Heated talks and greasy cheeseburgers...

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie - Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)

Karen - Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long,brown hair)

Ms. Jennison- Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 22

They proceeded back to Meckenzie's room and Christine smiled brightly when she saw Erik enter. She had been afraid he would slip out without telling her.

"Erik, come and talk to Meckenzie…your voice soothes her as much as it does me." Christine urged, coming to him and taking his hand.

She gently pulled him forward, bringing him to stand beside Meckenzie's still resting form.

"'Kenzie, hey pip squeak, you need to wake up and talk to me, I miss your laugh and your sweet voice…" he said into her ear.

His hand had taken hers and she responded to him by squeezing his large fingers within her small fist.

"SHHHHHH…I'm sleeping!" Meckenzie whispered with a grin a on her pale face.

Christine gasped and began to cry as her daughter pulled her beautiful, unseeing eyes open and smiled.

Erik laughed and smoothed the child's hair back from her sweating brow. Her fever had broken and she was awake – there could only be improvement from here.

"'Kenzie, I'm so sorry, baby…I had no idea that medicine would make you sick." Christine cried.

"I know." The little girl said. "I'm okay, I love you, Mommy…don't' cry."

Christine covered her mouth to hold back the sobs, knowing her daughter did not want to hear her crying.

Her pleading eyes looked at Erik, beseeching him to take over talking to Meckenzie.

"You gave us quite a scare, little one; your mother has been quite upset." Erik stated, still smoothing her hair.

Meckenzie turned her head toward Erik's voice, "I'm glad you're here, Mr. Erik."

Erik almost lost it, but he contained the thrill that rushed through him at her words.

"Me too, sweetie, me too." He murmured.

He moved back and allowed Vince and Karen to stand with her. He was surprised to see Christine making eye contact with him.

"Please stay." She mouthed to him.

He nodded and tried to calm the annoying giddy feeling in his stomach. He sat down in one of the guest chairs, as the stress of the evening overtook him.

He was not sure how long he could keep these feelings for them locked away, but he had to try…they both deserved to know him better before determining if he was worthy of them.

"The doctor says you have to stay in the hospital for a day or so, just to make sure that everything is alright…" Christine told her daughter, "…I'll stay here every night until they send you home."

Meckenzie lit up at that; Erik hadn't realized until that very moment how much of a little girl she still was…she was so mature in many ways, but her heart was still that of a barely six-year-old girl.

"Can Mr. Erik stay with me, too?" She asked in a child-like tone.

Christine looked at Erik's shocked face and giggled, "It would not be appropriate for me to stay in your room while your mother is here, but be assured that I will be hard to keep away during the day." Erik stressed.

"Baby, mommy's going to go get something to eat…I'll be back a little later…okay?" Christine stated.

"Okay…I'm a little sleepy anyway…I'll talk at ya later." Meckenzie yawned.

Vince, Karen, Erik, and Christine all headed out the door.

"She'll probably sleep the rest of the night; her body has been through quite a traumatic experience." Erik stated.

Christine nodded.

They headed out the door and Christine saw the nurse coming toward them.

"I'm going to go get something to eat and I'll be back in an hour or so – it could be longer. I will be staying here with her." Christine instructed.

"That's fine; we'll have the cot out for you." The nurse promised, and Christine thanked her.

"We are going to go on home. We both have busy days tomorrow." Vince stated. "Erik, are you going to do the radio show Friday night?"

"No, why don't you just play a repeat session." Erik advised.

Christine cast a questioning look his way and shook her head, "Oh no ya don't, I look forward to that show every Friday night and early Saturday morning – before I go to bed…" She gave Erik a sultry smile, "…you wouldn't believe the dreams that voice gives me."

Erik noted the seductive pull of her voice and the way she was looking at him. He didn't think she was even aware of how sexy she was at that moment – with her blond curls flying everywhere because of her trying day, no make-up, less than flattering clothes…but all Erik saw was the woman he loved.

Erik smirked and looked back at Vince, "I guess that's a 'yes, I'll be doing the show tomorrow night'…I certainly wouldn't want to rob the woman of her dreams."

Vince saw the smile that Erik gave Christine and he was suddenly transported back 25 years to a time when his brother, Keith, was alive. Erik was becoming more and more like him with every passing day…the more time he spent with Christine the more he looked, sounded, and acted like his father.

Vince laughed and responded, "Oh no, we wouldn't want to do that…I'm sure it's some sort of sin."

"Right you are." Erik retorted, and they all laughed.

Erik and Christine walked Vince and Karen to their car and watched them drive away. Erik turned to Christine with inquisitive eyes.

"You are hungry, where would you like to eat?" He asked, feeling nervous, but not wanting to hold back any longer.

Christine took his arm in one hand and his hand in the other, she put her head to his bicep and felt the muscles, hard and toned, beneath his shirt.

He leaned into her, enjoying her intimate closeness. He could smell his cologne on her and he couldn't remember anything being so sensual, it was as though he had marked her as his.

