*DISCLAIMER* I DO NOT own The Phantom of the Opera, its storyline, or its characters. Please R&R.
Addison, Bradley, Henry and Meg were the first people to visit Christine in her hospital room. When they walked in, they noticed Christine in her hospital bed. She was connected to a couple of machines and looked as peaceful as she could for what she had been through. Henry made his way over to her and ran his fingers through her hair. "My poor baby, I'm so sorry this happened to you," he said out loud. Everyone in the room could hear him begin to softly sob. Addison made her way over to him and rubbed his upper back, offering him a hug.
After a couple of minutes, they were interrupted by a nurse walking into the room. "Hello, I am sorry for the interruption. I am Yésica, and I will be Christine's day nurse. I'm just here to check on her and take her vitals, I promise I'll be quick," she said. We all nodded. "Thank you, feel free to take your time," said Brad.
The nurse ran through her checklist and left the room after letting them know that everything came back normal. After a while, Brad and Addison decided to make their way home to Bentley so that Anne could make her way to the hospital and see Christine. Meg decided to go back out to the waiting room and meet up with Erik and Nadir.
She found the pair sitting in the waiting room drinking coffee and watching the news. She made her way over to Nadir who opened his arms inviting her for a hug. She sat on his lap sideways letting him hug her. After a couple of minutes, she got up. "Do you guys want to come see her?," she asked. They both nodded and got up to follow her into Christine's room.
Once they arrived, Erik ran straight over to Christine and looked her over. She looked broken, this wasn't Christine. He felt horrible, if he wouldn't have ran away this would have never happened to her. He was in tears as he caressed her face and gave her a small kiss on her forehead. He felt completely helpless seeing Christine in the state that she was in. He couldn't help but to blame himself for what had happened.
It had been a couple of hours and Henry went home to be with Bianca. He left Meg and Erik in the hospital room, and went on his way. Nadir also left, as he needed to make arrangements for the closing of Destler LLC for the next couple of days. He left with Henry after saying goodbye to Meg and Erik. Meg and Erik were left with nothing to do but sit around in Christine's room and watch TV. They had decided to watch a random movie channel which was playing "Four Christmases."
About halfway through the movie, they attention of both Meg and Erik was strayed by a sudden movement on Christine's hospital bed. Christine was stirring out of her sleep and was beginning to look across the room. A shocked look on her face which only looked even more shocked as she focused on her surroundings and the people that were in the room with her. "Christine!," yelled Meg as she got out of her chair and made her way over to Christine. Christine only groaned in return, an indication that she was probably in pain. Meg looked over at Erik. "Erik, can you please get the nurse so that she can page Christine's doctor?," she asked. Erik nodded and made his way out to look for the nurse in charge of Christine.
Erik returned to the hospital room after notifying the nurse and made his way over to Christine. "Christine. It's me, Erik," he said. Christine looked up at him, she didn't look as confused as before. Christine said nothing in response, she only looked at him. Erik couldn't make out the expression on her face, he wasn't sure if she was angry, happy, or in shock. "Please, say something if you can," he said to her. Christine shook her head, "I have nothing to say to you," she said with a crack in her voice. Erik looked distraught at what she had said, but he couldn't blame her for her reaction. No one told you to run away and abandon her for almost three months you coward! Of course she's angry with you!
