A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this update took so very long. Erik was refusing to cooperate with me and I was in Bermuda for a week. But I'm back now and the story is being updated! Yay! lol. Now…I know I promised a mostly E/C chapter, but when I wrote it, it just didn't turn out that way… But the massive phluff at one point in this chapter will hopefully make up for it a little, lol.

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! It means so much to me.

Fantome: Yes, Clementina will be appearing in this chapter…I'm not sure if she'll turn up again, I'll have to see… :)

Midasgirl: I promise no terminal illness for Christine, that would just be terrible wouldn't it? But don't look for her to be especially happy anytime soon…the poor dear :(

Let's see…what else…oh yes, I will bring up "Meg's lover" again…but keep in mind that one of the girl's did say that they weren't positive he was Meg's lover…so it could go either way, you'll all just have to wait and see… :)

Oh…and just to tell you, the name Clementina means "merciful." Get it? lol :P Actually the only reason I picked the name…I don't really like that name personally, lol.

Wow…I've been babbling for a really long time, I'm going to shut up now and let you read the story…lol.

Christine is now a week shy of 6 months pregnant…just so you know…

The laughter of the ballerinas died immediately when the room was suddenly plunged into darkness.

Jeanette screamed, latching herself onto Justine. "What just happened?" she cried.

Justine, not too gently, pried Jeanette off of her arm. "The gas was cut off…"

Calandre had backed herself against the wall, trembling. "You don't think…that he heard us do you?"

For several moments there was absolute silence. Then Jeanette spoke. "Oh my God…we need to get out of here, now."

She ran for the door, groping for it in the darkness. Unfortunately, Colette had the same idea and shrieks of terror were emitted as the two girls knocked right into each other and fell to the floor.

"He heard us…he heard us…we shouldn't have been talking about Christine!"

"Calandre, get a grip on yourself!" Justine shouted. "Someone find the door, I hate this darkness!"

Colette had managed to untangle herself from Jeanette and reached the door. She reached for the knob only to find that it wouldn't turn.

"The door won't open! It won't open!" she shrieked.

"What do you mean it won't open? Let me through," Justine said, grabbing the knob herself. She found Colette's statement to be true, the doorknob would not turn. Twisting it harder, she became more frantic and began to bang on the door.

"He heard us!"

"Stop it, Calandre!" Jeanette cried, and it was evident in her voice that she was on the verge of tears.

"But he must have! Why did you have to talk about her like that Jeanette?"

"Me? What about Justine?"

"Stop it! Both of you!" Justine yelled, fear beginning to creep into her voice. "Let's stay calm, I'm sure there's a reason for this."

"Of course there's a reason!" Colette shouted hysterically. "The Phantom heard us!"

"I thought I told you to stop that! The Phantom did not hear us!" Justine shouted over the noisy tears that Jeanette had started.

"Are you positive?"

The girls froze as a deep, ghostly voice filled the room. There was silence for a moment before all four girls began to scream. Erik laughed, letting the evil, inhuman sound bounce around the walls and completely fill the room.

Justine banged frantically on the door. "Please! Someone! Help us! Let us out!"

Madame Giry halted on her way to Meg's dressing room at the sound of screams up ahead. She listened for a moment longer… Yes, she had definitely heard screams accompanied by loud knocking.

Frowning she continued down the hallway and the shouts become more distinct. As she moved cautiously forward, she quite clearly heard the voice of Justine, a girl from the corps. Concerned now, Madame Giry set off at a rapid pace, stopping when she met with a chair that was leaned up against a door. Upon further inspection she realized that it was wedged against the doorknob, trapping the girls inside… Eyes widening, she tore the chair away from the door and as she did so Justine nearly fell over as the door swung open at last. The moment it did, the lights flickered back on and the laughter stopped.

Madame Giry glared at the girls inside the dressing room. "What is going on in here?"

Calandre, still pressed against the wall, responded first, "We're sorry Madame, we didn't mean to…he heard us."

"Will you stop it, Calandre!" Justine again was forced to yell. She turned to Madame Giry. "Madame, we're sorry, we don't know what happened."

"It was the ghost!" Colette shouted before she could restrain herself.

Madame Giry looked over the girl's frightened faces, but was unmoved. Shooting them a look of pure venom she said, "All of you will go home at once. I don't want to hear such nonsense again, do you understand me?"

The girl's nodded quickly before shooting past Madame Giry and running down the hall. Once they were out of sight, Madame Giry stepped inside the room and closed the door.

