The day was a quiet one in the Paris
countryside.
The mansion entitled La Chateau des Reves was no
exception. Eric and Greta were still asleep in
the
rooms they had chosen the night before and
Princess
Gina was slumbering while her tears for her long
lost
love, John, were drying.
***
Greta was lying quietly in her large bed with the covers pulled up to her neck. She was terrified of the possibilities that could occur. She heard footsteps that made her jump up and run across the hall to Eric's room. She jumped into his bed with him and awoke him with a start.
***
Eric woke with a start and sleepily rubbed his eyes. "Greta?" She buried her face in his shoulder as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Eric...I heard something and I got scared. I'm sorry for being so jumpy all the time." He put his arms around her and held her close. "Shhh...there's nothing to be sorry for...we all a little spooked sometimes, don't we?" She lifted her head and looked up at him. That smile could always ease all of her fears. She sat up straighter and started to get up. To her surprise, he held on to her hands. "Don't go...I mean, you can stay a while." He could feel his face getting red as she looked at him curiously.
***
As Eric held on to Greta's hands, she began to smile sweetly at him. She has the best smile, Eric thought to himself. It was now that he was getting a good look at Greta and what she was wearing -- or what she was barely wearing. She had on a white silk negligee. He thought she looked like an angel. He caught himself staring at her and began to laugh. "What's so funny?" Greta asks. Eric says, "I don't know. Um......" He then changes the subject a little. "I was just wondering why a girl who's lived in the bayou for all those years is so jumpy and scared over a little noise." Greta giggled but then remembered the footsteps she had heard. "But Eric, I did hear footsteps. I swear. This place is so creepy." Eric replies, "Well, don't worry. I'll protect you and keep you safe." Greta smiled and laid her head on his shoulder again. Eric gently began to stroke her hair. Greta looked up and into his eyes and they both had the desire to kiss each other. Ever so slowly, they moved in for a kiss, until a large bang outside the bedroom door startled them...
***
Eric and Greta both turned towards the door, both of them were disappointed that they didn't follow through with the procedure. " Eric," Greta said uneasily, looking over at him. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. " Stay here, I'll see what that was," he said, standing on. Greta immediately noticed what he had on. A pair of boxers and a white tee-shirt. He looked so good in them too. " Be careful," she said. She didn't want him to get hurt, or even worse... Eric walked to the door and opened it slowly. He peered at the ground and there was a brick laying on the ground, with a note attatched to it. He picked it up and closed the door. " It's just a-" he started, but when he turned around, Greta wasn't there.
***
"Greta?" Eric called out. Where was she? He walked around the room and began to get really nervous, wondering where she was. Strange things were definitely happening in this house, and the thought that something might have happened to Greta scared Eric more than words can say. "Greta?!" he called out again. Suddenly, Greta jumped out behind a dresser and yelled out, "Boo!" Eric nearly jumped out of his skin with fright. "Greta!!" he yelled. "What are you doing??" Greta started laughing and said, "Just had to get you back for all those times you scared me. So who's the frightened one now?" Eric smiled and was just so relieved that she was okay. Then he remembered the brick he found with the note on it. He held it up and showed it to Greta. "What's that?" she asked curiously. "I don't know," answered Eric. "I opened the door and found this laying on the ground." They both opened the note and were surprised to see what it read.
***
IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU'LL LEAVE THIS CASTLE NOW!!! That is what the note said and Eric and Greta looked at each other with shock. "Who wrote this???" Greta asked. "I don't know" Eric said looking around cautiously. "But I do know one thing. Somebody wants us out of here now." "Maybe we should leave," says Greta. "No, wait. We shouldn't let them scare us outta here. And anyway, we need to find out the answers about your mother." "But it might be dangerous to stay here," protested Greta. "We could always stay at a hotel and just come by here during the day." "I guess you're right," says Eric. "All right, pack up your things and let's get outta here." Greta walked out of Eric's room and started heading back to her room. As she made her way back to her room, she started getting nervous about the quietness of the castle. "This place is just too creepy," Greta said to herself. She suddently felt the presence of someone behind her. Before she could turn around, she felt a hand grab her arm. She screamed.
***
It was Eric. She breathed a sigh of relief. " Why do you keep doing that to me? You know I get scared easily," she said. " Sorry, I was just thinking, maybe we should stay here. We're miles from any hotel and it's late at night. You can come in my room and sleep or something," said Eric. Greta smiled. Falling asleep in Eric's bed with him right beside her. It was almost too much for her. " Um, okay, but you can't let anything happen to us," she said, " Don't worry, I won't, cross my heart," he said, placing a hand on the small of her back. He lead her through the door and across the hall. She climbed into the bed and pulled the sheets up. Eric walked over to the couch and sat down. " You're not going to sleep in the bed?" she asked, a little disappointed. " I don't think so..." he began. " I don't care, it's not a big deal," she said, sliding over to make more room. Now it was Eric's decision to make, he could resist the oppurtunity, or he could jump into it...
