Night fell without any sign of her husband. The last boat from London would have arrived hours ago. Unless he made a detour to the pub, he would have been home by now. Christine breathed a small sigh of relief and drew the rose from her vanity again. Its outer petals were already wilting, but it still harbored the same sweet scent as before.

A soft knock at the door made her gasp in shock. She left the rose at the vanity and slowly went to the door. It was only Louis, the head butler of the house. Despite his job title, he wasn't much older than fifty in age. The thick silver hair on his head swept back into a tight ponytail, its length always dragging along the high collar of his uniform. He considered her through his dark eyes before bowing at the waist and holding up a small envelope. Christine studied it for a moment before finally taking it from him and closing the door without a word. The man always unsettled her between his intimidating presence and penetrating gaze. After only a week in his company, Christine had made it clear to Raoul that she had no desire to see the man ever again. Raoul obliged and confined the butler to areas of the house that she did not frequent. Nevertheless, their paths crossed every now and then; it was inevitable.

Christine locked the door behind her and tore open the envelope. The harsh and messy penmanship was recognizable to her immediately.

Christine,

I regret to say I am still in London and will not return until tomorrow. I know I left you on less-than-admirable terms, and for that, I apologize. When I arrive tomorrow, I trust you will be more willing to have a discussion with me, rather than accuse me of ridiculous notions. You are my wife, Christine. I would not have married you if I did not love you. Take the evening to consider all I have done for you in the past-including the risk I took by marrying you.

Raoul

Christine gripped the letter and fought not to tear it to shreds. Tears of anger burned her eyes as she read the words again.

"You son of a whore," she growled. Without another second's hesitation, she stormed over to the fire and threw the paper into the flames. "The risk you took? Oh, you foolish bastard. You have no idea the risk I took, and not even by choice!" Christine clenched her fists and screamed at the fire, as though Raoul would actually hear her. So violent was her tirade, that she didn't even hear the window open.

"Christine?"

She whirled to find Erik standing there, his face drawn and full of uncertainty. In his hand was another rose, but he barely held it alongside his leg, the blossom resting against his knee. He took a step back when he saw the anger in her eyes. Christine clenched her fists and walked up to him.

"Is that what I am? A risk? Or am I just some prize to be won?" She shoved at Erik's chest with an angry cry. "Is that why you've returned? To satisfy your pride? To defeat Raoul once and for all?"

"Christine-"

"Is this how you've planned it all along? You would sneak into my bedroom-again-and this time, have your way with me? Am I still just some stupid girl chasing after silly notions of love?" Her voice wavered and the tears would not be stopped from bursting forth. With a cry of despair, she sank into the nearest chair and wept into her hands.

Erik knelt at her side and pulled the hair from her face. "My sweet Christine... Never think of yourself as a prize to be won."

"That's what you called Raoul's life. A prize."

Erik bit his lip but didn't retort. "A different man. I was...terrified of losing you."

"Erik... Why are you here? I'm a married woman. I left you behind in that pit. Why don't you find another? One that will love you as you deserve."

"I've never wanted anyone else, Christine. And I never will. I love you too much. When I'm with you...my soul doesn't burn."

Christine tried to harden her face to stop more tears from flowing, but failed. She collapsed into his arms and pressed her ear against his chest to listen to his beating heart.

"Raoul won't let me go. He will kill you to keep me."

"He will have to let you go. It's your decision. I won't stand by and let him dictate your life."

"No," she snapped while shaking her head. "I won't have you two fighting over me again. It nearly killed all three of us last time!"

Erik brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead. "All right then. Words only. But if he raises a hand to you..."

"He never has."

"Desperate men can be driven to violent acts of desperation. You've seen it."

Memories of the noose around Raoul's neck flooded back to her mind. "Please...no more violence because of me," she begged.

"I promise."

"I know he hates me."

"Christine," Erik breathed, "you know that's not true. He loves you. Enough to brave my realm of certain death beneath the Opera to rescue you."

"That was then. But now... First it was the social suicide he committed by marrying a lowly dancer. That possibility had never occurred to him before. He was blind to it. And then...when we were told I can't have children..." Christine's voice shattered with a sob and she collapsed into Erik's arms. "He doesn't want me. Because I'm broken."

Erik's breath caught and his arms tightened around her sides. Pressing several kisses to her head, he wept with her. "No. It's not true."

"It is. The doctor said I can't."

"But that doesn't make you broken."

Christine shoved away from him and crossed the room. The small music box on her vanity still lay open, the music silent and in need of winding. From its confines, she lifted a small photograph of a beautiful young woman with light-colored hair and a soft look on her face. In her arms was a small child, no older than a year. Next to them both was a young man with piercing eyes and a full beard. She smiled at the image, even as tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Ever since I was little, I wanted to have children of my own. I wanted a picture like this one, but of me holding the baby. My mama...she was so sweet and kind. I only want a child of my own to love, as she loved me. But now..."

The photograph fell from her hand and fluttered onto the vanity. Erik was already next to her and carefully picked it up with one hand. He wrapped his other arm around Christine's waist and held her close.

"A beautiful family," he whispered with a kiss to her cheek.

Christine didn't hesitate to lean against him, her eyes fixed on the music box. "My papa always said I would make a wonderful mother, that I was so much like my mama. He said my children would be the most fortunate in the world." She bit her lip and closed her eyes against more tears. "A dead dream..."

"No. Dreams never die, Christine. They're only lost." He kissed her temple and said, "Your father was right. You will make a wonderful mother. You have the heart for it."

Christine choked back a small sob and pressed her face against Erik's shirt front. "What if...we were married...and I could never have children? Would you...hate me for it?"

"Never. I would cry with you and mourn for children we would never meet. But I would never stop loving you. I would love you even more."

Christine gripped his upper arms at that and stifled a cry of pure despair. "I never should have left you in that labyrinth."

Erik set the picture back into the music box and gathered her into his arms. "You had to. I wasn't the same man who stands before you now. I had to lose you to finally gain some clarity."

"But what happens now? Am I even allowed to change my mind? I hate Raoul. I...want a divorce. Is that even possible?"

"I don't know, Christine. I'm afraid I know very little of the world these days. I haven't been a part of it since I was a child."

"Will you...stay with me? When he returns? I don't want to be alone with him ever again!"

Erik considered it at first but quickly nodded. "Out of sight. But I'll be here."

Christine released a shaky breath and finally looked up at him. With a small smile, she removed his mask. Seeing his entire face made her smile grow and she kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Angel."

Erik leaned down to give her a gentle kiss. "When can we expect to see the Vicomte again?"

"Tomorrow. I don't know what time."

"Would you like me to stay the night? Or I can return before sunrise."

"No. Now. I don't want to let you go."

He nodded and gathered her into his arms. "Come to bed with me then. In the morning, I'll be here, waiting for the sunlight."