Disclaimer: I own nothing related or close to POTO or anything else worth that much money.

Thanks to Susan for beta-proofreading. This should be the correct chapter uploaded this time. LOL You could say, last Wednesday was not by best day. I downloaded the uncorrected chapter 36 and by late the next day I had found out. My beta found it when she logged on and let me know of my mistake. For those who might have noticed, I am very sorry. I hate doing things like that. I have now added checks and balances to prevent that in the future. Moving on.

Thanks to those who continue to read my story and to those that leave a review. They are: kj62; Pertie; Arcelia; Kelsismom; Chapucera; MasterofNight.

Previous chapter: Erik and Kristine were discussing getting clothing and the preparations for the wedding. Meg had overstepped some boundaries, upsetting Kristine.

Chapter 37: How do you forgive a friend?

On the way to their room, Erik dug in his pocket for his cell phone. Sam Hornrod was calling in regard to the wedding invitation extended to both himself and Jocelyn. After much discussion and worry on Jocelyn's part, she had talked to her therapist, and the woman had advised Jocelyn not to go. The added anxiety of the whole trip was wearing on her. She still had a long road to travel before she could feel good about being around other people. That was just one side effect of Raoul's sadistic treatment of her. Sam had told her that he would call Erik and beg off attending the wedding. He was taken with the broken lady and had promised her he would do whatever she asked. He, too, had been attending the therapy sessions in hopes of fully understanding all that she had been through. He was willing to stand beside her. He was willing to wait however long it took, until she felt comfortable enough to begin a relationship with him. For now, he would be her friend, but with a promise of love when she felt ready.

He had seen her on a few occasions at the grocery store, and liked what he saw. He had tried hard each time to meet her, but she always ran away when he approached her. This was at the time when Raoul's reign of terror was at its worst. She had felt the greatest fear that someone could guess her awful secret. What if somebody happened to glimpse the hidden physical damage she tried so hard to conceal? That had been her greatest fear. Had Sam known what was happening to her, physically and mentally, he would have spirited her away from there and kept her safe. But little did he know that someday he would actually be her protector. Fate worked in mysterious ways.

Erik ended the conversation and told Kristine who had called and why. She smiled and understood. She knew Jocelyn had been terrorized beyond any limit one person could experience. Even Kristine's short time with Raoul had exacted a toll on her, too.

As they approached their room, Kristine was about to say more to Erik, when Meg stepped up and touched her arm.

"Kristine, I am so sorry for what I did. Will you ever forgive me?" Meg softly cried, and sniffled between words as tears streamed down her puffy cheeks.

"To be honest, Meg, I'm still mad, but I know you did it out of concern, and I'm glad my parents are here. By the way, where is your mother? Didn't she come with my parents?" Kristine inquired, concerned that Marie wasn't with them.

It suddenly dawned on Meg; her mother had not been with the group as they filed onto the lanai. Her head snapped up and she looked off in the distance to see if she could search the boat for her mother, but it was too far away. She stood beside Nadir, mulling over why her mother wasn't there. In one swift move, she dashed off the balcony, through Kristine's suite and ran down the hall to the grand staircase. All her years as a dancer gave her the agility and grace to take the many steps quickly without faltering. When she neared the bottom of the stairs she lept off, extended her front leg, pointed her toe, and landed perfectly. It had been a while, but she still remembered how to execute her dancer's leap perfectly. One never forgets old habits. She then darted through the kitchen and ran out over the lanai. With awe-inspiring speed, she dashed off the earthen tiled surface, sprinting in the direction of the boat. Kristine looked down off the balcony to watch her friend advance towards the dock in search of her mother. Meg stopped short at the dock's edge and craned her neck, peering into the boat. There her mother sat, alone and statue-like, on a bench next to some boxes that had yet to be unloaded.

"Mother!" she exclaimed breathlessly. She moved to the entrance of the boat and melted into the Marie's loving embrace. "Why are you sitting here all alone?"

"I heard the raised voices coming from the house, and I knew Kristine was unhappy. What did you do or say to make her mad?" Marie questioned. Meg had dropped her head, embarrassed to tell her mother why. It took every ounce of strength for her to muster the courage to tell her mother everything. They sat on the boat for a long time, talking and crying.