***
Eric looked at the empty space on the bed next to Greta. He was so tempted. But he couldn't do it. Most guys would jump at the opportunity but not Eric. He was too much of a gentleman to do that. "No, Greta. I'll just sleep here on the couch." "Are you sure," Greta asked. "Yeah. I'll be on a lookout all night long. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise. Sleep easy and have some sweet dreams. For me." Greta smiled at his sweetness and said, "Okay. Goodnight, Eric." "Goodnight," he replied. Greta slept on her side with her back facing Eric. She didn't want him to see the smile on her face. She thought to herself that Eric has been such a wonderful friend to her throughout all of this. She didn't know what she'd do without him. Eric watched Greta as she slept. He thought to himself what a wonderful person she was. She was everything he ever wanted in a woman. Eric's eyes stayed set on Greta until they began to close and he finally fell into a deep sleep.
***
He was awakened several hours later by her mumbling. She still seemed to be asleep, but her lips were moving ever so slightly. She also had a pained look on her face. Eric got up and sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. "Greta?" He shook her shoulder lightly and she opened her eyes. "Eric! I was so scared!" He gave her a gentle hug. "Nightmare?" She nodded her head. "I dreamt that my mother was calling out to me to save her. But I couldn't do anything to help." He wiped the tears from her face with the back of his hand and smiled. "It's ok, I'm here with you. And we're going to find out what happened to your mother." She smiled at him gratefully. "Eric Brady, what would I do without you?" He squeezed her hand. "Believe me Greta, there's no place else I'd rather be than here with you." She looked at him expectantly. Had he just admitted he had feelings for her?
***
"What did you say?" Greta asked Eric. "I said that there's no placeI'd rather be than here with you," Eric repeated. Greta blushed and wasgrateful the room was dark so Eric could not see. Actually, a little moonlightwas peeking in through the window which created such a romantic atmosphere. Greta didn't say anything for a moment, and just took the time to enjoybeing in Eric's arms. She wanted time to stand still. Did Eric just admithis feelings to her, or was she just reading too much into it. She finally whispered, "There's nobody I'd rather have here with me than you." Eric smiled and continued to hold her. "You know, Greta," Eric began. "Ihave to thank you. You've been such a wonderful friend to me and there's somuch I admire about you. You're so kind and sincere. You're honest and sweetand beautiful. You're going to have so many secret admirers in yourfuture. Guys will probably be standing in line hoping for a chance with you. In fact........ Greta, I have a confession to make." Eric took a deepbreath before he said his next words.........
***
But then he stopped. The thing was - he wasn't exactly sure what he wanted to say. His feelings were so confused and they overwhelmed him. He felt it better to just keep quiet for now. Greta looked up at Eric with waiting eyes. "What did you want to say, Eric?" Eric smiled at her and said, "I just wanted to say goodnight." Greta hid her disappointment and forced a smile. "Oh, okay. Goodnight, Eric." He layed his head against the pillow. He was still holding Greta and she felt so protected in his arms. It just felt so right. Greta couldn't take it anymore. She had to tell Eric how she was feeling. "Eric," she quietly began. "Mm-hmmm?" he said, and he sounded very tired. "I wanted to thank you also for standing by me. I could never have done this alone. I don't know how I got so lucky but the stars must have been shining down on me when you came into my life. Honestly, I couldn't imagine my life without you. You're very special to me, Eric. In fact, I think......" Now it was Greta's turn to take a deep breath before she said her next words.
***
"....I think...." A small snore interrupted her. Eric was asleep! As the shock wore off, she found herself thinking that maybe it was for the best. They hadn’t even kissed, and here she was about to ruin everything by jumping the gun. What would she have done if Eric would have been awake to hear her? He probably wasn’t even over Nicole yet, and how foolish she would have sounded. I Love YOU! She silently screamed, but Eric didn’t want to hear those words. At least, not from her. The words she so desperately wanted to say kept going over and over in her mind - I love you, I love You, I LOVE YOU! She felt Eric stir against her. God, he feels so good right beside me, why can’t I tell him? Why can’t I tell him that the feelings he has provoked in me are not those of a schoolgirl? This wanting, this desire was so pure - so right, it couldn’t be wrong... could it? AGHHH! All the emotions swirling around inside her wanted so badly to come through and just tell him... just tell him! I love you, I love You, I LOVE YOU! She almost jumped straight out her skin when suddenly she heard, "What did you say, Greta?"
***
"What did you say, Greta?" Eric asked softly, his eyes fluttering open. "What?" she asked, her voice in a squeaky panic. She had said it aloud! "You mumbled I love you, Greta...Who do you...um...love?" he asked, his body now fully awake as his heart raced, his mind swirling with emotions. He looked deeply into those beautiful eyes, searching for the answer that he was hoping for, the answer that would return his feelings for Greta. Greta's face grew red as she began to panic inside... she searched for some logical answer but her mind was so clouded, she couldn't think of any! "I...umm..." she trailed off as she looked helplessly into Eric's eyes searching for a way out of it. *Maybe I should just tell him... But what if he doesn't feel the same way, it'd be so humiliating!* she thought to herself. Eric watched Greta's beautiful face, searching for an answer, his heart melting... he didn't know how much more of this he could take. Silently taking her face in his hands, he gazed into her shining eyes, having to know once and for all. Bringing his face down to hers, he placed the softest, tenderest kiss on her lips as he let out all the pent up love and passion he had been hiding, the feeling of her lips on his more amazing than he had ever dreamed possible. Now, just to get Greta's response... he only prayed that he hadn't made a mistake, and that it would be the answer he had always dreamed of...
