By the way; I do not own the song from last chapter. Sorry I forgot to put that in. Oh! And Arilda is mine, too.
Looming
XxX
A week and a half into their time alone, Christine left long enough to get Raoul. It had been decided between them through letters that Raoul would wait in Christine's old dressing room for her once a week, and Christine would come for him.
There was still tension between him and Erik. Little things he did, hugging Christine in a bit-more-than-friendly way, taking her hand before remembering that she was no longer his. It was quite clear that Raoul would never stop loving Christine, even if he had accepted that she belonged to someone else. Thus, to keep things from blowing out of proportion, Christine had set Raoul's visits on Monday, when Erik's medicine was at its most potent, having been administered just the evening before.
This time, however, Raoul did none of the usual little, unintentional things that so set Erik off. In fact, he seemed almost distant.
"You don't seem quite yourself, young man," Erik muttered warily, wondering what was behind this change in the viscount.
"Oh?" Raoul shook his head, frowning slightly as he tried to clear his mind. "I hadn't noticed. I apologize. I met the most interesting person, today."
"Who?" Christine asked, eyes shimmering.
Erik smiled fondly at his Christine's attitude. Her pregnancy had made her very emotional. If she wasn't sobbing, curled either on the bed, or in his arms, she was flouncing around, humming to herself, or laughing as she begged him to dance with her about their home. At times, she reminded him of a child, light-hearted and innocent. But the slight bulge in her stomach revealed a beautiful, loving woman who was always ready to care, and comfort, or laugh, and encourage.
Over the past month, that was all she'd done, it seemed; comforted Erik, laughed when Nadir told her some funny story, all but skipped up to meet Raoul, only - as she'd said - to get back to her 'precious, dearest Erik'.
She had flitted happily throughout every minute, and though she'd only been pregnant for two and a half months, and Erik and she were soon to be married, Erik could sense that something was wrong. There was a deep foreboding cloud looming on their horizon. He could feel it. He had become incredibly protective of Christine in the last three weeks, since the fearsome presentiment of some doom had come to him; he had not let Christine out of his sight unless she went to retrieve Raoul, he had kept her as calm as possible, made her eat as much as she could comfortably stomach, refused to let her do too much around the house. He would not lose her.
Raoul's voice brought Erik from his slowly darkening thoughts, and returned him to the present moment.
"Oh, no one of consequence, really. Her name is Arilda. A gypsy at the fair that recently came to town."
Erik balked, and Chrisitne's eye widened. Raoul, and a gypsy? That would create more of a scandal than their brief period of love.
"You.... you're serious?" Erik asked, almost incredulous. "Gypsies," he muttered darkly.
Christine picked up on Erik's upset instantly.
"I'm sure she's quite nice, Raoul," she said, stalling to try and think up another subject. "Oh! Dinner?"
Erik grinned wryly at the obvious attempt to change the subject, and spare him his darker moods.
"That would be wonderful, Christine," Raoul smiled.
"Yes," Erik agreed cautiously, sensing some of Raoul's old, undying love in his words, and kissing Christine's cheek for good measure, to remind the boy who she was with now. "Dinner would be perfect, my love."
Christine noticed the strain on 'my love,' and smiled fondly, rolling her eyes. Erik was likely to never get over his suspicion of Raoul. But so long as it led to no troubles, Christine would simply let nature take its course.
"I have to wonder, Raoul," Christine said as she set out dinner for Erik, Raoul, and herself. "Is the fair you mentioned still here?"
Erik groaned, sensing exactly where this was going. She'd want to go, and explore, and oh, how awkward that would be.
"Actually, it just left, Though Arilda thought she'd like to stay," Raoul replied. "I'm sorry I didn't think to come sooner and tell you about it."
"Oh, that's all right, Raoul," Christine assured him "Not like it truly matters, anyway, does it?" She turned a bright smile up at Erik, who nodded, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Not unless you would have wanted to go."
Christine shrugged, and pressed her head against his shoulder.
When dinner was over, they sat in front of a cheerful fire, talking. Erik had insisted Christine have his chair, her being pregnant, and sat beside her on the footstool, Raoul close by on the couch.
"I really must congratulate you again, Christine," Raoul sighed. "You look wonderful."
Christine blushed. She knew better. Her stomach was only slightly round, which, to the uninformed observer, could still pass as fat.
"She's perfect, isn't she?" Erik smiled, kissing Christine's head, and forgetting his instinctual dislike of the viscount. "A child, my love, Christine."
Christine beamed, and snuggled close to Erik's chest. Just then, however, the alarms began to ring, and Erik pulled away to see who had come.
For a while, as he rowed across the lake, Christine and Raoul were left alone.
"You truly are happy here, Christine?" Raoul asked quietly, not looking at her.
"Of course I am, Raoul," suddenly a bit nervous. "Why shouldn't I be?"
"Yes, yes, I forget," the viscount muttered contritely. "You love him. Forgive my impertinence, Christine. But if you ever needed to get away, I would be glad to help you."
Christine shook her head.
