I know everyone wanted Lotte and Pierre to do what Erik and Christine did, but even though I promised to not write like that again I lied. They have another day with that kind of action, but it's not much. Sorry. But yes as I warned the plot does thicken and Raoul plays a big part. Sorry to all those that want me to drop the chandelier on him, I want that to stay hanging, thank you very much. There are other ways of getting rid of him.

Chapter 38: A Special Package

Christine was at Raoul's house for the day. She didn't think it right to call it their house anymore, because she no longer felt welcome on the property. Piece by piece she had been taking her things to the Opera House telling Raoul that she needed them there, but in reality she was planning to hide away with Erik for the rest of her life. She knew he wouldn't mind.

There came a knock at the door and before she could get to it Raoul hurried past her and got to it first. "Don't worry darling I'll get it. I'm expecting something important today anyway."

Before Christine could say anything Raoul had opened the door and taken the mail from the mail carrier. He began shuffling through the letter when he came across one addressed to Christine. "Who are these people you get mail from all the time? I've never heard of them before."

"There friends of mine that moved out of town a few years back and they had finally started sending me letters if you must know."

"I wasn't trying to start something Christine. I'm just making sure, so that no one is trying to send you threats or something like that."

"I'm a grown woman Raoul; I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Now if you'll excuse me I have some things to attend to."

She went upstairs and went into Lotte's room that had been untouched since she went to live with Erik. Now and then when Christine brought some of her things she would bring something of Lotte's for her.

Ripping open the envelope she scanned the note. "They're coming home tomorrow?" She thought a moment and remembered that it had been a month already. She read some more. "Lotte is glad to be going home, because she says she hasn't been feeling too well lately. We have no idea what could be causing it."

Christine read the note again and again. It didn't make any sense. What could be causing Lotte's illness? She had to ask Erik and she had to ask him now. She went into the bedroom and changed into one of her day dresses. Then she grabbed her cloak and hurried down the stairs and to the door.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Raoul asked from the living room.

"I'm going over to the Opera House. I just remembered Meg wanted my help with some ballet costumes."

"You spend so much time over at that old dump. I agreed to be a patron to that place to make you happy, but you seem to spend way to much time over there. Meg can wait a day for you."

"You don't rule my life Raoul. A woman of my status in society has the right to do as she pleases and I say I'm going to the Opera House. If you try to stop me I can file a complaint against you."

"No one in the court will listen to a woman. You should know that Christine," he said coming over to her.

"Well this can wait. I really need to get going," she said opening the door.

He reached over and slammed it shut. "You're not going anywhere until you give me a kiss goodbye."

Christine sighed, anything to get away from him. She leaned in for the kiss and he immediately forced his tongue into her mouth. She let out a muffled shriek and tried desperately to get away from him. Once free she slapped him and hurried out the door before he could hurt her. Running as fast as she could she made for the Opera House.

xxxxx

Erik had been asleep laying across the bed not even bothering to pull down the covers. He had been lonely and thought that stretching across the bed would bring back memories of her. It worked, because with all the work he had been doing he fell into a deep sleep and began dreaming about her.

"Erik! Where are you?" Christine called out when she got out of the boat. She began searching for him. When she finally found him she was tired and flopped down beside him. "I don't think he'll mind if I take a small nap. I'm so tired." She reached up to kiss his cheek then nestled beside him.

When Erik finally awoke he was surprised to find Christine there. "Wow, dreams really do come true." He leaned over and kissed her.

Her eyes fluttered open and she reached up to kiss him back. When she pulled back she could tell he was blushing. "Did you sleep well?"

"As soon as I saw an Angel in my dream I did. What brings you here? I thought you were going to be at home today."

"I got this from the kids this morning," she said handing him the note.

Erik sat up and looked it over while Christine leaned against him. "Lotte's not feeling well? What could that be all about?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. We'll have to see when they get back tomorrow. There's something else we need to talk about Erik."

"And what would that be my love?"

"Raoul forced me to kiss him and it wasn't one of those simple kisses on the lips he was hurting me. I tried to push him away and when I was finally free I slapped him. Erik I'm scared."

He brought her close to him. Stroking her cheek he smiled down at her. "I will protect you. If he ever hurts you again come back to me and I'll make all the hurt go away." She kissed him.

"If only you could take me away from all that. I would be free to leave my life the way I want to."

"And how would you like to live it?"

"Waking up every morning here by your side and singing my heart out to the audience. That's what I want."

"If that is what you wish then it shall be done."

"You would do that for me? You would let me stay here with you?"

"Would you like to stay here with me tonight?"

She nodded and rested against his chest. "God may not have given you the looks to get the girl Erik, but he for sure gave you the gift to take her breath away."

That was the nicest compliment Erik had ever received. He ran his fingers through Christine's hair and whispered sweet things into her ear hoping to wash away all her fears with his voice. His Angel didn't deserve the kind of treatment the Vicomte was giving her and he was going to see to it that he never harmed her again, but how to do it without killing him. He had already broken his promise to never kill again.

