Erik slowly let go of Christine as he eased himself from the bed. He looked at her as he dressed and knew that she had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. He smiled at the memory of making love to her in the foyer. She had whispered to him that anyone could walk in at any moment but that was what made it all the more enticing. She knew how to take his mind off of things for long periods of time and today he thanked her for that. He had had too much to think about for the past few days and she always knew how to make him feel better even if she did not know that she was doing anything of the sort. With one last glance at her he went downstairs on silent steps. Nadir was already sitting in the foyer, drinking a glass of cognac and staring into the flames of the fire. He said nothing while Erik got himself a drink and settled himself in a chair.
"Have you decided what we should do?" the Persian wondered. He did not think this was a good idea but it was not his place to say so. Erik needed to do this if he ever planned on living in peace.
"I am going to have him meet me somewhere and we will end this," Erik murmured. Nadir did not like this idea, liking it to running into a battle blind. They both knew what Michael was capable of.
"And where would you have him meet you?" Nadir asked. Erik shrugged, he had not thought that far ahead. Nadir sighed, this did not put his mind at ease at all.
"It is going to be me or him, this will end it forever, no more running," Erik said. It had been on his mind for the past few days. He knew Christine knew there was something wrong, but she did not ask, which made things easier. He was doing this for Christine and their baby, nothing else mattered to him.
"Does Christine know?" the Persian asked. He did not want there to be any arguments between the two after they had barely found each other after what could have been a very tragic incident.
"No. I am doing this for her."
"You should talk to her about it, Erik, it affects both of you, you are a family," he said standing. Erik remained sitting there long after Nadir left the room. He was immersed in his own thoughts. He would have to think this out so there was no way that he would fail. Christine needed him to much, and he wanted to watch his child grow up. For to long the Delauney family had ruined his happiness as well as the happiness of all the people he loved. He would not take it any more.
"Please do not do anything foolish."
The soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Christine was standing by the door, dressed in his robe, her arms wrapped around her stomach. The look in her eyes was foolish. How long had she been standing there? He said nothing and she simply stood there, not going to him. He had no idea what it would do to her if she were to lose him a second time, the first time she had almost killed their baby...
"I could not bare it..."
Erik stood and went to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. He whispered again and again that he loved her. She had somehow figured out that he was going after Michael, although it could not have been that hard to realize what he wanted to do. However he did not like seeing Christine upset for any reason and he did not want her to be now. He wanted to spend what time he could with her before he was forced to face Delauney. His hand went to her stomach, like it had been doing for the past week. He could not get over the fact that his baby was growing inside of his loves stomach...it had to be a miracle. They broke apart when the felt a pounding on the door. Erik immediately pushed Christine behind him, thinking the worst. Antoinette came out with a candle, frowning, followed closely by Nadir who came from downstairs. It seemed that Meg was a heavy sleeper for she did not come down. Antoinette went to answer the door but Nadir gently got in front of her, fearing the worse.
"Evening!"
"Raoul!" Christine gasped. Erik muttered several curses under his breath when his wife rushed to the young man and embraced him, very happy to see him alright. Erik felt his fists clench and he looked away for a moment. Deep breaths, he told himself. She thinks of him as a brother, you're the one who makes her moan in pleasure. These thoughts did little to quell the jealousy that he knew he should not be feeling. Christine got a worried expression on her face.
"My family..."
"They are fine, sweet, they sent me here to help your fine husband," Raoul said, happy that he was with her now. Christine glanced at Erik, seeing the scowl that was written on his face. She knew Raoul was not the best person to put in the same room with her husband but she had hoped they had gotten passed that.