Ok so I have officially gotten passed horrible filler chapter and I hope It isn't to 'filler'ish. Anyway, I am tired and I need sleep I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 25 –

The next morning Elizabeth and Erik shared a silent breakfast and they both felt as if there were so many things that just weren't being said yet neither of them could bring themselves to do it.

It was getting down to the last minute for the production, both Elizabeth and Erik knew they were getting into the busiest two weeks of the year and they decided that as important as their relationship was, they needed to focus on the show.

That day in school Erik was working with Meg trying to put the two parts together.

"Erik, you have to re-block that or they will keep running into each other." Meg said annoyed.

"We can't re-block it, she needs to be center stage or else it won't work. For goodness sake she is Cinderella, and it is her song and she needs to be the star. The dancer is going to have to move." The entire two classes were sitting silently watching their teachers argue over who was standing where.

"We can't move her or we will have to redo the entire dance, it won't work Erik."

"Fine, don't move her, tell her to keep out of the center of the stage, get her to make smaller steps, if she ever wants to make it in dance then she will need to learn to be accepting of the wishes of the composer. I told you after I gave you the music for this piece that they singer is in the center." Erik replied angrily.

"Alright, that's enough." Elizabeth yelled as she walked into the room, "What is wrong?"

"Well your dance instructor here has decided that her dances are more important than the singing and that they were going to run into my singers numerous times." Erik replied. "And Meg here refuses to move little details so that the star of the play goes in front."

"Meg is there any possible way you could…"

"No surprise that you'd take his side, I swear him and the music students are the only ones you have paid any attention to in the last few months." Meg replied in an extra strong French accent which seemed to accompany the girl when she was upset.

"And what is that supposed to mean, I love all of these students equally, and I treat them that way."

"Oh really, then why is it that you never visit our classroom anymore? Why is it that when the costumes for the music kids were done wrong you ordered more fabric and when they sewed half of ours wrong you have her re-sew them?"

Elizabeth was losing her temper and she turned to the students. "Could you all please go to the hallway and take a break?" When they had hurried out she turned back to her ballet instructor.

"I visit your classroom as often as I can, besides your students connect much better with you than they do with me, and the problem with your costumes was too expensive to get new material, I am sorry that you feel left out but I am having a really difficult year and…"

"Only because he came here."

"Well yes it has a lot to do with Erik being here, but he is an amazing singer, you know this, and you also know that this school isn't the same without him. You have no idea how much he has helped on this show. Now we are going to get passed this problem. What happened?"

"Well she sings standing right in the middle and Erik refuses to move her even a foot so that I don't have to teach those girls new choreography two weeks before the show."

"Erik, is there no possible way that she could move for only a moment in the song, we could bring her right back to center right afterward."

He looked at her stunned. "Fine." He replied simply then headed back to the piano, Elizabeth went to the doorway and brought the students back in.

She didn't stay for the rest of the afternoon, believing her presence was going to cause more problems for the two teachers. Instead she went to her office and busied herself doing small random jobs to keep herself busy for the rest of the day.

Erik left as quickly as he could that day and arrived home before Elizabeth had even left the school.

When she did arrive home she found him pacing at the front door, he was lost in thought, but she did not miss the anger that spread across his features. "Erik whatever are you doing?" She asked hoping to lighten the mood.

"Nothing, just trying to figure out what I am going to do about the scene from Cinderella."

"Erik, she took one step over it doesn't take any focus away from her."

"No but it does however cover the entire scene behind her between the prince various of the ladies at the ball."

"Erik, it's only for a second."

"Yes but I blocked it that way for a reason and today in order to avoid being the center of gossip you completely undermine me. Just because the ballet teacher made a comment about us you get terrified. What are you planning on doing once the term is over, lock me in the house so that no one sees us together?"

"Erik I love you I would never try and hide that."

"Then how would you explain what happened today, you practically denied you even cared for me."

"No I just resent the fact that she believes that I pay attention to the music students more than any other student. I don't do I?"

"I don't know." He replied frustrated. "All I know is that today you decided that my blocking was not good enough for you and to avoid conflict you sided with her. The only reason she refused to move the girl is because she is her best ballerina and she didn't want her to have to dance in the back of the chorus. She puts her in the front all the time, and on top of it, the girl pouts and acts like a seven year old if she doesn't get her way. I don't want her taking the focus away from Caroline."

