"Kerri, I'd like to talk to you about something-- rather important."

Kerri sat in her father's office. She had only been in there three times before, once after Raoul had caught her with Christian, once to find out Christian was being sentenced to death, and once to be lectured about what young ladies should and should not do in high society.

"Like what, daddy?" She was pretending to be a good little girl. She wore a purple dress with a black overlay, laced in the front and tied n the back. Her hair was down, for once, curled softly at the ends and thrown over one shoulder. She pinned it out of her face with a rose clip she'd made herself. The flower was burgundy. It dried in full bloom.

"Marriage. You're getting to be that age, and I'm not going to lie to you. There are quite a few suitors asking to call on you."

"I can only imagine." She could think of a few names off the top of her head.

"Now, I'm not saying that you have to get married right away. On the contrary, I think you should contemplate any proposal you receive thoroughly."

"Daddy, are you trying to tell me something?" She laughed nervously.

"The Duke is particularly interested in marrying you. He isn't asking for much…"

"You mean he's not asking for a handsome dowry."

Her father chuckled.

"Not exactly. He's offered to pay for the entire wedding if he can have you before your birthday."

'Have me!' She wanted to scream. 'What am I some object?'

But she had to keep her composure.

"You're having lunch with him on the Veranda tomorrow at noon. Wear something pretty."

"Daddy, I can't accept that invitation."

"I'm not asking you, Kerri. You will have lunch with the Duke tomorrow."

The defiant streak flared within her. Not if she had anything to do with it.

She left quietly, hurrying up to her room. It was almost dinner time, but if she hurried, she could escape unnoticed.

"Marie!" She shouted.

"What? What's the matter?" She gasped, running into the room.

"Pack my things. I'm leaving."

"What? Where? Why?"

"I don't know. Make sure I can carry it on horseback."

"Kerri, no! There's a storm coming! The last one of the season is always rough."

"I'll get by, Marie. Now do it."

"No. You'll kill yourself." She crossed her arms.

"They want me to marry the Duke, Marie!" Tears fell silently. "And that for me would be a fate worse than death." She retrieved a hooded black cloak from her closet.

"If you won't help me, then I'll do it myself. Goodbye, Marie." She put her hood up and left the room.

"Erik! Oh God, she's gone!" Marie slid into the room, waving her arms frantically.

"What are you rambling about?"

"Kerri! She's run away!"

Erik sat up from his position on the bed. "From whom?"

"The Duke."

Erik looked out his window. In the moonlight, he could just make out her figure.

"Damn." He swore under his breath, grabbing his cloak and heading out the door.

He knew his way around the house, and he knew that there was a back door in the kitchen that faced the barn. It was snowing outside, big, wet clumps, and a dark cloud in the distance threatened heavier things.

It was below freezing, and galloping bareback wasn't helping much. Where was she? There was no doubt in his mind that she was well ahead of him, but the field was fairly open and straight, with almost no hills. He should have spotted her by now, unless she had taken shelter in the trees.

Wait a minute, he said to himself. Her horse was standing a few hundred yards ahead of him, but she was not. She loved that horse, and there was no way she would just abandon it in the cold. And so Erik rode forward. She had to be nearby.

As it turned out, she was next to him. Buried under nearly three inches of snow, and unconscious. Her lips were already tinged blue. He quickly uncovered her, taking his own cloak off and wrapping her. He tied his horse's reins to Michael Angelo. Although it wasn't the most dignified thing, Erik threw her over his shoulder so he could mount. She fit perfectly in front of him, head resting in the crook of his neck. Her breath was warm.

"Alright, lets see how much of a mean old cuss you really are." He remarked, urging the horse into a canter.

Kerri felt safe, and warm. She was in her room, fireplace blazing, and a comforter wrapped around her. There was a cup of hot tea in her hands.

Now only if Erik would stop pacing.

"What possessed you to do something like that, Kerri? You could have died!"

"But I didn't." She commented, playing with her pallet knife.

"Only because I found you before you froze!"

"Erik-- I don't know what else to say other than I'm sorry."

"You could start with why you did it."

"I can't tell you." She looked away, sipping her tea.

"Why not?"

"Because it's none of your business." She snapped, and then regretted it.

"I'm sorry." She sighed. "It's just…I'm embarrassed."

"About..."

"About this, about our fight last week…" She covered her face with her hands.

"The Duke wants to marry me."

His face changed. He looked away.

"Well then, I suppose this has to end."

"No! No, Erik…" She rose from the bed, putting her teacup and knife on the nightstand.

"Erik, listen to me. I would die before I married him. Just because he wants to doesn't mean I have to. I can say no."

"No, you can't. I wouldn't let you throw your life away for me."

"It would only be throwing my life away if I said yes. We can get through this." She put his hands on her waist, and he kissed her forehead.

"Kerri, you and I both know that this was bound to end sometime…"

"No, I don't know that. And you don't either. Please Erik, don't leave me."

He kissed her lips softly as she pushed her hands up his shirt, feeling how warm he was.

Their contact deepened, and Kerri bumped into the nightstand, knocking whatever lay on it to the floor.

Before she realized what was happening, Raoul was tearing them apart, sending Erik to the floor with a hard right hook.

"Erik!" She gasped. He was on his hands and knees, spitting blood.

"Get up." Raoul growled. When he didn't, Raoul kicked him once in the stomach.

"Get up!"

"Raoul, you don't understand…" Kerri started to explain. Raoul didn't even look at her.

