Wow, Erik... Last night just wasn't your lucky night...

Erik: Only one review? Do you guys hate me or something?

Maybe they just want to see us have a little more bonding time.

Erik: I have bonded with you more than I care dream!

Hmm... You might have a point... Alright, let's get it started in here! (Does a funky dance)

Erik: She hasn't stopped singing that song since last night!

XoAnGeL-Of ThE-NiGhToX: Well, at least Stephanie has been trying to save you, Erik. However, it's going to take a lot more reviews than that to save you from me!

Erik: I appreciate the effort, Stephanie.

New chappie! Hope you guys like this one!

XxXxX

"Marie-Eve!" Christine reached through the bars of the cage to her daughter. She noted angrily that there was a nasty cut on one of Marie-Eve's cheeks.

"What are you doing here, child?"

"I'm so sorry, Mama," Marie-Eve said, her eyes filling with tears. "I should never had run away from you and Papa!"

"It will be alright my darling," Christine whispered soothingly. "It will be alright."

Sobbing softly, Marie-Eve related to Christine the story of how she had come to be at the fair and all that had happened since she arrived.

"Erik is my only real friend…" she said sadly.

Christine glanced at Erik, who immediately turned his gaze to the floor.

He hadn't told her…

"Marie-Eve, you must rest now," Christine told her. "Do not worry. Mama will take care of all this in morning. Everything will be alright. I promise."

"Mama, what will happen to me?" Marie-Eve whimpered.

"Rest, darling," she whispered. "You'll see me in the morning."

"I'll try," she sighed. She turned and laid on her side with her back facing Christine and Erik.

Christine sat silently for quite some time, waiting for Marie-Eve to fall asleep. After a long while, she was certain that the child sleeping. Little did she know, however, that Marie-Eve was a little insomniac like her father. Marie-Eve laid awake and alert, feigning sleep.

Her mother had embraced Erik when she saw him. Why? Marie-Eve got the feeling that her mother knew Erik, and she wanted to know why.

"You didn't tell her, did you?" Christine demanded of Erik angrily.

"What exactly was I supposed to tell her?" Erik sounded equally angry.

"The truth would have been a good start!"

"You're a fine one to talk! You've been lying to her since the day she was born!"

"Well, I never thought we'd run into you again!"

"If you're trying to blame me for this–"

"As a matter of fact, I am! This whole situation is entirely your fault!"

"My fault? If you had just taken her home like I told you–"

"If you hadn't taken her in the first place!"

"This all started because you've been lying to the poor girl for her entire life! I only took her because she asked – no – begged me to! She despised living with you!"

"How dare you?" Christine raised her hand to slap him. He caught her by the wrist. They glared daggers at each other for several moments before she finally wrenched her hand away from him.

Christine's eyes suddenly filled with pain and anguish. Tears welled up under her eyelids.

"If… If you hadn't…" she choked.

Erik knew what she was referring to, and wished she wouldn't speak of it. "Please, don't…" he said softly.

Christine swallowed hard. "If you hadn't come to me… If you hadn't forced your way into me… If you hadn't raped me, none of this would be happening now!"

Erik felt as though he'd been stabbed with a knife as he listened to her words. Rape. She had never said it like that before. It was never mentioned, never talked about. And yet, that's exactly what it was. It was rape. Pure and simple. She had not wanted him, and he forced her to. And now look where they were…

"Christine," Erik whispered, shame filling him. "You don't mean that…"

"Don't I? You took advantage of me!"

"How many times must I apologize?"

"That changes nothing!"

"And if I hadn't… dishonoured you…" He couldn't bring himself to say the actual word. "Would you still have Marie-Eve?"

Christine was silent. "I don't know… I don't know anything anymore… Maybe it would have been better if I hadn't…"

Marie-Eve shot straight up and glared at them both. Tears were spilling down her cheeks. "You both lied to me!"

Christine stared at her in shock. "Marie-Eve!"

"Is this why I never felt like I belonged?" she demanded. "Because I never did?"

"No!" Christine cried. "No, my darling! We love you! We do! We… oh, God…" she moaned. "Oh God, oh God…"

"And what about you?" Marie-Eve turned on Erik. "You said you were an angel! Why? Just so I would go with you?"

"It wasn't supposed to be like that…" Erik said softly.

