I'M SOO SORRY IT'S BEEN SOO LONG! I SWEAR IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!

A.N: Special thanks to GoldenLyre, SingingFoxDemon, Jinxd n cursed, Meghan, Amberli Raven, emma, I Despise Raoul, mikaygirl, PhantomFlutePlayer, Mini Nicka, ChristineErikMatchMadeInHell, Denise Watson, Alex, Michelle, Valerie, Emma–j-Riddle, angelic voice, EmilyWillow, Gypsy, phantomess08, Rae, Solanal, Tyla, On a Starry Night and IndiaPyro for their great feedback.

I also want to thank these special people for helping me write this chapter, they've kept this story going.

Emma-J-Riddle

Catnip

Han Solo666

Erik awoke slowly and looked around him. Christine lay in his arms asleep and naked. He smiled; never before had he felt such contentment, such peace, such happiness…such love. He squeezed her gently and kissed the top of her head.

Christine stirred from slumber and looked up at Erik, the memories of the past day coming back. Erik knew about Erica, he knew everything, she had told him, and then they had made love. What did this mean now? Where did they go from here? She couldn't just think of her own feelings, there was Erica and her wellbeing to consider... "ERICA!" she gasped "what did you do with Erica?" she turned on Erik, maternal instinct kicking in.

"It's alright Christine" Erik soothed "she's in the parlour."

Christine bolted out of bed, threw her old dress on and struggled to pin her hair back up.

Erik jumped up as well, his peace shattered "Christine? What's wrong? She's ok, I put her to sleep with a blanket on the lounge." He reassured.

"I-I have to get her home, she has school" Christine mumbled

"Christine please…" he entreated "Don't leave" he took both her hands in his "let us be a family." He pleaded.

Christine fidgeted and open and closed her mouth; she avoided looking at Erik "Well…" she said after some time "I suppose it would be good for Erica to have both a mother AND a father" she replied.

"And you Christine?" Erik looked at her with his gentle eyes "would you be happy here with me?"

A slow smile begun to form on Christine's face, it expanded and soon was a blossoming, joyous grin "Oh Erik! YES!" she flung herself into his arms and kissed him. He kissed her back. They continued until they were both panting for breath.

"Well, Erica and I will have to return to our flat to pick up our things." Christine murmed. She quickly distangled herself from Erik's arm and went into the study where Erica was sitting on the lounge. "Sweetie" she knelt down to the little girl's height "Mamma has something to tell you. The man who owns this house, his name is Monsseiur Erik and…he's your Pappa."

"I know" Erica replied "I already made that assumption."

"Oh…ok, well, Honey, how would you like to live here, with your Pappa, and me" she added.

"I'd like that. Can I still go to school?"

"Oh...of course" she'd have to think about that, she supposed she could pay the fees in full now, without having to make them up on her own.

"Well lets go back to our old home and get anything we'd like to bring."

"I already brought some things" Erica chipped in

"Well good, but there's some things I'd like to get, so come!"

They arrived at their old flat and Christine opened the door into the kitchen/sitting room as she's done so many times before. She'd be leaving this, not just this dingy little flat, she'd be leaving her hunger, poverty and…her current state of 'employment'. Her face broke out in a huge grin.

The first thing she saw when she opened the door was the angry looking man sitting at her table. He was ostentatiously dressed; bright, expensive clothes, large, gold jewellery and a gold tooth. But his skin was pocked and dirty, his eyes bloodshot from too much drink, on his face was a ugly scar and it had been a while since he'd last shaved.

"Erica leave." Christine ordered.

Erica began to object

"Go!" Christine spun her around, smacking her hard on her backside and pushed her out the door. Then turned around to face the man infront of her.

"Well, well, little Christine, I missed you last night. You didn't come see me. I s'pose you had a big job, took all night am I right? Coz I know you wouldn't miss our meetings for just anything. But it's ok, I'm a very understanding gentleman, you can just give me my money now, and a little extra for the trip I had to make to collect it. I'm sure that will be no trouble, after all, you probably made quite a hefty sum last night my little nightingale." He had slowly progressed towards her. "So I'll just take my usual 70 plus an extra 5 and we'll call it even, hows that?"

Christine stuttered, nervous "I don't have any money to give you, Bill"

The man's face turned dark "Now Christine" he advanced on her "Don't you be holding out on me now" He grabbed her wrist "that wouldn't be very, Christian, of you now would it?" He lent so close to her; Christine could smell the foul stench of beer and vomit on his breath.

"I didn't make any money last night, Bill!" she confessed

"Oh, so you mean you didn't go to work last night? Well my dear, I must say that as your employer that is unacceptable. But not just that; you WERE seen going home with a gentleman, and quite a well off looking one too, if my sources be right."

Christine gulped, relationships were strictly forbidden by Bill. She'd heard a rumour from the other girls that one girl had been in love with a man; Bill had found out where he lived and murdered him! But not before cutting off his manhood while he was still conscious! Later he had brutally killed the girl. There was no way Christine could risk that happening to Erik or herself. While deep down she knew Erik could probably best Bill, right now, with the other sneering in her face, she was too scared to even consider it. She had to think up something fast!

"You're right Bill!" she suddenly confessed "I did go to work last night and I did earn some money. Oh Bill I'm so so sorry!" she gushed, adding some fake tears for effect.

Bill smiled evilly "there see my dear? I knew they'd be no problem. You just give me my money and we can be the best of friends again, eh?"

Christine's mind raced, she had absolutely no money on her! What was she going to do? she took a deep breathe "I can't give it to you." She said quietly "I-I already spent it, on a gift, for my daughter."

Bill says nothing for a moment, his eye twitches "Why, you….SELFISH BITCH!" he swang his arm and backhanded her fiercely.

Christine fell back with the force and landed heavily on the hard floor banging her head. She could already taste the blood from where he'd split her lip open.

"You're just like all the other whores!" he yelled and kicked her in the ribs. He quiets down "But don't worry sweetie, There are other ways you can pay me back." he grins cruelly and undoes his fly.