A/N: Just to let you know, you will probably not see any updates this next week. I have four tests for school and I need to study. If I fail that darn math test again, I'll be in big trouble. I'm sure you all understand about school and studying. So don't panic. Unlike my other fic, I have plenty of ideas for this one. Stay warm! -Alia G.L.

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 12: The Outside

January 1st dawned bright and cold. Snow had fallen the night of my New Year's Eve party and it caused the whole area to sparkle. It was a winter wonderland. I opened my window, letting the cold air caress me. Another one of my brilliant (or not so brilliant) ideas popped into my head. There was a park a few minutes drive from the house. I wanted to go walk around it in the snow. And I wanted Erik to come with me. There was just one problem, and I'm sure you all see it.

Erik shied away from the light. He was a creature of the night and would not go into the daylight. In fact, I don't think I'd ever seen him when it was sunny outside save the morning when I first met him and Christmas. Usually, I saw him during the evenings. Even then, the blinds were typically drawn as tight as they could be. He turned his face from "the garish light of day", as the song so rightly put it. But, I wanted to change all that.

I was never a brave person. That day though, I was brave. Or maybe it was just foolish. After quickly dressing, I ran upstairs to find Erik. Now, you all will recall that the upstairs was his domain. He never wanted me to go up there without his consent. I didn't have his consent that day. I just ran up without even thinking about it.

I checked out the piano room, but he wasn't there. Perhaps he was still sleeping. It was rather early and we'd been up to midnight, ringing in the new year. I glanced down the hall, trying to decide which door to knock on. I'd never seen his bedroom and I didn't know where to begin the search. I decided upon the left side of the hall.

As I walked toward the last door on the left side, I felt that it was too quite upstairs. I could hear Louise bustling in the kitchen making breakfast, but the upstairs was silent. It reminded me of a grave yard. I shuddered as I knocked on the door. No answer. Apparently, that wasn't his bedroom. Before I could turn, a hand came from behind and covered my mouth. I tried not to scream.

"What are you doing up this early, mademoiselle?" A cool voice questioned me. I relaxed, hearing that it was Erik. He spun me around to face him.

"I want to go for a walk in the park." I said defiantly. I could tell he wasn't too pleased. I probably had woken him up, which I didn't care too much about. What could he do to me? Nothing really.

"A walk in the park? Why? And why would you come up here to tell me?" He raised an eyebrow. I noticed that some of his hair wasn't in order and that the mask was tilted. So, he had just gotten up out of bed. I wanted to laugh.

"It's such a beautiful day outside, Erik, and I just can't spend it indoors. I've barely been outside these six months. It's only when Louise and I go shopping and that doesn't happen as often as I would like. Please? Would you take me to the park? No one will be there. Most people are still sleeping. Please?" I begged, grabbing his hand in mine. I sounded like a child. I know I did. Meaning I deserved that term of endearment at the moment.

"Take you to the park, child? That is what Louise is here for. She may take you there whenever you wish." I shook my head.

"No. I want you to take me. I only ever see you at dinner and when you decide to play for me. I want to do something else with you besides all that. A walk in the park would be perfect." He made a motion to protest, but I cut him off. "Don't. I know what you are going to say. There is nothing wrong with the mask. People will look at it and ignore it. And if they ask questions, just say you were in a fire as a child and you don't want to scare people." He looked surprised that I'd thought of such a thing. Of course, I'd had plenty of time to think about it. Remember those daydreams I was telling you about?

"I don't think it is a good idea." He replied, looking uncomfortable. "I don't typically go out into the light. I prefer the dark, as I'm sure you've seen."

"I know, but it's time to try new horizons. Please? We wouldn't have to stay long. Just long enough for me to walk around a little." In the end, I won out. I don't think he could have refused me anything; save to see what was behind the mask. I went back downstairs, told Louise what we were doing, and grabbed my winter cloak. Erik went out and got the carriage ready.