"Oh, dear, this is not good at all, Meg. Why can you not learn that butting into other people's affairs is not a good idea? All it gets you is trouble and grief. You are going to have to step back and let Kristine come to terms with this. It may take longer than you hope for her to forgive you. Mmm?" Lifting her daughter's chin, she wanted to make sure she looked into her eyes as she continued.

"Is it worth losing her as a friend? On the other hand, would you rather have her as your dearest friend for life by keeping her secrets? Let her come to you when she needs your help or advice. That is what best friends do. You will have to choose. It has been hard for you to learn this, moving around as we did, and you never had a friend for very long. You thought you had to smother them to the point of driving them away. Kristine was different, I could tell. She could look past your faults and love you just the same. This time you have driven her too far. Don't do that when you two need one another so much. True friends last forever if you tend your friendship with loving care as you do a garden." Marie hugged her daughter and enjoyed this time they had alone. She was going to miss their evenings when she moved out later that month into her own place.

No, not now! Now is not the time for sorrow. This is a happy time, she admonished herself.

----

It bothered Nadir that Meg was gone so long while the others were talking together. He felt left out without his wife and his new mother-in-law, so he wandered out to the boat to retrieve the missing women.

As he walked closer, he could hear Meg talking, and when he stepped beside the boat, he could see Marie intently listening before she spoke. He heard her words of wisdom, and he hoped Meg would heed them. For the most part, his movements went unnoticed, and he stepped on board and extended his hand to Meg and said, "Come, everyone will be missing you."

She jumped, surprised and happy to see him. Marie sat there, smiling because she had seen him coming out of the corner of her eye.

Nadir went on, "We are preparing to sit down to a light luncheon, after which, we are heading off to the main island to shop for the wedding. Shop -- that four-letter word you love, and the one I hate to hear mentioned."

He laughed. "Shall we go?" He bent down and picked up Marie's bag with his other hand. After helping them off the boat, he followed the women up the beach and onto the lanai.

Momma had set up a light, refreshing midday feast on a long table. She wanted everyone to eat their fill before going off on the shopping spree.

Nadir set Marie's bag off to the side and said, "I shall take it to your cottage when you have eaten. We will leave in one hour." He filled a plate and settled down to eat.

Kristine and Erik came in next, stopping to look the table over. They took plates in hand and chose from the delicious array of food and joined Nadir for a little conversation.

Charles and Anne soon appeared. They looked fresh and rested after a short nap. It was a long flight from Colorado.

---

James had stayed out of the way after returning with the Daaes and Marie. Finding the front porch of this big house inviting, he set up his laptop to write. The breeze was refreshing, and made it pleasant while he sat typing away.

Momma stepped out and said, "Come. Eat!" before she disappeared back inside the house. James laughed and closed his laptop. Walking inside the foyer, he set it on the table near the stairs and proceeded on out to the lanai, joining the others for lunch.

Marie came over next and filled a plate with fruit. She sat eating some before she indicated to Nadir that she should go to her room, and, taking her plate with her, she excused herself. She wanted to freshen up for their shopping excursion. He grabbed her bag and followed her to the cottage, making sure that she was settled.

Then he quickly returned in hopes of getting to eat with Meg. Instead, Meg filled a plate and dashed upstairs to freshen up her face, leaving Nadir to eat alone. Erik and Kristine had wandered off towards the docks for some time alone. Before long, Nadir watched as the rest of the group began to assemble for the trip.

----

Everyone was loaded onto the launch for Great Harbour Island. On the way over the two young couples went forward, each hoping for a little time together. They looked out over the sparkling blue water as the boat sped through the its smooth surface. Off to the side they observed a bottle-nosed dolphin swimming alongside. It jumped out of the water to momentarily fly before it gracefully returned to the watery depths below. The harbor came into view as the boat neared the island, and slipped into the dock.

On the ride over, Meg had told Kristine about the dress shops she had found down the street. Kristine knew Meg well, and she knew that she had scoped out the shops for the best selections. The women were excited to see what would work once they had picked through what Meg had selected.

