A/N: I'm back! Sorry for the wait those who have read this like what? Over a year ago? Haha well my bad for not updating! Those who are new, welcome! Warning, I am slow with updating because I am juggling high school, a job, applying to college and spending my senior year with friends and family. It leaves me little free time! Soo! Take advantage of my update and enjoy :) - Sam
Slight Stray From Routine
Erik sleeps in my bed every night now. It's terrible! I feel like I'm cheating on Micheal even though I know I'm not! Because see, he waits until I'm already asleep and the bastard joins me! Every morning, it's the same argument, which he always somehow manags to win! How is that even fair? Maybe it's like a balance thing, he can sexually harass me because his presence makes my relationship with my niece stronger. That's...really messed up.
But really, Lexi is doing great. Her grades are up, she's starting to talk more and more and not just to Erik. She's really adorable too. She is like a mother to the cats, plays with toys, is extremely grateful and her teacher, Mrs Sanborn, had nothing but positive feedback. I guess she's even coming out of her shell at school as well!
It's been about a month and I'm eager to know how much she'll improve. Also, I am eager for Erik's house to be rebuilt and my Micheal to come back. Everyday is pretty much like his first full day here: Erik making comments and me ignoring him. On better days, I'm at work or he's at work so I don't have to deal with him except in the morning and at night. -sigh-
Today, luck was somehow on my side. Erik had work...but Lexi had the day off from school. I woke up to the alarm clock Erik had set and hit him with a pillow. "Get up and get out." I said groggily, trying to fall back to sleep. I can sleep in and Lexi can sleep in, so why not take advantage of it?
"But baby I thought you could make me coffee..."
"Fuck. You." I said, pushing my face in the pillow.
Erik leaned over to my side of the bed and whispered in my ear, "That's what I've been saying this whole time..."
How can he be this gross so early in the morning? I shoved him away from me and he laughed. I attempted to go back to sleep but all I could hear was his loud movement, which I'm pretty sure he was making on purpose since he is practically a ninja. How do I know he's a ninja? Because he creeps up on me and scares me half to death for his second job and gets a kick out of it. He knows how to be quiet, yet he's being loud to piss me off.
And I'll be damned it's working...
Knowing I was too awake to go back to sleep I decided to get up and go make coffee for myself. I made one cup just for me, so Erik would know that I didn't make coffee for him like he asked. Yet what happens when he gets downstairs? He takes it right from my hand and says, "Thanks, babe, you're too kind."
"That was for me, dipshit." I said, glaring at him. My glare had no effect though, he was happy as ever in my kitchen, so I quit and made myself another cup. "And what have I been saying about the pet names?"
"Does it look like I really care what you've been saying?" He asked cheerfully. Touche.
"Pretend you care and quit it."
"But it's so much fun!"
"I have a boyfriend." I reminded him.
"Who's where? I've been here a month and haven't heard anything about him."
"He's on a business trip if you must know! He works for some agency and he goes on trips a lot. Right now he's on an extra long one and was suppose to be back next week but it's become extended and he's not sure how long it'll be. He calls me all the time, normally when I'm at work, and we email. So there." I answered, smugly taking a sip of my coffee.
"Some agency? You don't even know the name of it?" Is that really all he got from that entire explanation?
"He told me it but I forgot. I just-"
"Don't care?" Erik interrupted with a smirk. "Perfect because I say you dump him and let me permenantly live here. It's not fair you get to be Lexi's legal guardian all the time while I just get to remain uncle."
Maybe it's because I'm in a grumpy mood or because I'm on my period, but his comment that wasn't really important hit a nerve. During this past month, we've made sure to stay away from the reason why I'm Lexi's guardian. Not just Erik and I, Lexi as well. My eyes began to water as I thought of my sweet sister. Is there a heaven? Because I'm sure that's where she'd be, she's always been better than me.
"Hey." Erik said concerned, "Are you okay? Why are you crying?"
Warm tears ran down my face and I wiped them away. "I just miss her, that's all." I said softly, trying not to be vulnerable. The last thing I need his him making fun with this.
Erik was full of surpries though. Instead of making fun of me, he got a real somber look on his face and said quietly, "I understand. I miss my brother."
It took me a moment before I realized he lost someone too. Ralph, my sister's husband, was Erik's brother. I had met Ralph but I don't recall seeing Erik at the wedding. Or ever hearing about him really. "I'm sorry, I completely forgot." I apologized, feeling like a mega bitch.
