A/N: As always, thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir (And thanks to PPN for a certain long-winded word)

Ok, this is another light episode. I felt the need for one after the previous angst. Enjoy!

Erik: The Vampire Hunter

Episode 18: Summer Vacation

By: Elektra

Laramie Drive

Laura Ashton looked at the clothing she had gathered as of late. Surely one of these outfits would appeal to the man who stoked fires within her that she never knew could be stoked.

Stubborn, selfish Erik! How dare he leave her wanting?

But all was not lost. This summer, his little angel would be gone! Gone from campus, and hopefully gone from his life.

Laura would have to show him that she was tired of playing games. There was only so much a woman could take before she took matters into her own hands.

She would taunt him and tease him until he could take no more. He was a man, after all.

A tormented man who had yet to be touched by a woman.

How long would it take for his body to need her once she began to seduce him? Surely even a virtuous man could only go so long before giving in to the joys of the flesh.

Laura was going to make very certain that it was HER flesh Erik would enjoy. She would change him once he gave in to his desires… whether he wanted her to or not.

And then… then she would have him. Not just his body, but his mind and his soul as well. She would enthrall him. Make him hers to command.

Sixteen years ago, he had changed her life. Allowed her to be reborn into the beautiful powerful creature she now was.

It was time to return the favour.

Ravelle College – Erik's room

Erik looked up from the song he was composing when he heard the eager knock at his door. "Erik? Are you here?"

Christine…

"Yes. I'm here. Come in," he called out.

She opened the door slowly and smiled when she saw him sitting on his bed writing. "Hey there," she walked in and held a box out to him. "I have a present for you. I hope you like it."

"It is not my birthday," he replied, surprised she would be giving him a gift.

She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. It's a thank you for... the tutoring and … well, everything." It was both a thank you and an apology. Christine met his eyes, her voice soft when she spoke. "I never would have gotten through this year without you."

Erik put aside his composition and took the box from her, opening it to see a neatly folded piece of black material sitting in the middle. He unfolded it carefully, only to reveal a soft mask, complete with thick black elastics to fit snug around his head.

"Christine…" he started, not quite sure what to say.

She bit her lip nervously and looked up at him. Was he offended? She hoped not. She had worked so very hard on it. She had even asked a few friends majoring in Costume Design for tips. They had allowed her to use their sewing equipment, and had even told her how to build up the middle of the mask so that it wouldn't press against the nose.

Of course, they had no idea the person Christine was making the mask for did not have a nose to begin with.

"Um, well… the weather is getting warmer," Christine continued, "And I thought this might be more comfortable when you're fighting vamps and stuff. More than the leather, I mean," she informed him. "Uh… and… it's made of 300-thread-count cotton, so it's pretty sturdy. You can wash it too," she glanced up at him, then looked back at the mask in his hands. "I'm not a great sewer, but I hope it fits ok. I can always tweak it if you need me to." She grew silent, unsure what to say next as she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.

Erik studied the mask. It was made by Christine's own little hands. For him. Because she thought it would be more comfortable.

If it were possible for him to love the girl more, this would have done it.

He turned his back to her for a moment and slipped off the black leather mask, immediately replacing it with the soft cool material. It rested lightly against his skin, almost feeling as if it wasn't even there.

Erik walked over to the covered mirror on the other side of the room. He lifted the dust cloth, and looked at his reflection. The cotton mask molded to his face perfectly, the middle lifting slightly from the rest of the mask to give the impression of a real nose beneath it.

The mask seemed to smooth out his harsh features, making it appear he simply had high elegant cheekbones instead of the skeletal face that lay beneath the material.

"I wasn't sure of the colour," Christine spoke again, quite aware she was babbling like a nervous school girl after giving her big crush a present. "I was thinking maybe white, since black attracts the sun… but then I realized most… well… ALL of your clothes are black so-" She stopped as Erik let the dust cover drop back over the mirror and walked towards her.

He stood before Christine and took her hands in his own. "Thank you, Christine. It's perfect." Erik spoke gently, his lips hovering over her knuckles, his warm breath tickling her skin. He dared not make contact.

