Ach! You won't BELIEVE what has happened to your dear authoress (me) this whole stupid month, so I'm not going to tell you. Haha! But I humbly apologize for not updating. The good news is, this was the chappy i had most problems with, so hopefully all excedeeding chapters will go on smoothly with no writer's block!

yay! Enjoy the new chappy and try to forgive me and not hunt me down. Some readers have done that. and i thank them for their...erm...encoragement. lol!

why are you reading this?? read the story!! GO GO GO!!

Part Forty-four:

Erik managed to reach the Rue Scribe's door and somehow got the key to open it without dumping both parcels and girl. He walked across the shore of the lake and dumped Lark and the items unceremoniously into the boat before leaping into it himself. They were halfway across the lake when finally Lark stirred out of her deep slumber. Looking around blearily she opened her mouth with surprise and disappointment.

"Oh no!" she cried, "I missed the ride, didn't I?" Erik looked up and continued rowing. "Good evening, mademoiselle," he said pleasantly, "I trust you slept well?" Lark gasped at him. "You didn't wake me up?" she asked, looking rather hurt. He grimaced. "No, you wouldn't wake up. Believe me when I say that I would have given a great amount to have you awaken."

"Oh," she glanced down at the parcels between them. "You didn't peek at your gift, right?" she demanded, looking suspiciously at him. Erik grinned and slowly shook his head; Lark looked relieved. "Good!" she clapped her hands together. "You can't until tomorrow morning!" He glared at her from above the oars.

"Why?" he demanded. The girl only smiled mysteriously and turned around to skim her fingers over the glassy surface of the chilly lake. Erik sighed heavily and continued to row until the boat crunched against the shore of the house. Lark immediately snatched up the parcel containing his present and hurried off to her room to hide it while he tied up the boat.

Erik plopped himself into a chair in the kitchen and glared at the bottle. Why did Lark enjoy telling Richard and Rachel almost everything about him? He sighed heavily and got up to grab a glass; he might as well try the wine he received. As he popped open the bottle, his mind wandered back to his music, his finger unconsciously tapping out an unknown beat.

Suddenly a weight shifted behind him and, before Erik could turn around, he found himself tightly locked in another backwards hug by Lark. "Are you going to try the wine, Erik?" she asked excitedly. His face burned but he managed to pry her arms off from around his midsection. "Perhaps I would have, if you hadn't interrupted me." He grumbled, pouring it carefully in the glass.

Lark made a face at him and peered at the dark red liquid with interest. "Can I try a sip?" she asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. He shrugged and slid the glass towards her. "Just a small one," he ordered, feeling that he should at least say something of the sort as her guardian. Or something like that. "Alright!" she answered and obediently took a small sip from the glass, pulling a small face as she set it down.

Erik grinned. "Too much?" he asked. Lark shook her head and smacked her lips together thoughtfully. "No, it's sweet," she said seriously, "it's sweet, but strange. Kind of burns your throat on the way down. Though not in a bad way…" Erik snickered as he took the glass for his own. "That would be the alcohol, my dear." He explained, absentmindedly swirling the glass. She looked at him then at the wine bottle. "Oh, I know that, but its sweet taste overcomes it and mixes in its own flavor. Altogether," she concluded, "a very nice wine."

"Are you a professional wine taster, then?" he asked, surprised into a small laugh, taking a sip. Lark giggled and shook her head; she liked making Erik laugh. "No, but maybe one day?" she looked at him almost expectantly to the point where he gave a full-throated laugh. "Sure, sure," he cackled, enjoying himself. Lark had taken an orange out of the fruit basket and was peeling it, letting the tangy aroma swirl into the air. "Really?" she asked, surprised.

"No, my dear, you would not like the job," he teased, then Erik became serious but a playful glint was still in his gold eyes. "But I believe you should be going to bed, it's very late and I think you would want me to open that tomorrow." He gestured to the parcel that was lying innocently on the table. Lark squealed and took it up in her arms, glaring at Erik. "How did you get this?" she demanded, though her curiosity shown out more than her irritation. He grinned wickedly and pushed her gently out of the kitchen. "I suggest you hide it more carefully, no?"

"Errriikkk!" she wailed, trying to go against his force with no avail. "You aren't supposed to look!" She struggled out of his grasp and tried to get to the kitchen but he laughed even harder and plucked her up as if she was just a bag of flour and threw her gently over his shoulder. "To reassure you, as you're listening," he said as he walked slowly to her room, "I did not look." She stopped her pointless struggles to look at him happily. "You didn't?"

"Not even a little." He promised modestly, flopping her onto her bed as they entered her room. Lark laughed as she bounced on the pillows but looked up at Erik sternly. "You can't look until tomorrow morning," she instructed, "alright, Erik?" He bowed gallantly. "I promise." She beamed and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you, Erik!" she whispered, "And goodnight!" Erik stiffened at her contact, but allowed it, feeling awkward. He nearly cried out with shock and deep alarm as she pecked him on the cheek and, giggling the whole way, pushed him out of the room.

"See you in the morning!" she cried from inside, happily. He sighed, face still burning, and rolled his eyes. He'd never get used to her odd, scatter-brained ways. Though pausing outside his bedchamber door he had to allow a small smile to spread on his face. She was singing on the top of her little lungs. "Joy to the world…"

Yay! It made me very happy, this chapter! mostly because i finally got to finish it, but whatever...hope you all enjoyed!