A/N: Here is a little peace at last for our beloved couple. But don't get too comfortable. I am a firm believer of the best things come to those who wait.

Ch. 19 - Homecoming

Christine and Charles leaned against the railing as the shoreline approached. Charleston loomed ahead of them, the grand manor houses lining the edge of the land. The harbor was filled with ships of all sizes and models. Erik had told them about the events surrounding this great city during the recent civil war and they were excited to finally see the legendary Fort Sumter. Christine found herself sharing in her son's obvious delight at the beauty that was Charleston.

Erik was up on deck overseeing the docking, but found his eyes wandering to the pair at the railing. He watched their faces glow with happiness and anticipation. He was so lost in thought that she caught him staring at them. She raised her hand in a wave, silently willing him to join them. His expression hardened as he thought of the events of the previous evening. Her denial had cut him to the quick. He hadn't been prepared for it. And now the dull ache in his heart was a constant reminder to him of what control she exercised over him.

She watched as he frowned and turned away from them, a pain spreading through her chest. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him and she silently prayed that she would be able to make it up to him soon by accepting his proposal and giving him a family. The thought of having Erik's child negated the pain she was feeling and replaced it with utter joy. To lay a baby in his arms and give him that gift was a beautiful thought that she held onto, forcing all thoughts of their present reality away.

Having already packed up their meager belongings, they were disembarking the ship an hour later. The market area that made up the pier bustled with people and carriages. Stone had already hailed a driver and Christine and Charles were seated inside it waiting for the men to escort them to the first mate's house. The carriage rocked as Erik pulled himself inside. "Charles, Stone is riding in a separate carriage with your trunk. Would you like to ride with him and I will keep your mother company? I do believe that you could persuade the driver to allow you to take the reigns for a moment or two." Erik knew the boy couldn't resist the opportunity. Charles bolted out of the carriage with Christine left feeling a bit uneasy at being left alone with the man. Erik gave instructions to the driver and settled back in the seat across from her.

His eyes were filled with pain and desire, and they were focused directly on her. She had to look away from the heat of his gaze, her face blushing from his attentions. The silence was stifling, as if it were throbbing around them both. She willed him to speak to her, to say anything. But he remained quiet and unflinching in his stare.

The carriage left the bustling port city and turned onto a road that was surrounded by marshy swamp land. With no threat that someone would see them, Erik used his skillful reflexes and pulled her to him, depositing her on his lap. His fingers plunged into her hair, roughly pulling her head back, and his mouth descended upon hers. She responded with equal fervor, as she reached up and around his neck, pulling him deeper. Despite the silence between them, she couldn't deny him her response. Her body and soul came alive only for him now.

His free hand ran up her bodice and roughly caressed her breast through her gown. He couldn't be gentle, it was beyond him now. She gasped at the sensation and tried in vain to move even closer to him. He felt his control slipping. As much as he did not want her to hurt him anymore, he knew that he would never be free of her. She would always be the only woman for him. The realization did not sit well with him at the moment, and he ripped his mouth from hers and settled it on her neck, biting and kissing. She felt his hand moving up under her skirts, along her thigh, but did not make any attempt to stop him. She threw her head back in abandon and whispered, "I love you Erik".

His mouth stopped its assault and his hand ceased its exploration. She felt the air around them begin to clear and realized that his head lie on her chest, his arms now wrapped around her waist. She felt the dampness of tears fall upon her flesh and was aware that his frame was silently shaking. He stroked his hair, wondering at his change. Filled with compassion she asked, "What is it Erik?"

"You are the first ever to say those words to me," he said in a strained voice. "Christine, you are an amazing woman. Last night you ripped my very heart out and today you give it back to me. I shall never be able to forsee what you are capable of doing to me."

She sat in silence, thinking of what it must have been like to live a lifetime without ever hearing those three little words. How she had taken for granted each time that Raoul had said them to her. Determined to begin making up for lost time, she reached down and cupped his face, raising it to her eye level. "I love you, Erik. I'm sorry that I withheld those words for so long from you."

He kissed her lips much more tenderly than before. His anger and passion had cooled with her expression of love. He settled her next to him on the bench seat and held her close for the rest of the journey. They rode together as two lovers, holding hands, whispering sweet words, stealing kisses. When the carriage pulled up the drive of the house, they both felt some disappointment that their private time was ending. The gentle rocking stopped and the driver opened the door to help Christine descend. She reluctantly rose from her place at Erik's side and stepped out of the vehicle.

Before her feet had even touched the ground, the front door was opened and a sea of red hair streamed from inside the house and down the steps, running toward the second carriage. Christine watched as the brood overtook Stone with shouts of 'Papa, you are home' and 'What did you bring us?' Looking back toward the house she saw a lovely woman, also a red-head, standing on the porch surveying the scene. Once Stone caught her eye however, she was not content to merely remain apart from the homecoming and raced across the yard to embrace her husband.