Christine found herself disappointed, remembering how those very lips felt beneath hers while he lay unconscious in a hospital bed. She wondered if she would ever be brave enough to kiss him when he was awake.

She slid her hands from his, worrying him for a moment… until her arms wrapped around his waist. "You're welcome, Erik," she replied, resting her head against him.

He hesitantly returned the embrace, awkwardly patting her shoulders. He immediately let his arms drop back to his side, releasing a shaky breath.

Christine understood - he was still not comfortable with physical contact. Christine supposed it was only natural for a man who wasn't used to it.

Closing her eyes, she tightened her arms around him, her hug growing more than friendly.

"Christine?" Erik's startled tone and nervous tensing making it very clear he was aware of the sudden change.

Christine quickly realized what she was doing, "Oh! I… uh…" she stepped back, effectively ending the contact. "Sorry. I… I think I'm a little tired…" Lame excuse, Christine… she chided herself, very lame…

She could see the material on Erik's face shift ever so slightly, and realized he was furrowing his brow.

"Facial expressions!" Christine cried out excitedly. "I can actually make out your facial expression!"

Erik put a hand to the cloth upon his face, and felt it for himself. "So it seems!" he replied, rather impressed. "I commend you on your handiwork, Christine. Thank you once again."

Christine was relieved their momentary awkwardness was gone. "Just remember me this summer," she smirked, then suddenly sobered at her own mention of summer.

The end of second semester was only two weeks away - which meant summer break would be upon her soon.

… which meant …

… Christine would find herself without Erik for three long lonely months.

Christine's Dorm - later

Christine stared at the paper before her - a final essay on the history of opera. It was only worth 15 of the mark, but while her vocal performances made up the bulk of her grade, Erik had told her that knowledge was as important as talent.

She didn't want to disappoint him.

The period of Italy's greatest musical influence was called the Baroque period. It lasted from the end of the 16th Century to the middle of the 18th century. During this time, the artists began to create new forms of expression...

Christine let out a sigh. This was almost as torturous as her English final. But THAT was worth a good 30. And it was on, of all things, Shakespeare. What kind of word was honorificabilitudinitatibus anyway? Some genius he turned out to be…

"Christine!" Meg's cheerful voice startled Christine as the strawberry blond burst through the door. "Guess what? Momma said you can come stay with us for the summer!" She smiled as she ran up and hugged her friend happily. "It's that great! We're going to have so much fun!"

"Really?" Christine replied, unable to hide her excitement. She was going to answer a post for a summer house sitter, yet spending it with Meg would be preferable.

Meg had a way of cheering Christine up when she was down – and Christine was quite sure she'd be down for most of the summer, unable to talk to Erik. To sing with him. To simply spend time with him.

But…

"I don't want to overstay my welcome," Christine started. "I mean… your mom would get annoyed after a while, wouldn't she?"

Meg dismissed her concern with a wave of her hand. "Momma was worried you'd say that," she smiled. "So she told me to tell you that she needs help around the house. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, gardening. Her bad leg has been acting up lately and…" Meg stopped, then pouted, "… and she doesn't trust me to take care of things by myself..." she muttered.

Christine laughed at that. Meg did have a habit of being rather flighty at times. It was no wonder her mother wanted a more reliable pair of hands.

"OH!" Meg suddenly remembered something. "Momma also wanted me to tell you she's hiring an independent contractor for the summer. He's going to do some work around the house, fix the roof, renovate. Stuff like that. She wants to know if you'd be uncomfortable having a strange man living with us."

Meg then smirked mischievously, "He could be really cute and maybe even single!" she winked.

Christine sighed quietly. "Looks don't matter all that much to me lately, Meg,"

Meg slid an arm around her friend's shoulders, her voice growing gentle. "You're going to miss him, aren't you? Maybe we can get him to come visit?"

Christine shook her head. "It was a big deal he even came to your place for Christmas. It would take a lot to try and talk him into taking the two-hour train ride again. I know he hated being surrounded by strangers, getting stared at, having people whisper behind his back." She shrugged. "Anyway, I have to finish this essay or I'll be missing a big chunk of my mark."

