We arrived outside a very fancy french hotel named

'The Chateau Hotel.' 

"This is it." Nadir smiled.

"No." Cindy and I coursed.

"Yes." he smiled.

Erik looked stoically out the window, he had been silent the entire ride.

The men exited the car and Nadir helped Cindy and I out of the vehicle.

We all watched as Erik stormed into the lobby.

"What's got his goat?" Cindy asked. 

"Who knows." Nadir sighed tiredly.

The cab driver cleared his throat impatiently. 

"Oh! Allow me." Cindy smiled reaching into her purse.

"I wouldn't hear of it." Nadir replied, moving immediately to pay the man.

Nadir smiled at Cindy, then sighed heavily and trotted up the steps to check on Erik.

"Alex..." Cindy whispered. 

I looked at her, her eyes flicking through multiple emotions.

"What the hell is going on?" She asked. 

"You were right. Somehow Ghosts are real." I shrugged. 

"Does that mean that Nadir...?"

"He seems to have known Erik for a long time... an impossibly long time."

"This is insane!" Cindy hissed. 

"You're telling me!" I replied, unconsciously rubbing my arm.

I looked at Cindy again. "So then Nadir didn't tell you about his past?"

"Not much, he did tell me he is a detective of sorts. He had been assigned to Erik... but how can he have been? I just don't understand!" Cindy looked on the verge of tears. 

By this time we had entered the lobby.

"We can finish this conversation later." I replied.

Cindy nodded, her grip on my arm tightening.

"Well Ladies, here is your room key, we just managed to get two rooms beside each other." Nadir smiled disarmingly. 

Cindy still looked shaken, so I spoke for the both of us.

"That's lovely, I for one think I've had enough excitement for one day. See you guys in the morning?" I smiled.

Cindy nodded mutely. 

"Oh, alright." Nadir tried to hide his disappointment. 

"Goodnight Erik." I smiled. 

"Goodnight... Alexandra" Erik replied with a stiff nod. 

We made our way to the elevators, and I held electric eye contact with Erik till the doors closed between us.

"Oh my gosh, Alex what are we going to do?" Cindy panicked.

I managed to pull my arm out of her death grip. 

"We'll head home in the morning. For now let's just try to get some sleep. I fear that we have a very trying few days ahead of us." I placated. 

We headed to our room and I opened the door.

Cindy breezed past me to flop onto the nearest bed.

"If you wake me for anything other than those bad guys finding us again. You will not like the consequences." She warned.

"Not to worry, I've learned a few things from being your roommate for five years." I chuckled.

"Anyways I've been slogging through sewer gunk so I'm going to take a shower." I informed her, locking the main door behind me. 

"Mmm hmmm." Cindy's reply was muffled in the pillow.

I turned on the shower and watched the steam fog up the window.

                                                             ~About one hour later~

I came out of the shower, wrapping the hotel's dressing gown around myself.

Cindy was sawing logs into her pillow but I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to sleep, at least not yet. And the moon was bright, calling me out onto the balcony.

I slowly opened the door very thankful that the door was not squeaky. The last thing I needed after today was an angry Cindy to deal with.

A light breeze swept tendrils of my damp hair across my face as I closed the door behind me.

"Can't sleep?" A musical voice asked me.

I spun around to face a pair of glowing golden eyes.

"Erik! You startled me." I gasped. 

"Well I am naturally terrifying." He grinned.

"Ha-ha very funny." I smiled walking over on my balcony to stand as close to him as possible.

Erik closed his eyes with a peaceful smile enjoying the night air.

I was debating asking about his silence when his voice cut into my thoughts. 

"I haven't been outside in so long..." he sighed finally looking at me.

I tentatively leaned towards his balcony and slowly took off his mask.

He frowned and took it from my hand, but made no movement to replace it on his face.

"You really aren't scared of me?" He asked, his voice full of wonder. 

"I've seen worse." I smiled mischievously. 

"Really?" His eyebrows shot up. 

I favored him with a cryptic smile.

He smirked at me.

"Quite a day wasn't it?" I asked.

"I've had worse." he mimicked. 

"Really?" I laughed lightly. 

"Really," He smiled sadly. "Speaking of, how's your arm?"

