Not even in his darkest dreams had Erik imagined he would ever see Rosaline introduce him to his ex lover, who had deviously managed to disguise herself as an unassuming friend and guest at Rosaline's birthday party. So many different thoughts and emotions were whirling around in Erik's mind, some of which he knew were borderline psychotic. He never knew he could experience such rage and fury towards one person, but it seems there was no extent to his ill feelings towards Bianca and her conniving ways. Erik was vaguely aware that Rosaline was currently in the middle of explaining how she and Bianca met, and yet he couldn't contain his concentration for longer than a few seconds given the fact that the woman who had carried his child for a short and heartbreaking portion of her life was smiling at him as if she knew every little detail concerning the damage that was about to unfold.

"Excuse me ladies I need to use the restroom." Erik casually interrupts the conversation, before swiftly moving through the house to locate the nearest bathroom.

Once inside, Erik locks the door and anxiously runs his fingers through his neat and tidy locks of hair. He tugs on the ends and screws his eyes shut in complete and utter angst. He stares down at his hands that have begun to noticeable shake and let's out an aggravated sigh upon realising how affected he has become by this situation. In all fairness however, Erik knows he has every reason to feel enraged by seeing Bianca's face, yet he also knows that should Rosaline and her family find out about his past that Erik probably won't be given a moments notice to leave, nor explain himself. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if he had to be physically removed from the premise by police. In contemplating all of these outcomes and more, Erik hardly notices the tapping coming from outside the bathroom door.

"Erik, it's me." He recognises Rosaline's angelic voice.

"I just wanted to see if you're alright? You left so suddenly, I wasn't quite sure what happened." She adds in an uncertain tone.

Rather than attempting to continue this conversation behind a door and where prying ears could hear every word exchanged between the pair of them, Erik abruptly opens the door and urges Rosaline to come inside. With a look of confusion etched across her face, she inevitably steps inside the small bathroom and looks to Erik for some sort of explanation.

"What's going on?" Rosaline asks in a puzzled voice.

For a brief moment, Erik ponders over the idea of telling Rosaline the truth about who Meghan really is. Ideally, there should be nothing stopping him from doing so but he also knows that if he were to reveal the truth to her in that moment he would risk ruining her birthday party and upset her indefinitely. On the other hand, he knows that if he chooses to keep Rosaline in the dark about his relationship with Bianca for a little while longer, at least he might be able to buy some valuable time and explain the details of their toxic love story in an environment that would enable Rosaline to ask questions. At this point, Erik knew he was far more concerned about protecting the fragility of Rosaline's heart more than anything else, which is why in that instance he chose to deflect and instead not reveal the complete truth about his unusual behaviour around Bianca.

"I'm sorry for cornering you like this sweetheart, I just needed a minute to myself." Erik truthfully admits.

"You don't need to apologise, it's alright. What's bothering you though? Is it my parents? Brothers?" Rosaline assumes with a worried look across her face.

Regrettably, Erik nods in agreement despite knowing that for once it isn't exactly Rosaline's parents or her brothers that are causing him such grief. Instead, it seems as if his troubled past has finally caught up with him and is preparing itself to destroy the only source of goodness in Erik's life.

"I thought I saw my mum and Nickolas speaking to you before? Don't tell me they're still giving you a hard time?" Rosaline is quick to deduce, before reaching for the door handle to leave.

"No! It's not that. In fact, it seems most of us have come to some sort of understanding." Erik fibs, whilst thinking back to the strained conversation he had with Iris.

"Then was is it?" She innocently inquires.

"I guess I'm just feeling out of sorts, with the way your parents, brothers and I were able to patch things up so quickly. No offence to your family Rose, but being back in this house doesn't exactly conjure up the happiest of memories for me." Erik tells her in an uneasy tone.

Noticing his downhearted demeanour, Rosaline doesn't waste any time before wrapping her lean arms around Erik's shoulders and pressing her soft lips against the side of his throat in a tender kiss.

"I'm sorry." She mumbles into Erik's neck, before pulling slightly away from him in order to meet his sorrowful gaze.

"I didn't know being back here would make you feel so terrible." She heartbreakingly adds.

