Alina went to the station to testify early the next day. Her neck was still bruised, and her demeanor still uneasy and quiet, and so the policemen didn't doubt her at all. They did ask her why Preston attacked her in the first place, what her relationship was with Walter and several details she didn't think would matter, and didn't remember that well - she told them everything truthfully, and the whole thing was over rather smoothly and painlessly. One of the policemen later commented that she was "a sweet young lady".

Erik had a much harder time.

He knew he had a crucial part in all of this, and without him appearing to confirm Alina's testimony the whole story would have stood on shaky legs. If it wasn't for Alina - Alina's safety, Alina's student, Alina's happiness - he would've sooner thrown himself into the sea and swam all the way back to Paris than willingly entered a police station. Jack went in with him and waited for him just outside the room without even asking him beforehand - he just appeared at his door that morning and asked him if he was ready. Erik's hands were shaking so badly he tried to keep them out of sight as much as he could, his voice took all of his attention to keep from trembling; afterwards, he could barely remember anything that happened that morning aside from his own testimony that he'd learned verbatim the night before. Without his new, fake papers and Jack's connections, he was quite sure he would not have come out of that station, at least not without cleaving his way out. They were suspicious, and they didn't like him, and they made it very obvious. They asked about the mask, because of course they did; one young policeman hinted at him that he would be more trustworthy if he took it off. Erik ignored all of the insinuations as Jack advised him, and simply told the truth about what happened. He was prepared for all of this - his papers were pristine and his story matched all of the others. He anticipated there would be suspicion and prodding at some point in his life here, and so back when Jack filed his papers he'd sought out the doctor who had set his arm a year ago. After some coercion, the doctor wrote him a note saying he was required to wear the mask for "medical reasons" and was "advising any authorities to let him keep it on at all times"; the rest was medical talk written in incomprehensive handwriting. Erik was grateful for it: he didn't want to read what the word for it was, and was grateful that not every diligent policeman could read it either. They were still suspicious even after seeing the doctor's signature, but he offered the doctor's address so he could testify as well, and they settled down.

After that, it became a routine investigation again.

"Is it over?" Erik asked quietly on his way home.

"Not for Alina", Jack replied. "For you… perhaps. The worst of it, at least. I'll try to keep you out of it." He felt a little bit relieved that Erik's hands at least weren't shaking as much anymore, and that he overall didn't look like he was just getting ready to be guillotined. Jack consciously knew that nothing would happen and that Erik was overreacting out of some fear known only to him, but Jack still found it hard to watch it happen.

"I'd like it to be over", Erik said, looking up at the sky. He was so sleep-deprived, his body ravaged with adrenaline, that the clouds and trees seemed to flutter before his eyes. "I'd like to sit down."

"You can rest", Jack said, not catching the very literal meaning of that statement. "If anything happens, I'll let you know in time."

"Unless you decide to get on a boat and leave for southeast Europe", Erik commented at one particularly colorful cloud as he tried to walk in a straight line. He was quite sure the cloud was actually supposed to be white, which was somewhat concerning. Jack didn't seem to notice anything unusual.

"What?" Jack turned to him. "Who told you that?"

"Nobody tells me anything, but I'm not stupid."

"I'm not set to leave", Jack frowned. "I don't even know if I'm wanted there at all."

"Oh, I have a hunch."

"And even so, I wouldn't leave without tying up loose ends I have here."

"It would be bad for business if you did."

"And I wouldn't leave you without saying goodbye."

"Hopefully you will all start talking to each other before that", Erik remarked. "Listen. Are you alright?"

"Fine enough."

"None of this concerns you at all?" I'm fainting, please notice- no, I'm trying to be a good friend, but I'm also fainting, please notice either of those -

"It does. But I've been through all this before. I know how to play the system to protect the people I care about. You're lucky Preston is just one violent drunk and not, you know, a whole criminal organization set on taking control over the entire city."

"I wonder if they're hiring,'' Erik smiled.

