I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, although I do rather enjoy borrowing them from time to time.
A/N Yes, EV is back! Thanks for all of your incredible patience. Hope you like the return of poor groveling Erik and a still very wary Christine. While I have had the most amazing Betas in the past, I have decided that I am going beta-less as I don't want to take this too seriously and want to just keep these stories as a fun hobby. So please excuse the errors, as there are sure to be many. Thanks!
Author – ToryD Erik's VengeanceChapter 26
"How are the repairs on the house coming?" Erik asked as he continued signing a large stack of VIM correspondence that Nadir had put in front of him.
"We should be able to move in by the end of the week," Nadir said as he helped himself to a cup of coffee that Meg had made earlier. "Did you have a chance to approve the final designs?"
"Good morning," Christine greeted as she entered her small kitchen.
Erik instantly rose from his chair, a welcoming smile upon his handsome face. "Good morning Christine, how are you feeling?"
"I feel as if I'm as big as a house," she said with a grin as she took the empty chair next to Erik's.
"You look beautiful," Erik complemented her softly with an adoring look in his green eyes.
Blushing slightly under Erik's gaze, Christine turned to greet Nadir. "Good morning Nadir."
"Good morning Christine," He said with a smile. "Erik, if you can finish signing those last few I can then get them off to the New York office."
Retuning to his chair Erik finished signing the last of the contracts. "Make sure that Ron makes the revisions on the Thornton deal before the offer is made," he instructed with an authority that caused a shiver to race down Christine's spine at the familiar tone she had heard so often when she was under Erik's employ.
"Right," Nadir agreed as he took the stack of papers and placed them in his briefcase. "I'd best be off then. Erik I'll see you at the hotel later this afternoon?"
"Yes, I'd like to go over the purchase price and projected costs to upgrade the mill so we can make a decision by the end of the week."
"I've already gotten a solid purchase price from Mr. Sanderson and I'll make sure Andy has the other figures ready. See you later. Goodbye Christine," Nadir called as he made his way out of the small kitchen.
"Goodbye Nadir," Christine called back as she looked at Erik with a confused expression. "Are you talking about the Sanderson Textile Mill?"
"Yes, Nadir discovered the mill on one of his morning runs. Seemed like it might prove to be a profitable investment," Erik said absently not wanting to tip his hand any more that necessary. "Meg's at the store this morning so can I make you something for breakfast?"
"I didn't know you could cook," Christine said with a surprised smile.
"Yep, my mother made sure that I learned early in life. So what can I get you? An egg white omelet with whole wheat toast?" he asked as he quickly assessed his options under her doctor's diet plan.
"That sounds perfect," Christine responded gratefully.
Erik began to look in cabinets and the refrigerator for his ingredients. "So what's on your agenda for the day?"
"Besides being waited on hand and foot and watched as if I am about to go into labor at any moment you mean?" Christine asked with a humorous sarcasm lacing her words.
Erik smiled with a slightly guilty expression. "Yes, I mean other than that."
"Meg and I are going to go shopping for baby clothes later this afternoon and then I have my first childbirth class this evening with John," Christine informed him, unaware that the mention of the childbirth class immediately brought a painful intimate picture of Christine with John to his mind.
"So you have a full day planned," Erik said stiltedly as he began to separate the eggs for Christine's omelet.
Hearing a strange quality in Erik's tone Christine quickly reviewed her previous statement. Closing her eyes, she cursed herself for her insensitivity. "Oh and I guess we are still on for our walk?" she asked softly hoping to rectify her unintentional slight.
Erik brightened instantly. "Yes of course, what time is your class over?"
"I should be back here by nine." Christine said as she rose rather clumsily from her chair to get some juice.
"I'll be here. Would you mind if we stopped by the house as well? I would like your opinion on some decorating decisions," Erik asked as he watched her with a hungry gaze.
"You bought that old house at the edge of town didn't you?" Christine asked with a slight edge to her tone as she filled her glass with orange juice.
"Yes," Erik said as he watched her closely for her reaction.
"Erik," Christine said with a telling nervousness that she could not hide. "What are your plans here in Freedom?"
"What are you asking Christine?" he countered feeling as though he were treading on dangerous ground.
"I'm asking what are you doing. You recently bought a home and now you are looking into buying the textile mill. Are you planning to stay in Freedom long term?" she asked directly not even bothering to hide her apprehension.
Seeing that Christine was becoming upset, Erik crossed the kitchen to her side. Reaching out he tenderly caressed her cheek in an attempt to ease some of the worry that was so evident upon her face. "I am planning to stay at least until the baby is born, and then a month or so afterwards if you will allow me."
