Here's the next Chapter! Sorry it has taken me so long to update, but I was out of town :( Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews that I've recieved so far! I hope you enjoy this next installment! Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything :(

The next day he sat in his tiny little room brooding over the previous day's events. He had a child, a daughter. She was beautiful, smart, energetic, kind….he closed his eyes allowing his head to lay back against the chair. She is so much like he was when he was a child, though he hoped for Christine's sake not nearly as obnoxious and misbehaved. How did things get to where they are now? Why did he let her go away with that boy? Why didn't he have the courage to keep her with him? Lord knows that's the only thing he ever truly wanted.

He could've had the life he so craved, but he was a coward. He faked his own death, and didn't look back trusting Nadir to keep him informed of any information regarding his love. Of course he should have known Nadir would say nothing to him at all.

He sighed, running his hands through his hair agitatedly. Could he go back? He would do anything to make Madeleine happy, but what of her mother? Could he make her happy again? So many things had happened between them, it felt like there was a rift between them that would never be fixed. He wanted nothing more than to take Christine into his arms, kiss away her tears. But he knew it wouldn't be that easy. Too many deceptions and manipulations had passed between the two of them. They would need to start from scratch and rebuild the trust that had been fractured 6 years ago.

He stood up, pulling his cloak on and grabbing his fedora pulling it down low. He left the little flat quietly, silently making his way to Christine's home.

He knocked on the door and smiled when it was flung open and he was greeted by the innocent smile of his daughter. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the apartment, talking excitedly about nothing in particular. Christine walked into the drawing room smiling at Erik.

"Thank you for coming back. It means a lot to Madeleine"

Erik nodded, giving the little girl a lopsided smile. She grinned back at him "Can you do some more magic tricks please Monsieur?"

Erik rubbed his chin in thought before leaning down and producing a flower from behind her ear. She clapped enthusiastically before presenting it to her mother proudly. Christine smiled weakly as she took the bud from her daughter and went to put it in water.

The entire time Erik was there Christine couldn't keep her eyes off of him. They rarely made eye contact with each other, but when they did she could feel her heart beat faster. Though she was relieved when he departed that night after supper she still missed his presence.

Her emotions were conflicting; she had stayed up much of the night crying. So many thoughts had flooded through her when she saw Erik standing on her doorstep the night before. Happiness, Anger, sadness, love. They had all flooded her senses at once, but she managed to beat them back.

They all overpowered her later that night in the darkness and solitude of her room. Why had he deceived her for all those years? How could he just walk away from her? Why did he return?

It had all been too much for her to think about. She steeled herself before he arrived that day, determined to put on a happy front for the sake of her daughter.

What kind of relationship would they have now? Could they ever be together? Did he still love her? Would he stay? Help raise his daughter? She took her eyes off of him, looking down at the floor hoping to stop the flood of tears before they started. Too many questions, she wanted to make him answer them all, but she was too afraid to start that conversation. Too afraid to reopen old wounds for the both of them she remained indifferent while he was around.

She rolled over onto her back, pulling the covers up around her, the clock on her beside table told her it was barely past 4am, but she had been unable to sleep. Her mind was racing with thoughts of Erik, like they had those many years ago when in some twisted way things seemed so much less complicated. She rubbed her temples, warding off the headache she could feel forming. She had too much to do that day she couldn't be bedridden with the horrible headaches she had been prone to since Madeleine's birth. She pushed herself up on the mattress and looked around the darkened room wondering how they had arrived at this point. She sighed; lying back down determined to get some rest.

The next day at rehearsal Meg kept eyeing her suspiciously, finally as they broke for the day the dancer cornered her.

"Christine? Are you alright?" she asked, concerned.

Christine nodded "I'm fine Meg, I just have a headache that's all"

Madame Giry appeared at her side, seemingly out of nowhere. "Perhaps you should rest"

Christine nodded "I will send Madeleine to bed early tonight and do the same myself"

Madame Giry pursed her lips, she often felt bad for the young diva. She rarely asked for help concerning her daughter and she herself knew how hard it was to raise a child alone.

"Meg and I will watch Madeleine for the night, and bring her back to you in the morning"

"No, that's alright Madame Giry. I will be alright. I would never want to burden you with this. I'll be fine," she protested weakly.

"I am unmovable Christine. You need rest, and this isn't a burden. I offered for her to come stay with us. She's such a good girl…she won't be a problem," she said softly, placing a hand on Christine's shoulder.

