In Vigilance
The L'Roche Inn and Tavern was one of the more respectable establishments in Calais, but regardless of that fact, it was not the wisest course of action for a lady to dine alone there. Christine found herself being quite blatantly leered at by several of the men in the room. The tavern maid, a voluptuous red-head named Monique, had taken pity on her obvious discomfort and had soon struck up a conversation. Unfortunately, Monique proved to be the curious sort, and Christine found herself telling a great many half truths. The conversation came to a sudden halt as the red-head's attention was diverted to something over Christine's shoulder. Her mouth turned up in an alluring smile, "Oi…what a fine specimen that is."
Christine sensed Erik behind her without turning, both surprised and mildly irritated by the feminine interest she saw glittering in Monique's eyes. Oh, she knew her husband was an extremely desirable and seductive man, and the mask could only add to his mysterious appeal, but she'd never before seen another woman look at him in such a way. Well, except for Meg…once…very briefly…before Christine had glared at her. Yet even her friend's reaction had been tempered with a tiny measure of fear. The woman before her now had no timidity in her gaze, and her smile grew more inviting as Erik drew nearer.
Christine felt his hand come to rest on her shoulder, and she instinctively leaned into his touch. Monique's eyes went wide, briefly flashing with disappointment which she quickly covered. "You must be Monsieur Rousseau. My name is Monique. Can I offer you anything?"
Christine glanced up at the woman sharply, not liking the particular inflection she'd placed in that question. Erik merely leveled a quelling look at the girl and barked, "No. Leave us."
Monique colored noticeably and huffed, "Yes, sir." She shot a look at Christine, a strange mix of compassion and envy, and disappeared into the kitchen.
Erik rounded the table and sat across from Christine, folding his hands together and looking at her in obvious displeasure. Christine frowned at him, "You really did not need to be so rude, Erik."
His left brow arched elegantly, "If you wish, I can call her back and allow her to fawn over me."
Christine shook her head. "Why must you always be so difficult?"
He leaned forward across the table, his voice dropping dangerously. "You really do not wish to have that discussion here, mon ange. Now if you are quite finished drawing attention to yourself, I will escort you back to our room."
She glared at him, "How kind of you to come and fetch me, Erik, but I am perfectly capable of finding my way upstairs on my own."
He glanced over to a table where two gentleman had been eyeing Christine rather intently. "Yes…but I rather think you might have found yourself with some unwelcome company, my dear. Monsieur L'Roche was kind enough to suggest that I keep a closer watch on you. It seems you've a penchant for attracting unwanted advances." The last was said with an ironic smile, and Christine knew he was speaking of himself and of Raoul. His next words dripped with sarcasm. "And I certainly would not wish to break my promise in defense of your virtue."
Christine drew a deep breath, wordlessly pushing her chair back from the table and standing. She headed to the room without even caring to see if Erik was following. Of course, she could feel him behind her. As soon as she heard the click of the door, she spun around with a scowl. "What have I done to suddenly deserve your contempt, Erik?"
He leaned back against the door regarding her carefully. "I rather thought it was I who had earned yours, my dear. After all, I am not the one who stormed out in a temper."
Christine flushed slightly, "I asked you to come down with me, and you refused. What would you have had me do?"
Erik pushed away from the door, closing the small distance between them. "I would have you be more careful, Christine. You should have ordered your meal to be sent to the room, not placed yourself on open display. You are far too trusting of people."
"And you are far too suspicious! Has it ever occurred to you that your guarded, secretive nature and complete disdain for other people draws far more attention than your mask ever could?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously, and his voice became nearly a growl. "What would you have me do, Christine? The world has shown nothing but disdain for me! If I am guarded and secretive, it is because I was taught to be so with the end of a whip! With pretty girls like you turning their faces from me in disgust."
Christine closed her eyes against the tears that were falling. "Erik, you will never begin to heal if you cannot let go of the past."
He laughed in contempt, "The scars I have will never heal, Christine! I am sorry if you thought they would."
She opened her eyes, reaching up to cup his face. "I thought you had embraced our future, yet you seem determined to chase me away again." She traced her fingers along the edge of his mask. "I am sorry if you think I have been careless with our safety, and I am sorry for walking out on you earlier, but I will not apologize for trying to lead you from the darkness. There is a life in this world awaiting us, and we will have it, Erik." She dropped her palms from his face and reached for his hands, placing them both over her abdomen. "Just as there is a life here within me. Will you not even try to let go of the past for the sake of your son?"
Christine felt his entire body tense, knowing that the subject of their child wasn't one Erik wanted to discuss. The entire evening had degenerated so quickly into this familiar cycle of blame and self-loathing. As resilient as she had lately discovered herself to be, she desperately needed some reassurance that Erik was willing to meet her halfway. She watched him draw a deep breath, watched his stormy eyes fall closed, and heard him utter one word.
"Daughter."
She caught her breath, not expecting that at all. "Erik?"
His eyes opened, clearer than they had been, with much of his anger drained away. "If there is any mercy in this world, it will be a girl…and she will look like you."
Christine swallowed heavily, fresh tears spilling at the tenderness in his eyes. Secretly, she had been wanting a son, yet with Erik's words she felt a strange rightness settle over her. The feeling was impossible to describe. She whispered, "Will she have an angel to protect her as I did?"
