Hi everybody,

here is now the end of this story, I hope you will like it. Thank you once again for reading, putting on alert, adding to favorites, and, last but not least, for reviewing. Your Support is very much appreciated, and I would never be able to continue without it.

Now, if you have not done so yet, I would also encourage you to check out my new story, "Gazing Across the Wasted Years", which I started last week. I hope you will like that one as well and will continue to support me.

On to the final chapter and please keep in mind that I do not own those characters... ;-)

Chapter 24 – Epilogue

Christine finally calmed down enough so that the two ladies could make her go home with them. She was still quietly sobbing the whole way, though, since she felt so dirty, so sullied by the Vicomte's lustful gazes at her half-naked body. After such a humiliating experience, would she ever feel clean again, worthy of Erik's love?

Mme. Giry and Marie sighed. They understood that Christine would want to clean herself, to rub off the Vicomte's dirty looks, but they also thought that Christine's fear of not being good enough anymore for an honorable man like Erik, was unwarranted. But how could they convince her?

Once home, the two ladies drew Christine a nice, hot bath, in order to make her feel clean again, and to their relief, that bath seemed to somewhat calm her. Afterwards she went to bed and slept the rest of the day and the whole night.

The next day, Christine was over the worst. She still was rather pale and there was a haunted look at the bottom of her eyes, but at least she did not cry or call herself unworthy of Erik's love anymore.

In the afternoon, Nadir came over to say good-bye. There was no need for him and Darius to stay in Boscherville any longer, and they were also anxious to return to Paris, since Erik had promised that he would contact them as soon as he had settled down in England. Since they had not known how the situation with Raoul would develop, and if the latter might have found a way to check on Marie's or Mme. Giry's mail again, Erik had thought it safest to direct any letters to Nadir, whose relationship with him was unknown to the Vicomte.

Christine and Mme. Giry would stay a bit longer in Boscherville, since the fresh air of the countryside seemed to help with Christine's frayed nerves. Christine also liked the chance to be at the place of Erik's childhood and to learn more about her husband's past from both, Marie and Father Mansart.

A few days passed, but Christine still remained quiet and she still looked rather pale. About two weeks after the incident with Raoul, she felt really queasy in the morning and at the thought of breakfast she had to excuse herself. She went to the bathroom and threw up.

Mme. Giry, who had followed her, found her a crying mess.

"Oh Erik, I am nothing but a hindrance to you," Christine sobbed. "It is not enough that I am dishonored and a fallen woman after what Raoul did to me, now you also have to deal with a sick wife! I should never have bound myself to you. I am pulling you down in every possible way. You would have needed a strong and healthy, honorable woman of unquestionable reputation..."

Mme. Giry was by her side in a second, enveloping her with her arms. "Sh, Christine," she cooed. "There is no need to be so depressed. I have already told you that your reputation has not suffered, that your virtue is still intact, and as to the rest..."

She smiled. "I may be mistaken, but there is a chance that you are not sick at all, …."

"Of course I am sick!" Christine wailed. "Now I cannot even hold food down anymore! I am sure it is all because I know of my shame! For no matter what you and Marie are telling me, the fact remains that Raoul saw me half-naked, and all those other men, the Comte, the gendarmes... I have been on display in a totally inappropriate way."

Mme. Giry pulled her even closer. "It was not your fault," she reminded Christine again. "And Erik will understand. Remember,what I told you about when I first met him? How he was forced to show his face to cheering crowds that booed and hissed at him and threw rotten eggs and moldy tomatoes at him? I am sure he felt just as humiliated and defiled then as you are feeling now. He will understand and he will love you even more for what you had to go through. There really is no need to worry so much about this. And as to your other problem..." She smiled again. "I think that may be something quite harmless, and in fact good news..."

Christine stared at her. "Good news?" she asked confused. "That I am feeling sick?"

"We'll be able to tell soon enough," Mme. Giry told her with an enigmatic smile. "Now clean yourself up, I have a feeling we might have to go into the village later on."

When Christine came down a bit later, still very pale and a bit shaken, Mme. Giry had already got the name and address of the local midwife from Marie. Christine was surprised to find both her motherly friends to seem somewhat excited and to exchange looks, as if they were in a conspiracy together.

"If you are feeling better now," Mme. Giry finally addressed Christine, "you can accompany me into the village. I have to buy a few things, and we have to see someone."

Christine did not object, but was surprised, when Mme. Giry was not heading straight to the grocery shop but to a small house in a narrow side-street. A round, friendly woman opened them.

"Hello, I am Antoinette Giry, and this is my foster daughter, Mme. Christine Toureaux," Mme. Giry introduced them. "Are you Juliette Denoit?"

And as the woman nodded, Mme. Giry continued, "we hope that you will be able to tell us, if Christine..."

Juliette nodded. "Of course, of course, come on in, ladies. I will have a look at you, Mme. Toureaux, and then we will know for sure if what you suspect or probably hope for, is true!"

She whisked Christine away into a smaller room and quickly began to examine her. "Are you a doctor, Madame?" Christine curiously asked.

Juliette laughed. "No, of course not!" she replied. "I am the local midwife, but trust me, Madame, I know enough about pregnancies that I will be able to tell you whether or not you are expecting a little darling!"

Christine set up straight. "A baby?" she asked. "You … you think I might be with child?"

Juliette nodded. "Considering your queasiness this morning, it is a distinct possibility. Now let me give you a more thorough exam, and I will be able to tell you for sure!"

Half an hour later, a beaming Christine returned to Mme. Giry, who had been waiting in Juliette's parlor. "How did you know?" Christine asked.

"So I was right?" Mme. Giry retorted, "you are with child?"