"Don't worry about it." He said, patting my arm. "Thanks for the coffee, I'm going to work." I watched him gulp it down, put it in the sink and leave in a hurry. That's weird...let's just pretend it never happened...
I took my coffee and sat on the couch. I curled up in a blanket, sipping coffee and turned on the news. I remembered school mornings as a girl, watching it with my sister. We always imitated the way the weatherman talked since he had an odd accent we couldn't place. Amzing enough, the same weatherman was still giving the weather. Watching it made me remember how we'd imitate him then break out into giggles and then rush to get ready for school. Where did the time go...where did the sweet moments go...
"Can I have some blanket too?"
I jumped a little, nearly spilling my coffee. "Jesus, Lexi, you were so quiet I didn't even hear you come in."
She gave me a small smile. "Sorry, auntie."
"It's alright." I said, sharing the blanket with her. "Why're you up so early? You don't have school, you could sleep in."
"I heard the alarm clock and couldn't go back to sleep." Ah, a light sleeper just like me.
"I'm gonna have to tell your uncle to get a new alarm clock...or to sleep in the basement." I told her, definitely preffering the second option.
Lexi giggled. "He probably won't like that much."
"I believe we outnumber him."
"Isn't he stronger though?" A well trained police officer stronger than a young woman and child? The odds are not in our favor.
"Yes." I admitted. "But! We can outwit him easily. All we have to do is trick him down there and lock it."
"What if he breaks down the door?"
"I'll chop off his hands." Or his penis. Which he probably uses more anyways.
Her eyes went wide. "Auntie!"
I laughed. "I'm kidding." Maxine rubbed up against the couch and I picked her up, putting her on my lap. Lexi scooted over and started petting her. Sookie jumped up, jealous that the other cat was getting Lexi's attention, so Lexi started petting her too.
"With temperatures up to seventy five, it's going to be a warm day, without a cloud in ze sky..." The weatherman on t.v. said.
"Why did he say 'ze' but not use a french accent?" Lexi inquired.
"I'm not sure." I answered, smiling. "He's always talked funny like that though."
"For how long?"
"Since your mom and I were young." I said, kissing the top of her head. "Time hasn't weakened it."
Lexi didn't say anything more, she watched the news lost in her own thought. When it ended I told her to go get dressed and told her she'd see when she asked why. She came down all ready and that's when I exlcaimed, "We're going to the park!"
She smiled wide and took my hand. We walked a block to go to the park. I pushed her on the swings, chased her around and watched her from a bench as she went on the slides. Afterwards, we got lunch at Friendly's and ice cream. The day was great but by two, safe and sound at home, Lexi looked paler than usual. "Sweetie, are you alright?" I asked, feeling her forehead. She was really cold, as always, but something was off with her.
She gulped. "I'm...fine."
"You don't sound it." I stated.
"No, I am. Thanks for the day." She said before running up to her room.
I was about to go up to her room when Erik came in. "Honey I'm home!" He announced as he walked in.
Joy.
*Erik's POV*
"Not now." Angela said, running her hand through her hair. "I'm really worried about Lexi."
Worried? What has Lexi given her to worry about? "What's wrong with her?" I asked, erasing the humor from before.
Angela looked at me with worried eyes. "She is looking extremely pale. I thought she had a fever but she's just as cold as normal. However, she did look a bit anxious. And when I asked her about it she ran off. I don't know what's gotten into her..."
What Angela didn't know, I did. Lexi was hungry.
'I have to get her out of the house or get blood to her, both will be difficult with Angela. Jesus, Lindsey, what were you thinking putting a human as her guardian?' I thought to myself. I looked at the woman in front of me, beautiful, yet full of worry about something she'd never get to understand.
"I'll go up and figure it out." I said to buy myself more time. Either way, I'm going to need an effective lie and I can't come up with one right this second that will make this work.
"I'll come with you." Especially if she's going to be right at my heels.
"You can't." I said automatically. Wow that was a smart move, genius.
"Why not?" She demanded.
The only way to get her away from this child, was by hurting her. So that's what I had to do, "I don't know if you noticed...but Lexi only started talking more when I came around. I'm the adult she prefers to confer with, the one she knows better and she will tell me what's wrong...which is something she'll never do with you."
There was a sharp intake of breath and Angela's eyes widened in disbelief, shock and pain. Surprising enough to me, I actually felt bad about hurting her. Yet I continued to do so, "So do us both a favor and stay down here. I'll go, by myself, and figure this out."