"Then what, pray tell, was it supposed to be like? My whole life has been a lie!"

"Marie-Eve…" Christine pleaded.

"Don't talk to me!" Marie-Eve turned from them, then changed her mind and turned around again. Her angry eyes had faded and became sad and sorrowful. "Mama? Papa? Why didn't you just tell me? Why didn't you…? My father…?" She broke down into quiet sobs and moved as far away from them as her cage would allow. She curled up and cried softly, the quiet sound of her weeping wrenching at the guilty hearts of her parents, who listened helplessly until her cries subsided and she fell into a deep sleep.

"We haven't been very good parents, have we? Christine whispered to Erik.

"We've made a lot of mistakes," Erik agreed.

"There are a lot of things I wish I did differently."

"Like telling her the truth long before now?"

"That… and maybe supporting her more than I have…"

"You've only been trying to protect her…"

"Yes… from the only thing on earth that makes her happy."

"You had good reason to be afraid… That's probably my fault, too."

"Probably?" Christine laughed humourlessly.

"Alright… definitely my fault, then."

Christine was quiet for a moment. "What happened between us?"

Erik glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

"When it all started out… everything was so simple. When did it get so complex?"

Erik shrugged. "I'm sure that's my fault as well… I should never have lied to you. It created a rift between us. And when you found out that I was not an angel… well, let's just say I don't blame you for being disgusted."

Christine gazed at him. "I wasn't disgusted… I still wanted to be your friend."

Erik nodded. "I know… But that wasn't good enough for me… and I was wrong…"

"I guess I kind of led you on," Christine admitted.

Erik glanced at the floor. "Perhaps…"

"And when Raoul came into the picture… you must have felt betrayed."

"A little… but if I had really loved you, I never would have done all the things I did to you…"

"And now?"

"You are a very special person to me and I care about you deeply… But you are Raoul's wife, and I have finally come to accept that after all these years…"

Christine smiled at him. Erik turned to gaze at Marie-Eve's sleeping form.

"She will hate me now," he said, his voice certain. "I lied to her… I tricked her… She would be foolish not to hate me!" He glanced at the floor. "Well… At least it wasn't my face that repelled her…"

Christine leaned close and entwined her hand with his. "She will forgive you, Erik… I did…" With a sad smile, she gently kissed his deformed cheek.

Erik squeezed her hand. "Thank you…"

They fell asleep together… Not lovers, not enemies… just friends…

XxXxX

Alright, then… Erik, what are your comments?

Erik: This chapter sucked!

Oh, now, Erik… If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all… Why didn't you like this chapter?

Erik: I basically just gave Christine the "let's be friends" speech!

Is there something wrong with that?

Erik: Hello? I'm locked in a cage with her, she's emotionally exhausted… I should have been… uh… comforting her… if you know what I mean…

Oh, for the love of mankind, is that all you ever think about?

Erik: Well, no… Sometimes I think about my friend Stephanie over here.

Is she in the closet with you already?

Erik: You'd better believe it!

Dare I ask what you two are doing?

Erik: Eating popcorn and watching a movie.

Oh, that's nice… What movie?

Erik: Jeepers Creepers 2.

Oh, geez, I hate that movie! It gave me nightmares for a week!

Erik: Wuss… Hey, some guy just got decapitated! Cool!

You're morbid!

Erik: 'Tis my pride…

I know I'll probably regret this later, but I'm coming in there to share the popcorn and… (grimaces) …watch the movie… Oh well, if I get scared I'll just cling to Erik for support.

Erik: Oh, no you don't! You are not going to get all cuddly on me!

Too late… Mmmm, you're soft…

Erik: Get off of me!

Sorry, no can do… I'm far too comfortable right now… Pass the popcorn Stephanie, would you?

Erik: I hate my life.

This popcorn is good… (munches on popcorn) Anyway, send a review, please… Apparently Erik will watch an entire bad horror movie with anyone who brings popcorn. That's two hours of blood and gore with Erik hogging the couch! Who could resist?

Erik: Why must you use me to buy reviews?

Is it my fault that all phan-girls find you irresistibly sexy?

Erik: How is it that I'm born a disfigured lunatic and everyone somehow thinks I'm still sexy?

I don't know. I just use what works. Alright, then! Review please, and don't forget the popcorn!