Disclaimer: Oh you know Rosie!
A/N: All right, must as always thank my super fantabulous reviewers. You guys are so the coolest people of all time. Your reviews are so wonderful! It makes me so happy that people are enjoying this story as much as I am…lol. Love you all! :)
And I'm done babbling for the most part. Onto the chapter which starts about two weeks after Chapter 19 ended.
So…about two weeks later….
Christine awoke in the middle of the night with a searing pain in her head. Before she had fallen asleep, she had noticed a dull ache. But instead of fading, it had intensified greatly. For several minutes she sat up in her bed with her hands on the side of her head, trying to quell the pain. It seemed that she couldn't move.
Trembling, she got to her feet and stumbled to the bathroom where she hastily ran a cloth under the cold water and pressed it to her forehead, hoping to relieve some of her pain. Finding it difficult to stand, she went back into the bedroom, perching on the edge of the bed with the cloth to her head and her eyes closed.
At last the pain seemed to subside slightly and she no longer found it difficult to move about. Returning to the bathroom, she again wet the cloth, which had become warm against her forehead.
Her head had cleared somewhat. When she had first woken, she had been groggy and could only feel the pain. She could not think of anything else. But now that it had diminished somewhat, she could sense her surroundings more clearly and she found that her bedroom felt incredibly stuffy.
Walking carefully out into the sitting room, she collapsed onto the divan. It was a larger area and she felt more out in the open, felt as if she could breathe easier. Swinging her feet up, she lay down, her head resting against a pillow. Closing her eyes, she tried to think about something peaceful, something that would take her mind off the pain.
Christine simply let her mind wander wherever it wished to go. She saw in her mind the peaceful darkness of the house on the lake. She saw Erik standing beside the fire, playing his violin. Christine smiled, almost able to hear the song. The music stopped abruptly. Erik turned toward her and sat beside her where she lay on the divan. She noticed that her headache was gone.
Erik's hand rose and gently traced the outline of her cheek. He leaned toward her, confidently, lovingly, and brought his lips to hers.
Christine opened her eyes abruptly, ashamed that she had thought such a thing. Immediately, she noticed that a blanket had been draped over her. She must have fallen asleep…
Her headache had gone, but she felt drained of energy. With some difficulty, she sat up on the divan and looked at the clock. It was seven o'clock in the morning. She had fallen asleep, but had no way of knowing how long she had been in the sitting room.
Presently Erik entered the room and saw Christine sitting up, awake.
"Good morning Christine," he said. "I hope you slept well, although I imagine you would have been more comfortable in your bed."
Groaning, Christine lay back on the pillow, "I didn't exactly sleep well."
Concerned Erik walked around the divan and sat down on it next to her. "Are you all right, my dear?"
"I just feel so tired. I woke up last night with a terrible headache," she explained, rubbing her temples slightly.
Erik frowned, thinking, but came up with no obvious explanation for this. "If you ever feel poorly again, call for me. I will come to you."
Christine smiled slightly at his concern. "You are much too kind to me Erik," she said, taking his hand. "It was just a headache, I'm fine."
"You're certain you feel all right?" he persisted.
"Yes Erik, I'm fine, truly."
Erik raised an eyebrow and brought his hand up to feel her forehead. Satisfied he said, "Well, perhaps you would like to get dressed and then join me for breakfast."
Christine looked down, noticing just now that she had entered the room last night in only her nightgown. However, she managed to quell her slight embarrassment at this discovery.
Erik then got up and went into the kitchen so she could remove the blanket draped over her without further embarrassment on her part.
The moment Erik closed the door to the kitchen he wilted, using the door to hold himself up. He was impressed with himself, that he had mentioned the fact that she was scarcely dressed so casually. But it had been quite a shock for him to find her sleeping on the divan in such a manner when he emerged from his room that morning. He had put a halt to his desire for her; the moment she said there could be nothing between them. But seeing her sleeping form, so beautiful, so…perfect. She really was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She didn't have the exotic beauty of the women in Persia and it was said the gypsies were some of the most beautiful women in the world… But Christine… She was beyond them all. She was elegant, angelic, classic…she was positively divine.
