Keep Me Close

Take Care Of Him

Erik POV
We spent the rest of the day relaxing around the house, Nadir and I sat on the porch like a couple of old men playing chess and poker. He had caught me cheating yet again. Lily sat on the beach reading most of the day and I kept an eye on her. A few young men had approached her, trying to strike up a conversation but she would always quickly shut them down and they would leave hanging their heads in shame. As she grew older her beauty was recognized by many boys and men. It made my blood boil but she always would shut them down and it calmed my nerves knowing she had no interest in dating quite yet. A few young men had approached me about setting them up however, I could never get her involved with such a thing as an arranged marriage. I didn't believe in that practice, when she fell in love it would be for the right reasons but she was still so young. It wasn't the time yet. I didn't want her selling her soul to someone for the rest of her life yet as her mother did to Raoul when she was 16, only to return to me.
I was setting the table as Nadir was cooking dinner in the kitchen with Lily. I would look up every once in a while to see them look at me, then each other and laugh, it was almost what she used to do to me when Noel was around. I could tell Nadir was quite fond of Lily, he always would give me the compliment of saying I was doing a superb job of raising her, one of the only compliments he would give me and then return to his snarky self. Lily had just finished setting the last plate of food on the table when there was a knock at the door. I swiftly stood up from the table to answer it.
"Can I help you?" I asked the man in uniform standing in the doorway.
"Mr Destler, you and your daughter have been requested at the hospital by the Karminloo family. If I were you I'd hurry, he doesn't have much time left I'm afraid" he said nodding with respect and leaving. My heart sank into my chest, it was too soon.
"Lily?" I said my voice cracking,
"Yes Father?"she asked approaching me.
"Get your cloak, we've been requested at the hospital. I'm afraid Dante doesn't have much time left...." I said my voice faltering. I looked at her and her eyes began to water. She ran to the closet grabbing her cloak,
"Nadir, we will be back soon. Set the table for another, we will have a guest later on" I said putting my arm around Lily's shoulder. He nodded and understood what was going on. We left the house in silence. Lily stood there in silence as i saddled my horse and climbed on, I picked her up and placed her in front of me. She leaned back up against my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her grabbing the reins and taking off towards the hospital.
We arrived swiftly and I tied up the horse and took Lily's hand as we walked in together. When we approached his room there were a few faces I recognized of stable workers. The glanced my way and respectfully nodded at me, I retuned the gesture.
"You must remain strong for your friend, Lily" i said softly, she only nodded.
I opened the door of Dante's room to see Ramin sitting next to his beside clutching his dying Father's hand. He didn't even acknowledge us entering the room. Lily slowly approached him, softly placing her hand on his broad shoulder. He flinched at her touch, before turning to face her. His cheeks wet with tears.
"You came" he murmured softly.
"Of course I did." She said softly as he stood and embraced her, I saw his jaw clench as he pulled her into his chest. He shut his eyes tightly trying not to let anymore tears fall but he failed. I approached him placing my hand on his strong shoulder. He looked up at me, still holding my daughter, and nodded to thank me for coming. I looked at Dante as his eyes fluttered open slowly, and he turned his head to face me,
"Erik" he said barely audible. My heart hurt seeing a once strong man now reduced to this.
"Hello my friend "I said softly, approaching the bed.
"I guess you can say I wont be at work tomorrow, I apologize for my absence" he said weakly.
"No apology is needed. Ramin has done an excellent job filling in during your absence." I said giving Ramin a sympathetic look. He now was still holding onto my daughter but one arm rested in his fathers hand.
"Ramin, give us a moment please" he said still looking at me,
"Papa-"
"Ramin" I said in a fathering tone. He looked at me coldly at first but then agreed, leaving the room with Lily still under his arm.
"I don't have much time my friend. I need a favor from you." He said looking at me again and swallowing slowly.
"Anything, and it shall be done."
"Take care of my boy. He is all i have in this world. I know who you really are, and i see how you've changed from what they say you were. I admire that in you Erik." My heart sank, he knew of my true past and he still trusted me.
"Thank you" I said softly.
"Please, mold him into a man. Give him everything i never could. Make him a thousand times the man I am. He will never let you down."
"Of course". I said knowing my new duties and vowing to follow through.
"He loves your daughter more than anything in the world. Its the same way I used to look at my wife." I stood there in silence, I knew somewhere in my heart of hearts that what he spoke of is was true, I could see it even when he was a young boy and more even now that he was a young man. "Let me see my son one last time" He said sounding weaker that before. I looked out the window into the hallway and guestued for the two to come back into the room. Ramin released Lily from his grip and rushed to his Fathers side.
"Papa..."
"Shh my son. Don't fret. You are in good hands now my boy. Listen to Mr Destler, he will mold you into the man you are destined to be." He said placing his hand on his sons cheek. Ramin looked up at me, I only could stare back at the broken boy in front of me. I saw Lily softly beginning to cry, I walked over to her and she grabbed onto my torso softly sobbing into my chest.
"I am so proud of you my son. You are my everything, my boy." He said taking Ramin's hand in his. "I love you..." he said trailing off his last breath leaving his lungs. Ramin stood there expressionless, not making a sound or moving an inch.
"Papa?" I heard is voice crack. "Papa!" He now screamed throwing himself onto the bed next to his fathers lifeless body. "No!" He screamed over and over again. Before i could get to him doctors and nurses ran into the room, ripping Ramin from the body. He fought them off still screaming. I left Lily's side and grabbed him,
"Get off of him!" He yelled at the doctors checking to see if he was really gone. He fought me ruthlessly, thrashing about almost even knocking my mask off at one point.
"Don't fight me" I said sternly into his ear. He then began to no longer fight me, but staying still, almost lifeless. He only watched the nurses cover over his Father with a white sheet. He escaped my grip and walked out the door.
"Ramin-" Lily said still sobbing but he was already gone. I saw some other stable workers approach him but he only shoved them off of himself, not muttering a word. I left the room with Lily's hand in my own, in complete silence walking through the hospital.
We went outside and Ramin was already sitting on my horse. Lily rushed over to him and climbed up in front of him. He only wrapped his arms around her and burrowed his face in her hair as she leaned up against him. I looked at the sight, my heart breaking. I could now see clearly how much he did love her. But also seeing the different type of love she felt for him. I grabbed the reins of the horses and walked along side them in silence.