"Erik isn't like that, Raoul. He'd never hurt me." After a pause, she spoke again. "We've begun to plan the wedding, Raoul," Christine said dreamily, eyes shinning. "It will just be a small service, with Meg, Madame Giry, Nadir, and you. Oh, I can't wait! In six weeks, Erik and I will be wed!"
Raoul sighed. How he wished it was him marrying Christine. But she'd made her choice. Erik was good to her, and she loved Erik. He would always love Christine, but she was his no more; would never be his; probably never was, anyway. But that did not concern Raoul anymore. In the past two and a half months, Raoul had seen no sign of the anger, and seeming madness that he had on the first night he'd met Erik. Perhaps it really had been only complete desperation and heartbreak.
"Raoul?" Christine called, wondering why he'd gone so silent suddenly.
Raoul shook his head as he pulled away from his thoughts. "Nothing, Christine," he said quietly. "It's nothing."
The door opened then, and Christine swung around with an excited look, and rushed to the door when Erik entered, followed closely by Nadir.
"Erik!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. "You took so long! You didn't hurt yourself?"
Erik shook his head, and kissed her gently, trying not to laugh. He'd learned early on that Christine's hormones were nothing to laugh at.
"I'm perfectly fine, my dearest," he assured her. "In fact, I hurried, to make sure I did not worry you."
"It's good to see you again, Christine," Nadir said with a smile. "You're glowing."
Erik laughed full and deep, taking Christine in his arms.
"Isn't she?" he beamed. "Isn't she, Raoul?" Erik asked, turning to the viscount sitting by the fire. Raoul smiled, a bit wryly.
"Yes, you can see it most in her eyes," he agreed quietly.
"Nadir," Christine smiled. "Would you like tea? I was just about to make some for the rest of us."
"That would be lovely, thank you."
Erik smiled, and led Nadir further into the room.
"How have you been, Erik my friend?" the Persian asked, grinning.
"Fine, Daroga, fine," Erik laughed. "Christine is incredible, though. I tell her to take it easy, she begs me to dance! Oh, she's wonderful."
Raoul sighed.
"She is, isn't she?"
Erik nodded, and leaned back against the couch, eyes closed. He was just in too good a mood to even notice the loving undertone in the viscount's voice. Christine's happiness with him, of all people, had sent Erik into a daze more intoxicating, more peaceful, more caressing and comforting than any morphine. In fact, he realized idly, he hadn't used any since the night she'd come back to him. Since that night, he'd found that all he needed was Christine.
"Tea's ready," Christine called lightly, walking into the room, and pressing a cup into everyone's hands, then taking her own. Turning the light chair around - Erik cringed when she moved it, warning her to be careful - she sat facing her loved ones.
Ayesha wandered through the room, and leaped lightly onto Erik's lap, and curled herself into a ball. Erik smiled, kissed her head and stroked her soft fur.
"You missed dinner, Nadir," Christine pouted.
The Persian shook his head, waving off Christine's comment.
"I ate at home, Christine," he assured. "Tea is plenty now."
"I'm afraid I still haven't quite gotten the hang of the samovar, even with Erik teaching me," Christine muttered, frowning into her tea.
"Now Christine," Erik comforted. "Your tea is fine, my dearest. It doesn't matter if it tastes professional. It's better than the first time, at least."
Nadir and Raoul laughed, and Christine lightly smacked at Erik's arm. Erik dodged, and lifted her off the seat, sitting in her place and pulling her onto his lap in one swift movement.
Suddenly dizzy, Christine groaned, and slid from Erik's lap, into a heap on the floor.
"Christine!"
Raoul and Erik had moved forward at the same time, but Erik moved quicker, pulling Christine into his arms, feeling pressure and fear beginning to build in his chest.
"Christine!" he gasped, gently shaking her shoulders, and pushing her hair out of her face. "Oh God, Christine! Wake up, Christine! Christine!"
"There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet," Nadir muttered, eyes wide, face pale. This couldn't be a good sign.
Christine frowned, and her eyes slowly opened. Erik let out a strangled moan of relief, and pulled her tight against his chest.
"Erik, what....?"
"Hush, Christine," Erik breathed, tears still rolling down his face. "Stay quiet. It's all right, now. Shh."
"But, what -?"
"You passed out," Raoul whispered, ghostly white. "Are you all right, Christine?"
"Of course," Christine assured them, but her voice was fainter than usual, and Erik especially could see that she was pale, and she was lying, almost limp, in his arms.
"You should rest, my dearest," he said shakily, standing with her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Nadir... Raoul. Perhaps next week?"
Nadir nodded, and led a reluctant Raoul out of the house, and back up to the surface.
Trembling slightly, and terrified, Erik carried Christine into the Louis-Phillipe room, and laid her gently on the bed. He sat beside her on the edge of the bed, and stroked the hair back from her face.
"Oh, Christine," he breathed raggedly. "Christine...."
When he let out a weak sob, Christine reached out and pulled away the mask, gently resting a hand against his cheek as she sat up, then wrapped her arms around Erik's shoulders.
At the contact from Christine, Erik broke and pulled her close, apologizing, and crying, and promising that he would never touch her again.
