I really hate this chapter, I wrote this chapter three times since I updated last and none of them have given me what I wanted. It was really bothering me, but I chose this one to post, I know where I want to go after this chapter but I couldn't figure out what to do. I actually don't mind the first 1500 words of this chapter but finishing it off is what I hate...I guess read and reply...tell me what you think, I may even rewrite the ending again! I'm not really sure...just tell me what you think.

Chapter 23 -

Elizabeth woke confused of where she was, she saw the fireplace full of old embers next to her and she was wrapped like a newborn baby. The events of the night before came back to her. She remembered Erik leaving and her walking aimlessly through the garden. What had she been thinking? She looked up to the ceiling and recognized the patterns of the sitting room ceiling. How had she gotten here? How had she gotten into her pajamas? And even more importantly, who had saved her?

She tried to roll over but found the blankets prevented her from moving. She shifted back and forth until she could break free and sit up. In doing so she pulled the blankets away from the sleeping figure next to her. "Erik?" She exclaimed as he stirred from the cold. He looked to her and saw the smile on her face.

"That was a dreadful wakeup, you should practice being a little more subtle," he replied with a smile.

"Why are we on the floor? Better yet, why are you on the floor next to me?"

"I didn't carry you up to your bedroom."

"Obviously, otherwise I'd be in my bedroom Erik."

"I figured this was a better room as you were soaking wet and the fire was stronger in here. Of course we never would have had this problem had you not been out in the rain for over an hour, we would have been able to talk, and we wouldn't have to skip school today."

"Oh dear! Caroline! What time is it?"

"About Ten O'clock I think." He looked towards the clock and nodded.

"Oh Erik I promised her you'd be back at school today, she saw you run out yesterday and she was worried you'd leave so I promised her you'd be there today, how is she and the rest of the class going to react without both of us there?" She began to get up, Erik put his hand on her shoulder.

"You're not going anywhere, the last thing you need is to go back out into that rain. I can go if you'd like."

"Truthfully Erik, I wouldn't like that at all." She replied bravely, he smiled slightly and she didn't miss it.

As if on queue, there was a knock on the door. They were silent as they listened for the butler to open the door. They heard him mumble, and then he headed towards the sitting room and knocked again.

"Yes?" Erik asked.

"Sir, miss, you have some guests." He replied calmly.

"Miss Bennet, Mr. Erik, let us in!" It was Andrew.

Elizabeth stood up and Erik followed quickly. Elizabeth straightened her dress and walked to the door. She opened it and stared down at the students. "Just because you are not at school does not mean you don't treat Erik and I with the same respect as you would if you were in a classroom." She said commandingly, but not angrily.

"We would be, but we got to class this morning and we had no teacher." Jimmy replied. "We were going to work on my solo today."

"Alright, we still can, but Miss Bennet was caught in the storm and cannot leave the house because she may get ill. You are welcome to come in and work on the show with me, Elizabeth, can watch." Erik replied.

"I think we can do that, I'll have my staff make you a lunch. We have a show in a matter of weeks."

"We like that idea!" Fredrick said excitedly. Erik sat down at the piano and Elizabeth hurried to go speak to her staff, that were not at all with having to accommodate for 11 extra mouths to feed, but they were happy to see Elizabeth awake a healthy so they did it without complaining.

She spent the rest of the day watching Erik as he worked, he was amazing at what he did, and everyday she was able to discover that fact again. He never let her down when it came to them, in truth he had never really let her down at all, they had been through their rough times, but they had always gotten out of them better than ever. Elizabeth began to think about the night before and she was worried about the conversation that was bound to happen between them later that night. She was extra thankful that the kids had shown up, had they not, Erik and her would have gone through the awkwardness that morning and it might have hurt the situation; now they had time to think it through, as well as see why they loved this life so much.

Nearing three o'clock, Erik decided he should accompany the students back to the school. Elizabeth reluctantly stayed home and had the staff get ready for dinner, she decided her and Erik should eat in private in her study. The staff gave her a questioning look but again agreed with her request.

Erik arrived home angrily and slammed the door, Elizabeth rushed downstairs and his feature softened a bit. "I hate adults!"

"You sound like and eight year old Erik, what are you going on about?" Elizabeth asked calmly.

"Supposedly it is wrong for us to be working from your house and you'll have a group of angry parents when you return to work."

"And I'll deal with them when the time comes, but right now, Erik, we need to talk." She broke eye contact with him before saying the last of that statement. He just nodded, she hadn't been looking at him, but she knew his response.

They ate in silence, the awkwardness that they had from their first dinner had come back, only this time, the silence scared Elizabeth more than ever. She had not heard the things he said to her the night before.

Erik could see the upset in her face and broke the silence. "Last night, after I found you in the garden, do you remember any of it?"

"No, I don't remember much after you left on the horse yesterday."

