Chapter 19

The next few days at work were still slightly awkward for Christie. She had hoped that the stares and whispers would die down eventually, but they were still going strong. She wasn't used to that much attention and it led to her being slightly anxious whenever other people were around. The thing that made her feel most calm was when she was walking home with Erik. He had a strange way of being alarmingly self-assured, despite his own self-loathing, that Christie felt safe when he was around. As they reached Christie's apartment, Erik kissed her softly and pulled her in for a hug. She breathed his crisp smell in and sighed happily in his arms. Eventually, he pulled back and looked at her quizzically. He still wore his hat and glasses at work, but had taken to removing them when he was alone with her.

"Christie... would you like to go on a date with me?" He asked with a half-smile.

Christie blinked in surprise. "A real date?"

"Yes. A real date. Just you and me." He said, staring down at her with his piercing blue eyes.

She gulped and blushed, thinking of them together on a date. "I would love that." She responded quietly, feeling a smile prick the edges of her mouth. Butterflies filled her stomach and she couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of their date.

"How about Saturday at 5? Are you free then?" He asked, smirking at her shyness.

Christie nodded excitedly and flung her arms around his shoulders. "I'm so excited!" She couldn't help but squeal. He laughed loudly and picked her up in a bear hug. She laughed and kicked her legs. He squeezed her tightly and then set her down. She looked up at him and he brushed her hair away from her face.

"You know I'd do anything for you, right?" He asked hesitantly.

Christie smiled up at him. "I'd do anything for you too."

He kissed her again before ushering her up the steps to her door.

The next day at work, Christie told Meg that Erik had planned a date for that weekend.

"Is it your first real date with him?" Meg asked excitedly.

"Yeah, we mostly just hang out, I guess. It'll be nice to have something more official."

"That's so cool, what are you guy's doing? Dinner?"

"I'm not sure, he didn't say... I wonder how I should dress? Casual? Fancy?" Christie suddenly panicked at the thought of wearing the wrong thing. "Should I get something new? Or should I just wear any old thing?"

Meg laughed. "Just ask him what you're going to be doing. It doesn't have to be a big deal."

When he walked her home that day Christie asked him what they would be doing. He told her that it was surprise. "I do like seeing you all dressed up though." He admitted unashamedly. Christie decided that she would wear the red dress that she had worn to Ralph's party, since he had seemed to really like it, from what she could tell.

When Saturday arrived, Christie was much more on edge than she thought she would be. She got ready and did her hair and makeup nervously. She tried to rationalize to herself that it wasn't as if she was meeting a stranger, it was Erik. At 5 o'clock exactly, he knocked on her door. She stood up from her bed and grabbed her purse. She rushed to the door, took a deep breath and opened it with a smile on her face.

Erik stood there, leaning against her doorframe in a beautiful black suit. It fit him perfectly, and it looked as if it was poured onto his muscular body. Christie stared at him; eyes wide. Erik straightened up and bowed, his dark hair falling into his eyes.

"Hello, gorgeous." He said, pulling a long stem red rose from behind his back and handing to her. Christie couldn't believe how well he cleaned up. She shook her head slightly to snap herself out of it, and smiled and took the rose. She brought it to her nose and breathed in its sweet scent.

"Hi." Was all she could bring herself to say. He smiled and offered her his arm grandly. She took it and he led her out of the apartment building and down to the street. Waiting at the curb, was a black limousine. Christie stared at it, blinking. "That's not for us, is it?" She asked in surprise. Erik just led her calmly to the door, where a driver was standing, holding the door open for them. He let her get in first and then slid in next to her. The driver closed the door entered the front of the limo, which was separated by a privacy screen.

Erik opened a bottle of champagne and poured them each a glass. He handed Christie hers, and held his glass up to hers. "To us." He said and clinked her glass with his. They both took a drink, it tasted amazing. "What do you think so far?" He asked her, almost worriedly.

Christie looked around and laughed nervously. "You're amazing! This is amazing!" She said gesturing at the champagne. "How did you do all this? It's too much. I don't deserve all this!"

Erik smiled at her, reassuringly. "You deserve everything."