"I wouldn't say I feel terrible, just that it's been hard for me to put those memories behind me I guess." Erik vaguely answers her.

"Tell me what I can do to make it better?" Rosaline warmly suggests.

"For starters, you can kiss me and tell me how much you love me." Erik says in the hopes of distracting her long enough, whilst he plans to get his mind and emotions back in check.

"That I can do. I love you Erik." Rosaline sweetly smiles, before sealing their lips together in a passionate embrace.

Fortunately, the kiss shared between the two lovers was enough to divert Rosaline's attention from focusing on Erik's sudden disappearance and his questionable feelings about returning back to the Covault family home. Having spent more than enough time in the bathroom, Erik reluctantly broke the kiss off after sometime and ushered Rosaline back outside through the door. With a hopeful smile directed at Erik, Rosaline entwined their fingers together and led them back through the house where the party guests had continued to converse. Erik had barely stepped back into the lounge room when he spotted Bianca standing across the room with a proud smirk plastered on her polished face. At that point, Erik was entirely convinced that the devil himself was trying his best to test his withering patience. Irrespective of the inferno that continued to burn inside of him, Erik maintained his composure and struck up a happy smile, ensuring that he played every part the attentive and loving boyfriend for the greater good of protecting and saving Rosaline from any potential threats.

Over the next few hours, the party continued to thrive until of course it came time for Rosaline to blow out the candles on her birthday cake. She opted for a simple vanilla buttercream cake with strawberry icing that was decorated beautifully with an assortment of fresh flowers. While most of the guests had already begun to gather on the terrace in the backyard, Erik found himself in the kitchen with Rosaline and Iris, watching as the two women fussed over the birthday cake. Within little to no time, Erik insisted on carrying it out himself in case either accidentally bumped or dropped the decadent torte.

"I've got it sweetheart, you and your mother go wait outside. I'll see you in a minute." Erik informs Rosaline, whilst carefully lifting the cake and securing its place on a stand.

"You're sure you can handle it?" Rosaline nervously quips, looking between Erik the cake and her mother.

Instead of answering her directly, Erik merely gave her a false offended look. What kind of man was he if he wouldn't carry a birthday cake and deliver it in one piece?

"I'm sorry! I'll see you out there." Rosaline promises with a shy smile, before she and her mother flee from the kitchen.

Erik was just about to grasp the cake stand and carry the birthday cake outside when he remembered he needed to locate a knife for Rosaline to use when cutting the cake. He had opened a drawer and found various pieces of cutlery and cooking utensils when a confident, sly voice broke through the silence.

"Looking for this?" Bianca asks, whilst holding a sharp silver kitchen knife.

For the first time in several long months, Erik finds himself in a room alone with Bianca. Ever since he had spotted her earlier in the day chatting and laughing with Rosaline's family and friends he knew that any good natured instincts he had towards helping her recover emotionally from a multitude of issues was well and truly over with. Erik wanted no part in her future, regardless if she had at one point shared a very special being of her life with him. Seeing Bianca stand in the kitchen of his current girlfriends home, no less holding a knife only helped to confirm his worse fears. Taking a tentative step towards her, Erik outstretched his hand, ready to accept the knife in which Bianca would undoubtedly use to strike him with.

"Bianca, hand over the knife." Erik diplomatically instructs, while moving closer.

"What makes you think I'll just hand over this knife to you?" Bianca hatefully retorts back.

"There's no escaping this Bianca, so I suggest you just hand it over." Erik persists, who now stands less than a foot away from her.

"You're absolutely right, there is no escaping this." She maliciously states, before launching herself at Erik and stealing a heated snog.

Oblivious to everything that has transpired over the past minute, Rosaline freezes in utter shock upon entering the kitchen. She remains painfully still as she watches the woman who she thought was her friend kiss the one man who promised her the world. Snapping herself out of this horrific daymare, she lets out an incredibly loud cry just as Erik forcefully removes Bianca's hands off of him.

"Rosaline!" Erik urgently yells, despite already experiencing a deep sinking feeling that he's lost the love of his life, all because of what she had witnessed in a few misconstrued seconds.