"Erik and I see eye to eye

For now we are together

Loving forever

And the birth of our child is near

There's nothing within my heart

That would keep me apart

From my newly found angel and husband…"- Excerption from the diary of Christine Daae

Christine's POV

Erik and I were married….maybe not legally, but being married in the eyes of God is something no one could ever imagine. But Erik and I made a promise to one another to tell no one about it. This marriage needed to stay a secret, and so it did. After Valentine's Day, things between Erik and I only became better and better. He began coming to the flat earlier than he usually did, and would spend many nights with me. His nightmares would wake him up, and as much as I tried to make them go away, they still continued to come. It hurt me to think that my angel was having bad dreams, but there was nothing I could do about them. One day while I was out shopping with Meg, we came across a stand of trinkets. They weren't like any other trinkets I had ever seen before. The man selling them was dark skinned, and had long black hair. He told Meg and I that he was from out west, and was of Indian decent. He told us stories about his family's teepees and long houses, and how he and his brothers loved hunting in the summer.

Hanging over his stand were some sort of oval shaped trinkets threaded with colorful yarn with feathers dangling from the bottoms of them. They were absolutely beautiful, and when I asked him about them, he told me they were "Dream Catchers." When I asked him about it, he told me the story about how they are to be placed over your bed and how they catch what ever nightmares one will have. I immediately bought one; one that was threaded with black yarn and had white feathers. When I returned home, I hung it over Erik's side of the bed, and that night explained to him about its purpose. Erik liked the idea, and slept beside me that night. His nightmares didn't completely stop, but they were better than they were.

By the middle of march, what ever snow was left on the ground had melted, making it obvious that spring was just around the corner. My stomach was beginning to show, and I spent most of my time alone taking out the size in my dresses. Erik had offered to buy me new ones, but I didn't want to part with the ones I had been wearing. As much as I loved Spring back in Paris, I hated it now. Erik had told me once spring arrived he would be working later, and not around as often. His days of coming to visit me at sundown had soon ended and his visits had become few and far in between. I did as the doctor asked, and visited him once a month. On my first visit back to him, he had told me that everything seemed ok. I knew everything was fine, because I felt fine. My vomiting had stopped and the only thing I felt was tired every so often.

It was the last day of March, and three whole days since I last seen Erik. It saddened me when I would lay in bed at night and wait for him, thinking perhaps he would show up. Though, I did worry about him and his no show visits, Meg assured me that she seen him working around Phantasma. By the second day of not seeing him, I was tempted to go into Phantasma and search him out, but knew the consequences could be very bad. Instead I waited. Phantasma was opening in the morning to the public, and there was still no sign of Erik.

That night, I sat in my arm chair knitting clothes for the baby as Skimbleshanks played with the yarn. Sometimes Skimbleshanks was the only thing that kept me happy and occupied when Erik wasn't around. When the clock stuck midnight, I yawned and was about to get up to go to bed, when I heard the door open. I turned my head, only to see Erik walking through the door covered in grease from his shoulders all the way down to his knees.

"You're still up." were the first words out of his mouth.

How badly I wanted to be angry at him, but I knew I couldn't, for he had warned me about these lonely days.

"I was just going to bed." I replied, setting my knitting down. "You're covered in grease, Erik."

Erik looked down at himself, and chucked exhaustedly.

"Yes, it was a hard day. The coaster had a leak when I tried to align the cars back on the track."

"I'll draw a bath for you."

"Yes, that would be greatly appreciated."

I stood from my chair, and walked into the other room to heat some bath water for Erik.

"Everything is all ready to go in the morning." he called from the main room. "Even the shows. Meg however seems excited about working."

"I know she is."

I poured the heated water into the tub, and came back out to help Erik out of his clothes.

"Give them to me, and I'll wash them in the morning. There's another pair you can wear in the wardrobe closet."

"I'll don them in the morning. If you don't mind, I would like to spend the night."