"I want a greasy cheeseburger and seasoned fries…that's what I want." She responded.

Erik couldn't help but chuckle, he couldn't remember the last time he had actually had a greasy cheeseburger.

"Where does one procure this, greasy cheeseburger', you so long for?" Erik teased.

"Daniel's Dining Den." Christine stated.

Erik smirked and pursed his brow, "Excuse me?"

Christine giggled; an attribute Erik found most endearing, "It's a little hole in the wall truck stop about two miles out of town, going east."

She never ceased to amaze him…with the money she knew he had, she still chose to eat at a truck stop…all he could do was chuckle and shake his head.

They headed toward Christine's dining choice for the evening. They were riding in Erik's BMW and she found only one thing wrong with the car.

"They really need to stop making bucket seats and putting consoles in the middle of cars – it is murder on cuddling." She remarked.

Erik glanced at her and caught her smiling at him. He smiled back, although he was feeling very irresolute at that moment.

"I was so scared tonight, Erik…thank you for being there for me." Christine stated, after about five minutes of silence.

"You already thanked me, but you're welcome." He repeated. "What are friends for?"

Christine reached over and took his large, manicured hand in hers. Erik felt electricity pulse through his body and mentally berated himself.

'She touched your hand, you imbecile, nothing more.' Erik screamed to himself. "Calm down."

"Is that all we are?" Christine asked, low and brazenly.

He jerked his head from the road and looked at Christine's expressive face. She just sat there, regarding him with impugning eyes.

"Christine…" Erik began.

"Were you there when we kissed?" Christine asked, "Because I don't ever recall kissing any of my friends like I kissed you."

Erik cleared his throat and tried not to blush, "I believe it 'twas I that kissed you."

"After I left enough of a hint for your daft brain to understand!" Christine playfully spat.

"Touché." He responded. "I am sorry, I have never been here before."

Christine looked at him and knew he was saying he had never been in a relationship before…apparently, what he had had with Summer did not count.

"When I was with Summer, we were both children; neither one of us were capable of making grown up decisions or choices." Erik confessed.

He didn't wait for response, but chose that particular moment to get out of the car, walk around to her, and open the door. She took his hand as he helped out of the car and continued to hold it as he walked her into the diner.

They walked silently into the diner and took a back, corner booth. Erik had noticed the people turn to look at them as they entered, and every eye quickly noticed the mask. He would catch them looking at him and then they would quickly avert their eyes when he caught them staring, it was so annoying.

But, Erik also noticed something else that completely astonished him. He felt less self-conscious with Christine beside him, especially since she was holding his hand as they walked in and as they proceeded towards a booth.

She really didn't seem to care that he was less than perfect and people stared at him constantly. When he was with her, he was more aware of his masculinity than at any other point in his life; and he liked that.

The waitress took their drink orders – coffee for both – and Christine ordered them both a double cheeseburger with the works. She was determined to let Erik see how the other side of the tax table lived.

"I've had enough friends in my life, Erik…I've had enough of men who only want one thing and duck out of a relationship if they aren't going to get it." Christine fumed, "I have been cheated on, lied to, betrayed, and abandoned – an all of that was from one man.

"I care about you Erik, more than I ever thought I would care about another man…I couldn't wait for you to kiss me, it didn't matter that I had to drop hints to get you to understand." Christine stated.

Erik smirked unassumingly, "I never considered that a woman would want to kiss me, after the way Summer reacted."

"Please Erik…have you ever really looked at yourself?" Christine stared at him with unrelenting eyes.

Erik scoffed angrily, "Of course, every time I start feeling like I belong in this world one glance in the mirror convinces me otherwise."

The waitress dropped their drinks off and gave Erik a wink as she turned on her heels and went back toward the kitchen. Christine followed her retreating figure with her eyes, trying to keep the icy glare to a minimum.

"Do you know her?" Erik asked.

"NO!"

Erik was taken aback by the venom in her voice, "Than why are staring at her?"

"Erik, did you see her wink at you?" Christine asked in a whispered roar.

Erik glanced at the woman and then back at Christine, "She did not, she just had something in her eye – why would she wink at me?"

The laugh that erupted from her was filled with amusement and exasperation. "Erik, are you the last man on earth?"

Erik stared at her suspiciously, not fully comprehending why she would ask such an idiotic question.

"Of course I'm not the last man on earth!" Erik stated dogmatically.

"Then why are you of the opinion that a woman who shows interest in you is desperate in some way?"

Erik just sat there, staring into her questioning eyes with careful consideration.

"You act as though I kissed you because I was desperate to be kissed, even by a 'friend' – which is not at all how I feel about you." She spilled out again, not caring that he looked aghast at her forwardness. "How do you feel toward me, Erik?" She suddenly asked.

Was there a hole into which he could crawl? Perhaps there was a wall he could hide behind; anything to get him out of this situation…and fast!

"Don't be looking for ways to escape, Erik…I know you – you are as predictable as sitcom repeats in syndication." Christine teased.

He was going to have to talk about this, even if he didn't want to.

TBC