Erik sat in the parlor of the Augustin Manor. It had only been a few days since his visit with Jacques, and he had decided that he did need a woman's advice. Abigail walked into the parlor with three teacups. Jacques sat in the corner, reading the newspaper.

Abigail sat across from Eric, her eyes staring right through him. "How can I help you, Erik?" she asked, sipping her tea. Erik sighed and dropped a cube of sugar into his cup. "I need advice on what to do about Christine," he said. "She's out there somewhere and I miss her. I want her back, I want to tell her how sorry I am."

Abigail nodded slowly. "And do you know where she is?" she asked. Erik shook his head sadly. "I haven't seen or heard a word from her since the night she left." He stirred and stirred his tea, his mind swirling around with thoughts of his beloved Christine. "Erik, did you hear me?" Abigail asked, leaning towards him.

"Oh, what?" he said, returning to reality.

"I said that you need to find her. Something tells me that you're not looking very hard. Once you find her, it will be much easier to speak to her."

Erik sighed and nodded. "I'm trying to find her, it's just so hard. I don't know how she just disappeared like that. I'm worried about her…"

Erik was interrupted by a knock on the front door. Abigail quickly got up and answered the door. A delivery boy stood there and handed her a note. "You are needed at the hospital, Madame," he said. Abigail quickly opened the note. "What is it, dear?" Jacques asked, looking up from his paper. Abigail's face went white as she turned towards the two men in the parlor. "I'm needed at the hospital. They are short on midwives and there is a woman who has gone into premature labor," She said, her voice shaking just a bit.

Erik's eyes flew open and he quickly got up, taking the note from her and reading it.

There was only woman he knew this could be.

Christine.

Erik arrived with the Augustin's to the private maternity room at the hospital rather quickly. Abigail had quickly changed into her uniform and was now checking in with her advisor. They could hear a woman crying out in pain from down the hall.

Erik's heart raced. He knew it was Christine. That was her crying and screaming down the hall. His Christine was in pain and he could not comfort her.

His Christine.

Abigail brought Erik down the hall. "I'm sorry Erik, but they do not allow anyone but the midwives and doctors in the room during the labor. You are welcome to stay outside the room," she said before quickly going into the room.

Erik caught a glimpse of Christine as the door was opened. Her chocolate curls were laying wild over the pillows. Her face was wet from crying and the color was drained from her once rosy cheeks. Her stomach had grown bigger and much more swollen since he'd last seen her. She was wearing a white gown that the hospital had provided her. She was on her back with her feet in stirrups. She looked uncomfortable and pained, which hurt Erik.

As the door closed, Erik exhaled, dropping his head down. He wanted to be with Christine, to comfort her in her time of need. He longed to hold her hand and stroke the hair from her face, just to be with her. Erik cringed as he heard Christine cry out again.

Suddenly, a voice startled him. "Sir?" the voice said. Erik quickly turned to see the young girl staring up at him. "Adeline, what are you doing here?" he asked, confused.

The girl bit her lip. "I brought her here, sir," she said, looking down. Erik furrowed his brows. She brought her here? "How did you find her, where was she?" He asked eagerly.

Her green eyes locked on Erik's. "She's been staying with me since that night, sir. I wanted to say something, but I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone. Please don't be angry at me…"

Erik's eyes widen. So Christine had been hiding from him. His heart sank and he turned away. "Thank you for taking care of her, Adeline," he said quietly. The girl sighed and returned to the waiting area.

Erik sighed to himself. Christine probably hated him. He imagined her reaction to finding out he was here. "Get him out!" "Why is he here?" "I don't have any interest in seeing that monster!"

Erik put his head in his hands.

'Oh Christine, if only you knew how sorry I am…'

Christine's labor was long and extremely painful. She had refused the drugs the doctor wanted her to take, for she knew if she did, she wouldn't remember the birth of her child.

The labor lasted roughly ten hours, and Erik stood outside the room through it all. He listened to Christine's crying and screaming for hours on end, his longing to be in the room with her only growing stronger.

During the last hour of her labor, things had gotten intense. Throughout the whole ten hours, the doctor and midwives didn't think Christine would make it through. She was so small and young, and childbirth was not easy at all. But during the last hour, Christine had suddenly grown extremely weak. She had ceased screaming and crying out so loudly and was beginning to give up.

Erik had grown angry at himself for cursing this all on her. It was his fault that she was going through all this pain and suffering. If he would have been more careful all those months ago…

Everyone feared that Christine was slipping. Midwives scrambled to help her regain her strength. Finally, Christine had worked up enough strength to give it one last try. She screamed and threw her head back, gripping onto the bed sheets. The room grew silent.

Erik's heart lurched. Why was it silent?! What was wrong?!

Christine's heart broke when silence fell over the room. She feared that her worst nightmare had come true. The baby had come into the world silent. Tears welled up in Christine's eyes, but before she could cry, something cried out.

The child! It was breathing! It's cry was the most beautiful sound Christine had ever heard. The midwives all let out sighs of relief and immediately went to the child.

Outside, in the hall, a weight had been lifted off of Erik's shoulders. "Thank God," he whispered, slowly running a hand through his hair.

The swaddled child was placed into Christine's arms. "It's a boy," Abigail said, smiling at her. Christine realized who the woman before her was. "Abigail," she said quietly. Abigail smiled at her and gently touched her arm before turning back to the other midwives.

Christine looked down at her child. Her son. He was absolutely beautiful, not an imperfection on him. Christine's eyes filled up with tears, but for the first time in months, they had not been tears of anger or sadness. They were tears of joy.

She cradled her son in her arms, smiling at him. "Oh, dear child, you are perfect…" she said, gently touching his soft cheek with the tips of her fingers. She could not take her eyes off the child. He was an angel.

Abigail and another midwife approached Christine's bed. "Have you chosen a named for him?" Abigail asked. Christine looked up at them. She had never spoken with Erik about a name. But he was not here, so she would have to choose herself. She looked back down at the child, then up at the women again. "His name is Gustave," she said, smiling at her son.

Her Gustave.

Soon after Gustave was born, Christine had once again grown very tired. The midwives took the baby and laid him in a bassinet. Christine closed her eyes to rest, the midwives leaving the room. Christine and her child both fell into a deep sleep.

Christine was awoken early in the morning by Abigail. She heard Gustave being fussy in his bassinet. "Christine, he is in need of feeding. Are you comfortable feeding him? We will leave you alone with the child." Christine yawned and nodded, sitting up a little. Gustave was brought to her, immediately calming when he was handed to his mother.

The midwives left the room and Christine began to feed the child. She could tell he was very hungry, for he hadn't been fed yet. He suckled on her breast and Christine stroked the small amount of brown hair on his head. His hair was slightly lighter than hers, which surprised her a little. But he was perfect. Gustave was smaller than most of the babies being born, but that was because he had decided to come a little early. Christine didn't mind, for she had been anxious for his arrival. He was healthy, and that was all she cared about.

Right after Gustave had finished feeding, there was a knock on the door. Christine quickly adjusted herself. "Who is it?" she asked, looking back down to Gustave and stroking his little cheek.

Abigail peeked her head in the door. "Miss, you have a visitor," she said. Christine smiled. Adeline and Jane were probably anxious to see the child. "Go ahead and let them in," she smiled. Abigail slowly stepped aside, letting the door close slightly. "Go ahead," Abigail said behind the door.

Christine was not prepared to see him walk through the door.