The limo carried them to an upscale area of downtown that Christie had never been to before. The driver pulled up to a fancy restaurant called 'Leroux' and let them out. Erik led Christie inside and when the hostess saw them, she immediately greeted them and led them inside the restaurant, which was entirely empty. She led them past a large black piano, where someone was playing, into a private dining room. It had a single table set up, with candles in the center and it was set for two. Christie couldn't believe how extravagant Erik was being. She kept looking around expecting some kind of hidden camera person to pop out and tell her it was all a prank.

"Erik, this is... way... too much."

He simply picked up the menu and looked it over. "I think I'll start with the soup. What about you?" Although he was hiding his mouth with the menu, Christie could hear in his voice that he was smiling. She looked over the menu and when a waiter came by with a fresh bottle of champagne, they both ordered. Christie gave the waiter her menu and when he left, she looked across the table at Erik and nervously took a drink of water. He smiled at her. "How are you enjoying our date?"

Christie blinked. "Umm... everything is... so... fancy. It's like a movie."

His smile suddenly faded and he became very serious. "I want you to have a good time. I don't want you to worry about anything tonight. You deserve a wonderful date, and as long as its within my power to give, that is what you shall receive."

Christie blushed at his direct gaze. No one had ever gone to such lengths for her before, she was again overwhelmed by the lengths he would go to for her. "Well, I want you to know that I appreciate it... very much."

After the waiter brought their soup, Christie realized that she didn't really know a lot about Erik's past, other than the fire. "Did you grow up in the city?" She asked him, unsure how he would react to her questions.

"...Yes." He said staring at his soup.

"Me too. With my dad, we lived near that concert hall in midtown, he was a violinist in the orchestra there."

Erik nodded.

"Did you live with your parents? You mentioned your grandma took care of you before?"

"I lived in my mother's house. When I was born, she brought her mother over from France to care for me. My grandmother was a very kind woman and she was very good to me, but she died when I was a teenager. I never knew my father."

Christie stirred her soup, regretting bringing up his family. It was obviously a sore spot for him. "That's really cool that you were so close with your grandma though. My mother was orphaned at a young age, she grew up in France, and then she moved to America when she was 18. That's when she met my dad, he always said it was love at first sight, they were at a concert in a park and she started to dance to the music and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. They got married within a few months because my mom got pregnant with me. I wish I had gotten to know more about her." Christie ended ruefully.

By the time Christie finished her story the waiter had brought the main course and Erik had gotten a bit quiet again. "This food is delicious." Christie said, breaking the silence.

Erik looked up from his meal. "Yes, this is my favorite restaurant. The chef here is wonderful... Please forgive my lack of conversation. I suppose my small talk has gone out of practice. I am enjoying your company immensely; I know that we both have a bit of a painful past, but I want our future together to be anything but."

Christie smiled at him. "I don't mind you being quiet, I just like being around you too. I'm sorry if I ask too many questions."

"Don't be sorry, I'm just not used to anyone caring enough to hear my answers." He chuckled. "You'll have to be patient with me, I'm afraid."

After they finished eating, Erik began to look a little nervous.

"What is it?" Christie asked him.

"I want to give you something." Erik finally said, looking intensely at Christie. He pulled out a large black velvet box and slid it across the table toward Christie.

Her mouth popped open. "What is it?"

"Open it." Erik commanded, not breaking eye contact with her.

Christie's hands trembled and she slowly opened the box. Inside was a glorious necklace. Inlaid with diamonds and gold, a delicate rose on beautiful gold chain sat nestled in the velvet lining. Christie gasped loudly and covered her mouth.

"Do you like it?" Erik asked, carefully watching her face.

Christie could barely respond. "I... I love it... But it's too much... I can't accept it." She whispered.

He chuckled and stood up. "Of course, you can." He walked around the table and took the necklace out of the box and clasped it around her neck. Christie looked down at it and gently touched its delicate petals.

"Oh, Erik... Thank you." She said, tears stinging her eyes. She stood up and turned to hug him tightly. "I really love it. You're so sweet."

He leaned down and kissed her. "I'm glad you like it." He whispered. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah." Christie could barely believe that all of this was happening. As the limo took her home, she kept fingering the rose necklace. Erik watched her out of the corner of his eye, smiling all the while.

AN: Please review! I live for it!