From Angel's Eyes

Chapter Thirteen

"Mr Destler, there's someone to see you." One of the stagehands said. Erik looked up sharply and turned, heart pounding in hope. Had she come? It was Monday morning, but had she caught a flight earlier that day? He had been furious phone calls to the airport all weekend and they had finally informed him, rather angrily, that all flights to England were booked and he would have to wait. Which had not done much to improve his mood.

But it was not the sweet-faced, dark haired angel who stood nearby but the blonde, over made-up face of Kelly Delaney. Erik's hope faded to anger.

"Erik, can we talk?" She asked. Erik pointed her to his office, not trusting himself to speak. She turned and he followed her into the office. He closed the door and turned to look at her.

She was perched on the edge of the desk, legs crossed. Erik wondered how he could possibly have found this woman even vaguely attractive. Her hair was so dull and straight, her skin so fake tan, her make-up so elaborate. Suddenly she was nothing, washed-out in comparison to Christine.

"Erik-" She began.

"Mr Destler." He interrupted. She blinked and carried on as though there had been no interruption.

"I was just passing and I thought I'd drop by and-"

"Do you want something?" He said icily.

Kelly paused, rather put out.

"OK, yeah. I want something. I figured you'd at least call-"

"Why would I?" He spat. She looked affronted.

"Because… because we-"

"Let me get one thing straight with you, Miss Delaney." Erik hissed, moving around the desk to put some distance between them. "I want nothing to do with you. You have put my marriage in danger. My wife won't even answer the phone because she believes that I was unfaithful with you."

"Then she doesn't deserve you." Kelly said firmly. She picked up the picture of Christine that sat on his desk.

"What do you see in her? Sure, I guess she's pretty. So what? From what I saw she hasn't got much else going for her and she's way too young for you. You need someone older, more experienced. What do you get from her that you couldn't get from me?"

Erik's eyes went to the picture. Christine smiled at him with love and adoration. The same smile that he had been blessed with the day he had first taken Christine to the opera, that she had given the next morning when she had lain beside him, that he had seen everyday and which no other woman had given to him. And she had smiled the same way after she had taken off his mask. Even after seeing that… she had still loved him.

"What does she have that I don't?" Kelly interrupted his train of though. Erik met her eyes.

"Everything, Miss Delaney. She is not pretty. She is perfect. Christine is the only woman in this world who I have and will ever love. Because she cared about me even after she saw the real me. I nearly broke her heart once after I came to New York and she still came to me, determined to make things work. She had and is everything. You are nothing."

He took the picture from her and placed it back on his desk. Kelly stared at him.

"You're serious? You're passing me over for her?"

"Miss Delaney, I am hereby enforcing a statement that you are forbidden entry to this Opera House at any time. Furthermore, I will be contacting your editor and informing him of your disgracefully unprofessional behaviour. You have ten minutes to leave the premises before I have someone escort you." He said, his eyes fixed on Christine.

Kelly mouthed at him wordlessly and then her eyes hardened.

"What about James Pewter?" Erik looked at her.

"What?"

"She doesn't know, does she? I do. I know everything. And you haven't even told her, you let her work for him. How can you claim that you care for her?"

"How do you…?" Erik began but Kelly shook her head.

"I do my research when I'm writing an article. And I found some very interesting things out about you two." She said smugly.

"You can't know everything. No one knows." Erik said harshly. Kelly smirked.

"Let's just say I got an insiders opinion." She leant forward on the desk, meeting his eyes. "Now, Mr Destler. Why don't we start from the beginning of this little chat?"

"Miss Delaney, I suggest that you leave immediately before I call security." Erik spat.

Kelly glared at him and stormed out of the office, pushing past Tony. He blinked.

"What's got her all rifled?"

"Never mind. Tony, you can cope here for a few days, can't you? And when I say cope, I don't mean calling every five minutes for help."

"Sure, I've got things covered. Why?"

"Because I'm going to England." Erik said, picking up the phone.

Christine gazed at the prints as she left the hospital. That… that tiny speck on the page… that was her baby.

She rather wished she could sum up some maternal feelings. She loved her child, she did. But that was the child that she knew would be arriving in nine months. This dot on the paper didn't seem to mean that much. But she knew it would one day.

She carefully put the prints into her bag and drove to the theatre. Max was already there and he greeted her in the entrance hall.

"Ready for another fun day?" He asked.

"Ecstatic."

"How'd it go at…?" Max asked quietly, despite the fact that they were alone. Christine smiled slightly.

"I got pictures. Here…" She pulled on at and Max looked at it blankly.

"OK, what am I looking at?"

