E: Anyone figure out where we plan to go with this whole crazy story? No one? ...That's what Erik thought *grins evilly*

C: Hello everyone and welcome back! We're all so glad that you decided to join us once again.

E: Yes, yes indeed. Oh, quick pop quiz. Anyone still hate Felicity Michelet Lafayette? *crickets* ...No one?

C: Erik, please don't start-

E: What is wrong with you people? Don't pity her!

C: Erik!

E: We're perfectly good to little Felicity. I mean, she's so happy! ...That came out wrong.

C: You think?

E: Also, we've announcements for everyone at the end of the chapter in the ending Author's Notes.

C: So think of it as a little reward for reading all the way through. Not that you wouldn't to begin with.

E: *collapses onto the ground* Erik can't move. Erik's whole back is sore. Christine, you're going to have to drag me to the Victome's home.

C: Why?

E: Because I blame him despite the fact that I haven't seen him in forever and then I'm going to run him through with a sword.

C: Erik, you worry me sometimes.

E: Everyone, keep your siblings away from Erik! Erik will scar them for the rest of their lives with yaoi! PWP for the win!

C: *smacks upside the head* Start the chapter up.

E: Everyone, enjoy the new chapter.

Roses of Life

Picking up Jolee from her crib, Christine held her child close as she walked out of the nursery and into the parlor. Sighing, she adjusted her hold on her daughter as she walked up behind Erik. It had been hours since Madeleine had left and her husband had not moved since he sat down. All through the night he remained in a brooding silence, not once getting up, the only words he spoke being to instruct Christine that she and Jolee should sleep. Although she eventually did, not much rest occurred as she kept waking up to check on him. Eventually she could no longer try to pretend to sleep and was grateful for the screams of her waking child.

"I am so sorry," she whispered, walking up to the sofa and sitting beside him. "If…If I had only known, Erik, I would have never—" she was stopped as his hand reached up and gently brushed back a loose curl of brown from her face.

"You didn't know," he said, wrapping an arm around her as she moved closer. "You couldn't have possibly known." Taking a deep breath, he looked down at his daughter and sighed. "His name was Charles…And all this time my mother was still alive."

Kissing Erik's neck, she hummed quietly to Jolee as her head rested on his shoulder. "His last name was Destler…Do you want to change our name to that?" she asked quietly.

"No, ma chérie, no I don't want that. It's just…it was the last thing I expected her to say."

"Come to bed, Erik. It's late and you've been out here all night."

"I know, Christine, I'm coming," he whispered, closing his eyes one last time before standing up to join his wife. Reaching out his arms, he carefully took Jolee from her and held her close, watching as the small child ceased her crying as he quietly sang to her. All this time in his loneliness- before Jolee and long before Christine- he had convinced himself that he would never see Madeleine again. That she was nothing more than a horrid nightmare that was now lost to the past. The last person he would've expected in his home, a place he had grown to love more than the cellars he had spent most of his life in, had indeed come and turned everything around. Nothing seemed real, and Erik couldn't help but hold onto his daughter and allow Christine to guide him back to their room as if he was a child terrified of monsters in his bed. The monsters were there, in his mind at first, but now they had returned. Christine hadn't meant for any of this to happen, he knew that, yet he hated that she continually blamed herself for it.

Laying his tiny daughter down between himself and Christine, Erik couldn't hold back a small smile as her tiny fist wrapped around one of his fingers and held it close as she began to fall asleep. However, the smile quickly disappeared as the melancholy set on him once again. Did Madeleine know of his past after he escaped from the carnival? He knew of her husband, he was able to guess enough when he glanced at his half-sister: Aida. He had seen her only once before, when he was stalking about the catwalks trying to discover what l'Inspecteur Lafayette had discovered for the case. Having spotted him after several minutes of walking about backstage, Erik had watched as a young raven-haired woman ran up to him, complaining of her brother who was allegedly fraternizing with yet another ballet dancer.

