Merry Christmas everyone! XD

Hope you are all enjoying the story! i was DYING to add a new character to the scene! and yes, i also love the word 'miffed', isn't it grand?

Part Thirty-five:

Rachel and Lark stopped in front of a door almost hidden by a large, rather ugly, vase that stood beside it. "This is my workroom," the woman explained, "Richard made sure that it was out of the way of anything." Rachel shook her head and opened the door, letting the girl go in first. Lark stepped in and looked around with wonder. The room had a large window, letting all the sun's rays shine in, and it was bright and large. Easels with paintings were covered with white sheets, some uncovered slightly as to let its wet paint dry. Pots of paints and holders stuffed with different brushes covered the large, undecorated table, smeared with colors, oils, and a few hurried designs.

"This is my latest work," Rachel said, smiling at the child's amazement. Walking over to the nearest easel, the woman grasped the sheet covering it and yanked it off, showing half the painting finished. Lark gasped and praised Rachel as she studied the well painted artwork. It was of a garden, with exquisite flowers, trees that reached for the skies, and a small pathway leading to a still pond overflowing with delicate lily pads. There was also a lady in the picture, her long golden gown half finished and the baubles that hung from her blond curls nearly done. The lady was kneeling next to the pond, one hand nearly touching the water and the other in someone else's gloved hand. There was no person painted to finish the gloved hand that held the lady's. "She's very pretty," Lark sighed, she peered closer, "but why isn't there another person that goes with the glove?"

Rachel sighed and pointed out the bodiless hand. "This is where I am stuck," she explained, "the rest of the picture I can finish easily, but I can't find the right gentleman to go with my lady." She heaved a sigh and traced the empty campus where the 'gentleman' was supposed to be. "If I could just find someone that could fit here I would be done, and I could sell my painting." Lark studied the garden and the lady, her young face creased with concentration. "What did you want the monsieur to wear?" Lark asked timidly, a little scared to be offering any ideas to such a fine artist. Rachel's blue eyes sparkled as she envisioned the man that was supposed to complete her work.

"He is supposed to be the exact and complete opposite of the mademoiselle," she said, nodding, "While she is light, beautiful, and well loved, the man, my monsieur, is dark, ugly, and well hated." Rachel's eyes misted over. "But they complete each other," she sighed dreamily, seemingly forgetting where she was, "even though they are completely opposite to one another, ugly dares to look beauty in the face on wings of love." Lark smiled up at her. "That sounds nearly poetic, Madame!" Rachel laughed and recovered the painting, the young girl feeling almost sad when she did. "Yes, I guess it is," she admitted, grinning. "And please, my dear, just call me Rachel. Madame makes me feel old." Lark laughed and agreed.

"My dear sister, must you be so uncivilized?" Richard had poked his head in to check on them. Noticing the painting, now covered, he groaned. "Oh now, Rachel, you didn't go on about that silly painting's meaning did you?" Rachel winked at Lark, who smiled at the older woman, and turned to her younger brother. "Yes I did, Richard," Rachel said, peeved, "have you shown Mademoiselle Lark your silly strings?" The host just smirked and shook his head. "I haven't been able to, my dear sister," he said, bowing mockingly at her, "but I have come to collect her so that I may show her…er…my 'silly strings' as you so pleasantly put it." Rachel huffed, and bade Lark a good day.

"Hopefully I will be able to meet your guardian, Lark," she called over her shoulder, "but my brother has need of your attention to his own work." Waving goodbye, Rachel tossed her hair over a shoulder and headed out into the halls. Richard shook his head, grinning fondly at his sister's retreating back. "That's Rachel for you, Lark." He said gesturing to the door, "Hopefully she didn't bore you." Lark looked at her friend, surprised. "Oh no, Richard!" she exclaimed, "I loved Rachel, she's very kind and gifted. Not a bore to me at all!" Richard just shrugged and offered his arm to his young friend who giggled and took it. "So," he began, leading them down another hall, "what brings you to our humble home?"

"It's hardly humble, Rich," Lark said wryly, Richard laughed. "But yes, I wanted to get something for Erik," she continued. Richard nodded, interestedly. "For a Christmas gift, I am guessing?" The young girl nodded, "yes, I wanted to get him one of your instruments. I can pay for one of course!" she added hurriedly. Richard looked pleased. "I am glad that you would like to see my work," he said pleasantly, "but I refuse to accept your money for it! Call it a gift from me." He grinned and Lark squealed, delighted with his offer. "Now, let's go into my workroom and pick out a nice one for Monsieur Erik!" Richard opened a door and let them both in.

Hope everyone had good presents! oh, and the next (and last) X-mas speical will be up shortly, but i'm still kinda writting it...XP

it will be a bit late, so don't hurt me!!