"Then there are some things you need to understand first…everything you said yesterday to me…"

"I know Erik; I never should have said it out loud, before that moment I didn't even realize I thought that way, I'd do anything to go back to the way we were…"

"Well we can't go back to that," her face fell. "I don't want to go back to that." She looked confused. "You've got to understand that it's hard for me to let people in and it scares me even more now that I've let you in, but Elizabeth, I trust you, I know that you'll never try and hurt me and that I can trust you, and that I can love you."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"Last night when the staff said you hadn't come inside the house was the scariest moment of my life, I had nothing before you, and you gave me everything I could ever imagine, you gave me happiness, and in that moment I thought I'd lost you and I thought I'd lost everything I love. What you said to me yesterday afternoon I realized was the same as what was in my heart; it just took me a few minutes longer. I said it all to you last night and it came out less crazy and more organized than it does now, but for the first time in my life I am scared of what you could say."

"Erik, you already know how I feel, how could what I say change scare you."

"Because I'll never understand how you can love a monster like me."

She hated how he used the word, but she figured screaming at him again wouldn't get the point across. She ran her fingers from the tips of his hair along the side of the white mask. "This will never make you a monster." She continued to run her hand down to just over his heart. "This makes you a better man than any person who has ever called you a monster."

Tears began to fall down the perfect white of his mask, "why is it that you can see all that when I can't even see it in myself?"

"Because everyone gives up on you Erik, you gave up on yourself years ago, but I'll never give up on you." She bent forward and kissed him, he was surprised at first but soon began to kiss back; she could taste the saltiness of his tears but it made her want to kiss him harder.

They continued to kiss for a minute until Elizabeth broke it breathing harshly. They starred at each other for a moment without speaking. She could see the love, but also the lust in his eyes. She knew what he wanted and she knew it was what she needed. She smiled slightly then grabbed his hand and stood she slowly walked toward her separate bedroom and his face turned from the love and lust from seconds ago, to confusion. 'it's okay,' she mouthed.

They were now in her bedroom and he stepped forward farther into the room, she stayed near the door. Elizabeth stood a few feet away from Erik next to the wall, she was unsure of what to do next, she was blushing horribly and Erik noticed. "Oh you silly little girl, Miss Bennet I must say you're blushing like a schoolgirl." He said trying to lighten the mood, he was just as scared as she was.

"You called my a silly girl on the first day I met you too, I assure you Erik that I am neither silly nor a little girl."

He smirked but took a step closer to her, he pressed up close to her pushing her into the wall. He bent his face down close to her ears and whispered seductively to her. "Maybe not in mind, but I know that your body is still that of an innocent little girl." He seemed to go through a complete change from the scared man he was in the room next door, he was in complete control. This only caused her to blush even worse than before and turn her head away from him.

He smirked again and took advantage of her exposed neck. "Don't worry though; you are not alone in that sense."

"Of course not, you surely are also an innocent little girl." He growled at her and began to suck harder at the tender spots on her neck. This caused Elizabeth to moan and when she heard herself she blushed again.

"Don't be embarrassed, it's always good to know I'm doing something right." Elizabeth moved her hands up to cup his cheek and the side of his mask. She wanted to ask him to take it off, she wanted to see all of him, show him that it didn't scare her, but she loved every part of him, whether she saw it or not. She lifted herself up onto her tiptoes and kissed him hard on the lips.

When they broke free from the kiss, she kissed along his jaw line on his unmasked cheek. Her hand was still placed firmly on his mask while she let her other hand drop to run down his spine.

Erik had left his guard down to let her explore him but wanted to take control again. He grasped her hand that was on his mask and laced his fingers between hers. He took a step backwards and she moved away from him. She looked up to meet his eyes wondering why he had pulled away. Before she could say anything he turned around and led her to her own bed.

When they reached the bed Erik stopped and Elizabeth sat down. From that position she seemed so much more vulnerable to Erik but she had no fear that he would take advantage of that. He bent at the waist and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead.

He took a step back from her still holding her hand. "Elizabeth this is wrong."

"Erik, I want this as much as you..."

"I know, and I know that it seems like the right thing to do, but this is wrong. You are an amazing women Elizabeth and in doing this I am no better than that Roger Wilkinson. I want you very much, but I want you in every way possible, not just your body." He kissed her hand once more and he headed for the door. He hoped she wouldn't say anything because he did not know if he could resist her if she asked him once more.

"Erik." He stopped but didn't turn to look at her. "I love you." He finally turned to meet her eyes. Her expression was hard to read she didn't seem hurt, but there was a hint of confusion and disappointment, and at the same time he saw a glint of happiness.

He nodded to her. "You know how I feel."

"Say it Erik, please."

"You mean more to me than I could ever imagine. My heart and soul are yours." With that he saw the confusion and disappointment disappear and all he could see was her love written all over her face.

He walked back into her study and leaned against the closed door breathing heavily. His life had completely changed in a moment and he was even less sure of what would happen in the next days of their lives.