The younger woman nodded reluctantly "She's waiting in my dressing room"

The three of them walked off the stage to fetch the little girl who was ecstatic about her little vacation with her Aunt Meg and Madame Giry. Christine watched sadly as they parted ways outside the Opera House. Once the trio was out of sight she turned and returned to her empty flat. She made herself a cup of tea and sat down with a novel but found she couldn't concentrate. The pounding in her head had gotten steadily worse since she returned that evening, she set the book down dejectedly and moved to her room where she dressed for bed and fell asleep quickly.

A few hours later she was woken by knocking on her front door, thinking it was Meg or Madame Giry bearing bad news she flew up and down the hall, flinging the door open. With a sigh of relief she saw Erik standing before her with Nadir. But quickly the relief she felt was replaced by dread.

"Nadir…Erik. I. What?" but in her sleepy haze she was unable to articulate anything else.

Erik looked at her with a concerned frown on his face, an expression mirrored on Nadir's dark features.

"Christine? Are you quite alright?" Erik asked in concern.

She nodded drowsily "Yes. I'm quite well." She frowned, pushing an errant curl away from her face "I turned in early for the evening. Madeleine is with Madame Giry and Meg for the night"

Erik narrowed his eyes, studying her carefully. She looked pale; she had dark circles under her eyes as though she hadn't slept in days.

"Forgive us for intruding. It was terribly rude of us to drop by unannounced," Nadir said, glancing between Erik and Christine briefly as he spoke.

Christine waved a hand "Not at all! You are both welcome any time. I'm just sorry Madeleine isn't here to see you"

"Are you sure you are well Christine?" Erik asked again, a bit more forcefully.

She sighed knowing better than to try to get anything by Erik. "I just had a bit of a headache today, Madame Giry was kind enough to take Madeleine for the night so I could rest" she admitted softly.

"Headaches?" Erik asked concern once again lacing his voice.

She nodded tiredly "Yes, I've been suffering from Headaches since Madeleine's birth" she said, casting her eyes to the ground before realizing she had rudely kept them on the front porch. Making a gesture she shook her head "Forgive my terrible manners, please come in"

The two men looked at each other warily for a moment before Nadir shook his head "No, please forgive our terrible intrusion. We'll stop back another time, perhaps tomorrow afternoon?"

She smiled, relieved. "Tomorrow afternoon sounds wonderful. Madeleine will be back by then, she will be pleased to see you both."

Nadir nodded once and turned to walk away. Erik remained where he was, watching Christine with a mixture of emotions in his eyes. The most noticeable was worry. Christine smiled at him "I'm fine Erik. Truly" she reassured him.

With a fleeting look he nodded and followed Nadir. Christine could swear she saw him turn to look back once as they walked off. She shut the door and leaned against it, trying to slow her racing heart. She had wanted to throw herself into his arms and let him take care of her, but she dared not. She pushed herself away from the door and went back to bed.

The next morning she woke up feeling much better than she had the night before. She took a bath, allowing herself to soak and enjoy the water before getting out and dressing for the day. She anxiously waited for Madame Giry to arrive with her daughter. She smiled when the little girl threw herself into her arms enthusiastically when she walked in the door.

Madeleine was pleased when she heard that Nadir and Erik were returning that afternoon. Christine busied herself by baking a cake for that afternoon when Nadir and Erik came trying not to think about the way Erik had looked at her the night before.

Nadir had a hell of a time calming Erik down on the walk to his flat. Erik had questioned him relentlessly about Christine's condition.

"How long has she been suffering from these headaches?"

Nadir shrugged he had known she had been struggling with them since Madeleine was born but beyond that he knew nothing. "I know she has had problems with them since Madeleine was born but beyond that…" he made a helpless gesture with his hands.

Erik raked an agitated hand through his hair; Nadir looked at him "She's fine Erik. Why are you worrying so?" he knew the answer but he was hoping Erik would admit it to himself.

He glared at his friend but remained silent the rest of the way home where he dismissed himself and went to his room to pace irritably. He wanted to return and help her, but he dared not. It was still too soon for so bold a gesture, but being around her was…intoxicating.

He still loved her as desperately as he had 6 years ago, he would give anything to be with her again. He had tried to convince himself that he no longer cared for her. He had managed to believe it, until he had seen her again.

She was still beautiful, but she was no longer the child she was when he first loved her. She was a young woman, with a daughter…his daughter. She was not longer innocent and naive, he sighed as he sank onto his bed. What was he to do? Sometimes he thought he could see something when she looked at him, which was rare in itself. He noticed she was very careful to not make any eye contact with him. He steepled his hands, staring at the blank wall contemplating what he should do.

Perhaps it was time he and Christine sat down and discussed what they were going to do now.