Chapter Fifty-Two: Sanctuary

"Christine! I demand you tell me what is going on!" Anthony growled, taking his sister by the arm. She had burst into his room where he had been getting better acquainted with Sienna's body and had demanded that he and Sienna pack immediately before flying out of the room. She ran to both her fathers and Raoul's rooms and did the exact same thing. Now everyone was looking at her with tired expressions on their faces. Christine was unsure what to tell them, Erik had just toldher to tell them to go and pack, nothing else.

"Please, just listen to me! You are all in danger if you do not leave!" Christine pleaded. The four people in front of her burst into question and Christine covered her ears for a moment. She herself was not exactly sure what was going on. She turned to look at her family when she was greeted with sudden silence. They were all looking behind her, the blood draining from their faces. She turned to see Erik standing there, his head held high even with the fact that he was not wearing his mask. Even given everything that had happened she found a small smile come to her lips as she looked at him. He was a strong man, and it showed in the way he held himself. But she could only wonder how much weight was on his shoulders with everything that was happening.

"Oh, my God...how?" Anthony whispered, looking as if he were ready to collapse to the floor. Erik wrapped his arm around Christine's waist, pulling her close to him.

"There is no time to explain. Michael Delauney and his men will be here soon. All of you must leave or it will mean your life," he said. There was no time for explanations. Christine's life was on the line and he would not risk it by staying here longer than he should while he tried to explain something that would take hours to cover.

"Please, all of you must go!" Christine cried. They all seemed to notice the fear that was in her eyes and without a word they all went to get ready. They were not worried about Christine. By some miracle her husband was back with her and they all knew that he would not allow any harm to come to her. Erik took her hand and quickly began leading her down the hall. Christine continuously glanced at her husband, wondering what he had done to jeopardize the frail compromise Michael had made with him. Her hand went to her stomach. She would do anything to keep her baby safe, anything. Erik led them to the barn.

He hid in the shadows as Christine told the driver that she needed to hurry. When the driver was preparing the horses Erik slipped inside the carriage and silently waited for Christine to join him. He would never forgive himself for the mistake he had made with Delauney. He and his wife were now running for their lives because of one of his foolish decisions. He heard Christine tell the driver to keep driving until they stopped and not for the first time Erik realized that he did not know where to take them.

The bordello? The thought of taking Christine there made him sick to his stomach. But perhaps Nadir would know what to do, or where they could hide. Christine climbing into the carriage jostled him from his thoughts and he remained silent as she settled herself against him. The carriage began to move and their silence continued. Christine did not question his actions that night and he knew that she was afraid to ask. He did not want to tell her. He had failed and he would never be able to admit that to her. He took his cloak and wrapped it around them both, pulling her more tightly against him. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, suddenly very tired. Erik's hand strayed to her stomach and her eyes suddenly opened, catching his gaze. He smiled and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"How is my son?" he whispered. Christine instantly felt guilt wash over her. She continued to think about the time she had almost lost the baby because of her own daftness. But she managed to smile at him.

"How do you know it is a boy?" she murmured, although she had begun to think of it as a boy. Though she would be just as happy with a girl. Erik grinned down at her, trying to make light of the moment.

"It's a boy," he said matter of factly. Christine smiled and shook her head, putting her hand on top of his own. Silence filled the carriage and Christine closed her eyes, finally allowing herself to slip off into sleep, knowing that for the moment she was safe in her husband's arms and far to tired to do anything else. Erik stared down at Christine for a long time after she had fallen asleep and he tried to memorize every feature of her face. He looked away from her out of the small window and saw they were only a few blocks away from the bordello. He did not want the carriage to pull straight up at its door so he knocked on the roof and the carriage came to a halt.

Erik took Christine into his arms and slipped out of the carriage. He slipped the hood of his cloak over his head and slowly made his way down the street. Christine remained asleep in his arms and for the moment he preferred it that way. He knew she would not like where he was taking her. The women of the bordello looked with some interest as he brought Christine into the main room before quickly walking up the stairs. He threw open the door and Nadir stood up in surprise and dismay when he saw Christine. Erik said nothing as he set his wife on the bed and removed his cloak.

"Erik, what happened?" Nadir demanded, beginning to worry.

"I need your help. I need to take Christine and myself somewhere Delauney will not find us, and I need to go soon," Erik said, not going to explain anything. Nadir knew that Erik must have seriously did something to ruin the fragile compromise he had had with Michael Delauney. He would not lecture him and he would not question him.

He had been thinking of somewhere they could go for a while, no longer wanting to remain in the bordello. Nadir told him of an older woman he had known for many years that lived on the outside of the city. She was a widow and lived with her daughter, a woman around the same age as Christine, and they would help them. Erik knew that the woman's house was better than staying where they were. He nodded to Nadir.

