Everything was so perfect.

by LiltingBanshee

Wow, I´ve never had so many reviews for a single chapter! You guys are great:)

Wandering-Phantom: Glad you´re happy, here´s your update:)

Shdwcat27: Sorry I ruined your make-up:) thanks for your lovely comments on the chapter:)

phantom1911: thanks, yeah things are going in the right direction now:)

Erik´sTrueAngel: Yeah, I felt bad putting them through this..., Christine probably knew Erik would never hate her, but grieving people don´t always think straight... Sarah will be happy:)

lady kathrin: Thank you:)

Phantomandvampirelover: Thanks, there will be a little more to this story:)

lilymunster: sorry about that, but glad you liked:)

Violette de Musique: Thank you:) Divorces are hard. I´ve never been through one myself, but I´ve witnessed my cousin´s parents go through it - it´s not pretty.

Kagome1514: Thanks for the info, I´ll have a look at your stories:)

Ok, a little less tears now...

They were in his bed. Christine was resting her head on his shoulder breathing evenly in her sleep.

Erik was awake, his fingers softly caressing her naked arm.

He sighed happily. She was back. She was his and he was never going to loose her again.

They had talked, cried together and made love within the past few hours.

He had been shocked to realise what a black hole she had fallen into after loosing Sean.

He was so sad that he hadn´t been strong enough to keep her for depression, but it was hard to help someone who didn´t want help.

He had made her promise to never hide her fears and feelings from him again.

He felt her stir next to him and turned to face her.

He smiled as he looked into her big brown eyes.

"Good afternoon my darling", he whispered lovingly.

She smiled and ran her finger along his jawline. She kissed his chin, trailed up along his marred cheek and finally settled a long sweet kiss on his lips.

"I love you so much", she whispered.

He hugged her against his chest. "I love you too Christine", he said.

Her stomach rumbled loudly and they both laughed.

"Have you eaten anything at all today?", he asked.

"No, not really", she said and shook her head.

"Let me make something for us, I might have some canned soup in the kitchen", he said.

"That sounds great Erik. Can I have a shower when we´ve eaten?", she asked.

"You don´t need to ask Christine, this is your home again now", he smiled.

"Thanks for not giving up on me", she mumbled and nuzzled his neck.

"Never Christine!", he whispered.

She lifted her head and looked seriously into his eyes. "Sarah is coming back soon, right?", she asked.

"Yes, she promised to be back before dinner. Don´t be nervous my love, she´ll be delighted to see you", Erik assured her.

"I will have to talk to her", Christine said seriously.

"I think she´ll be ready to talk", Erik said and kissed her. "Let´s go to the kitchen, I´m starved!".

Erik was doing the dishes after their late lunch when he heard the frontdoor slam.

"Daddy?", Sarah´s voice rang out in the livingroom.

"In the kitchen sweety", he shouted to her and seconds later she appeared in the doorway.

She went to kiss his cheek.

"Did you have a good time?", he smilingly asked her.

"Oh yeah, it was great. We watched loads of movies and talked half the night", Sarah grinned.

"Sarah, there´s someone here who´d really like to talk to you", Erik said after a minute.

"Is it Mum?", Sarah asked nervously.

"Yes, it´s your mother. Now, I want you to listen to what she has to say to you", he said firmly.

"But Dad, I don´t know what to say!", Sarah whined. "I feel so bad about what I said to her, she´s probably really pissed off at me", she sulked.

"I can guarentee you she´s not pissed off. I think you´re pretty much at the same stage", he said and touched her cheek.

Sarah looked to the floor. "Will you and Mum ever be at the same stage again?"she asked quietly.

"We might be closer than you think sweetheart. Go talk to your mother and I´ll let you know about it later", he said and gently pushed her out of the kitchen.

The second Sarah re-entered the livingroom Christine came out of Erik´s bedroom.

"Hi Mummy", Sarah said.

"Sarah! You´re home", Christine said with delight and quickly crossed the floor to put her arms around her daughter. Sarah returned her mother´s tight embrace and inhaled her familiar scent.

"Oh my babygirl, I´m so happy to see you", Christine said and kissed Sarah´s curls.

"Mummy I´m so sorry for everything I said! I was so angry, but I didn´t mean it. Really, I didn´t!", Sarah rambled as sobs shook her body.

"I know pet, I know. I´m sorry I hit you, I shouldn´t have done that. Can you ever forgive me?", Christine whispered, surprised to realize she still had tears left in her body.

"I forgave you already yesterday Mum. I deserved it, I was a real brat!", Sarah hiccuped.

