Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Author's Note: So I decided to go back and read through the comments for this story. Its so hard to believe that I started writing this almost 7 years ago! I was 16 years old I can't believe it XD. Well I can because now I read it and I'm like my goodness I moved too fast with Erik and Jasmine's relationship! But I don't regret a single line I have written. This story is truly my testimony and evolution as a writer and I love it! This remains one of my all time favorite stories to write hence why I can't bear to bring it to an end. It will have to eventually but not yet I have to admit that I am still nervous everytime I write this story. The pregnancy arc was totally unexpected but I feel that it has helped calm the story down a bit. I was doing so much bang this happened, bang this happened and I was like oh my goodness give them a break already XD. And I'm the writer! So if these chapters seem a little quieter that's why. Thanks truly to those that continue to read this story! You are the ones that have allowed me to continue this story and I have enjoyed reading through your comments again Thank you!

Chapter 30

(William)

"Are you sure you should be moving around this much?" I asked as Jasmine and I made our second circuit around the back gardens. "Because I do love this time alone with you my dear sister, but Erik watching us like a hawk through the window is starting to annoy me a little."

She shook her head smiling, "This last month has felt like the longest. Not because of the sleep deprivation, not because of the child, but because Erik just…."

"Won't leave you alone?" I said laughing. I could look at her eyes though and know that she wasn't annoyed with it. "Admit it Jay," I said softly, "you love how protective he is." She gave a small smile and I would be lying if I didn't feel the same way. It wasn't the first time we had been helped. But that had led to Paul…who had seemed to be so in love with our family, but then we realized who he really was he was nothing more then an angry abusive controlling man. And now he was our greatest fear. Erik had started out the opposite way….we had feared Erik because we had thought we knew him. But we fell in love with him when we realized how much he had truly come to love us. Surprising everybody…most of all me.

(Erik)

I needed to stop watching them. William was perfectly capable of taking care of her. She seemed happy to be able to get out with him and just talk. I was glad because William had still been uncomfortable with the fact that as far as societal aspects were concerned this child was being born a bastard. But his love for his sister won over in the end as it should. It was still so hard to believe that it had almost been a year since that boy had shot me, and how he had fought me at every waking turn. He had fought me so much that when he had finally admitted to being on my side it had seemed surreal.

And then he had gotten sick and everybody's worlds came crashing down. The last few months though he had found a renewed strength in him. He had promised Jasmine that he would see his nephew…no matter what. At night though his episodes got really bad. So bad that I have to take Jasmine from the room because I don't want her and the baby possibly getting sick. And that was because he was coughing up more blood then before…and he was weak and winded from the episodes that he was out for the rest of the night. Nighttime was truly miserable for him.

But at least during the day he was his usual seventeen-year-old self. And that was mostly what his sisters got to see. Even though I knew Jasmine was thinking about it a lot as well. But she knew they could be a long way off before he reached that final stage. So for now she enjoyed his company in anyway possible. I heard the side door open as they both finally came in.

"Erik you can stop being on alert now," William said jokingly walking her over. She rolled her eyes as I leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek.

"How was your walk?" I said trying to remain diplomatic despite my protests that she rest.

"Very nice, I think the baby likes a little fresh air every now and then," she said teasingly. I knew she was jabbing at me and my worry, but we were so close now. Everything was going to change and for once I wanted it to happen without any complications.

(Jasmine)

I squeezed his hand gently, "Stop worrying so much my love. Everything is going to be alright." I felt his head nod beneath my fingertips, but he didn't verbally answer. I had learned that meant he agreed but he was still going to dwell on it for a while.

I turned at the sound of little running feet as Rebecca came in. She was five now and already seemed so much older for it. "There you all are," she said out of breath, "its time for dinner."

"Good," I said smiling. I reached out my hand and she immediately took it, and I could imagine the smile spreading over her face right now. Erik hooked his arm into my other arm and we walked over together. How had this happened? How had so much craziness end up being so normal? Of course I still didn't trust it, but that didn't mean I wasn't going to enjoy it while it lasted.

(Erik)

Dinner went by quietly and peacefully just like it had for the last few months. It still seemed so odd to me to sit down and actually eat and converse with a group of people I knew. I had been on my own for so long, practically all my life….I never thought I would have this. And to think it all had happened by chance.

"Are you alright?" Jasmine asked softly.

I smiled, "I'm fine are you ready?"

She nodded her head, "Yes I think we both have had our fill for tonight."

"Good," I said softly, "I have something for you tonight."

Her eyes lit up at that up, "Well now I am intrigued. A surprise?"

"Yes I thought that might get your attention," I said smiling. I grabbed her hand and led her to a room I knew she hadn't been to for a while. She smiled as she realized where she was being led to.

"Well we haven't been here in a while," she said repeating my thoughts as I led her to the all too familiar piano.