When the boat was finally secured, and before they disembarked, each couple was handed a list of things to purchase for the ceremony, on Momma´s orders. The captain had been given the task of making sure that they had their lists, and he also was handed a large food order to purchase for her. Before they left, he indicated what time he needed them to assemble for the last run to the smaller island.

The race was on to see who would return first with every item on their list. It sounded to them as if they were playing a game --wedding scavenger hunt.

---

Strolling down the street, they came to their first stop -- the one dress shop Meg liked the best. Five dresses were brought out for Kristine to look over. With the ladies occupied, the men meandered down to another shop that Nadir had spotted on their previous outing. It was sure to fill the men's needs.

While gazing at the dresses, one particular one caught Kristine's eye. It was made of soft, white cotton. The skirt cascaded down to four points. It had a V-neck and was sleeveless. She went to try it on first. It was everything she was looking for in a dress, since the wedding she had hoped for had changed dramatically from her original plans. The dress was casual and could be worn again for any function in summer.

Marie wandered around the shop, and she happened upon a beautiful handmade shawl. It was brilliantly colored, with a beautiful bird covering the back. It would be a great addition for Kristine to wear with her dress. Taking it over to the dressing rooms, she handed it to Meg for the bride's approval. When Kristine stepped out of the dressing room and over to the three-way mirror to see her reflection, she was pleased by what she saw. Meg draped the shawl over her shoulders and placed a pair of sandals on the floor for Kristine to slip on. They were to be barefoot for the ceremony but no woman would pass up the chance to get a pair of shoes. The outfit had come together perfectly.

Standing there looking at her reflection, Kristine noticed her mother browsing the shop. Kristine waited for her mother to see her there, and soon she had. When their eyes met, Anne nodded her approval. She thought, Truly, my daughter is lovely. She knew Erik would find Kristine beautiful when she walked down the beach. Wiping the tears that had formed in the corners of her eyes, she went back to look for her own dress.

Kristine planned on asking Erik about having James bring Erik's mother to the shop before meeting them at the boat. She could pick out a dress for the wedding. Kristine told the lady helping them that another woman would be coming to buy a dress and asked the saleswoman to write down the description and color of what they had purchased. She believed it would help Marget locate something along the same lines, but not duplicate what the other women had chosen. Kristine knew it would be important. She wanted Marget to feel at ease when she shopped for her selection.

Both Marie and her mother found what they were looking for that afternoon. They were two simple sundresses with light over-jackets and sandals. Meg had placed her purchase near the dress she had picked for Kristine, making sure her dress met with the bride's approval before buying it. The women were finished long before the men were. That revelation was not lost on the women when they went inside the other store.

"They say women are slow. Look at these men; they can't even get a shirt and trousers in record time." Meg had chosen her words carefully and knew they would find their mark, eventually.

"Well, how can we compete? You picked out dresses and put them on hold, so there was no real browsing time involved for you women. If there had been, we would be outside your shop waiting and waiting, so just sit there and watch," Nadir demanded, motioning over to some chairs.

The women broke out laughing and deposited themselves in the designated seats.

Nadir had a devilish smile on his face. He began to scan through another rack of shirts.

Erik called out for Nadir to step back to the dressing room. He needed another pair of trousers and there was no way he would go out in front of the women like this. Well, Kristine, maybe. The pair of trousers he happened to be trying was skin tight, making an interesting display of his manhood, which bulged forth underneath the fabric for all to see.

"Sure you do not want to come out?" Nadir laughed at Erik's predicament.

"No, get me another pair!" Erik wasn't about to parade around in front of everyone.

"Fine. I will get you another pair. My, we are testy!" Nadir was having fun at Erik's expense.

"It's not funny. Hurry up! This is taking too long. I want to be with Kristine, not buying clothes." Erik liked to shop, but he wanted to spend his last hours of bachelorhood with her instead. They would have plenty of time to shop once they were married.

Erik felt relieved when the right pair was located. He stepped in front of the three-sided mirror and watched Kristine's reflection when she laid eyes on him. Her eyes darkened, her tongue drew across her lips, and she swallowed hard. He noticed that a dark blush had crept up from her neck to her face. This has to be the outfit, he thought. Knowing he had found the right one, he stepped back inside to change. Erik was pleased that he had left such a lasting impression on his bride-to-be. He couldn't wait to see how she was going to look in her wedding dress. Tomorrow couldn't arrive fast enough for him.

