Clara shuddered as she fit the key into the lock as a knife drove into her heart. She closed her eyes and swallowed as she twisted it, unlocking the door, and let the door slowly swing open. Her heart hammered in her chest as she thought she would see the place as it was once before but she barely recognized it. The only thing that seemed recognizable was the building outside and even the flowers that stayed the same. They could remodel and paint the inside but Clara could still see what this place for that it really was; her last real home.

Erik's voice came from behind her, "Are you sure you want to stay here? We can go somewhere else"

"No" Clara swallowed, "I want to stay here"

Clara walked in as she couldn't help but look around, imagining all the times she was happy in the small house of hers. She could practically see her father running around, chasing her in the halls as the delicious food was being cooked in the kitchen. A tear ran down her cheek but she quickly brushed it off. Clara turned back around to see Erik looking around as if it was some sort of museum as well.

"You lived here" Erik stated.

"Before they took my parents" Clara mumbled.

Erik turned to her, "Have you tried looking for them?"

"The second I got out" Clara scoffed as she dropped down her bag, "But it was no use, I knew they were dead the minute they were dragged out of this home. I waited a couple of years until I got enough money to buy this house out as a renting home; of course, I had to pay of the fire damages that this home endured"

Erik raised an eyebrow, "Fire damages?"

"They didn't take my offer when I tried to buy them out of the house" Clara couldn't help but let out a chuckle, "Should've listened"

Clara picked up the bag of groceries they had and went into the kitchen. She tried to put it past her mind on how different the whole place looked, even though she bought it, she never really went inside. Whenever someone mentioned possibly remodeling, Clara always agreed, hoping that the more it changed the more it wouldn't hurt.

"So what happened to the last people that used to live here?" Erik questioned.

"I didn't set them on fire if that's what you're implying" Clara remarked.

Clara didn't have to turn around to know that Erik was smiling before she continued, "They moved out and went back to whatever state they lived in before this one, the house was on the market for sometime and so far no one bought it so I kind of thought of this as a sign"

"Have you been in here since you've moved out?" Erik asked.

"Did you?" Clara turned back around.

Erik stopped and thought for a moment before he looked down and traced the serial number tattooed on his arm. He was silent for a moment but they both knew that the answer was no.

"I want to thank you" Erik told her, "You didn't have to let me stay with you and by all means, I probably shouldn't. Not after the way I treated you. I just… I need someone to be around right now. I lost everything and feel… powerless. I just don't want to be alone right now"

Clara stared at him before she nodded and said, "That's understandable. You can stay here for however long you want. You know that if you need something, you can always talk to me right?"

"Of course" Erik smiled as tears brimmed his eyes.

Clara couldn't help but glance down to his finger as Erik twirled his wedding ring around and around.

"Do you want to take the master bedroom?" Clara asked.

"No" Erik quickly shook his head, "It's your home, you should take that room. I'll have the guest room"

"Fair enough" Clara responded.

She picked up her own suitcase as Erik followed her to the stairs as they climbed them and went to the only other room in the house besides the master; her old room. Clara opened the door and nearly had to stop herself from doing a glance around as she noticed all of her girl toys, pink bed, and pictures on the wall were gone. Everything was almost as plain as a hotel room, lifeless in a way. Erik didn't seem to notice as he walked in and set his suitcase down on the desk and sat down on the bed. Clara couldn't help but find it weird and slightly uncomfortable to see a man that she's been yearning for decades sitting in her empty childhood room.

"Do you need anything?"

Erik looked up to her, "No thank you, I'm fine"

He looked up to her and gave her a warm smile and a nod before Clara turned and went to the other closed door. Clara stiffened up as she walked over to the door, half wanting to knock just to hear one of her parents to tell her to come in or not. Instead, she opened the door to the master bedroom and slowly walked over to the bed and plopped down her suitcase. A lump rose in her throat as she wondered what would have happened if they were still alive till this day.

"Are you alright?"

"Jesus, Erik!" Clara jumped out of her skin and spun around.

"I'm sorry" Erik waved up his hand in defense before he said, "I just had to ask, that's all"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?" Clara countered.

Erik gave a side nod before he said, "Technically yes, but I'm the one who's running away from my home, not trying to live in it"

"I'm fine" Clara nodded, "Just takes a little bit of getting used to"

Erik slowly nodded as his eyes drift off into a faraway look, almost as if he was thinking about something. She watched as his eyes filled up with tears as he tried to blink them away but that only cause a few teardrops to fall. Clara turned her whole body in his direction, making Erik quickly snap out of his stupor.

"Sorry" He roughly wiped away the tears, "I was just-"

"No, you don't have to apologize" Clara quickly told him, "You're in mourning"

"Right" Erik said as he tried to smile but rubbed his lips together again before he barely whispered out, "Excuse me"

Clara couldn't even nod before Erik quickly disappeared from her sight and down the hall. She couldn't help but follow him as she walked up to the closed door.

What she heard was truly heartbreaking.

Clara could hear Erik let out a loud sob as if he didn't care if Clara could hear him or not. She heard him whisper out two names over and over again as if it were some chant to bring them back. Her hand went up to the door as she placed her fingertips on it before she too felt a tear run down her cheek. She swallowed and opened her mouth to ask to come in when something overcame her and she froze. Clara didn't want to interrupt Erik anymore than she already had so instead she slowly made her way back into her parent's room and shut the door behind her.