(Sigh) Erik? Why again did I decide to go back to high school for Discrete Geometry and Calculus?
Erik: Because you're a loser.
Erik! I was looking for a little support!
Erik: Oh, sorry… Because you're a smart girl and a hard worker with noble aspirations…
Thank you! Well, shall we start those reviews, then?
Erik: I do believe that that is the point of these A/N's, is it not?
MasqueradingThroughLife: Ah, so you're the one who pinched Erik!
Erik: Huh?
Nothing! Never mind!
Emma and Hollom: Why, thank you! I'm glad you're still enjoying the fic.
Erik: And my earlier threat was directed at Hollom, not sweet Emma… One more wisecrack, and I swear you will learn the meaning of Victorian!
Oh, be nice!
Lady Golodwen: Well, thank you for pointing out that bit to me about the pageboys… I honestly didn't know that… Looks like I haven't been doing my homework.
Erik: See? Told you it sucked!
Hey! She didn't say it sucked! She just pointed out a few things to me!
Erik: On the other hand… Yes, Fop is very lovely word…
VagrantCandy: Thank you, I'm glad you thought it was, uh… magical… Alright, now we have two girls claiming responsibility for pinching you, Erik!
Erik: How interesting…
DarkSilverMaiden: You are most definitely invited to the closet! Hehe! You know Erik, I love it when you get flamed and I don't!
Erik: Great… What did I do now?
This reviewer does not appreciate your filthy language… Even if it was in French.
Erik: What? That was chapters ago!
If it means anything, I don't think you're a strange child at all!
Tadriendra of Mirkwood: Fruit salad? Now you see, Erik? That's what healthy eating looks like! Oh, and we're watching Princess Diaries 2 tonight so you can see how people should express their love for others.
Erik: I do not love you!
See? That's the wrong way!
pixiestars162: Aww, thank you! I feel all fuzzy inside… It kind of reminds me of the time Erik gave me our first hug…
Erik: As I recall, I grabbed you around the waist to toss you out of my closet!
So memorable… Too much like the movie? Well, I think we're going to make a break from the ordinary in this next chapter!
GalindaxlovesxErik: Aww, thanks! Wow, you are just so complimentary!
Erik: I am not cynical!
the Unrequited Lover: Uh… Thank you?
Erik: What? Does she like the fic?
I guess so… She's still reading it… I can't believe it… But she's still reading it!
Erik: I guess that's a good thing… Do not blow this one, authoress!
darklady5289: Hehe! Erik, you just got called a pervert!
Erik: So what else is new?
Well, I hope you like this new chappie... Enjoy!
XxXxX
Erik was relieved when the winter break rolled around. Everyone had gone home to their families for Christmas. This included Meg and Robert. Erik was grateful, for he thought that time away from the boy would be good for Fantine.
How wrong he was…
If it were possible, Fantine was more irritable than ever before.
"Why are you hovering?" she demanded as he entered the sitting room.
"I'm not!" Erik snapped. "This is my home, too! I was just looking for a book!"
"No! You're hovering! You think you have to keep an eye on me! You don't trust me!"
"Damn straight!" Erik yelled as he stormed away.
"I'm not a child!" she yelled after him. "Stop treating me like one!"
"Stop acting like one!"
"You insolent fool!" She followed after him. "How dare you speak to me with such disrespect? You do nothing but sit around and compose your stupid music all day long, you look like you wear your clothes to bed, and you invade my home after having abandoned it for five years! I didn't want you here! I never wanted you here!"
"I can't believe you think my music is stupid!" Erik spoke angrily, heedless of the rest of her tirade.
"You know, if I were your wife, I'd poison your tea!"
"If you were my wife, I'd drink it!"
"I wish I never met you!"
"The feeling's mutual!"
"I hate you!"
"I hate you right back!"
Fantine stormed away from him, going to her room and slamming the door. He heard a loud thud and a brief exclamation of pain, followed by soft cursing.
Erik inhaled deeply, composing himself, and strode over to her room. Not bothering to knock, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Fantine was leaning against the wall. There was a fist-sized crack in the wood of her wardrobe. She was sucking on her bruised and bleeding knuckles.
"Feel better?" he asked sarcastically.
She looked up and glared at him, then went back to nursing her sore hand.
"Let me see that," he said, taking her hand into both of his, gently inspecting it.
Her hand was so soft and warm…
Fantine attempted to pull away. "I'm fine!"
"No, you're not. There are splinters in this cut. I need to clean it."
Fantine looked like she was about to protest, but Erik silenced her with a cold glare.
"You can either let me help you, or I can knock you unconscious, drag you to the lake, and take care of it that way! Either way, I'm cleaning this wound!"
Fantine reluctantly submitted and followed him down to the lake. He brought along some salves and bandages. Kneeling beside the lake, he took her hand and submerged it in the cold water.
"This is going to hurt," he warned.
Erik went straight to work at removing the little bits of wood from the wound. Fantine gritted her teeth against the pain. Erik was as gentle as possible, but the process of cleaning was still a painful one. At last, he pulled her hand from the cold water. He held it between his own, warming it up. Fantine glanced at him nervously. Her gaze fell to their entwined fingers.
"This… feels… nice…" she thought.
Erik turned her hand over and applied the salve. Then he wrapped the wound in the bandage.
"How does that feel?" he asked, caressing the bandage with his thumb over where the wound was.
"Good…" she replied breathlessly, staring at their hands. She was quite aware that she was blushing beneath her mask. She hoped that he wasn't aware of it also…
He had treated her with such gentleness. A gentleness that she had only seen him display a few times since she'd met him.
"Perhaps next time you will think twice before you let your anger get the better of you!" He let her hand drop. His tone was hard and disapproving. He stood up and dusted himself off before leaving her there by the lake, staring after him…
XxXxX
Your comments, Erik?
Erik: Do you really need to ask?
Let me guess... You think it sucked...
Erik: See? You are a smart girl! Wait... Did you make me quote Winston Churchill in that chapter?
Yes, I did.
Erik: Interesting... There was one good thing about that chapter, though...
What would that be?
Erik: It was short...
Unfortunately for you, tomorrow's chapter will be much longer...
Erik: Oh, damn... Now, I do believe you have some Geometry homework to do, and Mrs. Northwood won't appreciate it if you don't hand that in tomorrow.
Who are you, my mother? Well, fine... We'll see all of you tomorrow!