I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, although I do rather enjoy borrowing them from time to time.

A/N Surprise an update during the workweek. Wow, I am so overwhelmed at the great reviews that this story is generating. And welcome to all the new readers. Also to anyone who is reading and not reviewing, please consider just a short review here and there, anonymous is fine. The reviews really do keep us authors going. Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Author – ToryD

Choices

Chapter 17

Nadir waited patiently under the hot Australian sun as Erik helped Christine from the limousine. Sighing deeply, he was relieved to finally reach the point where they could begin their journey home. What an unending nightmare the last six days had held for Erik and his new bride. Shivering slightly he still recalled the deadly tone of Erik's voice as he related the details of the horror that had befallen Christine and himself. Following Erik's terse instructions, Nadir had immediately boarded the plane bound for Sydney. While in route, he retained the services of the country's top lawyer to handle the tricky legal questions that arose from the necessary investigation that followed the terrible events. Thankfully, the Magistrate had deemed Erik's actions 'self-defense'. Therefore, in the Australian government's eyes, the matter was mercifully closed. If it were only so easy to erase the event from Erik and Christine's consciousness, he thought to himself sadly. Poor Christine, she looked as though she has not slept at all in the past six days. Erik look little better, for his sole focus was on Christine. He had made it his personal mission to see to that she was spared as much as possible in the dealings with the police and the ever-persistent press. Strange, he thought with a bemused look gracing his handsome face, but it seemed that this whole mess had brought them closer. Smiling he thought that perhaps the old saying was true, there is always a silver lining.

Erik put his arm around Christine as they walked slowly towards the plane. Seeing Nadir, he nodded in greeting to his invaluable assistant. What he would have done without Nadir over the last few days he couldn't fathom. He knew he could always count on Nadir for most anything, but the lengths that his assistant had gone in order to protect both him and Christine could never be repaid. "Is everything in order?" He asked as they ascended the stairs.

"Yes, as soon as we are aboard the pilot has clearance to take off." Nadir offered Christine a gentle smile. "Hello Christine."

Christine looked up into the kind eyes of Erik's right hand man. "Hi Nadir." She said in a quiet, strained voice that tore at Erik's heart.

Once they were safely in the air Nadir unbuckled his seat belt and rose to face the exhausted couple. "Erik, whenever your ready I have several business matters that need your attention." He said in a routine matter.

"Can it wait?" Erik inquired tiredly as he glanced up.

Christine knew that Erik was neglecting his work because of her. Turning to him, she placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Erik, while you work with Nadir I think I'll lay down for a little bit."

"I'll join you, Nadir…" Christine silenced Erik with a fingertip to his lips.

"Erik, I am truly fine." She said as she lovingly traced his un-masked cheek. "Go with Nadir." She said in a simple voice that strove to reassure her worried husband.

Erik felt his heart fill at the quiet beauty she radiated. Leaning down he took her lips in a tender kiss that spoke of his deep and abiding love for her. When a last he broke the kiss he reached out and caressed her cheek. Frowning as his fingers traced the yellowing bruise that still lingered like an undeniable testament to the terror she had faced. Clenching his fists, he turned away so that she wouldn't see the rage that filled him at the pain she had endured. "If you need me I will be in the office." He said as he walked down the aisle.

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Nadir looked up sharply as Erik entered the small office behind him. "How is she really doing?" He asked his long time friend.

"She is trying to put up a brave front." Erik said tiredly as he sank into his soft leather chair. "I don't think that she has slept for more than thirty minutes at a time."

"I think just getting her home will help her to put some of this behind her." Nadir offered.

Nodding absently Erik hoped his assistant was right. "Do you have the files on the body guards?"

Sorting through his briefcase Nadir found the requested files and handed them over to Erik. "I have chosen the top five candidates. Inside you will see their background checks as well as several references that I personally checked."

Taking the thick folders from Nadir, Erik opened the top folder to see the picture of the former Navy seal that Nadir had labeled top choice in a small yellow post it. "Steven Porter." Erik read the name of the pictured man aloud. "He did a ten year stint in the Navy."

Nadir chuckled lightly at Erik's assessment. "The 'stint in the Navy' as you so callously termed it, encompassed top secret special opts. Some of those years involved reconnaissance missions in the middle east."

"Set up a meeting with him an hour after we land." Erik opened the second folder to see the picture of a younger man who looked like he was a defensive back from a pro football team. "Reginald Garibaldi, what's his story?"

"His experience is with the secret service. He guarded various members of the first family during the last two terms. He comes highly recommended by his superiors." Nadir informed Erik.

"All right, set up a meeting with him also. I want to have two guards hired by the end of the day. I can't allow Christine to go unprotected any longer." Erik said with a wariness that had Nadir concerned.

"Erik, what happened to you and Christine was not something that you could have foreseen." He offered gently.

Erik looked up abruptly, his tortured filled eyes reflecting all of the guilt and pain he was currently feeling. "Nadir," he said in a gruff tone, "I can't get the picture of that animal on top of her out of my head." Erik swallowed hard at the lump that had taken up residence in his throat. "I don't think I can ever forgive myself for failing her."

Nadir stood and walked over to the small bar. Pouring both himself and Erik a shot of whiskey he returned to the desk and set one before Erik. "Erik, look at me." He demanded of his guilt-ridden employer. "You had no control over the situation. No one," He paused as he saw that his words were not reaching through to Erik's tortured mind. "Erik! Listen to me! This was not your fault." Nadir watched as Erik released a deep sigh. "The best thing you can do for Christine is to let this misplaced guilt you're harboring go. She needs you to be strong for her." He said in a quite voice that seemed to finally reach Erik and provide the absolution he needed.

Smiling sadly Erik stood and stretched his tired muscles. "Ok Nadir, your right once again, I will let this go for Christine."

