Chapter 27
In Europe

Erin and Mickey pulled up outside a beautiful large mansion.  It was white and surrounded by high stone walls.  Mickey took her inside and led her up the stairs to a room.  “This will be your room as long as you are here, don’t try to escape, I have guards standing by ready to shoot on sight, and this phone will only connect to the other rooms in the hours.”  He smiled triumphantly.  “There are some cloths in the closet, and the bathroom is well stocked with all the same kind of shampoos and other things that you are used to.”

“Why are you doing this?”  Erin asked holding on to her emotions by a thin strand.

“Because I want your last days on Earth to be as comfortable and pleasant as possible.”  Mickey smiled sinisterly.

Just then a man appeared in the doorway.  “Sir, I have some news.”

“Yes?”

“It seems that Mr.-”  Mickey looked at him and motioned for him not to use any names.  “The patient seems to have slipped back into unconsciousness.”

“Oh, drat.  And I really wanted you to meat him today.  I guess that will just have to weight until he wakes back up.”  Mickey looked back at the man.  “Is there any news on the latest operation?”

“Yes, the doctors say it was a complete success.  The bandages should be ready to come off in two days.”

“Well hopefully he will be awake by then.  Is that all?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good, you may go.”  The man turned briskly and left.  “Well I’ll leave you to get refreshed, and if you want you can get some sleep, I’m sure you’re probably still tired.  If there is anything that you need there is a list of numbers by the bed that will connect you with the kitchen and anything else you might need.  You are welcome to walk the grounds if you want, but remember, there are guard trained to shoot if they think you are trying to escape.”

“Why don’t you just kill me now?  I think it would be a lot easier for you then keeping me around just to meat someone.”  Erin finally asked outraged.

“This person is very interested in seeing you, alive, and I’m going to make sure that you stay that way until you came meet him.”  With that Mickey left closing the door behind him.

Erin sat down in an over stuffed chair and let out a frustrated sigh.  She was pretty sure he meant what he said about keeping her alive until she met this person, but who was it he wanted her to meet?  Andy why was it so important that she meet him?

Mickey was right she was still exosted.  Erin walked over to the closet and looked in curiously.  To her surprise there were cloths for almost every occasion in almost every color.  Someone had gone to a lot of trouble putting all these cloths together.  She looked in the dresser and found everything she would need to stay there for weeks.  In one of the drawers she found some satin pajamas, she quickly changed into them and crawled into the king sized bed.  She pulled the down comforter up over herself and closed her eyes.  Tears steamed down her face as thoughts of Sonny, Jason and Robin with their baby, and finally her thoughts came to rest on Nikolas.  The tears came quicker as she thought of the last time she had talked to him.

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In Nikolas’ car after leaving the hospital

Nikolas pulled off the road and down another dirt road.  He turned off the engine and sat there with his hands still on the steering wheel.  “Nikolas, what is it?”  Erin asked taking off her seat belt and turning in her seat so she was facing him.

“I wanted to say a few things without anyone else around.  That’s why I asked for you to ride with me.”  He paused to look into her eyes.

“What is it?”  Erin placed her hand on his shoulder.

“There were a few things that I wanted to tell you but I didn’t get a chance to, and I didn’t want to do it with anyone around.”  Nik seemed to be struggling for words to say what he was thinking.

“We’re alone now.”  Erin said with a sweat smile.

“Yes I know, that’s why I pulled off the road; I wanted to give us a little more time so I could say everything that I need to.  Erin, I love you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”  Nik let his words sink in before he continued.  “I don’t want to rush you into anything that you are not ready for, but I would like to move into the cottage with you.”

“But you already have moved in.”  Erin reminded him.  “Or was that time so traumatic that you’ve blocked the memory.”  Erin giggled brushing her fingers across Nik’s cheek.

“No, I’m serious,” Nik took her hand into both of his and looked into her eyes again.  “When I first moved in, I said it was only temporary.  I would like to make it permanent.”  Nik said softly.

Erin looked at him shocked, then a smile slowly spread over her lips.  “I would love that.”  Erin leaned over and kissed him tenderly.
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Erin fell asleep and dreamed of how it would have been like to have Nik move in for real.