Just a little snippet of a chapter. I'll update more tomorrow. Very soon this fic will be moving in the M category. I can feel it. Thank all of you for all the lovely reviews. If not for the reviews, I probably wouldn't update as often. Here we go.

Erik fell into the kiss for a moment, but quickly stepped back.

"I don't need or want your pity Christine." His eyes narrowed at her. She did give him a disgusted sigh now.

"Pity? You think this is pity, Erik?" Her hands came to rest at her hips.

"It must be...isn't it?"

"No, it's not."

"Well, what is it then?"

Her mouth opened, then closed, as if she wanted to speak, but thought better of it.

"Right." He replaced his mask. Head bowed, he started to walk away.

"Erik, it's not pity…I don't know what it is…but I know it's not pity. I wanted…want to kiss, and be with you. It has nothing to do with pity." She grabbed his arm. "Nothing's changed Erik. I still feel the same way I did two days ago. Well except for the fact that I feel really awful for doing that to you. Will you ever be able to forgive me?"

Erik looked hopeful for a moment.

"Nothing's changed?" Christine shook her head. Erik gently nodded. Yes, she was the woman to see behind the mask, and find the man inside. Heaving a relieved sigh, he gathered her in his arms. "Forgive you? Yes, you're forgiven. I overreacted. I apologize. I should not have yelled at you." He laid his head atop hers.

"Yes. I deserved that."

"No. Never." He kissed her then, briefly, just for a moment. "You left with that…that…."

"Ryan?" Erik curled his lip in disgust. Her heart swelled at his jealousy. "Only because I felt lonely. I missed you."

"Well had you waited a few more moments…"

"But I didn't imagine you'd be there." He brushed her hair behind her ears.

"I'll always be there, Christine."

"Ryan used to be like a brother to me."

"And now?" The man actually pouted.

"Not even that." She kissed the pout away.

"Good."

"You'll be there tonight then?" He nodded kissing behind her ear. "I should let you get back to work then."

"MmmHmmm." His lips traveled down her neck. He felt her fingers in his hair, and smiled against her neck. "Right. Back. To. Work." He added a small kiss to each word, and then removed himself from her. "I'll see you later." With one last chaste kiss, he called the dog, and set off back over to the construction site. As he watched her tear up his yard with her car, he knew he'd have to give up on one of his dreams. He'd have to put his resignation in on Monday. He could teach elsewhere, and he had enough saved to take the year off. He picked his tool-belt back up, tightening it around his hips. Teaching…it was just a dream. Christine…Christine was everything.