"Yes, when the spider gives birth to its young, they too, are born as hideous as their parents. But be as it may, even a monsterous spider has the right to mate….."-Excerption from the diary of Erik.

Erik's POV

Having to leave Christine after such a lovely morning out was so hard to do. I loved her with all my heart and when she begged me not to leave her it broke my soul to pieces. If only I wasn't the owner of Phantasma….If only we could be back in Paris, beneath the opera house, just the two of us and our music…..What a wonderful dream that would be. When the gates of Phantasma opened and the people poured in, I slipped from ride to ride making sure everything worked properly.

I didn't like being out and about around Phantasma, because of the horrible stares, but what else could I do? I wouldn't go back to showing off my face in a freak show. Children pointed towards me and laughed. My heart ached at such a sight….If other children laughed at me, how was my own child ever going to look at me without laughing?

I was standing outside of the maze of mirrors, watching the crowds of people waiting to get inside.

"Erik!"

I heard my name suddenly being called, and turned, only to see the crowds of people going on about their business.

"Erik!"

I heard it again, but this time, Christine was rushing to my side. Everyone looked over at the both of us, and it was making me nervous. Why! Why was she here?

"Christine?"

When the stares didn't stop, I quickly pulled her away and into the Phantasma library where we could be alone. She was pale, and extremely out of breath as if she had been searching for a long time.

"Christine, what is the meaning of this!" I growled. "Do you know what could have happened out there!"

But Christine didn't answer me. She only clenched her stomach, and fell to her knees.

"Christine?"

I rushed to her side to try and help her, but she only screamed in agony.

"Christine, tell me what's wrong?"

But she didn't. Something was terribly wrong with her, and I was wasting time. I scooped her body up into my arms, and took the back way to my flat. There were less people, and it was faster. I laid her down on my bed, and ran to fetch the doctor. I pushed past crowds of people, not caring one bit if everyone were staring at me. God! Why did I leave her! Why? I was so strung out that I burst into the hospital doors, and screamed for the doctor to help me. All the nurses seemed frightened, as if a wolf were standing in my place, snarling at each and every one of them.

"Mister E?" the doctor came running towards me, with a look of concern on his face. "What's wrong?"

"It's Christine. Something's happened, she needs help…."

"Right away. Take me to her."

Once more we took the back way so no one would see us. Once we were inside the flat, I was told to stay out in the main room so he could examine Christine in private. How badly I wanted to argue with him, but I didn't want to waste anymore time. I paced my foyer back and forth, listening to Christine groan in agony. What was he doing to her! My gloved hands sweated profusely as my heart raced a mile a minute. If something happened to the baby, I would never forgive myself. This was all my fault! I shouldn't have left Christine, I should have stayed…..better yet, I should have taken her back to Paris….Why!

"Mister E?"

I turned to see the doctor coming from the bedroom, removing his stethoscope from around his neck.

"How is she? What's wrong with her?"

"Why was she out wandering around Phantasma in such crowds and heat?" he kindly questioned.

"I have no idea. I was working…..and…and she came running to me."

"She's extremely dehydrated, and the running has caused vaginal bleeding to occur again….She's also having contractions."

"She's not going into labor?" I gasped.

"No, they're not labor contractions…She needs to rest, Mister E. She's under a lot of stress, and that's not healthy for the child. She's nearly five months along, and stress is not a good thing. I've stopped the bleeding, but she needs to stay in bed."

"Miss Christine does not live with me, Dr. She has her own flat on the other side of Phantasma. When would she be able to move?"

"I wouldn't. Not for at least a week. If she moves before then, she could bleed again and possibly cause a miscarriage."

My heart ceased in my chest. If something ever happened to this child, I would never forgive myself.

"Make sure she drinks plenty of water and gets her rest. If her condition worsens make sure you come and get me right away."

"And what of her contractions?"

"They'll come and go until she heals. Nothing to worry about though."

