Chapter 4

Expecting the Unexpected


Christine cursed softly as she ran into the other room and prepared to be sick. She had arrived at the Opera on time and was in the middle of her practice when she had to run to be sick. Now it was the fourth time that morning, and Andre` had just told her to go home and get better, that it was all right.

She opened the front door and sighed, stepping into the foyer, removing her cloak, and then going to the bedroom upstairs, lying down. A few hours later she heard the door downstairs open again and slam, Erik's footsteps were on the stairs, e was obviously running.

"Christine, Madame Giry told me are you all right?"

She nodded quickly. "I am fine, Erik. I'm just very tired."

He looked unbelieving. "She said you were violently ill, Christine."

Christine bit her lip. "I just threw up..." He sat next to her and she nervously added. "Four times."

He sighed and took her into his arms, feeling her forehead. "You don't have a fever."

She shook her head. "You didn't have to come home early."

"Yes I did." He told her sternly. "My wife is ill, so must take care of her as she takes care fo me."

Christine smiled. Three weeks ago she had talked to the boy, Peter's parents, and they had been moved with pity, and had scolded their son. Peter had apologized to Erik, and was now an active participant in his class.

She began to think... she had been somewhat ill the morning before, but she had not had to go in. It only happened in the morning, she had no fever...

"Mon dieu," She looked at him, blushing. "Erik, je enceinte!"

He stared at her in disbelief, then he was crying, huge gasping sobs into her hair, and she held him. Pregnant, she would have a baby, their baby, his baby.

"Oh my Christine," He whispered. "I'm so happy!"

She wiped her face with her sleeve and leaned up to kiss him gently. He replied just as gently, his hand coming up to lay upon her abdomen. She smiled into the kiss and he broke it looking at her.

"I love you Erik." She whispered softly.

He smiled. "I love you, Christine."


The news didn't take so well with the managers, but she promised them she'd perform until she absolutely could not and she would come back as soon as possible. Meg and Madame Giry, however, were delighted by the news. They even planned a small little party for her and her husbands soon to come arrival, where they provided her with several necessities. Erik began to make several pieces of furniture, a crib, a dresser, a night stand, a rocking chair and a toy chest, all to have angels carved into them.

Christine had beseeched him not to overwork, but he insisted there was no such thing as overworking for their child. She had gone about making clothing and blankets for the baby, something she had Madame Giry help her with since she was not so experienced with it.

Christine was only three months along, and the way people were working made he feel like the baby would come any day now. She would sometime's catch herself laughing about it, then meeting her husbands inquiring gaze and one night she explained it to him.

Lovemaking had been restrained since the night she figured out she was pregnant, Erik vowed it to be the last time out of concern for the child. He had made love to her with a new gentleness, searching her small body for some outward indication of the new life she carried.

Though it didn't bother her his restraint surprised her. She pushed the thought away, that was something a trollop would think if someone didn't want them. She was no trollop.


It was her sixth month now, she had gained a reasonable amount of weight and could no longer perform. She did usually go watch the ballet practices, as she didn't want to be at home alone.

On one particular afternoon that she went in Carlotta had returned to see how things had changed. Christine was speaking with Madame Giry, when Carlotta noticed her understudy was practicing she sniggered.

"What's de matter? Can't sing now?"

Christine, who's back had been to her turned around and grinned at Carlotta's shocked expression. "No, I can't."

Carlotta recovered and laughed. "The Vicomte and yourself have been very busy, eh?"

Christine scowled at this. "What business of yours is that?"

"Or," Carlotta sneered. "Is it the monsters child from those long nights of not leaving the cellars?"

Christine quickly covered. "Don't be ridiculous! That was far more than six months ago."

Carlotta smiled icily. "I know."

Christine chuckled coldly. "Perhaps it was you who spent several nights with him, hmm? While Ubaldo wasn't around and of course..." She smiled evilly for effect. "Before the monster killed him out of jealousy!"

Carlotta unexpectedly lunged for her, they struggled for some time but Carlotta won, throwing Christine to the hard floor. The rest was a blur, Christine's cry of agony, Carlotta being escorted out, Madame Giry sending Meg to the school Erik taught at, and then she was unconscious.


Erik rushed into the room, his eyes wide with fear. Christine lay on the bed, seemingly unconscious. Madame Giry was in a chair at her side, her back to him, and her head bowed.

"Madame?" He asked, afraid of her answer.

She sighed deeply and turned to him, a small bundle in her arms. " I am sorry, Erik."

He whimpered as she set the stillborn child in his arms. The baby was white, the eyes still shut, developing. Or were going to develop. The head was bald and the ears very small compared to the head, more than likely also unfinished.

Madame spoke up before he tried to look under the blanket. "A girl."

He realized that there may be more then what he wanted to see. Tears streamed down his face onto his dead daughter. He brought her up, kissing her forehead and in a choked voice said, "Rest in peace, Cherie."

He handed her to the man come to take her but then instructed. "Wait until her mother wakes up and sees her before you take her."

"Erik, this is going to be hard enough for Christine as it is..." Madame interjected.

"I know her, she will want to see her." He wiped away his tears and took his wife's hand. To his surprise she stirred and her eyes flew open. She bolted upright and immediately groped at her stomach.

"Erik, where is..." She paused, seeing the man in the doorway. She gasped.

Erik took her chin, and forced her to look at him. "Christine, I beg you not to get excited."

Christine whimpered in protest and extended her arms, her eyes full of tears as she heard his grim tone. Erik nodded for the man to come forward with the child. He gave her to her mother and Christine began to weep uncontrollably. She clutched the baby to her chest, her tears falling freely and her sobs loud. She gasped for breath, trying to calm she mumbled. "What is it?"

Erik struggled not to choke as he spoke. "A... Girl."

Christine clutched her once again, her eyes closed, tears slipping out. She tried to restrain her sobs by pinching her lips shut but her body rocked with the force of her crying. She still clutched her, weeping for her loss, and stupidity. If she had not angered Carlotta this would not have happened. Her baby would be alive, growing inside of her, and three months from now she would be born, happy and healthy, and alive.

Madame Giry gently spoke. "Christine, the poor man has to take her to be prepared for burial, please let her go."

"No!" She protested. "Not yet, only a few more moments with the child I have killed."

Erik sternly looked at her. "This is not your fault, Christine. It is Carlotta's..."

"No, dammit! I antagonized her! I practically begged her!"

He gently sighed and touch her arm. "But you did not throw yourself down, then it would be your fault. She should have ignored you like any mature adult, this is her fault, Christine, always remember, she killed our baby."

Christine's blood grew hot. He was right. She had done it, she had killed their baby. It was not Christine's fault after all, it was Carlotta's.

Her grip loosened and she looked away from the corpse. "Please, take her I... I want to be alone."

Erik did so, handing her to the man once again with a quick kiss. The man eyed all of them, then sighed going down to his carriage. Madame left the room to make arrangements with the managers, for a leave of absence for Christine, since they had come to see her ok.

Erik sat next to her, she had huddled up, and was weeping into the pillow. She turned to him. "Erik, I'm sorry....."

He shook his head. "I already told you..."

"I know but I should have stopped her, I have failed you..." She shamefully looked away.

"No, you fought hard these past few hours to save that baby, even though you don't know it. You have not failed me. I am proud you tried." She looked at him again and he gently pushed her a bit, making room for himself. He then got up and snuggled close to her, holding her in his arms until she fell asleep.


I know, I'm evil. Poor little baby. Just so you know, this was NOT my idea. Please, no flames.