"Really?" I questioned, unbuttoning his stained shirt.

"Yes, I don't think I could walk home if I wanted to."

"You're a mess, Erik. You look as if you haven't slept in days."

"I haven't. It's been a busy few days."

"Are you hungry?"

"No, I'm just exhausted."

When Erik was completely naked, I folded his dirty clothes, and placed them near the wash bin. Afterwards I opened the wardrobe closet and took out a pair of nightclothes for him, and took them into the bathroom to place them on the sink.

" Christine, are you upset with me?"

I turned to see him washing himself in the tub. I couldn't tell him about my anger, for it wasn't right.

"I did miss you, Erik."

"I know, Christine, I missed you too. I'm really sorry I was away so long."

"I was worried."

Erik stood up in the tub of water, and grabbed a towel to wrap around him.

"Christine, let's not talk about it anymore. Kiss me."

I smiled, and leaned in to feel his moist lips up against my own.

"I'm going to go lay in bed." I told him, heading to the door.

"I'll meet you there in a few moments."

When I walked back out to my bed, I noticed there was a wrapped gift set on the night table. Curious, I picked up the heavy box, and examined it…Had Erik brought this with him?

"Erik?"

"Yes?"

"Is this gift from you?"

"Yes, open it." he called.

I peeled back the paper, and opened the box. I then reached inside and picked up the heavy object and brought it into the light. It was a porcelain carousel horse, white with colorful reigns draping his main and saddle. But that wasn't all, on the bottom there was a crank of some sort. I wound it up, only to hear the beautiful tune of "Music of the Night."

"Erik…."

When the beautiful tune filled the flat, Erik came walking out of the bathroom dressed in his pajamas.

"Do you like it?"

"Erik, it's….it's so beautiful."

"I made it for the baby, Christine."

"You made this? For the baby?"

"Yes."

I placed it down on the night table, and sighed.

"I'm jealous."

Erik kissed me, and laid down beside me.

"How is the baby?"

"I went to the doctor a few days ago. He said everything seems ok at the moment."

"And you feel ok?"

"Yes, Erik, I feel great."

"Good."

Erik yawned, and wrapped his arms around me.

"We'll talk in the morning, mon ange. I'm afraid if we start talking now I might fall asleep on you."

"Goodnight, Erik, I love you."

"Me too…"

That night, as I laid there curled up with my pillow, I was awoken by a strange feeling in my stomach. I gasped, and waited…..Then it happened again…A kick! My baby was kicking! I giggled, and leaned over to wake Erik.

"Erik! Erik, wake up."

Erik stirred in his sleep, and groaned deeply into his pillow.

"Erik, the baby….Erik…."

His eyes shot open and he rolled over to his side.

"Christine? What's wrong? Is everything alright?"

"Erik, the baby kicked."

"God! We should get you to a hospital…" Erik pushed himself up, and was about to get out of bed when I pulled him back down.

"Erik, calm down. It's ok….really."

"It is?"

I nodded, and placed Erik's hand over my round stomach.

"I don't feel anything…."

"Be patient, Erik."

It was then that the kick occurred again. When Erik felt it, he quickly pulled away, and looked down at his hand.

"I'm hurting it."

"No, Erik, our child is alive…."

I took Erik's hand, and placed it back over my stomach.

"Feel our child, Erik?"

"Does that not hurt you?" he asked.

"Not at all. In fact, it feels great, Erik."

"What time is it, my love?" he asked wrapping his arms around me.

"I have no idea." I sighed into his chest. "I'm too tired to care."

Erik reached under me and grabbed his pocket watch from the night table.

"Nearly morning, my dear."

"Which means you're leaving soon." I scoffed. "Like always."

"Right, my dear, so get dressed."

This confused me. Erik stood up, and went for his clothes in the wardrobe closet.

"It's Phantasma's opening day, my love."

"This early?"

"No, not yet. We have a few hours until the gates open for the first time."

"We? Erik, have you gone mad?"

