A/N – It's been a bit, but I'm hoping on getting somewhere by the weekend. I have now written this chapter twice. We are in the last quarter of the school year where I work, and things have gone from slow to chaos! I love the reviews – Black Shadowed Starling and Child of Dreams, You guys are wonderful! Red roses for everyone! Anyways – I still don't own anything except for my own thoughts, here's the recap!

Anthony stopped what he was doing, and turned to Erik "You are adding to the DuPage line? Even if it is only a possibility now, I am to be an uncle again! Father will be overjoyed if we find out that she is with child on the way to him!" Anthony embraced Erik, and nearly picked the taller man up "You will know joy, my dear brother. Your life until now has had little joy in it, but you will soon know true joy in the arms of your family!"

Erik woke the next morning with a gasp and tightness in his chest "No, I haven't had one of these since I came back from Persia. I will NOT be victim to this again! NO!" Panic attacks were not something new, but there were something from the past that Erik felt helpless against. "Christine" He wheezed "Christine, help me!" Erik shook his wife, who woke with a start when she saw his condition "Erik, what is wrong? Why can you not breathe? Erik!" Erik shook his head, unable to speak, and motioned for Christine to come closer. When she did, Erik moved her arms around him. Christine felt his pulse racing, and began to hum a lullaby that she remembered as a child. She curled her head to his chest, making sure her arms were around her angel "Erik, we are together and nothing will change that. We will meet your family as one. We will make it, my love." Erik worked to pace his breathing with hers, and soon found himself coming down from his attack "C-Christine, I have not had one of those since Persia. It was a panic attack. I may not be good traveling company today." Christine shook her head "I will travel with you in the same carriage regardless of how ill-tempered you may be, dearest husband. We will overcome this together." Erik was in awe of her confidence, and of her determination to make this journey work for their benefit. He knew most of the trepidation was in regards to meeting a family that he had no knowledge of, and had thought for his whole life wanted nothing to do with him. The gypsy group that had taken him made sure that he was aware of it, going as far to tell him that his family had sold him because of his face. He now knew that this was not true, and that his family mourned for him when he was taken "Nearly 30 years of hate is so hard to unwind. Will they see me for the monster that I became in mind and body? Will they see me as their own blood and flesh, fully forgiven for anything that happened before now? How do I even begin to speak to them of my childhood, my time in Persia, what I did to the opera?" Christine shook her head, as she could see the wheels turning in Erik's mind "My love, we do leave today, maybe a good soak will help ease your mind? I know just the things to add to it for you." Christine rose from the bed, and started for the bathroom.

As soon as she turned the water on to run in the tub, Christine ran to the stool, retching "This is the first thing Madame said to watch for. If it continues, then my suspicions are confirmed. Maybe this is just the once. There has been so much stress lately." Christine quickly cleaned herself up, and dumped the lavender buds into the bath, hoping the peaceful smell would power through the small chamber, and hide what she had just brought up. "If Erik heard me retching, he will cancel everything, and make me lie abed for 9 months! I can't bring myself to do that. I have to make sure he doesn't find out, just yet."