He lay back down on the bed bringing Christine with him. "So what are we going to do today?" he asked her.

"I didn't have anything planned."

Erik smiled at her and began tickling her. She let out a loud squeal and he pushed some of his weight down so she couldn't get up and get away. She grabbed onto him and they made a complete roll across the bed leaving her on top of him. She sat up, her legs on other side of his stomach, panting. "That was mean."

"I found it rather amusing," Erik winked at her.

"Oh, I'm sure you did."

"You liked it too, admit it," he said playfully.

"No, you'll just have to make me."

"Is that a challenge?"

Supporting his upper body with his left arm he reached out with his right and in one swift moment he had grabbed hold of her with both arms and allowed both of them to fall back against the blankets. "Don't challenge me my dear. You can never win."

She giggled and began planting small kisses up his chin until she met his lips. She felt him smile beneath her and she began to trace out the smile gently with her tongue. Erik was impressed and ran his fingers through her waves of brown hair as he began to explore her mouth as well. If kisses could last forever this one did, because they never seemed to pull apart. Finally Christine pulled back, her mouth dry.

"You know what Erik?" Christine asked.

"What?"

"If everyone could see this passionate side of you maybe they wouldn't have a reason to fear you. You wouldn't need to hide anymore. Cause I noticed that while the kids were gone you tried really hard to find company."

"Is a surprise that you're solitary lover actually becoming lonely for the sound of other people?"

"A little, but I'm proud of you. Years ago you would have wanted the silence to be yours, and yours alone. But now you see that being lonely has its disadvantages as well as it advantages. I should know," she said turning her eyes away from his.

Erik reached over and brought her back to him. "What are you talking about? You've always had those around you that love you."

"You don't understand. I did have those that loved me, but I felt so alone in the world that I would cry myself to sleep every night. My father had died, the other girls in the ballet would make me feel horrible for the special treatment I received, and then there were all those lessons you gave me. Sometimes I felt so bad after them, because now that I had my Angel of Music it meant my father was truly gone and I would never see him again. I couldn't talk to Meg or Mme. Giry, because I was afraid to talk to anyone. I was truly alone."

Erik had no idea. His comings to her had made her upset. Guilt rushed over him and he crawled out from under her leaving her on the bed watching him disappear through the door.

"Erik, wait!" She got up throwing her cloak aside and raced after him. He was sitting at the organ his head in his hands. He didn't look up at her as she came towards him. She put a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away. "Erik I don't understand," she said the sound of sadness in her words.

"Leave me be. I don't want to be a burden to you anymore. No wonder you would cry at night. My very existence caused you pain and suffering. I won't do it again."

"Erik I don't blame you for any of that. You have brought me to tears yes, but not because of your presence. It was usually after you would leave for the night that my tears came. Because then I was alone again. When you were there you lit up the world for me and I was so grateful for all you did, but when you would leave the lights went too and I was plunged into a never ending darkness."

He turned to look at her large tears rolling down his cheeks. She came and sat next to him and cupped his face in her hands. As she kissed him she took off his mask allowing his tears to fall more freely. "Christine…I"

"Shhh," she said putting a finger to his lips. "You don't need to apologize to me. I just thought you wanted to know that you're not the only one who's felt lonely in their lifetime." She removed her finger and replaced it with her lips. He reached up a hand and placed it on her cheek. Flames had sparked between them that day and as long as he had her to hold that flame would never die.

Xxxxx

"Oh, thank you Pierre," Lotte said as he handed her a rag to wipe off her face. Since about two weeks ago she had been feeling awful every morning. The start of the honeymoon had been wonderful with nights of blissful love between them, but now all that was ruined, because of a strange illness that had left her throwing up at awkward times during the day.

"I don't know what's going on with me," she groaned as she wiped her mouth.

"Well we go home tomorrow. I'm sure your parents will know what's wrong. I sent a note to them a while ago to let them know that we'd be back that afternoon."

"Getting sick wasn't on the top of my birthday list."

"Now don't let this ruin your special day. You'll be 19 soon. That's a big deal I think."

"Oh, you're so sweet Pierre, making me feel better while I've been sick. I couldn't have asked for a better husband."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I mean it." She went to go and kiss him before pulling away and throwing up into the bucket. "Oh, this is getting old."

Finally when she was sure she could stop for awhile she went downstairs and sat at the table.

"Good morning Lotte. How are you feeling this morning," Charlotte asked setting a plate of biscuits on the table.

"Horrible. I'm still sick."

"That's awful. Well have something to eat, it will help with the sickness."

Lotte took one and slowly ate it hoping to not upset her stomach again. Pierre came down the stairs and was about to go down into the cellar.

"Pierre, aren't you going to get some breakfast?"

"I will in a moment Mother. I promised Erik I'd bring some wine back for him seeing as he only had that one and it's long gone by now. I'll be right back up darling," he said smiling at Lotte.