Erik stripped his pajamas, and threw on his daily attire.

"What's the problem with me taking you on a private outing in Phantasma before it opens?"

I jumped up in excitement.

"Really? You really mean it, Erik?"

He nodded, and looked at the time.

"Yes, but we must get going so we won't have to rush it."

I never acted so fast in my entire life. I was ready to go in a matter of minutes, not wasting another moment of our outing. It was a rather warm morning, still dark and somewhat foggy as well. Phantasma looked so different than what I had been used to seeing. I usually saw boarded up stands and tarp covered rides, but today….today was different. The stands were now un boarded, the rides were uncovered, and the game stands had stuffed animals hanging within them.

"So, my love, what do you wish to do first?"

I shrugged in excitement.

"I'm not sure, Erik. You're the tour guide. Why don't you lead the way."

"I have to run tests on the rides before the park opens in a few hours. Would you like to perhaps ride the carousel?"

I smiled widely.

"That sounds lovely."

Erik pulled me to the beautiful carousel, and helped me inside the gate. And then, with a flick of the switch, the lights came on, and the horses looked just like the one Erik had made for our baby. I hopped up on one of them, as Erik stood at the engine.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes."

I had never ridden on anything before, especially one of the rides Erik had built. When he pushed the button, my horse began to levitate up as the track began to go around. I held onto the golden pole tightly as a happy tune began playing. When I was passing Erik again, he jumped ever so gracefully up into the carousel, and hopped on the horse behind my own.

"Are you ok, Christine?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Oh, Erik, this is so fun."

"You haven't seen anything yet, my love."

It was then out of nowhere that a long pole attached to the wall outside of the carousel stretched out, producing some sort of metal ring.

"Erik, what is that?"

"That's the fun part, Christine. You stretch your arm out and grab the ring. It's a game. The person with the most rings at the end of the ride wins."

"Is that a challenge?" I teased.

"Most defiantly, mon ange."

When the pole came around again, I reached out my hand and tried to grab a ring, only to miss. Erik on the other hand caught one, and held it up for me to see.

"Ha! That's one, mon ange!"

"No fair…" I giggled. "You've probably done this before."

"No, never…."

This shocked me, but I wasn't about to give up. When the pole came around again, I reached out, and finally got one, while Erik caught his second one.

"One is better than none, Christine."

When the ride ended, Erik held up his winnings. He had four, and I only had two…

"I guess you win."

Erik stepped down from his horse as the carousel was making it's last rounds. He approached my side, and placed his rings over my finger.

"You can have my rings."

"What do we do with them now?"

"Throw them into the lion's mouth."

"The what?"

Erik pointed to the wall where a large painting of a lion was, but where it's mouth was supposed to be was a large hole in the wall.

"Inside the wall is a track that will take the rings and load them right back into the machine."

I threw my rings at the painting, and Erik helped me down from my horse.

"Did I ever tell you how brilliant you are?"

"I'm nothing without you, Christine."

He kissed me ever so lovingly, before leading me back into the park.

"Where next, Erik?"

"I was thinking the Maze of Mirrors. I'd suggest more rides, but in your condition, it's not a good thing."

"Yes, I know."

"Come along then."

I followed Erik to a large black building with the sculpture of a clown hanging on the outside of it. Erik unlocked the door, and motioned me in. When I stepped inside the dark building, I noticed that it was a maze, one whose walls were nothing but mirrors.

"You built this?"

"Indeed. Believe it or not, Christine, mirrors are my specialty. After all, mirrors can kill. In Persia I worked for the Shah, entertaining him with my magic and building him torture chambers…..mirrors as I had said, were my specialty."

We walked along, the mirrors distorting our images.

"Mirrors fascinate you?"

"Ever since the day I first saw my reflection. I took apart my mother's mirror, thinking I was going to find a monster behind the glass. Ever since then, I've been interested in the concept of reflection and how it can be changed."

"Is that why all the mirrors are different?"