"There. Right there, that tiny little blot. That's my baby."

"Is that it!"

Christine snatched the picture back.

"It's only about three weeks old! Give it time."

"I'm kidding, Christine. It's the most beautiful blob I've ever seen. Come on, let's get practising." Max said, pushing open the door.

"Christine, there you are! Get to costumes. Max, we've got a problem in sound checks, go and sort it out." James said, brushing past, his hair sticking up strangely. Christine and Max stared after him.

"And a good morning to you too!" Max called breezily. Christine rolled her eyes and went to the costumes room.

Rebecca was already being fitted up and she smiled.

"Hey Christine. Good weekend?" Christine hesitated, not sure of how to reply. She settled for a shrug and June looked up at her.

"There you are. Rebecca, go and show James that costume." She waited until Rebecca had gone before looking at Christine.

"Nadir told me about the baby. Don't worry, I've worked it all out and I've altered your costumes so we can just let them out as you grow. Go and put the silver dress on."

Christine blinked and June glared.

"Don't just stand there! I've got a lot to do!" Christine hastily took the dress. It was somehow comforting that June still acted the same way around her. Not that she expected any special treatment from June.

When she had finished with costumes she went to the theatre. Stuart smiled brightly at her.

"Hey Christine! How was your weekend?"

"What scene are we doing today?" Christine said, not answering the question. Stuart blinked.

"Uh… Act four. Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. Have you already warmed up? I'd better do that now." She said vaguely, goin to the piano. Stuart looked after her and then shook his head. Women…

Nadir was hoping for a quiet evening after the rather dramatic weekend and trying to ignore the fact that the marriage of his best friends was falling apart at the seams.

And then Peter burst into the room, out of breath.

"Mr Khan, he's here!"

"Who's here?"

"Mr Destler! He's…" Nadir pushed past into the entrance hall. Erik had thrown his coat at a passing servant and was racing up the stairs.

"Erik!"

"Is she here?" Erik demanded, looking back down at him.

"No, she's… Erik, you've got a lot to explain." Nadir told him. Erik came back down the stairs and gestured to the office. Nadir followed him inside and closed the door behind them.

"What's going on, Erik?" He demanded.

Erik paced the room, talking quickly and quietly.

"I was not seeing that woman, Nadir. Let me get that straight right away. She's a reporter, she's been writing an article about me. We've met up a few times, for drinks but that's it. And then… she just turned up at the penthouse and… she kissed me, Christine opened the door and I know what it must have looked like. But it's not. I'm not… Nadir, you know how much I love Christine."

"It's not me you've got to convince." Nadir reminded him gently. Erik looked at him and Nadir saw for the first time how bad he looked. Dark shadows ringed his eye and his face was pale and drawn. Nadir wondered if he'd slept at all since Friday.

"Why didn't you fly out sooner?"

"All the flights were booked. I only got one today by paying twice as much and making several rather threatening phone calls." He admitted. Nadir sighed.

"What are you going to do? I doubt Christine is going to be happy if you show up on her doorstep at this time of night. Go and get some sleep, wait until tomorrow."

"I can't… I have to see her."

"Tomorrow, Erik."

It was testament to just how exhausted and emotionally fragile he was Erik allowed himself to be sent to bed. Nadir sighed. He really had to talk to Erik about arranging working hours. He was pretty sure that he wasn't getting paid overtime for this.

By the time Christine got to the theatre the next day with Max, she was not in the best of moods. She'd been throwing up since dawn and felt terrible. Not wonderful for someone with an already fragile ego.

Stuart and Rebecca were already in the theatre, discussing the day's plans. Max and Christine came in, Max talking to her quietly. Rebecca frowned.

"Are you OK, Christine? You're very pale."

"I'm fine." She muttered, sipping water slowly. Max looked at her and she sighed. "OK, I'm not. But I will be. I'm just feeling a bit under the weather."

"What happened last weekend? You've been looking kinda down and now you're sick too." Stuart asked. Christine looked at him tiredly and Max said,

"Christine…"

"No, Max. They might as well know. Last weekend I went out to New York to tell my husband that I'm pregnant and when I got there I found him with another woman. I've got terrible morning sickness and I've been up since dawn. So don't expect anything wonderful from me today." She said, drinking some more water. Rebecca and Stuart stared at her.

"Oh…"

"That's… well, congratulations on the baby." Rebecca offered. Christine smiled slightly.

"Thanks. Look, I'd rather you didn't tell anyone about this."

"Our lips are sealed." Stuart promised.

They were nearly at lunch time when they were interrupted by the ringing of a mobile phone. Max blinked and then realised it was his. James rolled his eyes.

