Okay, okay, okay I noticed the last chapter wasn't totally correct and I apologize greatly. I know Christine will be arrested for her crime, but it came out wrong and I didn't want to change it. Sorry I'm lazy. Erik was clothed when Christine harassed him, the only thing he didn't have was the mask and the zipper of his fly, because that was broken off. Also I know Erik doesn't have much anger right now. After something like that happens to you out of the blue its normal to feel scared and guilty before it sets in and you become upset. So give me a chance you guys.

Also receiving a flame saying this story sucks is sad. If you don't like a story than don't review telling the person that it is complete and utter crap. That's hurtful to someone. Or you could try telling the person what you didn't like.

That's all I have to say for now. And for all of you who have given me positive support through this will receive white and milk chocolate chip cookies. I love you all.

NOTE: There is a detailed kissing scene, just to let you all know.

Chapter 19: Fulfilled Sentences

Emotions and the air around campus had begun to grow cold as December came upon MSU. As the days went by Erik began to realize how much true hatred he had for Christine even though she would never be allowed back at the campus. Not long after Erik was questioned, Christine was found at the CSU and taken into custody. She was charged with sexual harassment and was expelled from the MSU campus.

But to everyone's surprise Mrs. Giry paid for Christine's bail and the girl got off with having to do numerous hours of community service. Because of all this Erik felt that his only trusted grown-up friend had turned on him. He was confused on why Ms. Giry would help Christine out after what she did.

Brittney grew worried about him and barely left his side seeing as that was one of the things that calmed him down. Class, his piano, and Meg and Nadir, were the only other things that helped him relax and forget about what happened for awhile.

xxxxx

One evening after dinner Brittney was stretched across the floor working on the draft for an English paper while Erik worked at the piano. Depending on his mood the music was different. On days that he was mellow and relaxed a soft-tempo would fill the room enveloping both teens into a world of comfort and freedom, when he was in a bad mood the organ function on the keyboard was abused as Erik would pour all his energy into the mind blowing pieces, and when he was sad the music would be as tranquil as a stream out in the woods.

Today's choice was a slightly up beat tempo. Brittney listened closely and got the urge to dance along. She pushed her books aside and in socked feet did a few basic steps that Meg had shown her. Brittney closed her eyes as she saw herself upon some brilliant stage in front of an audience. Erik would be her maestro guiding her with his music and helping her to shine.

She giggled a bit at the thought she always had that she would never be able to dance like this. She had never been really flexible or willing to try, but Erik had awakened that need to soar and glide in step to the music. Besides tech was her thing not dancing, this was just a fun thing; a hobby.

Eventually the music stopped and Brittney felt her body remain standing in an elegant pose unlike the first time when she fell back. With all the practice she had gained control of her starts and stops.

"You're getting so much better at that," Erik said softly.

"I can't help it if your music drives me to seek the perfect dance move."

He smiled and picked up her English book up off the floor. "Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework?"

"I really don't want to, but I have to," she groaned crossing her legs and sitting back on the floor.

Erik pulled a newspaper article out of his desk drawer and studied it. Brittney watched him and recognized the back of the paper.

"Erik, why on earth are you reading that? Reminding yourself that she was free to go is just going to upset you."

After a second he crumpled up the article and chucked it at the wastebasket. "I hate her! She pushed me too far now! I wish I never met her!"

Brittney quickly stood and grasped Erik's shoulders. "Erik, relax. I know you're upset, but there isn't much you can do. Soon finals will be done and we can go back to Wisconsin for Christmas Break. We won't have to worry about her for a whole month."

Erik's eyes continued to burn with a flame of hated even as Brittney spoke gentle words of encouragement. She fell against him wrapping her arms around him and holding onto him. Finally he returned the embrace and held her. "I just feel so used."

xxxxx

Finally it was the end of finals week and Brittney was busy packing up a few things she wanted to take back home and leave there seeing as she didn't need them. Erik sat on her nearly empty bed save for the bed sheets and mattress pad trying to fix her CD player, which she had said was having volume problems. You could turn the volume down, but not up.

