It has been fun and, as always, a learning experience. So finally, I bring you the last chapter and thank all who read and reviewed.

Until next time, enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie - Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)

Karen - Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long,brown hair)

Ms. Jennison- Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 45

December 25, Christmas morning

"Oh, Daddy, it's a violin!" Meckenzie squealed.

Meckenzie was ecstatic. She jumped into Erik's arms and kissed his cheek, not caring that he wore no mask and she could feel the uneven flesh of his marred cheek.

She had accepted his disfigurement with no questions asked; she loved him with all that she was.

Erik eyed the violin suspiciously. He had designed the beautiful artwork himself, and had spent hours delicately piecing the instrument together; it was one of a kind.

Meckenzie traced the design with her finger and knew that the violin was adorned with carved fairies, her favorite mythological creatures.

"I love it!"

Erik laughed as she squeezed his neck and planted kisses all over his face. He knew he could die right now and be perfectly content.

"You know this means more hours of endless practice." He teased.

"That's okay!" She chimed.

Meckenzie got books, a computer with an education package for the blind, computer games, and her first Bible.

Erik presented his gift to Christine. She carefully opened the delicate looking paper and revealed an entirely new stack of papers.

She pulled one sheet out and inspected it. She sat there with her eyes wide and her mouth gaping.

"Christine...?" Erik inquired.

"Erik…" She breathed "...this states that there has been a scholarship set up in Raoul's name at the university he graduated from."

The news of Raoul's death had effected Christine more than she had thought it would. It was not because of any residual love she felt for the man, but because he had lost all in the end; his dignity, his career, the respect of the industry…so much.

Erik had gone to the trouble of writing a dossier about Raoul's life and focusing on the good that he had done for Broadway and the modern musical. Christine had not known how much influence Erik had in the business, until he had organized and funded this scholarship.

She cried tears of shear joy; something that Erik had given her an abundance of.

"You gave him back his dignity and respect; I can't believe you did this." She cried.

Erik shrugged off the compliment, "Everyone deserves a second chance, even if it is posthumous…in the end, he was a good man."

Christine handed Erik a small box, wrapped beautifully. She was grinning from ear to ear and could not contain her enthusiasm.

"Open it carefully, it is very delicate." She advised.

Erik handled the box carefully, pulling the paper off with deft fingers. He lifted the top and looked at the tiny bulbs inside.

He lifted them both out at and examined them closely. They were spun glass trimmed in gold and the artwork was intricate and hand-painted.

He turned them slightly in his hands and read the words that were written, on each of them.

The yellow one read:

"Makayla Deanna Trudeau: First Christmas, 2007"

The green one read:

Matthew Donovan Trudeau: First Christmas, 2007"

"I'm not sure which we'll need at this time, so I had both of them made." Christine whispered. "Who knows, we may need both!"

Erik turned to his wife with tears in his eyes, smiling at the knowledge he had just been given.

"You're going to be daddy, again." Christine stated with a grin.

Erik gently placed the delicate bulbs back in their box, pulled Christine into his embrace, and kissed her with all the joy that was in his heart.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

"I don't know what it is, but the fact that a child I helped create is growing inside you, makes me want to ravish you every minute of every day." Erik stated as he nuzzled Christine's neck after making passionate love to her for most of the evening.

Christine was in her sixth month and the pregnancy was proceeding without difficulty. Erik had attended each doctor's appointment and made sure she took her vitamins and ate the proper foods.

He doted on her and treated her delicately most of the time, but his lovemaking was full of fire and passion, igniting her body with just the sound of his voice and the faintest trace of his fingers to her skin.

"I am most certain that I don't wish to remain in this state every moment of every day, but you feel free to ravish me anyway."

Her teasing tone did nothing to appease Erik's appetite; he had found, over the last seven months of marriage, that making love to Christine was his favorite past time.

She was resting beside him with her head on his bare chest, smoothing the dark hairs that dusted it with her small hands, and coaxing him to into a state of sexual euphoria with her voice and touch.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?" Christine murmured.

Erik smiled, keeping his eyes closed as he enjoyed the quiet love they had for each other.

"It really doesn't matter to me; I just want a healthy baby."

She lightly swatted him on his arm, "That's what everybody says….I have no qualms about saying what I want, I want a boy…" She lifted up to stare him in the eye, "…just like you."

Erik chuckled and the sound was like heaven to her ears, "You really are a sucker for punishment." He teased. "I would like a boy, too, but I would prefer he look like you."

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

It had only been three hours, but Erik swore he could take no more. Christine's screams of pain were more than he could take and all he wanted to do was take the pain into his self and give Christine some peace.

"Relax, she is doing just fine." The nurse assured him.

"Does it always take this long?"

She chuckled at his innocent statement, "Yes; in fact, it often takes much longer than this. Your wife is already fully dilated and effaced…the baby will be born soon."

After all this, he was certain Christine would never allow him to touch her again…if he were the one in there enduring such agony, he would never allow another sexual joining…ever.

Christine smiled wearily up at him and caressed his face with her hand, "It will be over soon. This has been mild compared to what I went through with 'Kenzie."

Erik gave her his hand once again, as a contraction claimed her body; this time, the overwhelming urge to push gave Christine the added energy she needed to propel the baby from her body, and into the hands of the midwife.

"You have a son." She announced.

Erik was beaming from ear to ear as he cut the cord and rested his eyes on his son for the first time.

He kissed Christine and stayed with her as the midwife cleaned her up and made sure all was going well.

The nurse carried the baby over to Erik and tears were streaming down his face as they handed the wrapped bundle over to him.

"He weighed in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces; and is 23 inches long." The nurse informed them.

She pulled the blanket back to reveal a beautiful little boy with a head full of dark, wavy hair. His fingers were long and slender, as were his tiny feet; and when his eyes flashed open, they were the most stunning shade of violet he had ever seen.

Erik relinquished his sons care over to his wife and watched as she immediately put the baby to her breast; instinctively, he found what he searched for and Erik stood in wonder at the sight before him.

He sat down beside her and watched as his son nursed, thinking there was nothing more beautiful in all the world.

"Matthew Donovan Trudeau." Erik stated. "He's beautiful."

Christine lifted her head and smiled at the wonderment she found on Erik's face, "Just like his father."

"I love you." Erik whispered, placing a kiss upon her forehead.

"And I love you."

THE END