-1Disclaimer: We own none of the characters from Phantom of the Opera.

Author's Note: Read and review Sweet Seduction… Read and review Sweet Seduction… Read and Review Sweet Seduction…. And while you're at it review after you've read this!

Chapter Eight

Christine struggled to get Erik onto the guest bed in Nadir's home, and as she finally settled him down upon it, she stood by his side and stretched out her back. She was tired, but all she could think about was Erik's health. "Where did I put that medicine!" She pondered to herself, ransacking the room for it.

Erik struggled to sit up, looking to Christine. "I don't need it, Christine..." He called, his voice quivering. "It's not an attack of that nature." Allowing himself to flop back to the bed, he focused on keeping his mind cleared of anything that could make him more upset. "Christine, come here please..." He called, reaching out his hands for her.

Christine sighed and closed her eyes briefly as she made her way back to the bed, and she sat down beside him, holding his hands in hers and gazing worriedly upon him. "What can I do for you, Erik?" Nothing. The answer is nothing. It's always because of you that he has any kind of attack.

"Lay here with me... I just have to calm, is all..." Gently he tugged Christine to lay at his side, and he curled his body around hers. Suddenly he lifted his head and looked down with a serious expression into her face. "Don't start blaming yourself for this, Christine." He said suddenly, cupping her cheek in his hand. "It cannot possibly be your fault that I become upset when around people..."

Christine shook her head sadly and ran her hand down his chest as she gazed at the skin revealed by the opened top buttons of his shirt. "But it is my fault you were there with the people that so upset you. I should never have made you go out," she spoke, sternly, mostly agitated with herself.

"Made me! Christine, you did no such thing. In fact, I believe it was Nadir and I who came up with going for food... Christine, every time I am unwell it does not mean a thing about you... my dear, if I did not have you by my side I would be dead already! You are all the medicine I will ever need. Please don't ever think you are a cause for my pain again..."

"I can't help it, Erik," she spoke softly, her voice hoarse as she tried to refrain from crying. "I'm upset with how I've treated you in the past..." She stroked his torso and pectorals, frowning as her gaze followed her hand. "I just want to make you healed, not worse."

"You are healing me, Christine..." He whispered, catching her hand in his and pressing a reverent kiss to her palm. "I love you..." He said softly, before leaning up and pressing his lips to hers warmly. His breathing had returned to normal, and he felt fine, if not a bit tired.

Christine held his face as she kissed him back, though as she leaned in further, she grimaced and pulled back. "Ouch," she spoke softly, sitting up and stepping from the bed.

Erik looked at her with extreme concern then, sitting up and moving to follow her. "What is it?" He asked, immediately expecting the worse.

Christine looked down at herself and motioned to her upper body. "Corset." She reached around as she sucked in a breath to untie the bothersome piece of clothing, feeling her bruised ribs ache.

Erik nodded in understanding, watching her as she removed the corset and aching to pull her into his arms again. After their outing with Jean Claude, Erik felt as if he would never have enough of Christine again, and he waited rather impatiently for her to remove the garment and come back into his arms.

Christine let it slide to the floor, and she smoothed out her chemise as she went back to the bed. She lay down and carefully turned on her side to snuggle up to her dear husband. "It hurts so much, Erik." She rubbed her sore ribs and flinched in pain.

Erik frowned with his concern as he gently stroked his fingers up and down her sides, trying to soothe the pain. "You really should not wear the corset until you have healed, my dear." He insisted, brushing his lips across her cheek lovingly.

Christine shrugged slightly. "Let it heal just to be hurt once more." She sighed and held onto Erik's sides as she scooted closer to him. "Are you okay now?" She asked with an innocent look in her deep blue eyes, and a bittersweet smile.

Erik sighed, wrapping his arms gently around her. "Yes, I'm quite well now...I'm sorry for worrying you..." He said as he kissed her cheek lovingly.

She smiled and twisted her head so that her lips would meet with his. "Why is it that you're fine when we make love... But when you exert yourself in anything else you nearly die on me!" She smiled playfully up at him and squeezed her arms around his waist.

Erik laughed at her words, placing a gentle kiss to her nose, then nibbling at her ear. "You know... that is a very good question, my dear..." He purred into her ear as he rubbed her back lovingly.

"Are you going to give me an answer?" She raised both eyebrows. "What was it referred to me as? The queen? The queen would like an answer..." She giggled and pressed herself against him firmly.

