A/N: Ok, this is kind of the wrong time of the year... :P but Christmas in June!

I'm happy to say I passed both Chem 11 and Math 11! :D I had my English final today, and my last exam is my social's provincial next Friday (19th) So no classes, and Grade 11 is almost over! :) I might be taking Summer school though to do a course I never took previously, so not as much writing... :( but we'll see.

Anyways, please enjoy, I'll be updating LYTD very soon. Read and review, that's all I ask of you :)

-EFH

xoxo

Chapter 22: The Christmas Party to Remember.

Monday, December 24, 2007

"Can you stir this?" Lilliana passed Erik the wooden spoon, wiping her hands on her apron, removing any food that managed to get on her hands. "And just put the pie in the oven, the turkey is done and ready for tonight, I just quickly need to clean up." She smiled at her son, as she pulled her apron off, and hung it on a hook.

"When is… everyone arriving?" Erik didn't want to say family; especially since that's the last thing he thought of them. He couldn't believe they still had to have them over at his home.

Lilliana looked at him and down at the watch on her wrist. "Four-ish I'd say; probably another half an hour. Monique will be here any minute now." She gave him a reassuring smile; encouraging him that everything would be alright now that Monique would be here.

Erik looked down at the contents in the pan he was stirring, just lost in his thoughts. Monique and he hadn't been getting along recently, and he wasn't sure she'd even show after the stunt he pulled at her work party. She had called a couple days ago and mentioned coming, but the tone she delivered that in… he wasn't quite so sure anymore.

Lilliana changed into her Christmas attire, when she heard the phone ring. Down the hall, she heard the muffled voice of Erik answering the phone.

She glanced out the window of her bedroom, and saw the snow coming down, covering the grounds immensely. Probably someone is going to be late. She smiled, till she heard the slam of the phone in its cradle.

"Erik?" Lilliana called down the hall, "Who was that?" she waited, hoping to hear someone would be late. Somehow though, she was not holding her breath on that one… .

No reply.

Already she had a bad feeling on this one. Hurrying to put on a pair of nice earrings, she hurried down the hall, and into the kitchen. "Erik," she repeated, "who called?" she saw his anger stricken face.

"Monique; she isn't coming." He spoke in a crispy voice. He turned to the food, turning the oven off, and pulling the contents out of the pan and into a gravy bowl.

Right now he actually was trying hard to stifle the few tears collecting in his eyes. He wasn't some sixteen year old, pimple faced teen, which got stood up by his first girlfriend. He was an adult now, who could handle himself and adult relations.

Lilliana saw them though, but she turned and left the kitchen, not saying a word. She knew he didn't want to hear it.

Erik watched her leave, knowing she felt pity for him. He was tired of pity, he was tired of his family, he was tired of Monique and he was tired of his life. He didn't want to go through tonight, he didn't want his family to be here… to mock him as he knew they will.

Lilliana sat in her bedroom and she picked up the phone.

xoxo

The doorbell rang, and Erik's attention was drawn towards the door. He felt his insides become hollow at the prospect of his family.

"Erik, could you greet out guest?" she called down the hall.

Erik moved towards the doorway, feeling his hands clench at his sides, and his mouth turn dry. I'd rather be anywhere but here. His thoughts screamed.

When he opened the door though, he never felt such a wave of happiness and shock though, when he saw her standing there. "Christine?" he gasped. "What are you doing here?"

Christine's face beamed as it turned into a big smile. "What a nice greeting Erik. I'm so glad to be here too!" she laughed as she passed him, into the house. She saw his dumbstruck face though. "I thought I'd drop by." She winked at him.

He looked her over as she took her coat off, and she was dressed like she going somewhere special. She wore a navy blue dress that dropped just a bit above her knees with a flare. It was made of velvet with lace over top of the bottom. The bodice was tight and only velvet, and tied up behind her neck with velvet strands. She looked stunning with her wild curls falling down her back and shoulder, only a few clips placed in her hair to hold some of it back. She wore black stockings and strappy silver heels; she was absolutely gorgeous, especially with the way her make up was done.

Lilliana came out right at that moment, and smiled when she saw Christine. Christine immediately winked at Lilliana. "It's so wonderful to see you Christine!"

Erik looked between his mother and Christine, trying to figure it out. He caught Christine's look though, and quickly put two and two together; Lilliana must have invited Christine. He wasn't sure whether to be horrified or relieved and overjoyed.

"I thought you were spending Christmas Eve with your Aunt Grace?" he was proud of himself just for remembering the name of her Aunt; brownie Points.

Christine looked at Lilliana, and saw her expression. "Well she wasn't feeling quite as well, and we decided we would do the whole Christmas thing another day this week… and I happened to know about your family dinner, and figured I would come and crash it." She laughed. She knew he probably didn't buy it; even she wouldn't buy it… .

Erik smiled, feeling like picking her up and just kissing her as hard as he could. Now his family could burn with the knowledge that he wasn't a complete failure. "I'm really glad you came Christine." He spoke sincerely, deciding not to dwell on the fact that she was bailing him out… just overjoyed she was here.