After a couple of minutes of awkward silence, the Doctor knocked on the door announcing her entrance. "Christine, it's good to see that you've woken up. My nurse told me that your vitals came back normal, I just wanted to come and look you over myself," sated Dr. Collins. Christine nodded in agreement and the doctor made her way over to her bed. "Before I get started, I do have something to tell you Ms. Daae,"she said looking around the room at us. "Okay," said Christine as she tried sitting up in her hospital bed. Dr. Collins looked around the room, "I'm not so sure that you'll want your uh, "sister" and "husband" in the room for this conversation," she said nervously. Christine gave both Meg and Erik a weird, but knowing look. They both guiltily dropped their heads, avoiding her stare. "Is that so. Well I'm sure that I don't mind my "sister" and "husband" being here, they are however… family," she said in a serious but mocking tone. Dr. Collins looked around nervously before continuing, "Um, its about the baby. Christine, your injuries were quite serious and you lost quite a substantial amount of blood as well. My team and I worked very hard throughout your surgery to do everything that we could for you and your baby. However, your injuries were quite too serious, your surgery a bit too invasive, and my team and I were unable to save the baby. My condolences for you and your husband, Ms. Daae. I am so very sorry. If you would like to see the baby, I can have the nurse bring the baby by at any time," she said. "No! No! This can't be!," yelled Erik through tears.
I tried to process everything that was said to me by my doctor. My baby? Dead! No, this can't be. WHY? WHY? WHY! I couldn't stop the tears from running down my cheeks. "No, no," I said between sobs and gasps of air. I suddenly couldn't breath and I was freaking out. I felt all over my belly for any sign of my baby and felt nothing. They weren't moving and I could no longer feel them. I looked up helplessly at the doctor through my tears. "I am so sorry, Christine. Take your time to take in the news and then we can bring your baby by if you would like," said Dr. Collins. Meg stepped up when she saw that I couldn't form any words. "Thank you, Dr. Collins. We will make sure to notify the nurse if we need anything else," she said.
Through my tears, I looked over at Erik. He was on his knees at the foot of my bed, he was sobbing and shaking from the news of our baby's death. Meg looked as if she didn't know who to comfort and didn't want to have to choose. She crawled into bed with me and held me close. "Oh, baby. I am so, so sorry. You guys deserved so much better," she said to me. I cried and cried for what felt like hours, clinging on to Meg for any sort of sanity I could gain from her.
What felt like an eternity of time passed by, and I looked around the room. Meg was still holding me and Erik was quietly sobbing at the foot of the bed. Yésica, my nurse distracted me from speaking out to Erik as she knocked on my door and made her way inside. "I am sorry to interrupt, but I must ask. Would you guy's like to see your baby?," she asked. I nodded through tears and looked at Erik. He looked at the nurse and nodded as well.
We sat in silence for a couple of minutes as she wheeled in a CuddleCot. She came to a stop next to my bed, and picked up the tiny baby wrapped in a light pink blanket. She put the baby into my arms and I was in tears all over again. Our baby was about 3 inches, and their face was almost fully formed. Our baby was beginning to look like the perfect balance of Erik and I, it's hands, feet, fingers, and toes were well developed. "You know, at three months of pregnancy a baby's reproductive organs have begun to form but are not fully distinguishable on an ultrasound or sonogram yet. However, I would say that your baby was beginning to develop female reproductive organs. That is why I wrapped her in a light pink blanket," said the nurse.
Erik had made his way next to me and was looking at our baby. I could tell that he was scared, but the look on his eyes gave away his love for our baby the moment he laid eyes on them. I slowly raised her up, and he slowly and nervously put his arms out. He held her close to him and give her a small kiss on her forehead. I don't think that I had ever seen Erik as vulnerable as he was at that moment, not even when I saw him without his mask. He was in tears. "I am so sorry, Christine. I should have never left. If I would have known what I was leaving behind, I would have stayed. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me some day," he said through tears.
I looked up at him through my own stream of tears that had begun to run down my cheeks. "Oh, Erik. I could never stay mad at you. You have given me the best gift I could have ever had in this whole world, even if it was only for a short amount of time. I should have told you, even if it wasn't the way I had pictured it," I said. Erik held onto our baby with one arm, and with the other he put his arm around me. We stayed like that for a long time, until I noticed Meg at the foot of the bed with tears running down her face. I looked up at her. "Meg, do you want to meet your niece?," I asked. She nodded and walked up to Erik with her arms out. I could tell that Erik was hesitant, but I nodded at him reassuringly and he handed Meg the baby.
