They had spent a majority of the evening in the bathtub, with nothing but tiny bubbles covering them up. They consumed the other until the chill from the water was finally too much for them.
"I'm cold but I don't want to move." She kissed his chest.
"I know. What if I just drain the water and grab some lofty blankets? I have a feeling it wouldn't take much to get us warm again." He chuckled, as he played with her hair.
"You are insatiable." She smiled at him.
"I just don't want to let any time I have with you go to waste. Truthfully, I don't care what we are doing. Chores, paying bills, reading by the fire, watching Gustave play, singing, making love… Though that and watching our son play up are my two favorite pleasures."
"Whatever happened to composing, Maestro?"
"It's all nothing anyway, without you both. I have missed so much." He turned so he could look at her. "You were alone, raising our son. I'll never forgive myself for that. I know what this second chance means."
"It's for both of us, darling. I know you want to remember those dark days to keep you grounded but you have changed, and you don't need to keep punishing yourself. The man you are now, is the man you were always meant to be. I know that because, I know your heart."
Erik forced himself not to cry. Instead he kissed her lovingly and got up from the bath. He wrapped a towel around him and then extended his hand to help Christine out.
"Take this towel for your body and I'll find another for your hair." He then put on a robe that was hanging in the closet. "I'll find one for you two. I'll be right back."
"But where are we going?"
"To tour our new home."
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The house was absolutely perfect. The minute Christine truly saw it, she felt at peace. It was warm and open and while it was by no means small, it wasn't cold or intimidating. She could see Erik in every room and she could see herself there too. The colors, the furniture, everything called out to her as if it were a real home. All it needed was the right family to occupy it.
It was a far cry from the first time she set foot inside the de Chagny estate. Even though she wasn't in the best of places back then, it felt cold and distant. She never did fit in there. She remembered voicing her concerns to Raoul, but he brushed them off. He told her that she was still under the strain of the last few nights' events. He assured her that once the sun would rise, she would see their new home in a different light. She never did.
"Angel?" Erik touched her shoulder and it brought her back to the present. "We can redecorate. Anything you like. I will have a piano delivered, of course. I just didn't want to go through the trouble, if it didn't suit us."
She took his hand and hissed his knuckles. "I love it, Erik. I can't believe how perfect it feels."
He smiled in his excitement. "There's a balcony that wraps around. You can enter it from the living room and there is one upstairs in the master bedroom. Gustave's room is close to ours…. I left that room empty. I wanted him to pick out things he wanted. He must miss his own room back in France and…."
She touched his marred cheek. "It's perfect."
He took her hand and led her back upstairs. "We have several bedrooms."
She arched her brow. "Really? How many?"
"Including ours, we have seven bedrooms." He said with pride. I was hoping you would agree to convert one into a music room, then Gustave's room of course…."
"Music room? Is it big enough for your piano?"
Erik made a face. "Well, I was thinking the music room upstairs could house our string instruments. The piano would go downstairs."
"Oh, I see. How many music rooms are we to have?"
"Only two."
"So that leaves four bedrooms to fill, eh?" She blushed.
Erik caught her meaning. "I…. Christine, I…I would love to have more children. I want to be there from the beginning this time." He then covered his mouth. "Good God, would you listen to me. You may not even want any more. I'm sorry, I have never been this talkative or giddy or utterly stupid." He bowed down his head.
She gently titled his head, so he would look at her. "I don't think you are stupid at all and I like seeing you so excited about the future. I think you and I make extraordinary babies, wouldn't you say?" She smiled and brought her lips to his forehead, as she stood on her tiptoes.
"Yet, I may not be able to have any more. Raoul and I…. Well, you know we did try."
Erik laughed. "The more I learn about that fool, the more I am convinced that the problem rested with him. After all, how many times did we make love before you became pregnant?"
She blushed. "One night…. Three times though."
"Exactly. You two were married for ten years and nothing. Spare me those details."
She laughed and shook her head. "It is less than you think."
"That doesn't matter." He took her in his arms. "You and I, we are made of stronger stuff and we complement one another in every way."
Erik then realized something. "Oh no…."
"What is it?"
He swallowed hard, "Christine, you and I…. This afternoon and this evening…"
"Yes?"
"We… You and I…. We…My God?! We didn't exactly stop to…. Take any precautions."
She smirked. "I know."
"You're not worried?"
"No." She said calmly.
"But…."
"We love each other and if our glorious coupling created a life as beautiful as our son, then I have nothing to be ashamed of. I would be ecstatic." She then brought his hand to her stomach. "Wouldn't you?"
Erik nodded quickly. He was too choked up to speak. He then kneeled before her and kissed her stomach. "I am so in love with you, Christine." He then looked up to meet her eyes.
"Let's just see what happens. But in the meantime…"
"Yes?"
"If we made a baby tonight, then I meant what I said but if we didn't… Well, perhaps we should be more careful. At least until I am divorced."
"Do you… Do you know how to…Er…."
She nodded. "Do you?"
Erik nodded. He then stood up. "What a pair we are. We had no trouble ripping each other's clothes off, but we can't talk about some necessary precautions."
She giggled. "Erik?"
"Yes?"
"We still have all night until we leave to pick up Gustave."
"That's right."
"Well, I know I said we should be more cautious but maybe we can focus on that starting tomorrow?"
He grinned. "Come with me."
He led her back into the master bedroom, where a fire had already been lit, along with wine and a tray of provisions for them to nibble on, when they weren't nibbling on each other.
"I had planned this earlier when you were looking about." He then moved to the vanity and pulled out a single red rose with a black ribbon around it. "Of course, that was before our conversation."
She took the rose and smelled it. She then cradled him in her hungry arms. "We can't let this go to waste."
"Are you sure, Christine?"
She loosened his robe. "Let's just see what happens."
They kissed and slowly fell on top of the bed.
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The next morning, Erik and Christine practically flew out of bed, so they wouldn't be late in getting to Gustave. They had missed him so much. As they walked back to Ms. Fleck's, arm and arm, Erik started to think.
I love this woman. I love her, and she loves me. Faith has redesigned our lives and now, now she can be happy with me. I know I can make her happy and safe. She will want for nothing. I can give her what any normal…. No, I can give her what she needs because I am what she wants.
The realization made Erik feel as if he could do anything. Soon he found himself standing in front of Ms. Fleck's door. Christine was about to knock when he stopped her.
"Christine, do you love me?"
"Erik? What is this? Of course, I love you."
He nodded and then grabbed her hand as he dropped down on one knee.
"Will you marry me?"