Then it hit him. Erik had been so focused on the fact that his mother had returned that he hadn't fully realized the extent of what this news brought him. I've a brother and a sister...

"Erik?" Christine's soft voice called out to him. Shaking his head away from these troubling thoughts, he turned to her and reached out a hand to her cheek to assure her that he was all right. "Erik, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking of how sorry I am, Christine. That you were forced to witness that," he whispered, telling the truth. His control had almost been lost when he saw Madeleine's aged face. The only thing holding him back had been his fear of terrifying Christine and Jolee- something that he was trying his best to avoid nowadays. He was a father and a husband, which gave him hardly any time to be the terrifying menace that he was renowned for in the Opera Populaire. However Christine believed that the occasional note was best, what with the annoying husband of Madeleine on his tail.

"You're sorry? It's entirely my fault! You shouldn't have had to go through that," she muttered, reaching forward and wrapped her arms around him, their daughter comfortably sleeping between the two heartbeats.

"You didn't know who she was. You couldn't have known who she was, Christine," Erik assured her. "You did nothing wrong, mon ange. I behaved inappropriately. To think, if I could have hurt you-"

"No, your reaction was completely justified," she cut him off, leaving no room for doubt or remorse to how he behave as her gaze became cold. "What that woman did to you was monstrous."

Quietly shushing her, Erik glanced down at their slumbering daughter before smiling again. In the forefront of his mind, the memory of all the nights he had spent in his Christine's arms came forth. "I have you now, as well as Jolee. I have the memory of the night we created her and when she was born. You've shown me all the love I will ever need in my life."

"You deserve love; more than anyone else in the world, after what you've been through," she said.

"I'm afraid that isn't always a reason for love, ma chérie," he whispered, his emerald fixating on her warm brown ones, "but thank you."

Sighing, Christine moved closer to her husband, smiling down at their daughter as she carefully moved the child so that she was comfortably resting between the two. Leaning her head down, Christine's curls surrounded Jolee as her cheek rested against Erik's chest. Both of them could hear his strong heartbeat, and she found that the rhythmic beating was having the same effect on her as it had on her daughter. "Can we just forget that this night ever happened?"

"I don't think we can, my love. If Madeleine wishes, she will have no problem in meddling in our lives." He didn't want to bring up the subject of his fears until he was sure that the possibility could rise. He had acquired enough money through his many salaries to ensure a fair bribe while keeping his small family comfortable. But the woman had clearly lived in a constant source of wealth, which could mean that a few more francs would not be enough to sway her.

"You underestimate me," Christine said, tilting her head up to look at Erik. "If I want her out of our home, she'll stay out."

Chuckling, he reached a hand up and gently touched the smooth skin of her cheek. She truly was an angel sent for him. "My strong, brave, beautiful wife," he whispered. "I have no doubt of that. Now you need to sleep, ma amour, it has been a... a long day."

"Promise me that you won't dwell on this," Christine said worriedly.

Kissing her forehead, Erik tried his best to give her a reassured smile. He had to wipe away the look of concern staining her beautiful face; it was all he had ever wanted to do since he had discovered her as a child. "I'll be fine, Christine," he said.

Giving a thin smile, she nodded her acceptance, collapsed back onto the pillows, and closed her eyes as his hand began stroking her hair. "Do you want me to go and put her back in her crib?" Erik's voice quietly asked her.

"She's just fine here for now," Christine said sleepily, "unless you think one of us is going to roll over on top of her."

"You've no bump to stop you from rolling on over," he teased.

"I know," she said, slightly sad. "I miss it."

"We can always have another child, Christine."

"I suppose, but you have to give birth to it," she teased back.

He laughed quietly at her remark, "I don't believe I could do that, nor do I think that I would wish to."

"You're right," she murmured. "Then I'll think about it. We do have to take care of this one first, after all," Christine said, her eyes growing heavy as she heard him softly sing above her voice. The enchanting sound seemed to make her whole body feel heavy, and as she brushed her fingers across her daughter's fine hair, it wasn't long until she drifted into a deep sleep.

