After all these months...nearly a full year...Actually it must have been a year. A story completely and totally finished...I need a moment...T-T

DISCLAIMER: Throughout this whole story I have never owned Phantom of the Opera. I still don't.

Part Seventy-one:

"You do realize, Erik," Richard said as he stood in front of the fireplace. "That you two will be able to move out into the house provided." Erik nodded, absently staring out the window. Rachel sat almost nervously a way beside him on the sofa, wondering if he always let off that intimidating aura. "It isn't too far from Paris itself, the place, but it is a day journey to the house." Richard continued, rubbing his hands together. He seemed very pleased that Lark would have another home, a real one. "So my sister and I can still visit, if that would be alright with you, monsieur?" He looked anxiously at Erik, giving the impression that he thought he would decline horribly. Erik, however, nodded once. "I would not mind," he said calmly, leaning back. Rachel scooted a little farther away. It wasn't that she did not like Erik, to be truthful, she liked him very much but just sitting next to him was rather frightening. "It is not my job to shoo away Lark's friends," Erik said. "Nor her companions. Visit however much she would like." The sister beamed at him while the brother sighed in relief and his too-wide smile split across his face. "How is the child, by the way?" Rachel asked, looking concerned. "Is she alright?" Erik frowned a little. "She is a tad too light to be completely healthy, but she is well enough." He paused thoughtfully. "Doesn't like to left by herself for too long I have seen. She might have a few problems with being left alone for however amount of time."

Richard heaved a small sigh. "Ah, but she is a strong one, she will recover, I am sure of it." He said this with full confidence. "When would you two like to leave?" Erik glanced around the room and looked at both of their faces in turn. "If possible, I would like to gather all our things from the Opera House and we shall leave as soon as possible. I do not wish for the Count to change is mind about having Lark in his…family." They all remained silent for awhile, the fire crackling merrily behind them casting playful shadows on the walls. "Was it hard to get her back?" Rachel asked, breaking the silence. Erik grinned slightly. "Not at all, mademoiselle. Lark had planned it all, the clever little minx. Beginning to end as she knew they could not keep her while I am still in her life." The woman smiled to herself and Richard looked very proud indeed. "She's going to be something, one day." He prophesied.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

They did not have a lot of leftover time in the Bair mansion for Lark to 'memorize' her way around. Erik, Rachel, or Richard had to be around her constantly to make sure she did not harm herself or run into things. She apologized profusely about being such a hassle but none of them would hear of it and encouraged her that it was their pleasure to help. Well, Erik would have said that but he remained mute and would only prod her in the right direction that waste time explaining he didn't care that she couldn't see. Lark understood. After a few days of packing, the men went off to the Opera House and got permission from Madame Giry to remove all of the furniture out of the house beyond the lake. Madame Giry was surprised to see them, but said nothing else but: "Make it quick, Erik." Ignoring Richard's questioning stares, he and Erik towed across the lake each piece of furniture and, somehow with loads of manual labor, the magnificent organ. Unfortunately they had to take a bit of it apart so it would fit. Erik said he would fix it, but both of them were extra careful with the organ, taking it apart like it was a small baby instead of a large piece of musical equipment. He was especially snappish when Richard dropped a piece, rounding on him growling like an animal, a wild gleam in his eye.

Fortunately for Richard, Madame Giry told them to hurry it up before Erik could strangle him with his own jacket.

Rachel had stayed with Lark at home for the past few days, also had helpfully called a mover for all the furnishings when they came back with the furnishings. A few more days and everything was loaded up and ready to head off. "You both take care now," Rachel said sternly, trying hard not to cry. "I'm going to come and visit soon and I don't want to hear of any mischief from either of you, troublemakers that you are." Erik and Lark exchanged glances and the older turned back to the front of the carriage, shaking his masked head. Lark leaned over slightly, with Erik grabbing her waist to prevent her from falling from the carriage seat, and held out her arms to Rachel. "Take care, dear!" Rachel said tearfully, giving her a huge embrace. "I will! And I will keep Erik out of trouble!" the child promised. Erik glared at her. With a laugh, Rachel stepped back from the carriage. "Ah, I just cannot believe about how much fortune has been our way." She sighed, beaming. "It's just like a happy ending in a story book."

Richard snorted as he came around from hitching up the horses. "Some story," he said dryly. "The characters are all out of sanity." His sister frowned at him but Lark laughed gleefully. "Hear, hear," Erik said glumly. He didn't want to think about the condition the house might be in, especially when it hadn't been lived in for so long. Lark wouldn't mind, she loved cleaning. Erik frowned suddenly. Oh, that was right, it wouldn't matter if it was a pigsty or no; she couldn't see it either way. "…and so you will both be fine!" Richard finished. Erik glanced up, confused. Had he been speaking for a long time? Lark, however, was completely on top of things. "Check." She said firmly, smiling. "We can go now, Erik." She leaned back in her seat and waved a final goodbye to Richard and Rachel, who smiled and said goodbye. "Finally." He grumbled to himself, taking up the reins. With a snap and a final glance back at the Bair's, the carriage rolled away and onto the road. "I guess we'll see them soon." Lark said cheerfully, though her face told otherwise as they winded down the road, picking up another rout that would lead to the Oceanside.

"Of course they will come." Erik said, not looking at her. No point. "Please refrain from going hysterical on me." Lark rolled her eyes and punched him on the arm lightly; she had already made sure she knew where he was. "Ha, ha, ha, Erik. I won't." She folded her arms and pouted. A comfortable silence set in along with a few more miles, and a couple of hours later…. "Erik, can you describe the landscape for me?" Erik sighed, this would take awhile. But he would wait. And they would get to the house and live there, hopefully, quite happily. "Alright, Lark." He agreed, and started to explain.

END.

My goobers...it's actually all done! I finished! ...THANK YOU ALL FOR READING!!!

Erik: ...Thank you, readers, for putting up with this crazed authoress. She's all done for this story.