Okay I am taking time out of my busy schedule to write the next chapter. I just miss reviews so much. I must type the next chapter or I'll go crazy. Erik, hold me.

Chapter 43: Jacqueline's First Bath

After Erik left Lotte and Christine became a bit worried. Even though he wasn't going alone there was still a lot at risk. If he was to get caught they wouldn't be strong enough to come after him and it may be too late.

Lotte shook her head. She didn't want to think of the worst that could happen. She had so much to look forward to. Jacqueline was asleep in her arms and Pierre was lying on the bed next to her. She could clearly see the blood on his bandages and it frightened her. "Mother will Pierre be all right?" she asked breaking the silence of the room.

"He will be in time. It's quite a shame that he got wrapped up in all this. It's a shame any of us got into this mess," Christine said sadly.

Lotte was about to say something when Jacqueline began to cry. The doctor's wife hurried in. "Something tells me someone needs a change."

"How do you know…?" Lotte wanted to ask realizing she didn't know the woman's name.

"Call me Marie, Madame. I know, because I've been around babies for a long time. I've helped plenty of women in giving birth and I've four of my own children. All their cries seem to sound alike and mean the same thing. In time you'll know what each cry stands for. But I was also wondering if you would like a bath to get cleaned up?" Marie said taking Jacqueline in her arms.

The idea of slipping in a warm made sounded good and Lotte nodded. "Can Jacqueline and my mother join me?"

"Of course they can. Let me go change Jacqueline and then we'll get you settled."

She carried Jacqueline, who was still crying out of the room. Lotte tried to get up hoping to go over and speak with Pierre, but Christine stopped her. "What are you doing? You need to stay in bed till Marie comes for you."

"Mother please I must speak with my husband. See if he will wake up. Please help me," Lotte begged.

Christine agreed and got Lotte to her feet, so she could wobble over to Pierre's side. Slowly Lotte made her way into the nearby chair and took Pierre's hand. "Pierre darling wake up. It's me your Little Lotte," she whispered to him.

He groaned and opened his eyes. "Lotte," he whispered with a gasp in the back of his throat. "You're all right. I was so worried I was going to lose you."

"I'm more worried about losing you darling. That's a pretty bad cut you have there."

"I'll live. So are we parents or is there no hope?" he asked hopelessly.

"Pierre you're a father. Jacqueline survived after all."

"Jacqueline? Who is that?"

"Our daughter; the placenta saved her from the dagger."

"You mean…oh my god Lotte this is wonderful," he said sitting up and hugging her. "I don't believe it. We're a true family. I only wish I could have been there sooner or stronger than none of this would have happened."

She held him close. "As long as we're all right I don't care about anything else. Even though I wish this hadn't happened in the first place I'm just so glad you're all right and still here with me."

Marie came back carrying Jacqueline in a towel. "Your bath is ready Lotte. Come along with me."

"There she is Pierre. There's your daughter," Lotte said turning his head so he could look.

"Oh, Lotte she's beautiful. I feel as if I'm looking at a smaller you. I'm so proud of you," he said softly before turning back to her and kissing her deeply.

"I'll be back. I just need to get cleaned up. Soon we'll go back home darling; back to the Opera House."

"I can't wait to be back there. Yet I feel as if going back will be a mistake after what took place."

Lotte kissed his cheek. "Everything will be all right; you'll see. Everything will be all right."

"Lotte come along before the water gets cold," Marie said.

Lotte stood. "I'll be back soon."

Marie led Christine and Lotte into the bathroom and closed the door. Christine helped Lotte out of the hospital gown and then took Jacqueline. Marie uncorked a bottle of medicine and poured some of it into a rag. "This may sting a bit, but that means its working."

She pushed the rag to the stitches causing Lotte to let out a startled breath through her teeth. "I had no idea it was going to sting this much."

"Oh, it's not that bad," Marie said dabbing some more on.

Lotte wanted to make a comment, but caught a glare from her Mother. She looked away, but then turned back. "Was that a glare like the ones father usually gave me?" She brushed the thought away and Marie corked the bottle again and helped her into the tub.

The water was at a reasonable temperature and Lotte slipped happily into the water with a long sigh. Christine leaned over and taking the towel from Jacqueline handed her to Lotte. From the shock of the water Jacqueline let out an angry cry.

Positioning Jacqueline safely on her one arm Lotte cooed and dribbled water on the baby's tummy. "It's all right little one. I'll protect you. It's only a little water Jacqueline my love."

Somehow she seemed to understand and laid still across Lotte's arm before she began to coo and squeal as the water trickled down her tummy. With a kick of her feet she managed to splash some water into Lotte's face with made her squeal happily.