Nadir nodded approvingly as he resumed his seat. "Good. Now I have several other matters that need your attention." He said as he took his black leather notebook from his briefcase. "Christine's stepmother Arlene is still squawking about your stealing Marie away."

Erik shook his head in disgust. "Have the lawyers draw up an agreement. Offer her ten million along with ownership of the house that she is now in. I want this contract to stipulate that she is to no longer have any contact with Christine or myself. Make sure that the lawyers are very clear when they explain it to her."

After making several notes, Nadir returned to his updates. "There has been a Marcel Dubose contacting the office for the past week. He says that he has to speak with your regarding some urgent personal business."

Frowning Erik tried to recall the name. "I don't know who he is, probably someone wanting a job. If he keeps calling threaten him with legal action."

"Also, the board of directors of Daae Industries wants to schedule a meeting before the end of the year." Nadir said as he made notes on his pad.

"Fine." Erik said with a resigned sigh. "Anything else?"

Nadir closed his notepad and looked up with sympathy in his dark eyes. "Simone." He said with a slight edge to his tone.

"Fuck!" Erik said as tension instantly filled him. "I completely forgot about her." Slumping back in his chair he silently cursed his mother for her timing. "Is she still at the house?"

"Yes, she is anxiously awaiting your return." Nadir said with a show of empathy in his expression.

"We will have to stay at the pent house." Erik said more to himself than to his assistant. "Call Darius and have him ready the pent house for our arrival. I don't want Christine to have to endure my mother just yet."

"And what am I suppose to tell Simone?" Nadir asked with a feeling of impending doom.

"Tell her that we will spend the Christmas holidays with her at the house." Erik offered in a resigned tone.

Nadir gave his poor friend an understanding smile. "Ok. Holidays with the Desmonds, sounds like a holiday movie in the making."

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Erik opened the door and leaned against the jam, taking in the serene expression on his stunning wife's face. Closing the door softly, he began to unbutton his crisp white shirt as he walked slowly towards the welcoming bed.

Placing his mask on the bedside table, he carefully slid in next to the sleeping Christine. With a possessive arm he pulled her body in close to his, letting the tension of the last days drain away from him as he simply savored the nearness of his wife.

Christine moaned in contentment as she felt Erik's body fitted next to hers so intimately. With her eyes still closed, she leaned up and sought his lips with her own.

Erik deepened the kiss with a need to reassure himself that she was indeed here safely in his arms. He let his tongue lightly trace the curve of her soft bottom lip.

Christine's breath caught as she felt Erik's seeking tongue. Parting her lips, she allowed him access in the slow passionate kiss.

"Erik," she moaned softly, enjoying the feel of him so close to her. They had not made love since the awful events of last week. How she craved the closeness that only he could bring to her.

Erik slowly began caressing her smooth back as he leaned down to begin a careful exploration of her delicate neck.

Christine arched up to bring her body into closer contact with his heated flesh. Her hands running up and down his strong back causing his muscles to flex beneath her fingertips.

Pushing aside the straps of Christine's dress, he accessed the soft creamy mounds of her breasts with his seeking hands.

Christine gasped in desire as she felt Erik's loving caress, scoring her nails lightly down his back, she brought his welcoming weight down upon her, savoring the feel of his strong chest upon her sensitive breasts.

Erik closed his eyes in relief. He had feared that he would repulse her as a lover now that she had seen his un-masked face. But she was accepting him not only as a husband but as her lover as well. Parting her thighs, his fingers sought the center of her passion.

Christine moaned in ecstasy at the magic of Erik's caress. She felt as if she was floating on an otherworldly plane as Erik gifted her with his unselfish loving. "Erik!' She called out sharply as she felt the almost instant release of passion that only this man could inspire.

Erik watched in awe at the beauty of his Christine. As she opened her eyes, he saw her undeniable love for him in her tear washed eyes. "Christine…" he whispered with such reverence. Leaning down he kissed her with a gentleness that stole her breath away.

"I love you." She said with a tearful smile as she reached up and kissed the scared side of his face.

Erik felt the overwhelming love fill him as he stared down at his exquisite wife. "I love you Christine. With every breath I draw, I do so love you." He said in such an emotional tone that Christine felt the tears of joy began to fall down her cheeks.

"Make love to me Erik." She requested with her eyes shining with emotional tears.

"Christine," He whispered fervently as he leaned down and took her parted lips in a passion-filled kiss.

Christine reached down and caressed him in such a way that it pulled at his barely restrained desire. Parting her thighs he entered he with a slowness that let her feel the depth of his longing.

Lifting her hips Christine tried to hurry Erik's movements only to be stalled by his insistent hands as he continued with his slow measured strokes. He set a rhythm of slow penetrating fullness, seeking to possess her very soul.

"Erik…Please…" She pleaded with him almost beyond endurance, only to have him ignore her as he prolonged the intense pleasure.

He felt Christine's inner muscles begin to clench around him as she fell into her climax. He stilled within her as he watched the play of emotions across her stunning features. When at last she lay spent, Erik began to kiss her into renewed passion as he once again began to rock gently against her hips.

Lifting her body up to meet his, Christine joined Erik in their own quest for fulfillment. As their loving became more frantic, Christine called out in awe, "Erik, I…please I…need. Erik!" She cried a little too loudly as she once again surrendered to the powerful climax. Erik once again feeling her clench around him fell helpless into his own heated climax as he pulled her into his tight embrace.

"Christine." He said as he soothed her with small kisses along her temple. "My wife, my Christine."

Christine closed her eyes and smiled at the good fortune that had brought her this loving gentle man. Her Erik, her husband.

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A/N Next up, Christine and Erik fight over the body guards. Let me know what you think in the reviews.