Chapter 19- The Union

Christine sleepily blinked her eyes and her surroundings came into vision. She sat up quickly, and groped the air for a sheet. Her curls astray she looked around for Erik. There was a dent beside her in the bed where he was missing.

She sighed acknowledging her stupidity. She searched around for her clothes
which were cast astray on every corner of the room. Her mind was crazy with thoughts.

Suddenly Erik burst into the room, dressed in his best. Christine blushed at the sight of him and covered herself up with the bundle of clothes in her arms. Erik grinned and pretended to cover his eyes, "My eyes are covered Cherie, please continue." Christine giggled, turning around, she began to quickly dress. She became aware that Erik had lied. He stared at her beaming. She growled at his and playful ran up to him.

He half-heartedly protested as she pounded her fists against him, still half dressed, "Come on! You have nothing to hide from me now!" Christine stopped fooling around and grew serious. Erik's smile melted at her reaction, he looked at her with curiosity as she finished dressing.

"Christine…"

"Erik… we need to talk."

"I assumed, my Angel."

She flinched in desire at the name she once called him. He did not want to make this easy for her did he?

"Erik, you know how much I care about you and would not try to ever hurt you again… but I fear that I might so please do not interrupt."

Erik sat down on the bed and tried to conceal the tired look in his eyes. Nothing could any longer surprise him, so he thought. Christine sat next to him and held his hand nervously. Visions of her Rosalie flashed through her mind, her rosy cheeks and eyes that had recently begun to change yellow. She could not hide her any longer.

"Erik… that night we stayed together… I never forgot it all that time. Something very special happened that night. After I could not face it Erik, but marrying Raoul… making love to him, you were always there. I have a child Erik."

With those words he escaped her grasp and stood up anxiously, "Oh Christine, you cannot stay with me. Your child, my mother abandoned me when I was young and I forbid you to leave your own… even if… even if I love you."
Christine stood up and put her hand on his shoulder, "Erik… I had a baby with you. It's yours."

Erik turned with a look she had never seen before. Suddenly the fire came back into his yellow eyes and he grabbed her wrists, "Don't lie! Don't lie! I can't… you cannot justify this with lies. I will not let you destroy a child… I cannot…" Suddenly he stopped, "My… mine?"

Christine blinked away tears, and nodded. Erik threw up his hands and wrapped his hands around his head in shock. He paced the room moving his hands again on his invisible keyboard. He turned to face Christine,

"Is it… a he or a girl?" Christine smiled and squeezed his hand. "A she, Erik," she whispered into his ear, "Our little Rosalie, with my hair, and your eyes."

She saw the corners of his mouth curve in content. Christine held him close to her and felt him go rigid. He spoke in her ear, "Oh Christine, she isn't… her face… oh God… not…" Christine looked him in the eyes pulling away for an instant, "No Erik, no, she's… beautiful." He allowed himself to smile and pulled her in for another close embrace. They clung to each other ignoring the future and remembering the past when they created life from love.