"This is all my fault," he rasped through his tears. "I-I knew better than to ever think of having a family. I knew the curse on me would continue. God, Christine, forgive me."
"Erik," Christine said gently, pulling away and holding his face in her hands. "Erik, it's not your fault, I was tired. You''ve been right all along, every time you said I should rest, you were right, and I should have listened. I'm sorry for worrying you, my love."
"Christine," Erik sighed, kissing her, and pulling her close. "I thought for a moment.... Oh, mon ange... Don't ever leave me..... Please, not like that...."
Christine smiled gently, and kissed his cheeks where the tears had fallen, and light pink trails marked their progress down his face.
"I'm fine now, Erik," she assured. "Lay down with me. You don't look well."
Erik gave a weak, nervous laugh.
"I thought you were dead in my arms, Christine," he reminded her quietly. "I daresay you would look a sight worse if our places had been reversed."
He made to get up, but Christine caught his arm, and looked at him imploringly.
"Please, Erik," she begged. "Rest a bit. You're upset. And you know that's not good for your health. Please. I'm all right. Lay beside me for a little."
Erik relented, and crawled under the blankets, holding Christine close.
They lay there for a while, until Erik noticed Christine was getting sleepy.
"We should change, Christine," he muttered. "It isn't good for you to sleep with that corset on."
Christine nodded tiredly, and stood, walking to the closet, and changing into a night-shift while Erik pulled of his shirt, and sat on the bed to wait for her.
When Christine turned back around, it was as if she'd never seen the multiple scars that crisscrossed Erik's thin chest. She gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth, and tears welled in her eyes. She moved quickly to Erik's side, and examined the old welts and cuts.
"Why?" she whispered. Erik had lost count how many times she'd demanded of fate why it had been so cruel to her Erik.
"It was long ago, Christine," Erik said gently. "These scars are all from a past that no longer matters, now that I have you."
In a week's time, Christine was in about the same condition as the night when Raoul and Nadir had last come to visit. Erik, on the other hand, was in a considerably worse state.
He was shaking, and pale, and paced constantly, and no matter what either of the two other men said, they could not get Erik's mind off what troubled him; Christine had begun to bring up bits of blood with her morning sickness, and she'd passed out again. At the time when Nadir and Raoul arrived, she was resting, having passed out only the previous evening, and was still considerably tired.
"Something's wrong," Erik worried, pacing. "It's the baby, I know it! This is all my fault."
After a moment of silent pacing, Erik turned to Raoul with an annoyed glare.
"You should never have let her return here!" he growled. "You promised to take care of her!"
"She wasn't happy, Erik," Raoul returned rationally, hoping Erik would calm down enough to see the truth; Christine was happy only with Erik at her side.
"And you expect me to think she's happy here? Like this?" Erik scoffed. With a frustrated gesture, he dropped into his chair, and hid his face in his hands.
"We could take her to London," Raoul suggested. "The city is known for its great doctors, especially Dr. Lister of King's. Perhaps he would know how to help."
Erik shook his head. "The journey alone would be likely to kill her."
"It's still our best chance, Erik," Nadir agreed. "And I'm sure we could secure good passage for the four of us."
Erik's head snapped up. "You two, as well?"
"Technically, three," Raoul muttered. "I'd like for Arilda to come along."
At that moment, the alarm rang, and Erik looked up. He checked the torture chamber to see Antoinette, and Meg Giry standing there, Meg's mother tapping at the glass impatiently. With a confused, surprised frown, Erik pressed the mechanism, and let the two women in.
"How on earth did you two find your way here?" he asked incredulously.
"Raoul told us Christine was unwell, monsieur," Meg said timidly. "Are you really the Opera Ghost?"
"I was," Erik replied awkwardly.
"And, Bouquet..."
"Meg!" Madame Giry snapped warningly.
"Bouquet's death was an accident," Erik stated flatly. "He found the..... room, just as you did. Fortunately for the two of you, I was here."
"Where is Christine?" Madame Giry asked worriedly.
At Antoinette's words, Erik's mood dropped, and the concern flared up to the forefront.
"She- she's resting," he muttered. "Did Raoul tell you she was with child?"
Meg nodded.
"It's wonderful. Though I certainly hope it isn't the baby doing this."
Erik cringed.
"I fear it is," he whispered, voice starting to shake slightly. "Christine and I, Nadir, Raoul, and his new lady friend, Arilda, are going to London to see a doctor."
"We'll come, as well," Meg piped up.
Madame Giry smacked her forehead.
"Meg, the poor girl will need space, not a load of people pouring over her every moment. I daresay those already going will be company enough."
Meg sighed defeatedly.
"May we at least see her now?" she asked.
Erik nodded, and pointed in the direction of the Louis-Phillipe room. He would have followed them, but seeing Christine in such a condition was always almost too much for him.
He knew in the end, something was going to come of this. Somehow, Erik knew something would be permanently changed in his life with Christine. They were going to lose someone, or something, he was sure of it. So long as it wasn't Christine or the baby, though, it wouldn't matter.
XxX
And that's the chapter. I hope you all liked it. Review, please!
