A/N: I am getting quite a lot of reviews for Erik to be with Christine. DO NOT WORRY; THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF CHAPTERS TO WRITE! Plus, you all don't know what I am thinking inside my head! (Evil laugh) This chapter is more focused on Erik and Gabrielle, Christine is only mentioned once, but Christine will soon be a stronger character later in the story. Also, I am now on Christmas break, but I am traveling to Oregon next week to visit my father whom I haven't seen in forever. So if I don't update for a while, don't worry, I will still be thinking and writing this story. Now Enjoy Ch. 11 and continue reading and reviewing!

-Jaimie

Chapter 11

-Christmas Eve

Gabrielle pinned her hair up and examined her dress in the full length mirror. She took her hair down again and redid it. She just couldn't get it to look right. Erik watched her as he finished putting on his tuxedo. He smiled at his beautiful wife and her frustration.

"Darling, I don't know why you are even bothering; you look beautiful without doing anything to yourself." The last week and a half, Erik had been the most considerate husband anyone could ask for. Gabrielle knew that he was being extra considerate and wanted to give in to his consideration, but accidentally grew a little distant from him.

"Oh Erik, that is not the point right now, I need to fix this so I can be ready for this party!" Gabrielle said loudly frustrated at her hair and taking it out on him. Erik wished that he could have the old Gabrielle back, but for the time being, she was rarely seen. The old Gabrielle wouldn't have shouted and would have come over and kissed him for saying that.

Erik finished putting on his shoes when there was a knock on the bedroom door. Gabrielle let out an annoyed sigh and rolled her eyes. Erik walked over to the door leaving his wife now sitting at her vanity. He opened to see the Christophe, the butler.

"Yes, Christophe?" Erik asked.

"Master, Monsieur and Madame Gauthier have arrived."

"Thank you Christophe." Erik replied. He looked back at Gabrielle and said,

"Are you almost ready?"

"I'll be there in a minute." She said sarcastically putting on her bracelet. Erik sighed and walked out of the room and down the stairs to the main room.

"Hello Louis and Madeleine." Erik greeted the couple. Louis Gauthier was a client of Erik and Jean's. He had many of his buildings built by D'Avignon and D'Astier that they were on a first name basis and decent acquaintances.

"Hello Erik." Louis replied.

"Where is your delightful wife?" Madeleine asked.

"She is still-" Erik started.

"I am right here." Gabrielle announced coming down the stairs and cutting off Erik. He turned around to stare up at her. She looked beautiful. She wore a dark red dress that was sleeveless with white gloves that went ¾ the way up her arms. Her blonde hair was pulled back with some extra strands that remained hanging.

"Madame D'Avignon, you look wonderful." Louis complimented.

"Thank you."

"She does look lovely." Erik agreed. There was a knock on the door and 7 more guests were let in. Gabrielle's mother, her oldest sister and her sister's husband, Jean and Sophie, Monsieur Jacques Thibault and Madame Louise Thibault, another regular client of Erik and Jean's.

Erik and Gabrielle greeted everyone and invited them in. Gabrielle's mother, Catherine brought her small suitcase so she could spend Christmas with Gabrielle and Erik. Catherine handed it off to Christophe. Lucie and Michele took everyone's coats and led them into the large dining room. Gabrielle was seated at one end of the table and Erik at the other. Everyone was talking happily getting to know one another as Erik and Gabrielle sat looking at each other lost in their own thoughts about one another.

Catherine sat beside Gabrielle and halfway through their dinner, leaned over and touched her daughter's arm.

"Is everything all right?" Gabrielle had been very quiet the entire evening. She appeared to be somewhat ill, even though she wasn't ill except in her heart. She tried her best to hide that there were problems between her and Erik, but something was obviously wrong with her.

"Everything's fine Mother." Gabrielle said putting on a fake smile.

"We should talk later; we have a lot of catching up to do."

Most of the women sat quiet throughout dinner, only talking amongst themselves with idle chatter, while the men talked about business deals and things relating. Gabrielle looked up at Erik to see that he was trying to get her attention. I love you. He mouthed at her across the table. She smiled at him and kissed the air. This made Erik happy because he knew that she still loved him, despite her anger.

After dinner, everyone headed into the main room with their alcoholic beverages. Erik sat at the piano and played Christmas songs while everyone stood around and sang. It was a joyous time and everyone got along with everyone else, singing and dancing their hearts out.

After midnight everyone decided to leave. The night went by fast and everyone walked out happy and some drunk. Gabrielle and Erik waved goodbye from their front door and stepped back inside. They both sighed and smiled at their successful party.

"Are you ready to go to bed?" Erik asked.