Intently watching her peaceful face, Erik waited until Christine's breathing slowed down and even. She was fast asleep in his arms, just as she had willingly done many nights before. His own daughter was contentedly resting between the two of them, also in a deep and resting sleep. No nightmares plagued either of their faces, nor were they haunted by demons that hid deep in their minds.

All this was his. Before Christine had agreed to stay with him a life this happy was even beyond his imagination. He had never expected to win her love, to ever leave the catacombs of the Opera Populaire, or to even have the chance of raising a child that was his own. And with one simple afternoon, all of this was in jeopardy.

Carefully extracting herself from Christine, Erik gazed down at his two sleeping angels as an immense feeling of helplessness and desolation washed over him. Turning from the welcoming bed, he made his way through the quiet house and made his way downstairs. Even when he was brought to live in the light, he sought solace in the soft glow of burning candles.

Stepping further down into his own world-his own distortion of heaven and hell-he immediately went to the grand organ that was in the back of the room. As he sat down and allowed his hands to move freely over the polished ivories, he emptied his mind. Now was not the time for fear to consume him and poison his thoughts. His trust must be placed in his wife, that this afternoon would be the last he would ever see of the family he was replaced with.

Upstairs, Christine frowned in her sleep as her dreams opened up into a dark vein. The sound of a mocking, cruel laughter surrounded her in the darkness. The face of Madeleine appeared, twisted and deformed from hate and anger, as the woman carried away her shrieking daughter. Finally, she woke with a gasp as her hands darted out to pull her fussing daughter in her arms. Little Jolee had no doubt been affected by her dark thoughts and Christine placed soft kisses along her forehead as she held the tiny child close. Hearing Erik's music float delicately up from the basement, she felt her racing heart calm as she quietly hummed along. Soon Jolee fell back asleep; her innocent features relaxing as her tiny hand reached out and held onto her mother.

The next morning came quickly, lighting up the vast and ornate room that Felicity shared with Anthony every night. As a swarm of maids bustled about- serving her breakfast, preparing her clothes for the day, pulling back the curtains and other such menial tasks- Felicity sat on the edge of her bed in silence. The previous night, when Madeleine and Aida had gone out for dinner, Anthony had once again cornered her. Instead of giving in to his will like their previous encounters, she had fought back. He didn't seem to mind at first until she bit his tongue then his hand when he had tried to stop her from sobbing. Curses spewing out of his mouth like a fountain, Anthony had informed her that he would arrange for her to meet with a doctor. Aida, who had planned to go and look into how her bridal dress was coming along, was forced to come with her and Anthony to the doctor. It was obvious from her furious shouting at Anthony that she was very displeased with this news.

Emerging from her room, Aida's footsteps called from down the hall until she appeared in Felicity's doorframe. She had taken no rush, as by the time she arrived Felicity had been fed and dressed. "Are we leaving, or not?" she said impatiently.

"Are you sure that Anthony can't stay here?" she whispered to the older woman, her large eyes only growing wider as Anthony appeared from behind his sister.

"Hurry up!" he demanded, frowning in annoyance as he shoved his winter coat on. "It's cold as hell outside and Henri and I don't plan to wait out there and catch our deaths!"

"Yes, Anthony," Felicity answered hurriedly, standing up so quickly that she immediately fell back. Headaches had been following her like the plague along with other ailments, and they always seemed to affect her when it was the most inconvenient. Closing her eyes, Felicity was terrified that she would be shouted at for both her behavior and her inability to move along fast enough. Thankfully, Anthony had already left to join Henri outside.

Trembling, Felicity quickly stood up again and ran to Aida, her hands clutching onto the forest green sleeve of her sister-in-law's dress. "He's the Devil, Aida!" she whispered. "He comes in here every night and... and forces himself on me! He calls me horrible things and when he's...when he's drunk he hits me!" Felicity cried out, desperately trying to hold back her sobs as Aida gazed down on her. No one knew of her relationship with her husband, it was unnecessary information. But she had to tell someone; else she was sure that she'd grow mad!

