I am so sorry that it took me so long to write this. For a while I just didn't know how to end their perfect love story. But I think I am okay with this. I hope you like it. Read & Review!

I was dead. I had to be. After a few moments I remember surrendering to the black. I accepted my fate. So why can I still feel pain? I thought that was supposed to disappear. I thought death was peaceful. I felt dizzy. I felt nauseous. I felt like something was pushing around inside me. I felt searing pain. I felt everything. But maybe pain was good. Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe I was not dead yet. I had to fight this. Death would be too selfish. I had to fight to live. I had to fight for Erik and Gustave and our little baby growing inside me. I had to fight for all of us. I had to fight!

And then light. I don't know why, but light. Maybe it had been too late and I was in transition into the afterlife.

"Christine! Oh thank God!" Pain spread across my body. I could feel pressure on top of me.

"Mother! Oh Mother, I was so scared!"

"I knew you could fight this. No fate could tear you from me, even if I had to rewrite it myself."

"And did you Erik?" My voice was harsh. As if I hadn't used it in decades. My eyes welled with tears. I was exhausted and the pain was almost too much.

"I would if need be but it seems someone is on our side." I felt his tears hit my cheeks and melt into my own.

"Gustave, darling."

"Oh mother! I am here." Gustave stood beside my bedside. His hands were shaking and his face was filled with tears. Behind him sat Meg. She was not coherent. Her face was smudged with tears and makeup.

"Meg?" She looked up but only began to cry harder. Gustave turned to her and took her hand.

"This way Auntie Meg. Let us give Father and Mother some room. Father says he has to tell her grown up things." Gustave took her hand and led her out of my hospital room. She followed but tripped on her ball gown. Suddenly I thought of our daughter and how well Gustave would treat her. And then I remembered in horror of the knife, of the knife piercing my belly, piercing my womb. My eyes filled with tears.

"Erik, is she-" My hands fought the blanket to find my abdomen. I had to feel her. I had to know she was okay." Erik looked towards the window. I could see sunlight coming in through the window. The light hit his tears as they made paths down his cheeks. He couldn't find words. I let my hand fall against his cheek.

"The knife tore at the womb. Christine, I couldn't save her. I'm so sorry!" His head fell onto my chest and he sobbed so hard his whole frame shook.

"It wasn't your fault Erik!"

"I will kill that son of a bitch!"

"Erik no! He is your brother! He needs you!"

"Sometimes you are just to god damn pure, Christine. He deserves to rot in Hell!"

"Stop this!"

"The doctor had to take out your uterus, Christine! We can't have any more children!"

"We don't need any more children, Erik. We have our own perfect little family. As much as I want our little girl, she's gone. But your brother isn't. He is lost and confused just like you once were. He needs love like you once did. He needs a family and you are it. He is scared, Erik. Show him peace."

"Christine, I can't. Yes you can. Go. Go and find him. Save him from himself."

"Christine-"

"GO!" Erik kissed me on the forehead and then turned to leave. As the door closed I curled up into a ball under the covers. I let my hands wrap around my stomach. She was gone. The wounds in my stomach burned but I ignored the physical pain and let the emotional pain consume me. Carlotta was right. All I brought was death. I would not have anyone else's on my hands. I would not let Xenon die because of this. So many people had died for me to live now. From Meg's face it was obvious that Raoul had died. My lovely Raoul was dead. And he was dead because of me. If I hadn't dragged him into my mess he wouldn't have been a target for Xenon. And my baby, my poor little baby girl. She was dead. She was dead because I tried to save another. I gave her life for Erik's mother. I wanted to give my life not my baby's. My tears had soaked the blanket beneath my head. My hair stuck to my face and salt fell on my tongue. I was a bringer off death. I did not deserve the life I was given.

Thank you dear, Christine." The blanket lifted from my head and a small wrinkled face looked down upon me. She had tears in her puffy eyes. It was clear she had been crying before. "Erik told me of your misfortune. Why would you try to give your life for mine?"

"Erik and Xenon need you. Every child needs a mother. They are both lost they need you in their lives. They grew up thinking you were dead. I know what it is like to have a dead parent. I would give anything to be with my father again."

"But now is not your time, my dear."

"He is taking care of my little girl right now, just as your Henry waits for you."

"Henry is not their father, you know. I met him years later. He showed me what it felt like to be truly loved and what it was like to love."

"That is how I feel about Erik."

"I know. I saw it in your eyes the day you both visited me. One day we will return to all our loved ones. One day our families will be made whole once more and nothing will matter but the love we hold for each other. I must go now before Erik returns. Let him know how much I love him. And tell Xenon I'm sorry." Before I could respond Erik's mother slid out of the door.

~Six Months Later~

It fit just had it had years ago. I sat in my old dressing room waiting for the music to begin. Today should have been the day Aria was born. I should be holding her in my arms now. But here I sit plucking of the thorns of a rose. Tears slid down my cheeks. Erik knew how meaningful this day would be when I told him it was the date I picked.

"Christine, you look beautiful!" I looked up to see Meg standing in the doorway of my dressing room. "Is this the infamous dress?" I stood up and ran into her outstretched arms.

"Yeah."

"It is lovely. Come on we must get you ready. It is almost your turn." She pulled me out into the corridor and into the Opera Populaire's grand foyer. We rushed up to the grand doors and waited for our musical cue. A soft melody floated through the doors. I moved aside as the doormen opened up the grand theatre's house. Meg walked down the aisle way in time with the music. The tune slowed and hand wrapped around my arm. I turned to see Madame Giry smiling at me.

"Are you ready my dear?"

"I have been waiting a lifetime for this moment." We proceeded into the House. The theatre was packed. Gustave sat at the organ skillfully playing the piece of music set before him. Erik turned as I walked in. I could see the love in his eyes and a single tear drop on his cheek. As much as I tried to rush up the aisle, Madame Giry held me back.

"I thought I taught you had to stay with the tempo of a piece, Christine." I ignored her words and focused on my beautiful soon-to-be-husband. Raoul, his best man, sat behind him in a wheelchair. The stab had paralyzed him from the waist down. Xenon stood behind Raoul. The ceremony was pretty straight forward. I stumbled over my words and lost my focus on multiple occasions. I was too focused on Erik to pay attention to the words being spoken. After the ceremony Erik took Gustave's place at the Organ and played what he titled The Melody of Aria. Only I could hear the pain in his notes.

One day we will hold our little baby girl, but today is not our day.