How could I be so stupid?
by LiltingBanshee
Author´s note: peeking out from bomb shelter I´m so so so sorry for the enourmes amonut of time it has taken me to update this story. I´m a competitive Irish dancer and have been extremely busy preparing for major competitions. Now I´m out with a sprained ankle (nemesis) so had time for a little update. Hope some of you are still reading this, if you have given up I don´t blame you:)
Hope you enjoy it.
It wasn't the feeling of her small fingers, dancing across his chest that woke him up. It was the little snicker that escaped her. A sound he had come to love so much, but hadn't had a chance to hear as much as he wanted. Without opening his eyes he smiled and drew in a breath.
"What are you laughed at my darling?" he asked quietly.
"You" she answered with the amusement evident in her voice.
"And what is it about me that is so funny on this lovely morning?" he asked.
"It's just that I've been trying to wake you up for quite a while, but you seem to be totally lost from this world. Are you having nice dreams?" she giggled
"Well, you must remember that I'm not as young as I used to be my dear, the amount of work I've been doing during the night certainly made an impact on me" he smiled.
She rolled onto her back and laughed out loud. The sound of her clear laughter woke him up completely and he quickly rolled over to pin her beneath him.
"It's not nice to laugh at an old man, you little devil" he grinned.
"Well you certainly didn't seem old last night" she chuckled.
He looked into her eyes and his heart swelled at the happiness he saw in them. For the first time in years the hint of sadness had for a minute disappeared from her beautiful brown eyes. He moved a bit on top of her and the look happiness turned to one of slight surprise and then to love as he began making love to her again. He leaned down and touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.
"I love you Christine, with all my heart and I'll do anything to make you happy" he whispered.
"I love you too Erik and you do make me happy. You're not old, you're the most wonderful man I've ever met and when you get old I will still be around loving you and caring for you" she whispered back and kissed his cheek.
His eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I will always do the same for you Christine, we're together now, I promise you that."
An hour later Erik was busy in the kitchen making breakfast for them while Christine was taking a shower. He was just preparing the plates when the phone rang. Quietly cursing the interruption he wiped his hands and went to answer it.
"Hello" he said in a brisk voice.
"Erik, it's Maurice. Am I interrupting something?" another firm voice asked.
"No, that's fine Maurice. I was just about to have breakfast, but I can talk for a second" Erik said.
"Breakfast? But it's past noon. You work too hard Erik" Maurice said.
"Yeah, had a lot of work last night. What can I help you with" Erik asked, wanting the conversation to come to a quick end.
"Well, I thought it was about time we followed upon the conversation we had. There are a few things we need to work out Erik" Maurice said in his ever so cool business voice.
"Yes that's right. We should get together and work something out. When is a suitable time for you?" Erik asked.
" 8 o'clock tonight at our house Erik. It will just be you and me going over some documents. Giselle won't be here this time, but we would of course have to arrange another meeting to sort out the conditions for your divorce" he said.
"Maurice as much as I would like to get this sorted as soon as possible I really can't meet you tonight. I already have plans that I can't change" Erik said.
"Erik, plans can always be changed, I expect you to be here no later than 8" Maurice said with slight annoyance.
"Maurice listen….."
"Erik, you will do wise in not arguing with me. You have too much to loose to do that. See you at 8 tonight" the line went dead.
"Fine, see you tonight" Erik muttered as he put the phone down. He then turned around to find Christine standing behind him, nicely dressed and with her damp curls framing her face. She looked beautiful, but not at all pleased.
"Whom are you seeing tonight?" she asked in a slightly shaking voice.
"Christine…I.." he tried.
"Just tell me Erik. Whom are you seeing?" she asked again.
"That was Maurice calling, he wants to meet tonight. I believe he wants to discuss the future of the opera house" Erik sighed.
"Guess that means we're not going out for dinner tonight then" Christine said and turned around. Erik quickly grabbed her arms.
"Christine, don't leave. I'm sorry love. I tried to tell him I had plans, but that wasn't up for discussion. I'm sorry Christine, I really am" he said quietly.