"Oh, yes." Gabrielle said exhausted. Her mother went up to bed an hour ago, but Gabrielle decided to check on her anyway. She made her way upstairs and down the hall to the room her mother slept in. Gabrielle knocked softly and turned the doorknob. Catherine was sitting up in bed reading a small book.

"Mother, what are you doing? I thought you would be sleeping." Gabrielle said surprised.

"I've been waiting to talk to you. Something is wrong with you. The life has disappeared from you. Tell me what is going on."

"Mother, really nothing is wrong."

"Gabrielle, you are the only child of mine that never stops smiling. Always has a happy, positive attitude and is always talking. Tonight, you barely talked at all and kept to yourself. You and Erik showed no affection for one another. What is going on?"

Knowing that she obviously couldn't hide her secret from her mother any longer, she decided to tell her. Though she knew what her mother was going to say. Gabrielle closed the door behind her and went and sat on the edge of Catherine's bed.

"Oh Mother, one month before our wedding, an old friend of Erik's, Miss Christine Daae, entered our lives. I found out that Erik had once been in love with her. Three days before our wedding, he cheated on me with her. He told me that he knew it was a mistake and he felt extremely guilty about it, but he told me everything a week and a half ago when she found out she was going to have his child. Oh I love him so much and he told me he loves me more than anything and that he wants nothing to do with her. I want to believe him, but I don't know if he has done this since we've been married. He claims that he hasn't done anything of the sort since, but I really don't know if I can trust him. I love him so much and have decided to give him another chance and I will accept the child into my life. But I am afraid I am going to hate the child and it's not the child's fault. What do I do?"

Catherine sat silent as her daughter spoke. When Gabrielle finished she accidentally blurted out the first thing on her mind.

"Who would like him in the first place? He isn't the least bit handsome with a mysterious white mask?"

"MOTHER! HOW DARE YOU?" Gabrielle said rising to her feet. She couldn't believe that of all the things she said, this is the first thing that her mother thought about.

"I am sorry, dear. Sit down, let me help you." Gabrielle stood thinking whether to trust her mother or not since all she cared about were looks. Gabrielle finally sat back down.

"I think that you should give Erik another chance, just like you're doing. I don't think he ever meant to have a child out of this. I can also tell by the way he looks at you that he is sad. He loves you and it's so obvious. Anyone who is around the two of you when you are happy, feel as if all of their sadness has gone away. He can't be near you without having to touch you. I saw him at your wedding with that Miss Daae. I overheard them talking before he married you. He was standing alone in the back hallway of the church and he told her that he never wanted to see her again. Trust me, he loves you."

"Really, Mother?"

"I promise. It's true." Catherine said smiling.

"Now, you have a husband who is in bed waiting for you. Go to him and I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Mother." Gabrielle said standing to bend over and kiss her mother's cheek.

"Goodnight, my daughter."

Erik stood in his bedroom examining the box containing the ruby necklace. Not only will these look good on Gabrielle, but on Christine as well. They would look so nice on her slender, pale neck and radiating her chestnut curls. Oh why am I still thinking about her? She is supposed to be out of my mind, but now I can't stop thinking about her. She is going to have my baby and I am torn between two beautiful women for the first time in my life. I must get on and forget about her, but I know that I will always love her even though I have said aloud so many times that I wouldn't. I wish I could stop loving her, but I always will. Stop thinking these thoughts; you are supposed to love Gabrielle! Erik's thoughts screamed inside his head. One thought told him that Christine was the love of his life, but the other told him that he loved Gabrielle too. Erik knew his decision, he was going to stay with Gabrielle and always live with his love for Christine. Erik heard Gabrielle walking down the hall and quickly placed the box under the bed.

Gabrielle opened the door and looked at him. He was untying his bowtie and pulling off his jacket.

"I thought you would be in bed already." Gabrielle said.

"No, I was just thinking."

"About Christine?" Gabrielle asked nonchalantly. Erik was surprised at the question.

"No, about you."

Gabrielle turned around so he couldn't see her face and smiled to herself. She began to pull off her earrings and bracelets and placed them on her vanity table. She sat down and pulled the combs and pins out of her hair and began brushing it. She stood and took off her dress and began to take off her corset and undergarments. She struggled with pulling at the laces and hooks. Erik lay in bed watching his wife and quietly got out of bed and walked over to her. He came up behind her and put his hands on hers and startled her.

"Erik? What are you doing?" Gabrielle asked startled.

"Helping you get undressed. You can never undress yourself." He kidded with her. She smiled and turned back around letting him undress her. When he untied the corset, he threw it on the floor and began to pull on the sleeves of her undergarment.

"I can do the rest." Gabrielle said enjoying the feeling of him caressing her bare shoulder and pulling the sleeve down.