"Oh no, it's no problem, really Erik… I should be thanking you." she smiled. "So would you like me to help with anything?"

Erik could name a couple things that would make him happier… but he was so overjoyed she was here.

"Just sit down Hun." Lilliana spoke, going to deal with the dinner, "they'll be here soon, I'm just finishing up with dinner."

Erik moved over to the sound system in the den and put on a holiday CD, adding to the festivity. A part of him looked forward to his family coming now.

The doorbell rang shortly after and Lilliana called from the kitchen, "I just have to add the finishing touches to the dessert, can you get that Erik?"

Naturally Erik would object, but Christine had already stood up and was already heading towards the front door. Erik followed after her, not even bothering to argue.

She opened the doorway and Erik could see all of Lilliana's relatives outside, except maybe one or two aunts and uncles that would arrive later. They looked at her kind of shocked, but nodded when Erik's maked face showed up. One or two of them smiled at him, the others just kind of looked onwards.

"Merry Christmas." Christine smiled. "Come in." she moved out of the doorway, letting them in.

Erik coughed, but smiled, especially at the few he couldn't stand. "This is Christine Devenpeck, my… . " he wanted to say girlfriend, but he knew it wasn't true. He didn't want to put Christine in an awkward position.

"Girlfriend," she piped in, looping her arm and lacing her fingers with his, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm his girlfriend of… how long have we been going out for honey?" she asked sweetly, looking up at him with her doe like eyes.

Erik paused, feeling so lost for words. "Six-."

"Six months." Christine finished for him, smiling at his family. "Tonight I can finally meet your family Erik. I've heard so much about you all." she giggled.

Lilliana finally came into the entrance hall, still wearing her apron over her dress. "Why is everyone still standing here? Let's all go in the den." she spoke, going over and hugging one of her children, kissing them on the cheek. "I see you've all met Christine."

"Erik's girlfriend, yes." Sherry, one of the daughter's spoke, with an astonished voice.

They all moved into the den, and for the whole night, Christine held onto Erik, sitting with him, hugging him, doing whatever it took to prove she was Erik's girlfriend. Christine somehow knew Erik needed this; she knew he had problems with his family, because of his mask… .

Erik let himself really fall into the false world Christine was creating that night. He loved the feel of her soft hand constantly in his. He loved her kisses she seemed to keep placing on him, and the feel of her head on his shoulder. At one point, he even let his free hand travel, and run through her curls.

The rest of his family showed up, and they all had the same expression when they saw Christine.

"When did you meet Erik, Christine?" Danielle, one of the sisters, asked Christine.

One of the guys sitting down coughed, and said something disdainfully, that Erik did not miss.

Christine smiled her bright smile. "Seven months ago, at a beach." She realized it was only two months, but tonight she would go all out on her story. "He helped me get through a tough time with family problems."

"Oh, what kind of problems?" Another sister -Emily- asked. Erik knew that some of his family were a bit more rude.

"Christine you don't have to talk about it -" Erik tried to interject.

Christine squeezed his hand. "I don't mind Erik." she kissed his bare cheek. "My father passed away when I was young and I had no mother. "

"So an orphan then." John interjected.

"Well yeah," she paused, "but I grew up with my Aunt. I had a bit of difficulties with school and all and I battled a lot of depression, and when I met Erik, he helped me through the hard times."

"Lilliana mentioned you're in university. I take it Erik's paying for it?" Daniel, one of the brothers asked. "I mean that's why you feel obligated to be here tonight, isn't it? And to be his girlfriend."

"Daniel!" Lilliana spoke, appalled.

Erik felt his blood race. Great, all the comments are starting.

"Come on mother, let's get the truth out there. How much did Erik pay this woman to act the role tonight?" He looked around the room, and a couple of brothers and sisters nodded.

Erik wanted to yell, but Christine started talking before he could. "I'm not being paid to be here. I care about Erik a lot, and I resent that question a lot. Maybe to you he's a man with a mask obscuring half his face, but to me, he's my closest friend and the most sincere person I've ever met." she paused. "You all judge him, but you don't even know him." she felt angry. Seeing their blank uncaring faces, she turned around and planted a huge kiss on Erik's mouth.

Lilliana smiled at Christine, seeing how angry she got, loving how she defended Erik.

Everyone in the room was completely dead silent when Christine sat down and piped in. "So when's dinner?"

- - -

Conversation picked up again once everyone sat down for Christmas dinner. Christine spoke about what she was majoring in, in university and talked about interests and hobbies. Erik was relieved that she had smoothed everything over.

"What ever happened to that woman, Monique, we heard about?" Danielle asked Erik off to the side of all the conversations going on with Christine.

Danielle was more of a neutral friend to Erik. In the family, she never minded him, and always got along to an extent with him. She rarely saw him, but she was glad to say the least, that he had somebody, besides Lilliana.