"We both acted wrong Sarah dearest", Christine said and put her fingers under Sarah´s chin to lift her face to he eye-level.

"Sarah, I want you to know that Raoul is not going to be a part of our lives. He was a part of my youth, but I´m married to your father and that is never going to change", Christine said firmly.

Sarah looked stunned. "Does...does that mean that you and Dad are back together?", she stuttered.

"Yes babygirl. Your father and I have talked a lot over the past 24 hours. I´m withdrawing the divorce petition and we´re going to work things out", Christine assured her.

"Oh, Mum I´m so happy, but why did you want to get divorced in the first place?", Sarah asked.

Christine took Sarah´s hand and let her to the sofa.

"Sarah, when we lost your brother I went into a serious depression. I felt like I was causing your father a great deal of pain and I thought it would ease his pain to get rid of me.
I wasn´t thinking straight Sarah and I ended up hurting him even more. I also managed to hurt you and I´m so sorry for that. I´m going to get some help and things will be fine eventually", Christine said fairly optimistically.

Sarah´s lower lip trembled.

"It´s going to be allright Sarah, there´s no need to cry", Christine soothed.

"I miss Sean", Sarah wailed. " He was my brother and he was taken away from me! I knew you and Dad were so upset so I was afraid to make you more sad by telling you how bad I felt. But I can´t keep it inside me Mummy. I miss him! I don´t want him to be dead!", she sobbed and clung to Christine.

"Sarah Sarah, little dear. Where did you learn to act so brave? You need to talk to us. You must never be afraid to show your feelings. You´re our child and we´re here to help you", Christine rocked her daughter like she was a little baby.

"It´s just so hard sometimes, I get confused, but I will try Mummy", Sarah cried.

None of them had noticed Erik entering the room until he sat down on the sofa and put his arms around Sarah aswell.

They all sat in silence until Sarah had cried herself to sleep in her parent´s arms.

Christine looked at Erik as she held Sarah close to her chest. He gave her a weak smile.

"It will get easier in time Christine", he said softly.

Gently he lifted Sarah up and carried her to her room.

After tucking her in and closing the door he took Christine´s hand and let her to their bedroom.

"I think we all need our rest tonight", he whispered.

Later they were lying in the bed, Erik spooned up behind her.
She entwined their fingers and brought his hand to her lips.

He kissed the nape of her neck and she sighed.

"Everything was so perfect Erik. How did we manage to screw up like this?", she asked.

"Life is testing us Christine, but we pulled through. We belong together. As a family we wil make it", he said.

Christine chuckled lightly. "Maybe we ought to thank that Amber McAteer brat. If she hadn´t provoked Sarah we might not be here".

Erik frowned. "I would eventually have brought out my cave-man self and dragged you back into my humble lair", he said trying to sound like a real alpha-male.

Christine laughed out.

"Oh Erik, I´d do anything to see you wearing only a piece of fur!", she snorted.

He pinched her and she squealed, being as ticklish as ever.

"Don´t be smart my dear, you might regret it", he chuckled.

"Oh yeah?", she playfully smiled at him and he rolled over on top of her.

"I am by far stronger that you my love", he grinned.

She lost herself in his eyes and he leaned down and kissed her.

"I love you Christine. I can´t live without you", he whispered.

"You wont have to Erik, I love you too", she whipered back.

Kissing her again he rolled off of her to resume his previous position behind her.

"We better get some sleep, Sarah´s home from school for the week remember? It´s not a holiday, her friends wont be home, so we´ll have to entertain her", Erik yawned.

Christine smiled. "Remember when she was little and was home sick from school. Whenever she began to feel better she would demand constant entertainment".

"Do I remember?", Erik laughed. "I still have marks on my knees from the countless time she made me play horse around the living room.

Christine snickered at the thought of Sarah painfully kicking Erik´s hips. "Come on horsey, faster!", her little voice would say.

"Or when she decided to cook breakfast for us on Sunday mornings", Christine said.

"Mind you, 6 O´clock on Sunday mornings Christine", Erik sighed.

"Who would have thought a bottle of sirup would stick to the floor for months", Christine grinned.

Erik rested his head in his hand and looked at her. "Christine, are you sure you want another baby?", he asked and raised his eyebrow at her.

She flashed him a big smile and kissed his chest.

"Yes, because this time around I have a lovely teenage daughter who can clean up the mess", she said.

Erik looked at the ceiling for a moment pretending to consider things carefully.

Then he stared back into her eyes.

"That´s good enough for me", he said and kissed her seductively.

Right, we´re nearly at the end, look out for the final chapter:)