In the clear? (Dorian/Christine's Family)

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine woke up suddenly. Was it a dream? Had she really been in Dorian's arms? Was it really over?

No matter the reality, whether or not it was over for her, there were others who were still in that horrible place. Christine's heart began to pound as she dared to open her eyes expecting the same terror she had before at waking up in a dirty cell.

She woke to the beeping of medical monitors and the interior of a St. Mungos private room. Her eyes scanned the room looking for a familiar face.

[Dorian Humbert]

It had been a struggle but Dorian had managed to get some much appreciated information from Alek about Christine's location. Alek provided a colorful insult every time he opened his mouth, but Dorian maintained his composure and waited for the answer to his question which generally came with a snarl, sneer, or a low growling that was rather unsettling. But in the end, Alek had given him the information and it could save the investigation and the girls who were still being held captive. If only Christine would wake and fill in the very large gaps in the story.

Grayson and Kate had been notified and Christine's parents had been called. That sobering bit of information had pushed back against Dorian's joy as the reality of their situation came crashing down upon him. He hadn't yet come to terms with the fact that Christine was only 17. Or an heiress. But mostly it was her age that had thrown him for a loop. It didn't matter that she was of age, he felt dirty.

Dorian was standing in the doorway, his back to Christine, talking to the guard. He heard movement behind him and turned to see her eyes open. "Christine," he said softly as crossed the room to her side.

[Christine Montgomery]

"I thought I dreamed you." she answered, she still had hesitation as he approached her, only because of what M had put her through, but she was quicker to accept that he was the real thing.

"Where am I?" she asked still a bit hazy from the drugs.

[Dorian Humbert]

"You're at the hospital, da-" He stopped himself. She was not his darling Christine. She was the kidnapped child he was supposed to have protected. "Lex's brother found you in the forest. Do you remember?"

[Christine Montgomery]

She paused to think about his words and what he had said, then the memories came to her, "Yes. Yes I remember." she answered. She swallowed hard, "Does the ministry know about the other girls?" she asked quietly. The girls she had abandoned.

[Dorian Humbert]

Dorian nodded. "We've sent teams out to the area where Aleksander, Lex's brother, found you. If you can remember anything from before you two met, it would help. Where you were being held, how many girls were there, anything at all Christine."

He was in the strangely unique position of loving Christine while having to keep his distance and get information from her. And all he really wanted to do was hold her, kiss her forehead, and tell her how unbearably sorry he was. "You are so brave, Christine."

[Christine Montgomery]

There was something about the way he kept repeating her name that gave her a chill. His normal appellation of endearment was absent and she missed hearing it. Perhaps it was because of the circumstances, she still felt selfish for wanting more.

She sobered, "I must have run for miles...it was dark...we were underground..." her eyes narrowed as she tried to piece together the scene.

"I had to climb up a stairway made of stone toward the light. There were trees everywhere, the ground was soft, I heard water...I tried...I tried to remember it all so I could take you back there but...but the forest kept changing and I..." there was panic setting in her voice as she realized she couldn't lead Dorian through the forest or to the other girls.

[Dorian Humbert]

He could see the worry increasing in her eyes as she spoke. "It's okay. Shhh. Don't worry, we'll find them. You are so amazing, Christine." An underground lair with a stone stairwell near water. It would be difficult, but not impossible. Even if Christine had run 10 miles, they had a location now to focus their search in. Christine had quite possibly saved these girls, in addition to saving herself.

[Christine Montgomery]

She reached for him, comforted by his words, but still worried.

"Keep talking Dorian, please keep talking." Her eyes played tricks on her, the man she saw now had been the same vision of the man who tortured and maimed another. She knew in her heart who he was, but her brain faltered and caused her to fear the one person she most cared about.

[Dorian Humbert]

He held her hand, though the contact was a painful reminder of his indiscretions against her. "Your family is on their way," he said gently, hoping to calm her. "And Lex is here. You can see her in a little while."

[Christine Montgomery]

"My family...?" she asked him, then with sudden realization, "Oh..." her heart started pounding for a different reason.

If Dorian knew about her family, then he knew who she was. He knew that she wasn't Christine Mikaelson. He knew that she had lied to him.