"Erik?"

For a few moments there was silence, but Madame Giry did not have the patience for Erik's games. "Monsieur, please, I do not wish to play. Why did you trap four girls inside this room?" she asked accusingly.

"Gossip can be a deadly thing, Madame…" Erik said ominously, letting his voice echo off the walls of the room.

Madame Giry sighed, "Erik stop it. What has happened?"

"Gossip can be deadly…"

Madame Giry stood abruptly as his voice faded away. Her heart was pounding painfully in her chest. Erik wouldn't really hurt a member of the corps… The only reason he would have to kill was if someone was… Christine…

"Monsieur…" Madame Giry said quietly. "Please…" She hated to plead with him, but if they knew about Christine…there was no telling what he might do. "They don't know what they're doing, you know that. Please, monsieur."

There was no answer. She knew he was still there. She also knew that he would not speak to her now. Knowing there was nothing else she could do, she turned and left the room, closing the door gently behind her.

Christine didn't move from her place on the divan as Erik entered the house. She sat still and stared thoughtfully at her hands folded in her lap.

She stayed where she was as he hung up his cloak and hat, watching out of the corner of her eye as he collapsed into an armchair.

"Are they all right?" she asked quietly.

Erik leaned back, gripping the ends of the armrests. "For now."

"Please don't say things like that, Erik," Christine responded, flatly and immediately.

Erik chose not to respond to this, knowing he would say something sarcastic that would upset her. He studied her for a moment. Christine still hadn't looked up from her hands and her face was oddly expressionless.

"Are you all right, my dear?" Erik asked, curious of her strange behavior.

She shrugged slightly, still refusing to look up.

Erik frowned, then felt a small prickle of fear… What if she was angry with him? She knew where he had gone… Was she ignoring him now?

Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed. "You're angry with me."

Christine hesitated a moment, then looked up at him at last. "No…I'm not angry with you…"

He watched as her eyes shifted off of him to gaze over his shoulder. She wouldn't look at him…

Erik stared at her, unable to find something to say, unsure what he should do. He gave up, sitting back and letting the uncomfortable silence engulf them both.

Christine laughed then, a short forced laugh. "I hate this, Erik," she stated, halfway between laughter and tears.

Erik remained silent, sensing she had something more to say, knowing she was steeling herself to speak.

"It's just…I was down here…I was so upset, knowing that everyone up there," she said gesturing vaguely over her head, "knew…about me… I realized how much I didn't want anyone to know. How much…that I don't want any of this."

She had stopped laughing by now; her voice was steady for the most part although tears rolled down her cheeks in a constant torrent. Erik still remained silent. She didn't seem to notice him or his lack of conversation.

"It's so unfair," she said, exhaustion in her voice. She stared straight ahead, looking at nothing in particular, but her eyes remained focused.

Erik didn't know what to do. Christine's depression and weariness was obvious in her voice. He watched in unmoving silence as silent tears continued to slide down her cheeks. He knew he should go to her, comfort her, but something was keeping him from doing so…

Christine laughed then as she angrily wiped the tears where they gathered at her chin. "I don't know why you put up with me, Erik."

Erik leaned back in his chair, "Yes…you do."

She looked at him at last. Their eyes met for several moments before she hastily looked away. "I think I'm going to go to my room…I'm tired…"

She stood to leave the room, but Erik rose and said, "Christine, wait."

Christine turned to him when he spoke, tears still gliding gracefully down her face.

"I…" Erik paused, trying to form his words carefully, worried that he might not say this the right way. "I'm…I'm sorry," he said awkwardly. "You shouldn't…have to…this shouldn't have happened to you Christine."

Christine attempted a small smile through her tears, and failed. "But it did Erik, and now it is my problem."

"No, Christine," Erik said immediately. "You are not alone in this."

There was a pause. "I don't deserve you."

Erik was taken aback by this statement. He spent every day thinking that he did not deserve to be with Christine…and she believed it was she who wasn't worthy? Not worthy of him? A monster who lives underground? How could an angel be undeserving?

He turned away, unable to look at her.

Christine sighed, thinking she had done something to offend him. "I'm sorry, Erik," she said quietly.

He turned back around quickly. "For what?" he asked in surprise.

She moved her eyes from the floor and met his gaze. "Well I thought I…said something that…had offended you."

Erik felt as if he would not be able to stand on his own much longer. She had such concern in her eyes…

"No, Christine, you said nothing wrong."

