Craving Forgiveness

11

Hank made French toast this morning with chocolate chips and you were in heaven.

However Erik was nowhere to be found.

You sat in the garden as per usual and not too long after you got out there Hank and Alex came to join you.

You three sat there talking on one of the many benches.

"So you and Erik have been spending a lot of time lately." Alex commented.

"Um. Yeah. I mean it's nothing special. He's been trying to talk me into continuing to find my dad's killer."

You explained the whole fiasco with the current president.

"That's insane Atarah." Hank said expressing concern. "You could've been seriously hurt. He knows something he doesn't want you to know."

"I know and of course I want to solve my dads murder but I don't want to get hurt. I can hardly even remember who I was before his death. I'm a completely different person. I've become hard, hostile and antagonistic. I don't want to be this way anymore. I wasn't the happiest person before but I wasn't a monster."

Alex placed a hand on your shoulder, "You aren't a monster. I'm sure you've been through a lot. It's understandable."

"He's right Atarah." Hank added." I don't need to know your whole story to know that. These things take time. Maybe you can take a break from playing cops and robbers."

You looked up at him, "I have to do this. For him and for my family but most importantly for me. I need to move on. The longer I wait the harder it'll be. It's already been a huge puzzle."

They smiled at you.

"You'll find him. You'll have him arrested and you'll be a hero. " Hank smiled.

"Your dad is looking down so proud of you." Alex contributed.

You laughed and jokingly elbowed him, "Yeah I don't blame him, I am pretty great aren't I?"

You walked into Charles's study where you hoped Erik would be. And you were right.
He was sitting at the desk looking over some papers.

God he's so handsome.

He looked up at you and gave you a half smile.

"Hello. Atarah."

"Hello Erik." You said leaning directly on the other side of the desk with your hands placed on the table.

He shook away a thought, "So. How can I help you?"

"I think you're right." You blurted out.

He cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow looking absolutely adorable.

"I mean," you walked around the desk to him and half sat, half leaned against it. "Uncle Lyndon wouldn't treat me like that unless I was getting close. Really close. It's dangerous but I want to keep looking."

"Are you sure?

You nodded a few times," absolutely positive. I want whoever did this to pay."

"I never would've taken you for a vengeance and revenge kind of woman. I must say it becomes you."

You playfully shoved at his chest," oh whatever."

He grabbed your wrist before you could pull it back and he pulled you into him.

You clumsily fell into his lap.

"Erik. What are you doing?"

"I want to kiss you." He honestly answered and did as he wanted.

You heard the door open and you jumped up.

"Hey Charles." You said hoping he didn't realize.

"You know Atarah," he started as he wheeled closer. "Along with being a mind reading, telepathic mutant I am also quite perceptive. You aren't fooling me."

You felt your face getting hot and you looked down nervously.

You heard him laugh lightly, "No need to be shy now. I've known for quite a while."

"Known what?" Erik questioned.

"That you two are together."

"We're not together." You and Erik simultaneously protested.

"I'm just a woman who is getting help from a man who is a pain in my ass." You looked at him emphasizing the last part.

"And I'm just a man who is helping a spoiled woman solve her fathers death. She just happens to like to kiss me."

Your eyes widened before you narrowed your eyes at him then looked back at Charles," Says the guy who always kisses me first."

You saw Erik shrug in your peripheral vision.

"You two are adorable." Charles said earning an eyeroll from you. "Are you sure you want to continue with finding your father's killer?"

You nodded at him.

"Well in that case." He paused to roll over to a file cabinet while he poked around in it for a few moments.

You looked at Erik for an idea of what Charles was looking for but all you got was a shrug.

"I found this a few days ago but I was reluctant to say anything until now. "

He placed a picture of a beautiful red head on the table.

"I know her. She was there when I went to see the president."

"This is Zara Edmunds. Erik's ex-fiancé."