Isabeu carried Christine to the gondola, put her in the back, and began to row through the underground lake. After a few quiet moments, Christine moaned in pain.

"What's wrong Christine?" Isabeu stopped rowing, and looked behind her.

She was sitting at the bottom of the boat, knees raised against her belly, arms wrapped around her knees.

"It hurts," she grimaced.

"Is it the baby?" Isabeu knelt down to her new friend.

She nodded.

"Don't worry. As soon as we get to the lair, you can lie down, and I'll try to give you something for the pain." She put a supportive hand on Christine's shoulder, and stood and began rowing faster than before. A few minuets later, the pair had reached the underground shore. Isabeu hoisted Christine up into her arms, and looked around. They were in a splendid place. It was a large, cave, but decorated like a magnificent palace. There were candelabras all around, and a magnificent organ near the back of the cavern. In the far right of the lair, there was a large, swan shaped bed. I hope Erik doesn't care too much about these sheets, she thought as she laid her charge on the bed. Because they are going to get very messy.

"Now try to stay still, my friend. Call to me if your water breaks. I'll look and see if I have anything for you to take for the pain." Thank goodness I remembered to bring my medical bag, she thought, and grabbed it out of the boat.

"Isabeu?" Christine called apprehensively.

Oh, Lordy, Isabeu thought. Here we go…

***

The deed was done. Erik slipped the noose off the corpse's neck. Now, he had a problem. Should he go after the Fop now, or right to the women? Isabeu was strong; she could take care of them for him. But, he recalled what Christine had said before Isabeu took her down the mirror. It's soon, now, my love. The baby… Erik knew he couldn't miss the birth of his had to be with her now. He dropped his lasso, and took off down the tunnel.

Once he hit the lake, he had another problem. The gondola was gone, which meant that they had gotten to his lair. But there was no way to get across for him. He would have to either double back and take a longer passage…or swim through the lake.

As disgusting as it was, Erik stripped off his boots and shirt (and the phangirls go wild!) and dove into the water. He swam as fast as he could, and finally made it to his old home.

Not much has changed, he thought, as he heaved himself onto solid ground. Excepting a thick layer of dust on everything, the mob that had tried to catch him that night had touched nothing…

"Erik!"

He snapped his head up at the sound of his name. Isabeu had charged towards his, and dragged him into his small kitchen. "Thank god you're here!"

"Isabeu, what is going on?!" He demanded.

"Erik," Isabeu took a deep breath in. She looked incredibly flustered. "Christine's water broke, and she went into labor about five minuets ago."

All the blood had drained from his face. His eyes widened considerably, and all of a sudden, his mask felt more of a brand on his skin than ever before.

"She's having the baby NOW." She shook him by the shoulders.

No, no, no, no, no… he thought desperately. It's not happening, she's so sick, it can't be time, neither of us are ready for—

A scream from the other room snapped him out of his terrified thoughts.

Isabeu pushed him out of the room. "Go, go GO!" She ordered. "Make her as comfortable as possible. She's going to be in a lot of pain."

***

Raoul knocked on the door to the Prima Donna's room. "Have you finished, Cicero?" he called through the door.

There was no answer. "Cicero?" he called again. To his surprise, the door was unlocked. He opened the door slowly, and found no one was there. Perplexed, he turned around to exit the room. But something fell out from behind the door.

It was the body of the doctor. And next to it was a lasso.

"DAMMIT!" The fop swore, and in his anger, threw a candlestick at the mirror. It shattered, and behind the shattered remains, he found a long tunnel. He smiled devilishly. This must be how she escaped. He thought, and stepped over the shards of glass, and into the awaiting gloom.

(CLIFFHANGER!!!!! MUAHAHAHAHA!! This Chapter's in two parts, and I'll either put up the other part tonight If I have the time! Please don't kill me!)