Meg nodded, taking the hint that Christine didn't want to talk about Erik any more. Giving her friend one more hug, Meg headed out to the student lounge.

Laramie Drive – 2 weeks later

"You seem somewhat distracted tonight," a satiny voice whispered in Laura Ashton's ear.

"I can't find him," she whined as cold lips brushed against the back of her neck and shoulders. She pushed her eager lover away and rolled over in the large elegant bed to face him. "And when I can't find him, I get distracted."

The Leader laughed as he propped himself up on his elbow. "Your interest in my son is bordering on obsession my dear. Why, I may start thinking you only took me to bed to satiate some wicked desire for him,"

"I took you to bed BEFORE you revealed you were Erik's father, Shay," she answered. "That knowledge actually creeps me out a little."

"Really now?" he asked with a graceful arch of his eyebrow. "You did not seemed creeped out twenty minutes ago."

"Well… you're just very good at making me forget little details like that." She pouted. "But I still want to know why I can't find him! He hasn't haunted Ravelle's Arts building for a few days now! I've been checking!"

"Never fear, lovely Laura. I know where he is."

"So where is he? Where's Erik?"

"Ah ah ah. Patience, my dear. You must have patience,"

"I am running OUT of patience, I want-" Words left her as his long slender fingers slid beneath the sheets.

"Yes, Laura dear? What is it you want?" the Leader asked.

Oh yes… he was so very good at making her forget …

Giry Family Residence

Christine grunted with effort as she carried her suitcases into the house. It was every piece of clothing she owned, knickknacks, toiletries, and other things she could not bare to be without – like her laptop.

"Christine, I told you my contractor would be here any minute now. He could have helped you with that," Antoinette Giry informed the girl.

Christine shook her head with a smile. "Only one more suitcase to go, Madame Giry." She had stopped calling Giry "Dean" now that they were out of school for the summer. "Besides, I don't want to ask someone else to carry in my luggage. It wouldn't be right."

Giry shrugged ever so slightly. "I assure you he would not have minded, my dear."

Christine studied the older woman a moment. Why did she look as if she were keeping some devious little secret? Christine shook it off, and brought her suitcase into Meg's room. She would be staying on the foldaway her friend had been using for a couch.

"Whose luggage is this, Antoinette? You would think they were packing for a year!" came a far too familiar voice from the hallway.

Christine dropped her suitcase and turned around, only to see Erik walking into the room with her third and final suitcase. Their eyes met, and Christine was sure her heart would leap out of her chest.

"Christine…" Erik exclaimed quietly. He slowly turned to the older woman beside him. "Antoinette, you did not tell me Christine was to be your summer guest,"

"Oh, it must have slipped my mind," Giry replied, then glanced over at Christine and saw the expression of surprise on the girl's face. "Did I not mention that Erik was my contractor?"

Christine simply shook her head, trying desperately not to burst at the rush of joy that currently filled her.

"Forgive me for that," Giry continued. "I'm getting on in years now, it's sometimes difficult to remember these things." Without another word, she turned gracefully on her heel and walked out of the room.

"Pardon me, Christine," Erik replied. He put her suitcase down, and followed Giry out.

He needed to have a talk with his employer for a moment.

Giry's Room

"Antoinette…" Erik began as he walked into Giry's room and shut the door behind him. "You should have told me!"

"Does it matter, Erik? I thought you'd be pleased." Giry replied as she opened her closet and filled it with the clothes she had brought back from her private room at Ravelle.

"I AM!" Erik replied, "I am VERY pleased! So pleased that it would no doubt frighten the poor girl!" He stepped closer to Giry, lowering his voice, "But this makes things difficult for me!" he hissed, "To be living in such intimately close quarters with her? I will go mad from it."

Giry turned to him and crossed her arms as she studied the man before her. "Are you telling me that you cannot control yourself around a pretty girl, Erik?"

"What I am TELLING you is that I will be painfully reminded of what can never be! Is that what you want? You want me to suffer?"

"Well, heaven forbid you may actually have to admit to the girl how you feel," Giry sighed.