"What's wrong, Erik?"

Crossing the room in a few long strides, he took Christine into his arms, and she sunk into him gratefully.

"I always put you first, Christine, always. Your happiness is much more important than mine," he began, speaking into her hair, unable to bear her scrutinizing eyes while he said this. "It's difficult for me…to see you so unhappy everyday. I can't bear the thought that there is nothing I can do for you…"

Tightening her grip on him, she pulled him closer to her. "Erik, you do more for me than I could ever ask for. I am so grateful to you. You had no obligation to take me in the way you did…"

Erik listened as Christine's voice trailed off; he had nothing more to say. He could feel his throat tightening, suddenly becoming painfully aware of how wonderful it was to hold Christine in his arms. Also becoming painfully aware that she could never be his…

Releasing his grasp on her quickly, he took a few steps back. Christine's shoulders slumped, dismayed at the distance he put between them. Consciously running a hand over her stomach she sighed. The flow of tears that had begun to dry on her cheeks threatened to replenish itself. She couldn't bear it. She couldn't bear Erik constantly pulling away. Common sense told her why he did this. He loved her; she knew that…she was sure of it… She let her hand rest momentarily on her abdomen, wondering if…no, surely  Erik…

Biting her lip, wondering whether to say something, wondering whether to remain silent…knowing that would just cause more frustration and distance between them. But…she couldn't…

Turning rapidly, she set a fast pace and disappeared into her room, leaving Erik to sink into a chair and wonder if anything would ever be right between them.

The next day, Meg sat at her vanity, paper in front of her, pen in hand. But she had abandoned the note she was writing, and was instead pondering whether Christine would ever dare come to see her again. The corps de ballet had talked of almost nothing else but Christine and her…situation since Jeanette so kindly shared that information. Meg was furious with all of them. Justine seemed more subdued. Jeanette seemed unable to speak. Colette had attempted to tell people off for speaking about Christine, but Meg knew this was not out of charity. She knew that Colette just didn't fancy another run-in with ghost. Meg had of course heard about their encounter with the Opera Ghost and fully believed that it served them right. She also believed they didn't get nearly what they deserved…

A knock at the door startled her. Immediately her thoughts jumped to Christine, she doubted somewhat whether Christine would be back so soon, if she planned to return at all…

Meg placed her hand on the knob and forced a smile on her face before opening the door to find Clementina standing outside of the room.

Struggling to keep the smile on her face, but failing miserably Meg said, "Hello Clementina. What brings you here?"

"May I come in?" Clementina asked timidly, shifting her eyes, unwilling to face Meg's glare.

"I suppose…" Meg said. She stepped aside and Clementina entered. Meg couldn't believe she had just let a gossiping member of the corps into her dressing room.

Meg closed the door slowly, trying to collect herself before turning to face the ballerina behind her.

Turning, Meg opened her mouth to say something, but Clementina spoke first.

"I just wanted you to know that I feel terrible about Christine and I think it's evil that the girls talk about her so," she said quickly, as if expecting Meg to interrupt her.

Meg's surprise at this statement showed on her face. Stuttering she responded, "Why…thank you…I...I'm sorry Clementina. When you showed up here I assumed you were just like them. That you…wanted me to tell you more…or…I don't know. I guess it was stupid of me to think you would be like them."

Clementina smiled in obvious relief that Meg was not angry with her. "It's dreadful really," she said, sitting down hesitantly on the divan she had been standing in front of. "I can imagine what Christine is going through…and to have the corps talking about her on top of that."

"You can?" Meg asked curiously.

"Oh yes," Clementina said quietly. "Of course, I don't know what happened to Christine…but my sister, Marie, was…with child when she was only…a year or two older than I. She had been married…her husband…left her…" Clementina finished uncomfortably, not quite sure why she was disclosing this information to Meg.

Meg sat down next to her. "What happened?"

Clementina glanced at her, and seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, continued. "Well…she had the baby of course. A boy, she named him Charles. It was hard for her. People talked… Of course, that was nothing compared to how gossip spreads around here," she said, gesturing slightly with her hand. "I was there when Jeanette first told us," she continued quietly. "I want you to know that…I told them I didn't think they should talk about Christine that way…"

Meg smiled at her. "Thank you, that means a lot, to me and I will tell Christine that."

"Do you talk to her often?"

"Usually," Meg said. "Although…I'm not sure when she'll be coming back to visit me."

