A/N: Okay, now I hope that you all enjoyed the last chapter! Now one other thing that has been bugging me, there are 10 people on my alert list and only 4 reviews for chapter 15, please REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! I also realized that there was a big error with Chapter 15, you all got emails saying that chapter 16 was posted or something like that, disregard that if you haven't already, and here's another update!
-Jaimie
Chapter 16
"Pleasure to meet you Monsieur le Vicomte." Gabrielle responded.
"The pleasure is all mine." Raoul responded kissing the back of Gabrielle's hand.
Gabrielle sat down on a chair while her mother and Raoul sat next to each other on the sofa.
"Gabrielle, Raoul is planning on marrying your sister Angelique in two months."
"Oh how lovely." Gabrielle responded.
"Thank you." Raoul said.
"Your name does sound familiar." Gabrielle said trying to think of where she heard Raoul's name before. Raoul worried thinking of how he was going to tell her what Catherine told him to.
"What's your husband's name?" Raoul asked.
"Erik D'Avignon, perhaps you two have done business together. He's an architect who owns his own business in Paris."
"Ah yes, his name does sound familiar, but I think I know him better due to the crimes he committed12 years ago at the Opera Populaire." Raoul replied.
"What are you talking about?" Gabrielle asked wondering if Raoul had the correct Erik.
"Dear, Raoul knows Erik quite well actually and I brought him here today to tell you who Erik really is." Catherine said joining in the conversation.
"What are you talking about?" Gabrielle asked again her voice becoming a little more agitated and raised.
"Madame D'Avignon, I know we just met, but I have something to tell you for your own safety. Now I know that I am not yet joined into your family, but I want you to know this because we are going to be family and even though I just met you, I care for your safety. Your husband was once known as "The Phantom" or "The Opera Ghost" around the opera house. He would haunt everyone in it demanding that he was paid 20,000 francs per month and that he was a left an empty box at every performance. He eventually became obsessed with Christine Daae, my former wife and eventually-"
"CHRISTINE!" Gabrielle shouted.
"I knew that he loved her for a long time and still does!" Gabrielle shouted again.
"What?" Raoul asked.
"Oh yes, she obviously left you for Erik."
"Yes she did."
"She had his child and this explains their whole affair." Gabrielle said starting to cry.
"Darling, let Raoul finish his story." Catherine said walking over to Gabrielle and putting her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.
"Go on." Gabrielle said through sobs.
"Eventually he became so obsessed he haunted her in her dreams and began stalking her. He killed two innocent men to get to her and threatened to kill me if she decided to be with me instead of him. He was a very monstrous man and the things he did, I always wondered why she went back to him. He used to yell and scream at her, yet he told her that he loved her and would always protect her, yet he had such an awful and criminal way of showing it." Raoul finished.
"That is because he has been rejected his whole life! I cannot believe this story because he is the most gentle and sensitive of all men. But he obviously will never stop loving Christine." Gabrielle finished placing her head in her hands and crying.
"Oh Mother, why did you want me to know about this?" Gabrielle asked in her hands. Catherine began rubbing Gabrielle's back.
"I thought that you deserved to know the truth about your husband. He loves you, but he will always love someone else more." Catherine replied.
"But now I can't leave him, I am going to have his child. He will have a child by both women. God! I don't even want this stupid child!" Gabrielle said punching at her stomach.
"Gabrielle! Stop!" Catherine said pulling Gabrielle's hands away.
"I think you need to lay down and take a nice, long nap." Catherine suggested.
"Yes, maybe so." Gabrielle said wiping her eyes and then continued,
"But I want to go home tomorrow and straighten this out." She said heading for the stairs. She went up to her bedroom and laid on the bed crying.
"I'm sorry." Raoul said standing up and walking toward Catherine.
"I put you up to it." She responded.
"I know." Raoul said feeling guilty. He also went up the stairs too.
"I am going to see my fiancée." He said making his way up to the library in which Angelique was waiting for him.
Erik sat on his bed in pain looking at the envelope he held in his hand. He broke the seal and began reading,
Monday February 12, 1894
Dear Erik,
I have arrived in Brittany. It took all day to get here and it was midnight before I arrived. Mother is fine. She sends her love and I should be home by Saturday night. I love you with all my heart.
-Gabrielle
Erik closed it and lay back on his bed. What was he going to do? He committed another criminal act and he vowed to himself that he would never do such a thing again. But when Christine is around and it involves her, he can't help himself to do anything but protect her. He suddenly decided that he would talk calmly with Christine, an act the new Erik did, not the old Erik. He sat up slowly and pulled his robe around his shoulders. He stood up and put his feet into his slippers. Making sure his mask was secure; he slowly left the bedroom clutching his side to support the pain. He made his way to Christine's room. He knocked and opened the door to see Lucie in it making the bed.
