18th Floor Balcony

So we talked about mom's and dad's

About family pasts

Just getting to know where we came from

Our hearts were on display

For all to see

I can't believe this is happening to me

Christine was glowing. Her belly had just popped with beauty, her tiny figure hardly overwhelmed by the little human growing inside of her. Now that she was around five months pregnant, her favorite activities included sitting around and watching Grey's Anatomy, and planning her wedding. Charlotte was getting bigger everyday, her eyes becoming brighter each second. And Erik, oh he was better than ever. Christine often lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if her life had becoming too good to be true.

"Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone here and don't give a damn about what anyone thinks" Cristina Yang spoke through the television, with Christine's feet set up on the table in front of her. She was dawning a sports bra and some yoga pants. She hated wearing 'real people' clothes since her belly popped.

"Ms. Daae?" Naomi's soft voice echoed from behind her. "You have a guest here to see you, would you like me to send her in or..."

"Who is here?" Christine's voice distracted by the television, her eyes glued to the screen.

"Someone named Quinn?" Naomi shrugged her shoulders. "Should I send her-"

"Yes. Send her to the study. I'm going to go upstairs to change clothes. Tell her I'll be back down in ten minutes," Christine paused and stood to her feet, "And don't tell Erik."

Christine rushed up the stairs as fast as she could. Her heart was beating faster and faster. She was even sure she was making the baby nervous. Christine did not expect company today, let alone her.

Deep breaths.

"She'll be in shortly, Ms..."

"Zaneth. Quinn Zaneth." The mysterious guest turned to face the giant window, her face hidden away from Naomi.

"Okay, Ms. Zaneth. Can I get you something to-"

"I would like a glass of iced water. Three cubes and two lemons, please. One lemon at the top and one lemon on the bottom." Quinn spoke quickly, her eyes fixated on the backyard.

"Is that all, Ms. Zaneth?" Naomi was intimidated.

This woman was tall, Amazonian almost. She had olive skin and dark brown hair. Her eyes were a piercing emerald, her voice like the finest velvet. Naomi was certainly entranced.

"Oh and don't forget the straw."

Three Hours Later

"What are you doing here, again? I must've missed the newsletter." Christine's voice seethed through her teeth. "I thought I told you never to come here, never to speak to me."

"Well, never say never, Chrissie." Quinn sipped the straw of her fifth iced water. "Nice ring by the way. I meant to comment on it a while ago, but we got distracted."

"Okay, first of all, don't call me that and second of all, thank you." Christine folded her arms over her protruding belly. "Quinn. What are you really doing here?"

"I came to meet your future husband, of course." Ms. Zaneth smiled through her obvious other intentions. "Mr. Lantier owes me quite a large sum of money."

"Money? You came all this way for money? Geez. I could have had you out of here hours ago. Let me get my check-" Christine's eyes widened.

"No. I don't want it from you. In fact, where is your precious Erik? Is he home?" Quinn's question asking seemed over the top, too eager. Christine thought nothing of it, though. She just wanted to get this awful woman out of her house. "Have your house maid find him-"

"I'm right here, Ms. Zaneth."

Christine paced the corridor. Her hands were wrapped around her stomach, her hair up in a messy bun of sorts. She believed she was sweating too. Someone must have messed with the thermostat once again. Erik and Quinn had been talking for hours behind the closed doors; too silently for anyone on the outside to hear. Christine was hopeful.

The door opened.

"Erik, what's going on, why is she here?" Christine rushed up to her Erik. He only held up a hand and walked away, without a muttering a word.

Quinn soon exited behind the masked composer. Her hair was still perfect, her cup of water was emptied. Nothing seemed out of place when Christine went into the study. The only thing out of place was Erik. He disappeared again.

Naomi walked Ms. Zaneth out with a low head. It seemed as though the whole house had gone silent. Christine remained in the study, her sickness getting to her.

"Ms. Christine, are you alright?" Naomi's voice poked through the doors. "I'm off to pick up Charlotte. Is there anything else you need, ma'am?"

"No. That is all. Bring back Charlotte, then take the rest of the afternoon off, please. Your service is no longer needed today." Christine replied with a heavy heart.

Naomi parted ways, making certain a bag was packed. She hadn't been home in so long.

"Can you please pass the butter, Erik?" Christine murmured, holding a piece of bread in her hand. Charlotte was too busy playing with her green beans to acknowledge the current situation. "Can you please pass the butter, Erik?" Christine's voice raised, this time catching Charlotte's attention. Erik remained unphased.

Soon enough, one of the other house maids Erik had hired skittered over, handing Christine the butter. She thanked her silently with a nod, her gaze unwavering. Charlotte moved back to being entranced by her green beans.

"What did Quinn want, today?" Christine asked, stuffing the piece of bread into her mouth. "She wanted money, right? You didn't give it to her right? Did you? Erik, you know we don't give money out to strangers, and certainly not-"

"WILL YOU STOP WITH THE INCESSANT QUESTIONS?" Erik slammed down his knife and fork, to no use. He hadn't touched his food. The masked man took a breath and stood to his feet. "I need air. Excuse me."

And just like that, Erik left the dining room. This house was so big, it would be no use to Christine to go looking for him.

Charlotte stopped playing with her green beans. And Christine, she sighed heavily and stood to her feet, her belly protruding out in front of her.

"Melanie, please take my daughter and give her a bath. I'll be up in a little bit to say good night."

And just like that, Christine left too.