How could I be so stupid?
by LiltingBanshee
Author´s note. Dear readers, I'm so awfully sorry for keeping you waiting this long for an update. My past weeks have been beyond busy and I have spent very little time in my home and even less time around my computer.
I hope some of you are still hanging around. As I work in performance, this time of year is the busiest for me, but I will try to keep the updates coming.
I love you all and your kind reviews warm my little heart:)
She responded to his kisses, but after a moment she pulled away.
"Erik, we need to talk" she whispered. The look on his face was once of pure shock and she immediately knew what he was thinking. With a sweet smile ran a hand affectionately down his cheek. "Don't worry my love, I'm happy you're here, but if this – we, have to work there are a lot of things that needs to be discussed" she said reassuringly.
He smiled gratefully and allowed her to take the coat he was still wearing. A little while later they were on the sofa in the living room drinking tea, Christine snuggled into his arms.
"First of all Erik, have you talked to Giselle?" she asked.
"To tell you the truth I have in fact tried to call her at her parents´ house several times this week, but she will not speak to me. I take it she is very upset and what is to come will not be pleasant" he sighed.
"You will have to talk to her Erik, as much as I dislike her I think this needs to be settled as adults" Christine said.
"I know love, I will speak to her, but it means that I shall return to Paris in a few days and try to sort it out" he said carefully.
"You must do what you must do Erik, we can't expect everything to be perfect within a few days. What about the Opera House, what will happen with your job and Giselle's father's support?" she asked next.
"I have no doubts he willwithdraw his financial support. I would love to keep my position, but for one I might not be able to because of Maurice's expected actions and I second of all I don't expect you to jump up and move back to Paris just because I want to work there" he said with slight sadness.
"We'll have to see what happens, one step at a time. There is just one thing I need to know now" she said and looked him straight in the eyes. "Erik, is there even the slightest chance that you will once more succumb to Maurice's demands? Do I risk loosing you once more?" he saw tears glistening in her eyes and he understood her fears.
He grabbed both her hands and brought them to his lips. "No my love, this time I promise you that his or Giselle's demands will not come between us. Never again" he said gently
She smiled gratefully and kissed him softly on the lips. "It won't be all perfect from now on you know" she whispered against his lips.
"What do you mean?" he asked, putting a hand on her waist.
"I have a feeling that my parents will find it a little hard to accept you in the beginning" she said carefully.
He kissed her nose and looked her in the eye. "I did expect that. I will do my best to assure them that I will be taking care of you and Alana from now on. I know it will probably be hard, but I won't give up. You're mine now and I'm not giving up on you."
She smiled at him and was just about to say something when she heard the front door open, soon followed by the sound of her mother and daughter's voices.She untangled herself from Erik´s arms and stood up. "I'll just go and prepare her for your presence" she said and moved quickly to the door.
Once outside in the hall she was nearly knocked over by Alana who clung to her legs. She bent down and picked her up, planting a big kiss on her cheek.
"Did you behave like a big girl my darling?" she asked with a smile and Alana nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes Mummy, I said thank you when they offered me something and I didn't even spill anything!" she stated proudly.
"Good girl my angel, I'm very proud of you. Now would you please go upstairs for a second, I need to talk to Grandma" she said and put her down and gave her a gentle push towards the stairs.
Alana ran up the stairs and Christine turned to her mother.
"Is something wrong dear?" Marie asked concerned.
"No Mum, everything is fine, it's just…Erik is here…." Christine said in a little voice.
"What is he doing here!" Marie exclaimed with a frown.
"He came here to see me personally and talk about what happened in Paris" Christine explained.
"Did he come to tell you it was over?" Marie asked with fire in her eyes.
"Yes Mum, but not between him and me. He is going to leave Giselle" Christine said and smiled at her mother.
Marie wasn't easily convinced. "How many times has he made you believe that Christine? Don't give in so easily my girl, you have come so far, you must not let him hurt you again" she tried.
"He will not hurt me Mum, he is getting a divorce, it's for real this time" Christine whined, her tears threatening to spill over as she tried to defend Erik.
Marie looked at her daughter with loving eyes. "It's your choice Christine, you´re not a little girl anymore. As your mother I will just ask one favour of you" she said.
"And that is?" Christine asked nervously.
"Take care of yourself and will you please introduce me properly to my granddaughter's father? For over 3 years I've heard a lot about Erik, but I have never met him" Marie said with a little smile.
Christine sighed relieved. "Of course Mum, come with me" she smiled.