"Okay." She whispered. "Just help her."
I've always thought of humans as fragile, easily controlled and manipulated through emotion, yet I never thought twice about using it when I thought it was necessary. I was having doubts about it though as I went to Lexi's room. Angela wasn't trying to hurt Lexi, she was simply caring and trying to decipher what was wrong and...she didn't deserve to be hurt for that.
"Lexi, it's me." I said, knocking on the door. Lexi opened it quickly and I came inside. Angela was right, she was paler than usual and her eyes were beginning to turn crimson. "You need blood." I stated, my voice low.
She nodded. "I...I can't be near her. She smells really good and-"
Angela did smell rather appetizing. I often hunted before joining her in bed, it was so strong. "I understand. But the only question is how. As far as I can see, we have two options. Sneak out the window and go hunting or to get you some from the hospital."
"I normally use the window..."
I shook my head. "Then we can't. First of all, it's still daylight and it's very risky to begin with. Then there's the fact that if your aunt were to catch both of us doing that..." I had a feeling no matter how mean I was to her she'd still persue for answers to questions that would surely arise at that.
"How are we going to get past Auntie Angie then?" Good question.
"Well...I could say I'm taking you to the doctors and we'll forge a note or something."
Lexi looked doubtful. "I'm pretty sure she'll ask way more questions."
"If I assure her that I've got it and it's for your welfare, she'll let it slide little to no questions further asked. I um hurt her feelings a bit."
Lexi caught me by surprise and started hitting me. It didn't do much damage, since I am stronger than her, even if she is stronger than Angela. "She's been nothing but nice to me" She shouted. PMS toddlers? Since when? 'Since she's hungry and emotional...'
I restrained her by taking both of her hands in one of mind. "Yeah, that's great, but we've got to go now. We can talk about this later." I said, dragging her out. We downstairs and I told Angela I was taking her to the hospital to be checked out. This wasn't a complete lie, we were going to the hospital, but it wasn't for a check up or anything, just blood. All she did was give me money and offer her car, no further questions.
I didn't want to take her money but I kind of had to. If I didn't she would get suspicious. So I did take it with the full intention to somehow make it up to her. I drove the car a bit on the fast side but got Lexi in through the back entrance of the hospital and feed in no time. I even made her take a little extra and had one with her. I brought her in the car and took the long way back to the house so it looks like we waited a bit. Again, I felt bad for it, because Angela was anxiously waiting, I just knew it.
Stop pitying the woman' I ordered myself. Of course, since I don't listen to anyone, and I know that very well, I don't understand how I didn't realize I wouldn't be listening to myself. Which is confusing but really means that either way, I still felt bad.
"Man this sucks." I said, thinking aloud.
"What sucks?" Lexi piped.
Oops. "Uh being a decent human being?"
"You aren't human."
"I'm not? Since when?"
She giggled. "Birth."
I grinned. "I knew that."
She just shook her head the way Angela does whenever I do something stupid or obnoxious, sometimes both. "I'm sorry about earlier, Uncle Erik."
"Don't worry about it, kiddo. You were emotional."
"I meant sorry for not feeding and having you have to take care of me. You deserved the hits, you hurt Auntie Angie." Rub salt in the wounds, kid, like I don't feel bad enough. Nope, just keep adding insult to injury. You know, flushing shit down my toilet. Beating a dead horse. Okay...I'm done with my witty remarks.
"Finally accepted her, huh?"
Lexi nodded. "She's just like mommy said."
Sexy and fun to mess with? "Boring?"
She glared at me, but it wasn't intimidating at all, it was actually cute. "No. She's really nice, caring and funny."
"Exactly, boring."
"Uncle Erik!" She whined.
We laughed and it was silent. "I miss her." Lexi said softly, referring to her mother.
"You are just like her, child." I told her, remembering Angela's words this morning.
Lexi went from whiney to happy in two seconds. "Really?"
"Really."
She's just like her mom...who is just like Angela.
Only better...
*Angela's POV*
I was pacing back and forth in the living room, Erik's words replaying through my mind. "I don't know if you noticed...but Lexi only started talking more when I came around. I'm the adult she prefers to confer with, the one she knows better and she will tell me what's wrong...which is something she'll never do with you."
I'm doing everything I can. I love Lexi so, so much, I just wish she'd let me in.
"...which is something she'll never do with you."