"Erik…"
Erik straightened himself abruptly at the sound of her voice. He sensed an urgency that didn't set well with him…
Quickly opening the door and sweeping his gaze over the room he saw her with her hand on the panel that was the door to her room. Frowning he walked to her.
"Christine?"
She was leaning against the wall with her hand, her breathing seemed irregular.
"Christine?" he said again, fear creeping into his voice.
He put his hand on her shoulder and she turned her head toward him.
"Erik…" she said shakily.
He caught her just as she began to fall.
Christine was back on her feet the next day. She seemed fine, but she had scared Erik half to death and Erik is not one to be easily frightened…
He couldn't understand what could have caused her to become so physically ill so suddenly. Naturally Erik had spoken to Madame Giry, inquiring if this was a common malady for an expecting woman. She had frowned and answered in the negative, which sent Erik out of his mind with worry.
But she was indeed, walking about the house as if nothing had happened.
Perhaps it was nothing…
Perhaps…
"Christine, I'm not sure you should be doing this."
Christine stopped tying her cloak and turned around.
"Erik, I promise, I feel fine. I've told you this."
He frowned, but she smiled to assure him. Christine knew that under different circumstances he would have forbidden her to leave the house. But she knew he would never do that, therefore she must try to convince him that she was all right so he would not worry.
Christine sighed. "All right, I won't stay long. Just let me say hello."
Erik considered her for a moment and answered lightly, "Well…I suppose I can grant you that."
Christine smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you Erik."
Still holding her Erik said into her ear, "Please, if you feel ill, come back immediately."
Christine pulled away and went back to tying the strings on her cloak. "I will." She opened the door and turned back to him before stepping out. "Please try not to worry. Ill be fine."
Erik watched the door close behind her, shaking his head. Immediately he regretted letting her go. She was not well! She had fainted into his arms just a week ago.
She had recovered quickly, but he had refused to let her get out of bed for a several days. He had been constantly on edge since that it would happen again… Worried that something was seriously wrong.
Sighing he went into the library to once again search through his medical books in the hopes of finding what had happened to Christine. Perhaps it was nothing…but he didn't want to take the chance that her pregnancy had caused it.
He paused at this, thinking how odd it was to think of Christine in that sense…her pregnancy… He quickly pushed the thought out of his mind and began to search the shelves in search of a proper book.
Christine made her way slowly up the stairs, knowing it would make Erik feel more secure knowing she was taking it easy. Although…climbing so many stairs wasn't exactly easy… She knew that soon she would not be able to make this trek any longer. It seemed Meg would have to come visit her after all… She wouldn't go into the house of course. Perhaps she could meet her a the Rue Scribe entrance…
Christine decided not to think of it now and concentrate on the task at hand. She didn't remember the stairs being so difficult. She stopped before reaching the top to catch her breath.
Finally she reached the door and arranged the cloak over herself to hide her abdomen. Christine was painfully aware that it was becoming more and more obvious…
Satisfied she pushed the door open, stepping through and closing it quickly behind her.
She made her way to Meg's dressing room without incident, she saw no one, which was odd. Usually she passed one or two people. When this happened she quickly turned away on the pretense of checking to make sure her cloak wasn't dragging, or to look at a painting on the wall that she had just passed. Anything so that her face wouldn't be seen and she wouldn't be recognized. Christine knew that some people were aware of her presence. Luckily it seemed they weren't people who gossiped or really cared at all…
Christine rapped lightly on Meg's door. There was a small crash shortly after Meg shouted, "Give me a minute!"
Christine smiled. Meg could be quite amusing at times… It seemed she could never simply open the door.
"Meg, it's me," Christine called.
"Christine!" Meg said excitedly, followed by another small crash. "Oh…no, give me a moment!"
Christine laughed. "It's quite all right, take your time."
Christine did wish she would hurry; it was growing extremely hot in the hallway. It was much too warm for a cloak…
Christine looked quickly down both sides of the hall and then carefully removed her cloak. She felt much better after that.
After waiting several more seconds, Christine sighed and leaned against the doorframe, impatient to get inside and sit down after all of those stairs.
