I could be screwing this up but Aileana is now seven and Gustave is four. I could be screwing that up but hey. It's still a good story right? New chapters soon.


Erik's POV

It was probably a few weeks after Christine's birthday. Everything had been so perfect. But I got a call from the hospital saying that Christine had been in a severe accident. I rushed there. I hoped my angel would be okay. Percy and Annabeth were already there.

"Where is she?"

"She's in surgery. We were waiting for you so we could go watch."

We rushed into the gallery. There was my Christine, lying on a table. Three doctors were working on her torso and two were around her head. It made me scared. What if my angel died? I couldn't live without Christine. Something started happening and it didn't look good. Blood started spurting out, spraying all over the doctors. They started working faster. Annabeth tried pulling down into my seat but I needed to see if my Christine would be alright. When they got control, they continued their work but faster. When they finally finished, they looked at us, nodding their heads. I rushed out of the viewing gallery and to the room they put her in. I sat by her side and holding her hand.

"What happened?" I asked the doctor.

"She was driving to work we assume when a lunatic driver ran a red light, t-boning your wife. It was a severe crash. She had shards of glass and metal embedded in her skull. Her spleen had nearly ruptured…"

He continued telling me what was wrong but I couldn't hear him. Not really. All I cared about was my angel.

"Thank you Doctor. Could I spend some time with my wife, alone please?"

"Of course Mr. Dentler."

He left the room leaving me alone with Christine. She looked so peaceful. She had a small smile on her face and her skin glowed.

"Oh Christine. My Christine. Why did I make you go get groceries?" I sobbed into her hand. I suddenly felt a hand on my head. I looked up to see Christine lazily gazing at me.

"It's not your fault Erik. It was that man. And plus we needed groceries. There almost nothing in that fridge."

"But the crash…"

"Nearly killed me, yes. But I have made a deal with Osiris. He has granted me temporary immortality."

My wife… a goddess. It suited her but her tone made me question the happiness of the news.

"It means that I will be able to stay with you for brief times. I will return sometimes. But I must remain in Duat or my essence with falter and I will cease to exist."

I shook my head. No, this was not happening. How could she do that?

"If it's only temporary then-"

"The moment you die, I will fade and my ka will join you in the afterlife."

But then that would mean we could be regenerated in different bodies at different times. No. I wouldn't have that. I told her she was to either stay with me always or leave forever. Christine, not surprised by my actions, held my hand as I freaked out.

"Erik. I chose this. And I have made the deal extend to when we are both together in the ever after. The moment our souls regenerate it will be at the same time. We may not know each other at first but the moment our hands meet our former lives will rush into our memories and our love will be stronger than ever."

It was a small price to pay. She would still be with us, watching over us. She would still come back sometimes. When her energy was full and strong. It would be hard without her.

"What will you be the temporary goddess of?" I teased.

"Well Isis said courage, bravery, loyalty, and faithfulness. But Hathor added love as well. She said she had seen no one in our history who had a love such as ours. She paid attention to Percy and Annabeth but they do not have Egypt in their blood."

"And we do?"

"I do. And I am her student. Therefore she paid attention to me."

I looked away. I didn't want this. Now we really were like Christine and Erik from Phantom. We had a son named Gustave and Christine was leaving us. Not by death, although had she not struck a deal with Osiris she would've been dead, but by becoming immortal. Christine noticed how quiet I'd been and turned my head to face her.

"No matter what, I will love you and only you until the end of time."

I smiled and kissed her gently. She smiled against my lips. We had kissed for several moments before we heard someone clear their throat.

"Did we walk in at the wrong time?"

Percy and Annabeth were standing at the door with coffees in their hands. Christine pulled away laughing.

"Sorry. Thank you for getting coffee."

"We figured you'd be awake by now. Though the doctors were surprised, we weren't," Annabeth said.

I was still really upset about Christine having to leave us to live. I hoped she would stay true to me but based on all my brothers and sisters back at camp, that was a small possibility. Christine noticed my demeanor and kissed my cheek. It was a tiny gesture but true in its meaning. After a while I got a call from the school. Apparently Gustave got in a fight and instead of breaking it up, Aileana decided to join in. They did not have an ounce of me. It was all Christine.

"Go. Find out what happened," Christine said.

I left and drove to the school. Both of my kids were sitting in the principles office. The kids Gustave was fighting and his parents were there too.

"Mr. Brand?" I asked, opening the door.

"Ah Mr. Dentler. Come in."

