Hey everyone, sorry I haven't updated in a while but here is the next chapter. I also have the next chapter to Paradise up sometime this week for sure.

R.R.

Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Special thanks to my Beta reader Htr17. You're awesome!

Chapter 4

Elimination

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Christine looked so beautiful tonight," Erik thought to himself. He began to smile as he remembered how breathtakingly beautiful she looked sitting, underneath all of the twinkeling stars " She even looked like an angel." Thinking back to their time spent in the garden, he felt his heart began to race with anticipation of tonights rose ceremony. "I hope she says yes." he asked himself nervously. Erik was pulled out of his revere by Noel, who was asking him a question about whether or not he liked to travel. He really wasn't up to talking to any of the other contestants. He knew how some of them felt about him This was only a game to some. As he tried to block out all the useless noise, Erik was thinking only about Christine and their future together. He knew without a doubt that she was the one for him.

Erik glanced down at his watch. The time read 11:05 p.m. It would not be long until he would have to make his first round of eliminations. He would be sending five girls home tonight. Five would be heart broken and this was his first major decision, he couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Erik held only one special girl close to his heart and She would be getting a rose tonight. She was also going to get the diamond studded earrings.

Erik and Noel continued to talk when Sam appeared next to them.

"Ok Erik the time has come, it's time for you to make your decision on who will be getting a rose and who will be going home." Sam told him.

"Alright." Erik replied back.

"Follow me." Sam told him.

Erik told Noel that it was nice talking to her and then got up to follow Sam into a small room where, 25 beautifully framed pictures of each of the girls, sat patiently, awaiting Erik to make his choice. Sam explained that he would give the girls that he wished, to remain, a rose and those who did not receive a rose would go home. Sam also explained the meaning behind the special golden rose and diamond earrings.

"The diamond earrings are to be given to one special girl. You want to give them to a girl that you might feel a special connection with, or a girl you might want to get to know more."

Erik nodded, and smiled, knowing that Christine was that special someone.

"Good Luck." Sam told Erik.

Erik took his time, looking at each picture, thinking carefully about the girls and the moments that they had shared. He stopped at Christine's picture and remembered how they played 20 questions. They had just met, but he could not believe how strong his feelings for her were.

Time ticked away as Erik made his final decision on who was staying and who was going home. Just then Sam entered the room.

"Are you ready Erik?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." He said.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Erik entered a wide opened area in the mansion. He glanced up to see that all the girls, including Christine, were all lined up ready to begin the first rose ceremony of the evening. All the girls seem to have been holding their breaths, while waiting anxiously for Erik, to make that one decision of who gets to stay and who gets to go home.

The ceremony then began.

Sam stood in front of the 25 young ladies and began to speak, "Ladies welcome to first rose ceremony of the evening. Those who receive a rose will continue on and those who do not recieve a rose, must say their goodbyes and leave the mansion. Thank you and good luck."

Sam walked out of the room and would wait until Erik would present the last rose which was the special rose with the diamond earings.

Erik called the first name,

"Rachel."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Tara."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Kayla."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Noel."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Kristin,"

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Alexandra."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Rebecca."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Shannon."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Faith."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Gabrielle"

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Megan."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Lauren."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Emma."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

"Candace."

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes."

Christine's heat skipped a beat, along with the other girls who did not yet receive a rose. She wondered why she hadn't received a rose yet. I though he told me we had something special between us...I guess there was nothing there after all. She felt so upset. She really liked Erik, she couldn't go home now! But I guess i will not be the one to be offered the rose with the diamond earrings. I'm sure he got to know another woman that he likes much more than me.

She thought to herself.

Sam once again entered the room.

"Ladies, this will be the last rose of the night. The one woman who will receiving this special golden rose and diamond earrings will get to go out on a special date alone with Erik. The other women will go out on group dates with Erik. Good luck." He said once more and left the room.

Here it was, the moment of truth. The last rose of the night. He picked it up, and looked down at it for a moment, then he took a quick glance at the group of women. He smiled and called out the one person that ment the world to him...

"Christine"

No, it can't be, not me, is he serious?

She stood frozen in place for a moment until she snapped out of it and moved towards Erik to claim her rose and diamond earrings!

"Christine, will you accept this rose?"

She smiled up at him and tears began to flow down her cheeks. She nodded, " Yes, I will." She took the rose from him and gave him a quick hug.

Erik pulled her close and whispered into her ear,

"I can't wait to see you again."

Christine smiled at his words, "Neither can I." She whispered back.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hope you liked the chapter!

R&R