Erik whimpered as she pressed herself against him, and he nibbled at her neck playfully. "I don't know why, my dear..." He said softly against her skin, tracing a line up her neck with his tongue slowly. "Perhaps your God has decided that when we make love no disturbance should come."

Christine leaned her head back and moaned softly. "What if my God caught us together in the closet?"

Erik pulled Christine tighter against his body, his lips a mere inch from hers. "I imagine he would find it quite amusing." Erik whispered sensually, before tracing his tongue over her lips seductively.

Christine's tongue came forward and thrust against his as she held his head tightly in her hands. She started to climb on top of his body, but remembered how his shoulder had hurt, so instead she lay content at his side and kissed him with an immense amount of passion.

Erik whimpered into the kiss, grasping the back of her head and holding her to him gently. His free hand slid down, sliding along the curves of her body until his hand rested at her ankle. Slowly then he moved his hand beneath her skirts, sliding it up her bare leg and feeling his entire body tremble in desire as he felt her smooth skin gliding beneath his fingertips, warm and soft to the touch.

Christine moaned from the feel of her husband's skilled touch, and she brought her free leg up to rest around his waist as his hand explored. She scooted her lower body closer to him, pressing against him fiercely, and moaning his name lightly as she did. Her hand dove into his hair to twirl it around her fingers while her other hand moved to take of his mask that was blocking her way from kissing him deeper.

Erik gave a long gasping moan, kissing her neck passionately and nibbling down her chest. His hand continued to move upward, and he raked his blunt fingernails over her thigh, bringing his fingers then to brush against her most sensitive area teasingly. His fingers merely ghosted across before moving to stroke to her other leg. Meanwhile his free hand was wound into Christine's hair, and his mouth slid up to capture her lips again.

Christine groaned loudly into their kiss, moving her lower body in order for his hand to come in contact with her womanhood once more. She clutched tightly to his back, and moved one hand to begin unbuttoning his shirt all the way down. She let her hand slide over his chest and on down lower, to his waistband, all the while trying to come into contact with his hand once more.

Erik grinned down at her, letting his fingers brush against her again with a bit more pressure, and this time he rested them there, nibbling along Christine's jaw line and keeping his fingers completely still even as the rest of his body trembled.

Christine gasped and moved her hips against his arm. She made tiny whimpering sounds and grabbed a handful of Erik's hair and holding him there. "Erik, please..." She whispered, squirming and writhing underneath his touch, begging him for more.

Erik whimpered himself, as he cautiously moved his fingers just a bit, pressing against her and feeling his body shake in desire. Carefully he stroked his fingers along her warm flesh, his head becoming light with arousal.

Christine shimmied a bit to be underneath him, and her eyelids fluttered as she begin to unbutton his pants and slide them down his hips. She grabbed the hem of her chemise and tore it off her body, throwing it to the side. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts against his hard muscular chest, and moaned in delight as she moved her hips against his hand once more.

Erik slowly moved his fingers away, and he smiled lovingly down at Christine as he crawled atop her, covering her lips with his and thrusting himself within her slowly. His eyes slipped closed, and he began to move within her at an even, slow pace.

Christine cried out in pleasure and grasped his back, and moved with him, only faster than what he was. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed along his jaw before moving to nibble on his neck.

Erik moaned deeply, moving a bit faster to match Christine's fevered pace, and his hands caressed her sides, moving to stroke over the sensitive skin of her breasts, then up to touch her face. "Christine... oh... how I love you..." He gasped, moving faster within her.

She moaned loudly at this and hoarsely cried, "Love me, love me!" She began to go faster, not even aware of her actions; completely driven by desire. She bit his shoulders as she felt herself drawing near her release, and she squeezed her legs around his waist. "Love me, Erik..."

Erik cried out when she bit his shoulder, and he began to move faster within her, matching her speed and groaning in pleasure. He felt himself growing closer and closer to the edge of his pleasure, and he clutched at her legs, pulling them further up around his waist and crying out as he began to move deeper inside of her body.

Christine cried out and began to shudder in pleasure, as she reached her climax for the third time that day. She threw back her head as far as she could against the pillow and cried out his name, the house shaking as she was in his arms. Her legs tightened around his waist and she tightened mightily around him.

Erik gasped in the pleasure that filled his mind and body at her release, and he moved within her several more times, before giving a little moan and releasing inside of her. Flopping down on top of Christine, Erik placed a few loving kisses against her chest and face, clutching her tightly to his body and breathing heavily. "Christine.. you are amazing.." He breathed, eyes twinkling.

