Chapter 447

"I can't believe he's gone." Christian said, putting his arm around his mother's shoulder. The funeral had been beautiful. The pink and orange hues in the sky as the sun set over the mountains were exactly what Dylan would have loved. They laid him to rest not far from the ranch, where Pearl knew he would be peaceful. The guys from the band had sent him off with a song and it was lovely having them all together again even if it was to say goodbye.

"I miss him. I feel awful about it." Pearl said, wiping the tears steaming down her face.

"Mum, he loved you. And he was your friend. You made him happy these last few years. Don't feel badly about that."

She nodded, but still, she ached with guilt and heartbreak. She never wanted to lose him.

Nora gave her a hug and she and Christian left her there to say her goodbyes in private.

Erik watched from a distance as Christian came up to him and hugged him.

"Thank you, for being there for my mother. And for me." He said.

"It is an honor, your majesty." Erik said with a bow.

"I think it better to call me Christian now." He said, patting his shoulder and smiling. It was a sad smile.

"Dylan was like a father to me." Christian said.

"Dylan was like a father to us all." Erik said as looked out at Pearl. She sat by the fresh grave and sobbed until she had nothing left. He walked to her after it became too dark to be out there, picking her up and carrying her inside.

"The grief is insurmountable." Pearl said, rolling over and seeing Erik sitting by her on the couch the next morning.

"You're awake." He whispered, kissing her forehead.

She sat up and felt a wave of nausea come over her as she ran to the bathroom.

Erik followed and got her a cool washcloth.

"Well, I never thought we'd be doing this again." He said, patting the cool rag on her forehead.

"Yeah. No kidding." She said, laying her head against the cool porcelain bowl.

"I'm happy." Erik said quietly. "I know I shouldn't be. It's awful to feel it and even worse to say it. Dylan is dead. We are a disaster. Your health is at a serious risk but still… I am happy and wouldn't want to be anywhere else in this life but right here. With you. With my baby inside of you." He kissed her forehead.

"Erik, we can't do this. How can we do this? This is crazy!" She said as another wave of nausea hit.

"It most definitely is. But I don't care. I love you. And we will get through this just like we do everything else." He filled a glass of water for her.

"We need to settle things and you need to head back home." Erik said as he helped her to her feet. "You need to rest."

"You aren't coming with me?" She asked.

"I have some business in New York. While I'm stateside I need to take care of it."

She nodded.

"Well, don't take too long then." She said, hugging him tightly.

After she and the rest of the family flew out, Erik cleared some papers out of Dylan's office that he thought they might need moving forward. Insurance information. The deed. Then he came across a file folder marked "Sloane." It struck him as odd mixed in with all the rest. Inside, he found newspaper clippings dated back almost 45 years. "5 year old goes missing in the park."

"Investigation of the disappearance of the little Sloane girl turns up little clues."

Also was a copy of Pearl's birth certificate with the date and signature highlighted.

"You sleuthy bastard." Erik said with smile.

"You were already onto this." He grabbed the file and the rest of the paperwork and headed to the door. He noticed the iced coffee Pearl was drinking still on the counter. He took out the straw and placed it in a bag. Just in case, he thought. And he headed to the airport to make his way to New York.