"Where is Mademoiselle Daae?" Erik asked.
"She's on the back porch." Lucie replied.
"Thank you." Erik replied leaving the room. The household staff remained quiet about Erik's affairs with Christine and they all knew that Adrienne was his and Christine's. But the recent gossip was if Erik was going to be with Gabrielle or Christine and the entire staff had money bets on their opinions. Lucie hoped that Erik stayed with Gabrielle because she would then own ¼ of the money.
Erik opened the back door and was struck with a strong, cold wind. He looked around to see Christine standing against the banister overlooking the backyard. Erik walked up to her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done what I did, but when someone threatens to take the life of my family, I can't sit back and watch it happen." Christine was happy to hear that she was considered his family, but still angry at the fact that he had taken another life.
"Erik, you can't keep doing this. I know that you didn't like the fact that I brought up your past. And I know that you are wondering where I learned about you, but you must move on from all of that. You have a life of your own now, you are a completely changed man, and to lower yourself back to the old Erik is terrible and unforgivable."
"I know, I know."
"Does Gabrielle know anything about you?" Christine asked.
"She only knows who I am since I met her and nothing more. I told her that I was rejected due to my ugliness, but she knows nothing else."
"So she thinks that you are only a victim and not the suspect." Christine said. Erik hung his head; he knew that he set himself up for pity from Gabrielle. That's probably why she married him, based on pity.
"I know what you're thinking Erik, and Gabrielle did not marry you based on pity. But you need to tell her everything about you. She deserves to know. I had to dig for information on your life."
"I don't exactly like the fact that you snooped around to find my secret hiding places with my journals from my life. And I don't like how you read them." Erik said trying to remain calm.
"Erik, I only did it to understand you better." Christine replied. Erik suddenly felt pain shooting into his side and abdomen. He made a noise and clutched his wound.
"Come on; let's get you back into bed before the doctor gets here." Christine said grabbing onto his right arm and helping him walk into the house.
Erik laid in the bed looking out the window at the afternoon sun. He hated being injured; he just wanted to go about his normal activities. Christine knocked on the bedroom door and led the doctor in to look at Erik's wound.
"Hello, doctor." Erik greeted him.
"Hello Monsieur D'Avignon. The Mademoiselle tells me that you have a nasty stab wound. Let's take a look." The doctor said putting down his back bag. Erik slowly lifted the sheets and his nightshirt to reveal a white bandage. The doctor pulled the bandage very quickly and it left Erik's skin stinging and his wound in great pain.
"OW! Damnit, that hurts!" Erik roared putting his shirt and sheets back over it. Christine held her ears and the doctor who had been tending to Gabrielle throughout her pregnancy who knew Erik's temper well was not at all afraid or surprised.
"It's going to hurt Erik, that's why I am here." The doctor said ripping the sheets out of Erik's hand.
"Now lay still." He ordered. Erik who was not used to being ordered around quietly lay still through the pain as the doctor examined the wound. The doctor put some kind of ointment on the wound and covered it with another bandage.
"Erik, it is not a bad stab wound at all. It is hardly two inches deep. It should heal nicely and I am going to leave the ointment I put on it and some pain medication. You should be up and about normally in a week." Erik groaned. A week of doing nothing was unbearable.
"Thank you Doctor." Erik replied. The doctor gave the ointment and pain medicine to Christine.
"You can put a teaspoonful of this in his tea three times a day." He told her.
"No problem." Christine replied taking the bottles from him.
Gabrielle lay in bed trying to nap but had too many thoughts on her mind. Her husband was a murderer at one time? Was their child in danger? Gabrielle thought about the way that he was with Adrienne and thought that he would never hurt a child. She got out of bed and began packing up her things. I have to leave as soon as possible and get this all straightened out. She thought to herself while packing as quickly as possible.
That evening she boarded the train leaving for Paris. It was due to arrive the next morning at 10. Gabrielle did a lot of thinking about what Raoul said. She decided that Christine didn't deserve Erik's love. She gave him up and now she wanted him back and Erik was giving into Christine's every wish. Gabrielle grew a hated feeling for the woman. She wanted Erik all to herself; she did not marry him to share him with someone else, she would give him an ultimatum, her or Christine. Gabrielle practiced these thoughts over and over in her head. She had to prepare herself to tell Erik what she knew and what she thought about Christine.