Oh come on, even when he's not here, he's still here. And it's worse...because this time, he wasn't joking. This time, he could be right. She loves him the most and I'll never take that away, I'd never want to. Yet that doesn't make me want to stop loving or caring about her. I just want her to know I'm here for her, that she can confide in me, I'm here to help not harm.
"...which is something she'll never do with you."
The phone rang, startling me, and I answered it after a few moments. "Hello?"
"Hi, sweetheart. How're you?"
"Um, I'm okay." I lied.
"Angela." Micheal said my name, stating he knew that I was lying. Not like I was very convincing anyways...
"Alright so I'm a bit stressed right now. Lexi's just looking a little pale, that's all. I think she might have a bug..." I didn't mention Erik to Micheal at all. Honestly, it's obviously going to start a fight. Not only is a full grown man living here that's not him, but Lexi and Erik are so close and if I'm on the outside I can only imagine how difficult it's going to be to get Micheal and Lexi aquianted with Erik around. And yeah it's just something I plan on putting off talking about until he gets here and I'm really forced to.
"I hope she gets better soon." You and me both.
"So when are you coming home officially? Is it set in stone yet?"
"Yes. Four weeks weeks."
"Good. I miss you." I said, but not really meaning it. I mean I did miss him, but my hands have been so full that with the calling and emails, I hadn't really noticed as much as I normally would.
He didn't catch the lie this time though. "I miss you too, babe. I'll see you soon. I love you."
"You too. Wait, hun, what agency do you work for again? I think I've forgotten the name." I said, wanting to prove a point to Erik.
"Jacht." Micheal answered. "Why do you ask?"
Erik pulled in the driveway with a much healthier looking Lexi in the passanger seat. "Uh Lexi just came in! Got to go I'll email you tonight!" I said, hanging up quickly and running outside. "Lexi?"
She jumped out of the passanger seat and ran right into my arms, giving me a big hug. "I feel much better now." She said, burying her head in my chest. I hugged her tightly, savoring the moment.
I kissed her on one of her slightly rosy cheeks. "I am so very happy to hear that." I told her, looking up at Erik. "I don't know what you did exactly but thank you."
"Yeah...can I talk to you inside?"
I nodded, detaching myself from Lexi and just taking her hand. We went inside and I let go, "Why don't you go play with the cats?"
"Okay!" She exclaimed, before running off. I sat down feeling an enormous amount of relief. Lexi is alright...everything is alright...
"I want to apologize."
Okay, hold up, I lied. Everything is not alright. Erik? Apologizing? To me? What? "Um...did I hear that right?" I verified.
There was no joking in his eyes. "Yes. I was worried about Lexi earlier and I said some mean things to you that I nver should have said. I am sincerely sorry for that and I would like to make it up to you." He said, his voice ringing with the truth of his words.
I looked down at my feet, fiddling with my hands on my lap. "I don't know. You're kind of right. I don't know what magic you worked to make her better, but she is, and it was only after you helped her...not me."
Erik came and sat down next to me. "But you knew there was something wrong to begin with, you are the one who provides for her and you love her a lot. She knows that and she loves you just as much, if not more, than she loves me." He said, his hand on my leg as a comforting gesture.
I nodded and patted his hand. "She loves us equally." I said, meeting his eyes.
He smiled and for once it wasn't patronizing or full of hidden messages. It was a genuine, beautiful smile. "So you'll let me make it up to you?"
"Sure. What did you have in mind?"
"A date." I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand and continued, "Let me finish. A date but as friends."
That sounded strangely...nice. "Okay but you know what that means don't you?" He gave me a quizical look and I continued with a smile, "It means you have to go back to being an asshole so I can be the almighty, superior one."
He laughed. "Sounds great. I'll find a baby-sitter and we'll go next Friday night."
"Til then business as usualy?" I verified, already knowing the answer.
"But of course, baby!" That's what I thought.
I rolled my eyes and got up, headed upstairs to spend time with Lexi. Before I ascneded the stairs, I turned and said, "Oh and Erik?"
"Yes?"
I smirked. "His agency is called Jacht."
He raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised how I found out between this morning and now (not really considering I asked on the phone like two minutes ago) but otherwise said nothing.
Victory!
A/N: That's all for now! I have the next chapter all planned in my pretty little head and it'll just take a bit of time to get it on here! This chapter, I made longer than I originally intended (believe it or not) because I am dedicating it to a special someone, VooduRea, whose birthday was recently AND she's a loyal reader that's fun and nice to talk to :) Thank you for reading and please review! - Sam