"You must be happy to be going home. I'm sure your father will be happy to see you," Charlotte said sitting down next to Lotte at the table.

"I'm sure he will be, but I don't want to see him when I'm sick like this. I want to know what's wrong with me," she said tears starting to slide down her cheeks.

"It could be you're just nervous of being away for so long. I had spent a year away from home to study to be a seamstress and I got homesick almost everyday for the first month. My guess is you have some homesickness. Once you get home you'll probably feel better."

"I hope so. I'm so sick of being sick."

xxxxx

When Erik woke up the next day he was confused at how he had ended up in the bed with Christine at his side again. He couldn't remember anything happening the night before. They were still both dressed, but this wasn't what was bothering him. He leaned over and kissed Christine's forehead. Her eyes fluttered open and she yawned. "Would you like to explain to me how we got here?" he asked.

"You don't remember do you? It almost seemed like I knocked you out with that kiss, because not long after that you were starting to get tired so I helped you into the bedroom and to lie down on the bed. You were out as soon as your head hit the pillow," she giggled. "You must have been really tired."

He groaned. Christine felt bad for him and kissed the deformed side of his face. "Well it's time to make this place look presentable for when Lotte and Pierre return." He remembered Pierre's promise and was now licking his lips at the thought of the raspberry wine. He tried to sit up, but soon realized that Christine was holding him down. "All right enough games darling."

Christine pouted as she rolled off him and sat up. "You need to stop being so serious and lighten up."

"I can show you lightened up, but you won't like it I promise you that," Erik warned her.

"Oh really good Monsieur, what makes you so sure?"

Erik only gave her an evil smile before pouncing her. She let out a couple high-pitched squeals as he tickled her. "I warned you, but did you listen? This is your own fault Christine. I'm so unpredictable."

"All right I give up just make it stop," she cried. He pulled away and she rolled over and began having a giggle fit. Soon he joined in, but she soon let out a gasp. "Oh, my sides hurt," she whined.

He chuckled and took her into his arms running his hands along her sides. "Does that feel better?"

She nodded and finally they stood up now full of enough energy to get some real work done before Lotte and Pierre came back. They straightened up the rooms and replaced some of the melted candlesticks. Christine had started making dinner in the kitchen while Erik was doing some wash. Le Noir had found a lint ball on the floor and was batting it around.

Not to long after that they heard an all too familiar voice come from the stable passage way. They looked up to see Lotte come out with Pierre behind her each with bags in hand. Christine had just set dinner down on the table and went up to Lotte, who put down her bags, and they shared a loving hug. "Oh, darling you're back safe. I got your letter the other day and Raoul got suspicious about it. I'm afraid he'll find out sooner or later."

"Should I have my parents send the letters to the Opera House then. I can send them a message about it later," Pierre said taking his bags into his room, then coming back and grabbing Lotte's. "Oh, Erik the case is up in the tunnel for you. I didn't know where you wanted me to put it."

"I'll go get it and then we'll sit down to eat."

At the mention of food Lotte's face went pale and in an instant she had rushed past all of them, collapsed at the side of the water, and threw up into the lake. She waited till it was all up before she turned back her eyes full of tears.

Erik stood and came over to her and pulled her hair away from her face. "Is this the illness you wrote about?"

She nodded. "It's been happening for about 2 weeks now. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"I think I have an idea what's going on. Now I know what newlyweds do on their honeymoons and I have no doubt you and Pierre did a bit right?"

"Yeah, but I don't see what that would have to do with anything."

Erik had her sit up a bit and put a hand on her abdomen. "Lotte, that has a lot to do with this. Morning sickness only occurs when the woman becomes pregnant. Lotte you're going to have a baby."

Lotte's eyes went wide then she fell back into her father's arms. "Erik is she all right?" Christine asked a look of concern on her face.

"She's all right she only fainted. I think this was a bit of a shock for her." He picked her up and took her into her bedroom and laid her in bed. He pulled the covers up to her chin and let the curtain down before leaving the room and the door opened a crack.

"I'm curious to know where you found that out," Christine said as he came out of the bedroom. Pierre was just as curious.

"The Opera House is full of pregnant woman. Mme. Giry when she had Meg, you when you had Lotte, a lot of the ballerinas had children from time to time, and it's not hard to notice the signs. Nothing, but pregnancy can make a woman feel worse off than normal. At least that's what Mme. Giry told me."

"She actually explained all that to you?"

"I was curious, so she was nice enough to explain. Back then I wouldn't have needed that information, but it seems to me I'm stuck going through the entire birthing process again." But then he got a grin on his face. "I get to be a grandfather."

Yeah, another chapter in the bag. I know I skipped around a lot in this one, but everything before they got back was just filler. Plus the most important part is the one with Lotte being pregnant and the stuff with Raoul is important. Please check out my small collection of stories from Phantom that I came up with in Creative Writing. I did two more today that I will be adding tonight. But take a look for it has a really nice passage in it. Well the next chapter will be up soon.