Chapter 11: Christine's POV

I woke up on the bed.

"Hmm?" I stretched my arms out slowly and felt a paper.

I grasped it and opened it.

Lotte-

I want to apologize for hitting you. I did not intend for it to get out of hand.

I am leaving on affairs of business and am afraid I will not return for two months. I would like to return to your forgiveness, but if that is not possible, then... I will sorrowfully return to the business affairs and let you leave.

I love you.

Raoul

I refolded the letter and plopped back down onto the pillows, hand on my forehead.

Raoul had run away from his problems with me, hoping time would heal the wounds. He was trying to pull the oh-I-feel-so-sorry guilt trip.

It had worked before.

I didn't know if it would work again.

I knew, though, that the two months of Raoul's absence would be extremely happy. You would be able to stay at our apartment, as long as you didn't go near the windows.

I drew a bath and let the warm water melt through my skin. Then, I had an overwhelming sense of nausea, and let myself throw up into the toilet bowl.

I pushed away the thought that, when Raoul returned, I wouldn't be able to hide my pregnancy. He would be able to see from the moment he walked in the door.

I was trying to focus on you. We could be together all day and night and not have to worry about anyone coming to find us.

No longer in the mood for a bath, I dressed and went downstairs to head to your room.

I walked over to Sir Cameron's and saw the elderly woman from a few days ago behind the bar.

"Bonjour, madame," I greeted her.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"Is my... husband upstairs?" "As always," the woman gestured to the staircase.

"Thank you, madame," I smiled and walked up the stairs.

I knocked on your door.

"Yes?" you asked with a deep, fake accent.

"It's me, love," I said, smiling a bit at your conscientious security.

You cracked the door and looked out. "Christine?" your face lit up.

"Erik!" I smiled back.

You grabbed my hands and pulled me into your room. I shut the door behind me with my foot, and smiled as you pulled me into a soft kiss.

You had stripped down to an undershirt and a pair of pants. "I'm sorry I'm not properly dressed... it's rather hot up here."

"It's fine," I pulled my cloak off and laid it on a chair.

"How did you get Raoul to let you out?" you were fiddling with the windows and not looking at me.

"He... left on business," I said. "He'll be gone for two months at least."

You turned, surprised. "I was hoping you would come stay at my apartment," I said, rubbing my forearm.

"I'd love to, Christine," you crossed the room and put one hand on my waist softly, the other on my cheek, the way you always kissed me.

But Raoul had struck me right on the cheek and it hurt to feel you touch the blooming bruise. I whimpered a little.

"What's wrong?" you searched my eyes.

"Nothing," I tried to smile

Your eyes started to wander down to my lips, but stopped at my cheekbones.

"Christine," you drew in a sharp breath.

"It's nothing," I tried to pull out of your arms. "No, what happened?" you held fast.

"Raoul... Raoul and I had a... quarrel..." I looked down. "But I was out of line. I shouldn't have..."

"No. Christine, there is no excuse for him to hit you. Did he... did he specify where he was going? I could catch a train..." your eyes glazed with a terribleness that I hadn't seen since you were known as the Phantom.

"No, Erik. If you killed him, you'd have to leave to run or go to jail. I don't want to raise the child with only one parent," I pleaded you out of your anger.

You looked at me, and sighed. "I am so sorry he hurt you."

I leaned into your chest and broke down in tears.

"It is so hard, Erik. I love you, but I owe Raoul," I murmured in between tears.

"Christine, you don't owe that bast... him anything."

"I do. It's... it's so hard to explain."

"Do you want to try?"

"Not today." I sniffled. "Let's focus on the fact that, today, I have you, and you have me, and we have a baby."

"Okay," you smiled, and kissed me. "I'll pack my things and meet you at your flat."

I bit my lip. "I was thinking... since you've already paid for tonight..."

"Oh," you smirked. "Oh." I blushed a little, and kissed you.

You leaned into me, and I smiled as we began to melt into each other.

Although everything else in this world may be up in the air, I knew one thing for certain: you loved me.

And that meant everything.