A/N: Two chapters tonight because after the previous chapter we did, we did a follow up one a few hours later. This won't happen often; we just had a lot of inspiration a few nights ago.

Three Weeks Later

Erik (emerges from the bathroom): I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Christine (looks up from her book, as reading is the only thing to do in Erik's dank lair): Oh Erik, don't pretend to be so menacing.

Erik: Ah, but I do love to frighten you, sweet. Your eyes become so delightfully wide. You resemble that asinine singer...Sarah...something.

Christine (raises an eyebrow): You're poking fun of me again, aren't you? But I'm not sure.

Erik: Poking fun of you? Never! (Turns his head to the side and snickers) Well, the cold air of Austria should clear your head, love.

Christine: You are making fun of me. (Stomps off in a huff to her room)

Erik: What a child I married! (Contemplates strangling himself with his own lasso) But then...she can sing so beautifully...nah, I'll keep her.

Christine: (shouts from the bedroom) You did marry a child! I'm sixteen! And don't forget you forced me!

Erik: Ah yes, I'd conveniently forgotten that particular detail. But really, darling, you did have a choice. You always have a choice. Even if the choice wasn't to your liking, it was there notwithstanding.

Christine (a look of anger takes over her face as she peeks her head out of the bedroom): You... you assface! (burns red at using such a word and closes the door again)

Erik: Never, ever insult my face! I do not need reminders as to its ... ass-like condition. (Pauses trying to come up with a way to insult his wife) And…well you...you have doe eyes! Take that, bitch! (Immediately feels ashamed and runs into his own room, they both sob and throw things for the evening) *Erik muses to himself* Perhaps...she has that peculiar female syndrome. She will probably come knocking at my door requesting chocolate any moment now.

Christine (shouts from the bedroom again): ERIK! I NEED TAMPONS!

Erik: You need ... what?

Christine: TAMPONS, YOU DOLT!

Erik: What are these...tampons you speak of, child?

Christine (grows increasingly frustrated as noted by her reddening cheeks): They are... wads of cotton… to stop the flow.

Erik: The flow of what? Are you trying to dam the lake again? You must know that isn't possible, little love. Since it is still water, as I have previously explained.

Christine: I learned my lesson trying to dam the lake! I won't do it again!

Erik: By the way Christine, just why did you endeavor to dam our lake? I did not fully understand your explanation the first time.

Christine (in a small, timid voice): I wanted to find the siren… and the crocs.

Erik: I thought the crocs terrified you? Why does Christine seek to keep company with frightening creatures? One would think being married to Erik would be sufficient excitement.

Christine: No doubt of that, dear husband, but I wanted to see what they looked like, and I couldn't find any picture books in your library.

Erik: Of course not! Do you think Erik would carry picture books in his library? Erik has no need of looking at ugly things! His face is enough. (Wallows in self-pity and dissolves into a black mood).

Christine: I still need tampons!

Erik (looks up questioningly): What do you want these peculiar items for again?

Christine (smacks his bony chest with her hands): You stupid man! My painters! I have my bloody painters, and I need to stop the flow dammit!

Erik: Your ...painters? Did you invite strange workmen into our home? You could have simply asked, and I would have painted your room any colour you desired. How dare you show strangers Erik's domain?

Christine (punches Erik in the arm): Do I have to spell it out for you?

Erik: Yes, my dear, it would seem so. Erik is not accustomed to being confused, though his Christine does this frequently.

Christine (smoke now coming out her ears): THAT'S IT! I'M LEAVING AND NEVER COMING BACK! YOU'RE CLUELESS AND MOCKING ME! (Turns to the boat to leave)

Erik (leaps from his seat on the edge of his coffin and runs after the fleeing soprano): Christine wait! What it is you need? If you would only explain to Erik...

Christine: No! You are being insufferable, and I don't wish to be around you any further more!

Erik (drops to his knees before her and grabs onto the hem of her nightgown): My Christine, I beg you! Forgive your Erik his incompetence. I only wish to make you happy! Tell me what it is you desire.

Christine (screams loudly into the dark abyss to let out her frustration before sinking to the ground in tears): I have my period, Erik. There, I said it! I'm bleeding! And your stupidity about the matter isn't helping things. Of all the books you keep in this sewer, you don't bother to have one on female anatomy?

Erik (looks at his wife in complete shock and horror): Christine! You are bleeding? Are you injured? What has happened?

Christine (pushes his hunched figure on to the ground completely): Only injured for this week. Think about it Erik. There's always one week of the month we don't have our husband and wife nights.

Erik (looks like a lost puppy): I merely thought...that you were unusually weary those nights.

Christine: I was, from the bleeding!

Erik: I do not understand this. I have not bothered to study the anatomy of a woman for reasons that should be obvious to you, my dear, and so I did not know of this bleeding. Where is it you bleed from? I cannot see any wounds.

Christine (looks baffled as she tries to come up with a way of showing her husband the ways of a woman): I-I'm not sure if I should tell you or show you...

Erik (a light of understanding suddenly appears in Erik's yellow eyes): Ah...I think I recall reading something very brief on the subject, now that I think about it. This has to do with the cycle of fertility, no?

Christine (long sigh of relief): Yessss.

Erik (rises and grabs for the boat): I will go and fetch these...tampons, and I will return as soon as possible. You will be well here alone for an hour or so?

Christine (reaches up for the hem of Erik's tailcoat): Nooo, don't leave me alone!

Erik (looks down at her confusedly): But my love, I cannot possibly take you with me!

Christine: I know, but I don't want to stay here alone! I feel so confused!

Erik (thinks for a moment then sighs wearily): If I escort you by keeping to the shadows, will you be able to go into a shop and fetch your ... materials?

Christine: I don't want to go anymore... I hurt.

Erik: Are you alright, Christine?

Christine: Yes, yes fine. Just confused. I-I'll stay here and lay down. Walking around all that way to the market may tire me.

Erik (strokes her cheek affectionately): I shall fetch you your necessities, and perhaps a picture book of animals. Does that please you?

Christine (blushes and smiles up at her husband): Yes, thank you Erik.

Erik (deposits a quick kiss on her forehead, scoops her up and carries her bridal-style to bed): Rest love, I will return soon.

Christine: Erik?

Erik: Yes, Christine?

Christine: Give us a snog, eh?

Erik (blushes): Very well.