"Unlikely. There's very few of them left alive and free after what we did back in the day."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with all of this", Erik stumbled. "No, wait, you're really nice to deal with all of this- I'll really miss you once you're gone. I wonder what Croatia is like? I might never see it, or I might after all. Their music is so interesting, everything is in some obscure minor key. It would be funny if we met again there, of all places."

"What on Earth are you on about?"

"Well, the little snake-woman will keep you waiting until the last moment, won't she? She'll wait until you give up, and then she'll realize what she's about to lose at the last minute. It's so hard to decipher what she thinks underneath all of her pretenses. But you didn't see her skulk around the house and brood like I did. She loves you."

"Well, it doesn't matter, she can still refuse-"

"Ah, she won't. I don't know what to tell you - I know what I would do in your place, but absolutely don't do that. Listen, I think my nerves are at their ends. I haven't slept in- how long has it been? I'm seeing fireworks. You've done so much for me, Jack, and I'm grateful, but I might have to get home quickly unless you want to carry me the rest of the way there."

To his credit, Erik did get to his house on his own two feet, and the fact Jack had to unlock the front door because Erik's hands were shaking too much and he couldn't see was never mentioned again - or the fact he stumbled so much he hit his shoulder on the doorframe and stubbed his foot against the table leg without even noticing it. He threw himself on the bed without a single word to his fiancee, who simply sighed, drew the curtains on and closed the door behind him.

The door was never locked when Piotr was expected; no-one would dare stand in his way like that. It was a blasphemy and a crime, then, that the door was locked now, and it outraged him so much that instead of knocking politely as his mother taught him, he banged with all the strength of his tiny hands and yelled,

"Alina! Alina! Open the door! I want to see you!"

"What? What is it, honey?" Alina opened quickly, her dish rag still in her hands.

"I want to see you!" Piotr exclaimed. "Why is your door locked? My mommy went to do some things and said I should come here so I'm not bored. Also, Jack left this for you. Why is your door locked?"

"Well, honey, apparently it's safer to have it locked occasionally. What's that?" She squinted at the letter in Piotr's hand.

"It's for Erik! Jack says nobody can open letter that's for someone else. Did you know that? You can only open letters that have your name!"

"Oh, that's interesting! Why is that?" Alina cocked her head to the side, pouring lemonade for Piotr who was pacing around the room with the envelope still in hand.

"I don't know!" he said. "Why?"

"It's not nice- it means you're prying. If you want to know someone's secrets, then you have to ask them yourself."

"Where is Erik? Why isn't he home?" Piotr asked.

"He is, honey. He's sleeping in his room."

"I have to give him his mail! It's important!" Piotr said, confidently storming off to open the door to Erik's room (which wasn't locked, for better or worse, as its inhabitant crashed before he could lock it), and climbing directly on Erik's bed with equal peerless enthusiasm. Erik twitched a little when the ray of light entered his room, put his hands on his face automatically, then relaxed when he realized he'd fallen asleep with his mask on.

"Good morning, little knight", he remarked as Piotr climbed over his back, offering him the letter. "So, you're the one they sent to wake the sleeping beast?"

"You have a letter! Why are you still asleep? Why do you sleep so much?"

"Because I procrastinate sleeping... until I'm so tired... that I have to make up for it all at once", he replied through his pillow.

"That's stupid."

"Thank you for your input, sir knight", Erik turned around and Piotr shifted until he was sprawled over his chest and stomach, holding the letter out to him. "Alright, I'll read the stupid letter. Give it to me."

"Hmm." his shoulders stiffened as he skimmed over it, and he sighed. "Oh. I might be in trouble."

"What?" Alina peeked through the door. "Why would you be in trouble?"

Erik sighed again, and passed her the letter.

"You can't read his letters", Piotr reminded her solemnly, still sitting on Erik's chest.

"She can if I'm the one giving it to her", Erik remarked, looking at Alina. "Well?"

"Why would you be in trouble?" she frowned, reading again.

"Apparently, my absence at the Conservatory has been noted over the past few days."