Erik had heard the commotion, and was running to the bathroom when he smelled the lavender that Christine was adding to the bath "Is she sick, no, this is the morning illness that comes with pregnancy! NO! Not now! Perhaps the happenings of the last few days have been too much? That must be it. It's too early to have symptoms already, isn't it?" Erik made no mention as he walked into the bath, and took in a deep breath, feeling himself relax as the lavender filled his chest "This is divine. You truly are an angel, my heart. Now, join me in this relaxing bit before we travel?" Christine was almost afraid to say yes, fearing that he would be able to tell right away that something was wrong. She slipped her robe off to reveal only the night shift that she wore, and blushed when she saw Erik's heated gaze. "Only in you get in first, and stretch out to work on relaxing more." Erik nodded, stripped and plunged himself into the heated water, taking another deep breath as he stretched his frame to nearly prone in the bath "Your wish has become my command, my song. Here, now you may join me in comfort." Christine blushed again, and slipped her shift off so she could join Erik in the bath. Quicker than she could see, Erik had shifted so that Christine could recline her back against his chest, and have her head next to his. Erik kissed up her neck, and nipped at her ear "You are absolutely magnificent. There is nothing on this Earth that can compare to you. Even the angels pale in comparison to your perfection." Christine let a small smile come to her face "Erik, that is sacrelige!" Erik chuckled deep in his throat, and that sent a rush to Christine's sex "Then may I burn in hell for the perfection that I will witness my entire life." Erik felt his way down to Christine's thighs, and then shifted so his hands could find her warmth that he was craving. He could get lost in her body, to where they would die from hunger and thirst because they would not leave the bed. Erik found that to be the best way to think of his demise happening, in the arms and in the embrace of his love. Erik quickly spun Christine around to face him, and flexed his hips so that Christine knew what she did for him. "I seem to have an issue that needs to be resolved, and only you can fix it, my minx." Christine ground herself against Erik's length, causing both of them to shudder and exhale in pleasure, before working to devour each other's mouth "I think I have just the resolution you require, maestro" Erik hardened even more at this word, having been nearly a year since he was addressed as such. Erik moved the knees of his wife to each hip, and thrust himself within her all at once, groaning as he pulled her close. "Christine, you can undo me with just a word, a touch. You are the be all and end all of my existence. Let me love you." Christine nodded her head, feeling the fullness of Erik's manhood within her. With the small nod, Erik began to move slowly and deeply into his wife. He took a nipple between his teeth, and pulled just enough to make Christine cry out "Erik! Please! More!" Erik picked up the pace of his thrusts, and Christine quickly fell over the precipice of her release, seeing stars as she worked to find her breath. Erik felt the pulsing around him, and followed soon after with a groan and calling the name of his wife.

After the lovers had bathed, dried and dressed, Erik decided he needed to know why he heard Christine be sick "It was nothing, Erik. Just too much excitement and nerves. I am sure I will be fine and there won't be another episode. Come, we must eat before we leave." Christine was cringing inside "I was so sensitive, and the sickness this morning adds to it. I will have to tell him sooner or later, maybe we can make it to Calais first, and then I can let him and his family know." Christine said a quick prayer that her plan would work.

Anthony met the couple in the kitchen with pastries and hot tea "I got breakfast already. I didn't want to wake the staff or Nadir and Madame so early. They were up quite late." Erik shook his head, and took his head in his hands "I do not want nor do I need to know about my father's nocturnal activities, and I'm sure Christine does not want to know about Madame's. Now that you have scarred us both for the day, can we be on our way?" Erik picked up a croissant, took a bite and gulped some of the tea "I have eaten, let us take the rest of this with us, so that we may snack after we wake up." Anthony laughed at Erik's actions "Surely, you would want your wife to eat before we are on the way? We have two carriages by the way, so that you and Christine can have some time to yourselves when needed. We have stops on the way, but those will only be during the nights. The baggage left already, and should be there before us, and already unpacked and in our rooms when we arrive." Anthony offered Christine an éclair, frosted with chocolate "This is for you, my dear sister. I heard that you are a fan of chocolate, even if your husband is not." Anthony threw a glance to Erik "And I hear he can be quite strict about diet." Erik turned around and was nearly toe to toe with Anthony "Chocolate will clog her vocal cords, as will dairy and any rich foods! She was permitted them, just not prior to performance or lessons!" Anthony was nearly doubled over with laughter at this point, and Erik knew he'd been had. "Erik" Anthony choked out around his laughter "You are truly our father's son! Your mannerisms are so similar! Mother would have enjoyed taking you like this many times a day! Now come! We must depart!" Christine giggled at her husband, before going on her toes for a kiss "Erik, it was a little funny. You do have to admit that your wit is going to be worked at while we are away." Erik nodded, and gave himself to a quick kiss "MY wit is fine, it is my sanity that may be in danger. He reminds me so much of Nadir, and I thought one of the old goat was bad enough." Erik took his wife's hand and the pastries, and walked to the waiting carriages.