I apologize for the long stretch, but with Thanksgiving and finals week coming up, it's been kind of hard to update as often as I would like. Here is the update that you have all been patiently been waiting for, thanks for being patient!

-Jaimie

Chapter 8

Christine finished her work week timidly and avoided Erik and only spoke to Jean. She decided that after the week was over she would never return to that office again. Jean often asked her what the matter was, but she was only said that she was ill.

On Friday morning, Jean walked up to Christine's desk and piled a bunch of sketches on her desk.

"I need these filed by the client's name in that filing cabinet."

"All of these?" Christine asked amazed at the size of the pile that sat on her desk.

"Yes. Oh and by the way, I am going to look at a construction site today. Erik will be in his office drawing so if you need any help ask him because I won't be here."

Christine's heart sank; she wanted nothing to do with Erik and was afraid now that Jean was going to be gone all day. She asked herself over and over why she didn't just get up and walk out right now. But her moral value knew better than that, she would not leave unattended work. Jean turned around at the doorway and said,

"Goodbye."

Christine watched him go as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. What was she going to do? Alone all day with that monstrous man. She decided that she would work fast and get out of there as soon as possible.

Erik sat in his office, still feeling guilty from what happened on Monday morning. He was too upset to apologize to Christine, but he decided that he would have to apologize to her. His clock in his office read noon and he decided that he would break for lunch. He slowly made his way out of his office and walked down the hall to the main room where Christine sat her desk putting all of the sketches in alphabetical order. Erik cleared his throat scaring Christine and causing her to drop all of the sketches in her hand. Erik thought this was rather funny and began to chuckle at her. Christine looked up to see him walk behind her desk and help her pick up the sketches.

"I'm sorry, I scared you." Erik said.

"It's all right." Christine replied. When Erik put the sketches on her desk, he straightened up and looked down at her.

"I wanted to apologize for the other day in my office. It was totally out of my character and I have lived through hell this week thinking about how wrong it was of me to do and say such things to you."

"I hope you don't expect me to tell you that everything is fine and to forget about it." Christine replied, rather timidly.

"I'm sorry." Erik replied, "I was hoping that you would accept my apology by allowing me to take you to lunch. Christine knew that she would never forgive him, but she also still had a small amount of love for him and could see how guilty he felt.

"I, uh, I…" Christine started to say, but Erik spoke again,

"I figured you wouldn't want my company after what I did to you, but I thought this was the only possible way for me to make it up to you, for I surely know you do not wish to involve yourself with me anymore after Monday's incident."

"I don't think so." Christine replied quietly and turned back to her work. Rejected Erik left the office and ate quietly by himself at his favorite nearby café. He thought to himself about all the wrong things he had done in the past and now being around Christine made him almost want to commit the same crimes. He knew that he had to distance himself from her, for she brought him trouble. Gabrielle was his life now; she brought out the good in him. Finishing his meal, he decided he was going to stay away from Christine Daae, even if it killed him.

That afternoon around 4, Erik decided that he was going to leave work early. He wanted to get home and away from Christine. He closed his office door and walked down the hall to her desk.

"I am leaving early, so you can get off early today too." Erik said to her. Christine looked happy as she grabbed her things and left the office with him. He locked the door behind her and said,

"Goodbye Christine."

"Goodbye Erik." It pained her to say those words for she knew they were forever. What was she going to make of herself now? She certainly couldn't go back to Raoul, and Erik wanted nothing to do with her and she was once again afraid of him. She was alone for the second time in her life and she hated it. She walked in the direction of her flat slowly and sadly wondering what she was going to do with her life, when it suddenly dawned on her; she would go back to Madame Giry. She instantly quickened her pace and walked the 10 blocks toward the opera house.

Erik watched Christine until she was out of sight. He then hailed a cab and headed for home. When he pulled up toward the large house, Gabrielle came rushing out of the house to see him. Erik got out of the parked carriage and was surprised when Gabrielle crashed right into him.

"What is going on?" Erik asked concerned as he grabbed Gabrielle's arms.

"Nothing, I just missed you today." She said smiling and began planting kisses all over the left side of his face. Erik smiled and laughed.

"Come, my dear, let's go inside." Erik said grabbing her hand and began pulling her towards the house. Erik opened the front door and allowed Gabrielle to go in first. He removed his hat and hung it on a nearby chair and sat his sketches on the same chair.

"Erik, come in here, I made dinner for the first time since we've been married!" Gabrielle said happily. Erik looked at her and then looked at the cook.

"Sir, she insisted that I took the evening off today so she could make dinner herself." The cook said to Erik. Erik smiled and said,

"I bet you are enjoying this relaxation."

"I also gave the rest of the staff the evening off, so if you make a mess, you clean it up." Gabrielle added.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you want to do everything yourself tonight?" Erik said walking over to her and jokingly put a hand on her forehead.

"Nothing is wrong with me! I just thought they all needed to have a night off and relax. That's why they are milling around the house because I told them to enjoy themselves downstairs tonight." Gabrielle replied grabbing his hand from her head. Erik smiled at her and pulled her into an embrace.

"This is exactly why I love you so much, because of your generosity. You are truly the most amazing person alive." Erik said kissing her. The cook watched as they lost each other in the kiss and slowly and quietly made his way out of the kitchen.

Erik sat at the table after dinner had been finished and complimented his wife on her excellent cooking, even though it wasn't very excellent. Gabrielle smiled and quickly took all of the dishes into the kitchen and cleaned them. While she was cleaning them, Erik stayed in the dining room with his bottle of wine and walked over to the door and locked it. He walked around the room and blew out half of the candles making the room from as bright as day to as dark as night.

An hour later, Gabrielle finished with the dishes and walked back into the dining room to see that it was not all the way lit and her husband was sitting at his spot at the table drinking his seventh glass of wine.

"What are you doing?" She asked confused at the sight she saw.

"Nothing, dear." Erik said in a slightly slurred voice.

"Are you drunk?" Gabrielle asked in a serious tone. She hated it when he got drunk because he all of a sudden became extremely sexual and she didn't want to have him like that.

"Not at all!" Erik said laughing at her face. He then picked up his glass and drank the last swallow. He then walked over to the wine rack and tried to pick out another bottle but Gabrielle quickly ran over to him and pulled his hand back.

"I think you have had enough. I now know why it's dark in here." Gabrielle said looking at him. Erik looked at her and quietly said,

"I am not drunk, I promise, I just want to be with you." He then began to kiss her and while he kissed her he began to remove her dress. Gabrielle began to hesitate and then quickly gave in to where he pushed her towards the dining room table where they made love.