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 Get your tissues out, this may be a little hard to take, but keep reading. I promise you that you will be happy with the ending. Thanks for all of the great reviews, we are closing on the 700 mark, a number that I never dreamed possible but thanks to your faithful reading and reviewing we are about to hit it!

B/N

Author – ToryD

Beta – MJMod

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Chapter 30

Erik waited for Dr. Mesamore's answer as an immense feeling of despair filled his soul.

Debra's heart clenched at the look of utter fear upon Erik's strained face. No matter how many times she had to impart dire news to her patients' families, it never seemed to get any easier or less painful, she thought sadly to herself. 'Erik, she is still alive," She said with a cautionary expression. "But, with so much blood loss, I do not think she will survive the night." She said in a soft, sympathetic tone.

Marie began to cry softly at the grave news of Christine's condition. No! Not Christine, not when she has just found some happiness, her heart cried out at the severe injustice.

Nadir placed a comforting arm around Marie as he felt his own sorrow engulf him.

Meg turned her face towards the window to hide her grief at the thought of losing her best friend.

Raoul sank down upon a chair as his legs gave way beneath him. Colleen felt her heart sink at the devastation wrought so plainly on her fiancé's face. Taking the chair next to his she simply took his trembling hand in hers, to offer him some small measure of comfort.

With a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, Reggie felt the full weight of his part in this dark tale. An all-encompassing shame unfolded all around him as the scope of his actions played out in an unimaginable conclusion.

For all of the pain and sorrow within the room, all paled in contrast to the shocking look of loss upon Erik's half-masked face. His once vibrant green eyes were filled with an immeasurable grief as he absorbed the unbearable truth that he was about to lose the most precious thing in his life, his wife, his Christine. Swallowing hard past the painful lump in his throat, he looked up into Dr. Mesamore's compassionate eyes. "I want to be with her," he stated in a raspy voice that validated the depth of his grief.

"Of course," Debra said as she rose from her chair. "I'll take you to her."

Erik rose slowly, as if it took a tremendous effort to perform this simple everyday task. Looking towards Nadir, Erik motioned for him to walk with him.

Nadir handed the sobbing Marie over to Reggie's capable care as he fell into step beside his friend.

As they made their way towards the intensive care unit that housed Christine's private room, Erik gave Nadir some quietly worded instruction. "Please make sure that my daughter has everything she needs." He said in a calm tone.

"Of course," Nadir responded automatically.

As they reached the door to Christine's room, Erik paused as he gathered the courage to face the most difficult moment of his life.

Nadir seeing the indescribable pain clearly reflected in his boss's eyes silently cursed the circumstances that had brought them to this end. "Erik is there anything that I can do for you or Christine?" he asked in a soft-spoken tone.

Erik looked at the concern written so plainly across his long time friend's features. "No Nadir, there is nothing left to do now save to say goodbye." Erik said in a far away voice that sent a piercing pain through Nadir's breaking heart.

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Debra looked at the monitors that recorded Christine's condition. Frowning, she silently predicted that within the next two hours her young patient would lose the battle to hang on to her life. Hearing Erik enter the room behind her, she turned and faced her patient's grief-stricken husband. "Erik, as you can see she is hooked up to several monitors." Debra said as she lowered the volume of one of the beeping machines.

Erik stared with anguish-filled eyes at his beautiful wife. "Is she in any pain?" he asked in a tortured whisper.

"No, Erik. She is in no pain." Debra said softly. Taking a chair from the other side of the room, Debra placed it close to Christine's bedside. "Why don't you sit down." She said as she moved out of the way to allow him passage.

Erik took the offered seat and cautiously reached out to touch Christine's hand. "She's so cold." He said in a shocked tone.

Debra crossed to the closet and retrieved a blanket. Carefully maneuvering around the various tubes and wires, Debra placed the warm blanket over her dying patient. "Can I get anything for you Erik?" she asked in a comforting voice.

"No," Erik replied, as his eyes remained fixated on Christine's pale features. "How much longer?" He asked in a resigned tone that attested to his utter sense of defeat.

"I would guess within the next hour or so." Debra said with a sad sense of helplessness.

Erik felt his heart plummet at the thought of only sixty short minutes left to be with the one love of his life. Unable to speak Erik merely nodded his head in conformation that he had heard Dr. Mesamore's answer.

Debra placed a comforting hand upon Erik's slumped shoulder. "Erik, if you need anything you can push the call button." She said as she indicated the appropriate button. "I will leave you and Christine alone now."

"Thank you Doctor." Erik said in a gruff voice.

Debra paused at the door, "Erik," she called as she turned to view the heart-wrenching scene before her.

Erik turned to face Debra with a haunted look upon his face.

"I'm so sorry," Debra offered in a compassionate tone that reflected the truth of her regrets.

Erik merely nodded mechanically as he turned his attention back to his dying wife.