"You're not in trouble", she waved. "They're just worried. Oliver is worried that you haven't been around since he came back from vacation, and he made Heidel write it. I'm quite sure of it."

"Why do you say that? You can't know."

"Your soloists have expressed a concern… This absence is, I'm told, uncharacteristic for you… let us know if you've fallen ill or need an extension… and at the bottom, Oliver sends his regards and is eager to continue your work. I have a hunch", she folded the letter, passing it back. "You're not obligated to appear daily until the orchestra starts their rehearsals, are you? Heidel is unlikely to summon you until he needs you. Daniel is too self-absorbed. But Oliver is certain to notice your absence right away, and I'm inclined to think he'd get worried about you before he gets judgmental."

"Apparently, I need to go to work today. I can't have him waiting for me. How long have I slept?"

"Um", Alina said. "You came home in the afternoon… the day before yesterday."

Erik sat up so quickly that Piotr barely managed to scramble and sit next to him on the bed. "I've been missing nearly all week!"

"I'm sure they'll forgive you if you tell them you had to save your fiancee-"

"I don't tell them what happens to me!" Erik looked absolutely horrified. "It's none of their business, nor do they care!"

"Obviously, Oliver cares", Alina replied. "I think you should write back, say you're not feeling well, and take another day to rest. Then you can be exceedingly diligent and hardworking for the next few weeks to make up for it and prove you're still invested. And then everyone will forget about it. It's how it usually goes."

Erik threw himself back on the bed.

"I think you should stay with me", Piotr chimed in.

"It's alright. I haven't been to work either", Alina said. "I told them what happened and the other teachers divided my classes among them for this week. It's not going to be a problem - this is a valid excuse."

"Oh."

"I didn't want to leave you", she admitted. "I mean, not right away. Do you want lunch? I made stew. You must be starving."

"Yes, darling, bless you. I am starving", he thought about moving Piotr when he stood up, then instead decided to carry him to the kitchen under his arm as if he was a particularly loud handful of sticks.

"I've been thinking, I should probably eat more", he commented.

"Oh? What on Earth possessed you? I thought you hated it."

Well, if I waste away, who's going to take care of you? "I can feel myself getting weaker. Every new disaster leaves me thinner and weaker and more tired. I can't keep going like this and losing energy; I have plenty of things left to do."

"Very true, darling, and very wise."

By the late afternoon, after Erik had come to his senses, Yana apparently finished all of her business and came to pick up her son; she didn't want to elaborate much on it, but admitted to Erik under her voice that she was off to visit Anna Preston.

"Why?" he whispered back.

"She doesn't know how to live without her husband", she said plainly. "But I do."

"Good point", he was somewhat taken aback. "That's kind of you, I suppose. But you don't know her - won't she get offended?"

"She wasn't."

"Oh."

"People here should stick together more. Like back home. Life is easier that way."

"I suppose you're right."

"You're good?" Yana asked. "Alina told me. I think you will be better now. Both of you."

"Um", he looked away. "I'll ask you one day to elaborate on that, but not today."

"No", she replied. "I think you will see Prestons again. This isn't over. Get ready for it."

Yana's prophecies came true the very next day - Erik was lost in thought, revisiting his compositions before his return to work when he was interrupted by a loud, rhythmic knock on the door.

Erik thought he was losing his mind again for a moment as he opened his door and saw a face in his doorway that looked remarkably like Preston's when he knew damn well Preston was cooling his head on another part of the island right now - he sighed a little sigh of relief when he recognized Hank Jr., whom Alina once pointed out to Erik as Preston's eldest son.

"Good afternoon, sir", Hank's voice was fairly quiet and flat compared to his father's tendency for snapping. His eyes looked tired.

"Good afternoon…?" Erik stood stiffly in the doorway, his entire body alert in case the young man decided to do something stupid.

"I'd like to talk to you, sir, if that's okay", Hank recited, with the same air of tiredness and defeat about him.

"I suppose", Erik replied, not moving. A very uncomfortable silence spread between them for a second.

