Things had been tense since his alcohol binge and it was killing him. He truly hadn't meant to hurt her. He just couldn't deal with the bomb that she'd dropped on him.
How was he supposed to live with the knowledge that she wanted him to move on? That she wanted him to replace her if she should die. Replace her as if she meant absolutely nothing. As if she wasn't his other half. As if he could love someone else the way he loved her when he knew he couldn't for a fact.
It was almost cold hearted for her even suggest such a thing. Yet he knew that she really hadn't meant it maliciously. He'd made it worse, though and now she was being stubborn to get back at him for calling her a bitch.
He had been out nearly all day today, looking for something special. He knew he would need more than just his words if he wanted to clear up this particular mess. Especially considering she was upset about more than his choice of words. He had purchased her favorite flowers and the necklace that he'd seen her eyeing before the pregnancy.
It was golden with a ruby encrusted pendant. The pendant itself was heart shaped. He entered their home and sat the bags off to the side. The sound of bacon sizzling gave away where his darling wife was. It would seem that it was a breakfast-for-dinner night and he definitely couldn't complain.
He approached her and immediately wrapped his arms around her from behind. He rested his hands across her bump, rubbing it ever so slightly. He nuzzled his face against her shoulder and placed a gentle kiss there. "Darling... I've missed you." He murmured, his tone imploring.
Christine stiffened in his arms, but she didn't try to escape. She nearly relaxed once but she stopped herself. "So it's darling again? What happened to bitch?" She demanded.
He nearly sighed. He was trying. Could she not meet him half-way? He'd been trying to apologize since it happened. Her hormones most definitely couldn't be helping this situation in the slightest.
"Christine, please. I felt like shit. You know I would never call you that while thinking straight. It was wrong of me to go out and drink the way I had. But you have to understand..." He trailed off, trying to figure out how to explain the situation from his perspective. Without making things worse, of course.
"...Is this about my requests? My simple request? The ones that any decent human being would make in our situation?" She demanded, whirling around. She pointed the spatula at him almost threateningly.
It was both a gift and a curse that Christine knew him so well. Because despite his precaution, this had gotten much worse than expected. He let go and stepped back, running his hands through his hair roughly.
"Yes! Yes it fucking is! You don't understand how selfish it is to ask me to move on! As if I wouldn't be destroyed by your death or something!" He exclaimed, letting his arms drop to his sides limply. Please, all he needed her to do was understand that he couldn't do that. Not even for her.
Her eyes widened and she tossed the spatula on the kitchen table, her arms wrapping around her middle as she glared at him.
"I'm selfish for wanting my children to have a mother and not wanting my husband to be alone and miserable? Good to know what you actually think of me. I'm staying at Meg's for awhile. Finish dinner yourself." She ranted, though she lost steam half way through. She just seemed sad by the end.
He opened his mouth to defend himself, to demand that she stop twisting his words. He said the request was selfish, not her. However before he could do that, she shoved past him and waddled to the bedroom as quickly as she could manage.
Erik considered stopping her but decided against it. He picked up the spatula and stabbed it into the greasy pan. They needed time to cool off. Hopefully Meg would be able to help her see how ridiculous such a request was.
Erik stretched across the couch, hoping Christine would come home soon so they could actually talk instead of argue. Surely 'awhile' ha meant a few hours and not a few days. If it is was days, he would know that their issues were much bigger than he currently believed. He gently stroked Ayesha's fur when his little lady joined him on the couch, curling up on his stomach.
Ayesha went from purring to hissing when the sound of the door opening caused Erik to bolt upright. His eagerness had faded when he realized it was only Nadir. He hadn't left the door unlocked for him. He'd led the door unlocked for her. He immediately flopped back down, sighing heavily.
"You know leaving the door unlocked this late is dangerous, correct?" Nadir questioned, arching an eyebrow. Not that it really mattered when it came to him. Christine wasn't the only one with a spare key to his home. He'd given the older man one as well.
Though that had mostly been done to avoid the headaches that his incessant knocking caused otherwise. He ignored the statement, hoping that Nadir would get fed up and leave him alone. He had no interest in speaking to anyone that wasn't Christine at this moment.
Nadir tried to start a conversation a few more times but he was granted the same treatment. Finally, the other man heaved a huge sigh and hope welled up inside of him.
Unfortunately, it was in vain because Nadir padded over to him and glared down at him. He returned the glare, considering punching the man for that judgmental gleam in his eyes.
He decided against it ultimately because he would miss the overgrown pain in his ass. Doing so would probably irreversibly damage their friendship. If one wanted to call the bond between them that, of course.
"I am only going to say one thing and then I'll get out of your hair like you want me to. You and Christine need to get over whatever is causing all these issues in your lives. Mostly you. Christine is dealing with enough, considering how delicate her situation is. She doesn't need anymore stress. So I suggest you get your head out of your ass before you lose her for real and perhaps not in the way you fear." Nadir scolded. He turned on heel and walked out the door without a second of hesitation. The door slammed shut behind him, shaking the frame slightly.
Even the man who knew him the longest was against him. If that wasn't a bitch, he didn't know what was.