The Next Morning

I awoke with Erik's arms around me, he was clinging on to me like his life depended on me. I turned over to face him, he was asleep, the expression on his face was pained. He winced painfully and cried out in horror, I could tell he was about to jolt awake, I laid a hand on his shoulder hopefully it would stop him from shooting up straight in bed, it would most likely make him bleed again. I looked at his closed eyes, underneath them, I could see the frantic movements of his eyes flicking around in his dream. I frowned, he could be such a gentle person, he didn't deserve being treated the way he had. His eyes flew open as he screamed, I looked at him with sympathy. He was breathing heavily, he finally realized I was looking at him.

"Jaclyn." He whimpered, I lay a hand on his cheek, my nails gently grazing his skin, he smiled weakly, he grasped my wrist gently and kissed my palm sweetly.

"Did I disturb you?" He asked, worried. I smiled gently.

"No, I was already awake, what was your dream about?" Erik groaned as he sat up.

"More like a nightmare, Jaclyn. I don't want to horrify you, though you're not afraid of this, " He pointed to his face, "My past will scare you. I know."

"So I take it your dream was about your past."

"Yes, my mother drowning me."

"Oh." I said simply I watched Erik, he ran his hand through his hair, sitting on the edge of the bed, hunched over himself now, he looked at me from behind him, his pretty blue eye studied me as I sat on the bed, secretly watching him, I didn't know if he knew, he turned away from me and got up off the bed and stretched gently, wincing slightly at his injury. I got up off the bed with him, I went to him He held his arm out for me to come to his side, I smiled wider and walked to him, he wrapped his arm around me, leading me out of the room, I rested my head on his bare shoulder. He took us to the kitchen where he made us breakfast, I was sitting on the bar stool, watching him at the stove.

"So, Jaclyn, what wad your family like?" Erik asked

"Well, I was an only child. My mother and father were very loving. Sadly my mother died in a carriage accident, my father died shortly after." The truth was that he killed himself.

"I'm sorry for your lose, Jaclyn." I heard the relation in his voice, it soothed me. Because for a while I thought I had the most tragic life, but Erik came along and proved me wrong. I was actually glad, I didn't have it as bad as I thought. I watched Erik get two plates and dish out the portions, he turned and handed me a plate and fork, I took them with gratitude, I went to sit in the breakfast nook and waited for Erik to arrive before I started to eat. He entered the room and seated himself beside me. I smiled sweetly at him before I started to eat, he returned the smile.

"Where exactly are you from Jaclyn?" He asked

"America. I came over before the war started, started." I replied, feeling bad about lying to Erik, he was so gullible at times, and I hated to take advantage of it, it broke my heart, but he smiled, showing his belief in my lie. I closed my eyes and pushed my plate of half eaten food away from me, I had lost my appetite, feeling so bad about lying to Erik. He looked at me in curiosity, "What is something wrong with the food?" He asked. I smiled weakly. "Oh, no, it was perfect, I'm just not as hungry as I thought I was." I got up and went out to the porch, letting the sun warm my skin, Erik had, unbeknown to me, had came up behind me. His hand rested on my upper arm and traveled down to my hand and took it, he wrapped his other arm around me, his hand resting at the center of my stomach, he buried his face in my hair. I sighed contently, Erik sighed with me, I loved it, I loved him. I turned around in his embrace and kissed him, he returned the kiss hungrily, then, obviously remembering his injury, cooled down a bit. He broke away.

"Of all times, now is when I have to be injured." He said playfully. I smiled as he did his famous, tucking-hair-behind-ear move, he hugged my body closer to him. I closed my eyes and snuggled into him, he chuckled and tightened his embrace. And for once since my parents' death, I was utterly at peace.

A/N: Sorry about the shortness of the chapter, but I've hit a block in the road, if you're willing to help me, I'll be glad to except ideas, of Lord, that sounded lazy