"Exactly."

With Erik leading the way, we didn't get lost in the maze at all.

"Do you know your way? There's so many different paths, and yet you're leading us down the right one."

"I could walk it blindfolded, Christine. Though, I would love for us to be lost within it for hours, but we're on a tight schedule, and mustn't waste time."

When we came out the back door, the darkness of the night was beginning to fade away. Erik looked towards the sky, and then at his pocket watch.

"Come along, still some time left. I want to show you something fun."

I followed Erik to a line of game stands titled "Phantasma Fun Fair" and watched as he hopped behind the counter of one of the games. In the stand there was a rectangular contraption that had many coin shaped slots at the top of it, and at the bottom there were numbers ranging from fifty to one hundred. Inside the rectangular contraption was a maze leading all the way down to the numbers.

"Erik, what is this?"

"A game I like to call "Gold Miner's Coin Drop"

Erik placed a few silver coins down in front of me, and smiled behind his mask.

"Would you like to try?"

"How do you play?"

"It's simple. You take one of the coins and drop it into any of the slots of your choice. Once inside, the coin will go down a path and eventually reach the bottom. The whole point of the game is to get your coin in the "One Hundred" slot. If you get that, you'll win."

I picked up one of my coins, and dropped it into a slot close to the end of the contraption. My coin jingled and clanked all the way through the maze until it leaned to the left and fell into the "Seventy Five" labeled slot.

"That was close, Christine, try again."

I picked up the next coin, and dropped it into a slot closer to the middle.

"That's a good choice." Erik said as we watched the coin drop into the maze.

"Almost there…"

When it hit the bottom, it fell into the "Fifty" labeled slot.

"One more coin." Erik said, handing it to me.

"Why don't you try this time?" I suggested.

"Ok…"

Erik took the coin from my hand, and thought about which slot to put it in. He then dropped it into a slot all the way to the right. The coin clanked all the way through the maze, and finally landed in the "One Hundred" slot.

"You won, Erik." I excitedly exclaimed.

"No, you won." he said. "And since you won, why don't you pick your prize."

He motioned to the stuffed animals hanging above his head. There was a brown bear, a golden lion with a dark main, and a blue elephant.

"Could I have the lion?"

Erik reached up and handed me one.

"Wish granted."

By the time Erik hopped back over the counter, the sun was beginning to come up. Once more, Erik checked his pocket watch, and sadly placed it into the lapel of his jacket.

"My love, it's nearly time, and I have many rides to test before the opening at eight. We have just enough time to grab some breakfast."

"Lead the way, Erik."

On the other side of Phantasma, the man known as Nathan from "Nathan's Hot Dogs" was lifting the cover from over his shop. The last time I had seen him, he was very ashamed at me for stealing from his shop. Erik had tried to make things better, but I knew he was still upset…..maybe he forgot about me over the winter?

"Nathan's, Christine?"

"Hot dogs for breakfast?" I questioned.

"What? Nonsense, Christine, he makes a delicious hot dogs, pepper and egg sandwich."

When we stepped into his shop, he chuckled happily at the sight of Erik.

"Boss, it's so good to see you again. How was your winter?"

"Extremely pleasant." Erik replied. "And yours?"

"Time off the Misses was good. I enjoyed it very much, god knows I needed it after such a hectic summer."

"And yet here you are again."

"What can I say? People love my stand."

"And I shall be your first customer. How's about one of your favorite breakfast sandwiches?"

"Right away. Just one?"

Erik stepped aside, letting Nathan see me.

"Oh, the young lady is still with you?"

"Yes, but not with me. She's just a friend staying in her own flat."

"And she is with child too?"

Erik nodded.

"Yes, apparently her lover is at war right now, and I am watching over her."

Nathan didn't ask anymore questions, and went to work on our breakfast.

"The crowds are going to be lovely today, boss. The crowds are already lining up by the thousands, Monsieur."

"Of course, as you've probably heard I beat Coney Island by a long run."