"Do you find that funny?" Lotte said taking Jacqueline into both hands and raising her up a bit. Then she crossed her legs in the tub and held Jacqueline, so that her bottom half was underwater.

"She's a feisty one. Clearly she takes after you," Christine said as Marie left the room for awhile.

"Almost reminds me of Father and how he can be sometimes. I hope he comes back soon."

"He should be. Lotte did I tell you? Your father and I are to wed finally after all these years," she showed her the ring.

A smile broke across Lotte's face and a small tear rolled from her eye. "You mean we'll be a true family soon. Not just one that is separated, because of my stepfather's want of power and control on your behalf."

"Yes, Lotte, but I don't know when the wedding will be or where. He only had time to ask me before you and Jacqueline woke up."

Marie came back in and instructed that Jacqueline was to be dried off and put down for a nap, which she would take of. She asked Christine is she would help Lotte wash her hair and dry off. Christine agreed and Marie grabbed a towel wrapping it around Jacqueline's tiny, shivering body.

Christine stood and worked some soap into a fine lather as Lotte dunked her head under the water to wet it. She sat up and rested her back up against the side of the tub. "Mother I don't even know what took place that night. All I saw was the boat loose on the water and thought nothing of it and went into the kitchen. When I came out Raoul grabbed me around the neck and rubbed my front. I was so scared."

Christine shuddered, then found her composure and told Lotte about what had happened. "But I still don't know how he found out about us. I never said a word about any of you in his presence and no one at the Opera House talked about you."

Lotte dunked again to get the soap out. When it was all out Christine helped her out and got her into a bathrobe. As soon as the robe was tied the door burst open and Erik was standing there. He quickly shielded his eyes and went to back out.

"Monsieur, you're not allowed in here," Marie shouted tugging on his arm.

"Marie it's all right. He didn't see anything," she said helping Lotte to sit down and began drying her hair with another towel. Then she turned to Erik. "I'm sure you have a good explanation for bursting in like this without knocking first."

"I have," he said pulling his arm away from Marie. "I found this in your husband's pocket when I was setting up the suicide scene. It explains everything."

Christine took it and read it. She let out a startled gasp and looked over at Lotte. "It's a note from Pierre's parents. It revealed everything. He must have gotten it in the mail that day and let his curiosity get the best of him. That arrogant bastard," she screamed.

Erik and Lotte exchanged frightened glances, and then Erik took Christine in his arms. A few choice words left Christine's mouth and he did his best to muffle them with his shirt. When she was finally calm he lifted her chin and gazed down at her. "You can curse in front of me all you want my love, but do remember we have young ones again."

Realizing what she had done Christine glanced over at Lotte, who was close to tears and trying to finish drying her hair by herself. "Oh, sweetie here let me help you with that," Christine said taking the towel and continuing on Lotte's curls. "I'm so sorry you had to hear that, but I had never been that angry before. I don't know what came over me."

"Oh, I brought the both of you dresses thinking you would need something to change into and Lotte's cape. I was sure when you would need it, but it was a good idea at the time."

"Thank you darling. But tell me what happened to Raoul?"

Erik gulped. "Well we made the scene believable and one of the ballet girls now knows about me due to her own stupidity. So you basically say we're on our way to becoming found out. We stayed behind long enough to find out that the police will be going to your house today to tell you about Raoul's death, so we have to get you back to the house. And it would be really believable if you cried a bit."

"Let me help Lotte change and then I'll go with you. I'm not about to leave this job unfinished."

Erik looked down at Lotte, who was clutching the bathrobe tightly in her fists. He came up to her and kneeling before took her hands into his. "Lotte my child what ever is wrong?"

"Why should she cry for a guy like him? He was nothing, but hurtful to her."

"I know, but the townsfolk don't know that. An attitude like that never surfaces in public, because the man doesn't want to draw attention to himself to the other worthy people of town. Even though there were his few outbreaks at the theatre. I'm surprised no one made note of his behavior there."

"So Erik, which of the ballet girls got the privilege to see who you really were?" Christine asked as she finished with the towel and began brushing the tangles out of Lotte's hair.

Erik lowered his voice. "The doctor's youngest daughter, Madeline; who managed to be walking past the door when I threw Raoul to the ground. It was a surprise to me that I didn't run like I always did. I felt she was someone to trust."

"You probably scared the poor girl half to death. I just hope she doesn't break down and tell all."

"Oh, I made sure that she wouldn't."

"Did you threaten again? Oh, Erik we went over this."