"Fine. OK, people, that was good. Christine, I want to talk to you later, you seem to be having a bit of trouble with this scene. I want the choreography finished by Friday and the first and second acts perfected with costumes for a run through on Thursday."

"What?"

They all turned to look at Max. He had an expression of horror on his face.

"Well, can't you stop him? Here? You have to do something! How long ago? Oh, bloody hell… get your arse down here and I'll try and sort something out!" He hung up and then saw them all staring at him.

"Is there something wrong?" James asked. Max checked his watch, swore and then looked at Christine.

"We have a problem, Christine."

"What is it?" She asked. James sighed.

"OK, let's go to lunch." They all dispersed and Max caught her arm.

"Christine, that was Nadir."

He fell silent, staring over Christine's shoulder. She knew at once what the phone call had been about and what he was looking at. Rebecca and Stuart were both looking in the same direction, very close to glaring.

She turned and Erik closed the door behind him. James stepped forward.

"You can't keep wandering in here, we're trying to put an opera together. Can't this wait?"

"Get out of my way." Erik said coldly. James narrowed his eyes and Christine said,

"Don't worry, James. This won't take long."

Erik looked at her.

"Christine-"

"What are you doing here?" She interrupted him. He looked at James, Rebecca, Stuart and Max. They hastily made to leave, except Max who moved to stand with Christine, clearly afraid that she was about to do something she'd regret. Once they were alone Christine looked at Erik.

"What are you doing here?" She repeated.

"What am I supposed to do when you won't answer the phone?"

"Take the hint." She suggested, clenching her fist. Her injured hand twinged painfully and she winced but ignored it otherwise. Erik frowned and glanced at her bandaged hand but didn't comment so Christine continued.

"And how, exactly, did you expect me to react when I find you kissing another woman?"

Still no reply. Christine didn't know whether to hit him or just cry. Instead she settled for glaring. After several moments of silence Erik asked,

"Are you finished? Would it be alright if I told you what actually happened now?"

Christine ground her teeth.

"I don't think I want to know, Erik. I… why was she even there? You knew I was coming but you invite her over for a romantic evening instead?"

"Did you recognise her?"

"The reporter. Kelly Delaney."

"She arrived about two minutes before you did. I told her to leave because I had an evening planned for you. Not her. She kissed me just as you came in and I didn't even have time to react before I saw you. Since that night she's been banned from the Opera House and I've put her out of work."

He stepped forward. Christine didn't move, but tensed visibly. His eyes met hers.

"She means nothing to me and I regret letting her write that article, which will not be published. That's the truth, Christine. I promise you that."

She was frowning, staring at him with those dark eyes. Erik swallowed hard.

"Christine, I love you. If you don't believe anything that I just told you, please believe that." He took another step towards her and she took one back, uncertain. He stopped and then looked down at his hands before looking back at her.

"If you want me to leave now, I will. If you want me to go back to America, I will. I'll even quit the opera in New York and come back here, if you want me to. But I'm not going to let go of you, Christine. I am going to keep coming back because I love you far too much to give you up because of a misunderstanding."

She didn't reply. Her head was bowed, her hair falling over her face so he couldn't see her expression. Slowly he turned and walked from the theatre, the door swinging closed behind him. Christine bit her lip tightly and Max put a hand on her shoulder.

"Christine…"

"I don't know what to do." She whispered. Max half-smiled.

"I know what you have to do. And you do too, really."

Christine looked up at him with a frown.

"What?"

"Christine, go after him. You love him and don't even try to deny that. Yes, he did something incredibly stupid but he's still your husband. He's willing to give up his opera for you. Doesn't that tell you something, other than that he's feeling extremely guilty about this whole misunderstanding? Because that's what it is, Christine. Is Erik really the sort of guy to cheat on his wife?"

"No, but…"

"Let's put it this way, then. You are going after him and you're going now." He said, pushing her towards the doors.

Erik walked slowly out to the car park. Several performers looked over at him and began whispering. Erik ignored them, stepping over dead leaves that had fallen from the trees in rust coloured heaps.

"Erik!"

He turned quickly. Christine was clattering down the steps, still in her costume, a plain white dress that looked extremely odd with the running shoes she had pulled on in her haste.

"Erik, wait!" She called, stumbling across the car park towards him. She stopped a few feet away and swallowed hard. Erik gazed at her. She was shivering, although she didn't seem to have noticed how chilly it was.

"Erik, I… I don't want you to quit your opera. I won't let you, it's too important." She began and then hesitated. "And I don't want to leave you. I… I do love you. So much. But what I saw on Friday, it was… I don't…"

She stopped again, not sure of what to say. Erik quickly pulled his coat off and put it around her shoulders.