Yésica, our nurse came into the room a second time. "You guys have some visitors," she said moving to the side to show that my dad, Bradley, Addison, Anne, and Nadir had made their way back to the hospital. "We typically have a limit on visitors, but I'm going to bend the rules for today," she said with a wink. Erik and I looked at her gratefully, not really able to express ourselves with words. "I'll be back in a while to check up on you all," she said before leaving the room.
My dad was the first to make it to my side. "My baby, what have you been through these past couple of days? And without saying a word to me about this, I would have understood. You wouldn't have had to go through it on your own," he said giving me a hug. Through tears I replied, "I'm sorry, Daddy. I was going to tell you soon, but everything happened and I never got the chance. I'm sorry if I disappointed you." He shook his head, "You could never disappoint me, my dear Christine. Now, let me get my hands on my grand-baby," he said. Meg handed my dad the baby, and he was in even more tears when he laid eyes on her.
Everyone met our baby one by one, it was an absolute shock to us all but we all took advantage of the time we had with her. We cried, we hugged, and we were just… there giving each other the support that we needed. Our thoughts were interrupted by knocking at the door. "Hello, as promised, I have made my rounds back to check on you all," said Yésica. She made her way over to me and checked my vitals. Afterwards, she still made sure to look over our baby and make sure she was comfortable. I don't think I could ever thank her enough for all that she is doing for us. She came over to me and put her hand on my shoulder. "You know, you can still give your baby a name and we can handle your baby's paperwork together. Some parents do not wish to do so, but I wanted to let you know what your options are. We can always handle everything on our end, on our own. However, it is something that I wanted to make you aware of so that your able to consider your options," she said in a caring manner. I looked up at her with tears in my eyes which I didn't know was still possible considering how much I had already cried. "Yes, please. I want to give her a name, she deserves a name," I responded.
Yésica came back a couple of minutes later. She had some documents in her hand and wheeled her computer monitor over to where I could see. "For starters, what would you guys like to name your baby?," she asked as she took a seat on a stool. Erik and I looked at each other. "I was thinking that we could incorporate both of our mother's names into her name," said Erik shyly. I nodded, "I think that is a wonderful idea." "How does, Isabela Gizem sound?," asked Erik. I nodded, "I love it. Isabela Gizem Destler," I said aloud. Everyone in the room had a smile on their face as we all laid eyes on her. Yésica nodded, "Very well. I will use the measurements and other information that we gathered at birth as well,"she stated. "In case no one has told you yet, Isabela Gizem Destler, was born into this world on November 25th at precisely 5:45 pm," she said sentimentally.
Today was November 26th, and it was about noon. My baby had been born deceased and I wasn't notified of it until almost 14 hours after her death. I was heartbroken, I wish I would have been told as soon as I had woken up. How long had she been on her own without either Erik or I knowing? I know that she wasn't aware at all, but no one should leave a baby on their own no matter what. Yésica looked over at me, "I know what you are thinking. I have been in your shoes before, I lost my baby almost two years ago. I know that everything that went through my mind is probably going through yours, and I know that my fears are probably the same that you are feeling right now. I just want you to know not to worry, she was never left alone and I made sure of it. When I didn't come to check in on you, I was with her," she said tearing up. I looked up at her not knowing how to thank her but somehow she knew exactly what I wanted to say. I don't know how I will ever be able to thank her for everything that she has done for me, Erik, and Isabela.
A/N: I am so sorry for this sad ending. However, there is so much happiness to come. I tried to give some warning of Erik and Christine's suffering beforehand. (If you really want to know where my warning was, refer to Chapter 21, when a stranger told Christine, "…you will suffer immensely but only love will be able to help heal you and flourish in the future. Don't you worry yourself, Christine. I promise that everything will be okay in the end.") Again I am sorry, but there is much still in store for Christine and Erik. Stay tuned!