"Christine?"
Christine swung around, startled by the voice from behind her. It was Jeanette, a girl her age she had been in the corps with. She was obviously on her way home, rehearsals being over for the day.
Jeanette smiled broadly and proceeded to talk very fast. "Oh I knew it was you Christine, I just knew it. How are you dear? I was just leaving and I…" She stopped as her eyes came to rest on Christine's stomach.
Horrified, Christine realized what she was staring at and fast as lightning crossed her arms, letting her cloak dangle, hiding her body. Christine smiled and said, "I am doing well and yourself?"
Jeanette quickly closed her mouth and looked back up at Christine. "What? Oh, yes, I'm fine, but I really must be going." With that she turned on her heel heading back in the direction she came. "It was wonderful seeing you again Christine!" she called over her shoulder as she hurried away.
Christine stared after her, a sickening feeling spreading through her veins.
"I'm so sorry Christine, come in," Meg said, finally opening the door. "Christine?"
Meg frowned at her. Christine stood still staring down the hall where Jeanette had disappeared.
"Christine, what's wrong?"
Christine turned slowly to face Meg. "Let's get inside."
"Of course," Meg said stepping hastily aside so Christine could enter.
Once inside Christine collapsed onto the divan. Meg hurried over to her, concerned. "Are you all right Christine? Are you ill?"
Christine shook her head, but couldn't speak.
"Christine please, you're scaring me. What is it?" Meg pleaded.
"Jeanette…" Christine choked. "She…she saw me, Meg."
Meg paled and sank down next to Christine. "Oh no…"
Christine let her head drop onto Meg's shoulders as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Within an hour there won't be a soul in this building who doesn't know."
Christine paused a moment before opening the door to the house on the lake. She took several deep breaths to steady herself, then let the door swing open before her.
Erik was at her side the moment she entered the foyer, taking her cloak from her as he said, "Are you all right?"
Christine considered saying no…but that wouldn't exactly go over well so she opted for, "Yes, I'm fine."
Christine knew immediately that she had said it too quickly for Erik to find her statement believable.
"What happened?"
She stared at Erik a moment before taking his hand and saying, "Come, let's not stand in the foyer all day. We should sit down. I'm a little tired from all of those stairs."
Momentarily distracted Erik said, more to himself then to Christine, "Yes, those stairs are becoming a bit of a problem…we can probably work something out…" Shaking his head, not letting the subject drop he demanded, "Are you ill?"
"Oh no, not at all," Christine responded, seating herself and Erik on the divan.
Growing agitated Erik questioned, "Then what? Something is wrong…"
Christine avoided his eyes, instead staring down at his hand, which she still held in hers. Absently, she traced his long fingers, intertwined with hers.
"Christine?" Erik said, in a tone that demanded she look up at him and pay attention to the conversation.
Sighing she met his eyes. "There was a…an incident…" she said slowly.
"Are you hurt?" Erik said, alarmed by her choice of words.
"Oh no," Christine answered immediately. "Don't misunderstand me…it's just…I… was seen…" she said at last, her last few words little more than a whisper.
Erik frowned…but then understood. "Who?" he demanded.
Christine saw the anger sparking in his eyes. "Erik please, it was an accident. It was all my fault…"
"Who?" he repeated.
"A girl from the corps…" Christine muttered.
Erik remained silent for several moments. It frightened Christine; she wished he would say something!
"Erik, I'm sorry. It was my fault, I'm a fool. Please, don't be angry," she pleaded.
He turned to her slowly, fire in his eyes. "You have done nothing wrong."
Then he stood and began to walk toward the door.
"Erik, no!"
Erik turned back to Christine as he put on his hat. "I merely want to keep up with the latest gossip in my opera house, my dear. You have nothing to worry about."
Christine bit her lip, knowing she couldn't stop him. "Fine then, just…don't do anything drastic?"
"Me?" Erik said, turning innocently. "I would never do anything like that…" His tone was light, but she could see in his eyes that he was furious.