"You have to believe me," she whispered frantically. "Last night he told me that I was to be taken out. That I was to go to a doctor to see if I was insane. Aida, I don't need to be locked away, I need help.

"I know you don't want to smear the good name of your family," she assured, smiling sweetly as she moved closer to Aida. "But Aida, what your brother does isn't right. I know that much. And Aida...oh Aida the nights. The nights when he's not there; when I'm alone in that dark and empty room. I dream of horrors, Aida. My mind is filled with images of a child that just looks like him," she said, tears falling down her face as her voice fell to a whisper once again. "Aida, these horrors are too much for me. I fear that if I carry his child I could not live with myself. To not only endure this pain but to allow others to suffer alongside me? Oh, Aida, you must stop this madness, you must!"

A silence passed between the two, causing Felicity to drop her hands down to her side once again. There was no mistaking the look Aida was giving her. The woman was well aware of everything that went on under the Lafayette roof, even Felicity and Anthony's relationship. But unless there was something for her, what use was it?

Aida sighed, brushing back loose locks of hair as her eyes quickly darted to her reflection in the mirror on the other side of the room. "Well, if you are with child, you can always visit a doctor and have him...operate. It's risky, but I'm sure that Anthony would cover it up in a heartbeat should it somehow be discovered."

"Doctors don't do that, common street madames do," she hissed. Suddenly her face fell as Aida's words hit her full on. "You don't believe me, do you? You've never believed me!" she screamed, tears running down her face as she turned away. It was gone, the only tiny ray of hope she had was snuffed out before it could even grow.

"Stop yelling," Aida scolded. "I believe you. Go find a doctor in a whorehouse, and before you get mad, I'm not implying that you are a whore. My brother doesn't deserve to have any more children, and the last thing this world needs is another Anthony."

Her soul almost seemed to soar at the words Aida spoke. Perhaps everything would be all right after all. "Yes...you're right," she said, confidence mixed with defeat in her voice. "I should just...rest. Go to the doctor for this headache..."

"Exactly," Aida said. "Now, let's go. Henri's waiting," she said, turning and heading down the hall with Felicity and out to the waiting carriage. Once inside, she immediately moved beside Henri and smiled warmly at him before her eyes turned cold at seeing her brother.

"Why do you have to come again? Don't you have to work?"

Anthony sighed as Felicity reluctantly sat beside him. "That damned old man is still refusing to let me help on the case, even with one foot in his grave." Turning to Felicity, he ignored her obvious flinch as he leaned close and put a hand on her flat stomach. "And how is the future heir doing this evening?" he asked wickedly.

"I-I'm not w-w-with child, Anthony," she stammered, shying away from his hand.

"Felicity's just going because of a headache, Anthony," Aida said dismissively.

"And pains..." Felicity added quietly. And because my husband believes me to have lost my marbles.

Henri smiled at Felicity, giving her a tiny bit of kindness before he turned to Aida. "I'll be glad that mother has convinced me on which church we are to be married in," he explained with a grin.

"Oh how wonderful!" Aida exclaimed, laughing joyously as he leaned over her to the carriage window and pointed out the very church as they passed it. Peering out also, Felicity watched as the grand Notre Dame cathedral towered far above them. So very different from the modest and quiet venue where she had had her own wedding.

"It's so beautiful!" Aida gushed, causing Henri to blush slightly.

"It can't hold a candle up to you, my dear," he whispered, smiling shyly as she turned from the window to look at him.

"You flatter me!" she giggled as the carriage stopped in front of a small building.

"Good Lord," Anthony muttered, opening the door before the carriage driver could and stepping outside. "I think I'm going to be sick," he moaned. Aida glared as Henri helped her out.

"Good thing that we're at a doctor, then. We wouldn't want you to suffer an...accident."

"I must agree. How else would I be able to sire more children?" he said, catching Felicity as she tried to walk past him. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer as he smiled down at her. "Did you enjoy our midnight rendezvous, darling?" he asked, kissing her.