Christine held onto him and sighed into his chest, breathing heavily. "Oh Erik... What child are we on now?" She looked up at him and grinned, moving her arms around his neck and embracing him tightly.

Erik laughed, cuddling her closer to his body and nibbling on her ear playfully. "I think I lost count at 20, my dear." He mumbled, grinning down at her and stroking his finger down her forehead, over her nose to rest on her lips. Lovingly he traced his finger over her lips, an expression of extreme devotion in his eyes as he looked down at her.

Christine smiled brightly up at him, and kissed his fingertips. She stroked through his hair, gazing into his eyes, and wondering if it was like this with every married couple. She couldn't get enough of him and she knew he felt the same. She grinned as she thought of what pregnancy would be like, as Erik took care of her.

Erik grinned down at his wife, yawning a bit and stretching out, he pulled the covers over their bodies lazily, snuggling with his wife. Gently he rested his head on her chest, curling an arm around her waist. Christine gasped and moved out from under him, and swatted his hands away. She put two hands to her collarbone and gazed down at her chest, still feeling the soreness in her breasts. She glared at Erik and then back down at herself.

"What is it?" He asked, sounded concerned then. Reaching out, he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Is it your ribs again?" Gently he began to prod them, seeing if there was any new damage.

Christine batted his hands away from her and sat on the edge of the bed. She pulled the sheet off her upper body quickly to peek down at her breasts, but replaced the sheet around her body when she saw nothing. She looked over at Erik and raised an eyebrow. "What did you do to them!" She queried angrily.

Erik looked at Christine is disbelief. "Me! I didn't do anything, Christine... what is it, do they hurt you?" He inched forward, cautiously laying a hand on her arm and looking at her with concern. "I've done nothing... I..."

Christine peeked under the sheet once more, and back up at Erik, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "You squeezed them too hard!" She insisted, folding her arms protectively over them, but realizing that hurt, as well.

Erik gave Christine a baleful look, reaching out to draw her into his arms. "I didn't realize..." He sighed softly, brushing his lips across her forehead. "I've hurt you... I apologize." He said, irrational fear filling him. "Please don't leave me." The words were out of his mouth before he had the chance to hold them back, and his face flushed once he had spoke them. Looking away, he moved to rise from the bed.

Christine clutched the sheet around her as she tried to follow. "Where are you going!" She demanded of him, reaching out to grasp his forearm.

"I..." He realized he really had no where to go... hadn't really had a reason to stand except to distance himself from him embarrasment, and he turned to Christine, looking down at her with tears in his eyes. "I hurt you." Was all he seemed able to say, and he sighed, breaking his eyes from her gaze. "And this isn't the first time I've upset you like this...I shouldn't touch you..." He whispered, looking away as a haunted expression came to his face. "I cause you pain... and I cannot bare to do so."

Christine stood and took his hands, placing them on her breasts as she let the sheet fall to the floor. "Look! It doesn't hurt anymore, Erik!" She grasped his face in her hands. "Erik, it's okay, they are just a little sore, is all. I'm sure it's just that my corset is making my whole upper body hurt." She lifted her face to kiss his lips lovingly. "Erik, please don't stop touching me... If it was the worst pain in the world, which it isn't, I would still ask you for it! I love you!"

He sighed at her words, squeezing her body close to his and trembling. "I"m sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm just afraid that I will hurt you, Christine... I never want to hurt you..." A few tears slipped from his eyes and ran down his face, meeting with Christine's skin. Slowly he bent, picking up the sheet and holding it in one hand, while his other hand went to Christine's back. He lead her back to bed, pulling her to lay beside him and covering them slowly. "I love you..."

"And I love you." She snuggled up close to him and placed a leg in between his to have a full body embrace. "Goodnight, my love." She wrapped her arms around him and let her hair drape over his shoulder as she drifted off to sleep.

X

Christine awoke to an aching feeling in the pit of her stomach. She clutched it blindly, moving slightly away from her husband to examine herself. She raised the sheet and saw nothing, and yet, she felt incredibly nauseous and ill. She stood from the bed and wrapped the sheet around her, and as she moved towards the door, she picked up her pace, running to the bathroom.

Erik felt Christine move in the bed vaguely, however when she suddenly ran from the room he was up like a shot, and he took off after her. He heard the bathroom door slamming shut, and he hurried over, throwing it open and closing it swiftly behind himself. "Christine?"

He came at the wrong time, and Christine couldn't help but be embarrassed as she vomited the contents of her stomach, which hadn't been much at all considering the only thing she had eaten the previous day was an egg. Bile came through, and then she broke out into dry heaves. She pushed her long dark brown hair over her shoulder to cover her face from her husband, and held it away from her face as she continued to heave.