"Shut up, Kerri. I'll deal with you in a minute. Now God damn it, I said get up!"

He pulled Erik to his feet by his shirt collar, which gave the other man a chance to shove his elbow into Raoul's jaw. This time both Kerri and Christine, who was by the door, shrieked.

"You wish is my command, Vicomte." Erik back handed him with his fist, sending the boy spinning to the ground.

Erik straddled his waist, and proceeded to beat the crap out of him. In a fit of rage, Raoul forced him back, so that he was now on top. His hands were around Erik's throat.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance." Raoul growled.

Erik's hands were grappling for anything to push Raoul off of him. He found the pallet knife.

"Fortunately for me, you didn't." Erik responded, rolling them so that again, he was staring down at Raoul. The knife was against his throat.

"Erik!" Kerri cried. "Erik, get off of him!"

"He has to let go of me, Kerri."

"Raoul, let go of him."

"Never!"

Kerri hated the fact that her brother always had to win.

"Raoul, get off of him now, or I swear I will let him kill you in your sleep."

"Not if he's already dead!" Raoul retorted. Kerri rolled her eyes, and went to her closet. A sword hung from its belt. She unsheathed it, and returned to the fighting pair.

"Raoul, let go." She said, pressing the tip to his throat. He groaned in anger, but let him go. Erik got off of him, looking at Kerri with mixed emotions.

"Sit over there." She pointed to the bed.

"Kerri, what the hell are you doing?" Raoul asked, pulling himself up.

"It looks like I'm saving your life."

"What are you doing with him, with…"

"Erik?" Kerri offered his name up as an answer.

"With that monster!"

Erik suspected that Kerri was more shocked by the comment than he was. Or maybe it was her brother's face as he said it.

"The only monster I see in here is you."

"Kerri, have you gone insane? He's a murderer, and a kidnapper!"

"Well, he hasn't hurt or stolen anything since he's been here."

"Don't you realize what you've done? He's a criminal! You could go to jail for this!" He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply.

"I'm calling the police. If you're lucky, I can call in a hell of a lot of favors."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Erik mused.

"And why not? I've certainly got reason to."

"Do you really think that anyone would believe your story? Your helpless younger sister harbors a criminal for over two months unbeknownst to you?" He chuckled. "Even the chief of police isn't dumb enough to believe that."

"But it's the truth."

"A person would rather believe an unlikely lie to a likely truth. Isn't that right Christine?" Erik looked at Christine expectantly. She looked away.

"So, tell us then, what is our 'truth?"

"Christine felt guilty for leaving me. You being the doting husband you are, agreed to bring me here after finding me half dead on the highway. A harmless indulgence as far as favors go, until Kerri found me, and recognized me as Christine's kidnapper. She called the police out of fear."

Kerri almost smiled. Raoul couldn't call the police; they would surely arrest him for harboring a criminal.

"He can stay here, but I swear on my life if he touches you, I will have his head mounted on my wall."

Kerri nodded. All that meant to her was 'don't get caught.'

He started to leave, but turned around when Kerri didn't follow.

"Aren't you coming?"

She snorted. "Do you really think I'm going to leave him alone now that you know he's here?"

Raoul was half in shock, half angered. He closed he distance between himself and his sister. She crossed her arms and stared at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it. Her face told him the issue was non-negotiable.

"Where's Delia?" He finally asked, shouting her name. She appeared almost out of nowhere.

"You do not leave this room under any circumstances. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir." The woman nodded.

"I will be back in the morning."

"Alright." She smiled sweetly. Raoul left, practically dragging Christine behind him.

As soon as he left, Kerri burst out laughing. She glanced over at Erik.

"Were you really going to attempt to kill him with a pallet knife?"

He made a face. "Don't make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun of you, per se." She bit her lip, sitting down next to him and examining his black eye.

"Ow!" He winced. "Jesus, what is wrong with you? In case you weren't paying attention, your brother just spent the last ten minutes trying to kill me."

"Speaking of that, lift up your shirt for a minute."

She moved his shirt out of the way, exposing a reddish/purplish bruise that had formed. She touched it lightly, and Erik flinched, pushing her hand away.

"You don't understand the concept of a bruise, do you?"

"I think he broke your ribs."

"There's a surprise." He retorted.

"1…2…3." She poked the bruise, counting out his ribs.

"If you poke that thing again, I will be forced to subdue you using dishonorable tactics."

"Oh really?" She arched her eyebrow.

"Yes really."

"Like what?"

She stood, and they began a very quick game of Cat and Mouse. She squealed as Erik pulled her away from the door and into his arms. She laughed silently, poking his non-bruised side.

"Alright, that's it." He picked her up, assaulting her neck with kisses.

Delia cleared her throat loudly.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is what Raoul didn't want to happen."

"He really knows how to suck the fun out of everything." Erik mused.

"He's smarter than he looks." Kerri laughed. She sighed as Erik set her down.

"Well, I'm going into my music room." She gathered pillows and a blanket, and opened the door.

"Kerri, I don't think…"

"Raoul specifically said that you couldn't leave this room. He never addressed Erik or myself."

"This isn't the smartest thing to do, you know."

"What can he do? Have Erik arrested?" She scoffed, shutting the door behind her. Delia watched as Erik gathered his things also and followed her. As she sat down on the stripped mattress, Delia prayed Raoul was as naïve as Kerri assumed.