Chapter 10

Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter! Thanks so much for all your reviews last chapter! You guys are so sweet :) Thanks to all my guest reviewers, sorry I can't reply to you because that's how it's set up but thank you all the same! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter. God Bless.

-Vegter999

Erik's POV:

The next day I groaned and opened my eyes to the sunlight streaming through the bedroom window. I gazed down at Ruth snoozing away peacefully in my arms and grinned softly. She was still just as beautiful as the day I met her all those years ago.

"I can feel you staring at me" she suddenly piped up playfully, her head still upon my chest.

"I like staring at you. You're my wife" I kissed her on the top of the head.

She sighed wistfully.

"I wish it wasn't a Monday so you wouldn't have to go into the office and we could just stay like this."

"Believe me no one would love that more than me but, I do have to get up. There is work to be done." I sat up and threw the covers off and proceeded to dress while Ruth did the same. She then made her way downstairs while I picked up the phone and called Johann to let him know that I would be in shortly and to please have the files from one of my cases ready for me when I got there.

I then padded down the hall to Torsten's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in" came his sleep-filled voice from inside.

I opened the door to see Torsten sitting up in bed, his eyes still drooping closed groggily.

"I'm going into the office. Will you be alright staying here with Ruth and the kids for the day?"

"Yeah" he yawned.

"Would you like me to help you dress for today right now, you know since there's not gonna be another man in the house besides Jakob all day and..."

"I get the point Erik" Torsten held up his hand. "And yes I would like that."

Torsten proceeded to point out the clothes he wanted and I was quickly able to dress him and help him into his chair.

I then planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Love you little brother."

"Love you more big brother."

I grinned, ruffling his hair like I used to when I was a kid before making my way into the kitchen.

Ruth was currently there scrubbing at the counter but when she saw me she grinned and made her way towards me, holding out a mug and a Tupperware container filled with food.

"Your lunch and your coffee."

"Your the best" I grinned, taking the items and kissing her.

"I know" she smiled playfully.

"Oh by the way, don't wait up for me for dinner. I'm going to be working late tonight."

Her face fell.

"But sweetheart it's the third Monday of the month."

I closed my eyes and groaned, inwardly kicking myself for forgetting. On the third Monday of the month Ruth and I made a point of doing something extra special. It wasn't like we didn't take time for ourselves and have date nights every week, but the third Monday of every month was reserved for something out of the ordinary and not just what we would normally do.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but I've got some really important work I need to get done that can't wait. I've got hours of casework to go over, plus I need to go over the firms financials with Edith."

"You're right. You're work is important too and we can always have it on another day this week. I'm sorry I shouldn't have been so inconsiderate."

"Ruth your like the least inconsiderate person I've ever met."

She grinned.

"I love you and I'll see you tonight" I kissed her one last time before making my way out the door to the car.

Ruth's POV:

I watched Erik from the window as he sped away down the driveway before returning to the kitchen to start preparing some pancakes for breakfast for the kids and Torsten.

As I pulled the mix out of one of the cabinets my ears picked up the unmistakable sound of wheels upon the floor.

I turned to see Torsten sitting there.

"Good morning" I said, flashing him a sisterly grin.

"Good morning."

"I was about to make breakfast. Do you like pancakes?"

"Are you kidding I love pancakes!"

"Good."

I proceeded to remove some of the pots and pans from the cupboards and placed them on the counter.

"Anything I can do to help? I hate feeling useless" Torsten inquired.

"Sure. Let me put all the ingredients in the bowl and then you can stir."

He wheeled over to the counter as I measured out the mix and added water.

"There, have at it" I said, carefully placing the bowl in his lap and adding the large stirring spoon to it.

Torsten obediently began to mix the batter together while I placed the skillet on the stove and turned on the heat.
Once he was done he carefully handed the bowl back to me and I poured some of the batter on the now heated skillet, causing the liquid to sizzle.

"So did you sleep okay last night?" I asked, as I turned the pancakes over.

"I don't sleep very well at night."

"Why?" I glanced at him.

He said nothing but simply gave me a meaningful look.

"Oh I see. I'm sorry. Erik doesn't usually have dreams about it anymore and I just figured it was the same with you."

"It's alright. I don't usually talk about it that much. I feel like I'm already enough of a burden as it is with my condition."

"You're not a burden Torsten. You're family and true family helps one another and takes care of one another no matter what happens or how hard things get."

He gave a small grin.