Erik dropped to his knees behind Christine, grasping her hair and holding it away from her face as he rubbed her back slowly. "What on earth... how would you have become ill?" He mused out loud, more to himself than to Christine who was still throwing up mightily. "Breathe, Christine..." He cooed, continuing to rub up and down her back.

Christine panted and turned her face away from him, though it didn't last long as she felt the bile rising from the bottom of her stomach again. She took a few deep breaths, turning her head again. She placed a hand over her stomach and held a pained expression on her face.

Cautiously Erik drew Christine against him, holding her gently and kissing her forehead. "My dear...do you have any clue as to why you are suddenly ill?" He asked, rubbing her back lovingly and pressing a few kisses to the top of her head.

Christine snorted and laughed bitterly. Of course she knew. As a girl, when her father had still been alive, she'd spent time with Mamma Valerius as her father had been outside practicing his violin, and her adoptive parent had invited her young friends over... Her pregnant friends. I'm with child, Christine announced to herself in her head, and looked down at her body. Of course she knew...

Erik cocked his head at her snort, cuddling her closer. "Christine?" He wanted to carry her back to bed, to hold her close until whatever illness that had taken over her body released her, but the fact of the matter was, he wasn't sure that she was done with needing the bathroom.

Christine suddenly felt the shock of reality. She was pregnant. She gulped and looked down, not meeting Erik's eyes. Should I tell him? No, what if it's only an illness? You know you're pregnant. No, I'm not sure. Yes, you're with child, you're with Erik's child! I shouldn't tell him... Not yet. He'll become protective and not touch me at all. She smiled up at him and then her eyes went wide and she turned and heaved once more.

Tears filled Erik's eyes, and he held Christine's hair again, stroking her back and trying not to cry. "You must see a doctor, Christine..." He said, his voice quivering. "We have to know what ailment has befallen you, oh Christine..." A tear slid down his cheek as he wrapped his arms around his wife, so afraid he would loose her.

Christine stood and went to the sink, washing off her face and grabbing a nearby towel to dry herself off. "Oh, my love." She put her arms around his neck. "Now you see how I feel when you have those horrid attacks." She pulled him by the hand back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm fine, I assure you," she spoke softly, and gazed up at him seductively as she trailed her hands down his arms onto his hips, and placed her forehead against his stomach, letting her warm breath hit his abdomen and lower.

Erik sighed softly, threading his hands into her hair. "Christine... do you have any thought, any slight idea of what could be affecting you? Is it something you've eaten?" He couldn't get her illness from his mind, and he knew he would not be able to rest a moment until he knew what it was ailing her. "Perhaps I should wake Nadir and have him fetch a doctor..."

Christine sighed and gave up her attempt to seduce him from thoughts of her morning sickness. She stood and grabbed her chemise, and threw it over her head. "I'm pregnant, Erik." She turned to him, gazing up at him enquiringly.

His eyes widened, and he sputtered for a moment, before standing and rushing to her side, bringing her up into his arms and holding her tightly against his body as tears filled his eyes. "Pregnant...?" He breathed, shock and awe in his voice.

Christine grinned into his neck and wrapped her arms around him. "Call the doctor if you must. But I know that I am with child..." She pulled back to look into his eyes. "Your child." She squeezed his hands and raised an amused eyebrow. "That's why my breasts hurt," she explained, and then looked worriedly towards the door. "And that's why I was vomiting... Morning sickness, as it's called."

Relief filled Erik in knowing he was not the cause of her pain the night before, but then a great weight fell upon him. It was up to him now to care for his wife, to protect her and the little one she carried within her body. Reverently, Erik laid his hand upon her abdomen, as if trying to feel the baby already. "Oh... Christine..." He breathed, looking into her eyes as a tear slid down his cheek. "I don't know what to say... my love..."

Christine smiled up at him and placed a hand over his on her belly. "Say you're happy! This is the start of your legacy, Erik! This is the first child out of twenty!" She grinned and cupped his face in her hands. "This is our first, made out of our pure love for one another!" Her eyes held a radiant light to them and her smile couldn't have become any broader.

Erik began to weep in his joy, squeezing Christine to his body and sobbing into her shoulder. "I have only been this happy once before, and that moment was when you first told me you loved me." He said softly, his voice choked with tears as he placed kisses all over her face, the tears on his cheeks wetting hers.