"It's a bit sore but that's to be expected..." I shrugged. "So... what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Nadir and I discussed it and we will be accompanying you girls home. The only thing he has not figured out yet is how to make me look less...suspicious..." 

"Hmm." I chewed my lip thoughtfully. "... ah! I've got it. Cindy always does Halloween makeup for me every year." I grinned.

"I beg your pardon, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"If she can make normal faces scary, maybe she can make scary faces normal..." I replied nudging him with my elbow.

Erik looked defensive, so I smiled at him and that seemed to calm him down. 

"It sounds like we have everything covered then..." he replied softly.

"Yeah."

I couldn't think of anything more to say, but I didn't want to leave.

Erik looked at me expectantly.

"I'm really glad I met you..." I whispered. 

"As am I." Erik replied his voice thick with emotion.

My heart started pounding as his golden eyes snapped down to my lips. And we froze, each waiting for the other to move.

I took in a shuddering breath, and Erik pulled me to him, our lips meeting over the empty space between our balconies. I grabbed onto his suit-jacket immediately afraid of falling, yet as he held me. It felt like the puzzle pieces of my life slid into place. His lips on mine... felt like home.

After a moment I pulled back slightly.

"Erik," I sighed.

"Yes, Alex?" he sounded amused, his arms still around my waist.

"I, uh...Thank you." I stammered, pushing back from him.

"Um...You're welcome..?" Erik replied, his face reddening.

I smiled awkwardly at him, giggling nervously.

The silence stretched between us...

Finally I could bear it no longer, so I entered my room quickly closing the door behind me.

I buried my face in my hands.

"Thank you?!" I berated myself.

I flung myself on the bed and groaned softly into my pillow.

How am I supposed to face him tomorrow?!

-----------------------

Erik shifted from foot to foot as he watched a rather stunned Alex back away from him.

Panic immediately flooded his system. Did he not kiss her right? Was it too soon?! What if she didn't feel the same way about him as he did about her. Or what if, God forbid, she still loved that other man. Another Raoul...

Alex blinked up at him.

"Erik," she breathed.

Yes, Alex?" Erik smirked at the affect he had on her.

"I... uh... Thank you..."

Erik's heart dropped into his stomach.

"Um... you're welcome?" Erik could feel the blush creeping up his uncovered face.

The silence stretched unbearably long as Erik fought to keep his composure.

And suddenly Alex bolted. Without so much as a goodbye.

Erik's hands shook.

He clenched his fists and paced the balcony like a caged lion.

With a slow breath he grabbed his mask from where it had dropped when he pulled Alex to him. And he replaced it on his face.

"What the devil was I thinking?" he admonished himself.

He grit his teeth and walked back into the room.

"Hello Romeo, how did it go?" Nadir joked, not looking up from his computer.

Erik walked over the the couch and grabbed a throw pillow, picking it up and punching it till feathers exploded out of the bright blue fabric.

"That good huh?" Nadir sighed, setting aside his computer and plucking a feather out of his hair.

"I am HOPELESS with women."

"What did you do?" Nadir sighed. 

"I...kissed her." Erik mumbled. 

"Oh...no, you didn't"

Erik sighed.

"Look as a rule you shouldn't kiss someone you've only known for a few days, but I've seen how this girl looks at you. How did she react?" Nadir's focus was solely on his friend now. 

Erik felt a blush creeping up his cheeks.

"She let me hold her, she did not pull away. Oh, daroga. I have tasted true happiness tonight!" Erik's face lit up. 

"Then what happened?" Nadir asked. 

"She ran away. But she said thank you!" Erik scratched the back of his neck. 

Nadir chuckled at that.

"Look Erik, Give her time. She probably just needs to process. Besides didn't she just find out her boyfriend was cheating on her? All she needs is a little time. And you need some rest."

"You are not my mother." Erik brooded. 

"We'd not be in this predicament if not for you! But you know what It's late...Let's not start this."

"Honestly you save my life once and you think you own me. I didn't ask for your help." Erik rolled his eyes.

"You promised you'd never speak of that again."

"What? Can't I reminisce with my old friend about the rosy hours of Mazandaran?"

"Urg, Erik!" Nadir groaned, chucking a pillow at him.

Erik only chuckled.

"Good night to you too old friend."