I dropped this one a little early as a Happy Independence Day gift to my American readers. I hope you enjoy it.

For those of you who are a little less patient than the others; the next five chapters or so, are only going to cover a two day time span, there is a great deal going on between Erik and Christine's developing relationship and other events that are going to occur; so, I beg your indulgence for a little while longer...I love ya, every one of of ya! Come on...you know I do!

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 25

The only thing he could think of that would express to Meckenzie how much she had touched his life was something he would enjoy also.

He stopped by a small office building, took care of his plans, and then headed for the hospital. His stomach was full of butterflies, his palms were sweating, and his heart was racing. He laughed aloud at himself, knowing that his love for Christine and Meckenzie was what was making him feel so out of control.

Walking into the hospital's front lobby during the daylight hours, when there was a sea of faces staring back at him, had Erik a bit nervous; but he forged ahead, ignoring that voice in his head.

He was surprised to have many who acknowledged him with a smile and then actually spoke to him in a cordial manner.

He towered over everyone in the elevator, considering they were all female. He moved to the back of the elevator to make room for all of them as they came on.

They made eye contact with him, smiled brightly, and immediately averted their eyes. When he looked away, he would feel them looking at him again. It was very disconcerting, but nothing that Erik wasn't used to - if stares was all they had to give, he could take that.

There was an older woman standing to his right that kept assessing him with her eyes. Her stare was not so much disconcerting, as examining. She acted as though she knew him.

When the doors opened on the third floor, Erik had to excuse himself and work his way through their huddled bodies.

The older woman, whom Erik assumed was about 70, stopped him with a hand to his arm, and smiled up at him.

"Young man, you certainly are a handsome thing. You make an old woman's heart leap at the sight of you."

Erik was taken aback by her words and had no idea how to respond. He simply patted her hand and smiled down at her.

"Lead me out of this elevator on your arm and make my day." She instructed with a smile.

"You are visiting someone on the third floor?" Erik asked.

"Yes, my great-granddaughter is here, in room 317. Why is your child here?" The aged woman inquired.

Erik chuckled and smiled down at her petite, bent-over figure.

"Madam, I have no children." He stated, wryly.

The woman made a 'tsk, tks' sound and stopped in the middle of the hallway. She looked up at him and scanned his features with wisdom Erik had never seen, and a hint of familiarity.

"Let me guess, you are of the impression that you are unattractive to women because you are disfigured beneath that sexy mask, and have never had a fulfilling relationship in your entire life." She continued without balking at his shocked look, "You have someone you love deeply, that's why you're here….but you are not sure how she feels about you."

Her words were uncanny and accurate. Erik looked deep into her gray eyes and found only understanding and worldly wisdom.

"Now you're wondering how I know all this, having only met you ten minutes ago." She discerned.

Erik shook his head and gawked at her. He had not noticed how beautiful she was. She had silvery blue hair, dancing gray eyes, smooth, soft-looking skin and a smile that lit up his heart.

Erik paused in front of Meckenzie's room, glanced in, and saw Christine look up from the book she was reading.

The woman followed his line of sight and smiled at Christine.

"That will be a story for a little later, my boy." The woman stated. "My Chelsea is in the room across the hall, she had her tonsils removed."

She winked at Christine as she came out the door and took Erik's arm. Erik looked down at her and smiled then placed a kiss on her forehead.

"My name is Ruby Collins." She chimed, offering her hand.

"I'm Erik and this is Christine." Erik offered, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

Ruby blushed and smiled brightly, "My goodness, and a gentleman too…I thought that sort of behavior went out in the dark ages."

He turned from her smiling face and looked in the room at the child sitting up in the bed.

"That beautiful angel is Meckenzie."

Meckenzie turned toward his voice as she heard her name roll from his lips. She giggled and waved, but her eyes did not focus, and Rubyperceptively noticed this fact.

"There will be many times in life when she will see things far clearer than either one of you will ever hope to." Ruby whispered, "Remember that."

Erik and Christine watched as Ruby shuffled over to her great-granddaughters room and turned back to smile at them.

"I'll be here all afternoon and most of the day tomorrow. When my granddaughter returns, I will come and talk to you some more."

She disappeared into the room and quietly shut the door.

"What was that all about?" Christine asked with a smile.

"I don't know; she seems to have adopted me." Erik remarked. "She looks at me as though she knows me from somewhere."

He took her hand and walked into the room with Meckenzie…oddly, he felt at home in their presence, no matter where they were.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Erik moved into the room and sat down in the chair that Christine had told them to bring into the room for him.

"Mr. Erik…you always smell so good!" Meckenzie giggled at him as he sat down. "I always know when you're around me!"

Erik chuckled and glanced at Christine, who only affirmed what her daughter had said by raising her brow and nodding at him.

They talked about school and the approaching holidays, a time of year that Erik found especially trying. His mother had always made Thanksgiving and Christmas so special.

Karen tried, but it just wasn't the same.

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving, Erik?" Christine asked.

Erik shrugged his broad shoulders, leaned back in the chair, pushed his long legs out in front of him, and crossed his arms across his hard chest.

"I normally spend most of the day alone, until Karen browbeats me into coming to their place for dinner."

Christine frowned, "That just won't do, Erik…you will be coming to my house for Thanksgiving dinner and I won't take no for an answer."

Erik smirked amiably; but there was underlying desire in his eyes, "I wouldn't dream of saying no to you."

Christine ignored the seductive lilt in his voice and smiled at him, "Good….because Vince and Karen are coming also…but you can come and spend the whole day with us."

"Do I need to bring anything?" He asked.

"Just your handsome self." Christine replied suggestively.

They chatted some more, played a couple of games of "Go Fish" with Braille playing cards, and then it was time for Erik to take Christine to dinner.

TBC