Author's Note: While a lot of what I do with Moon Lake will probably stay with "Earth-1" I did think to add at least this to Earth-3.
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Martin heavily sighed as he looked to his daughter's tear stained cheeks. He was fairly certain that his daughter loved Eric Anderson with all her heart and soul. But he also knew that Julie was young and that many things might not be fully sure because of how young she was, and unfortunately the entire mess that Yvette Smith had caused had only served to make matters worse. He remembered getting a phone call from a frantic Julie, panicked that Yvette might have clawed Eric. While it was revealed that Eric hadn't been attacked, the fact that Yvette had killed William Anderson hadn't made maters easier. From what he'd heard from Samantha and from the Moon Lake police reports, was that Eric had been sent upstairs to protect him when Yvette attacked the Anderson home, leaving him alone and pretty much powerless. That was probably what got him to make the decision he'd made.
"I... I can't believe she would have done this... or gone as far as she said..." Martin said slowly.
"People can make strange decisions when they're in love," came Frances' voice from behind him.
Martin turned, seeing his wife approach his side before looking to Frances Twist who had come forward.
"And given that most were couples are all the same specific were species, some of Eric's decision to become a werewolf stressing her is understandable," Frances commented.
"That doesn't excuse threatening to rape him," Melissa spoke, her voice tinged with disappointment. "Especially after all the Anderson boy has been through."
Frances nodded, "Of course... but then, she is young... and likely has had some vision of what her happy-ever-after will be. So... if Eric's decision challenged that vision..."
"She doesn't know what to do," Martin finished and watched Frances nod.
"And gets the feeling that Eric doesn't love her," Frances said slowly, "which isn't the case."
Martin and Melissa both traded glances.
"Come again?" Martin asked.
"From what I've gathered from my talks with Eric... particularly with grief counseling after his father's murder," Frances spoke, "is that Eric DOES love your daughter and loves her DEARLY."
"But..." Martin sensed what was coming.
"But given his past, be it being bullied in Minnesota or being powerless in Yvette's attack... he doesn't want to be weak or incapable to protect those he cares for," Frances continued, "no this is all something that would relate to patient/doctor confidentiality, so this can't go beyond us... In theory, I shouldn't share it with you... but things are such that it might be best that you know..."
Martin and Melissa traded nods. They had both hoped that a night like this hadn't happened, particularly with their own daughter being the problem, but in a way they could understand. Moon Lake openly tolerated inter-species and inter-racial couples, but that didn't mean that were species didn't still marry or date within their own species. That was probably the real concern that had gotten Julie so frantic and upset.
"Since his father's death, Eric's been having nightmares that have put him in a position similar to the one that ultimately claimed William's life," Frances spoke, "the attacker has varied... sometimes a rogue were and sometimes a normal human criminal, but all of them had a similar theme. He and Julie are walking when Julie is attacked and grabbed. The crook then demands Eric's money in exchange for Julie's life. When he moves to pay the "ransom" the crook slits her throat and leaving him powerless to stop him or protect her."
"And thus the decision to be a werewolf..." Melissa said slowly.
"To be capable of defending her if threatened," Frances spoke, "and he's been firm in this... talking him out of it isn't likely. Doing so would be..."
"Wrong," Martin sighed and glanced to Julie's sleeping form in the backseat of the car.
"This will only make things tougher for Julie," Melissa commented.
"It could make things difficult for both of them," Frances commented, "Eric does love her... but has made his decision based on what he thinks is best for him. I would offer that it might be best that both of them come for what would amount to couples therapy... help both of them understand what love is and work through the stresses that both have gone through."
"That'd probably be a good idea," Martin said slowly, "and Melissa and I will try to talk to her about understanding that much of Eric's decision is "loving" in nature... even if it isn't exactly what we expected."