A/N: I lied to you. It was 2 days. Sorry the chapter is short again, but it's like the second half of the first one. Thanks for reviews. Don't stop reviewing! Read on.

Christmas was wonderful. The holiday was spent with the Giry's again. The elder Giry made a feast. Erik mostly felt useless, but the Giry's made him feel at home. He hardly felt uncomfortable the whole of the day…for the most part. Even still he was thrilled to be heading home. He was excited about giving her gift.

Had they both not been so caught up in the spirit of Christmas, they may have noticed something was amiss.

The moment Erik entered his apartment he went to retrieve her gift. Christine's gift to him was a set of cufflinks and matching tiepin. All gold with an eighth note etched in them. They were quite beautiful. He pulled her close and kissed her soundly, and then presented his small gift-wrapped box to her.

When she removed the lid from the box, she bit down on her lip. Her fingers caressed the jewels. His roses were so very special to her. She thought back to all the roses he had actually given her. Whether they were for support or for love, it was still too much for her. She started blubbering.

Erik looked horrified. What had he done? He nearly groaned. Completely dumbfounded, he just stared at her, in awe.

"Oh Erik." She finally managed when he was about to find out just what was wrong. Adoring fingers caressed the jewels once more.

Erik took the piece from its box and she held her hair up. He clasped the chain around her neck, sending shivers down her spine when his fingers slid against her skin. The jewels twinkled against her pale skin.

"Gorgeous." He quickly kissed her fingers and then tugged her along. "Come, that's all you're allowed to wear." His beautiful turquoise eyes smiled at her. She gave him a laugh and bolted in front of him.

Hours later when their limbs were intertwined, and not long before dawn, the sound of breaking glass had Erik sitting upright. Christine stirred as he searched blindly for his mask. His pulse was racing.

"Stay here." He whispered in the dark while pulling a robe on.

"Erik…"

"I'll be right back…it's probably nothing." He wished he didn't sound so unconvincing. With nothing to protect him but his own two hands, Erik slid out of the bedroom, into the black of the hallway. He cocked his head, listening. Silence surrounded him, feeling him with unease.

Quietly he inched his way toward the extra bedroom. When he pushed the door open, nothing stirred in the darkness. He moved onward. The cold burst of air hit him when he reached the kitchen. He felt more than saw the broken window.

Flicking the switch on, his eyes scanned the floor. Shards of glass littered the area. A red brick lay on its side, in the middle of the floor. Erik blinked at it a few times, then moved to pick it up, careful of the glass. A sort of rope surrounded the brick; a note was glued to it.

Merry Christmas.

That's all that it said. Erik turned the brick over in his hand. A bit of silver flickered in the bright kitchen lights. Erik's thumb brushed over the metal half circle looped through the rope.

Not a rope. A collar. Not just any collar, but Lucy's collar. Erik shook his head at the brick.

"Lucy?" He called out softly. He gave a shrill whistle. Only silence followed. Dread filled him. Erik ran to search the room, bits of glass embedding themselves in his foot. An angry growl emitted from him. He limped throughout the apartment, leaving a bloody trail on the carpet.

"Erik, what's the matter?" Christine met him at the bedroom door in her own robe. She eyed the brick, noticing his odd gait. "What happened?"

"Lucy's gone missing. Someone broke the window." He offered the brick to her. He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing the glass from his foot.

"What! Why would someone do that?" Christine asked as he started to dress. She followed suit.

"I don't know, I really don't. I have to find her." Standing, he pulled a thick sweater over his head. "I have to." Despair filled his eyes when he glanced at her.

"I will help you." He hugged her briefly.

"Yes, you must stay with me." Once they had dressed, they started heading out.

Erik's search was short.

Outside his door lay Lucy. Not breathing and dry blood covering her chocolate coat.

A/N: Who figured out what was amiss?