"Antoinette-" Erik warned.

"Or worse yet, what if she feels the same way?"

"Do not torment me!" Erik growled.

"After all, you cannot run from your feelings here like you could at the College," Giry continued. "You had air ducts to sneak around in, shadows to sulk in. But here? What do you have? Nothing. This house is rather small compared to Ravelle." She looked up at him, her voice betraying no sympathy. "What a shame - I have deprived our resident ghost of his hiding places."

The next day

Christine awoke to a loud banging and clattering outside the house. She rolled over sleepily in bed and checked the clock. 10am. Who would be up this early on a summery Saturday?

"Meg?" Christine muttered. She saw a shape shift beneath Meg's blankets, followed by an incoherent mutter. Her friend wasn't getting up any time soon.

Christine pushed herself off her bed and shuffled her feet along the floor, following the sound. The noises were coming from the back of the house, and Christine soon stood at the glass door that allowed a perfect view of the Girys' swimming pool.

In the backyard, Christine saw Erik carrying several 2x4s over his lean shoulders - which looked paler than usual against his black tank top. Giry seemed to be telling him where to put them.

He dropped his current bundle atop another pile of wood, his gloved hands gracefully drawing shapes in the air as he explained to Giry something that received an agreeable nod.

Christine slowly pushed open the sliding door, "What's going on out here?" she muttered drowsily, wincing at the bright sun that blazed across the blue sky.

Erik turned to her... and froze. His amber eyes grew wide as he was unable to stop them from traveling over Christine's form ever so slowly.

He blinked once. Twice...

…then immediately looked away and cursed under his breath.

"Christine," Giry started calmly as she studied the girl. "Would it not be wiser to wear a robe in the presence of a man?"

Christine's mind still had not fully woken up. With a furrow of her brow, she glanced down at herself. She was in her summer pajamas – a sky-blue cami and matching boyshorts.

She felt a flush of heat upon her cheeks - never realizing before how her choice of sleepwear left very little to the imagination. Then again, she had never worn them in the presence of a man before either.

"Umm…I… I'm sorry…" she mumbled quickly, and rushed off to her room.

Giry turned back to Erik, who was wound tighter than a clock. "She is gone."

He shook his head vehemently. "I can't do this," he hissed. "I cannot STAY here. Not with her!"

"And what are you going to do?" Giry asked. "I have paid you half the fee in advance, and I have brought all these supplies," she indicated the mess of wood, nails, and various hardware scattered about her backyard. "I do not have the time nor patience for my contractor to take a two-hour train ride here and back every day simply because he is afraid of a little girl."

He spun on the woman. "It is SHE who should be afraid, Antoinette! Don't you understand?" he cried out. "She is far too tempting."

"Oh Erik, please." Giry sighed, "You have been watching my ballet classes long enough to have seen your fair share of scantily clad girls. You are not one to drool. It is unbecoming."

"Hey…" a quiet voice came from the opened door. Giry and Erik looked up to see Christine once again, now with a light cotton robe wrapped around her. She turned to Erik. "I … uh… heard some weird sounds coming from the spare room. The door was closed, and I figured you didn't want me to go in there… but-"

"Isis and her kittens," Erik answered, now able to look at a covered Christine.

"They're here?" she squealed happily.

"Yes. I could not leave them alone at the college." He then furrowed his brow as he curiously studied the girl before him. "When did you get glasses, Christine?"

"Oh!" Christine hands went to the thin silver wire-rimmed frames upon her face. "First year High School. I haven't had a chance to put my contacts in yet," she replied, feeling a little embarrassed at the inherent geekiness of her poor eyesight.

"They look very cute on you," Erik replied truthfully.

Christine blushed, smiling shyly. "Thanks…" She paused for a moment, then spoke once again. "Um… Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

"Can I go play with the kitties?" she asked hopefully, looking like an eager little girl with a new toy.

"Of course. I'm sure they would like some attention. Just make sure they do not get out."

"Oh, they can have reign of the house if they wish," Giry offered. "So long as they do not ruin my furniture. Let them out, Christine. But close the screen here. We don't want them running into the street now,"

With a gleeful little jump, Christine slid the screen closed and headed off to Erik's feline-occupied room.