Everything was taking a turn for the worse. My poor Christine was in agony, and I couldn't do anything to help her. When the doctor left, I went to the kitchen and filled up a glass with water before returning to my bedroom with it. Christine was laying there in my bed groaning in agony, and pushing her head against my pillow.

"Christine, I brought you some water."

I had to stay calm for Christine's sake. I was livid about this whole situation, but I couldn't go off on her because it would only make her stress more severe.

"Thank you, Erik."

"What were you thinking, Christine? Running like that through the crowds and heat."

Christine looked up at me with tears in her eyes. I had upset her! Damn me! Damn me for being the monster that I was!

"I…I was so scared, Erik."

"Scared about what?"

"Someone….Someone came to the flat….I thought they were going to come in and take me away, Erik…"

Damn me! Damn me for leaving her! Phantasma was now open to the public! I would make the bastard curse the day he dare prey on the woman I love!

"D…Don't ever leave me, Erik. I don't want to be alone….."

"Shhh….it's ok." I cooed, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You're going to stay with me for a while. You must rest, my love."

"Oh, Erik, it hurts so much…."

I sat with her, rubbing her stomach as she drank the water I brought in with me.

"No one is ever going to hurt you, Christine."

"I love you with all my heart, Erik."

"As do I…."

I stood up, and gave her another kiss.

"Now rest, my love. Erik must work. But he promises to be back tonight. Just promise him that you'll stay in bed until then."

"I'm sleepy."

"All the more reason you should rest. I'm locking the door on my way out. You will get out of bed for no one, do you hear me? Doctor said you must stay off your feet until you're better. He said getting up and moving around could cause extensive damage to the child."

"I won't get up." she weakly promised.

"Good."

The remainder of the day was extremely hot. I sweated beneath my suit jacket as I traveled throughout Phantasma. The crowds made everything ten times worse, and beneath the mask I was having a hard time breathing. Usually July and August were the most brutal months of the year….It was brutal now…I couldn't imagine what July and August would be like. That night, after the park closed down, I collected the ticket stubs, and hurried back to my flat. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I stripped off my mask, and shirt to breathe easier. My whole body was moist in sweat, and I smelled awful. Instead of taking a bath and wasting valuable work time, I sprayed some of my cologne under my arms, and took a seat at my desk.

"Erik?"

I looked over at my bed to see Christine looking at me.

"Yes?" I wheezed.

"You sound horrible, is everything alright?"

"Yes, it's just unbearably hot outside."

"Erik you shouldn't work in such heat. Your mask will suffocate you, especially with the thick sheep's wool caressing your face."

"I'm fine, Christine, just rest."

"Are you mad at me?"

I paused from counting my ticket stubs, and groaned.

"No, I'm angry with myself. I shouldn't have left you…..You're my wife for God's sake….Maybe not legally, but we made each other a promise before God that we would love one another through sickness and in health…..I left you, Christine…..We could have lost our child today, and it's all because of me."

"No, Erik, I shouldn't have ran. But trying to find you in that crowd was like trying to find the exit of your "Maze of Mirrors." It was so hot…and all I wanted to do was find you before the stranger did. I was so scared, Erik…."

She was crying now. No, I wouldn't have this! I quickly rushed to her side, and cradled her body against my own.

"Christine, you must stay calm for the baby's sake. Please don't cry, Christine."

"Will you sleep beside me?"

"Of course, Christine. But I must work now."

I stayed at Christine's side until she fell asleep. When she was calm and no longer crying, I gently laid her down on my pillow, and snuck back over to my desk to work. I counted the ticket stubs, and the daily earnings before writing it all down. When my grandfather clock struck midnight, I blew out the candles and crawled in beside Christine. She was so beautiful in the moonlight….so beautiful that I felt like a complete fool…I didn't deserve this woman laying beside me….I didn't deserve to be fathering her child. I fingered her curls ever so softly, and she sighed into my chest. Even in sleep she was purely an angel…

"Tell me what to do, Christine." I cooed. "Tell me what to do with you?"