"You know Ruth I'm sure I don't tell you this often enough but, I'm really glad you're my sister."

I grinned at him as I placed the pancakes on a plate.

"And I'm glad to have you as a brother."

Once there was enough pancakes to serve everyone I turned off the stove and placed two on a plate for each of the kids as well as Torsten and myself.

"Torsten do you think you could manage setting the table while I wake the kids up?"

"I'd be happy to try."

"Good, thank-" all of a sudden the doorbell rang.

"Excuse me one second" I said, my eyebrows scrunching together in confusion, wondering who it could be as I went to get the door.

I opened it...and there before me stood Magnus.

He looked somewhat surprised at first to see me, probably because he was expecting Erik but, he quickly recovered.

"Um...hi...you're Ruth right?"

"Yes" I replied, feeling incredibly awkward.

"I'm sorry to bother you. I'm Magnus."

"I know."

"Right...uh...of course you do...um is Erik at home?"

"I don't think he would like to speak to you right now" I replied, not fully trusting him enough to tell him that I was alone with only Torsten.

"Right, I understand. Would you please give him this letter and tell him I stopped by?" he held out an envelope.

I hesitantly took it.

"Ruth is everything okay?" Torsten called.

"Yes, I'll be there in a moment" I responded.

I turned back to Magnus.

"I must go now."

"Of course. It was nice to meet you."

"Goodbye" I said, before softly shutting the door.

I made my way back into the kitchen to find Torsten placing the last of the silverware on the table.

"Oh was it the mailman?" he asked, eyeing the letter I was now grasping in my hand.

"No it was...someone I met dropping something off" I replied vaguely, not wanting to upset him.

"Oh, well the table's set. You should probably go wake my nieces and nephew up before their breakfast gets cold."

"You're right. I remember how much Maryam complained the last time she got cold food."

I set the letter in my purse and proceeded to rouse the slumbering children from their beds.

Pretty soon, we were all sitting around the table munching on our pancakes.

Once we were all finished and the dishes were cleared away and placed in the dishwasher, I started aiding Jakob, Maryam, and Katarina in their homeschooling assignments for the day while Torsten became engrossed in one of the books he'd brought along with him.

I eyed him every so often and noticed he repeatedly kept looking towards his phone.

I smiled quietly to myself, betting I could guess who he wanted to be calling him.

After about an hour I allowed the kids to have a break and padded over to him.

"Expecting a call from someone Torsten?" I grinned knowingly.

"What? No...no...I was just...no" he stumbled over the words of his denial.

"Really I just thought you might be thinking of a certain person by the name of Kate."

His cheeks quickly reddened.

"It's not like that Ruth!"

"Sure, whatever you say" I teased him.

I then made my way back over to the kids.

###

It was well past 10:00 and Erik still hadn't arrived home yet as I sat in the living room, sipping a cup of relaxing herbal tea. The kids had long since been put to bed and Torsten had decided to go to his room for some alone time.

Finally, I heard the sound of the key turn in the lock and the echo of the door being shoved open.

I grinned and lifted myself from the couch, hustling to the front of the house. Erik stood in front of the closed door, rubbing his eyes and his shoulders were slumped in exhaustion as he removed his shoes.

"You look like you've had a long day" I remarked.

"You have no idea" he pulled me to him and kissed me. "But coming home to you and our children always makes me realize it's worth it."

I grinned and lent my head on his chest, allowing the thump of his heartbeat to soothe me.

"What did you do today?" he inquired.

"Nothing much. Helped the kids with their homework, oh Torsten and I made pancakes and..." I hesitated to tell him about Magnus's visit.

"And what?" he pulled back and took my face in his hands. "Tell me."

I sighed.

"Magnus stopped by."

He backed away as if I'd just slapped him.

"What?!" he exclaimed.

"He came here after you'd left for work asking if he could talk to you, but I told him that you didn't want to and he asked that I tell you that he stopped by and to give you this letter." I removed the envelope from my purse and handed it to him.

Erik pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in irritation, holding the envelope so tight I'm surprised he didn't crinkle it.

Finally, he tossed it on the table and said "I don't want to think about it right now. We should probably get to bed."

I nodded in understanding, knowing that we would discuss it more in depth when Erik felt ready to do so.

He placed his arm around my shoulder and I placed mine across his waist as we headed down the hallway to prepare for bed.

Hey guys I had so much fun writing this chapter! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter. God Bless.