"We said nothing about making threats, you just said I couldn't kill anymore, which I've already went back on twice."

"What you mean there was someone else you murdered and didn't tell me about?"

Erik explained about the man that he had killed on the rooftop that was after Lotte that night when they had come searching for him. He was so ashamed for what he had done that he stood and made his way for the door.

"Erik, why didn't you just tell me before? Why let it wait so long?"

"You never asked and I didn't want you to worry. I'm a cold hearted murderer and that's what I'll always be. There is nothing that can change that," he said not even looking back to face them.

Christine patted Lotte's shoulder and then walked up behind Erik. "You've already proved to me that you are able to change. I no longer see your evil side anymore, to be quite honest I never did. Your love for me always seemed to rise to the top and stay there eager for me to take notice of it. Why do you think I've stood by your side for this long?"

He still remained where he was. He didn't want to show that he was breaking down inside. His day had been going so well and now his emotions were surfacing again trying to confuse and anger him. Anger was out of the question today. If he was to show any of that emotion it would cost him greatly. All he could do was lean against the door frame and sigh.

Christine saw the heave in Erik's shoulders and wrapped her fingers around one of them. She laid her head in the swell of his back feeling the whip marks from under the cape and his shirt. Her other hand ran over one and she felt him shudder beneath her. "Erik I know you hurt, but you're not the only one that has suffered. We all have. When one member of the family falls the others are there to bring them back up again. I hope soon you can understand that our lives have changed. We're not as young as we once were, but the love will always be there. Trust me Erik, the love will and has always been there."

Erik did understand, but he was just too ashamed with himself to speak. Yet, finally he managed to say something. "Christine I do trust you. I want to be that man you were always looking for and make you feel loved. That is all I ever wanted and more. But we better get you to the house or the police will get suspicious of your whereabouts."

Christine moved away from him in awe and spun him around so fast Erik couldn't see straight for a second before she planted her lips upon his. His eyes went wide and when she pulled back he gave her the most confusing look. "You are hopeless on so many levels you realize that?" she asked him in a motherly tone. Erik looked to Lotte for help, but she looked just as confused. Then Christine raised a hand to his cheek, "But that is why I love you. Life is so interesting when your man is unpredictable."

Erik raised an eyebrow. "You mean like this?" he asked before planting kisses along her neck.

Christine could have melted in his arms, but she managed to control her urge. "Oh, Erik you haven't changed at all. She pulled his face up and kissed him again deeply.

Lotte cleared her throat and they both looked up. "I always seem to be ignored when the two of you do that," she said sadly.

"Let me help you get dressed and then I'll go over to the house. Erik will you come with me, I feel I can't do this alone?" Christine said crossing over to Lotte and finishing up with the hairbrush.

"Of course; I told Mme. Giry that I wouldn't stand by and have you face all this alone. You'll have enough to worry about, because of his death. I got you into this mess and I'll get you out."

Marie came in with the two dresses. "I thought you would need these. And Lotte darling your husband was asking for you. I suggest you hurry." As she walked past she gave Erik a weary glance. He smiled and she returned the gesture, but he could tell she didn't like the fact that he had almost burst in to his daughter sitting naked in the bathroom.

"I'll go down and talk to Pierre for you until you come down," Erik said and turned to leave more. When he wasn't called back he went out and closed the door. He went into the recovery room to see Pierre sitting up and holding his daughter for the first time. "Glad to see you up."

"Oh, Erik I didn't hear you come in. Yeah, after Lotte woke me up I didn't want to go back to sleep. Seeing her had filled me with so much joy and then little Jacqueline here has lifted my spirits on our life ahead of us. I never had so much to look forward to."

"Well Pierre I had something I needed to tell you. We found out how Raoul got information on us. You're parents had written a letter that fell into his hands and they had used all of our names within in. Not that I blame them, but this was the cause of everything."

"I'm sorry. I'll send a note to them as soon as I'm able to," Pierre said.

"It's not your fault. But at least we won't have to worry anymore about that. We have bigger problems to deal with and who knows how long they will last. All I want is to go back home and sleep away some of this worry. I don't know how much longer I can take this."

"Hey, at least we're going through it together. I can truly feel your pain Erik and I strongly believe we'll make it through all this one way or another. We have to for Jacqueline's sake."

Erik smiled down at the tiny babe and smiled. All of them held her future in their hands and he wanted nothing more than to see her grown up healthy and happy amongst them.

Hurray another chapter is complete. I wonder just how much more my brain can squeeze out before this story finally comes to an end. Well we'll all just have to wait and see, because I don't know. Check out my Phantom poetry and my other story while you're at it.