Press Conference (Dorian/Alek/Whoever)

[Aleksandra "Lex" Eiriksen]

"Of course not." Lex said sadness in her voice, "He loves her, and he's terrified that this will come back to haunt her. He doesn't want M to have more of a reason to go after Christine. Neither do I for that matter." she said sharing Dorian's worry.

She understood why Alek hated Dorian, it wasn't Dorian's fault, and it wasn't even Alek's fault. Their father had beat hatred into Alek's heart, and gave him a target to boot.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"Perhaps if he'd done a better job at protecting her in the first place this could have all been avoided," Alek quipped. But he was silenced by the approaching stench of false nobility.

Dorian had spotted Lex and Alek from his position in the back of the room. The Montgomery's security measures rendered Dorian useless, but he gripped his wand nevertheless as he approached his partner and her twin.

"Large turnout," Dorian commented darkly. Lex was well aware of his thoughts on the matter, having complained to her at length after leaving Christine.

Alek spoke without looking at his half-brother. "Everyone wants a piece of our dear Christine," he commented.

[Aleksandra "Lex" Eiriksen]

Oh how Lex did not want to be in the middle of her brothers at that moment. They were like two dogs sniveling over the same bone. She realized then that Christine was the bone. She saw her brother's eyes fixate on the girl and it all clicked into place. Dorian was in love with Christine, and Alek meant to have her.

As the thought crystallized she had to suppress the urge to hit her twin.

"Alek, may I have a word with you?"

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"Not now," he said, waving her off with his hand. "She's about to speak, and no one is going to miss her words tonight." Alek could feel Dorian's muscles tense. The man reeked of anger. Oh it made Alek happy. 

[Christine Montgomery]

Lex's jaw was clenched, as a matter of fact both brother and sister were sending very similar looks at Alek, had they noticed their own similarities or Alek's for that matter it might have been amusing in any other scenario.

Lex opened her mouth to insist, but as Alek said Christine took the podium and cleared her throat to speak.

****

Christine saw them at the side of the room. She felt Dorian's presence the moment she entered and her eyes found him immediately. She simultaneously wanted to run to him and wanted to curse him for making her have doubts. She saw Lex and Alek and that did a bit to ease her mind. Lex was the easy middle ground, she supported Christine but was still wary and concerned. Alek on the other hand seemed to think she was capable of anything, that at least made her feel a little warm inside.

She held on to that thought as she cleared her throat and began to speak.

"Hello, I'm Christine Montgomery. First, I'd like to say something to the families who have a loved one missing. Please, do not give up hope. There are other women where I was held and I believe in my heart that they are still alive."

She scanned the crowd seeing familiar faces. Ben Burke was in the audience, he had done business with her uncle, she was familiar with the family and his daughter that had been captured. She saw other families she recognized, Drakes, the barrister Kai Nivens, and others. Her heart broke for them knowing the agony they must have been feeling.

She lost her breath afraid to continue, afraid that they would see her guilt at leaving the others behind, but just as she did so she saw Alek.

"Second, to the man who brought me to St. Mungos and saved my life, and to the nurses and doctors here who are taking such excellent care of me, and for the thousands of letters and prayers I've received from all across England, thank you."

She lifted her chin, all softness gone. Her voice was steady, confident, powerful, "And last, to the man who calls himself M. The man who kidnapped me and ultimately tried to kill me." she took a breath, trying to keep the loathing out of her voice.

"I broke your rules, just me. None of the other women helped. So if you're looking for someone to blame, blame me."

She paused with the weight of her words, they were for M to hear, she was calling him out.

Her voice softened as she talked to the crowd, "That's all I have to say right now. Thank you for taking my message to the families of the missing and I hope it helps a little bit. Thank you."

Christine was then escorted back to a private room while Kate and Grayson stayed for questions.

[Dorian Humbert]

Despite disagreeing completely with the press conference and repeatedly voicing his opinion until only hours before the event began, Dorian was proud of Christine. Her words of gratitude and hope were moving. He locked eyes with her whenever her gaze traveled to him, smiling at her in an offer of strength and support. But as she addressed M directly all pleasantness left his demeanor.

What in Merlin's name was she doing?! In Dorian's view, Christine was deliberately taunting M, daring him to find her again. Christine thought she was in some way sparing the other girls who were still in captivity but taking all of the blame, but that is not how a murderer would infer her words. It would be taken as a challenge. Dorian's features became hard as he stared intently at Christine.

When Christine was escorted off the stage, Dorian moved. "Excuse me," he said as he left Lex and her brother for the private room Christine had been ushered into.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek watched, enthralled by the confidence Christine exuded even despite her moments of hesitation. Unlike Dorian, he found no faults in her speech. He agreed with her decision to speak directly to her kidnapper, it showed that she would not be beaten down by this man.

As Christine finished speaking Alek clapped, his eyes following her to the room where they had talked not long ago. He had planned to see her again, to congratulate her on being more brilliant than he had predicted. But Dorian moved more quickly than Alek. He wasn’t one to be shown up, but he could wait. He would allow the angry Dorian to tear her down, then Alek would swoop in and save her once more. Alek smirked as his plan fell together.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine was staring out the window. She wondered about the words she had said. She hoped they were the right words to say. She felt better after saying them, but she just wanted the whole nightmare to be over.

She heard the door open. Somehow she knew he'd come to her. She didn't turn to face him, not yet, she had to steel herself for his disapproval.

