Of Monsters and Angels

by Partners in Fanfiction

ErikxOFC with LND elements. Nicole "Nikki" Lasalle-Jones approaches the mysterious Mr. Y of Phantasma for the rights to one of his shows for her school's theater department. Mr. Y turns out to be an old friend of her late mother's with a checkered past he's reluctant to reveal to anyone else, even if he's suddenly enamored of her. Rated for scary scenes, limes and language.

36. Chapter 36: Erik's POV

36

Erik

Monique Desiree Destler was born on June 14th, 2013, at 3:14 P.M. precisely, in a paparazzi barricaded New Orleans hospital wing. I sat by my exhausted wife, one arm around her and the other helping her hold our equally exhausted daughter.

"She's beautiful," Nicole sighed.

"Yes," I agreed.

"Like…I wanna cry, she's so cute," he chuckled before tears came down her cheeks. I realized I was crying too.

Someone knocked on the door. I noticed through the window that it was her aunt and uncle. "Come in," Nicole called before I did.

Deshawn, Tonya and their one-month-old son Jamal came in. Tonya gasped at the sight of her grandniece and said, "Oh, she's beautiful."

"Yeah, we were just saying that," Nicole giggled as Tonya handed Jamal to Deshawn and went to her left side. "What's her name again?"

"Monique," she said as Deshawn and Jamal approached her. "I can't believe my aunt has a kid one month older than mine. Like, it's going to be weird having playdates with your first cousin once removed who's only a few weeks older than you."

"Or really fun," Deshawn said. "How's fatherhood so far, Erik?"

"You mean for the past half hour?" Nicole giggled.

"It's the most rewarding experience I've had since I met Nicole," I replied.

She blushed and Tonya squealed, "Oh my god, you're the cutest couple ever. You're Sonny and Cher when it seemed like they weren't going to divorce and Brangelina and Michelle and Barack and…yeah."

Nicole nodded. "Thanks, Auntie Tonya."

Monique fell asleep and the nurse, Ingrid, knocked on the door. "Ready to take her to the nursery?"

Nicole nodded. "I guess."

Ingrid took Monique from us and left. Nicole then looked at me and said, "You're the best, okay?"

"No, my love," I replied, pushing a strand of her hair fallen from the bun she put it up in behind her ear. "You are."

"Shut up," she hissed. She grabbed me by my shirt, pulled me to her face and kissed me. When she ran out of breath, she whispered to me, "I love you."

Tonya sniffled. "It's a perfect ending."

"Ending would refer to someone dying," Nicole said.

I took her left hand and pressed my lips against it. I said, "It's a new beginning."