"I wish I could be the one,
the one who won't care at all
But being the one on the stand,
I know the way to go, no one's guiding me."

Avenged Sevenfold, Unholy Confessions

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Though dawn drew ever nearer, Erik could not bring himself to leave the cemetery. As the sun crested on the horizon, he felt a nervous energy build up within him. He couldn't explain the feeling, yet knew only that something was going to happen.

Even if he had known what was to come, he would have remained.

Passing amongst the many graves, his mind wildly struck out, bringing his other occupation to his thoughts.

For a month now, he had instructed Nicolas at the de Chagny home; always while Raoul was away. In that time, he had come to rethink his expectations of Nicolas. While the boy was hopelessly stubborn, he showed a love and dedication for music and the violin.

He also showed a ridiculous curiosity in what lay beneath Erik's mask. While he never attempted to remove it, his eyes, when unoccupied by music, often trailed to it. Erik doubted his reaction to seeing what lay beneath would be anything like Christine's, but he could not have the boy's mouth running. Moreover, he did not want Nicolas to see him as anything more than a teacher. Despite their similar deformities, Erik refused to grow attached to the family.

He would not be destroyed again.

Pausing in his thoughts he was vaguely surprised to find himself once again with Monsieur Daaé. Struck with a sense of déjà vu, the feeling only increased on his hearing footsteps draw near. Yet these steps were slower and more deliberate than the ones before.

Surely she would not return?

Slipping once more behind a grave stone, he waited for the unexpected visitor to draw near.

Shortly after, Madame de Chagny lurched unsteadily forward.

Why was she here?

Christine leaned heavily against another stone, her face pale and breathing, quick.

She seemed to be in pain.

Before she could call, Erik came forward, his features behind the mask concerned.

"Madame?" he ventured.

Her dark eyes locked with his and he saw pain in their depths.

"Christine?" he prompted, formalities forgotten.

"Erik…I need your…your help…" she gasped, feeling pain slice through her abdomen.

Without another word or thought, he gently took her in his arms, quickly returning to his home. Once there, he laid her carefully upon his bed.

Allowing her to catch her breath, he wondered at her sudden affliction. Not only that, but he wondered at her coming there.

If something were wrong, why didn't her husband call for a doctor?

He was startled from his thoughts when her sweaty hand tightly gripped his own.

"Erik!" she shouted. "Erik! I think it…it's coming!"

Confusion filled him. What was coming? His eyes swept over her form and he realized with horror what she meant.

Why had she come here?

Her sudden scream threw him into action and he moved to fetch a doctor, an action foreign to him.

"Erik!" she shrieked. "Please don't leave me!" The imploring note in her voice brought him to a stop and he struggled for an answer as to what he should do.

"Please don't leave me! I don't want to be alone!" she nearly sobbed, the pain growing to be too much.

Coming to a decision, he brushed his fingertips across her slick brow in what he hoped was a comforting action. While her fear of being alone dissipated, the pain continued to grow making her feel as though she were being torn asunder.

Yes, it was coming.

"I will be back in a moment." He murmured, stepping out of the room to gather towels and to boil some water. Her screams followed him out the door.

While the water began to simmer, he returned with several herbs, most of which for the pain. He managed to coax her mouth open and she grew somewhat still as she chewed, at his instruction, on the plants.

With her quiet, he could concentrate on what must be done.

Erik calmly removed his coat and rolled up the sleeves of the white shirt beneath. The closest he had ever come to aiding in birth was with animals and he could only hope the procedure was the same in humans.

If he'd known any doctors or midwives, he doubted he would be preparing himself for this.

Cautiously, he removed the now boiling water from the stove, returning to his own room to set it on one of the towels. He then placed a pair of scissors into it as he racked his mind for any information on birth or female anatomy it might hold.

He didn't want to do this, but what other choice did he have? He couldn't very well turn her away when, he assumed, she was so near to having the child. And what would happen if he were to leave her to search for a doctor? He knew very well that childbirth was dangerous for both mother and child and refused to be held accountable for Christine or her offspring's death. Unfortunately, this left him with only one option and that was to see the birth through to the end.

Hesitantly, he drew to Christine's side. With trembling fingers, he began to undo the clasps of her winter coat.

Fortunately, she seemed oblivious to his actions, the pain growing too much despite the anesthetic.

Erik carefully lifted her upper body from the bed so he could slide the coat from her frame. He then stared silently down at his hands, wondering if he dared go further.

Having never before seen a woman's body, other than the glimpses he'd caught in Persia, he felt suddenly young and shy. Despite the current situation, he could not bring himself to ignore his utter ignorance.

How could he possibly do this? He couldn't even undress the woman!

Christine's back arched and another scream escaped from her white lips.

What was he supposed to do? Was it coming? How he hated not being in control of a situation!

Steeling himself, he kept his eyes locked on her face as he began to once more remove her various garments, leaving her stays and petticoat where they were. He then quickly drew away, busying himself with the water.

Erik dipped a towel in the water, ringing it out and then using it to wipe the sweat from her now flushed face. Her skin, despite the chill air, was hot to the touch and he considered using a cooler cloth.

He didn't get the opportunity.

How strange it was to bring life into the world rather than send it out.

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I wonder if you all will be as surprised with this chapter as I was. I know I'm moving a bit quickly, but I'd rather not bore you all to tears by focusing on Nicolas' lessons. Trust me; there will be more of him later on.

But more importantly, where is Raoul? And why did Christine come to Erik when she knew she was about to give birth? Will the birth happen without a hitch? Will Raoul ever figure out who Nicolas' teacher is?

I suppose you'll have to read on to find out.

Please read and review, I really appreciate it. Since this is my first Phantom phanfic, I'm a little nervous and could use the support and criticisms you have to offer.

Major thanks again to Lena! Thank you for continuing to read and review! It gives me reason to continue, knowing that someone other than me is interested in what happens!