Erik sunk down on the cool grass, unable to take his eyes from where Christine had stood. "Antoinette…" he began softly.

"Yes, Erik. What is it?"

"Is there something wrong if I believe a frizzy-haired, four-eyed Christine has never looked more beautiful?"

Giry looked down at him and raised an eyebrow. "I take it you are not tempted any more?"

"I will always be tempted, Antoinette," he replied whimsically. "But right now, I am awed…"

Giry kitchen - later

Christine nibbled at the cheese sandwich on her plate as she kept shifting her glance to the sliding door several feet away. It was open save for the screen to keep the cats inside.

Erik was in the backyard, engrossed in his work as he hammered away vigilantly at the wood, his own lunch sitting untouched on a table beside him.

"It's about time you got a deck built, Momma," Meg smiled. "I've wanted to picnic out there for the longest time!"

"Well, Erik has some lovely ideas. He suggested putting a roof over it to protect us from the rain," Giry replied.

Meg clapped her hands together. "I love the rain when it's warm out!" She then glanced at Christine and studied her for a moment. "Don't you usually put your contacts in after you get dressed?"

"Uh… um…" Christine's hand went self-consciously to the frames on her face, "Well…. you know, my allergies are acting up. Eyes were kind of irritated, so-"

"Oh for heaven sake!" Giry replied impatiently, then turned to her daughter. "Erik told Christine that her glasses looked cute."

Meg glanced at her friend, and smirked, "That explains it then."

"It's not like that…" she muttered, then felt a nudge against her leg. "Awww… hey sweetie!" Christine cooed as she picked up one of Erik's kittens.

It was the best way to avoid the conversation.

Erik had named the brown and cream-coloured cat "Odin," the poor thing having been born with only one good eye. It was an homage to some Norse god, he had said, and Odin had instantly become Christine's favourite feline.

It seemed she was developing a preference for misfits as of late.

The phone suddenly rang, and Meg quickly jumped to her feet to answer it, "Hello? RJ!" she squealed.

Christine rolled her eyes and smiled. "Didn't take him too long to call,"

"Ahhh, he loves me!" Meg replied delightfully, then took the portable phone and disappeared into her room.

Christine watched her go, then stood up and carried Odin to the sliding screen, settling the kitten in her lap as she sat down and looked out into the backyard "I didn't know you could do that," she started as she caught Erik's attention, indicating the wood and tools spread out before him. "I thought you just designed things." He glanced back at her, and she took note of the fact he was wearing the mask she had made for him.

"I used to build things all the time when I was younger," he explained. "Altering plans to see what would work better, and so on." He looked around a moment, then leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Let us just say I was an unofficial student of Ravelle's 'design and technology' course for a while,"

"Unofficial?" Christine wondered.

"Meaning he hid in the air-ducts and took notes," Giry replied as she glanced over at the two.

He shrugged, "Better then nothing, Antoinette. I learned quite a lot..."

"Yes…" Giry replied. "Though the professors got rather annoyed to find some of their supplies go missing now and then."

"How long have you been living there?" Christine asked as she looked between Giry and Erik.

"Fifteen years now. Ever since Antoinette found me." He answered.

"Found you? Did you just drop out of the sky or something?"

"Erik prevented a vampire from making me Its dinner," Giry explained.

"In return," Erik continued, "she brought me to the College. She was a professor for quite a few years before she became the Dean of Arts,"

"Yes. Well, enough chatter," Giry clapped her hands together. "We ladies are off to the grocery store, and then the mall." She turned to Erik, "I expect a good portion of that foundation to be laid when we return,"

Erik nodded, and the three went their separate ways.

Erik's Room – Two weeks later

Erik was starting to wonder if he should have left Giry's home improvements to someone else as the high-pitched sound of college girls arguing invaded his sensitive ears.

"C'mon, Chrissy! You said I could wear the dress!" That was little Giry.

"But it's MY dress! And I want to wear it tomorrow!" Christine replied.

"RJ is coming over! I want to impress him!" Little Giry argued.