"Now I'm going to be sick," Aida groaned. "Move out of the way and let us get inside."

"Are my words too naughty for my little virgin sister?" Anthony teased, a devilish smile on his face as Felicity pushed herself out of his grasp and hurried inside. Chuckling, he led the rest of the group inside to the small room filled with a small group of chairs. Informing the young assistant that Felicity was expected, his wife was immediately taken away. Following behind, Aida's hand latched onto him and yanked him back.

"Father told me last night that he wanted you to stop by and question the Vicomte de Chagny about that Opera scandal. Would you mind ever so much if Felicity and I went shopping while you did that? It would be terribly boring for us otherwise, and I still need to pick up a few things," she said, making sure to speak so that Henri could hear.

"I don't think so, Aida. We need to keep an eye on her."

"And you don't think I'm capable of looking after her?" Aida questioned, raising her eyebrows.

"I'm more concerned that she'll wander off somewhere. I'd prefer to keep an eye on her," he said. Henri, having heard the exchange, stepped up beside Aida.

"Perhaps we should let them, Anthony. Wouldn't they just...get in the way of your questioning?"

Aida smiled up at Anthony triumphantly. "Please?"

"Fine, fine! But if she so much as whimpers about her 'pains', you take her straight home. I already have to listen to her night terrors; I don't need you adding onto them."

"How could I possibly add onto it?" she said, smirking.

"Felicity cries about how you 'abuse' her in her sleep," he said, dropping his voice so that Henri couldn't hear. "That is how."

"Really? I was under the impression that she was more afraid of you," she hissed before stepping back and speaking in a normal tone, "I'll take care of Felicity, brother dear. I already think of her as a sister, and I know how much she means to you."

"Touché, sister darling. I trust that you will take good care of Felicity. Don't let her wander around too much," he advised before clasping his hand on Henri's shoulder and leading the young man outside with him, going on about the details he had learned of the case.

Rolling her eyes, Aida slipped down the hallway to the room where Felicity was being examined. Knocking on the wood, she called, "Almost done in there?"

A doctor stepped out, peering down at a chart filled with scribbles and notes. "Evening, Mademoiselle, are you Madame Lafayette's relative?" Aida nodded. "Well, I did a quick check up on Madame Lafayette and I didn't find anything wrong with her physically. Nothing broken and such. However, the state of her mental health is somewhat cause for concern. She's very jumpy and nervous, which can be easily remedied with some medication. Plenty of fresh air and I could prescribed a sedative to help with her nerves; help sooth her and such if she becomes hysteric at any point. Opium would probably be best."

Aida nodded again, "So she's not pregnant?"

"If she is, it's far too early to tell."

"Thank you, Monsieur," she said before walking past him and into the room where Felicity sat in silence. "Well, he's giving you some opium and suggests lots of fresh air. If you are pregnant, God forbid, then it's too early to tell."

"I'm not!" Felicity insisted. "Now, if you don't mind, I wish to go home. Where are Henri and Anthony?"

"I convinced them to go without us. Now we can go shopping," she replied happily.

"Why would I want to go shopping? I want to go home and rest," she whined, holding the side of her head. "My head still hurts, Aida, I need sleep not more things!"

"Would you rather have gone with Anthony?"

Felicity glared at Aida. "I'd rather go home!"

"Well, I need to pick up some things for the wedding. You can wait in the carriage," she said before turning out to face the hallway. "Can we get that sedative now!" Seeing the doctor hurry down the hall, she leaned back as he entered the room. Corking a clear bottle, the elderly man checked the contents one last time before placing the glass in Aida's hands.

"Just add two drops of this in her drink twice a day and she'll be just fine," he instructed.

"Oh, I'll be doing that more than twice a day," she muttered. Handing the bottle to Felicity once the doctor left, she said, "Here. Drink this."

"What is it?" she asked, wearily inspecting the bottle.

"Some sedative the doctor is giving you. Two drops a day."