She gasped slightly, her grip becoming tighter, "Dorian I was going to tell you I was! That night when you got back I was going to tell you everything. It's what I was trying to tell you before you left! Before he...before he came for me." she finished softly but her eyes were desperate that he understand.

[Dorian Humbert]

His jaw tensed and he cursed himself for bringing her family up, although as they were on their way it was better to let her know now that the cat was out of the bag. He didn't want to get into the whole thing now, not here. Maybe not ever. He was disgusted with himself at having coerced a school girl into sleeping with him. He had felt betrayed by her deceptions, but it hadn't mattered until now, seeing as how he believed her dead. He thought over his words briefly before speaking.

"Don't worry about it Christine. We'll discuss it when you're feeling better. I am just so happy that you are here now. Let's focus on that."

[Christine Montgomery]

"You forgive me?" she asked, needing to hear the words. It wasn't fair of her to ask such a thing right then. To make any kind of demands on him when he believed her dead and she had "miraculously" risen from the grave. He would in all likelihood agree to anything she said out of gratitude and relief.

Of course she didn't think of any of that. She just needed his love. She needed the protection and warmth only he seemed to know how to give her.

[Dorian Humbert]

No. He hadn't forgiven her betrayal. He couldn't forgive himself. But she had been through so much more than anyone, no matter their age, should ever have to endure. He couldn't put that on her now too. 

"Of course, darling." He squeezed her hand in his and with the other he gently stroked her hair.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine relaxed instantly at his gentle words and actions. It was the first easy breath she had taken since she had been kidnapped, and the contrast between the terror she had experienced and the relief his words gave her caused a tear to escape and roll down her temple disappearing into her hair.

"I'm so sorry." she apologized again. It seemed small and far away now. She was sorry for concealing the truth, while she hadn't directly lied about her age, she had directly lied about her name and who she was. It all seemed inconsequential as she thought of the past eighteen days. She seemed like an entirely different person now, and she had much bigger sins to atone for.

[Dorian Humbert]

It was true that Christine had never given Dorian an exact number as it pertained to her age. And he was too much of a gentleman to ask directly. But Christine was well aware of Dorian's assumption, having led him to believe that she was more than capable of attending the 21 and over nightclub in Egypt where she had interfered for the second time in his pursuit of the dark wizard. Christine had never corrected his assumptions, and in fact went so far as to hide the fact that she was studying for her NEWTs instead of writing letters while he read in what he looked back now on as ignorant bliss. He had risked his career to be with her and she didn't even have the nerve to be honest about who she was.

"I know, darling. I know. Hush now. You need your strength."

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine had thought on what his arguments would be when he learned the truth, after she had decided to tell him the truth. She had arguments herself too. She never meant to deceive him. Getting in the club had been rather easy and she was unaware of an age limit at the time. She was an adult according to society, and he was only eight years her senior. She was far more worldly than other girls her age, and speaking of girls her age in her social group an eight year age difference was inconsequential. Younger girls than she and older men than Dorian had been betrothed or involved, even within her own immediate family.

But none of that mattered now.

"Stay with me."

[Dorian Humbert]

"Of course." He pulled a chair close to her bed and sat, holding her hand. He looked to the door. Someone would interrupt them soon. Her mother, father, brother. The whole lot of them would be buzzing around, relieved that their daughter and sister was alive. The room would be happy.

And Dorian would leave.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine held his hand like a lifeline. She was curled on her side mentally trying to process everything that had happened and cling to the fact that the worst was behind her. At least she hoped it was. She fell asleep like that, curled in the fetal position her lips on their joined hands.

***

"How's she feeling?" Lex asked from the doorway. Technically she wasn't supposed to be out of bed, she had woken up a week ago and they were all relieved that she would make it, but she still had a road to recovery.

[Dorian Humbert]

He was watching her sleep. Loving her. Missing her. Being beyond upset with her. Being furious at his actions. Hating himself. He was feeling far too many things at once and at the same time he was also feeling nothing at all.

He heard Lex's voice and he shut his eyes. They were back at the Avalon; him, Christine, and Lex. Everyone was happy. No one was injured. Everything was a shade of light.

Dorian opened his eyes and was faced with the dull grey of the hospital. Christine still clutched his hand, paler than she had any right to be, except for the cuts and contusions that covered her body. He turned finally to face Lex, tremendous pain in his eyes. "She's weak," he answered simply.