"I'm grateful you're trying to fix that for me. I don't know what happened to it."

"Don't worry I'll take care of it. Now let's get the rest of this stuff together and start loading up. We need to be out of here by six o'clock."

"Give me a minute Mr. I don't have that much to pack. I'll be ready in just a minute," she said placing things in the duffel bag.

Erik chuckled.

xxxxx

Finally they were in the car and Brittney was busy reading a book as Erik drove along grateful it hadn't snowed yet this year. Last thing he wanted to add to his list of horrible events would be a car accident involving him and his girlfriend.

He reached his hand over and took Brittney's gently. She looked up at him slowly marking the book with her other hand. "What's up?" she asked.

"Was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you after all that has happened. I have no idea what my life would have been like without you by my side."

Brittney smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "You're welcome. I honestly don't know what I would have done without you. You opened my eyes to the light of day Erik and I never want the door to close me into darkness again. Now we can talk about this later. I don't want to cloud your mind and cause you to get in an accident."

She calmly slipped her hand out of his and smiled before going back to her book. Watching the cars around him Erik felt much better and free after getting that small comment off his chest.

xxxxx

Six hours later they pulled into Brittney's driveway. Erik reached over and kissed Brittney's cheek for she had fallen asleep some time earlier. He was grateful he memorized the way to her house.

"Are we there?" Brittney asked sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"Yep, you're home."

"A real bed to sleep in," Brittney mumbled happily, and then she looked up sadly. "But you won't get to cuddle with me tonight. Boyfriend or not boys aren't allowed to sleep in my room with me."

Erik rolled his eyes. "Your mom knows what went on and on top of that I don't think I'll be wanting anything like that for a long time."

"I know that and you know that," she replied pointing at them in turn. "But my mom doesn't seem to grasp that, so we have to play by her rules."

"Well it is rather late so let's just get inside and sort this out tomorrow."

"All right; though you should be lucky I'm tired, because I would have argued with you," Brittney said climbing out of the car.

Erik opened the trunk and Brittney grabbed her duffel bags. She headed off towards the back door pulling out her key and heading inside. She emerged from the front door a mere moments later with a small white dog at her heels.

"Go outside Chester," she said quietly as the dog hurried down the porch and into the front yard.

"Cute dog," Erik said as Chester began to sniff Erik's sneakers.

"It's a good thing you like dogs," Brittney said grabbing a bag of bed things and carrying it inside.

Erik grabbed the keyboard and brought it inside. "Where can I put this?"

"Set it on the couch for now, but later on we'll put it in my room where it will be safe. My brother will want to play with that."

A look of shock spread across Erik's face as he set down the keyboard. "He better not play with it."

"It'll be safe in my room. He's not allowed in there."

"It better be safe in there," Erik said taking a deep breath.

"It will be. I understand how much you care about that instrument," Brittney said letting Chester back in the house then going over and leaning against his back. The leather of his jacket was warm and smelled so good.

Suddenly they both heard movement and Tana emerged from the back bedroom. She looked tired, but happy none the less. "There the two of you are. I almost thought you were never going to show up," she said as Brittney came over and hugged her.

"We're right on time, Mom. You shouldn't worry so much, because Erik is a good driver."

"I worry just enough," Tana said giving Erik a hug. "How have you been feeling lately?" she asked quietly.

"Better, thank you."

"Glad to hear that. Well I'm sure the two of you are tired, so Erik you're room is right outside Brittney's room, so you'll know where it is while you're here."

"Once again I thank you for allowing me to stay."

"It's not a problem. The more the merrier at Christmas. Now I'm sure you can take care of all of this and get to bed. I have work tomorrow, so I need to get back to sleep."

"Goodnight, Mom."

Tana headed back to bed as Erik let go of a breath he had been holding on to.

"Erik, are you going to be all right?" Brittney asked going to the door hoping to get her last thing out of the car.

"Yeah, I'll be alright. Just lock up the car when you finish okay?"

"Sure, I'll be right back."