"No, thank you," she murmured, pushing the bottle back in Aida's hands. "I'm better off without it."

"Fine then," Aida huffed, "I'm going to drag you to every bridal store in town."

"I could've sworn that your father was going to bring in a professional tailor or some other sort of nonsense," she said bitterly. "Besides, I'm the married one, Aida. If I go home like I want to, you'll have no choice but to follow me. As an unmarried woman, people would think things if you were to walk around without an escort. And you know your parents detest ruining the family name."

Aida rolled her eyes at Felicity's empty threat. "It's my carriage, the driver listens to me. No you."

"Then I'll walk home. Or call a carriage to take me. Either way, I'm not spending my afternoon with the likes of you."

"Oh, no, you're not. Anthony would kill me if you got yourself hurt. You can sleep in the carriage if you can't stand my company that much," she said, turning and leaving the room. Scowling, Felicity followed the raven-haired girl out into the waiting carriage.

"Will there be anything else to do besides sit aside and watch you admire yourself in the mirror?"

"You can get your bridesmaid's dress," she said.

"Oh joy, now I'll be getting pinched by spinsters as well."

"Interesting... Being ill gives you a backbone." Aida considered this. "Alright, noted." Leaning back into the plush cushions, Aida listened wearily as Felicity continued to complain about this and that. She was hungry, she was tired and wanted to go home, she was nauseous, why did she have to go to a bridal salon; the list went on and on.

"Why can't we do something that we'll both enjoy?"

"Because, Felicity, I have to get this done," she replied calmly. "I don't trust anyone else to do it. However, I do plan to stop and pick up some lunch on the way home."

"And then I'll be forced to watch you pick at your food," she hissed as the carriage came to a stop in front of a small building with dresses being shown in the store window.

"You can eat too, you whiny brat," Aida snapped at her.

"I'm only the mirror being held up in front of you, Aida," Felicity spat, stepping out of the carriage and immediately going into the shop.

Aida got out of the carriage after her, trying to stay close behind the younger girl as they were brought into the back portion of the store. "Mirrors break."

Staring at the multitude of dresses, Felicity's eyes grew wide as each dress seemed to get more ridiculous and more painful looking. She imagined herself wearing them, trapped beneath yards of ribbon, lace, tulle, petticoats and God knew what else. "Oh no, Anthony," she muttered, "we'll only be gone a few moments. Just look at a few dresses," she mocked.

"Oh, you won't have to see your husband for several hours. You're welcome," Aida said icily before turning to an elderly woman who was no doubt the owner of the small store. "My name is Aida Lafayette. How are the dresses that I ordered coming along?"

"Splendidly, Mademoiselle," the storekeeper said, smiling warmly at her. "We've received a few of the gowns this very morning. Would you like to see them?"

"Yes, please," she said cheerfully.

"Right this way then, Mademoiselle," the woman said, leading the two girls through to a section of the store that seemed separated from the rest. Several dresses where folded neatly on selves, while four were placed on mannequins and placed close together. "Here are the dresses, Mademoiselle."

"Oh, good, they're coming along nicely. Felicity, this is your dress," Aida said, smiling as she pointed to the only dress that was a different color from the other ones that were being modeled by the wooden dummies.

Felicity stared at the dress, trying her best to look genuinely happy with the choice. It was a pretty dress, but not in Felicity's eyes. The dress, as with all of the ones placed on the shelves, was an obnoxious color with an abundance of trimming and lace. "I don't like it," she said.

"Big surprise there," Aida said, waving her hand as she went up to inspect the other dresses. "How are you on measurements?"

"We just need one more bridesmaid to come in then I'll be able to finish tailoring the dresses, Mademoiselle." Nodding her head, Aida went along to the three different choices for her bridal dress. Each one was a lovely shade of white with orange blossom pinned all over the place to create a stunning dress.

"You know, I used to have much more fun than this," Felicity said, clearly bored. "When I was in the ballet corps, I wanted to be a reporter so badly. Mother never approved though, as it wasn't what little girls did.