"Don't worry about it Erik, It's not like I'm not used to it by now" she whispered.
"Christine, you know I hate doing this! You know I don't mean to hurt you, right? You know that Christine! Don't you?" he realized he was holding on to her tightly, but was afraid to let go in case she would just walk away.
She looked away avoiding his eyes, but he could see the tears starting to run down her cheeks. Letting go of her arms he quickly wrapped her in a tight hug and held her close to him as he felt her body shake with sobs.
"Christine darling, please don't cry. I'm so so sorry. God I wish I could stop hurting you over and over again, but believe me when I tell you I don't mean to. I meant what I said last night and this morning. We're together now nothing can come between us. I just have to sort everything out to make sure that nothing can ever bother us again. Please Christine, everything I do is to make sure we can have a great future" he said, praying that he could convince her.
She didn't say anything for a while, she just allowed him to hold her, and not knowing what more to say he kept quiet as well.
After some long quiet minutes she raised her face to meet his and offered a little smile.
"I know that everything you do is for us Erik, I will have to stop worrying all the time, but the fear is in the back of my head and it will be for a while yet I think. Don't think it's because I don't believe you. I do, and I'm as determined as you are to make this work. I'm sorry for reacting like this; there will be plenty of other nights we can go out. Go and get this sorted Erik. We can spend the day together and I will wait for you here tonight. We can spend the night together and you can take me to the airport tomorrow" she said, wiping her tears away.
"I really am sorry" he whispered.
"I know Erik, don't apologize anymore, let's just eat and go into town. We'll be fine" she smiled.
Erik and Maurice shared a meal in complete silence that night. Apart from the greeting Erik received when arriving at the house, Maurice didn't say a word.
It wasn't until they had finished the dinner he started talking. He cleared his throat and pushed his chair out from the table.
"Erik, let's go into my study. There is more privacy there for the things we need to discuss" he said.
Erik just nodded and followed him.
Having got settled in the study Maurice poured them both a brandy and then got straight to the point.
"Erik, you know I have always admired your work and you have done amazing things for the Paris opera. In all the years I have supported the Opera house I have never once felt that my money was going to waste. I also know that my financial support has a crucial meaning to the Opera and I have taken that into consideration while trying to work out how to handle this matter. I am a proud businessman and always have been, but I am also a family man and in the end my family matters more to me than any work. I think we're more alike than we really know on that matter. I sense that you would do everything for your family too" Maurice said and looked straight at Erik.
"Yes Maurice, I would do anything to keep my family happy" Erik nodded.
"As I said last time we talked I know you've been trying to do the best both for your family and for your co-workers and I trust you will once again make the right decision for everyone" Maurice said. "Erik, I have a proposition for you to consider. You don't have to give me your answer tonight, but I would appreciate to receive it fairly quickly. Dragging it out would only cause more trouble for everyone. First option is that you continue to do your work at the Opera house as always, but without my financial support. I wouldn't mind putting a word in for you with some of my financially strong friends, but I would do nothing out of the ordinary to help you find funding elsewhere. Second option is that I continue to support the Paris opera for many years in the future, but you would be required to leave you job and move away from Paris. Both options have their benefits, but also downsides. In any case these are my final offers" Maurice said sternly.
Erik kept quiet for a while and then got up from his seat and stretched his hand out to Maurice.
"Thank you for being straight with me Maurice, I shall consider your offer and get back to as soon as possible. I will see myself out" he said and left the room.
It was late before he let himself into the dark apartment. He quietly hung up his coat and slipped into the bedroom. Christine was sleeping soundly on top of the covers, still in her clothes. The bedroom TV was on so she has obviously been waiting for his return, but had given in to sleep in the end. He undressed and carefully, without waking pulled her jeans off to make her more comfortable. Then he slipped into bed behind her and pulled the covers around them both. He gently kissed her cheek and tightened his arms around her.
"Sweet dreams my love, everything will work out fine" he whispered before going to sleep.