Anger coursed through Erik's veins as he made his way through the Paris crowds. Everywhere smoke clouded his vision as the early morning trading ggot underway. His eyes looked straight ahead at only a point he could see - he would make Raoul pay for hurting his wife. Erik would draw everything out, every ounce of pain bringing forth screams that truely would be even better than the sweetest music. He growled low in his throat and a smirk played across the corner of his mouth as he thought about everything. 'Time to make the Fop pay' he thought triumphantly.

Christine stared at the doctor with rapt amazement, what the doctor was slowly explaining to her was not sinking in. Her head was pounding, half with pain, half with anticipation. A white bandage, clean and crisp had been wrapped carefully around her forehead, her left eye already forming into a dark purple bruise where her head had impacted with the stone floor.

"But...but I can't..." Christine's voice came quietly, unure, but filled with so much emotion. Madame Giry looked on silently, a smile gracing her features at the news. 'And so it begins...' she thought to herself.

"You are madame..." said the doctor with a small smile, "All the signs point to it..."

Christine's eyes locked with Madame Giry and only then did the tears fall silently down her cheeks, slowly and gently, a smile stretched across her face at the news.

"Erik..." his name came out more of a statement than an actual question and she made to get up once more, put again the doctors hand guided her body back into a horizontal position as again a wave of nausea struck her. Placing her hand protectively across her stomach she took a deep breath to calm her nerves at the thought of telling her husband this news.

"I will have someone fetch him Madame" Madame Giry's voice came across the room to her, instantly soothing her nerves. With that Madame Giry left the room, the door closing with a soft click behind her.

One more check of Christine's pupils and the doctor was satisfied, gathering up his things

"Remember Madame... rest, for both of you..." the doctor said in a firm even voice before leaving the room,leaving Christine to her thoughts.

'How will I tell him...?' she thought, a lump rising quickly in her throat.

Finally in the distance Erik could see the De Chagny resident and he couldn't help but let escape a little chuckle of childlike glee. He hummed a short, happy tune and flexed his fingers thoughtfully as he strode forward with purpose. Suddenly he was aware of horses hooves in the distance behind him, the rider obviously pushing hard against the horse.

His head swung round to see a man on a dark brown stallion coming towards him rapidly, the riders head down, his dark cloak billowing behind him. Before long he had reached Erik and sat looking him deep in the eyes, a glint of fear overshadowing them as he surveyed the man infront of him steadily.

"She has awoken Monsieur and she requests your presence..." he said steadily, a touch a fear tainting the words. "She says it wasn't he and she has news to depart to you."

Erik looked at him, seeing the fear as he spoke and saw only truth in his eyes and manner. Growling low in his throat again he nodded slowly and turned around, cursing his luck and thanking the heavens that his wife was okay and able to ask for him.

He had only put one foot infront of the other before the young man's voice started again;

"Forgive me Sir but... but you are to have this horse and I shall walk"

The rider dismounted and motioned for Erik to mount the horse which Erik did immediately.

"I thank you Monsiuer" came Erik's short but polite reply. The messenger nodded and Erik rode off at a sharp gallop, the slight change in the wind the only indicator that he had been there.

As he rode, his mind drifted back to what the messenger had said 'She has some news to depart to you' What could she possibly want to tell to him, what had the doctor said? Panic rose in his throat as he thought but he quickly pushed all such thoughts to the back of his mind and fought down the cry that has risen up. She was his life, he couldn't lose her, not again.

Before long he could see the Opera Populaire looming infront of him. Jumping off the horse he ran indoors swiftly, his heart pounding, his breathing coming in short, sharp gasps. Bursting into the door he found Madame Giry comforting Christine, one look at her told him that she had been crying. Walking cautiously towards them he fell to his knees infront of them both, his heart breaking to see her in such distress.

"My love..." he started, his voice thick with emotion.

Christine glanced at Madame Giry who gave a curt nod and walked silently out, making sure the door was shut.

"My love" Erik repeated again, before taking one of her hands in his, running it slowly over the palm before bringing it to his lips and kissing it gently. His eyes were deep amber now, so full of mixed emotion Christine could hardly stand it, she couldn't keep it from him, not this, he had a right to know.

Taking a deep breath, Christine swallowed and cleared her throat, once... twice before starting in a slow, steady voice as if she was talking to a child who wouldn't quite understand;

"We, Erik are..." she placed her hands over her stomach "...we..." she couldn't finish, her voice faltering and happy tears fell down her cheeks.

She turned to look at Erik, but he had already gone, the door clicking softly behind him.