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Nadir snapped his cell phone shut as he finished his call with the country's top pediatrician. It had taken more than just a high price tag to ensure the commitment of the renowned physician. No, Nadir had to promise a new pediatric wing for the good doctor's hospital in Chicago in order to get the man to board a plane bound for New York. But it was of little account if it would assure Erik that his daughter was receiving the best care available. He peered into the glass enclosure as he watched the nurses carefully as they tended to Erik and Christine's newly born daughter. He was surprised at the likeness the baby had to Christine, something that he hoped would bring comfort to Erik in the dark days ahead.

Marie saw that Nadir was staring intently into the neo-natal intensive care unit. As she stepped up to the window, she allowed her gaze to follow his stare. She let a gasp of joy escape her lips as she saw Christine's daughter for the first time. "Nadir, she looks just like Christine." She said with tears filling her eyes.

Nadir had to fight tears of his own as he looked upon Erik's daughter. "Yes she is beautiful." He said as he felt a little piece of his heart fill with the promise of renewed life.

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Erik held Christine's hand gently as the precious minutes began to tick away at an unstoppable pace. Even now, as she lay so motionless upon the crisp white hospital sheets, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes upon. Smiling he reached out and traced the delicate curve of her cheek, savoring the softness against his caressing fingertips. Knowing that he had so much to say to her before she left him behind, he began to talk in a low-pitched voice that projected all of the immense love he held only for her.

"Christine, we have a daughter," he said in a joy-filled tone that belied the sorrow reflected in the depths of his eyes. "The doctor said that she is going to be fine, and that she can go home in about two weeks." Erik informed his unconscious wife. "I want you to know that I will do everything to be the best father I can to her. I don't want you to worry about anything. I will make sure she knows what an amazing loving woman her mother was." He said with his voice breaking at the overwhelming emotion.

Christine felt a presence at her side, a presence filled with such an indescribable sadness that her heart cried out for the poor tortured soul. As she tried to open her eyes she felt a great wave of exhaustion wash over her as though it were a massive weight pinning her in place. She felt herself being pulled in two directions, one towards the bright beckoning light that promised an unequalled peace, and the other was the overpowering need to comfort the pain filled person who so needed her. She stood at a crossroads, undecided of which path to choose.

Erik watched in alarm as Christine's breathing became shallower as the time so cruelly ticked by. Knowing that he had only a few precious minutes left with her, he forged ahead to grant her some peace in the final moments of her life. "Christine, I want you to know that I have never loved anyone as I have loved you. When I saw you across that ballroom only fourteen months ago, I knew that you were to be the one great love of my life." Erik said with such an intense honesty. Several alarms began to sound as Christine began to fade from this earthly plane. "NO!" Erik yelled as he jumped to his feet. Leaning over he kissed her lips reverently. "Please don't leave me," he pleaded in a choked whisper.

Christine felt Erik's sweet kiss just as she began to feel a strange uplifting sensation. She watched with an amazing feeling of calmness washing over her, as a team of doctors and nurses rushed into the room. As blackness began to enclose around the vision below, she felt a warm angelic presence behind her. Turning she stared in awe at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The older woman appeared to be radiating from within as she serenely began to walk towards Christine.

"Don't be frightened Christine," the woman said as she reached for Christine's hand.

Christine looked up in confusion, "You look so familiar to me," she stated in awe.

Celia smiled knowingly. "Christine, I'm afraid that there has been an error. It is not your time. You need to return to your husband and daughter now." She said in a kind voice that offered a strange feeling of comfort.

"Erik," Christine whispered in a pain-filled tone.

"Christine," Celia called out. "You must trust your heart and not always believe what you see."

Christine looked up sharply to see the radiant face that resembled her own. "But I saw Erik with…" she began to offer an explanation for her emotional pain.

"Your eyes saw. But did you look with your heart Christine?" Celia asked with an encouraging smile.

"But, I saw Erik with Cara. They were…" Christine began to speak in a rush of words only to be stalled by the gentle touch of the older woman's finger to her lips.

"Come with me Christine and you will truly see what your heart is denying." Celia said as she gently tugged on Christine's hand.

Christine allowed herself to be led to the rapidly appearing light below. She felt a strange feeling of nervousness wash over her as she watched a likeness of herself lying there so lifeless, as several medical staff preformed various life saving procedures.

Seeing that Christine was not looking towards her husband, Celia gently directed Christine's line of vision. "See Erik, Christine. Look upon your husband."

Christine turned her stunned eyes to Erik's heart-broken form. "NO!" she cried out in shock at the unmitigated pain that was ravishing his face. "Erik," she called with an answering pain.

Celia smiled gratefully as she knew that Christine had finally seen the depth of Erik's love for her. "Do you see his love for you?" she asked in a quiet tone.