"But there were always so much to discover at the Opera Populaire. And my favorite story was the rumor of the Phantom of the Opera, and I followed every single lead that I found. Your father even interviewed me once while he was searching for clues there," she said, smiling slightly at the memory. "Once I even went down in the catacombs to find him. That was fun." She sighed, leaning against her hand as Aida went rigid. "Now look what I'm reduced to," she huffed. "Married to a horrid man and sitting in a dressmaker's shop while you look at the same dresses over and over again-"

"Wait a minute. The Phantom of the opera? You met him?" she asked incredulously.

"Several times. He could be a bit...eccentric at times, but he seemed like a nice enough man," she said before stopping suddenly. Glancing at Aida, she knew she had said too much. "Why do you want to know?"

Aida turned to the dressmaker and said, "I'll ask the last girl to stop by later this week. Thank you for everything." Taking Felicity by the arm, she pulled her outside and into the carriage. Once they were safely inside, Aida pulled the window curtain's closed before leaning close to Felicity. "I think I met him the other day," she admitted.

"I doubt it," Felicity scoffed. "He's been in hiding in the Paris Opera House for years. Few have seen him and lived to tell the tale."

"That curly haired girl he's living with invited Mother and me over for dinner, and half-way through it, this masked freak walked in and started screaming at us."

Felicity paused, thinking it over before shaking her head in disbelief. "Not possible. He's not stupid enough to invite the family of the man hunting him down over for tea and biscuits-"

"He didn't, that girl did. That singer girl, Daaé."

"Well, either way he's not the type to start shouting at you."

"So you don't believe me," Aida said.

"For all I know, you're making this whole thing up as a joke. So no, I don't," Felicity answered. Glaring at Felicity, Aida turned away and quickly tapped the ceiling before pulling back the curtain and sticking her head out. After whispering an address in the driver's ear, she sat back down, a satisfied look on her face as the carriage began moving. "Um, Aida?" Felicity asked, peering out the window for a second. "Where are we going?"

"We are going to the place Mother and I went to last night. You can see for yourself."

Announcement Time!

E: Hello all my wonderful fans!

C: It is the long awaited time for our announcements just for you all.

E: But first! We would like to thank everyone for reading the chapter! And Erik has been reading all the people who read this story. Erik is not stupid, Erik demands reviews, my lovelies.

C: Erik, what have I told you about threatening them?

E: Christine still thinks that Erik listens. *pats Christine's head* Oh, you poor thing.

C: Anyway... Onto our announcement list!

E: First and foremost, people Erik has a poll up on his profile!

C: When we finish up this story (or Erik finishes a story to begin with) we are going to continue writing.

E: But Erik doesn't know which one to pick! So you all need to hurry your way over to his profile and vote, vote, vote!

C: Second on our list: We have started up a fanart base.

E: It was all Erik's idea. He drew a picture of our adorable little Jolee. *picks her up* Yes, Daddy drew you, ma petite chérie. Tu es très mignon! Oui, c'est vrai!

C: ...

E: *ahem* But I digress. So, after Erik finished his little drawing, he had a little talk with his wife. After about an hour of this conversation, we figured 'why the hell not'? So, if anyone who reads our story is interested, you can submit fanart! Anything you've ever wanted to draw, you can draw it! Especially Aida and Anthony, because we all know that they're everyone's favorites, right? Right...

C: We're putting up a link to the place where we'll hold all the submission and have a link for it via Erik's profile.

E: And you don't have to be good! It can be stick figures, it can be a random collection of pictures, it can be anything!

C: Erik really wants to do this more to get everyone more involved in the story. Plus he just loves drawing, so Erik will be joining everyone that gets involved.

E: If you're interested, just go ahead and send Erik a pm. *smiles and holds up Jolee to the camera* Say 'hi' mon petit ange. Tell them how they'll all see what you look like soon.

C: And that's everything!

E: Everyone review, send in stuff, make Erik happy, and see you all next chapter!