"Someone who pouts and acts more like a seven year old more than Caroline?" He turned his head viciously toward her. "Alright, maybe not the best time to joke." She added afterward. "I'm sorry Erik, It's very hard to keep everyone happy, especially you, its been hard to keep you happy when we were friends, now it's much bigger than that, everything I do I'm afraid that if I say the wrong thing or make the wrong person angry at either of us I'll lose you forever. I'm scared Erik, what if I did lose you? What would I do?"

The conversation had turned away from the issue at hand and Erik could do nothing to control it. He worried nonstop for Elizabeth, but he never imagined how much it terrified her that he was on the run, or that it scared her that he might get caught. "Don't worry about that, I won't get caught. Nothing will happen. I have been able to escape the law up until now haven't I?"

"Well yes obviously, you've been doing fine for six years, but now it scares me bacuse if you had to run away and escape from police again I don't know what would happen? Would I go with you, because life without you seems impossible? Or would I stay here for my students, because I can't leave them? Don't you see Erik, I need you to stay out of trouble, and Meg Hartford has the ability to expose all of this."

"She wouldn't."

"She might, how do you know?"

"Because her mother is my oldest friend and Madame Giry would never forgive her daughter if she told police where I was. She spent the better part of her own life protecting me and as much as she loves her daughter, she would never forgive Meg if I was jailed because of her.

"There is so much about you I don't know isn't there?" Elizabeth finally asked after a short silence.

"You are very good at changing the subject my dear."

"Apparently so are you."

"It's my job to be mysterious." He replied stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her.

"And I learned from the best." Elizabeth replied and pulled his face down to a kiss.

"Surprise!" Screamed a voice beside them a moment later. They turned to find Amelia with mixed expressions on her face, she looked happy to be there with her aunt, but she looked embarrassed of what she had seen.

"Amelia!" Called Daniel. "Next time you can carry my bag since I've been carrying your for nearly this whole trip." He looked to everyone else in the room. "Why is everyone so quiet?"

"Oh my goodness, what a surprise! What on earth are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked as she looked from one face to another.

"Well your play is in less than two weeks and we wanted to get here early." Jane replied walking into the room. "The children are finished with their studies and we wanted to come see you as fast as possible." She added.

Erik's eyes watch as Amelia told her brother a secret in his ear, then the boy looked quickly over to him and Elizabeth. "well, hurry in hurry in, there is no need for us to be freezing in the doorway." Elizabeth said as her brother walked in the door. "David, what a nice surprise to see you all." The all came into the room and had a small snack.

"Can Amelia and I go up and visit the school?" Daniel asked as his parents and his aunt got into a boring conversation.

"Whatever for? You have never wanted to go anywhere near the school before." Elizabeth said looking at the children.

"I'm sure it will be fun." Daniel pleaded almost desperately.

"Not by yourselves," Jane said to her son. "and us adults don't want to watch you all night."

"I'm fifteen I can make it to the school and back with my sister perfectly fine. Besides she doesn't even have to come."

"Daniel!" Amelia exclaimed.

"I could accompany them to the school if you don't have a problem with it?" Erik offered. "I have no need to stay for this conversation."

"Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked.

"As long as it is alright with their parents." He replied and turned to Jane and David.

"Okay, you go get ready, but don't let them keep you for too long alright Erik?" David asked. Erik just nodded.

The three walked fairly quietly until they were halfway there. "Do you like my aunt?" Amelia asked looking up toward Erik's face,

"Amelia!" Daniel hissed then gave her a look that kept her quiet. "Sorry, she still doesn't think before she speaks. She seems to believe that you and Aunt Elizabeth are in love and kissing in the front foyer of buildings."

"You shouldn't doubt your sister so much." Erik said to the boy. Daniel nodded but ehn realized what had been said.

"So you were kissing my aunt?" He asked shocked. Erik just nodded.

"I told you so." Amelia replied. "I'm not a liar."

"No you're not." Erik began. "The closest thing to a liar in this group is your brother. Now Daniel, please explain why we are really going to the school."

"I miss her."

"Of course you do, anyone would miss Caroline, she is a great girl."

"Daniel likes her, he writes her love letters and everything." Amelia jumped in. She got a hit across the head from her mad and embarrassed brother.

"You wouldn't know, you don't even go to the same school as me." Daniel said with a laugh.

"Well, if it means anything, she misses you too, and I know right away in the morning whether or not you've sent her a letter. She is much happier when you do."

"I think we should hurry a bit more." Daniel replied starting longer strides his sister could never keep up to.