Christine sighed, not in the mood for dry humor. But before she could respond he was gone, leaving Christine, knowing that nothing good would come of this. Knowing that by now…everyone knew…
"You actually saw her Jeanette?"
"Where?"
"We didn't see her!"
"Is she really…?"
"Of course she is! Jeanette said she was! Isn't she Jeanette?"
"But who? The vicomte…"
"Exactly!"
Jeanette stood in the dressing room of two members of the corps, Colette and Justine, who shared a room. Jeanette had alerted all the girls she passed that she had the most incredible gossip… Naturally they fell into step behind her as she hurried towards their room. Now six of the ballet rats were bunched in the small room together, desperate for absolute confirmation from Jeanette. They couldn't believe it! Christine Daae was back in the opera house! And with child no less! This was a story not to be missed…
Jeanette ran through her story again, in more detail this time, not that she minded repeating the story again and again…
"Well, I was on my way home. I was passing Meg Giry's dressing room and Christine was standing outside of it! I went up to her to say hello, maybe even ask what she was doing here…but then! I saw her! There is no doubt about it."
Jeanette grinned devilishly at this last statement. It was unbelievable, and she could hardly believe that she was the lucky one to tell this story! She rarely had gossip of her own to share. In just a few minutes she had become the most popular girl in the corps.
Lucille jumped up from the chair she had been sitting in, listening intently, at the moment. "I have to go. I must tell Marie! She'll faint when she hears this!"
Giggling, she ran out of the room, while the other five girls burst into conversation again.
"I can't believe this!"
"Of course you can't! Christine Daae! I don't believe it!"
"She was the purest one of us all!"
The corps burst into hysterical laughter at this.
"But it's true!" Justine insisted. "Even little Meg had a lover! Don't you remember?"
"What?" Colette exclaimed.
Jeanette laughed a little. "Oh leave her alone. We don't know that he was her lover… Besides that was ages ago Justine!"
"You think so?" Justine asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly telling the girls that she knew something they didn't.
"Are you serious?" Jeanette cried.
Justine began to giggle uncontrollably. Jeanette followed suit, as did the rest of the girls.
Colette stopped her laughter then. "Oh forget Meg, Christine Daae is with child and you want to forget her to talk about Meg Giry?"
"She does have a point," Calandre said. "Do you think she's having an affair? She isn't married…is she?"
"No, they would have posted it in the newspaper if the widow of the Vicomte de Chagny were married!" Justine said, with slight disdain.
"Yes, she's not married…and by the looks of it she was with a man not too long after the death of the darling vicomte," Jeanette added.
"Well I think that's terrible."
The girls turned to face Clementina as she spoke.
"You've been rather quiet Clementina, what do you have to say on the subject?" Justine asked her.
The ballerina paused, then said, "I don't think its proper to be discussing Christine this way." She turned away then as the girl's looked at her in surprise.
"You can't be serious!" Justine exclaimed. "Don't start to go virtuous on us Clementina, you like a good story as much as the rest of us, admit it!"
"Well…I suppose that is true. But Christine is such a nice, young thing and this is an uncomfortable topic for her I'm sure… She probably didn't want anyone to know."
"Well it's much too late for that," Jeanette said, with a hint of glee in her tone that told them all too well that she was still thrilled with her discovery.
Clementina sighed, "I have to go. You may continue to slander the name of whomever you like."
The dancers watched her leave, halfway between shock and amusement.
"What on earth is the matter with her?" Colette wondered out loud.
"Perhaps she's in a situation similar to our dear Christine," Justine said, grinning deviously.
"Oh you're terrible!" Colette shrieked.
High-pitched giggles filled the room and at this point Erik could stand it no longer.
A/N: All right, sorry about this chapter, I had planned to go into something else, but once those girls start talking they just don't shut up! If I went into the next thing this chapter would be like 20 pages long, so it will have to wait until the next chapter. Thought I'd leave you hanging here just to be evil, lol. Next chapter will be almost all Erik and Christine stuff, so look forward to that! Hoping for shorter update time for next chapter because school's almost over…
And lastly, please please review :) And remember, if there's ever anything you don't like, or something is dragging, please let me know! Thank you all :)