"Well…when you see her again," Clementina said carefully. "Tell her that I'm sorry and…and I hope she's all right."

"I'll do that," Meg promised.

While Meg had sat pondering a letter she had to write…Christine could be found many floors below, doing the exact same thing. At long last she had decided what to write, stuffed the note into an envelope and sealed it shut.

Taking the letter up, she rose and walked out of the room in search of Erik. She noticed the door to his study was closed, so she went to it and knocked quietly. After a moment the door opened. Christine didn't meet Erik's eyes; they had not spoken since their encounter the day before. Breakfast had been taken in complete silence. Aware that she was being rather bold in requesting something…she took a deep breath and looked up at him. He didn't seem angry with her…this she was glad of.

"Erik, would you…I mean if you wouldn't mind…could you take this to Madame Giry for me?" Christine asked timidly, holding up the envelope for him to see.

He looked at her for a moment before taking the letter from her. "Of course," he answered simply.

He strode past her and she had just enough time to thank him before he was out the door. Christine sighed and went to sit on the divan and wait for the response she hoped Madame Giry would send with Erik. Oh she wished she could just go see Madame Giry herself…but she didn't have the courage to go up there… It would be for the best to wait for it to die down. She knew that she was a coward and that the corps would probably call her such, but she didn't care. Christine would not go up there just to be followed and gawked at wherever she went.

Erik made his way through the passages quickly, relieved that Christine had spoken to him. He found Madame Giry easily. She was in her office, rehearsals had stopped for lunch, but Erik knew Madame Giry rarely took advantage of these breaks to rest.

"May I have a word with you Madame?"

Madame Giry jumped as Erik's voice echoed through her office. His words from yesterday were still running through her mind, but it didn't seem as though he was planning to any harm to the girls from the corps…he hadn't done so yet…

"Of course, monsieur," she said, standing.

A moment later he appeared in her office. He went to her and silently handed her the letter.

Madame Giry frowned, curious. Breaking the seal she read through the letter quickly. Erik watched her frown deepen and in spite of himself, wondered what the note contained.

After a few moments, Madame Giry folded it quickly and placed it on her desk.

"Well, it seems I have been invited to your abode, at my earliest convenience," she said, glancing at the letter.

Erik shrugged indifferently, "If it is Christine's wish." He paused, "Not that you are unwelcome in my home."

She eyed him, wondering why he had said that. Perhaps he was sorry for frightening her the day before…Well, it didn't matter now.

"You may tell her I can be there tomorrow…is four o'clock to your convenience?" she asked, aware that she should receive Erik's permission before setting a time.

"Yes, yes, that's fine," he said. It was evident that he had other things on his mind then what time she would be arriving.

"Are you all right, monsieur?" Madame Giry asked carefully.

She immediately regretted her words. Erik glared at her, "Why wouldn't I be all right?" he asked furiously.

Madame Giry sighed. "I'm sorry, monsieur. I was just concerned…"

"You needn't be concerned, Madame, I'm perfectly fine."

Madame Giry wondered how he had the audacity to tell such lies.

When she remained silent, Erik turned to go, but right before stepping out the door he changed his mind. Not facing her he said, "You will tell me…if she's not all right?"

"Of course, monsieur," Madame Giry said, without hesitation.

"Thank you Madame Giry."

"Erik?"

He stopped again and turned to face her.

"Try not to worry too much, I'm sure she's fine."

Erik turned back around, but she saw him nod slowly before he was gone.

Christine was on the divan, absently rubbing her temple, when Erik returned. Her head was pounding, but she didn't feel that Erik should be disturbed with this information at the moment.

Christine watched him hang his cloak and hat in the foyer, waiting anxiously for him to tell her what Madame Giry had said.

She didn't need to ask, as he entered the sitting room he said, "Madame Giry will be paying us a visit tomorrow at four o'clock."

Christine's disappointment showed obviously on her face. She'd have to wait until tomorrow…

"Christine?"

She looked up at Erik who stood nervously next to the divan.

"You would…you would tell me if there was something…seriously wrong…wouldn't you?"

Christine's heart melted as he said this. He cared for her so much…she wanted to cry.

"Yes Erik," she said softly. "Of course I would." But as she said this she nervously ran her hand over her temple.

Erik stood awkwardly for a moment, before nodding. "Good."

And with that he strode into his bedroom and closed the door. Christine watched him go and as the door clicked shut she let her face fall into her hands and she sat, weeping silently.

A/N: Please Review! :)