Erik and I took a seat at one of the tables, away from Nathan's sight.

"I had fun, Erik. I wish we could do this more often….in public that is."

"You know we can't, Christine."

"I know…. I think it would be more….more…"

"Normal." he scoffed.

"Erik, that's not what I meant. I don't regret it…"

"Regret what?"

"Our eloping before the eyes of God…"

"Neither do I…"

Nathan set our breakfast down in front of us, and told us to enjoy before leaving us.

"Erik, I don't want you to leave me today….I love you so much, and I want to spend the entire day with you."

Erik bit into his sandwich, and shook his head.

"Christine, you can't be like this. I'm trying the best that I can, you know….I'm trying to spend time with you like a normal person, but if this becomes a problem then we can't do things like this. I can't be having you all upset every time we do this. Now finish your breakfast so I can take you home."

"What will you be doing today?"

"Everything, Christine. I have to make sure all the rides are working, I have to help run the freak shows and Meg's performance. I have to close down Phantasma for the night and then head to my office to count the ticket stubs and run the payments."

"So in other words you're going to be too busy to see me tonight."

I was acting like a complete child! Why was I doing this? I knew what I was getting myself into by falling in love with the owner of Phantasma, so why was I being such a…such a bitch?

"I didn't say that." he growled. "Why do you always assume things before they even happen?"

Now I was angry….

"So I won't wind up laying in bed awake all night wondering when or if you're coming through the door!"

Erik slammed his hands down on the table, and looked me right in the eyes.

"Keep your voice down, Christine."

"So are you or aren't you, Erik?"

"Am I what?"

"Coming home tonight?"

"I don't know, Christine, it all depends on my work load."

"I knew you weren't coming home tonight."

I finished eating, and stood up and bid Nathan a good day. Once I was outside, Erik came chasing after me, and pulled me by the arm.

"Christine you cannot act like this in public! If you have something to argue about you do it in your God damn flat! do you understand! Do you want our lives to become a living hell? I sure as hell don't. We've been getting alone amazingly, Christine, and I don't want it to change…."

I didn't have anything to say, I could only nod.

"Look, I'm trying my best to work and see you. And as much as I don't want it to be, sadly, my work must come before you. I'm the owner, Christine…." his voice had calmed down, and his gloved hand lifted my chin up. "I'll try my hardest every night to come see you, but I can't promise anything."

"I'm sorry, Erik. I didn't mean to blow up on you like that….it's….it's my hormones."

Erik chuckled, and began leading me back to my flat.

"Yes, it's understandable."

When Erik led me up the stairs to my flat, he unlocked the door and we entered.

"Ok, I must go now, Christine. I promise to be back as soon as I can."

I kissed him, and hugged his body close to mine.

"I love you."

"Me too, now I must get going. I'll try to stop by tonight."

After Erik left, I cleaned up a bit, and stood by the window watching the crowds of people strolling about Phantasma. There were so many people, I was surprised how they all fit into the park. It was shoulder to shoulder….defiantly no place for an expecting mother to be walking around.

This morning had been such a busy one, that I grew tired, and sat down in my arm chair to nap….I hadn't been asleep long, but was awoken to the sound of someone knocking at the door. Erik, perhaps? Was it night already? The curtains over my window were closed, but I could still see sunlight shining through it. No, it couldn't have been Erik….It had to be Meg…I groaned softly, and quietly crept over to the door. Only something didn't feel right….something within me told me to do otherwise. This child had me feeling strange all the time….. Instead of pulling open the door like I usually did, I took a peek out of the peep hole, and almost had a heart attack at the sight of the person standing on the other end…No, it was not Meg standing there, it was Raoul!

Dun Dun Dun! Please don't throw crackers at me for leaving you off with this. Now the fun shall being…Muwha… Please, review everyone! I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible…and no, the end of the story is not near….No where near over! Raoul is going to be a huge part of what I like to call "Act 2" Haha