A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I had writers block, then I was sick. Ok here's the next chapter.
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Christine lay in bed trying to fall back to sleep. Madeline was asleep now, and Christine wished to take advantage of it. She knew she should get up, get dressed, and have breakfast, but all she wanted to do was sleep in this nice, warm bed. Resignedly she slowly sat up and stretched. After making sure Madeline was an ok, and covering her with another blanket, she got up. She struggled with her corset for some time, before giving up and throwing it in her suitcase. Putting on a plain black dress, she exited the room, leaving the door open, so she could hear Madeline if she cried. Finding the apartment empty, she helped herself to a slice of bread with butter, and a cup of tea. After cleaning up after herself, she checked on Madeline. She was awake and seemed content looking around herself curiously. Christine picked her up, smiling, and sat down in a chair to nurse her. Madeline immediately began sucking hungrily, and noisily. Christine laughed. "How can you eat so much, after you just ate three hours ago?" Madeline just looked at her, before closing her eyes contently. Christine laughed again. She had loved Madeline the moment she saw her. She had been the only bright spot in the past few weeks. After about 15 minutes, Christine eased Madeline away from her breast, burped her, and changed her diaper. Then she returned to the main room.
Nadir was not back yet, so she went over to his bookshelf, and selected a book at random. She had never been very fond of reading until she had meet Erik. He would all ways read her when she went to his home. Subconsciously she hoped that they would have those times again. She sat down in a chair, placing Madeline in her lap, and began reading aloud. The book wasn't that interesting, but she continued reading, until Madeline was asleep.
By the time she placed Madeline on the bed, and ensured her comfort, Nadir was back. He sat heavily in a chair, while Christine made tea. She was very anxious to hear what Erik had said.
Nadir had tried his best to convince Erik to let Christine stay with him, but to no avail. Erik wanted to know why Christine needed to stay with him. Without that information he would not let her stay. Nadir was actually quiet proud of him. He said he wanted nothing to do with Christine, and he stuck to it. The only problem was what would Christine do? Nadir gratefully took the cup of tea from Christine. Arguing with Erik always wore him out.
Christine tried to wait patiently, but couldn't stop herself. "What did he say?" She burst out unexpectedly.
Nadir slowly lowered his cup of tea to the table. "He said no."
"Why?"
Nadir sighed. "It's like I said. He wants to know your reasons."
Christine's face grew angry. "Am I not allowed to keep them to myself!"
"If you were going to live in his home, he has a right to know why." Nadir countered.
"Fine! I will go talk to him!" She snapped angrily. Standing up she walked to her room to get ready.
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Nadir tried to persuade her not to go, but she was determined. The carriage ride to Erik's home was spent in silence, except for Madeline's wailing. By the time they arrived, she was fast asleep. Nadir opened the door with a key, and let them in. He motioned to Christine to stay put, while he went to find Erik.
Erik at the time was asleep in his room, but was rudely waken by a knock on the door. He silently cursed Nadir, while he went and opened the door. "What is it now, Nadir?" He asked agitatedly.
Nadir looked at Erik up and down. "Get dressed, there is someone here to see you."
Erik growled. "You brought her didn't you?"
"Yes, she's determined to talk to you," Nadir said, ignoring Erik's death glare. "I'll have her wait for you in your music room." He quickly left the room, before Erik could say another word.
Erik cursed Nadir again, this time out loud. He didn't see how he could refuse to see her. If he didn't come down stairs, she would just come up to find him. He took off his robe, and hurriedly put on some cloths.
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Christine walked around the music room studying it. She could tell he decorated it himself. The walls were a dark red, and the curtains were black to block out the sunlight. The furniture was dark, though she couldn't tell what type of wood it was. On the shelf there was blank music paper. There was a soft couch in the middle of the room, across from a divan. Her favorite thing in the room was a piano in the corner. She walked to it and ran her hand over the keys. When she lifted her hands from it, she was surprised to see streaks were her fingers had been. She could tell he had not played it in a while. It both saddened and troubled her.
"You came here to talk to me?"
Christine jumped. She had not heard Erik enter. "Yes," she said turning from the piano. Her heart beat faster as she looked at him. She could tell he was angry by the way he held himself, but he looked better from when she had seen him last. His frame looked like it had filled out a little, though he was still terribly skinny. When she met his eyes again she could tell that he had been studying her too. She blushed, realizing she wasn't wearing a corset. They looked into each other's eyes for a few minutes, until she realized he was waiting for her to speak. She took a deep breath. "Erik may I stay with you?"
"No," he said right away. "I believe I told Nadir to tell you that. If that's all…" He turned to leave.
"Erik, please. I have nowhere else to go," she said stopping him.
"That, I am afraid, is not my problem, but of your husbands."
Christine dropped her gaze. "Raoul died three months before the baby was born."
Erik stood shocked. Raoul's death was news to him, but he swiftly tried to cover it. He was not moved by Raoul's death at all, had it been his way Raoul would have died three years ago in his torture chamber. For a second he had a sliver of hope that Christine had returned, because she was free again and wanted him. Her next words however banished that hope.
"I had a baby girl, about a month ago. Then Raoul's family disowned me. For the past month I've been living in an inn." She looked up into Erik's eyes. "Erik, I'm out of money. If you don't let me stay with you I'll be living on the streets." She finished softly, wishing she hadn't given Madeline to Nadir to hold so she would have something to do with her hands.
Erik experienced a wave of different feelings wash over him. He was mad at himself for believing that she wanted him, but at the same time he was mad at Christine for thinking of him as a last resort. He felt love for her and a need to protect her, but he also felt a need to protect himself from her. They stood like this for ten minutes, while Erik thought about his possible choices. He rapidly tried to think of something to buy time with. "Why?" He asked.
"Why what?" Christine replied confused.
"Why do you want to live with me? There must be someone else you can move in with."
Christine shook her head sadly. "I'd move in with Madame Giry, but there is no room in her small apartment for me." She paused, and lowered her eyes. " And I missed you."
Erik's anger immediately sparked. He wished she would stop lying to him. He took several deep breaths trying to calm himself, and think rationally. He wouldn't necessarily see her if she moved in. The house was pretty large, and with his nocturnal behavior there schedules would not over lap that much. "How long would you be staying?"
"Until I can find a job, and apartment."
He sighed. There was no way he could turn her out into the streets. "Fine. Your room is upstairs, to the left, and the last door down the hall. Have Nadir bring your bags."
"Thank you Erik." She said quietly.
Erik nodded and left the room. He had conveniently given her the room farthest away from him.
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A/N: In case you haven't noticed, this story doesn't really have a plot. It's mostly an Erik/Christine fluffy story. I'd put a plot in, but I have no ideas for one! Anyone have one for me? –looks out at the reading audience- If anyone has a good one let me know. My e-mail is Thanks! Read and Review. Oh and by the way I'm still looking for chapter names and a new title.
