A/N: Property of William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (1)Prologue

(2)Act 2 Scene 2.

I don't want to insult anyone but if you've never read Shakespeare and can't make head nor tail of the quote please e-mail me and I'll explain it.

Modesty: Thank you for the reviews, I'm looking forward to reading you next chapter so give your Beta a kick!

Angelofmusic: Thank you for the long review, I'm updating much quicker now so hopefully everything you've been thinking will be answered! All the issues you mentioned will be addressed, stand by lol

(1)'Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;'

Chapter 25- Romeo and Juliet

'Thank you,' was all the driver said as he took the coin from his hand and slipped it into his pocket. He watched as the carriage rocked into the distance and slowly the sound of hooves on dirt subsided.

It was a moment before he willed his feet to move, he stepped into the house, knocking the door shut with his heel and then glancing down at Christine still sleeping in his arms. Her hair was loose and hanging free, a stray curl lay delicately on her rosy cheek, cold from the air outside. Her body seemed frail now, thinner than he remembered, lighter than he wanted. He noticed her face was more gaunt, her cheek bones seemed higher but not in the way he liked, in the way that made her look ill.

He resisted the urge to move the curl, to warm her face with his hands, which had grown a soft pink from sitting by the fire. Her chest rose and fell slowly, her eyes moved under their lids, she was dreaming. Erik wondered for a second what she was dreaming about as incoherent words began to fall quietly from her tongue. She mumbled softly and then all was silent again.

He wandered through to the bedroom and lay her gently onto the sheet before pulling the soft blanket up over her body. He knelt at the side of the bed and removed her shoes, then re-covered them quietly before silently leaving the room and letting her sleep.

In the living area the fire was gradually dying out and he stumbled over to the chair, tired and lay down. He felt his eyes close and he began to drift to sleep but something woke him. For a second he was confused and then he realised it was Christine. He leapt up and ran to the bedroom and as he got to the door he could hear what she was saying.

'Please…' she mumbled, quietening. He edged the door open gently and his name stopped him. 'Erik… please…'

He flung it open and ran to the side of the bed, she was sleeping fitfully, the sheets were wrapped tightly around her body and sweat was running down her face. Her feet moved, her hands twitched, her lips mouthed words her voice couldn't speak. He lowered his ear to her lips to hear her, he couldn't, not properly. All he caught was 'Erik.' And then nothing and then she was silent. She had stopped. Whatever had her in such a state had past as quickly as it arrived and he sat there numb and confused.

What was she dreaming and why was he there?

He glanced one more time at her body, trapped in the sheets and when he was satisfied that she was okay he stood and left, trying to decide what to do about his house guest.

Her eyes flickered open slowly, the light in the room was bright and she moved her hand up to shield herself from the sun.

'But soft, what light through yonder window breaks, it is the east and Juliet is the sun, arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou, her maid art far more fair than she,(2)'

The sound of his voice woke her immediately and she suddenly noticed the surroundings. She recognised nothing and realised that she was not where she planned to be, she lifted her head but it dropped back to the bed fatigued, her stomach turned, her head pounded and as much as she wanted to see him she could barely open her eyes. She was too tired to be frigthened, too weak to be conmfused.

Erik walked over, laying a damp cloth softly over Christine's forehead, her cheeks were red and burning. She had caught a chill and it was obvious she hadn't eaten for a long time, the weakness plus the chill could kill her, he knew that and through his anger he gritted his teeth and tended to her.

'Erik…' she whispered, her voice so low he leant forward to hear it. 'How long have I been here?'

'Three days…' he said, almost as quietly and Christine groaned.

'Have I been asleep the whole time?' she asked, eyes still closed.

'Mostly, yes,' he said. 'You've had a fever but it seems to be breaking now.'

'Has a doctor seen me?' she asked and Erik laughed as he stood up, before dabbing the cloth over her cheeks, cooling her face.

'No,' he said. 'Only me.'

Christine's mind blurred and she forced her eyes to slit open slightly, she looked at his face through her hazed vision and noticed his strong jaw and glowing eyes. He seemed bigger than she remembered, wider even, his face had more to it and his eyes were brighter. Slowly her eyes became heavy again and she closed them to stop the feeling of nausea washing over her.

'Then you are the only medicine I need,' she mumbled and drifted quietly back to sleep.