"I'm staying for a couple of days, longer if you want me to. I'm taking you out to dinner tonight and we'll talk it all through and I will answer anything you ask me completely truthfully and I'll do anything you ask of me." He said. "Christine, there will be other operas. But there won't be another you. And you mean far more to me than any show."

Christine didn't smile. But she looked up at him earnestly and nodded.

"Tonight."

"I'll pick you up at 7:30."

"7:30." It seemed much safer to repeat what he was saying instead of coming up with something of her own. Erik nodded and then, after a slight hesitation, pressed his lips to her forehead before climbing into the car. Christine clutched his coat around her shoulders and watched as he drove away before turning back to the theatre.

Max and Rebecca were waiting by the doors when she returned. Rebecca put an arm around her shoulders.

"You're really brave. You know that?" She said comfortingly. Christine shrugged.

"I don't feel that brave. I actually… I feel a little…" She quickly hurried to the bathroom. Max sighed.

"How romantic."

"Get in the shower, I'll pick your clothes out and we'll do something with your hair!" Meg said excitedly. Christine frowned.

"Meg, this isn't a date."

"Don't take this away from me, Christine. Now get in that shower!" Meg said in a warning tone that made Christine grab a towel instantly.

When she emerged from the bathroom Meg had set out several skirts and blouses, along with some dresses.

"Where's he taking you?"

"I don't know. Meg, please stop fussing. This is… it's hard, OK? I'm trying to sort out my marriage, not seduce him. And he doesn't even know about the baby yet, remember, so don't mention anything." Christine said.

"I know. What about this cute black one? I found it in my wardrobe." Meg said, holding it up. Christine eyed it.

"That's mine!"

"No it isn't."

"Yes it is! I lent it to you because you had a date about three years ago and you never gave it back!" Christine said, snatching it. "Pass me the turquoise shirt."

As she pulled her clothes on, Meg sat on the bed and asked,

"What are you going to say to him?"

"I don't know. I don't know what's going on."

"Well, what do you want to say?" Meg pressed. Christine looked over at her.

"If I'm going to be completely pathetic, I'd say that I'm going to burst into tears and beg him not to leave me. But… I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to stay on my guard, just for tonight."

"And don't drink any wine. It's not good for the baby."

"I know."

Christine began to brush her hair, tying it into a ponytail to keep it out of the way before quickly putting on some mascara and then glaring at her reflection for being so nervous. This was ridiculous. She wasn't going on a date. She wasn't going out with someone she barely knew. This was the man she was married to, whom she had loved more than anything for over two years. The man she had moved across an ocean to be with.

She would be guarded. But she would not give up. She wanted to be with him and, if what he'd said today was anything to go by, he wasn't about to give up either. They would work this out. No matter what it took.

Meg watched her friend as she stared at her reflection. She seemed to be battling internally, a range of emotions crossing her face before settling on a resolved expression. Strength seemed to be emanating from her, something Meg had never seen before. This Christine would be able to get through anything, she was an entirely different person from the heartbroken mess she had been for the last few days.

Christine headed for the stairs. Max and Tom came out of the living room and they stood with Meg, all three looking like particularly overprotective parents. Christine sighed.

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm going on my first date." Christine said, pulling on some shoes. Max smiled.

"They grow up so fast."

"Max…"

"OK, OK. Anyway, Christine, I wanted to remind you of something." He said. She eyed him.

"Oh really?"

He took her arm and moved her to one side. Meg and Tom took the hint and went into the kitchen.

"D'you remember when we were in the graveyard, when were back doing The Phantom of the Opera and you kissed my cheek? Erik saw and he blew it completely out of proportion and didn't give you a chance to explain."

"I remember." She nodded.

"I'm just saying, Christine. I know you, you'll say something you'll regret and that won't do either of you any good. So don't blow it out of proportion. Give him a chance."

Christine looked up at him and smiled weakly.

"When did you grow up, Max?"

"Not entirely sure. I don't think I like being all responsible." He said sadly. She patted his shoulder.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

The doorbell rang and she picked up her coat and bag. Meg and Tom glanced out of the kitchen and gave her the thumbs up. She smiled nervously and opened the door. Erik was on the doorstep, looking extremely nervous. She didn't smile when she saw him but offered him her hand. Somewhat relieved, he took it and led her out into the night.

A/N: OK, he's back! And I hope you enjoyed the chapter because I loved writing that bit about Kelly! It was fun… Anyway, as of tomorrow I'm back at school. Hooray. Delight. My heart rejoices. (Can you sense the sarcasm here?)

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie