advances and allow another rich idiot to lay hands on me!"

"No! Meghan..." he looked furious with me.

"Because you are so irresistible you can just dandy a whole string of dancers on your knee before making your decision."

His jaw was tightly clenched. "My decision to proceed in this manner has nothing to do with you."

"Nothing to do with me?" I spluttered. "It has EVERYTHING to do with me, and with my heart." Which I put a hand against to keep it from breaking in my chest. He wanted my womb more than he wanted me. He wanted a child more than he wanted me. But hadn't I already imagined having his children? Did I not yearn for children myself, so I could love them and squeeze them and give them my whole heart...

"Meghan, please, try to understand," he took my hand and though I wanted to wrench angrily away and huff out of the room, his gentle touch on my hand seemed to draw away my anger. The forlorn puppy dog look in his eyes helped too. "I have failed my family, my grandmama and all of my ancestors. I lost the lands that they have controlled for over a hundred years. If I do not produce an heir than they are truly forever lost. I will have disappointed my father and his father and his father's father..." his hand squeezed mine as his head bowed. "Do you want to know the worst part?" he continued though it sounded like he did not want to. "Before they all died, I didn't even care about the land. I was perfectly happy letting my younger brother shoulder the responsibility. And now...now it's all that matters...it's where they are all buried..." he looked upset, torn, confused and almost near tears. I couldn't help the yearning in my heart to make him happy.

I was too close to my dreams to not capitalize on this opportunity. He wanted to save his father's county and I wanted him. We could make this work. I stepped to him and let my hand trail through his hair slowly. It was thick and silky and I gathered a handful and held him to my chest. "Shh Cameron, shh, someone might hear you sobbing and think I'm beating you with my ballet shoes."

A huff of laughter left him and he secured his arms around me, holding me so tight...

"You make me laugh...when I thought I never would again..." He sighed and we held each other like two statues locked together forever in their stony embrace. "Do you really think I'm a rich idiot?"

I snorted lightly, "Sometimes..." I trailed off and then giggled. "You tend to do stupid things."

"Such as?" He shifted his ear from my chest and gazed up at me.

"I think I shall refrain from saying anything at all," I breezed airily and he laughed and trailed his hands over the small of my back to pull me back to him.

"Meghan, I know this situation is miles away from what you deserve, but I think if I didn't offer you what I could, I would drive myself insane wondering if you would have accepted. I've lost count of how many times Erik has called me a fool. He thinks I'm wasting my time avoiding you because he can see how much I love you..."

I froze with my hands absently combing through his hair. I'd had a few men say those words to me and usually they were trying to lay with me. Cameron was too, but his cards were already on the table and the offhanded way he said it led me to think he hadn't meant to say it. I pulled away gently and looked down at him. Albert had convinced me he loved me with grand bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates, but Cameron truly meant the words. There was no mistaking the hunger, heat, affection and adoration in his eyes.

"I love you, Meghan," he repeated softly as his hands skimmed down my arms to lift my hands to his lips. "It is completely insane," he kissed my hands, "But when you are in the room I can't take my eyes off you. You have such grace and humor and joie de vivre, I feel like some slow, sick turtle whose fallen for the enchanting mermaid." He kissed each and every finger and both my wrists before I was able to articulate an intelligent response.

"But you won't marry me until you impregnate me successfully?" I spelled out what I thought was his plan. His brow furrowed in consternation and he opened and closed his mouth and then finally looked away from me pulling back into his chair.

"That's the gist of it," he said like he hated himself and everything suddenly made sense to me. This was why he felt better off playing cat and mouse with me. He was going to use me, he HAD to use me, and if things did not go well then he would have to move on to another woman to get back his father's county. But he would not want to move on from me because he loved me, so he did not want to give in to even the idea of us together. If we were not fertile together the resulting fall out would hurt us both dreadfully and there would be no marriage to hold us together because he would move on to a woman who may be able to bear his child. Even a woman who was already pregnant...

My heart clenched at the thought of him taking a wife he didn't love, a woman of convenience, who wouldn't love him and care for him, but who would just give him some other man's child. It didn't seem fair at all, to either of us, to not see this through, to not at least try to reach for the dream. If things did not go well, I might just lose that joie de vivre he loved so much.

But what was a little pain if you had a chance to love? To really love? Just from the small kiss we'd shared, I had felt the exhilaration of his touch. Nothing with Albert had felt so magical. Could I turn Cameron down when I wanted him so badly? When I wanted to see what it would be like to be with him? Why would I think that I wouldn't get pregnant? Unless Cameron himself was unable to make babies...

There was only one way to proceed.

"When do we get started?" I asked cheekily.