You Must Love Me
Written by: lysimarie
Author's note and disclaimer: Still don't own it…
Chapter 11: I Trust You
Last time on You Must Love Me: "Nothing. I was just reveling in your beauty." He said, a smile on his face as he kissed her.
Christine giggled against his mouth, and hugged him. "I love you Erik. So, so much."
Erik pulled her close as the moon rose, and kissed her forehead. "I love you too Christine. I love you too."
Christine woke to the sound of crying. She immediately ran from her room to Amiee and Arabella's room, where she found little Arabella in her father's arms, crying softly as he hummed a small lullaby to soothe her. Spying from the doorway, she couldn't help but smile at the sweet scene before her, and nearly cried herself when she realized what song he was singing to her.
"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snow flakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes,
Silver white winters that melt into springs,
These are a few of my favorite things…"
She turned and smiled as she returned to her room while he put the little girl back to bed. "Psst."
Christine spun around, and saw the Captain smiling at her. "Good evening Captain."
He walked up to her and enveloped her in his arms. "She had a nightmare." He whispered, walking with her to his study.
"I gathered. Is she all right?"
"Just fine. She loves that song you taught her."
Christine grinned, sitting on the couch beside Erik. A few moments of comfortable silence passed before she spoke. "Tell me the weirdest thing you have ever done."
"What?" Erik asked, baffled.
"I know, random topic, but I want to know more about you."
He laughed softly and gazed into the fire, remembering the memory. "I was staying with a few of my navy buddies, and Naider at a hotel in a small town in Tennessee. We were very drunk, and somehow, I set the hotel on fire."
Christine's shoulders began to shake with silent laughter, but it didn't help, because soon, she was laughing loudly. "Wow." She said, wiping away tears from her red face.
"I didn't think it was that funny." He said, putting a little pout on his face. "Tell me yours."
She blushed, and looked to the floor embarrassed. "My family had a reunion at Cedar Point a couple of years ago, and I thought I saw my uncle, and as I joke, I ran up to him, and slapped him square on the butt."
Erik burst out, laughing hard. "I already know what happened. It wasn't him, was it?"
She shook her head, and slapped him playfully. "It was very embarrassing."
After a few moments, Erik found himself sitting on the couch, his love leaning against him, gazing at the flames of the dying fire. "Tell me more about your family." He whispered, rubbing her shoulder.
"Okay…My mom is originally from Germany. She's very overprotective, and since I'm the baby, she's always worried about me."
"Overprotective?"
"She carries my umbilical cord in her purse Erik."
Their laughter filled the room, as Christine continued. "My dad is great though. He's from the Bronx, and full of life. He always makes me laugh. My brothers, well, in short, they're crazy. Craig was the leader of the three musketeers. He would arrange the sabotages on me, and Christopher and Caleb would go through with it and get in trouble for it. They never did learn to stop though."
Erik pulled her closer and kissed her cheeks. "That sounds an awful lot like my children. Avril and Adam would be the ones to organize the whole shebang, and Alana and Alex would execute it. Only I punished all four of them. Amiee and Arabella have seemed to escape the 'torture the governess' stage."
She giggled, and kissed his chin. "I love spending time with you, but I do need to go back to bed. Your children need an energetic teacher in the morning."
He kissed her softly, and walked with her to her room, where they kissed once more before parting to sleep, both dreaming of the other.
Alex was working on his English report when Fraulein Christine returned from her phone call. Her eyes were red and puffy, and the children were worried about what had happened, but none had the courage to ask why. The room remained silent until their father came in, and asked for Christine to join him. When the door closed, and Amiee and Arabella were let outside for their recess, was when the four older children began their questioning. "Fraulein Christine did not look good. Do you think that it was something Father did?" Alana asked, worriedly.
"I'm sure father had nothing to do with what happened. He hadn't seen her and besides, she had a phone call. Maybe it was something important." Avril said, hiding her own worried state of mind.
"Do you think it was about her brother? The one in the rain forest?" Alex asked, seeing that he was very much so intrigued by the idea of doing research in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
"Whatever it was, it was big enough to drive her to tears, it was huge." Adam said, his eyes filled with truthful concern.
The children shared a knowing look, and returned to their studies at their desks, slightly distracted by what caused their Fraulein, who they had come to love, to be driven to tears.
Meanwhile…
Erik heard Christine's sobs from his study, and went to find her, but realized she had calmed down and returned to the children. For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to do. After contemplating whether to go in and take her to his study to talk or to let her be, Erik walked into the classroom, and asked if she would come with him to answer a few questions. Before she came, he asked Naider to go and take littles out for recess.
When she came in, Erik walked up to her, and enveloped her in his arms, causing Christine to fell completely secure. They stood like that for what seemed like forever before they pulled apart, Erik holding her hand and leading her to the couch. She leaned her head against his chest and sighed. "I don't want to talk about it." She whispered, a small tear falling from her eye.
He wiped it away, and pulled her closer. "Whenever you're ready. I'll be here for you. I'm going to have Naider tell the children to take today off from their lessons. They deserve it."