Later that evening, Erik tossed around in his bed feeling restless. He couldn't stand not being able to do normal activities. He got out of bed and put on his robe and slippers. He quietly opened the door and peered down both sides of the hallway making sure no one would catch him being out of bed. He closed the door behind him and quietly crept down the stairs to the kitchen. Just as he reached the bottom step, he saw Christine at the counter stirring his medicine in his tea. Adrienne was standing next to her,
"All right Adrienne," Christine said handing her the cup.
"Take this up to Papa and I will be up soon." Adrienne smiled at her mother and looked toward the steps. Erik ran as quietly as he could up the stairs and into his bedroom. He threw off his robe and slippers and jumped into bed, panting painfully. Adrienne quietly approached the door and knocked softly.
"Come in." Erik said breathless. Adrienne opened the door and walked in carrying a cup.
"I brought up your medicine." She said walking over to the bed. Erik pulled himself up in the bed to a sitting position. He took the cup from her and began sipping at it.
"How are you feeling Papa?" Adrienne asked.
"All right." Erik answered.
"Momma said you were in a lot of pain and need to be well rested. She also said that you are forbidden to get out of bed under any circumstances." Just what I need, another person ordering me around, especially when it's someone under the age of 10! Erik thought to himself. Adrienne climbed up onto Erik's bed and sat beside him.
"Papa, can I ask you a question?" Adrienne asked.
"What is it?"
"Are you and Momma going to get married?"
"What?"
"I said, are you and-"
"I know what you said, have you forgotten about Gabrielle and how you are going to have a little brother or sister soon?" Erik asked her.
"I just thought that I would ask."
"No, we are never getting married." Erik answered in an angry voice. Adrienne looked at her hands, embarrassed at her question and feeling guilty that it angered her father. She didn't want to anger him; he could grow mean and nasty.
"I am going to practice my dancing now. Goodnight Papa." Adrienne said getting off the bed and walking toward the door.
"Goodnight Adrienne, I love you." Erik said in a softer voice. Adrienne turned around and looked at him and then left the room. Erik felt angry. If he could go back in time, he would have married Christine, but she resented a long time ago. He should not be feeling anything for her, Gabrielle was nothing but sweet to him, but she didn't know about his horrid past. If she did know, she probably would leave him just like Christine did. Oh what a terrible person he was, he didn't deserve this wonderful life that he had. He continued to drink his tea and think about his life until his eyes grew heavy and he couldn't help but fall asleep.
Erik dreamt about that last night in the opera house as he had so many nights before. The dreams went away when he married Gabrielle, and haven't returned until now. Erik begged Christine to stay with him while she refused. He watched as she crossed the lake with Raoul poling Erik's boat. He cried and screamed Christine's name over and over.
Christine heard the screaming on her way to Erik's room and ran to the door as she heard her name being called over and over. She burst into the room to see Erik thrashing about in the bed. She went over to see that he was clearly sweating under his mask. She pulled it off and shook him,
"Erik! Wake up; it's a nightmare, wake up!" He opened his eyes to see Christine hovering over him. He quickly pulled her down in the bed and began kissing her. Christine pulled away from him,
"What is going on?" She asked in total confusion.
"Oh Christine, I dreamt about our last night together in the opera house. I thought that I had lost you again."
"Erik, we are not together, you are with someone else." Christine said.
"Christine, you know that I was meant to be with you, and you were meant to be with me."
"Erik, that can't happen anymore." Christine sat on the edge of the bed and began wiping the sweat from his forehead with her handkerchief.
"Go back to sleep." She said laying back on the bed and rubbing his forehead with her hand until he fell back asleep. She quietly left his bedroom and went to her own to go to sleep.
Gabrielle woke up the next morning to the train moving fast toward the city. The sun was completely up and she wondered what time it was until she looked toward the front of the train to see the city in clear view. She grew nervous; she worried about what she knew and how to break the news to Erik. She rubbed her stomach and talked softly,
"I will make sure that no matter what happens that you are safe and loved." Gabrielle worried if this would be the end of her marriage. She still loved Erik, but didn't feel the same love as she once did. He was not who she thought he was and he certainly had no intention of telling her anything. A marriage is supposed to be based on trust, but hers was based on a lie.
The train pulled into the station and Gabrielle was helped by the conductor getting her luggage off. She waited for an available cab and took one to her house. The whole way she kept rubbing her sweaty hands on her dress and biting nervously on her lip. Her nervousness increased when the carriage pulled up to her house. The driver put her suitcase on the front porch.
"Are you sure that you don't want me to bring it inside?" He asked.