"Ever think there's someone I want to impress too?" Christine asked.

Erik felt a sharp stab in his chest. Had Christine already found herself a boy to crush on? It had been only two weeks since they arrived in the Giry's neighbourhood.

"Oh please! He's the type of guy who'll love you in a pair of sweats!" Little Giry responded.

"And you're saying RJ won't love you unless you look pretty for him?" Christine shot back.

The arguing continued, and Erik found himself growing more and more annoyed.

After a few more minutes of reading the same two lines repeatedly, his copy of "Dracula" went flying across the room.

If those girls didn't stop soon...!

... and then he heard it.

The rip of expensive material… and the explosion that soon followed.

Meg's Room

Christine froze, staring at the ruins of her favourite dress. Meg guiltily held the other half of it. They had been tugging it between them for the last few minutes.

"MEG!" Christine's scream echoed off the walls, "How COULD you!"

"ME?" Meg snapped back, "YOU'RE the one who kept grabbing at it!"

"DID NOT!"

"DID TOO!"

"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO-"

Both girls were shocked into silence as the door was violently kicked open.

"SHUT UP!" came Erik's deep angry voice. He looked wildly about the room, anger clear in his amber eyes.

Both girls squealed, hugging their respective pieces of Christine's torn dress against their scantily clad bodies. Even though both girls were only in their undergarments, Erik was oblivious to their current state of undress.

"BOTH OF YOU! JUST. SHUT. UP!" he roared.

His attention went to Christine first. "I will BUY you a new dress!" he growled, then turned to Meg, "and I will buy you the SAME damned dress!" He then took them both in, and continued, "… if the two of you will just SHUT UP and let me have some PEACE AND QUIET!"

The two girls nodded nervously, muttering a frightened apology to the angry man in the mask.

"THANK you!" He hissed, then turned around and stormed back to his room.

Meg and Christine looked back at each other, silent a moment before Meg spoke again, "It's YOUR fault he's mad, you know!"

"It is NOT my-" Christine's words were cut off with an angry bang against the wall that separated Erik's room from theirs.

Christine frowned. "Maybe it would be better if I don't stay in this room tonight!"

"And where are you going to sleep?" Meg huffed.

"Wherever! I'll find a place!" Christine snapped, then quickly grabbed her pajamas, toiletries, and pillow, and headed off to shower.

Erik's Room – 20 Minutes Later

Peace and quiet.

Finally!

Erik tugged off his mask and undressed, pulling on a pair of black Lycra shorts before turning in for a good night's rest.

As he drifted off to sleep, he found himself having the sweetest dream:

Christine had come into his room and spoken to him. Was she asking a question? Yes. She wanted permission for something. He muttered in the affirmative. He could never deny her anything, after all.

In his dream, Erik felt Christine carefully slipping beneath the duvet. She did not touch him, instead laying a few inches away. The bed was queen-size: Enough room for a tall man and a diminutive ballet dancer to keep a respectable distance.

Once the girl was settled, however, Erik boldly wrapped an arm around her tiny waist and tugged her back against him.

It was a dream, after all. He could be brave.

He heard Christine give a little gasp of surprise and, after a moment's hesitation, he felt her relax in his embrace. They were soon comfortably curled up beneath the duvet, his chin resting atop her silken hair.

Odd, how her hair was damp in his dream. It was as if she had just come from a shower.

In this lovely illusion, Christine's cotton cami bunched up just a little, allowing the palm of his hand to rest against the warmth of her belly – taut from years of dancing.

Erik then dreamt he felt her fingers entwine with his, heard a soft sigh escape her lips.

To hold his angel... to have her nestled in his arms - it was all he needed. This delicate human contact was far more then he had ever hoped for in his lifetime.

For once, his sleep was not invaded by nightmares. He was not crying out from the painful memories of his childhood, nor was he tortured by the disquieting flashbacks of his numerous executions.

Tonight, his sleep was filled with a peace the likes of which he had never known.

If only he could have this dream every night. If only it could be true...

… and if only his dream-Christine would stop her soft snoring as if she were really there.

END OF EPISODE 18