She hurried outside and Erik heard her go into the car and lock the doors. He looked around the house at the various things on the wall; pictures of Brittney and family members, her mom's collection of West Highland White Terriers figurines, and some small stuffed collectibles on the mantle. This felt like one of the best places in the world, but he thought about what Brittney had told him went on here; her father losing his temper often and yelling at her for the smallest things.

"Erik is something wrong?" Brittney asked sweetly from behind him.

"Fine, I was just thinking about what you told me; about your father."

Brittney's voice dropped to one of sadness as she spoke. "Well he no longer lives with us and he's doing a lot better. Plus that's all in the past now and I don't let it get to me."

"You're a tough girl."

"I wasn't always this tough, Erik. I'm still sensitive at times, but I was never able to toughen up, because my dad would pick on me thinking it helped make me stronger while instead it crumbled the little self-ego I had left. But that's enough for tonight. I'm really tired."

Erik nodded and stroked her cheek before grabbing his bag and the keyboard. Brittney grabbed her things after closing the front door and started towards the kitchen where the stairs led to the upstairs bedrooms. Her brother was asleep in the spare room at the top of the stairs, so they moved quietly towards the room at the end of the hall.

Once stepping into the bedroom Erik was surprised at the size of the room. "Wow, this room is huge," he said placing his bag on the floor.

"It's not that big, but I like having the extra space," Brittney said placing her duffel bags in the corner. Then she cleared off some space on her desk. "You can leave the keyboard here. It'll be safe."

Erik set it down and looked over at her. Her eyes had glazed over and she was shaking a bit. "You alright?" he asked taking hold of her shoulders.

"Just cold," she said softly.

"Then why are you crying?"

She looked into his eyes and leaned against him. "The whole thing with my father; I remember all of it and I was so scared."

Erik wrapped his arms around her and held her. "You know what? Forget silly rules. I'll stay with you tonight. One it is rather cold up here and two you need someone near you. If I'm here I can protect you from your fears."

"Thank you for everything," Brittney said softly. She leaned up and kissed his chin. "I'll go into the bathroom and get ready for bed and meet you back here all right?"

She let go of him and grabbed her snowflake long sleeved and pants pajamas out of her bag and headed into the bathroom down the hall. Erik in the meantime took his bags into the other room and set them down and changed into some more comfortable clothes.

Brittney was in her room putting clothes in the hamper as he returned. Her sandy brown hair was messed up along her back after taking out her ponytail and she was yet to brush it. He crept up behind her and wrapped his arms around her making her squeal. Playfully she pushed him back.

"That was not nice," she said.

"I know."

"Can we just go to sleep please? I'm really tired," she asked placing her glasses on the nightstand and flopping onto the bed.

Erik turned off the light, found his way to the bed, and sat down on it. Brittney sat up and grabbed him around the shoulders and pulled him down next to her. Kissing him lightly she reached under the mask and took it off. He smiled as she kissed him, a hand along the back of his neck trying to deepen it, yet she was being gentle as she did it.

After the whole thing with Christine, he realized how much he loved the way Brittney kissed him. She seemed to know what he wanted and she would go about the task with so much tenderness and love for him. She didn't want him to be afraid of her. He loved having her close and having her suck gently on his tongue.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" he asked her.

She lifted her head and stared at him through the darkness. "I made out with a boy awhile back and nothing came of the whole thing, but the kissing thing came naturally I guess. Why do you not like it?"

"I love it. You seem to have you own way of doing things and it makes me feel comforted."

She blushed and pressed herself against his chest. "I try my best Erik. I wouldn't want to give you anything less then the best."

Erik grabbed the blanket and pulled it up around them and cuddled her close. Before falling asleep he thanked the lord for bringing her into his life and being here with her as she snuggled in his arms. He was grateful for this affection and gentleness she provided. To lose it would be to lose the world and he wasn't at all willing to test the waters of loneliness so soon.

Sorry this took so long everyone. I was working on other pieces again. My heart goes out to all the people of the London bombings. I wish people could just get along and stop hurting one another. No one deserves to hurt.