"No, mon ange. She will have two." Erik bent his head and captured Christine's lips. She released his hands so that she could wrap her arms around his shoulders, pressing her face into his chest when their kiss ended. He stroked her hair. "Will you forgive me my temper, Christine?"
She smiled against him. "If you will forgive me mine."
Erik chuckled at that. "Ah, but your temper is so lovely on you, my dear. I find it quite…arousing."
She drew back, eyeing him strangely. "That is hardly a respectable thing to say."
His grin grew wicked, "I am hardly a respectable man." His mouth found hers once again, and this time there was no drawing back.
xXx
Erik had left Christine sleeping in bed alone while he kept watch over her throughout the night. Every so often, he would peer out the window looking for signs of discovery, and each time he saw only stillness. He felt his tension ease marginally, yet he knew the morning would bring their riskiest venture. They had already booked passage on the steamer upon their arrival in Calais, or rather, Christine had booked passage. Erik had stayed in the background in hope of avoiding recognition. Now, they only needed to board without any complications.
He didn't know what to expect, and that worried him. It did not seem as though the Phantom of the Opera was well known in the port city, but there was still a chance that the alert had been spread to the authorities here and the steamer crew would have been made aware. L'Roche may have been easily appeased with the story of an injury in the service of France, but Erik somehow doubted that he and Christine would be able to fool someone who possessed all the facts of the Phantom's case. Yes, the morning would either mark a new beginning for them…or the end.
xXx
Christine had never thought the color green was very flattering on her, and she was certain it was even less so now. She'd hardly been able to come away from the rail of the steamer since it had set sail from Calais an hour before. The train journey had been nothing to the horrid torture of a rocking ship on the rolling waves below. Looking down into the curling gray-green depths of the English Channel only served to intensify her nausea, yet she was helpless to do anything else but repeatedly hang her head over the side. Her only consolation was the constant presence of her husband beside her.
Boarding the steamer had been a lesson in stealth for Christine. Erik had pressed a kiss to her fingers on the pier and told her to board the ship, promising to find her on deck and that he would not let her out of his sight. She had wondered what he had planned, why they could not simply board together, but then she had noticed the steamer captain standing at the plank greeting passengers, and the policeman right next to him. It was not an uncommon occurrence for such a thing at port, as the authorities were often keeping a keen watch for smugglers and the like, but it made matters more difficult for Erik.
Christine had boarded without any difficulty, merely receiving a charming smile from the captain. She'd been already on deck and worrying terribly for Erik when she'd heard the commotion below. A few screams, a thunderous crash, and a great rush of passengers to the rail. For a moment, she'd thought the worst and tried to fight her way through the interested onlookers. She'd not yet made it to the rail when she'd been firmly pulled back into a pair of strong arms. She'd let out a little cry of surprise and spun around to see Erik grinning slightly. He'd pulled her quickly away from the rail and to the far side of the deck. She could see from the devilish glint in his eyes that he'd had something to do with the disturbance below, and she'd merely raised her brow and waited for an explanation.
Erik had chuckled slightly, "One would think the crew would learn to better secure their crates before attempting to load them. Though it did prove a rather a convenient distraction."
Christine had preferred not to know how Erik had managed to set up his distraction. After that, they'd not encountered anymore trouble. If they both caught a few curious glances cast their way, no one dared question them. Christine was grateful for it, as she didn't think she would have the strength for any problems at the moment. All she wanted was to be on solid ground again.
Erik held Christine as well as he could in her current condition, running one soothing hand over her back in tiny circles. Her illness brought a fresh wave of guilt crashing down upon his head. Now that they were safely in transit to England, his mind began to fully shift toward the future again. Until now, his focus had been primarily on escape; on taking himself and Christine away from the shadow of retribution. With freedom seeming every moment to be more secure, he was left to ponder exactly what he was supposed to do next.
Her pregnancy was ever present in his mind, though he had been loathe to admit it. Christine had forced the issue the night before, dragging his attention back to the fear and doubt he could not escape. He knew himself to be unworthy of Christine, knew he would likely disappoint her…or hurt her again. He had hurt her again. He'd shut her out and pushed her away. How could he expect to be a father? What did he have to offer a child?
Yet twice Christine had said 'son,' and twice his heart had cried out that she carried a daughter. Or perhaps it was only that he wished it to be so. He doubted his own ability to love anyone but Christine, but he wanted to believe that a daughter…her daughter…would inspire the same devotion in him that he felt for his wife. And he was terrified that he would see himself in a son. Erik had no illusions in this. He knew he did not deserve happiness, and he was certain that Fate was standing ready to rip it away from him. He could only hope that Christine would not have to suffer for his sins.
The foggy outline of Admiralty Pier in the distance was a beautiful sight to both Erik and Christine, though it brought a great deal of trepidation. The life they had so long wished for was suddenly within reach, and they were both now faced with the challenge of learning how to live it.
A/N: Bet you thought I'd cause more trouble for them...but I took pity on poor Christine. I've already put her through the ringer in her fragile state...I thought I'd give her a little break. Well, apart from the horrible sea-sickness.