"Just didn't work out… we had poor timing." Erik said quietly. "Whenever I was ready she wasn't, then when I was, she wasn't." he explained, feeling ok around her.

"I like Christine, she seems genuine." Danielle smiled at Erik. "Quirky and I can tell she really cares about you Erik." she spoke sincerely.

Erik glanced over at Christine, who was laughing with a couple of his siblings. She seemed to be getting on really well with them. Ever since the blow up earlier, everyone took to her pretty well.

Dinner time ended and soon Lilliana served dessert; a cherry pie.

Erik excused himself to go change the music, when the earlier Christmas CD came to a finish. He went into the den and searched his collection for another festive CD. Randomly, he picked up a gingerbread man from a platter of cookies on the coffee table, holding onto it with his teeth, as he looked through the CD's.

"Whatcha doing Erik?" Christine asked, coming up behind him. "You just kind of snuck away from the table." she laughed. She crouched down besides him, looking at the CD's he was holding in his hands.

"Just picking a CD. What would you recommend?"

She pointed to one and smiled. "That's a good one." She stood up and walked over to the window in the den, glancing out.

He stood up as well and swapped the CD's. "What are you looking at?"

"The snow." she smiled. "Have you ever noticed how it makes everything look the same?" Erik joined her by the window and she smiled at him.

He waited a moment, before speaking. "I just want to thank you Christine - for everything you did tonight… it means a lot to me." he leaned towards her.

She smiled up at him. "Hey, no worries Erik, what are friends for?"

He pulled back a little. "Yeah, what are friends for… ."

He was starting to get the point. This was never going to be a relationship, only ever a friendship. Christine would do anything for him, but she would only ever be a friend to him. It felt like his heart was made of glass and it was falling on the floor and shattering.

Lilliana peered around the corner of the hall at the two, wondering where they had disappeared to during dinner time, finding them to be quite intimately close standing by the window. She wished that the two would finally be together. She was ready to forget Monique, Christine was perfect for him.

Christine smiled at Erik once more. "I've never met someone quite like you Erik." she spoke sincerely.

"Hideous?"

She swatted him. "No! You are far from hideous Erik."

If only you knew Christine. He thought.

"I meant, you're special… you're unique and not like anyone else. You're personality is something special, and I'll always care about you Erik." she embraced him. "You can always count on me to be here."

Yeah, but as nothing more.

- - -

"Have a goodnight and a safe drive home." Lilliana kissed each of her kid's cheeks, and her grandchildren. "I know the snow is a littler more deeper. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year though!" she sighed, knowing it wouldn't be till Easter that she'd see any of them again.

"Hey, Erik, nothing personal about earlier?" Daniel came up to him, holding out his hand. "That girl Christine seems to be a real keeper, and a major babe, if you know what I mean." he winked at Erik.

Erik smiled hesitantly, not liking the innuendo he was trying to imply, but glad that he wasn't being the ass he usually was. Erik looked over at Christine, and saw her smiling and waving at his family. They all seemed to like her, and the men who shouldn't, were all checking her out, much to Erik's disdain.

"Have a Merry Christmas!" Christine smiled, shutting the door behind them.

"In exactly forty- four minutes, it'll be Christmas." Lilliana smiled. "Are you staying the night Christine?" she knew Christine didn't really have family, so it would be nice to spend Christmas with her.

Christine looked at Erik, who smiled a little. "If Erik doesn't mind."

Erik nodded, but not too eagerly.

Lilliana smiled at the two, knowing their future together was looking brighter. "I'll be right back. You two go settle on the couch, I'll make a pot of tea and we can enjoy some more cookies." she left the awkward two, relieved that Erik wouldn't be alone anymore. Their path was set, it was just up to them to put the bricks in.

When she returned with the cups of tea, the two were settled on the couch, Christine cocooned in a blanket. They were talking mostly.

"You know what, I'm feeling really tired, I think I'll retire for the night." she set the cups of tea down. "Have a goodnight you two." she spoke quickly, not wanting them to object.

Erik realized of course, what she was doing yet again, but said nothing.

Christine took one of the gingerbread man and took a bite out of him. "You're mom is such a good cook. I wish I were that good." she laughed. "Most of my food goes black."

He laughed with her, enjoying this moment with her.

"This Christmas I just want to spend it with someone I care about." she smiled. "All my Christmas's always felt so fake."

Erik looked her in the eyes. "I don't think this one will feel that way Christine." He glanced at the clock and already it was a minute till midnight.

She smiled. "I agree Erik, this year will be different. I think that New Year will be very different."

"This year I hope to finally meet the one." he said, trying to decipher her reaction.

Christine sipped her tea and said honestly, "you will Erik." she looked deeply into his eyes, her lips curving into a smile. She felt like kissing him, the way his green eyes searched hers, luring her in.

The grandfather clock began to sound in the hall, showing that it was midnight.

"Merry Christmas Christine." Erik said softly.

"Merry Christmas Erik." Christine whispered back.