Christine snuggled into him and then pulled back, leaning backward in his arms. She wiped at his tears. "Do not cry, my love! I only want to see your smiles, I want you to show me your happiness!" She curtsied and held out her arms. "Let's dance!"

Erik laughed, tears still falling from his eyes, as he took Christine's hands and began to pull her around in a playful spinning dance. After a few minutes he stopped, assuming a thoughtful look. "Women are said to have intuition about this... well Christine, is it a boy or a girl?" He asked, a playful arch to his eyebrow.

Christine bit her lip and tilted her head in thought. She took his hand and placed it back on her abdomen, covering it with hers. "Hmm..." She rubbed his hand around her stomach twice, and then grinned broadly. "It's a..." She gazed into his eyes and shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps if you talk to it, it will answer you and you will know."

Erik laughed heartily, pulling Christine up in his arms and twirling her about as he smiled so broadly that he wondered that his face may split. "Christine..." He whispered, his voice so awed and shaken. "My Christine... a baby..." His lips descended to hers, and kissed her with a very subdued passion, holding her close and trying to imagine holding their child in his arms.

Christine held him close and smiled joyously, threading her fingers through the ends of his dark hair. She was ecstatic, though, she didn't know if she'd be able to handle the pains of labor. She'd seen women give birth and she'd seen the struggling midwives at that time. It sent a sort of fear through her, but as she gazed into Erik's eyes she knew she'd be okay.

Erik clung tightly to Christine, planting kisses all over her face and down her neck, before dropping to his knees to nuzzle her stomach. "Our baby..." He whispered, planting a few kisses to her belly as well. "Oh Christine... I'm so happy..."

Nadir woke to the sound of laughter and screeching, and frowned. They can't be at it this early... from what I heard Erik was unwell last night... Standing, he moved from the room, grabbing his bathrobe on the way out and slipping it on as he moved to the guest room and cautiously opened the door. Relief flooded through him when he saw both Erik and Christine clothed and standing in the middle of the room. "May I ask what all the excitement is about?"

Christine looked up at him joyously and motioned Nadir over to them. "Come, Nadir, I'll communicate to the babe what you wish to say to it!" She rubbed the back of Erik's head and grinned down at him. "What do you think of 'Uncle Nadir?'"

Erik laughed joyously, placing another quick kiss to her belly, then standing and in a rare moment of extreme happiness, threw his arms around Nadir and gave him a quick hug. "I'm going to be a father." He said softly when he pulled away from his long-time friend.

Nadir stood, completely shocked when Erik hugged him, and he tried to think of the last time Erik had ever... touched him. He's either very happy, or he's been into his opium again... He thought to himself wryly, thumping Erik on the bed and taking Christine into his arms for a quick friendly hug. "Congratulations, my friends... I'm so very happy for the two of you. How did you find out?"

"My breasts hurt," Christine announced simply, and then motioned towards where the bathroom would be. "And I had a case of morning sickness just a short time ago." She couldn't stop herself from smiling, even though her cheeks stung.

Nadir's eyes widened and his face flushed slightly at Christine's words, and he nodded. "I... see..." He said slowly, before turning to grin at Erik, then looking back to Christine. "Well, if you are eating for two now, I shall go prepare you some breakfast! It will be a little celebration." He said, moving swiftly from the room and heading toward the kitchen.

Erik took one look at Christine, and had her pinned to the bed as his lips attacked hers. He kissed her with every bit of love he could possibly show, and his arms wrapped gently around her, torn between wanting to squeeze her close and not wanting to cause her any discomfort. After all, she was carrying their child... every precaution must be taken to protect the baby.

Christine wrapped her arms around him and rubbed his back, gazing up into his eyes with a dreamy look on her face, followed by a wistful sigh. "Oh, Erik... Do you know how happy I am! I'm going to have a baby genius!"

Erik laughed as he nibbled at her ear. "Well my dear... that is not known for sure... and you may have... well..." He motioned to his face with a frown, before laying his head against her chest gently and sighing, tracing his fingers over her stomach.

Christine's smile faded and she frowned down at Erik's head. "Erik... My love, we've been over this! It will be a genius, and it will be beautiful... Inside and out." She rubbed the back of his neck and patted his upper back. "Go ahead, talk to it." She grinned and pushed his head lower down her belly playfully.

Erik glanced up at her with an eyebrow raised, clearly thinking her to be insane, before he couldn't help himself. Brushing his lips over her tummy again, he whispered softly. "Hello, my beautiful child... I am your father, and I love you."