"No you can't." Erik whispered and began kissing her shoulder and neck. Gabrielle had not felt anything from her husband since she found out about what he did with Christine. Two weeks seemed forever compared to them making love every single night. She suddenly realized how much she needed him and he needed her. She turned around and put her arms around his shoulders pulling him to her mouth for a hungry kiss. Erik responded quickly knowing that he had been longing to kiss his wife for so long. They continued to kiss removing each other's clothing and moving toward the bed.

By the time they reached the bed, all clothing was discarded and Erik slammed Gabrielle onto the bed. She pulled him to her and moaned with pleasure as he slid inside her. Erik thrust inside her until they reached their climax together. Erik then rolled off of her and lay on his back beside her. He looked over to see his wife staring at him with tired eyes. He put his arm underneath her and pulled her toward him. Gabrielle began thinking horrible thoughts about him and Christine doing what she had just shared with him, but pushed the thoughts aside and snuggled up next to him, laying her head atop his chest like she used to. Erik began to play with her long, blonde hair and said,

"Gabe, I really am in love with you."

"I love you too." Gabrielle responded. He pulled her face up to look at him as he kissed her lips and watched her fall asleep. Erik lay awake for an hour thinking about how he loved Gabrielle, but he couldn't stop to think about how Christine was going to spend her Christmas.

Christine lay in bed that night enjoying the feeling of her child kicking within her.

"Won't you go to sleep little one?" She asked her belly. She was responded with a slight kick. She laughed.

"You are already stubborn like your father." Christine said aloud and began to think of Erik. If only she wouldn't have left him six years ago, she wouldn't be alone. He would be with her right now, sleeping beside her and feeling his child move within her. She thought about how handsome he was despite his deformity. How classy he was, he was so well mannered, a perfect gentleman. Oh she wished she still didn't love him and have to watch him love someone else. I guess I am getting what I deserve. This is the same pain he felt when I loved Raoul. The only thing she had left of him was his child and the fact that she would see him all the time now.

Erik woke the next morning to Gabrielle sleeping soundly on his chest. He caressed her bare shoulder and began touching her body all over until she woke up. She yawned and smiled at him.

"Good morning, my love." Erik said looking down at her.

"Merry Christmas." Gabrielle responded back. Erik remembered that it was Christmas morning. This was to be his first happy Christmas. He looked forward to it since he and Gabrielle have been engaged. Gabrielle rose out of bed and put on a robe and slippers. Erik followed putting on his mask, wig, Persian robe, matching hat, pants and slippers. They walked hand in hand down the stairs to the large Christmas tree in the main room.

"Merry Christmas." Catherine said sitting in an armchair and sipping a hot cup of tea. Catherine motioned to the gifts she had under the tree waiting for the two of them. Erik opened his first; it was a set of sketch pens and a sketch pad.

"Thank you Catherine. I could always use a good set of pens and more paper." Catherine smiled at him.

"You're welcome." Gabrielle opened her present from her mother next. It was a green butterfly hair pin with shiny stones on it.

"Thank you Mother, this is beautiful. Why Erik, where are you going?" Gabrielle asked to see Erik dashing up the stairs.

"I'll be back in a moment, love." Erik called behind him. Gabrielle took this opportunity to run to her hiding place and dig out his present. They both returned at the same time and began giggling.

"You have to hide your present too?" Gabrielle asked giggling. Erik continued to laugh.

"You know it. You're just as nosy as I am." Erik held out a box to Gabrielle. She smiled and took it from his hands. She opened it and gasped at the real ruby necklace. The rubies were all around the necklace with real diamonds in between them. Gabrielle touched it and gasped again.

"Oh Erik…."

"Do you like it?" He asked taking the box from her and pulling it out.

"It's beautiful." Gabrielle said as he put it on her. Once it was on, she kept touching the necklace on her neck to make sure it was there. She finally composed herself and handed Erik his package. He ripped off the paper and gasped louder than Gabrielle.

When Christine left him, he composed a piano composition called, 'En Deuil' (In Mourning). This particular piano piece was Gabrielle's favorite of his and loved to hear it played, even though he's only played three times since they've been together.

His Christmas present was this composition, but it was published. "'En Deuil' Composed By: Erik D'Avignon" was typed on the cover. Erik turned the title page and looked at the notes. They were perfect pieces of music. He began to led his emotions go, crying over this wonderful piece of work.

Gabrielle stared at her husband's odd behavior.

"Erik, darling, what's wrong with your present?" Gabrielle asked concerned.

"Nothing. No one ever wanted to hear my work, and now it's been published for the world to hear." He continued crying with happiness and pulled her into an embrace crying on her shoulder.