"Erik?"

Christine opened her tired eyes, and kissed my collarbone ever so softly.

"It's late, mon ange, you should go back to sleep."

"I love you, Erik….really I do."

"Christine, I love you more than anything in the world. But I need you to tell me what to do."

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me what you want, Christine. Do you want to go back to Paris, move back to the opera house and live happily ever after with just our music? Oh, angel, I would do it…I would sell Phantasma in a heart beat, if that would make you happy."

Christine's eyes glistened with tears and she smiled.

"You….You would really do that, Erik?"

"For you, I would rip out my beating heart, Christine."

"But that would be so foolish, Erik."

"Tearing out my heart? Nonsense…"

"No, selling Phantasma. Why would you ever consider doing such a thing. You've bettered yourself, Erik. You've grown up…..Would you really consider going back to being the Phantom again?"

"Yes, if that would truly make you happy."

"Erik, that would do anything but make me happy. You've come a long way the past ten years. You're sociable, you can walk among men without fear….Oh, Erik, I would never want to move away from here."

"But what about my job?" I cupped her warm cheek. "What about the pain and loneliness I cause you? Wouldn't it be wonderful to just move somewhere and have nothing interrupting our love and being together with our music?"

"I love our life, Erik. We're going to have a baby….I want our child growing up around Phantasma…."

I kissed her neck, and heard her sigh against my touch.

"You are indeed the most wonderful wife I could have ever asked for."

"And you're the best husband in the world."

"I'll take care of you, Christine, I promise…"

"I know…"

And I did. It was the hardest week of my life, but I wouldn't fail Christine…not now, and not ever. I worked in between shifts, I would rush around Phantasma in the terrible heat, making sure everything was going as planned. When ever I would have a few moments to spare, I would rush back to my flat to check on Christine. Her contractions were causing her pain, and I would sit with her through every one, squeezing her hand and telling her everything was going to be alright. When she would calm down, I would leave her again to get some more work done. At night, I would sit at my desk, working away on what ever I needed to get done while watching over Christine. I was so exhausted by the time morning came, and I would need to get dressed and be on my way. I have gone days without sleep before, but my age was getting the best of me. I wasn't old, but I wasn't young either and my body just wasn't what it used to be.

The third day of taking care of Christine was the worst day of my existence on Coney Island. It was extremely humid, and I was having trouble breathing through my mask. The crowds were even worse than before, and so were the stares. Most of my rides were having technical glitches, and so I went from ride to ride hoping to fix the problems. I was sweating so much that my white shirt was drenched to the bone. I was on my last ride around noon time….the coaster. I was underneath the cars with my tools, fixing a leak. I was sweating, so badly, that my heart was pounding against my chest. My world began to spin, and my breathing became labored. I fought to stay conscious, but the next thing I knew, I passed out.

When I awoke, I felt ice against my head, and I was laid out on the sofa in my office.

"Boss? Boss, are you ok?"

I looked up to see my employee Mr. Squelch standing over me with a doctor.

"Fine." I groaned.

"Mister E, you've passed out from heat related trauma."

I tried to stand up, but my feet gave out.

"Take it easy, Mister E. You need to relax."

"I'm fine, I have to get back to work."

I pulled the ice pack off my head, but the doctor stopped me.

"The only place you're going is home to rest. You could have gotten yourself killed down under those cars. Thankfully, Mr. Squelch was there to pull you out."

"I need to get back to work."

"Do you want to die?" the doctor scoffed. "You need to take that ice and go home."

I hated doctors. I hated them so much, and if not for Christine I would have gone back to work. To make sure I made it home ok, Mr. Squelch escorted me. He even tried to help me up the stairs, but I yelled for him to leave me be. When I opened the door, Christine was laying in bed knitting more clothes for the baby. She seemed rested, and doing much better than yesterday.

When she saw me walking through the door, I heard her gasp in fright, and my angel got out of bed to assist me.

"Christine, go back to bed!" I demanded.