Everyone carried their purchases as they went down the street, glancing in the windows. Oh, no, Erik thought. He didn't have the wedding band to Kristine's ring. This was not how they had intended to get married -- with little or no planning. His eyes hurriedly scanned the shops that lined the street until he found a jewelry store up the block. He pulled Kristine along with him to the shop's window. After he looked at the selections displayed in the window, he opened the door, and they stepped inside.

It finally came to her what Erik was doing -- they were in need of wedding bands. Looking around, they agreed on two bands made of coral. They were unique, just like Erik and Kristine. The bands would hold many memories, but most of all, their everlasting love. Both had endured great hardship and peril, but their love had triumphed.

Erik and Kristine had everything they needed for their special day. They had found everything -- rings that were the right size and all their clothing, and they had stored away fond memories in their minds to remember for years to come. Those memories would outweigh any other emotional hardships that had been stored away, especially those agonizing ones from a few days ago. Nothing would be taken for granted again.

After all that shopping, they met the rest of the group down the street from the jewelry store, standing in front of an outdoor restaurant. As they entered, the intoxicating music made their bodies sway slightly to the beat. The rhythm continued, spilling out into the early evening air, luring more couples under the canopy to fill their bodies with food and then dance the night away.

Erik took Kristine over to where their friends sat and set her bags in an extra chair beside the large table, telling the waiter what they wanted to order. Then he coaxed her onto the dance floor and pulled her close to him. Of course, that made her blush, but they glided across the dance floor with eyes only for each other. The music made their bodies sway and move in an erotically playful manner. Nadir watched. Feeling the need dance with his wife, he reached over and led Meg to the floor. Those at the table could see from the way the two couples moved that they were watching a mating dance take place.

Charles even tugged Anne onto the floor for a little hip swaying. She whispered into his ear, and he in turn whispered back into hers. Then he kissed her with a loving and long kiss. After that, she rested her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes and smiled as they continued to dance.

Marie took out her camera, capturing everyone's images for Kristine's memory book. It was her intention to put it together after they had returned home and give it to her at her earliest convenience. After disabling the flash, Marie made it her mission to get everyone on film, secretly snapping some photos in both stores as she was doing here in the restaurant. She had caught both Kristine and Erik modeling their outfits. Stealth was her game in catching each person for at least one photo. It was fun to hover around the edges of the stores, and no one was the wiser.

Her thoughts kept drifting to a simpler time, and her memory called out to her. It pushed forward images of a man, one who had taken her heart and mind away from mourning her dead husband. The sadness she once held had melted into a happier time, an endearing time and way of life. However, as with most things, complications kept drifting into play. The what ifs kept haunting her—What if things had turned out differently? Where would I be today? She shook her head when the music ended, clearing it of those deep thoughts, and she slid the camera back into her purse, making sure no one saw her with it out.

Everyone was famished from working up an appetite on the dance floor, so the group sat contemplating what else should be ordered. Their first round of appetizers arrived. Along with that came wine, interesting talk and good company, and time seemed to slow down. It was the best of everything as they ate and talked. The next few hours drifted by.

James indicated he had to leave on errands and would meet them at the boat in two hours or so. Everyone said they would see him later, and he left the group enjoying their lighthearted evening. He was headed out to the airport to pick up Erik's parents. They were due to land in fifteen minutes, and he had absentmindedly lost track of time. As he walked to the airport baggage claim, he spotted Philippe, who was followed by a skycap pushing a large utility cart loaded with boxes towards the exit.

"You've been gone all day. What do you have there?" inquired James. His curiosity had gotten the best of him, and he wanted to know the contents of each of the boxes Philippe was overseeing down the terminal.

"If you must know, it is flowers for the wedding. I flew over to another island that specializes in growing many varieties of tropical flowers and picked up an order. Momma wants these to decorate the grotto tomorrow morning, before the ceremony. I need to hire another boat to take me across to the island. I don't want to be seen with the boxes. It's our surprise for the bride and groom. My parents insisted. I have two special bouquets for Kristine and Meg. The guys asked me to get very specific colors of roses for each woman. I also have flowers for their mothers. You name it, my mother made sure we had it. It was the least she could do after what my brother did to Kristine and Erik. Hearing they wanted to wed on our island helped snap Mother out of her shock and sorrow into this brighter mindset, and for that, I'm very happy. I'd better get moving -- these have to get in water soon. Later, man," and the men parted ways.