I walked in. Both Aileana and Gustave looked down. I raised an eyebrow at them. Gustave started twirling his fingers in anxiety and Aileana started to blush from embarrassment.

"Please, explain why I get a call from the school while I'm visiting your mother in a panic," I instructed the kids.

Principle Brand started to explain, having heard both sides of the story. Apparently Gustave told the other kid how he was the grandchild of gods. And the kid not believing him told him off. It first started as a yelling match then punches were thrown then Aileana joined in and started to have fun.

"My child is raised under a Christian household and I will not tolerate such insolence. The world should be as it was in the 1500's. Everyone believed the same thing and there was peace."

Rolling my eyes, I responded.

"No there wasn't. There were wars, religious wars and many good people died. And back then we believed the Earth was square."

The kid's parents glared at me. Lost in thought I heard Principle Brand call my name.

"How do you wish to go from here Mr. Dentler?"

Ignoring his question I knelt down to eye level with my kids.

"Aileana, Gustave, look at me. Just because we have certain values and beliefs doesn't mean we get to go waltzing around gloating. Not everyone believes in the things we do."

"But Papa, it's true! Both you and Mother told us. And Uncle Percy and Aunt Annabeth clarified for us. Poseidon is real and we are his grandchildren!" Gustave exclaimed.

"Yes the gods are real but not to mortals. Can they see through the Mist like me and your mother?"

"No…"

I nodded. Facing the principle, I apologized.

"They're kids. And they can't really perceive the consequences of their actions just yet. They're their mother through and through. They have tempers like her. Not one shred of me."

The other kid's parent glared at me. Taking my kids with me, we drove back to the hospital. It was a silent ride until we encountered a blockage. Gustave started humming a little melody while Aileana tapped her fingers in a beat. Maybe they had some of me all along.

"Father, why can't we be proud of our family?" Aileana asked.

I sighed. Christine should've been the one telling them this.

"We can be proud sweetie. But mortals don't perceive the world as we do. Other's think it's science, others God. But we know that both science and mythology coincide with one another. And if mortals found out about people like us… They'd probably freak out and do random things."

"But we can't tell people?"

"No. Your mother would be better at explaining. And you'd better ask as many questions as possible."

"Why?"

"You'll see."

Entering the hospital, I led the kids to Christine's room. She was there reading something in hieroglyphs. She sensed us. Without looking up from her book she acknowledged us.

"And what was that all about?" she asked.

"Fight at school. Apparently this one told a mortal that he was the grandchild of Poseidon and this one joined in the fight for fun," I briefly laid out.

Christine laughed. How I'd miss that laugh. I'd miss everything about her. I still couldn't believe she would do that. Become even temporarily immortal. I may have been married to her but with her gone… I'd be considered a single dad. I couldn't imagine how the kids would take it. Aileana would try and be strong but would ultimately break down whereas Gustave would either lock himself in his room or cry his eyes out while playing the piano. Christine looked at me and nodded. I sat down on the bed next to her and picked my son up onto my knee while Aileana hopped onto the bed beside her mother.

"Sweethearts, we have something to tell you," I said.

I couldn't do it. I looked to Christine for help. She smiled sadly and told the kids herself.

"Darlings, Mommy has to go away for a while. A long while," she said.

"When will you be back?"

Christine sighed with tears in her eyes. I rubbed her back soothingly, just as she did for me. She started to cry but soft enough that she could speak.

"That's the thing Aileana. I won't be back. At least I will sometimes."

"I don't understand."

"When I went into surgery, I knew I was going to die. Anubis was there to guide me to the Underworld. But then Osiris and surprisingly Hades was there and dismissed Anubis. Osiris did not want to see his favorite demigod die and made me a deal. Hades wasn't happy about it but agreed. They offered me temporary immortality. Making me live without no age, no sickness, and no dangers. But I'd have to live in Duat or Mount Olympus. I didn't want to leave you but it was either see you every other time or leave you forever."

Aileana had tears streaking her cheeks and Gustave was whimpering. Aileana threw herself onto Christine, voice cracking.

"Don't leave us. Please. I don't want you to go…"

"Shh. I know. I know. I don't want to go either. But your father will stay here. You can talk to him or you can pray to me. I will hear you. And I will always answer you."

Christine was discharged not long after that, but that meant after that day, she was going to leave us. We got the family and friends together as well as IM'd Horus in Egypt. We told them what had happened. Percy was rather upset.

"How could you do that? Do you know you're the only level headed person in this family? When it comes to just our little family Chris you're the smart one."