Erik had descended the carriage and stood behind Christine, his arm draped around her neck, pulling her back toward him. He kissed her temple as they continued to watch the blissful homecoming. She was broken out of the reverie when she saw her son poke his head out of the second carriage, apparently feeling awkward among all the commotion. She hurried to the door of the carriage and helped him down, Erik at her side. The five Stones all looked at the new child, taking in his face. Christine held her breath, waiting for the first utterance of, 'What's wrong with him?', but it never came. The eldest boy approached Charles and said, "You want to see our room?"

Charles looked up to his mother for permission and when she nodded, the entire gang ran back into the house leaving the four adults outside with the carriages. Stone turned to his wife and said, "Maura, I need you to meet someone. This here is Christine de Chagny. She crossed with us. That was Charles, her son that just got inducted into the clan."

Maura smiled at Christine and with an Irish brogue said, "Welcome to the Carolinas Ma'am." She turned to address Erik and with a glimmer in her eye she said, "Since when does the dread Captain Apollos take women and children on his mighty pirate ship? I mean other than my lot."

"Maura, I would only make the exception for the rarest beauties. It is a pleasure to see you again," he said as he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. Maura could not deny Erik's appeal, his mask had never intimidated her and what lie underneath was not her concern. She was curious, however, about the woman that was hanging on his arm. She sensed an intimacy between them, obvious to her romantic heart. Having gotten to know Erik on their voyage over a few years back, she was thrilled with the possibility of him finding some happiness with someone. She had been aware of his discontentment with his solitary life. Even though he had tried to remain aloof from Maura and her family, he had gravitated toward them, basking in the warm glow of family love.

Once Erik had released her hand, she bowed in a mock curtsy and laughed, "Charming to a fault, Erik."

"Maura, Christine is going to stay on with us for awhile," Stone informed his wife when she moved back to his side.

"How nice! It'll be lovely having another woman my age around. This is wonderful." She took Christine's hands and began to lead her toward the house. Christine had to admit that she was overwhelmed by Maura Stone. The woman was a reflection of her beautiful hair, a ball of fire. She had been so comfortable with teasing Erik, Christine noted. Christine felt a twinge of jealousy and regret that Maura had had the fortitude to see beyond Erik's layers of facades so easily and focus only on the man that he was. If Christine had been as brave, she would certainly have saved herself much heartache over the years.

Within an hour, food overflowed on the table. The house was alive with activity and noise. Charles had become fast friends with each of Stone's children while Christine found it a task to try to remember each of their names. She was amazed that each time she would search to remember a child's name, Erik would come to her rescue, whispering the answer to her. He not only seemed to like the Stone family, but he had taken plenty of interest in them as well. He knew that the eldest, Michel was planning to follow in his father's footsteps and serve onboard a vessel. As he was only twelve, he still had quite a few years to change his career aspirations, though it was clear from the excitement in his voice whenever he would speak with Erik regarding his ship, Michel would most likely be on the first freighter out of port as soon as he came of age.

He also told Christine that the ten year old twins, Jean-Paul and Jacqueline, were completely inseparable and that they often were found completing each others sentences. Seven year old Henri was the quiet and shy child who was typically wherever his mother was. Last but not in the bit least was four year old Fiona. She was the only child to bear an Irish given name as Stone had not been present at her birth. Christine laughed as Erik told her how Stone had refused to call the child Fiona because he had not been included in the decision and how Maura had locked the man out of the house for two days until he relented.

As the day dwindled toward twilight, Erik asked Christine to join him for a walk. They strolled the gardens behind the Stone residence and she marveled at the night sky that was descending. She thought of her home in France. She had spent many evenings watching the sun set over the horizon and the stars appear. The deep, dusky blue was the same whether here in America or in Paris. The only difference was the man holding her hand, standing at her side. She glanced up at the exposed side of his face, grateful that she had chosen to walk to his left. Feeling her stare, he stopped and faced her fully. "I am returning to the ship, Christine, and I will have to remain there for several days." Seeing her disappointment caused his heart to leap. "I will return on Sunday."

Christine mentally calculated the six days until his next appearance. She knew that he had many tasks to complete now that the Fereshteh had returned to port and that he had already insisted that Stone remain here with his family for a few days. Without Stone's presence, he would be shorthanded in completing the removal and distribution of the cargo.

His hand lifted to stroke her cheek that was illuminated by the moonlight giving her an aura much like the angel that he had always equated her with. "When I return, I hope to have a different answer from you regarding my proposal."

Feeling guilty, she dropped her gaze to his feet. "I fear that I will disappoint you again, Erik. But if you will only wait for a time, everything will become clear to us both."

Resigned that he would not hear what he wished, he led her back to the house, keeping close reign on his temper. He would not leave her for almost a week with the last words between them in anger. After giving Charles a hug, getting a peck from Maura and thanking Stone for all of his assistance on their recent voyage, Erik made his way back out to the stables where the carriage driver had been waiting for him. Before climbing into the carriage, he embraced Christine and dizzied her senses with a long, drawn out kiss. As she watched the vehicle pulling away, she raised her fingers to touch her moist, swollen lips. It won't be long, Erik, she thought. We have been given another chance and we can wait a few weeks more. I hope.