I And Love And You

Three words that became hard to say

I and love and you

What you were then, I am today

Look at the things I do

Christine sighed heavily. Her back was so sore from this baby. Moving her hair to her shoulder, she sighed again.

Christine sat up in annoyance.

"Why are you so restless?" Erik's tired voice suddenly filled the bedroom.

It was one of those rare nights he actually was sleeping beside Christine. Usually he stays in his lair all night, working on his music. Christine tried her best not to wake him, but to no avail, he sat up to meet her gaze.

"It's just my back - it hurts. I'm sorry to have woken you. Please go back to sleep, love." Christine's voice was quiet. Her mind was exhausted, her body feeling dead.

"I want to be with you. Are you alright?" Erik placed a quick kiss on Christine's cheek. She reveled in every moment of it. He wasn't one for affection lately. "Do you need me to get you some water?"

"No, I'm fine. Really Erik, try and get some sleep. I'm going to go to the bathroom." Christine groaned as her swelled feet met the cool hardwood beneath her. Erik laid back down, nestling into the comforter. The former ballet dancer continued into the restroom, shutting the door before turning the light on and sitting at the edge of the bathtub.

Christine was six months along, almost seven months into her pregnancy. The doctor informed her that everything was going well and that both Christine and the baby were healthy. Christine though, her mind was an enigma.

Quinn Zaneth had stopped by three times since her last visit. Every time, she and Erik would close the doors to the study and speak for hours, leaving Christine to her own demise. Christine was going crazy.

With wedding planning, secret meetings, Charlotte, and a new baby on the way, Christine's brain was foggy.

She just wanted some peace.

"Christine?" Erik's smooth voice echoed from behind the bathroom door. "Christine, you've been in there for an hour or so... Are you alright?"

An hour?

Christine opened her eyes. She was laying across the tiled floor, perfectly comfortably where she lay.

To be honest, she didn't even remember falling back asleep.

Christine slowly returned to her feet, rubbing her eyes before opening the bathroom door.

Erik quickly pulled her in, his hand at the back of her head. His breathing was deep, his exhales shorter. She hadn't felt this close to him in months.

Christine wrapped her tiny arms around his waist as best as she could. Her belly was quite in the way. Pressing her ear against his chest, her eyes widened in concern. Erik's heart was beating very fast. She didn't even know his heart could beat as fast as it was.

She stepped back and away from him. Caressing his cheek with the back of her fingers, Erik grabbed her hand and held it in place.

"Are you okay? You told me you were going to the restroom and you never returned?" Erik hastily asked, his eyes filled with worry.

"I must've fallen asleep. I don't remember." Christine shrugged, moving towards the bed. "I'm fine. The baby is awake, though. They're kicking a lot." Christine smiled, her hands draped over her stomach. "I'm going to go get some food. Would you care to join me?"

Erik smiled in reply, his hand being guided by hers.

They made their way to the kitchen.

"What would you like to eat?" Erik opened the refrigerator door, the light causing him to squint.

"Cereal, with a loooooooot of sugar." Christine looked around. It was clean. "And some strawberries. There should be some already cut up, from Charlotte's lunches."

Erik poured some milk and then some cereal into a bowl. Looking for the strawberries, he shrugged in defeat.

"There aren't any left, just whole strawberries. I can cut some up if you'd like." Erik moved to the coffee machine.

"No, that's alright." Christine began eating her cereal, her craving for sugar being happily fulfilled. "So, can I ask you something?"

Erik nodded, turning on the coffee machine. Meeting eyes with Christine, she shoveled another spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

"Yes, you can ask me anything."

Christine swallowed her food, putting down her spoon. She took a deep breath.

"Who is Quinn?"

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!"

CRACK.

A ceramic plate violently hit the wall, just barely missing Erik's head.

"LEAVE US ALONE. GO TO HELL!"

Another plate flew in his direction, hitting the ceiling.

Christine's eyes were clouded with anger, hot, wet anger.

She was just throwing plates in any direction, hoping that maybe one of them would hit Erik and scar the rest of his face.

Horrible she thought, but she wished it harder than ever now.

"GET OUT. AND GO TO HELL."

Erik slowly made his way to Christine, as she shakily held another plate.

This wasn't good for the baby.

"I SAID GO."

Erik halted in his steps and took a deep breath in.

"Just go."

Christine stood across from him, defeated. Her face was red. Her eyes were swollen. Christine's hand was bleeding too.

But she didn't care.

"E-Erik... I can't even look at you. I need you to leave this house, leave us alone."

Her voice cracked. Erik's heart broke.

"Christine, I love-"

Christine sighed and turned on her heel.

"You..."

Erik, stood alone for awhile.

Picking up shards of broken plate, a familiar pair of footsteps arrived behind him.

"I'll do this... Don't worry about this..." Naomi's calming voice entered the room. Her hands coming into Erik's sight. "I've got this."

Erik nodded. His eyes darting around the room for any symbol of Christine left in it.

But there was none.