Everything was so perfect.
by LiltingBanshee
Author´s note: Ok, I know a slap might not be such a bad thing - at least in my family it isn´t ;) but I know that some people find it horrifying just to lay a hand on your children...
Shdwcat27: Thanks:) Erik might have been very one-sided in his treatment of Christine over the phone, but Sarah´s an honest girl - he´ll know;)
Wandering-Phantom: Thanks, well,Sarah did deserve it, but a crying daughter can melt a father´s heart - trust me;)
phantomfan1911: Thank you, they might or...? ;)
Countess Alana: Thank you, glad you like it:) I don´t think I knew what a whore was at 13 either, but times has changed...Oh God I sound old:)
Ok, here´s a slightly longer chappie to make up for the wee one, hope you like:)
Sarah was sitting at the breakfast table, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
Erik placed a fresh cup of tea infront of her and pulled the hair away from her face to reveal her right cheek. There was a slight swell around her cheekbone.
Sarah didn´t move and Erik let her hair fall back over her face.
He sat down opposite her and took a sip of his coffee.
"I spoke to your mother last night", he said after a while.
"And?", Sarah just stared at her toast.
"She told me to tell you that she´s sorry and that she loves you", Erik said.
"And then all is supposed to be fine?", Sarah said with slight anger in her voice.
"Not if you don´t want it to be", Erik said and put his cup on the table.
"Daddy, are you mad at me?", Sarah asked sadly.
"No darling, I´m not mad at you", Erik said reassuringly.
"Are you mad at Mum?"; she asked.
Erik hesistated slightely before answering, remebering the conversation he had had with Christine last night.
"No, I´m not mad at your mother either. I´m disappointed in her, but not mad. I´m only mad at myself", he sighed.
For the first time that morning Sarah looked up to meet her father´s eyes.
"Why are you mad at yourself? You had nothing to do with this", she asked surprised.
"I was not directly involved in your fight, but I play a part in the reason for it", he said sadly.
"Sarah, would it help you to talk about this? You haven´t talked to either me or your mother about how you feel about the divorce. It´s no good if you just keep it all inside", Erik said encouragingly.
Sarah felt tears sting in her eyes.
"Maybe it would, but there are just so many things. I don´t know where to start!", Sarah burst into tears and put her head down on the table.
Erik went to her and pulled her into his arms. Softly he rubbed her back and tried to console her.
"Shh princess. Just let it out. Daddy´s here, you can tell me anything", he soothed.
"I´m just so confused!", Sarah wailed. "I love you and I love Mum, I don´t want to choose between you!"
"Sweetheart, no one says you have to choose between us", Erik said as he sat down in a chair and placed Sarah on his knees.
"I just feel that I have to be so strong even though I don´t know how to", Sarah hiccuped. "I have to do well in school, I have to place high at dance competitions, I have to mess around and be happy with my friends, but I can´t! There is just no happiness or spirit inside me anymore", she sniffed.
Erik felt his heart break at her words.
"Oh Sarah, you have to tell us when you feel like this!", he said and hugged her tightly.
"When Amber said those things about Mum divorcing you because of your face I just got so angry. I wasn´t thinking Dad. I wanted to beat the living daylights out of her", Sarah said silently.
"I understand you got upset sweety, but you musn´t hit anyone ever again", Erik said firmly.
"I promise Dad. I´ll try to control my temper next time", she gave him a weak smile.
He smiled back at her and gently dried the tears off her cheek with his thumbs.
"I think you should go back to bed baby. You look exhausted", he said softly.
"Yeah, I think I´ll do that", Sarah said.
She looked into his eyes.
"Dad, would you let me live with you? I wouldn´t want to live with Mum if Raoul is going to live there as well", she asked.
"Who?", by the confused look in Erik´s eyes Sarah knew she had said too much.
"Raoul...",she said uncertainly. "He is an old friend of Mum´s. They have been seeing each other for some time now. That´s actually also one of the reasons for our fight. Amber had seen Mum and Raoul in a restaurant and she said Mum was cheating on you".
"How long has this been going on?", Erik asked.
"A couple of months I think. You remember that night I stayed over? She was with him that night, but appearently she told you she was out with Meg. I didn´t tell you because I didn´t want to upset you", Sarah said and looked away.
"And you fought over Raoul moving in with your mother?", Erik was trying to hide his anger.
"No, we fought because I felt she was sneaking around with him without being honest with me. She hasn´t said anything about him moving in, but I was so angry at her for just being with him...I...I called her a whore...", Sarah trailed off.
"Sarah!", Erik was shocked.
"I know Dad! It wasn´t very smart, but I didn´t know what I was saying", Sarah cried.
"Where do you learn such words?", Erik was horrified.
"School...", Sarah shrugged.
"Well, it´s an extremly harsh word Sarah and I can see why your mother reacted strongly. Don´t get me wrong – I don´t agree with her slapping you, but you will never, never use that word to anyone ever again. Do you understand that!", he said sternly.
Sarah looked at her hands. "No, Dad. I´ll never do it again", she mumbled.
"I´m sorry I didn´t hear that!", Erik wanted to emphazise his point.
"I said I wont use that word ever again", she said clearly and looked at him.
"Good", he smiled at her. "Now go to your room and get some rest. I´ll wake you later and maybe we can go see a movie if you like", he offered.
"I´d like that Daddy, see you later", she said and kissed his cheek.
Erik sat in the chair and stared straight ahead.
'She was seeing someone else! She had moved on!'
He felt like and ice-cold hand was holding his heart in a firm grib.
He got up and turned his computer on.
He sat down and began writing.
If she could play dirty tricks so could he!
If she wanted this to be hard he would make it so hard on her!
Printing the letter he read it one more time before folding it nicely.
He knew he was being cruel, but she had hurt him badly this time.
Putting the letter in his coat-pocket he went to wake up Sarah.
Someone is not happy now...
Please review:)