"Erik...?" Both men turned to look at Christine as she slowly sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. Her nose wrinkled when the smell of the room filled her nose and her eyes found her husband. Knowing he was there she looked to Nadir and gave him a faint smile, he returned the gesture. Erik watched as she looked around the room, trying to figure out where they were. The room, though it looked like they had tried cleaning it, was dirty and the smell was almost unbearable.

"Where are we, my love?" Christine asked, still looking at her surroundings. Nadir glanced at his friend, wondering if he was going to tell his wife that he had taken his wife to a bordello, he could only imagine what her reaction would be.

"This is where I was staying while Nadir nursed me back to health," he said, not answering the question directly. Of course was much to smart for that and she raised a brow. He turned from her and found his white half mask, and put it on. When he turned Christine was at the door, opening it and peering into the hall. She gasped when she saw a man and a woman going into one of the rooms, doing something they had no right to do in public!

"Erik!" Christine gasped. Her husband was already pulling her back into the room and shutting the door. Christine hit him on the arm and pulled away from him. Where had he taken her?

"Where are we?" she demanded. Nadir watched in interest as Erik looked at the floor, the wall, the window, everywhere but his wife while he uttered one word.

"Bordello." Christine's eyes went wide in surprise. A bordello? He had taken her to a house of pleasure to hide away? She would not stay here! It was indecent!

"Erik Charles Desslar!" she gasped. Erik looked at her in surprise. He had not known she even knew his middle name. He did not remember telling her. Perhaps his wife was a lot more keen then he had ever believed possible.

"We are not staying her, my love! Nadir knows of a woman who will help us!" he said, almost frantically. Nadir had to keep in his chuckle. It really felt good to want to laugh after so long. And these two made him feel light at heart with their antics. Christine pushed past both men and went to the window, opening it and letting the cold evening breeze come into the room, the smell was beginning to bother her.

"This was the closest place that I could bring Erik when he was wounded," Nadir said, hoping to make Christine calm down, she looked like she really wanted to hit her husband.

"I suppose this is the last place Michael would look for us," she said bitterly. She did not know why it upset her so much that they there, but it did. She did not feel comfortable. Nadir left the room, saying he was going to get a carriage ready to take them to the widow's house. Christine stayed at the window, looking out to the city, letting the cool breeze blow her hair from her eyes. She knew why it bothered her so much. It was not the fact that he had taken her there; it was what he could have done while she was not with him.

He had been away from her for a few weeks. There were women here that would give a man anything he needed for a price. What if Erik had been willing to pay to slake his needs? Christine knew how much he loved her, but a man had needs and being away from her for so long could have made him desperate. The thought of him touching another woman the way he touched her made her sick to her stomach. Erik simply looked at her, not saying anything because he could see that she was upset with him.

"The carriage is ready," Nadir said, coming into the room. Christine said nothing as she walked past Erik. He, however, grabbed her arm and stopped her. She went to pull it away but he simply put his cloak around her, she was only wearing her nightgown and he wanted her covered. She looked down at the floor.

What had she been thinking? Erik would never do anything to betray her trust like that. That was not the kind of man he was, and she hated herself for thinking it. He went to walk out the door and Christine took his hand, entwining their fingers. He smiled at her, relieved that she was not angry with him. Christine received several whistles and crude suggestions from some of the men who wished for a woman for the night, but one look at Erik, with his scowling face and white mask and they were quick to be quiet.

"Nadir, this woman, can we trust her?" Christine asked as they settled themselves into the seats of the carriage. Nadir nodded and assured her that they could. Christine allowed her thoughts to drift to her family and she prayed that they were alright, going somewhere where they would be safe.

"They are fine, love," Erik whispered, knowing that she had to be thinking about her family. She smiled and nodded, although she continued to worry. She did not want any harm to come to them because of things they had no control of. The carriage remained quiet as they made their way towards the woman who hopefully would not turn them away.

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"Monsieur Khan! What a splendid surprise!" Christine stayed close to Erik as the cottage door opened and an older woman opened the door. She embraced Nadir and it gave Christine a chance to study her closely. Light blonde hair pulled away from her face showing strict features that were quite youthful despite her age. She wore a simple dark green dress that showed she was lean of frame and she held herself upright.

"Madam Giry, I am afraid I have come needing your help desperately," Nadir said. Madam Giry seemed to notice Christine and Erik for the first time and she was rather taken back by the sight of Erik's mask. She looked at Nadir and could see that he had a desperate look in his eyes. She took his arm.