James heard the loudspeaker say the flight from England had landed. Erik's parents were to have flown into London, but then they were to change airports and fly out of Gatwick. Doing it this way would ensure they would arrive on time in the Bahamas. Everything had to be done on a tight schedule, but it would be worth any amount of discomfort they might endure along the way. James was sure of that. The way Erik spoke of his parents, James knew they must be very close.

Waiting over by the customs area for the couple, James wondered if he would recognize them. It had been a while since he had driven them to a premiere with Erik. Had they changed much? After a lengthy time, a very handsome couple appeared. The lady spoke with a thick Scottish accent, and the man answered in French-accented English. James kept his eyes on them as he listened to their conversation. He recognized their voices. He was pleased to admit that voices were a hobby of his and that that knack helped him to know where his clients were in a crowd.

He stepped forward and introduced himself. "Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Destler, I am James Rhyas. Remember me, from LA? I had the pleasure of driving you folks around for Erik."

"Yes, I remember you, young man," she answered. To James, her brogue was thick and delightful to hear. "Now let us get this straight -- I am Marget and this is Francois, or you can call him Franc. I am not much on formalities. Remember?" Marget refused to mince words, much like Erik. She got straight to the point.

"All right, Marget, but there will come a day when I might have to use 'Mrs. Destler,' so don't bite my head off." James grinned, shaking her hand and then Francois's.

"I have a car outside to take you to the boat, but first I have been instructed by Kristine to stop off at two clothing shops -- for you, ma'am, to choose a dress, and you, sir, a set of clothing. Your son and his fiancée will meet up with us later at the boat. They are still out enjoying the evening." James led the way, stowing their bags in the trunk of the car.

When James had them both settled in the car, he noticed how Francois was very quiet. He seemed to prefer that Marget do the talking, while he just sat back and observed. James thought about it and surmised that once he saw his son, there would be time for talking.

Francois wanted to see his son and meet this young woman who had captured his son's heart. It delighted him to know Erik had finally found his soul-mate and fallen in love. He knew it would happen. Erik was just too impatient at times. It had happened for Francois in much the same way. Love had swept him off his feet when he laid eyes on Marget. His heart had recognized she was his match and his love. Now they had come to meet Erik's. Francois was a true romantic at heart. It had been ingrained in him. Francois's father had taught him the finer points of love. As a father, he, too, had tried to do the same for Erik and soon enough he would see firsthand if his son had succeeded.

As directed, James stopped at the shops and let Erik's parents select clothing for the wedding. Once they were fully outfitted, James headed out for the boat docks. After the hotel car dropped them off, he directed Erik's parents over to a group of people that were gathered around a boat, talking and laughing. James stepped up to get Erik's attention, and whispered near his ear that his parents were here.

Erik spun around, doing a quick search for his parents, and when he found them he stood there frozen on the spot. Gaining his ability to move again, his steps picked up until he was standing right in front of them. "Mum, Dad, you made it," was all that stumbled out of his mouth. He bent down and hugged his mother with a deep need to hold her.

It had been a long while since he had felt her loving arms around him. A gentle warmth of familiarity raced through his mind as he stood there inhaling her comforting scent. Seeing his parents, his eyes filled with happy tears -- it was more than he had hoped for. If he could only have continued this moment, he would have, but he was neglecting the duties of greeting his father, and then introducing his parents to his Kristine. Leaving the safety of his mother's arms, he latched onto his father's hand to shake it, but it was Francois who pulled his son close for a big hug.

"I am proud of you, son," he whispered into Erik's ear.

"Thanks, Dad, I needed that," was whispered back. Releasing his tight hold on his father, Erik turned and pulled Kristine to his side for introductions.

"Mom, Dad, this is my bride-to-be, Kristine Daae. These are my parents, Marget and Francois Destler."

Reaching out to shake their hands, all at once she was startled to be engulfed in a huge hug by Marget. She hugged back. His mother's embrace was strong and welcoming.