"Can I come in?" Hank asked. His tired eyes barely wandered around Erik's mask; he looked him straight in the eye, and showed no sign of fear or apprehension.

This young man has seen things. There is nothing I can do that would surprise or intimidate him.

"No", Erik blinked in sincere confusion. "Do you take me for a fool?"

"Fair enough", Hank said plainly. "You think I'm here to do something bad. I'm not. But we can talk outside, if you want."

Erik stepped out without a word, closing the door behind him. A subtle wave of his hand before he stepped out let Alina know she wasn't supposed to come into sight until he determined what was going on.

"I'm listening", he walked a few steps and turned to Hank, keeping his hands in his pockets. Hank didn't seem to have any weapons on him, as far as Erik could tell, and he was still significantly smaller than him - Erik could incapacitate him in seconds, just in case, if he wanted to.

But he didn't. He felt bad for the kid. He was once eighteen too, tired and disappointed in the world and its adults.

"My mother sent me here to ask you to drop the charges and let my father go free", Hank recited in one long sigh. "She's afraid of what will happen to us - especially the youngest ones - if we don't have a head of the house to provide money and keep the discipline. She's willing to do anything, or so she says, to repay you for the offense our father has caused."

"Huh", Erik said. "Don't you and your brothers work? And your mother as well?"

"We do", Hank said. "If anything, our father was spending more than he was earning. It's all just her fears and her devotion to him."

"I see", Erik said. "And you want me to risk my own family's safety to appease your mother's fears, after your father has made it clear he wouldn't hesitate to hurt my fiance?"

"No, I don't", Hank shook his head. "I promised her I would give you her message, and I did. But I never promised I wouldn't give you my own opinion as well - I think my father is better off in jail, and we're all better off without him. Not to mention we can't really afford to repay you anything worth mentioning. Mother is scared and lonely, but the rest of us have been breathing freely for the first time in years."

"That's pragmatic of you", Erik managed.

"I don't know what pragmatic means, sir. Anyway, in this family we've always looked out for one another - all of us, together. But our father - he's been hurting us more and more and helping us less and less over the years, and at this point I have to sacrifice him to save the rest of us."

"I got a different impression from your brother", Erik mumbled, too shocked by that rant to add anything else.

"Walter? He's still a kid. He has a hard time accepting that our dad won't change after all. He'll love him to death one day, then hate his guts the next. He hasn't been around as long as I have", Hank shrugged. "Father was like this long before he had any of his usual excuses. He will never change. We all deserve to be without him, and if I may give you another opinion, all of my siblings including Walt will fare much better without a constant threat over our heads. Walter is angry now, but he's already becoming less snappy around the house. Dan and Mary have been playing and singing freely. Sam might actually start chasing girls now that he's not constantly on edge."

"I see", Erik said. Hank's behaviour was starting to make sense, and even though Erik didn't let himself relax just yet, he wasn't as tense as he had been a few moments ago.

Another silence spread between them as Hank was obviously expecting him to say something else.

"I'm, well, I'm glad you're all doing better, I mean-", Erik tried, hoping he wasn't saying something offensive, especially since his fight with Preston had little to do with anyone but Alina on his part.

"What are you going to do, sir?" Hank interrupted, too impatient to listen to platitudes.

"I won't drop the charges", Erik said after a long moment of staring into the distance.

"Ah", Hank's visible relief was more than a little unsettling to him. "Well, thank- thank you? I guess. It's weird to thank you for putting my dad in jail, but here we are."

"I don't know if he will go to jail. But it's entirely possible, with his history and the school's reports of Walter being abused, that he will lose any right to see any of you or live with you anymore. I'm sorry, I'd like you to think it's all for you, but that would be dishonest". Erik shook his head. "I wish all the best to your family, I truly do, and I want to help you however I can, but there's another, more pressing, aspect to this. If your father gets out without any punishment, he might try to go after Alina again - and, again, sorry, but if she's in danger I don't really care what any of you have to say. If your family gets in any financial or legal trouble because of what I've done, I'll do my best to help you. I'll pay for Walter's school, if needed, or anyone else's. But I won't let your father walk free for as long as we're living in this part of New York."

