Skittlesgirl99: He hasn't offically asked her, they're kind of just taking it for granted. Thanks for explaining, I read POM once, but I don't really remember if I liked it or not. I try to keep my readers entertained and I'm getting good at throwing little twists in.

Phantomsmelody1970: He takes it moderately well.

Phantomfan01: I know, I had to throw in a little something.

NoirCiel: Not very much trouble, maybe, just a little.

Shadow of the red rose: True, but she's still confused about the whole situation.

Phantom Serenity: A little punk, yes. I have to throw in a little something to make everyone jump.


Chapter twelve

Erik held Christine's shaking form. She'd cried for almost five minutes and he'd never felt so helpless in his life. As he prayed for help and tried to calm her down, a kind, middle aged lady nurse had noticed and she'd sat down beside them in the lawn and prayed for Christine. Now, after moments after saying amen, she'd regained her composure.

"Thank…you." She said to the lady.

She smiled, "It's hard sometimes."

"Christine," he asked gently. "What happened? Did he hurt you?"

The woman stood up and Christine grabbed her arm. "Ma'am? Could you stay please?" the woman frowned. "I-I have something to tell him…and…I don't think I can do it alone."

"It's not my place, but if that's what you wish." The woman sat down next to her. "I'll stay."

Christine exhaled and looked at Erik as more tears flowed down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook. "Oh!" she looked up at the heavens. "God, why is everything so hard?"

"Christine," his heart pounded. "Are you breaking off our engagement?"

"No!" she shook her head. "That would be easier to say than this."

"Are you ill?"

"No."

"Did someone die?"

"Give her a few moments." The lady suggested. "You're only upsetting her more." She turned to Christine. "It'll be over if you say it very quickly."

Erik held his breath as Christine began to speak. "Erik, its Raoul." She inhaled, closed her eyes and blurted out. "He's the boy who raped me."

Erik's ears buzzed. "What?"

She nodded, "he's Erik's father." He couldn't believe what he'd heard.

Erik stared in shock, "you mean….. You were dating your rapist and didn't know?"

She nodded, "I didn't know it. He knew."

Erik's blood boiled, "how dare he!"

"Erik!"

"Easy." The woman said. "You need to be strong for her."

"I'm trying!" Erik bit out. "I haven't gone up to the hospital and killed him for raping my fiancée! I'd love to have one minute alone with him!"

"Erik, he doesn't know about us."

"Doesn't know what?"

"That we're engaged." She inhaled. "He wants me to marry him." Erik blinked and all anger whooshed out of him in that moment. "He wants…to become a real family."

"Christine." Erik said firmly. "Don't make any foolish decisions now. Your heart is troubled."

She nodded, "Erik. I never thought anything like this would happen. I do care about Raoul."

"Christine he raped you!"

"Ten years ago!" she cried. "He was drunk! I forgave him! And look at what he's done, he's a hero! He's turned his life around, found God!" she shook her head. "You should have heard him in there."

"Christine!" Erik said firmly. "Stop it. Stop it now." He pulled her and the old lady up from the ground. "You're going home and rest."

"I'm not tired."

"Sure." Erik said pulling her close. "I believe you." He turned to the lady. "Thank you."

"I'll pray for you two. I hope things work out."

"Thank you." Erik noted her nametag. "Mrs. Green."

She nodded, "God be with you."

"And He be with you too." Erik moved Christine along the walk. "Easy."

"Erik, Raoul loves me." Erik stopped and looked at her. Did she know how much those words hurt him? "He told me so."

Erik tilted her chin up and looked at her lovely, swollen and wet face. "I love you too Christine. But does he love you, the way I love you?"

Erik leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, praying for a response from her and not a rejection. Sure enough, Christine's arms came up and she gripped his neck tightly and pressed closer. After a few moments, he broke the kiss and she rested her face against his neck.

"No." she exhaled. "No man has love me so unconditionally before. Except for my father." She looked at him with a slight smile. "The father is always the first man a girl loves and she'll always look for traits of her father in the man she loves."

"Have I any at all?"

She nodded, "your temperament at times, the way you comfort me and don't laugh when I make a fool or myself. The way you show respect for me. I could go on and on, but, I need to get home."

Erik's phone rang and he picked it up. "Hello?"

"Erik?" Charles sounded worried. "We're heading to St. Gloria's hospital. Are you still there?"

Erik frowned, "yes. Why?"

"Erik fell down some stairs and broke his arm. He hit his head too. The ambulance should be arriving soon." Erik groaned. "I'm so sorry sir. I had no control over it."

"I understand. It's just…Christine's had a hard day. She…doesn't need this."

She frowned at the mention. "Erik? Is something wrong?"

"I've got to go. Bye." Erik turned and gripped her shoulders. "Now Christine, remain calm. Nobody's died." He felt her relax under his touch. "Erik fell down some stairs and broke his arm." She gasped. "They're bringing him here. They should be arriving at any moment."

On cue the ambulance was heard, Erik grabbed her hand and they ran towards the emergency entrance. Christine gripped his hand hard as she watched Erik get unloaded from the ambulance.

"Stand back please." One of the medics said.

"Mother!" Erik said sitting up before wincing in pain. "Ouch!

"Lay down!" she ordered in shaky voice.

"Don't worry ma'am it was a clean break. Just needs to be set properly."

"I'm sorry mother."

Christine shook her head. "Erik."

The medic said, "you can follow us." He glanced at Erik. "And you are?"

Erik inhaled to speak when little Erik spoke up, "he's my father."

Christine and Erik blinked. Christine covered her mouth and Erik blinked. This was little Erik's way of accepting their engagement. The medic didn't notice their reactions. He simply nodded. "All right, you two follow me."

Christine gripped his arm and whispered, "how am I ever going to tell him about Raoul?"

Erik rubbed her shoulder as they followed the medics. "Wait until Raoul's better," the name stuck in his throat. "Tell him together."

"I hate waiting."

"Christine, you can't throw something like this on him now. Now is not the time, give him time to heal. For his sake and your sake. You both need time."

She debated quietly before nodding. "All right."


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