"Enough, Marget, let the woman breathe. I am Francois, or Franc, if you prefer." He, too, took her into his arms for a hug, not as fierce as Marget's was.

"Thank you, sir -- I mean, Franc. I would like to introduce my parents to you," she said, turning to get their attention.

"Mom, Dad, this is Marget and Francois Destler. These are my parents, Charles and Anne Daae."

"We are pleased to meet you both," the Daaes said in unison.

"The same to you, too," the Destlers said. The couples exchanged pleasantries, but they were slightly nervous meeting on the docks, wishing for more comfortable surroundings. There would be lots to talk about once they became comfortable with one another. Erik needed to explain the last weeks to both sets of parents and Kristine needed to reassure her parents that she had come through this as well as could be expected. She also needed to tell them that Raoul was behind bars, and she hoped he would be getting the psychological help he needed.

"Now, let's get loaded and back to the house. Momma will have some refreshments waiting for your arrival. We wanted to have some food ready -- I bet you're famished?" Erik wondered.

He led the way, holding onto Kristine's hand as he offered her a seat. Everyone filed into the boat. Once the ropes were dropped from the mooring, the party motored off to the smaller island. During the trip over, Erik introduced his parents to everyone else on board.

----

Philippe was perched on a dock chair to greet them, and he made sure the boat was tied off securely. Afterwards, he helped the passengers disembark. He introduced himself to Erik's and Kristine's parents before they journeyed up to the house.

The patio was sparkling with candles and the mood lighting had been turned on. A table had been arranged with an array of things to eat and drink. Everyone filled their plates and sat around getting acquainted.

Erik and Kristine asked their parents to come into the living room, and they divulged everything. It was a nerve-wracking evening, to say the least, and before the night was over, every question and concern had been answered.

When the evening ended, Momma took the Destlers over to their cottage. Erik and Kristine followed and bade them goodnight. Marget and Francois were overjoyed to see their son and his bride so happy and content with each other after all they had been through. Shutting the door, the older couple prepared for bed. It had been a very long and arduous journey and hearing some of the news disturbed them. How sad to know their son had endured this. They talked as they readied for bed, and sleep would be welcome after their long journey. Tomorrow would be a fast-paced and happy occasion.

Erik took Kristine to their suite. Reluctantly, he was to share a room with Philippe tonight. He knew the tradition before the wedding, but it didn't mean he had to like it; nonetheless, he would go along with it. Giving her one last heated and sensual kiss, he left her yearning for his touch and his body to blend with hers. He forgot she would be worried about being alone. His only thought at the time was to follow the traditions he remembered they had respected at Nadir's wedding.

"You led me, saved me from my solitude. Tomorrow, my love," and he bade her goodnight.

"My dearest, you have made my life complete. I love you," she replied. Her attempt at covering up her fear was working, so far. She knew what he was doing, and it was her wish, too, not to jinx their lives, so she followed tradition.

Turning towards his room for the night, Erik walked away from the woman he loved to lie in bed alone. In his dreams, he held her in his arms while making hot, passionate and erotic love to her, over and over again in his mind all night. That left him wanting, but he was willing to suffer. Tomorrow, he would never have to be separated from Kristine again. Groaning and unable to care for himself, he turned over to face the wall and closed his eyes. Torturing him once more were visions of her nude body floating though his head, and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. He finally drifted back to sleep.

In the big suite, Kristine lay on the big bed, curled up and alone with her thoughts. In her own vivid dreams, Kristine lay beside Erik as her hands toured his muscled and toned body, doing all the wonderful things she wished she could but was unable to do. She ached for him, knowing tomorrow would finally come, and they would never have to part again. Tears slipped over her cheeks and onto the sheets. Tonight was the last time she ever would be lonely again, and eventually she drifted off to sleep, still dreaming of Erik. However, a nightmare came roaring back to haunt her. It was Raoul. She tossed and moaned, remembering how he had taunted and treated her. Would she ever be free from these nightmares?

A terrifying scream tore through the bedroom and vibrated out on the balcony and in Philippe's open room. It jarred both occupants from a restful sleep.

Thank you, for reading and if you are so inclined, please review.