"Sounds fair", Hank nodded. "Sam has also hinted to me the school might report dad for what he's been doing to Walter- that it's enough for some of us to witness for him to be out of our hair completely and lose custody forever. Is that true?"

"Alina said so?"

"Yeah, I can't think of anyone else who'd fill Sam's head with that. Pretty sure dad figured it out, too."

"Then it's true, on her part. She's absolutely capable of suing him herself to keep you all safe. I doubt she'd ask you to testify if you didn't have to."

"That doesn't really bother me", Hank said, obviously lying.

"No?"

"I've thought about it", Hank raised his chin at Erik defiantly. "I don't know if it's the right thing to do, but it doesn't bother me anymore. I will go there and I will tell the truth - and I'll let smarter men than me decide what is right. But I will tell the truth."

Erik nodded respectfully.

"It'll break my mom's heart, but at least it won't break her bones, which is more than a little improvement", Hank added. Erik wasn't sure if Hank thought his remark would be funny or expected him to laugh; the corner of Hank's mouth curled upwards, but his eyes remained steely, cold, and tired.

"There's just one more thing, now that I'm already here", Hank added, his face softening into something resembling an insecure young boy, for a change. It was almost scary how much it didn't suit him.

"Would you really pay for Walter's high school - or college or wherever they want to send him - if Mom lets him go now that she might get sole custody?" he tried tentatively; he didn't think he'd get any sort of definite answer but it was something worth checking now that it was brought up.

"Consider it done", Erik said without thinking.

Hank blinked at him.

"What? I'll sign it, if you want to. We'll arrange a non-refundable scholarship for him. He'll be settled for as long as he needs it."

"That's not - we'll pay it off, or work, we don't need charity -"

"Scholarships are not charity."

"What are they?"

Erik thought for a long time. "I'd say investment, though that sounds cold. But I think that's what they are. The school would invest a certain amount of money into Walter, counting on him making use of his knowledge and contributing to society."

"And if he doesn't?"

"I think that depends on the contract, but I really don't know. Alina knows these things. But for Walter we'd try to arrange that he doesn't have to return anything even if he fails or abandons his education."

"That's a gamble, then, sir."

"It's trust, actually. On our part. Or both parts. Really, you'd be better off asking Alina about any details."

Hank looked at him for a long time, searching for something in Erik's eyes. "Fine", he finally said. "I'll allow it. Mother won't protest as long as you don't take him too far away."

"You'll have to arrange it with Alina. I'm actually not strictly connected to the school or Walter's education at all. Jack and I are just occasional benefactors, in the financial sense."

"Yes, I've heard of mr. Franklin's and your benefacting", Hank laughed a short laugh at him. "Thanks. I appreciate that not all folks who come across a little bit of money are so desperate to hoard it."

"Um", Erik shifted, scratching his temple. "I think I should go now. Do you need to say anything else?"

"No, sir", Hank straightened, his face turning to stone once again. "Except, well, thank you."

Erik would've snuck into the Conservatory as quietly as possible had it not been for the fact he would have to talk things out with Heidel first. He knew it would be polite (he knew it because other people told him), but he still dreaded it. Reasonably, there was little chance that Heidel would take this opportunity to make his life miserable; and yet, there he was, rehearsing his lines once again as he took the steps to the third floor.

He expected Heidel to be angry with him, and to wait for him in his office. He didn't exclude the possibility of others, especially Oliver, being angry about his disappearance and their missed appointments.

He didn't expect all three of them to be there in Heidel's office and start talking simultaneously when he entered.

"Giry!" Heidel exclaimed as soon as he appeared in the doorway, immediately standing up. Daniel sat in his own chair silently, but his face transformed completely when Erik entered; Oliver leaned forward and smiled.

"Where have you been?"

"Are you alright?"

"We were worried!"