[Dorian Humbert]

It took everything within him for Dorian to keep from lecturing her immediately. He fought within himself as he battled the crowd to reach her; she had been stupid and he was upset and scared for her, but she needed his support and whatever affection he could provide in his scope as an Auror.

Dorian pushed the door open slowly. "Is it alright if I come in?"

[Christine Montgomery]

It was a good thing Dorian didn't lead with the 'stupid' comment. Christine felt good about the things she said. She was willing to take the heat if it took some of the pressure off of the other victims, and that was the main difference between Dorian and her.

"Yes." she answered cautiously. Encounters with her ex lover had been more than a little tense lately. She thought that once he decided to leave her that it would be like before, they wouldn't see each other. That thought killed her, but seeing him now and again and not being able to be with him was even more horrible for her.

[Dorian Humbert]

It had been easier after their first, brief affair in Egypt. Dorian had searched for her, thinking she had been kidnapped, and after several months of no leads he was forced to give up hope that she was even alive. But after M had taken her and Alek had brought her home, Dorian couldn't let her go. He had lost her twice and though his morals barred him from being with her romantically, he could not bear the thought of losing her again. He had lost himself after Kate suggested Christine was dead. He had lost himself after fearing her dead a year ago. His poor heart could not withstand another trauma.

He could not leave her be.

Dorian entered the room fully, shutting the door behind them to afford her privacy from the throngs of media personalities that ached for more information from her directly. He looked at her. She was beautiful. He wanted to tell her.

"You spoke eloquently," he said instead.

[Christine Montgomery]

'I'm an heiress.' she thought to herself. That's what people in her position did, most of the time it was how they made more money.

"Thank you." she replied. He looked devastatingly handsome as he usually did. It wasn't any easier being around him and not touching him. She looked away from him to prevent herself from doing that very thing.

[Dorian Humbert]

Had Dorian been blessed with the unfortunate ability to see into her mind, her thoughts would have caused him more distress than he already felt toward their relationship. She was too young and far out of his league. An heiress, practically bloody royalty as Lex put it. She was no one Dorian had any right to love.

"I am proud of you," he told her truthfully. "Despite my opinions on the matter, it took a lot of strength for you to get up there today. I am only concerned that you may bring unwanted attention on yourself."

[Christine Montgomery]

Her chest filled with pride at his statement, and inward glee as he praised her. Until he didn't.

She sighed, "We've been over this before. I'm safe. I escaped, those girls are still there. If there's anything I can do, even if it means bringing his attention to me rather than on them, then so be it."

[Dorian Humbert]

"So be it," he repeated evenly, attempting to refrain from showing the frustration he felt with her. He was faltering. "You stood up there and basically begged him to find a way to you. You are putting your life in danger, Christine. How do you not see that?"

[Christine Montgomery]

"I see it." she answered, "But it's my life, and a little danger for even the chance that he comes after me instead of those girls, or better yet, makes a mistake. It's worth it." she told him.

[Dorian Humbert]

"It's not worth it! Do you have any idea the agony your family was in while you were gone? You send your blessings and prayers to the families of those missing girls, but what about the people that love you? Would you have them returned to that hell of uncertainty should he come after you? It is most certainly not worth it, Christine."

[Christine Montgomery]

He had her attention and forced doubt to creep into her mind but only for a moment. She turned toward him, her eyes hard and her stance rigid. She wasn't bending because of his words.

"There are nine other girls Dorian. Nine Girls. The people who love me have me. I'm right here. But those nine girls are alone. They're scared, possibly hurt or worse."

She looked down bringing her hands together as her voice was softer, she was battling the fear and succeeding, "I don't have a death wish. This man, this M, he terrifies me, and I hate it. I hate him for what he's done, but I'd hate myself more if I did nothing."

[Dorian Humbert]

Dorian cared about the other girls. He prayed they find them before any harm could come to them. Christine blamed herself for leaving them, but Dorian blamed himself for allowing them to be captured in the first place. He had his chance to capture M and he let it slip through his fingers. Any blood that was shed, all the innocence that was lost, it was all on Dorian's soul now. But Christine meant more to him than of the rest of them.

"You've done more than enough, Christine. I was there when Grayson took your tears. The anguish you relived for those memories was certainly more than nothing. But you can't keep putting yourself out there. You have to be cautious. Taunting him isn't smart. You're being a selfish child!"

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine's head was hung low as Dorian spoke, increasing her doubts and fear. She loved this man so deeply. He was a part of her soul. While she was taken the one thing that kept her from giving up was that he'd be there at the end of it. And then he was. And then he wasn't.

Because she had lied. She lied about who she was and therefore he couldn't be with her.

But all of the shame and guilt she felt shattered at his last remark. Her head shot up and she pierced him with angry eyes, eyes that held too much experience to be anything close resembling a child.

"I am not a child Dorian. And I am not his victim. I will not be chastised by you. And I will not be intimidated by him. I am not weak, nor am I helpless, and you will stop treating me like a little girl. You might have had some say in my life when you were my lover, but you will never have a say in my life as a father and you will never talk down to me like that again. Do I make myself clear?"

She didn't wait for an answer.

"I went through hell as his prisoner. Every night he came to me. He terrified me, drugged me, tried to kill me, now if I have managed to find the courage, then I have every God given right to stand up to him. You don't get to take that from me too."