"I'm sure, Gabrielle said handing him his cab fare and tip."
"Merci, Madame." He said getting on the carriage and leading it away. Gabrielle turned toward the front door and opened it. The house was quiet, usually at this time the staff was busy cleaning and preparing lunch. But Gabrielle remembered that Erik was probably at the office and she wasn't there, so there was no one to prepare lunch for or clean for. She quietly made her way up the stairs and down the hall that led only to her and Erik's bedroom. She opened the door with her suitcase in hand and looked at the bed. It was unmade which was unusual. She heard voices and she looked at the closed bathroom door. Someone was in there. She put her suitcase down and walked toward the bathroom door. She opened it and was shocked at what she saw. Erik was sitting in the bathtub with Christine sitting on the edge of it bathing him.
"Gabrielle!" Erik said loudly staring at her surprised face. Christine turned around to face Gabrielle and instantly stood up.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Gabrielle screamed.
"Gabrielle, he is injured and I am taking care of him." Christine said calmly. Erik continued to stare at the two women who had come face to face.
"What's wrong with you?" Gabrielle asked Erik.
"He was stabbed."
"I'm not asking you!" Gabrielle said beneath watery eyes.
"I was stabbed during a robbery on the street two nights ago. Christine was being a friend and taking care of me." Erik answered.
"Why you?" Gabrielle screamed.
"I, uh," Christine said speechless.
"Get out; I can take care of my own husband. Go get one of your own!" Gabrielle ordered. Those words struck Christine like hitting a brick wall. Christine slowly rose to her feet and handed Gabrielle the cloth she was using to bathe Erik. She walked past her and out of the bedroom. Erik sat helpless in the tub in shock at his wife's behavior. In all the seven years they have been married, he had never seen her act like this. Gabrielle walked over to the tub and leaned over it.
"Where's this stab wound?" She asked more quietly. Erik pulled his hand away from his side so she could get a look at it. Gabrielle began to lather up the cloth and handed it to him.
"You should be able to do this yourself." She said as Erik began bathing himself.
"So you were robbed? Did you kill the man just like you did the two victims at the Paris Opera House in 1881?" Gabrielle asked with her back turned toward him. Erik's face turned pale and he stopped what he was doing.
"How did you know about that?" He asked her.
"I met someone at Mother's. Does the name Raoul Vicomte de Chagney sound familiar to you?" Erik's face remained pale.
"He is going to marry my sister, Angelique and he told me everything about you. I cannot believe that you wouldn't tell me of your past. You didn't trust me to think that I would leave you because of past crimes?"
"I didn't want you to think that I was not worthy." Erik said wetting down his face. Gabrielle began to chuckle sarcastically,
"And the whole time I thought that I was not worthy of someone as wonderful as you. I thought that you were a different man who loved only me after the whole thing with Christine resulting in the birth of Adrienne. You told me over and over that she meant nothing to you. True love never dies and you truly loved her. I find all this out and come rushing home to talk to you about this only to find her here at our house in the bathroom with my naked husband!" Gabrielle began screaming again through her tears.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I already threw away something special to me and I didn't want to do it again." Erik said sadly. He slowly emerged from the bathtub and fell down in pain. Gabrielle turned around to his painful moan to see him lying halfway in and out of the bathtub. She grabbed his arm and helped the best that she could to get him up. She helped him dry off and get into bed. She walked over to his bed and asked,
"Why did you really get stabbed?" Erik sighed and told her the truth about Jacque and Christine and how Christine was staying at their house. Gabrielle then went to Christine's room to find Christine packing some clothes in a bag.
"Christine, I want you out of here by tomorrow night." Gabrielle demanded. Christine turned around to see Gabrielle rush out of the room. Not waiting for an answer Gabrielle left the room and walked back to her bedroom. She quietly looked at Erik who was sleeping. She rubbed her stomach and whispered,
"I'm sorry I have to do this, but it will be better for me, your father and you." Gabrielle then walked to the double doors that led out to the balcony overlooking their backyard. She looked back at Erik and made her way through the doors. She looked out at the lawn and shivered at the cold weather. She slowly climbed up on the banister holding on to a pole. She sobbed at what her happy life had become and suddenly jumped off the balcony screaming on her way down.
Erik woke up to hear Gabrielle's scream. He quickly clutched his side and jumped out of bed seeing the balcony doors open. He ran over to the balcony to see no one was on it. He walked over to the edge to see Gabrielle lying on the grass below. She was slowly moving.
"Gabrielle! Don't move! I am coming!" Erik screamed running out of the bedroom and downstairs toward the backyard.