"You mean you haven't been here in a while," I said a small amount of teasing in my tone.

(Jasmine)

"Wait when have you had time to be down here composing?" I said curiously. It seemed like had been haunting my steps every moment I was awake. And then I rolled my eyes in realization, "Erik you haven't been sleeping?"

(Erik)

I took her hand comfortingly, "Don't worry I have been I've just had a few night sessions composing some new things." She smiled as I said this.

"So you have been composing?" she said genuinely excited, "I'm glad to hear that."

I looked at her surpised, "You are?"

(Jasmine)

I wrung my hands a little as he asked a question that I knew he would eventually ask. The truth was I had been thinking a lot about his music since the moment he wrote that song for me. How much had I been keeping this from his craft? I took a deep breath, "I have been feeling guilty these past few months Erik." I paused and I could only imagine the look on his face as I did, "Don't worry its nothing you did this came to me all on my own." I felt him standing beside me and he gently put his hand on face.

I sighed, "Erik you were put on this Earth to move people with your music. But with everything that's been going on I feel like I have been keeping you from your calling."

(Erik)

I stood there taken aback by what she had said. It was true that when everything had been in chaos I had neglected my music. But only in that I hadn't been able to put it on paper. My music was something that was always moving through me. But the look in her eyes….there was something else that was bothering her also.

She turned from me and another sigh escaped her body, "I know that I can never have that kinship with you and your music like—" and she stopped trying to find what she wanted to say. "I feel like we are not matched properly because I cannot truly help you with your calling on this Earth."

"Jasmine," I finally said stopping her. I went forward grabbing her arm and turning her towards me. Her eyes were sad and regretful something I hadn't seen on her in a while. Where was this coming from?

And then finally it hit me so easily and suddenly I couldn't help but feel stupid about it. After all this time…she was still comparing herself to Christine. She couldn't vault my music into the limelight like Christine could and she felt useless because of it. "Oh Jasmine," I said softly. "My darling Jasmine."

She looked back up at that her eyes almost confused. I gently took her hand and walked her back over to the piano. "Sit down," I said gently guiding her down. Her eyes were still searching for an answer as I sat down at the keys. "Now I just want you to listen."

"But Erik—" she began but I sshed her.

"Just listen," was the last thing I said. And then I played for her. I played what had become of my music in those months where she had thought she was keeping me from it. I watched her as I played and at first there was little reaction. But as the music reached its highest peak a radiant smile lit her face.

And as I continued to the darker depths her face changed reacting to every note and melody. And then suddenly the smallest tear ran down her face followed by another. I stopped playing reaching my hand forward and gently touching her face. "And this is how you give me more then anyone else I know."

Her face was confused as I gently grabbed her hands. "There will always be some artist, singer, businessman who will be able to vault my words my melodies into the limelight. Those people come and go. But it doesn't matter if the most celebrated singer performs my melodies if there is nothing there for the audience to feel. Nothing to connect them to the melodies and notes that I have created for them. Music is not anything if it doesn't connect to you in some way." I sighed to myself, "A year ago I thought my music was nothing if it was not performed by Christine. I couldn't write I couldn't create anything unless she sang it. The only people who felt any connection to the music was me and Christine. That wasn't what I wanted but I lost sight of it.."

I gave her hands a gently squeeze, "You have given me so much Jasmine Dinea. You have allowed me to feel things that I thought I would never get the chance to feel. And you have allowed me to write again not just for the pleasure of myself," I said touching her face gently, "but for the pleasure of others as well. So you see you give ten times more then any diva could. I love you," I said with confidence and assurance. "And if even if this was the most fleeting moment, I could walk on in this world remembering what you have given me. What you have reawakened in me. And I will always be eternally grateful to you for that." As I looked at her there were tears in her eyes and her lip was quivering but she still managed to smile.

"I'm sorry," she barely sputtered out.

I chuckled leaning my forehead against hers, "Stop being sorry all the time."

She laughed to herself, "I'll try. And thank you." I gently stroked her cheek before leaning in and kissing her. As we separated I sighed, "Alright its late. You should be resting." I started to get up but she stopped me, "Wait please. I want you to finish playing. You didn't get to finish because you had to make your point to me. I want to hear the end."

I smiled, "Of course," and I gently guided her to sit next to me on the piano bench. She leaned on my shoulder and closed her eyes as I started to play. My hands were shaky as I realized what I had just said to her. I hadn't even known those words were in me all this time. But to have finally said them out loud made my heart soar in so many ways it was hard to describe.

"I love you," I whispered as I slowly came to the end of all that I had written so far. I looked over and she had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I gently picked her up and carried her upstairs to bed. As I laid her down the corners of her mouth turned up into a small smile.

"Stay with me tonight," she said softly.

I smiled back, "As you wish my love." And we both somehow managed to lie down on the bed and fall asleep side by side.

TBC

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