Meckenzie makes a decision in this chapter; I hope everyone understands. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

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 43

The next morning was something new to Erik. He awoke to the smell of bacon and freshly brewed coffee. Other than Vince, he had never had anyone in his house to cook for him.

He threw on a deep green, satin robe over his matching sleep wear and headed down the hall, proceeded down the stairs, and toward the kitchen where Christine and Meckenzie were both preparing breakfast.

He stood at the door and just watched, not wishing to alert them to his presence. Christine was busy frying the bacon and scrambling eggs, while Meckenzie was mixing the muffins.

"Has it been long enough, Mommy?" Meckenzie asked, excitedly.

Erik receded back into the shadows and watched as Christine turned around and tended to Meckenzie. Her hair hung loose and framed her face like a halo; her robe was untied, so her gown showed under it, and her generous curves were in perfect view for Erik's hungry gaze.

Erik had never seen her look more beautiful. The blush of their lovemaking was still present in her cheeks and the smile on her face was one of contentment and joy.

"Yes, I believe it has." Christine assured her, "I will fill the muffin tin and then you can help me put them in the oven, okay?"

"Yep!"

Erik figured he had lurked long enough, and made a loud yawning noise as he came around the corner and into the kitchen.

"I don't think this house has ever smelled this good!" He complimented.

"Good morning, my handsome hubby." Christine greeted, moving forward and placing a soft kiss upon his lips.

Erik lingered with the kiss, not wanting to relinquish the feel and taste of her just yet.

"Good morning, my two beautiful ladies." He winked at Christine and bent to place a kiss upon Meckenzie's head. "I'm famished!"

"Well, why don't you sit down and we'll serve you breakfast."

"Nonsense; just put the food on the table and I'll serve myself, I want us to eat as a family."

Christine smiled at his insistence, knowing that it meant a great deal to him to have a family.

Christine said grace and they partook of their first meal as a family.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Meckenzie, you're birth father has asked to see you." Erik stated, half way through the meal. "He is very sick and will be going to be with the angels before long."

Meckenzie's eyes gave nothing away; she didn't seem to react at all to the news of her father's impending death.

"Why does he want to see me?" She asked; a worried tone creeping into her small voice.

Erik could tell that she was slightly uncomfortable with the idea, but she wasn't completely appalled by it either.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart, I am of the belief that he wishes to make amends."

Meckenzie lifted her unseeing eyes, and turned her head in the direction of Erik's voice. There were unshed tears in her eyes and her mouth was set in a stubborn line.

"You're my daddy, there's nothing he can do to change that." She fearfully spat as the tears crept down her face.

Erik got up and went to her, protectively wrapping her trembling form in his fatherly embrace.

"Ah, 'Kenzie, he isn't going to take you away from me…he simply wants to see you one last time." He cooed. "But the decision is yours; we will not make you go to him if you choose not to."

"Mommy, what do you think?" The child asked, hoping that her mother would offer some wise words.

Christine saw the anguish on her daughters face and could not bear the thought of her reliving the abandonment again.

"Honey, likeErik said, it's up to you…but we can record you on tape and give that to him instead, if you'd prefer."

Her face lit up at that suggestion, but her heart was rendered in two;a small part of her was curious about her birth father and wanted to meet him, but the greater part of her was ambivalent, or more specifically, apathetic, about what her birth father wanted of her.

"I don't want to have to meet him…can we just do the tape?" She finally asked.

So, the rest of the day was spent making a recording of Meckenzie doing everything they could think of.

They took her to McDonald's and recorded her playing on the playground; they took her to the ice skating rink and recorded her skating gracefully across the ice.

Erik recorded her playing the piano and singing, and then used the last bit of space on the disc for Christine and Meckenzie dancing.

The disc was about two hours of Meckenzie doing various things, and Erik hoped that Raoul would be appreciative of this effort on Meckenzie's part.

Christine made a pot roast for dinner and they ate while discussing their trip to New York tomorrow.

"Meckenzie, you will stay over at Beth's tomorrow, I cleared it with her earlier…Daddy and I will deliver the tape to Raoul and then we'll be home tomorrow evening…okay?

"Okay."

"Thursday is Thanksgiving, so we will be spending that day with Vince and Karen, she asked to cook this time, and who am I to object." Christine agreed with a smile.

Christine had never prepared a big meal before and felt relieved when Karen offered to do the cooking.

They tucked Meckenzie in bed, prayed with her, and kissed her good night. She was exhausted from the day's activities, and before they closed the door to her room, she was asleep.

Erik and Christine took a quiet, leisurely bath in the hot tub; which involved some seriously heavy kissing and a general enjoyment of each other's bodies.

"I want to make love to you in the hot tub." Erik murmured into her ear.

She answered him with another deep kiss and a hand to his erect cock. She lured him back against the end of the tub and straddled his hips, placing his jutting hardness against her moist center.

They both made a loud, extended moan as Christine lowered herself onto him; slowly and precisely.

Her palms gripped the toned muscles of his pectorals and then she bent to tease his aroused male nipples with her tongue and lips.

Erik's mask was off, and his face was flushed with desire and his dark hair hung in curls around his strong features. His eyes were closed, and his dark lashes painted their shadows on his upper cheeks.

The distortion on the right side of his face did not even register with her any longer, Erik wasdevilishly attractive…that was all there was to it.

His eyes remained closed as she rode him gently at first, and then she frantically picked up speed as her orgasm neared.

Erik held her hips in his hands and finally pulled his eyes open to watch her taking him into her body. It was the most visually erotic thing he had ever seen, and it sent him spiraling into his climax.

Her muscles squeezed him firmly, forcing every drop of his seed from his body, and releasing it into her.

She leaned forward and held him in her arms, listening to the rapid beat of his heart and feeling the rise and fall of his chest as his breathing went from fast and shallow to slow and deep.

Minutes past, and the couple moved from the tub to the bed. Erik pulled Christine into the curve of his body and wrapped his arms around her; then, he slept soundly.

TBC