"Come in, all of you, it is a rather chilly night," she said, ushering them inside. Christine instantly felt comfortable in her new surroundings. The small room they entered contained a small fire place with a blazing fire and several comfortable chairs. It had a nice, home feeling that Christine liked. She told them to sit down and get comfortable while she went into the kitchen to get some tea. Christine sat down in a chair and Erik stood behind her, always watching over her. Nadir seemed very comfortable and Christine wondered what Madam Giry and Nadir's relationship really was.

"I must say it is rather late for all of you to be traveling," the madam said as she came back into the room with some tea. All of them took a cup except for Erik and Madam Giry sat down.

"Now what is it I can do to help?" she wondered. Nadir slowly told her what they needed. She would continuously glance at Erik, not liking the dominating presence he seemed to put forth, even without talking or moving. She did not seem to want them to stay there until Nadir mentioned that Christine was pregnant and that she would be in danger if they could not stay there.

"I have two spare rooms, you are welcome to stay as long as you like. My room, and my daughter Meg's room are downstairs, I will show you to your rooms." They followed silently as she led them upstairs. Before Christine and Erik went in Christine took the woman's hands and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Thank you."

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"Erik"

"Hmmm"

"Are you alright?" Christine whispered. Erik sighed, having known that she would realize something was wrong immediately. When they had come into the room she had immediately went to lie down, feeling very tired. Erik had unpacked their things silently and had not come to bed, like Christine had hoped. He was sitting by the window, very quiet and still, as if he was deep in thought. Christine wanted him to come and get some rest because she could only imagine how long it had been since he had relaxed even a little.

"I am fine, Christine," he lied. In truth he was far from fine. His thoughts were filled with the fact that he had failed Christine and their unborn child. He should have killed Michael when he had had the chance. He had been so close to snapping that mans neck. But then his mask had come off and he had panicked. He did not like being exposed, especially when he was in front of an enemy and he had left quickly, not even thinking to grab the mask. And because of his stupidity he was forcing Christine to run for her life. He had tried thinking about other things but what came into his mind next was not something he wanted to think about.

Raoul de Chagny.

Christine had been in his home for quite some time, and she had been distressed. He had no doubt in his mind that the boy would use that to his advantage to win Christine. She could have turned to him in her grief and sought comfort in his arms. The idea made his hands clench into fists. The idea of that man, any man touching her made him sick to his stomach. He knew he should not be thinking of this but it was far easier than thinking about Delauney and what he was going to do concerning him. Erik was interrupted from his thoughts when Christine climbed onto his lap, settling herself in his arms so she, too, could look out the window. His fists slowly unclenched so he could wrap his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest. She took his large hand into her two much smaller ones and looked at it in the pale moonlight.

"I did not go to Raoul for comfort, my love," she whispered. Erik's eyes found hers in surprise. How in Heaven's name had she known that he had been thinking about that?

"What?" he murmured, trying to feign ignorance. She smiled and kissed his fingers one by one.

"I could never to do that to you..." she whispered softly. Erik immediately felt guilty. Of course she could not do such a thing! She was carrying his baby for God's sake! What kind of woman did he think she was? His Christine would never even think about betraying him like that. He said nothing and Christine knew her feeling had been right. If she could, if even for a moment, believe that Erik would go to another woman for comfort, she knew he had to entertain the thought at least once about she and Raoul.

"I am sorry we have to run like this, Christine," he whispered after a moment. Christine could hear the genuine sorrow in his voice and she knew that he would never have them do this unless it was absolutely necessary.

"You know I would run anywhere as long as I was with you," she murmured. Erik smiled weakly and kissed her. Christine removed his mask and deepened the kiss. She knew that if certain events would not have happened they would have been in their own bed making love, not in some strangers cottage. Erik sat her up in his lap and removed her chemise, running his hand along her stomach, loving the way it was beginning to swell with life. Christine trailed kisses down his neck, unbuttoning his shirt and smoothing her hands over his bare chest.

She loved the feel of his barely leashed control lying beneath his warm skin. She could feel his monumental need beneath her and it caused her body to become flush with both anticipation and excitment. Erik's mouth was at her breast, suckling firmly while she explored him. They were both pushing thoughts of everything to the side, not willing to think about anything but coming together. Erik's fingers tangled into his wifes hair when her hands went to his belt and slowly unbuckled him, taking his need into her hands. He kept his head thrown back, the cords of his thick neck standing out greatly.Christine kissed all over her husbands chest and allowed him to do the same. They allowed eachother to take the ot her to paradise.

A/N: Hello all! I have been thinking over whether or not to make a sequeal to this I have decided against it, it would just make everything for to difficult, so we will continue with this story until it is finished, please read and review! DJT