"I…" Christine began worriedly only to be stopped by Erik's fingertip to her lips.
"You don't have to say anything Christine," he said somewhat sadly. "I know that you can't begin to forgive me for the past. I have come to terms with that, but I still feel a responsibility to you and the baby. So if you will please allow me this time to be here for you I promise that I will leave when you ask it of me."
Christine felt a feeling of alarm race through her at the thought of Erik leaving her and their son behind. "Erik," Christine said in a beseeching manor that Erik mistook for pity.
Shaking his head, he put a stop to the conversation that was clearly causing Christine distress. "Have a seat and I'll get back to your breakfast," he said as he turned away from her.
Staring after him for a short moment longer, Christine wondered how she could come to terms without having Erik in her life. Yet she also didn't know quite how she could cope with him in her life. Drawing in a deep breath, she crossed to take a seat at the table, knowing that within the next two months she had better find some answers to the questions that both her and her baby's futures depended on.
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"Oh Erik!" Christine exclaimed as she crossed to the huge bay window in the large county kitchen. "This would be the perfect place to have family meals."
Erik stood in the doorway smiling at the excitement in Christine's features. "So what do you think about colors?"
Looking around Christine imagined a warm amber tone with accents of hunter green. "I guess if it were my kitchen I'd like to see it in shades of gold and green."
Making a mental note, Erik walked towards the woman he loved. "And what kind of appliances?"
Frowning in concentration Christine considered his question. "I guess I'd get the ones that had the same wood paneling as the cabinets."
"Ah, you're right, I do think that would make it very welcoming," Erik said as he once again made mental notes for his decorator. "Let's go on upstairs," he said as he held out his hand to her.
Smiling Christine took his hand and let him lead her up to the second floor while daydreaming just for a moment that this was their home that they were planning the décor for together.
"Here is the nursery suite," Erik said as he pushed open the door to a three-room suite that included a playroom, bedroom and bathroom.
Gasping, Christine raced as fast as her large stomach would allow her into the room. "Oh Erik," she said with such a reverence that Erik smiled. "I can just see a rocker over there," she said excitedly as she pointed over towards the large window overlooking a serene garden.
A picture of Christine rocking their son to sleep instantly came to his mind's eye and Erik felt a feeling of such all-encompassing love fill him for her and his unborn child.
Christine looked back over her shoulder and saw the unmistakable love shining intently from Erik's eyes. She gasped as emotional tears began to well within her own. Without knowing how, she found herself back at Erik's side. Lifting her arms, she encircled Erik's neck and stood on tiptoe to raise her lips to meet his in a soft gentle kiss.
Erik felt his heart slam into his chest at the unexpected kiss Christine initiated. Gently enfolding her within his arms, he returned her kiss with a reverence filled with all of the love he held for her.
"Erik," Christine whispered with her long held desire so evident in her tone.
Looking down, Erik took in her beautiful features and the lone tear that escaped to trail slowly down her cheek. Lifting his hand, he caught the tear on the pad of his thumb and wiped it gently away. "I love you Christine," he said with such simplicity that Christine felt the truth of his words to the very depth of her soul.
Frowning, Christine looked up into his eyes with a feeling of helplessness that she was as of yet still not ready to accept his love. "Erik, I…"
Smiling Erik leaned down and placed a silencing kiss upon her lips. "No heavy discussions tonight," he ordered as he took her hand once again in his to lead her to the other rooms. "Now what color do you think would best suit this room?"
Christine didn't know if she should be grateful or annoyed with Erik at his convenient dodging of the white elephant within the room. "I suppose that blue is the customary color for baby boy's rooms," she said in an adopted tone that was successful in hiding the torment that she was still feeling with their unresolved issues.
"So you see blue then?" he asked as he pulled her towards the bathroom that was equipped with a changing table, large sink and bath.
"I think that a soft muted green shade would be nice for a baby," she said absently as she trailed a hand on the cool marble of the sink.
Smiling, Erik watched as Christine came to terms with their shared desire, knowing that at least she like he was not immune. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow evening?" he asked as he waited for her to join him at the room's doorway.
"No," Christine answered as she looked up at him.
"I thought that you could join me for dinner if you feel up to it," he suggested with a lazy smile that caused Christine's heart to flutter nervously like it used to when she first dated Erik so many years before.
"I'd like that," she answered almost shyly.
"Good," Erik said with a triumphant smile on his handsome face as he held out his hand.