"Next time, you could simply write us a note…"

Erik froze in place, his hand still on the door handle, wondering if he should just turn around. "I'm sorry…?" he said, quietly so Dan and Heidel didn't really hear him until Oliver, whose hearing was much better, banged his cane on the floor several times.

"Gentlemen. We're being rude. Our friend was ill, and now we're hounding him the second he arrives. Perhaps we should let him take a breath."

Erik finally let go of the door handle and clasped his hands in front of him. "Thank you, Oliver. I was indisposed against my will, and I'm genuinely sorry for not telling you earlier. We can continue rehearsing now, if you'll still have me. I can promise it won't happen again."

Heidel and Daniel opened their mouths again, and Oliver either heard it or deduced through some sixth sense, because he lifted his index finger in warning and they both immediately went silent.

"Fritz would like you to know it's your production, and he has no intention of controlling how you run the rehearsals. He only expressed his wish that you tell him on time when you're not coming, so that he can organize his work days accordingly. He also wishes you to know that he's gathered most of the orchestra for you, and will start the official rehearsals as soon as you decide it's time."

"Uh", Erik looked at Heidel. "Really?"

"It wasn't that hard", Heidel smiled at him, cleaning his glasses against his jacket. He finally realized he was still standing and sat down. "The students expressed genuine curiosity in your symphony, especially when I remarked they would be more-or-less free of my influence during that time."

"Well, not quite, we still need a conductor-"

"I've got that covered", Heidel put his glasses back on. "My conducting students will be taught alongside your orchestra, taking turns with them. Whoever you decide fits your vision best will conduct the performance."

"Is that something your students are used to? Hearing instructions from several different people alternatively?"

"Don't worry. The conducting students will still be getting instructions from you and me, and will coordinate among themselves."

"I see." Erik paused. "Thank you, sir. I really am sorry for being away for all this time. It was out of my control."

"Ah, forget it", Heidel waved his hand, softened by a sincere apology. "Don't do it again."

"I won't."

Oliver raised a finger again, this time at Erik's direction. "Daniel wishes you to know he missed you, and was worried you'd abandoned him just when he was getting some wind in his wings."

"I didn't say that?" Daniel turned to him, getting red in the face. "I just said we should check where he is, instead of just coming here every day and waiting like fools."

"Same, same but different. I filtered out your moody gibberish and decided to give him the gist of it."

"I wouldn't do that", Erik sounded slightly offended.

"Didn't say you would", Daniel replied, embarrassed.

"Well, thank you for waiting, anyway. I'll be here from now on." Erik didn't quite know what to say, and Daniel looked like he wanted the conversation to end as soon as possible.

"What happened to you, Erik?" Oliver finally burst with impatient curiosity. "I know someone this pedantic didn't simply forget to show up for a week, so what happened? Are you ill? Is this tempo too straining for you?"

"I'm fine now", Erik looked at his hands. Nobody, in the whole commotion, had remembered to offer him to sit, and the whole interrogation was getting unnerving.

"Tell me if you're still sick! It's not embarrassing! I was in this situation, and I was too afraid to tell people there was something wrong with me until I ended up in a hospital! Wouldn't it be better to set a more reasonable schedule?"

"You're mistaken", Erik looked up in disbelief. "I'm really fine. It was just a passing ailment."

Oliver frowned.

"It's not easy to explain", Erik admitted. "Someone I know was in severe danger, and I had to take care of her - and after the danger passed, I lost consciousness and didn't wake up for two days. If that makes any sense."

"Alina?" Daniel said from his corner. "Is she okay now?"

"She's alright. Slightly distressed, but will be fine."

"And you?" Daniel added, seeing Erik glare at him.

"About the same." He turned to Oliver. "I'm sorry. I would prefer not to go into details for now."

"It's fine. I'm satisfied", Oliver nodded. "If anything else happens, let us know if we can help." He stood up, confidently leaving the room for Erik to follow. Daniel shrugged, picked up his violin case, and followed after them. Nobody really announced that they'd start all having rehearsals together; it was understood, just as it was understood that from that day on they would all consider each other friends.