Erik stood up from the sofa as the door to the living room opened, but all colour drained from his face when he saw Christine wasn't alone.
Sensing his mood she moved quickly to stand beside him and grabbed his left hand.
"Erik, I'd like you to meet my mother Marie. Mum this is Erik, Alana's father and the man I love" she said with joy.
Erik stuck his hand out and shook Marie's firmly. "Mrs. Daáe, it's a pleasure to meet you" he said genuially.
Marie returned his smile. "It's nice to finally meet you Erik, I see a lot of Alana in you" she said gently.
Erik smiled with pride.
"Speaking of the little angel, why don't you go and bring her down here?" Marie said to Christine.
Christine glanced nervously from Erik to her mother, but Marie smiled reassuringly at her.
"Don't worry dear, I'll keep Erik company for a second" she said.
That was exactly what Christine had feared, but without saying anything she went to fetch her daughter.
Once she had left the room Marie gestured for Erik to return to his seat on the sofa and sat down in a chair opposite him.
She knew that he wasn't quite comfortable around her so she decided to try and ease his mind.
"Erik, you can relax, I'm not going to hurt you" she said softly. "We are both on the same level here. You know that Christine's father and I didn't handle her pregnancy very well in the beginning and you haven't handled your job as a father and boyfriend very well. We have both made mistakes, but when I see the looks my daughter gives you I know that she loves you with all her heart and I think we owe it to her to get along."
Erik felt a great weight lift from his heart. "Thank you Mrs. Daáe, I do love Christine and our daughter very much and I'm determined to stay with them from now on" he reassured her.
Marie nodded understandingly. "I am very happy to hear that Erik, and please do call me Marie. Now you must understand that my husband has always treated Christine as the most precious thing he had. He might not be so quick to accept you as I am, but I will talk to him. I am sure he'll want to see Christine happy and if you're what can make her happy he will come around eventually. Just don't expect miracles" she told him.
Erik smiled. "Thank you Marie, I am very happy to have you by my side to help me" he said.
"That's nothing Erik. Just remember, if you ever hurt Christine or Alana again I will kill you" she said and Erik had no doubts that she was serious.
They sat in silence for a minute, but then the door was flung open and Alana raced to her father.
"Daddy you're home!" she squealed and threw her little arms around his neck.
"Hi princess, did you miss me?" he whispered as he hugged her.
She looked at him with her big brown eyes and tilted her head to one side. "Do you have any sweets?" she asked and he laughed out loud.
"Sorry baby, I'm all out of sweets, some little girl ate it all" he grinned.
"That's ok" Alana said and settled on his lap. "I know where we can go and buy some more."
Erik chuckled and smiled at Christine who sat down next to Alana.
Marie excused herself, but before she left the living room she looked at the little family and smiled. 'That is how it is supposed to be' she thought before going out in the hall. She was going to call Charles. Better warn him in advance.
3 days later Christine and Alana had followed Erik to the airport. He was going back to Paris to settle his divorce.
Alana was lost in front of the airport toy store while Christine and Erik had coffee and watched her.
"She has really grown, I can't believe she will be 3 years old" Erik said affectionately.
"I know, it feels like yesterday you changed her for the first time" Christine smiled.
Erik looked at her with slight sadness. "I wish I could have done that more often" he said sincerely.
Christine reached across the table and took his hand. "Don't think about what could have been Erik, think about all the years we have ahead of us. Who knows, there might be other opportunities for you to change dirty diapers" she grinned.
He squeezed her hand. "I would like that very much Christine" he whispered.
He was just about to lean over and kiss her when his flight was called for boarding. Reluctantly the got up from the table and called for Alana's attention.
When they reached the gate he grabbed her and kissed her with such passion she felt her knees weaken.
"It feels so good to be able to do that in public" he smiled as he released her lips.
She put her finger on his bottom lips and smiled. "Thank you for coming back to us. I love you" she whispered.
"I love you too, I will be back here as soon as I can. I will call you when I get home" he promised.
With one last kiss to mother and daughter he disappeared through the gate and for the first time in years Christine didn't feel uncertain about letting him go.
He had only been home for a few hours, one of them he had spent of the phone with Christine, when there was a knock on the door.
Still feeling overjoyed from his conversation with Christine he didn't bother to check who it was before he opened the door.
"Maurice, I've been expecting you" he said, trying to hide his discomfort.
"Good afternoon Erik, we need to talk" the tall man said in a brisk voice.