CHAPTER 8

"Nadia, this letter makes no sense. It has a bunch of numbers and letters that doesn't look like any kind of code I'm familiar with," Sydney asked the shaking Nadia who looked like someone who had a death lurking near her.

"I need to talk to Eric. Please Syd, I need to tell him this in person. He needs to be the first to know. I want him here," Nadia said looking pleadingly into Sydney's eyes.

"You can tell me anything and I'll be here for you. Tell me how I can help you?" Sydney said concerned. It wasn't good for Nadia to depend on Eric when he couldn't fully be here for her.

"I did something that I will regret all my life, I need to come clean to Eric about it. I thought that what I did was long buried, but they won't let me forget." Nadia said seriously and looked at her sister as if to tell her that she was going to get her way no matter what Sydney might say about it.

Michael pulled Sydney away from Nadia who looked like a mess. Something very disturbing was going on and he didn't see no other alternative other than call Eric and have him come over.

"I'll call him," Michael said giving Sydney a worried look and left to make the call to the other room still carrying Isabelle.

--

"I'm exhausted, thank god I don't have to clean this place. Mom's coming in the morning to do that," Rachel said giggling as Eric was slightly tickling her feet. She was very ticklish and Eric knew that very well.

"Looks like you have it made, honey. A tall, dark and handsome man is massaging your feet AND you don't have clean. What a perfect world," Eric joked as he carefully climbed on top of Rachel, balancing himself on his hands so that no weight was pressing against her stomach.

"My life is pretty good, I can admit that," Rachel smiled, kissing Eric deeply. Eric hadn't seemed so relaxed and happy in her company in weeks and this flirty banter they had was a change from the moody and depressed version of Eric that she had come to know since Nadia had returned.

After a few minutes of kissing that was far from the sweet and chaste kisses she had become accustomed, he moved away from her and settled next to her taking Rachel in his arms.

"I know you said you didn't want to make a decision about the name before he's born, but I really like the name Aaron Eric Rafferty Weiss. How does that sound?" Rachel asked, snuggling closer to him and taking a hold of his hand.

"Aaron Eric Rafferty Weiss, that's not bad. I think he could go through life as an Aaron," Eric said surprised that he actually liked the name and didn't have to pretend to for Rachel's sake.

"Aaron. I guess you are an Aaron then. Mommy and daddy can't wait to see you Aaron," Rachel said lovingly, talking to her stomach.

"Mike's going to be disappointed since I didn't name my first born after him. He actually suggested it, but our kid is not going to be a Michael. I'd rather name him Kumquat," Eric laughed, but what interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.

"Hello Mike. Your timing is impeccable; we were just having a laugh at your expense. What's up?" Eric asked making a face that Rachel found hilarious and couldn't help laughing.

"I need you to come over. Something's up with Nadia and she doesn't want to tell what's wrong unless you're here. Can you make it," Michael asked pouncing Isabelle so she wouldn't start crying.

"I'll be there in 15." Eric said simply and ended the call. He looked at Rachel and felt guilty, but Nadia needed him and he had to go make sure she was okay.

"Don't tell me you have to go. I hate your job; this was your day off. Take care of yourself and come back in one piece," Rachel said with a kiss before he could leave the bed. Eric didn't correct her and was glad she assumed he had to go to work. She would have a fit if she knew where he was actually going.

"I'm sorry, I'll be back as soon as I can. I don't want you to move anywhere from that bed, I'll put that chick flick you love in the DVD player and you can
just relax." Eric said going to the living room and returning with 'The Notebook' which was one of Rachel's favorite movies of all time. Eric thought the movie sucked personally and had only once watched it, even then falling asleep half away through the film, but this was one tried and true way to make sure Rachel didn't move anywhere for a while.

"While you're at it, can you bring me butter pecan ice cream from the fridge? I feel a craving coming," Rachel said adjusting her position and getting ready to watch the movie that always made her cry.

"Your wish is my command. Here's the ice cream, apple juice and some tissues. You always cry during it, so…" Eric replied returning from the kitchen with a large ice cream container and other items she would need.

"You're a sweet, thanks honey. Kick some bad guy butt and then come back to me," Rachel said and watched Eric grap his jacket and car keys and exit their home.

--

"Is he coming?" Nadia asked from Michael as he returned to the room where the two sisters where.

"Yeah, he should be here soon. I changed Isabelle, but she's hungry. Do you wanna feed her or am I going to get the bottle?" Michael asked from Sydney, still carrying their infant daughter.

"I'll feed her, can you stay here with Nadia before Eric gets here?" Sydney asked taking her daughter in her arms and kissing Michael on the lips.

"I'll sit with her," Michael responded and watched his wife disappear to the other room to take care of Isabelle.

They sat in silence for a while; she was hugging her knees to her chest, her eyes focused on something that Michael couldn't see while he was studying the letter. It looked like a random collection of numbers and letters, seemingly with no connection. The silence was broken by the ringing of the doorbell. Michael rose from his seat and went to the door and opened it.

"So is someone going to tell me what's happened?" Eric asked bewildered, taking in the scene. Nadia's demeanor was troubling, her whole petite body was shaking when he took her into his arms.

"Mike, I need to talk to my husband alone, we'll go to my room," Nadia said shakily and guided Eric to her bedroom with the letter in hand. He was shocked at her use of the word 'husband' and a little sad that most likely he would never have a change to call Nadia 'wife' ever again.

Nadia's room was quite big, with a queen-size bed with red beddings and fluffy pillows, as it's focus point. On her metallic nightstand, there were two pictures featured prominently, one was a shot of Nadia with her mother and Sydney while the other was their wedding photo, taken in the garden of the hotel where their reception had been held.

"Tell me what's wrong? You're scaring me," Eric said sitting on her bed and hoping for some answers.

"When I got home today from looking at apartments, I found this letter. It's written in a code that only five people can cipher; those five being me, dad, Lauren, Sark and the person who sent it. He was my bodyguard, dad trusted him to keep me safe and under lock and key. This letter means he is here in Los Angeles and he's going to ruin everything," Nadia said desperately, not really knowing how to start telling this miserable tale to the man she loved.

"Your safe Nadia, I won't let anyone take you again. Listen to me, whoever this man is, he is not getting anywhere near you, I guarantee you that," Eric said rising from the bed and taking Nadia into a tight hug that neither wanted to end. It felt good to hold the petite brunette woman tightly, he had missed this level of intimacy with her; during their meetings in resent weeks, they had been very platonic with each other meaning no hugging or touching.

"I did something that I'll regret, something I'm sure you're never able to forgive me for doing. I didn't tell you sooner because the truth would be too painful for you to deal with, but now if I don't tell you, someone else will. Hunter, my bodyguard, says in the letter that he's going to let everyone know who I really am, making my family hate me and leaving me all alone, so I'll have to return to him. You need to hear this from me, please don't hate me," Nadia said, not moving from his arms. After he would know the truth, he would never held her again.

"Nadia, I won't ever believe you did something bad by choice, whatever it is that you feel guilty about doing, you did because you didn't have a choice. There is no way I would ever hate you, no matter what this Hunter person believes." Eric said gently stroking her hair in a way he used to when she was upset about something.

"I killed our baby…. I murdered our daughter…."Nadia said breaking down and started crying. Eric froze at her words but didn't move.

To be continued…

Next chapter: Nadia tells Eric the most painful memory from her time in captivity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Who do you guys think Eric should be with? I'm still on the fence and I'll listen to any good ideas