I can't remember the last time I said this, but my usual disclaimer of not owning anything still stands. I own two cats, so that's something at least.
Gerry decided to make pumpkin pie, and he actually MADE whipped cream for it. And I'm going to not make any comments at all about whipped cream, I trust You Are Love will make them for me, ha ha.
Angel
Christine screamed in frustration. She thought that by now Erik would have been completely over his incessant worrying about her. But she was finding out that the man would go to any lengths to keep her safe 'and drive me crazy in the process' she added mentally.
She had finally been in the recording studio. The producers declared that she would be a star. And their predictions were coming true. With the release of her cover of "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons", she was instantly declared the best new artist of the year. There was already talk of starting work on her next album as quickly as possible, perhaps calling on one or two other artists to record with her. It looked like her and her father's dream was coming true.
And then one night when Christine and Erik were out for dinner a fan came up to ask for an autograph. Pretty soon she was surrounded by adoring fans. One guy who was obviously quite drunk started begging for a kiss, and then begged for her underwear instead. Erik snapped at that point, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the waiting car. After that, he hired a group of bodyguards to stay with her whenever she left the house. Christine tried to tell him they weren't necessary. She didn't want to be one of "those types of singers with an entourage", as she told him during the first argument. But he refused to listen to her. Thus the frustration began to build.
So there she was, in the middle of a shopping day with Meg, surrounded by these men who acted like they were the Secret Service. Christine was mortified by their behavior toward anyone who dared come near where she was. She muttered to Meg "I'm done with this. Erik's going to have to just suck it up." Meg patted her hand and tried to calm her down. "Christine, he's just being cautious. You know he's like this because he worries about you." Christine glared at her. "Don't you start taking his side." She growled, half teasing half seriously.
When she arrived home, Erik was there waiting for her. She was barely through the door when she started ranting. "I'm done with these security guys, do you understand? I'm not going to be followed by them everywhere I go! Do you know they tried to 'sweep' the restroom I needed to use earlier today? It's ridiculous Erik, and I'm not doing it. You have to call them off." Erik glared at her, not wanting to have this argument yet again. "Christine, darling, I'm doing this to protect you. I want you to be safe. I'm not going to fire them." She stood toe to toe with him, hating that their height difference took away some from the glare she tried to give him. Then she just growled in frustration and walked away, slamming the bedroom door behind her.
Erik paced in his office. 'Why doesn't she understand? What is the big deal? I only want her to be safe! Why is that so difficult to understand?' he thought angrily as he paced. Then he stopped. He knew why he was so scared for her. He was trying to keep another incident from happening. He wanted to protect her, and he was trying so hard because he still felt guilty for not protecting her from Raoul that awful night. But she thought that all that was far behind them. It wasn't for him. And, fool that he was, he had never explained that his very real fears stemmed from that, not from that drunk idiot who wanted her underwear. No wonder she felt he was overreacting. He mentally slapped himself. 'Ok, Erik, now you have to make this right. Help her understand. Grovel if need be, but fix it' he told himself.
Christine was lying face down on their bed. She had stormed around the room for a bit, until her frustration wore down. She wondered if perhaps she was being a little inconsiderate of Erik's feelings. Just then, she heard footsteps outside the door. She was about to go open it when she heard Erik's voice, singing to her:
"I'm alone, yeah, I don't know if I can face the night
I'm in tears and the cryin' that I do is for you
I want your love
Let's break the walls between us
Don't make it tough
I'll put away my pride
Enough's enough
I've suffered and I've seen the light
Baby, you're my angel
Come and save me tonight
You're my angel
Come and make it alright
Don't know what I'm gonna do about this feeling inside
Yes it's true, loneliness took me for a ride
Without your love I'm nothing but a beggar
Without your love a dog without a bone
What can I do? I'm sleepin' in this bed alone"
Christine smiled as tears formed in her eyes. Maybe they both needed to apologize. She knew that this was Erik's way of trying to soften her and apologize. She leaned against the door as if to bring herself closer to his heartfelt pleas.
"You're the reason I live
You're the reason I die
You're the reason I give when I break down and cry
Don't need no reason why
Baby, baby, baby
You're my angel
Come and save me tonight
You're my angel
Yeah, come and make it alright"
She opened the door then, and laughed gently when she saw Erik kneeling down on the floor finishing the song. He smiled and said "I didn't think the 'Say Anything' stunt would work twice." Christine laughed more and knelt with him, kissing him tenderly. Then she said "I like hearing your voice anyway. Get in here." She stood, pulling him up with her. He raised one eyebrow, asking "Am I forgiven?" She sat on the bed and said softly "Am I forgiven?" He held her for a moment, and began explaining how he still felt such fear about losing her. When he finished they both had tears streaming down. Christine spoke finally, saying "I sometimes don't think about that. I forget, and I will try to be more understanding." Erik kissed the top of her head and replied "And I know I'm not always open about why I do things. And I didn't tell you I still had those fears. So I am partially to blame."
Christine laughed and said "So we agree, we both screwed up!" Erik laughed at that. "I guess that's how this is going." Then he got a wicked grin and whispered "Does that mean we make up now?" She shivered at feeling his breath on her ear. Then she giggled and said "I like that plan."
Don't we all wish we could resolve arguments so easily? Phluph makes it all better!
Reviews mean Pumpkin Pie and Whipped Cream for you!