Christine felt tears of joy began to run unheeded down her cheeks. "Yes," she said in a reverent whisper, for she had never seen such devastation as the look on her Erik's face as he watched her slip beyond his world.

Celia felt a joy fill her that her daughter had found such love. "It is time for you to return now." She said softly as she began to walk back towards the bright light from whence she came.

Christine felt a sudden feeling of fear, "Wait!" she called to the older woman.

Celia paused and turned to look upon her daughter once more. "Yes Christine?" she asked in a tranquil tone.

"May I know your name?" Christine asked as she watched her begin to fade from her sight.

"My name is Celia," the voice called out from a far off place.

Christine drew in a shocked breath as she realized the beautiful kind woman was the mother that she had never known. "Mother," she whispered as tears filled her eyes.

"Yes, Christine. You must go now, go back to your life. I will see you again my beautiful daughter." Celia said as the light faded into darkness.

Christine felt an overwhelming love surround her as she turned back to do her mother's bidding.

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Erik watched in horror as the medical team began to administer CPR on Christine. Oh God! His heart cried out at the overpowering pain that was filling him. I can't bear it! He admitted to himself as he watched helplessly as Christine's life began to fade into death. "I love you Christine, I will love you always." He whispered in a tortured voice.

Christine felt an immeasurable pressure on her chest, as she heard Erik's declaration of love. I love you too Erik, more than I can ever express, her heart answered longingly.

Debra came rushing into the room, "How long has she been down?" she asked hurriedly.

"Ten minutes," the chief resident responded as he kept up his measured pace of CPR.

"Meds?" Debra inquired as she looked up at the EKG monitor's reading.

"We gave her 10 of epinephrine." The young brunette nurse responded as she squeezed the bag to inflate Christine's lungs.

"Ok," Debra said as she took charge of the team. "I want 20 more of epinephrine and I want to shock her at 200."

The team scrambled to follow Dr. Mesamore's orders.

Erik watched with a sense of desperation as the team renewed their fight for Christine's life. "Stay with me Christine," he whispered in a beseeching prayer.

Christine fought to hold on to the life that awaited her. A life filled with love from an adoring husband that would carry her though all of the obstacles that life had to throw her way. A life filled with wonder as she watched a world begin to unfold through the eyes of a daughter. A life filled with the promise of the family that she had always wanted, and was now only a few heartbeats away.

"CLEAR!" Debra yelled out as she administered the 200 volts of electricity to shock Christine's heart back into a normal beat.

Christine felt as though someone had punched her with a sledgehammer on her chest.

Erik watched with tears running down his cheeks as the monitor began to beep at a steady rhythm. His heart jumped in hope that Christine may still win her battle against death.

"Normal sinus rhythm," Debra called out in a relieved tone.

As the team began to depart the room, Debra motioned for Erik to join her at Christine's side. "Erik, she is fighting to stay alive." She said in a gentle tone.

Erik never once taking his eyes off Christine, he walked slowly towards her bedside. "Thank you," he said in a raspy tone.

"Talk to her Erik, let her know that you are here waiting for her." Debra advised as she pushed him down into an empty chair. "I'll leave you alone now." She said quietly as she turned to leave the room.

As the door closed softly behind him, Erik reached out and took hold of Christine's hand. "Christine, I'm here," he called out to her in a love-filled tone.

Christine fought against the immense dark cloud that was keeping her from responding to Erik. Please God, let me show him that I am still here with him, she prayed in silence.

Erik lifted their clasped hands to his lips so that he could kiss her hand as he had so many times before.

Christine felt his soft lips as he bestowed his own special kiss upon her hand. With a supreme effort, she found the strength to give his hand a gentle squeeze.

Erik felt Christine squeeze his hand. With a shocked expression, he raised his green eyes to her beautiful face. "Christine, can you hear me?" He asked anxiously. "Squeeze my hand if you can hear me." He instructed as he watched her intently for any more signs of response.

Christine felt his love engulf her as she fought her way back to the only man she would ever love. Finding a great strength from his intense, undeniable love, she opened her eyes to look upon the dearest face she had ever known.

Erik felt tears of joy fill his eyes at the sight. "Christine," he began to speak in an emotion-filled voice.

"I'm here Erik," she called in a barely audible tone.

Erik closed his eyes briefly in deference to the all mighty power that had brought Christine back to him.

Christine watched with all of her love as Erik leaned down to kiss her hand once more.

"I love you Christine," he said in a simple, truth-filled tone.

Smiling Christine looked up at her husband with love and forgiveness reflected in her clear blue eyes. "I love you Erik, more than you will ever know."

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A/N Only two or three more chapters left on this story. And yes, you are finally going to get your much awaited revenge on Cara. Hey yall, I'm coming down with the flu so I may not get a chapter up for the nerdy Erik fans until Monday to Tuesday. Sorry. Let me know what you think in the reviews.