Taking his outstretched hand once again, Christine let him lead her on the rest of the tour, wondering if they could put their differences aside and be able to find some common ground for a future filled with happiness that had eluded them both for so long.
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Essie and Leona hurried as fast as two elderly women could up Christine's driveway, attempting to go unnoticed by the ever-watchful Ruth.
"Did we make it?" Essie whispered to her sister as they entered the kitchen through the back entrance.
"I thought I saw her blinds move," Leona said with an unhappy look upon her weathered face.
"Well it can't be helped. Ruth will just have to come to terms with our decision to align ourselves with Erik," Essie sighed, not at all happy that they were working against one of their oldest and dearest friends. "Besides, if Ruth were honest with herself, she would see that Christine and Erik are the two that belong together."
"You're right of course," Leona agreed as she looked at her watch. "Didn't Meg tell us to be here at eleven?"
"Yes," Essie responded as she looked at the deserted kitchen. "I guess they were held up at Christine's doctor's appointment. We'd better just sit and wait. I wonder what Erik has planned for Christine this evening?"
A familiar glint alighted Leona's eyes as she set about informing her sister on the things she had learned on this morning's trip to the drug store. "Well, I spoke with Bobby John this morning and he told me that Erik had rented out the entire dining room of the Redtree restaurant for tonight. He also told me that there have been quite a few deliveries made by Erik's helicopter today. Oh! And one more thing, everyone was given the night off with full pay. I guess Erik is having his own people prepare and serve the meal."
"How romantic," Essie sighed with a dreamy look in her clear blue eyes. "I wish I had had such a suitor in my day."
"I guess we all can't be as lucky as Christine, not that she knows it," Leona said with a little irritation slipping into her words.
"Leona! You know as well as I that Erik has put Christine through hell and it is just going to take some time for her to forgive him is all," Essie admonished her sister sharply.
"I know, I know, it's just that I have never seen a man suffering so much as poor Erik. She could at least show him a little bit of encouragement."
"What do you think she's doing! She's going on a date with him tonight. To hear you talk she should just lie down and invite him into her bed!" Essie finished with an affronted look towards her sister.
"That's how you caught Craig Stafford," Leona muttered under breath as she recalled her sister's seduction of the young man over fifty years ago.
Essie's face turned a bright scarlet as she drew in several sharp breaths at her sister's shocking revelation. "And just how did you know that?"
"Oh come on Essie! You can't expect me to not know what the whole town knew. It was quite the scandal if I remember correctly. Old Craig was all set to propose to Shirley Massy and you cornered him at the barn dance and got him stinking drunk. From there it was told that you took him off to lover's lane and made a man of him," Leona finished with a gleeful look at the confirmation her words were receiving in her sister's rage filled eyes.
"Well I never!" Essie exploded only to be forestalled by her sister's amused response.
"That's not what I heard," Leona said in a singsong voice that only incited her sister's rage to the boiling point.
About to blast her sister for her lack of good manors and family loyalty, Essie was abruptly silenced as the kitchen door burst open to admit a tearful Christine and frowning Meg.
"Excuse me," Christine whimpered as she brushed past Essie and Leona.
"Meg, what on earth has happened?" Essie asked Meg as she stared after Christine with worry etched into every line of her wrinkled face.
Smiling Meg placed her purse on the counter. "Christine couldn't find a dress that would fit her at Maxine's shop."
"Oh," Essie and Leona said in unison.
"Well Maxine should keep a better stock of maternity fashions!" Leona said with an irritated look.
"She did have a few dresses that fit, but they were pretty matronly for someone as young as Christine," Meg said sadly.
"Maxine wouldn't know what was in style if it bit her on her big butt!" Essie chimed in with her own two cents.
"I guess it's too late for us to go up to Helena," Meg said with a resigned sigh knowing that Christine was wanting to look her best for her date with Erik this evening.
A calculating look entered Leona's eyes as she looked from her sister back to Meg. "Not necessarily. If we had a helicopter at our disposal then we could make it there and back in time," she speculated with a smile.
Catching on, Meg stood and reached for the phone. While she waited for her call to connect, she smiled at Leona. "Ms. Leona, Cinderella couldn't have had a better fairly godmother than you."
Please with the comparison, Leona beamed.
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A/N Next chapter, Erik and Christine's big date. They will finally talk about some of their past mistakes…but will they come to a meeting of the minds??? I should have the next chapter of Lost and Found up shortly as well, it's half done already. Please review, they really do make my day.