"Perce is right Chrissy. I may be Pharaoh but I need help. A lot."

Christine shook her head. I knew she didn't want this. But it had to be done. Well I guess she could've just gone with Anubis to the Underworld but she had made her choice.

"I know this comes as a shock but I've made my choice. I didn't accept this deal for the sake of being immortal. I chose it so I could watch my children grow up. So I could still spend some nights with my family."

Everyone was on edge but this was it. She had already quit her job and now, after tonight she was leaving. At least for a little while she'd say but I knew better. She didn't know when she's be allowed to see me.

"What are we going to do without you?" Sally asked.

"You'll figure it out," Christine said. "And I will be back sometimes."

They all gave Christine a hug goodbye. All the kids too. Jasper, Emily, all of them. By the time everyone had left it was late. Luckily it was a Friday night so the kids wouldn't be affected too much. Giving Aileana a kiss on the head and carrying Gustave to his room, we sent them to bed. Christine sang them lullabies to help calm them. They were fast asleep by the time they were done. Her voice was hypnotic. I even started to fall asleep as I stood by the door. But her voice changed the second she closed Gustave's door.

"I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent. Now I am here with you. No second thoughts. I've decided. Decided."

She looked at me with lust-filled eyes and I knew where she was going, singing the Point of No Return. She came right up to me, so I could feel her breath on my skin, as she kissed my chest and sucked my neck. All the while singing the chorus to the song she had started.

"Past the point of no return. No going back now. Our passion play has now at last begun.

Past all thought of right or wrong. One final question. How long should we two wait before we're one? When will the blood begin to race, the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last consume us?"

I scooped her up into my arms kissing her lips as I did so.

"Shorter than you think, Angel," I whispered.

She smiled against my lips and pressed closer. I didn't stop what was about to happen next. Only the gods knew when I'd see her again.

When I awoke due to a bad dream, Christine was still in my arms sleeping peacefully. I carefully got up and went to the washroom. I splashed some water on my face. My dream was where I lost Christine forever. That we'd never see each again. I heard a soft knock on the door.

"Erik?" Christine called.

I opened the door. Her hair was starting to get curly like it was when I had met her and was messy from sleep. She rubbed sleep from her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her, her head resting on my chest.

"I'm okay. Go back to sleep. Just a bad dream."

"It obviously was a bad one. You never get up during the night."

I squeezed her body a little tighter. I never wanted to let her go.

"I dreamt I had lost you forever. That we'd never be together again."

"Erik, why didn't you wake me? I could've-"

"No. I wanted you to sleep. I don't want to disturb you. You looked so peaceful."

She pulled back and looked at me. "Erik. I love you and want to be there for you night or day."

I shook my head. I led her back to the bed. I lifted her onto the bed and laid her down. I walked around the bed and laid down on my side. I felt Christine turn over to face me.

"Erik. I know this is hard. But I don't want to go. I chose this so I could return to you. We are husband and wife. I will never ever leave you in spirit. In body, maybe. But never in spirit."

I turned over to face her. I kissed her passionately. She kissed back. I would miss her so much. Her face, her demeanor, her kindness, the softness of her skin and lips. Her loyalty. Through our problems she stayed with me. She didn't divorce or see someone else. Through thick and thin she stayed by me.

"I know Christine. I just don't want you to go. That's all. I'm one lucky man to have you as a wife."

She smiled and snuggled into me. We fell asleep eventually, while I hoped when I awoke next she'd still be there.

The next morning I woke to an empty side. Christine wasn't there. I searched the house and the bathroom but she wasn't there. Then she walked through the front door, throwing her keys on the counter. She had just taken the kids to school. Then when she to pick up her mail she looked at her arm. It was turning transparent. She looked at me, tears filling her eyes. I shook my head. It couldn't be time yet. But her ankh started to glow and pulse light.

"That's my cue. Erik I have to go. Or else I'll dissolve. I said goodbye to the kids when I dropped them off. I hugged them goodbye and kissed their heads. Aileana was trying really heard not to cry. I can't believe it. I have to go…"

I kissed her fiercely. She pressed herself closer, showing me her reluctance to leave.

"I love you. I love you so much. I love you more than anything I've ever owned."

Christine's whole body looked translucent. She kissed me one last time. Ripping her ankh off she pressed it into my palm.

"Take it. That way I'll always be with you," she said.

I nodded and put it around my neck. When I looked up from the amulet she was gone.

My angel was gone.

My angel… was… gone.