KitsuneRW: Just a guess, but it sounds like you've been watching "Miss Congeniality" lately, haven't you? Thanks for the cyber kitten... I shall hug him and squeeze him and call him George... if that quote from the Bugs Bunny cartoon with the abominable snowman doesn't show my age, then I don't know what would. :)

Priestess of Anubis: I hope this update will placate you for now, and just ask that you and Blissful Rose don't combine your armies...then I might be in a bit of trouble. :)

My reviewers are getting vicious... so thanks to another threat by Blissful Rose, here's an update. Hope ya'll enjoy.

Chapter 14

"Erik? Are you awake and up?" Nicole called out from the entrance to Erik's lair. "I've got breakfast…some croissants and jam, plus some fruits and juice. Can I come down?"

"Go ahead and come down," he hollered.

She came down with a basket in her hand and a spring in her step. As soon as she saw Erik, she smiled. Her face was beaming, and Erik had just enough time to wonder and hope that he might possibly be the reason she seemed so happy.

"Morning, Angel. How do you feel this bright and sunny morning?" she asked cheerfully.

He couldn't help but smile back at her. Her high spirits were contagious. "I'm fine," he said as he cleaned off a spot for her to put the basket down. "Obviously you're in a bit of a good mood. Might I ask the reason?" he inquired good-naturedly.

She walked over and laid the basket down. Then she walked over to Erik, put her right hand on his left shoulder for balance, got on her tip-toes, and gave him a kiss on his left cheek. He looked down at her, pleasantly surprised. "The reason I'm in such a good mood is you, of course," she said blatantly.

"Me? Why me?" he asked.

"Because discovering that my angel is a man of flesh and blood and not just a spirit has been the best thing to ever happen to me," she said with a smile. "It's just a wonderful feeling to know that my best friend and angel has a physical form…and a nice one at that," she added, raising her eyebrows up and down a couple of times and blushing slightly.

Not expecting this answer in the slightest, Erik stared at her with raised eyebrows, his chin nearly to his chest as he tried to take in what she was saying. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Had she really just called him her best friend and said he had a nice form?

"Did I hear you correctly? Your best friend?" he asked with astonishment.

She put her right hand on his left cheek and said, "Yes, Erik, you heard me correctly. I did indeed call you my best friend." She smiled tenderly at his surprised look and then turned back to her basket and started to unload its contents: croissants and jam, fruits and juice, along with plates, glasses, and silverware. "I also said you had a nice form," she murmured under her breath. She quickly fixed a couple of plates and then handed one to him. She walked over to one of the oversized chairs and sat down. Erik stood there with the plate in his hand, but his mind was still trying to process what this beautiful girl had just called him.

"Come and sit down, Erik," she said, gesturing to the chair near her.

Finally, he came and sat beside her and proceeded to eat. She watched him intently, an affectionate smirk playing at her lips. "Why does that shock you so?" she asked.

"I've never been anyone's best friend before," he said, astounded. "In fact, outside of Madame Gir…someone from my past, I've never been anyone's friend at all," he said matter-of-factly.

"Madame who?" she asked with a look of curiosity.

"Never mind. Just someone from long ago," he said firmly, silently mourning the pleasant mood that had just been broken. "It's no one for you to concern yourself with."

"Aah," she exclaimed. She bit her lip before proceeding, "Erik, not to start an argument here, but if we're going to work on getting closer, you're going to have to start opening up to me. See, that's how it works when two people get to know each other."

"Well, then perhaps we shouldn't work on getting closer," he said resignedly. "My past is for me to keep, and you'll have to forgive me, but it's not something I'm ready to share, perhaps ever." He looked sternly at her, hoping he'd gotten his point across.

She thought for a moment. Did she really want to risk a future with him by dwelling on the past? She decided it wasn't worth the risk, so instead, she put her plate down and went down on her knees before him. He looked at her, the same astonishment as before replacing the stern look he had just given her. She took his plate and put it off to the side as she took his hands in hers.

"If you do not wish to discuss your past, then I shall not press the issue," she said. "I don't want to push you away, so I'll respect your wishes."

He looked at her, blinking rapidly, unable to speak.

She smiled and caressed his cheek again. He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. He heard her let out a deep breath. He returned her hand to his lap and gazed into her eyes. Their connection was back, and they continued to gaze into each other's eyes until Nicole's knees couldn't take her weight anymore. She had worked herself into a position to stand up when he stood up himself and then gently pulled her up to him.

They stood together for some time before she finally reached up, eyes closed, and gently kissed him on the lips, allowing herself to linger before dropping back down. When she opened her eyes and looked up at him, she couldn't quite make out the expression on his face, and she suddenly found herself doubting that he'd wanted her to kiss him at all.

When she pulled away, Erik opened his eyes and took in the sight of her watching him intently. He couldn't believe she'd willingly kissed him, and thoughts of his first kiss with Christine came unbidden into his mind. And though he tried to avoid it, Nicole's sweet kiss caused the same reaction he'd had to Christine's, save for one change. He didn't have to give her up like he had to give up Christine. He noted that wonderful difference and simply let the tears come, fleetingly hoping his reaction wouldn't scare her off.

Nicole watched as his tears started to fall, and she was unsure what to do. Ultimately, she just simply smiled lovingly at him and put her hand on his left cheek. He put his hands on her shoulders and then turned and staggered away from her. She was thoroughly puzzled by his reaction and went over to comfort him. She turned him around and tried to recapture his gaze, but he refused to look at her, preferring instead to stare at his shoes. She put her fingers to his chin and tried to gently push his chin up so as to make him look at her, but still he resisted.

She sighed and took his hand as she simply said, "Come with me."

He let her lead him to the bedroom. When they got to the bed, she gestured for him to sit but he preferred to stand. She turned to face him and tried again to make him look at her. When he refused again, she was more forceful, and he finally complied.

The look on his face and the tears he shed tore at her heart, and in his exhaustion, he fell to his knees at her feet. In an effort to comfort him, she dropped down and pulled him to her, consoling him as a mother would console her child. He let her pull him to her, and eventually, her calming gestures had their intended affect, and his sobs abated.

Eventually, he stood up straight and looked at her through blood-shot eyes. She smiled slightly and wiped away the tears on his left cheek. She wanted to take off the mask but wasn't sure how he'd react and she didn't want to upset him now that she'd gotten him calmed down, so she left it alone for the time being. Instead, she asked, "Are you okay, Erik?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before responding. He opened his eyes again and said, "Yes, I'm fine now. Sorry I fell apart on you."

"You scared me, you know. I was afraid I'd done something wrong by kissing you," she said, squeezing his hand gently.

"No, not at all," he said. "It's just that…I've only been kissed once before, and so it just…took me by surprise, is all."

"Ah, well, perhaps we should remedy that," she said with a slightly devilish grin. She then leaned up and kissed him again. This time, though, he kissed her back, reveling in the intimacy of the kiss that she offered up to him willingly.