Oh, yes. Erik had a small place in the back where he kept a horse and a carriage. Some young boy took care of the horse. I never saw him. He was one of those "invisible" people. Apparently, he walked the horse everyday and fed him. Erik knew how to hitch up the horse, so no one was needed for that job or driving. Though on the day he rescued me, someone else had been driving. Why, I never found out.

I waited by the door as Erik drove around. I'd never been in a horse-drawn carriage before. Louise and I had always walked to the market. Erik helped me in and we were off. It was slow going at first due to the amount of snow. It got easier the closer to the park we got. There were very few people about. Erik had his cloak drawn up close to his face, hiding the mask. I was just excited to be out of the house.

We arrived at the park and Erik tied the horse to a post. There was no one in sight. Everyone must have been suffering from hangovers. Erik tried to convince me that he should remain by the horse, but I wouldn't let him. I pretty much dragged him into the park with me.

It was a gorgeous day and the park shimmered under the snow. I ran around, looking at the icicles and snow. Erik followed looking as out of place as a bird in water. I felt bad about asking him to come, but only for a second. This was good for him. He needed to learn how to conduct himself around others.

I decided to get back at him for all the teasing he'd done over the past six months. He had his back turned and was watching two squirrels dash across the path. I raced behind a tree. When he looked up, I was gone.

"Elizabeth, where are you? Come out this instance." He glanced around before sighing. Meanwhile, I was busy making a snowball. The snow was perfect for those. It was hard and formed well under my hands. I smiled. This was going to be fun. Taking aim, I threw the ball as hard as I could. It smacked him in the back of the head.

He whipped around and glared at me. I was almost bent over laughing. Snow dripped off his hair. It was just too funny. Before I could recover, however, a ball of snow smacked me in the shoulder. I glanced up and saw him smiling, another snowball in his hand.

So began a fun game of snowball fight. I ran for my life as he chased me. The snowball he had just barely missed me when he threw it. I was laughing so hard I wanted to cry. I ducked behind another tree and made more snowballs. I shot them at him. Most missed, but one or two found their mark.

Erik was laughing hard as well. His snowballs found their mark more often than not. I was dripping with snow. I didn't care; it was fun. In some way, I knew I was giving him a piece of his childhood back that he never had. And that thought encouraged me and made me throw harder.

He surprised me, though, by disappearing and then reappearing directly behind me. I yelped and ran. A snowball hit me in the back. I toppled over, laughing as I did so. Erik ran up, looking concerned.

"Are you okay, child? I hope I didn't hurt you." He was trying not to laugh. It must have been hysterical to see me lying in the snow. I smiled evilly. When he tried to help me up, I pulled him down. He gasped in surprise as he landed next to me. I immediately started throwing snow on him. This was just too much fun. He struggled to get up, but found his progress hindered by the snow I was piling on him.

I must have crossed a line somewhere, probably by pulling him down next to me (Was that even proper in the 19th century?), because he reached out and grabbed my wrists. I didn't struggle; I knew it to be useless. He by far overpowered me.

"That's enough, Elizabeth. I think it's time we leave." I agreed, though I really didn't want to. He pulled me up and we headed back to the carriage. The trip home was made in silence. We were both uncomfortable, why I don't know. Maybe I was awakening something in him that he didn't want to be awakened. Maybe, despite it all, he was falling in love with me. I wanted that more than anything. But, in retrospect, I think he was just starting to realize that we could be great friends. He was also realizing that girls weren't always meant for just falling in love with. They were for friendships, too.

We walked back into the house and Louise asked how our walk went. She seemed pleased "Master" had gone out with me. Maybe she was suffering from the matchmaker condition. We told her it had been fine and Erik said he was retiring to rest. He still walked me to my room, though. Before leaving me, he smiled and said.

"I had a fun time, Elizabeth. Thank you for asking me to come with you." He thought for a moment. "The light isn't such a bad thing." With that, he slipped away like the ghost that he was. All I could hope was that this had opened up a new door for us. I wasn't totally disappointed.