Erik stood up and Christine continued to back away until her back hit the wall. She looked ready to cry but she had so many emotions coursing through her at once she found it impossible to summon the strength to cry. She could not look away from him and it seemed like he felt the same about her. This had to be a dream, a more realistic dream then she had ever had, but a dream none the less. Erik said nothing as he went to her.
"I saw him kill you..." she whispered again, praying that she was not going insane. He stopped when he was only a few inches from her and she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. He did not want her to say anything more; he wanted her to feel that he was with her at that moment. He leaned forward and captured her mouth in passionate desperation. Erik felt his knees nearly buckle beneath him. Oh God...he was kissing Christine...his wife...his love...his everything...
He ran his hands up into her thick hair, pulling her closer. He had not meant to reunite with her so soon...he knew this could very well complicate everything, but now that she was in his arms he would not let her go. He pulled away from her mouth very reluctantly to feel Christine trembling against him. She looked up into his eyes and began to cry, running her hands all over him, as if she could not quite believe that he was there in front of her. Erik said nothing as she ran her hands over him, just simply watched the emotions running over her face. She quickly began unbuttoning his shirt, trying to get at something and Erik watched silently as she dropped his shirt to the floor and looked at the scar left from the bullet. She bent her head and kissed it before running her hands over it in wonder... Erik reached up and wiped the tears from her eyes and she leaned into his touch.
"How...?" she whispered, trying to get as close to him as she could. He shrugged and kissed her, not really wishing to speak...only feel. Christine just wanted to be close to him...how could this be possible? She had prayed that he would come back to her, knowing that it was never going to happen...she had watched him die; she had his blood on her hands that night. And yet here he was kissing her, answering every prayer she had ever asked for. God must have realized that she was slowly going insane without her husband. Her father and brother, and everyone else in the house had thought she was getting better after Anthony's little outbreak but she had hid her misery well. At night she hardly slept because of thoughts of Erik, when she ate it was only small portions because she found she could not stomach anything without him.
Erik interrupted her thoughts when he got down on his knees in front of her, laying his head on her abdomen and closing his eyes. Fresh tears made their way down her cheeks as she rested her hands in his hair, trying to keep from trembling. Her wish had come true, her baby would know his father...she was not alone anymore. Erik pressed kisses to her stomach repeatedly, wanting his baby to know that he was there, that he would never let any harm come to him. Christine needed answers because her mind and her heart were in turmoil. Her husband, who she had thought was dead, was kneeling in front of her, alive and well. Christine got down on her knees so they were both kneeling in front of the other. Erik smiled softly and he had never looked more handsome to her, even with the ravaged side of his face bare for her to see.
"How...?" she asked again, needing to know. Erik sighed and looked away for a moment. With a deep breath he told her how he had not been dead when Anthony had dragged her from the room. He told her how Nadir had saved his life and he had not been able to come to her because Delauney had threatened to kill Christine and the baby. Her eyes widened when he told her about Michael's plan and he knew that she was wondering why he was here at that moment if it meant that one of them could be killed.
"You were standing on the balcony...I came to see you, just look at you, and you fainted," he whispered, explaining why he was there. Christine said nothing, knowing her collapse had been lack of sleep. She moved into his embrace and Erik held her tightly to him. She was crying softly just from the feel of his arms around her.
"I prayed every night that you would come back to me, Erik," she whispered. Erik closed his eyes. She did not deserve everything that had happened to her at his expense, but he loved her so much he was willing to brave any hell so long as he was by her side. "I could not sleep...I saw you die in my dreams again and again..."
"Christine, shh, my love, shh, I am right here...It is going to be alright," he whispered. Christine shook her head and Erik cradled her against his chest, rocking gently back and forth, letting her cry. He had no idea of the hell she went through thinking he was dead, and if she could help it, he was never going to find out. How could she ever tell him that she had almost killed their baby in her moment of madness? He would hate her forever and never forgive her...she would not be able to stand that. Erik's hand found her chin and he tilted her head so she would look at him.
"I have to leave before morning," he whispered, wanting to be completely honest with her. Christine began shaking her head.
"No! Erik, you cannot-"
"My love, please...no one can know that I am alive, no one...not until all of this is over," he whispered. Christine could not stand the thought of him leaving in the morning. Of course she would tell no one Erik was alive, he needed her to do this for him and she would, she would do anything.
"I love you," he murmured. Christine managed to smile.
"I love you, too..."