Sorry I've taken so long, but the show must go on

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Christine sat red eyed in the door frame of the bathroom staring at the cat, which was the only one that could curl up next to her coughing Erik, reflecting over the past few days.

"Christine… You know it's time… I don't w-want to wait any longer, A-and this new medicine makes me stay up anyways..."

"Erik… But you're still so weak-"

"And not getting any better like this…"

She sighed and looked at her angel, who at that moment seemed more fragile than she had seen him ever before, lightly petting his cat -whom he named Athena- and said "Fine, but we are taking a couple of days of the treatment first to not stress your body out too much"

He smiled faintly before falling asleep.

That was the calmest she would see him for the next few weeks. They started the treatment, which was burning this strange incense that made him cough out the mold from his lungs. It was so painful to even watch because every two hours he would cough, usually blood included (Naddir warned her of that), for an hour straight, while Christine sat helplessly in the bathroom, because it turned out she was highly allergic to the herbs necessary. So she sat looking at Athena who was Eriks only comfort while he sat in hell and her face was red and swollen to the point she could barely see. He looked at her almost like he was apologizing while he suffered and it broke her heart. Looks were all they could share these days, that and shaky writing, because the coughing had all but destroyed his vocal chords. They hoped though that is could be healed later. Despite all of this, the pain and exhaustion, he wanted to know and tell the truth about their pasts.

After Erik was calming down and she had extinguished the herbs she came over and kissed his forehead. His face, however distorted, seemed to be apologizing for her allergies. She whispered her usual "I love you" before he drifted to sleep again completely exhausted.

They were both exhausted. She wandered over to the bathroom and started applying the cold water that came from the cold lake to try and stop the swelling like everytime. Usually it started to heal after thirty minutes, but lately it had started to take longer and after an hour it still wouldn't stop. She sighed, she knew she had to do something. She wrote a quick note and ventured up…

Knock, knock..

"Cristine what are you doing here at t- oh dear lord child what has happened?"

Christine side as she walked into the small office were Giry usually slept in production season. "Erik's new treatment, it would seem I'm allergic. I was hoping you or Meg could escort me to a doctor, I would alone, but it is rather late and it getting harder to see and more painful to touch. And could the other watch after him while I'm gone? I wouldn't be long, just long enough to get a good medication for the swelling."

Giry sighed then nodded and within half an hour Meg was walking with her through the cold French streets. For a late cold early April night, there were any carriages on the streets. Meg noticed Christine was distracted, not even glancing at them as she passed like she normally did. "Frank for your thoughts?"

"It's just… What if he does die Meg? I don't know if I could hand that" said the red faced woman crossing her arms sadly.

"Hey now, don't lose hope. I know he's been not in the best shape-"

"Best shape, ha" Christine laughed bitterly "Meg, this is the worst he's ever been in his life, which if you haven't noticed by his scars, pts episodes, and general observance, is quite an accomplishment. But no, that is not what I am particularly worried about. I have seen him through so much trial and error to know he can handle his current status… It's just.."

"Just what?" asked Meg with a concerned look on her face.

"Just what if Nadir doesn't come back, and because of that Erik dies…"

"He'll be back. He's escaped trickier situations before…" Megs voice trailed off to the ears of someone in a parked carriage.

The man smiled into the darkness bringing his hands together and whispered "Don't put too much faith into your Persian friend, little Giry…"

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TENTION NOT DIFFUSED. Sorry for the long delay and short chapter. More is to be published soon :)