"I'm feeling much better now, Erik. God, what's happened to you? You're not breathing correctly."

I plopped down on my chair, and pressed the bag of melting ice against my forehead.

"Christine, I'm fine."

"Erik, I think I'd know if my husband were fine or not. You're anything but fine…." she dabbed a towel against my sweat soaked neck. "And you're covered in burns."

"I said I'm fine. I was sent home to rest….doctor's orders." I growled. "Now leave me be."

"So something did happen at work. Erik, tell me…."

By now I was completely aggravated with Christine's mothering. I wasn't a child for Christ sakes! I was a middle aged man!

"I passed out under the coaster cars, ok!"

Silence filled the room, and I pressed the bag closer to my skull. A terrible headache was beginning to set in, and my once sweaty skin was starting to sting.

"You don't have to shout." Christine replied, a hint of sadness buried within her voice.

"If you want to help me…..just draw me a cold bath."

Christine didn't say another word, and walked away to do as I had asked her. After washing myself, I laid in bed pressing the bag of ice against my exposed skull. As much as I hated not working, my body sure needed the rest.

"Erik?"

I heard my voice being called from the doorway, only to look over and see Christine standing there with a glass in her hand.

"Yes?" I cringed.

"I brought you some water and salve for your burns."

Be nice, Erik….that's all I had to keep thinking. My temper wanted to come out, but I couldn't let loose on Christine. No, she was only trying to help me.

"Thank you."

My thank you was what Christine was looking for. As soon as she heard me say it, she came walking into the room, and sat at my side. I took the glass out of her hands, and drank the cold water, as she began to rub some of the salve into my neck…..

"Erik, does that feel better?"

"Yes. I'm sorry about earlier. I've been so upset with myself lately."

"It's alright. The good part is that I'm feeling much better now."

"And the baby?"

"Good too….I'll stay tonight, and then tomorrow before sunrise you can take me back to my flat."

"Going so soon?" I gasped.

Christine shrugged her shoulders.

"I should be going. If I stay too long, people will start to notice it, and…..well, you know we already discussed this."

"The stranger that was at your door, Christine. Did you know him? Have you ever seen him before? What did he look like?"

Christine's fingers paused from rubbing the salve into my neck.

"Christine?"

"I…I never seen him before in my whole entire life."

"What did he look like?"

"I…I didn't get a good look at him. When I didn't answer the door, he just vanished after a while."

I kissed her gently to calm her down, and cupped her cheek.

"Christine, I'll keep a better watch over the flat, this I promise you."

"Thank you, Erik."

Christine stood to her feet, and wiped her hands on a towel.

"Rest now, Erik. The salve should help with your pain."

It broke my heart to see Christine in such a frightened state, but I made a promise to myself that I would watch over her more closely. Who ever that man was sure as hell wasn't going to ever harm my angel. How dare someone come into my park only to seeking to do horrible things! If there was one thing I knew, it was that it wouldn't happen again! I'd die before I would ever let something bad happen to Christine.

That night, Christine crawled in bed beside me, and I wrapped my arms around her as I slept. Sometimes, I could feel our child kicking against my hands….It was such a wonderful feeling…..I feared for the appearance of this child more than anything else. I was supposed to be nothing more than an uncle towards it, but if it came out looking like me, people would surely know who's child it really was. Oh, and what a life of hell that would be not only for the child, but for Christine as well. I still had a few more months until the birth, and at the moment there seemed to be nothing wrong with the baby….So says the doctor, but what do doctors know anyway? Can they look at Christine's stomach, magically see through her skin and see what the child looks like? No! which is why I only trust doctors as far as I could throw them…..I was a master genius at everything known to man, but there was one thing I couldn't master, and that was seeing into the future and being able to see past Christine's stomach to view the appearance of our child….but…if only I could….It would ease my troubled mind…

Ok….I promise you that Raoul is not gone! His appearance will be soon, but this chapter needed to be written to show that Christine was lying to Erik about him….Anyway, please review! Love you all!