"I feel bad because I came here to teach your children and here I am loving you, whether or not I should."
Erik smiled, "You've done more than your share of teaching. You brought happiness and love back into our house. I love you Christine."
Her smile beamed, and her tears subsided. "I love you too." She murmured, nuzzling closer.
The evening was coming to an end, but Erik and Christine hardly noticed the day at all, they hadn't moved from their position from earlier that day. Naider had taken care of the children, telling them that Fraulein Christine wasn't feeling well, and that their father had business to attend to. He just didn't tell them that his business was Fraulein Christine. "I have something for you." Erik finally said, causing Christine to move for the first time in a while.
"What is it?" excitement filling her voice.
"Close your eyes."
She did so obediently, and waited. "No peaking." He said, his voice getting distant.
Her head turned to where his voice was going, but little did she know, Erik was throwing his voice. He was kneeling before her, a long, sleek box in his hands. He opened it, and smiled. "Open your eyes."
Christine was hesitant, but opened her eyelids slowly and gasped when she saw what Erik had for her. A beautiful emerald teardrop necklace with small diamonds on the y-chain. "Oh Erik. It's gorgeous." She said, breathlessly.
"Let me put it on you." He said, a smirk on his face.
She turned, pulling her hair back, and let the cool platinum lay against her skin, Erik's fingertips brushing against her neck. Christine couldn't help herself as she pulled him close in a warm embrace, "Thank you so much Erik. I don't deserve this." She said, her voice filled with tears.
"I love you, which means you deserve everything." He said, leaning against the couch, bringing Christine with him.
A few seconds passed, and a roguish smile crossed Christine's mouth. She let her fingers nimbly undo the buttons on Erik's suit jacket. "Christine, what are you…"
"Don't you get uncomfortable in that suit all the time?" she asked innocently.
"I guess…"
Christine let her hands slide down his strong arms, pulling his jacket off. "And your tie, that has to get very tiresome." She added, undoing that, and throwing it where the jacket landed.
Erik was chuckling by now. She was absolutely adorable. Her hands went to the buttons of his shirt, and he stopped. "Christine." He growled, not so much mean, but a little playful himself.
"Just a few. You need to get comfortable." But in her talking, Christine had undone all of the buttons, and his shirt landed on the floor.
When she looked at him, he was wearing a white muscle cut shirt, his black suit pants, and his mask. Christine didn't know how to approach it, but she knew it needed to be soon. "Erik, I need to ask you something."
He sighed, "Is it about my mask?"
She nodded, looking to the floor. I knew this was the wrong time. I'm such an idiot.
"I knew I needed to tell you. I just didn't know how to." He said, his story beginning.
"As you know, I was a naval officer. I was known as a monster, cruel to everyone including my crew. This was quite the opposite, and I never knew where those horrible rumors started, but I began believing them myself a little while after Staci died. Anyway, on one of our excursions, we were attacked suddenly. Our radiation chamber became ruptured, and no one on board knew how to fix it. Except for me. I spent well over the amount of time that a person should spend in a radiation chamber, and as I was working, some radiation reached my face, scarring it to the point where it couldn't be fixed. This all happened three months before Staci and I were to wed, and upon my arrival home, I didn't know how she would react. She didn't even care, and we married and lived our lives.
"Truly it's a horrible sight to see, which is why I wear the mask. Only Staci and Naider have seen me without it. I haven't shown the children, but they do know what lies beneath. I trust you completely Christine." He said, finishing his story.
Christine was sitting beside him, holding his hand tightly when he removed the mask. It didn't shock her, or scare her, but it did intrigue her. "Can I touch it?" she whispered, her hand moving to the scarred cheek.
He nodded, and watched her face with amazement. As her hand ran over the reddened folds of deadened skin, and bumps, her face didn't show any sign of repulsiveness, but that of love and kindness. A smile crossed her face as she gently caressed him, and she kissed both his perfect cheek and his ruined one. "You're beautiful. I love you so much Erik." She whispered, fully sincere.
Erik kissed her, and held her close. "I love you too darling."
The day had it's ups and downs, and the beginning of love was continuing on its course. But little did the two lovers know that trials and tribulation were on their way.
I hope that answered some questions! Time for Reviewer Replies.
Lady Wen: Quite right about the Tango de Roxanne, that's the reason why I chose it. I have DVR, and recorded TSOM until I get the DVD. I hope this did your question justice.
GerrysJackie:Your reviews make me laugh. You're so cool, and I am so happy you're enjoying my story. In my lurking years, I got to read Above the Hurting Places and MAN OF SORROWS, and I absolutely loved them. I'm sorry for not reviewing, but I do hope that you liked the fluff in Chapter 10 that I dedicated to you!
MJ Mod: You are quite welcome! I'm sorry that you had to work this morning, but if it makes you feel any better, I have school. I'm so happy that you like is so far.
Nyasia A. Maire: You inspired it! I went back and wrote that lil bit just for you! I'm glad you liked it.