Christine nodded. "Imagine, I am going to have Erik's baby! What do you think he will say once he hears those news?"

Mme. Giry smiled. "He will be beyond pleased, I am sure. And what about you? Are you excited about those news?"

Christine laid a hand on her still flat stomach. "A baby," she whispered, her smile deepening. "A little one created by my and Erik's love. I cannot quite believe it, and I had not expected it to happen so soon, but.. this is simply wonderful!"

Xxxx

The news of her pregnancy had miraculously cured Christine's depression. Somehow the thought of the baby and the fact that she had to take care of herself for the little one's sake, gave her a more positive outlook on life again. After all, she had been blessed with a little child growing within her. Surely, this was a sign from Heaven itself that she was forgiven for having been half-naked in front of several men?

Now that Christine knew that she had such an unexpected surprise for Erik, she waited for news from her husband even more impatiently. But month after month passed without a letter. Finally, when the leaves on the trees began to change their colors in early fall, Nadir made a visit.

"I wanted you to have this letter as fast as possible," he sheepishly told Christine, "and I did not trust the mail, so I brought it myself."

Christine quickly tore open the letter and read it.

"My beloved wife,

I did not want to write to you before I could tell you that I have made a home for us, a home that is waiting for you. Now I have finally been able to do so. At first it was not easy for me, because of the mask I could only find work in the wharf, but once I had been able to put aside a bit of money and buy some materials, I was able to manufacture a mask that cannot be discerned unless you are looking for it. Yes, your Erik can now pass for a normal man! And with this mask on and some decent clothes that I also purchased, I was able to secure a job as artistic head of a small local theater. Yes, Christine, your husband is now doing what he can do best, that is, running a theater! Of course that means, you will be able to perform again as well, and I may also be able to compose a new opera for my theater!

I miss you so much, my love, please come as soon as possible! I am enclosing the money for your train ticket. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again and to kiss you, to feel that it was not a dream, that you really do love me and are mine for all eternity.

Your ever faithful, loving husband
Erik"

She smiled. As promised, there were several banknotes enclosed, as well as Erik's address in London. "Can I go to him right away?" she asked. "We have been apart for so long, and he does not even know yet..." She laid her hand on her already slightly bulging belly.

Marie smiled. "You can catch a train to Calais tomorrow morning, from there you have to take the ferry to Dover and then a train to London. But you should not go alone, especially not in your condition."

"I will go with her," Mme. Giry chimed in. "I will make sure you get to Erik in one piece, Christine." She chuckled. "And also, I want to see his face once he realizes..." She pointedly looked at Christine's belly. "Unless, of course, you want to warn him about that in the telegram we are going to send him immediately, announcing your imminent arrival!"

Christine blushed. "I don't want to tell Erik about the baby in a telegram," she confessed. "It seems so cold. But I guess, if he sees me like that, I won't need to tell him anything, he'll know just by looking at me!"

So they only sent a telegram, informing Erik that Christine would depart Boscherville the next day.

Xxxx

Two days later, Erik was nervously pacing the platform, waiting for the train that would bring his love – no, his wife – to him. He had missed her so terribly! More than once he had thought about writing and asking her to come, even though he had little to offer her, then he had chastised himself, told himself that he was being selfish, that at the moment Christine would be better off with Marie or Mme. Giry, than with him, who was just trying to make ends meet. Also, if he had just to support himself, he would be able to save money, and thus work towards a better future for them.

He had fast realized that he needed a lifelike mask more than anything, that such a contraption would open him doors to better-paid jobs, and therefore he had devoted his spare time and his limited resources to the fabrication of such a mask. It took him several months to achieve the desired result, but once the mask was completed, Erik felt comfortable wherever he went. When he saw the ad in the local newspaper that the new owner of a small local theater, a newly-rich man with lots of enthusiasm for the arts but very little knowledge in that area, just like André and Firmin, was hoping to hire an artistic director for his theater, he had applied for the job.

It had been easy for him to impress the owner with his vast expertise on music and the runnings of a theater, and he had been hired at once. His salary was generous enough that he could buy a little house and would be able to shower his Christine with all the amenities she could dream of.

Now that he was able to support a wife, that for the first time in his life he had a real job and was a respected member of society, he had finally dared write home and ask Christine to join him. He was full of anticipation to see her again after such a long separation, yet he was nervous as well. Would she be happy with his achievements? Would she be proud of him? And more importantly, was it really true that she loved him? That she wanted to be with him? The longer their separation took, the more uncertain he became. What if her so-called love for him had only been a figment of his imagination, wishful thinking on his part?

So, when the train finally pulled into the station, Erik was a nervous wrack. True, Christine had replied to his letter, saying that she was coming at once, but what did that prove? Maybe she came only because she thought it was her duty as his wife to follow him?

He need not have worried. "Erik!" He turned as he heard his name called by a voice that he would recognize everywhere. And then he saw her, his beloved Christine, her whole face beaming, radiating with love, making her way towards him through the crowd.

"Christine!" he replied, shoving aside a few bystanders, running towards her. "Oh, Christine!"

And then, they were in each other's arms, hugging, kissing, telling each other how much they had missed the other.

Finally Erik released her and pulled her at arm's length, so that he could look at her better. His eyes widened as they finally fell on Christine's belly.

"Christine, are you...?" He could not complete the question. This could not be or could it? True, they had made love, but … could he, the deformed, hideous demon, actually have fathered a child?

Christine blushed under his scrutinizing stare, then nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "There will soon be three of us."

Erik once again engulfed her into a tight embrace, kissing her reverently on the forehead. "Oh Christine," he murmured, "you do not know how much these news mean to me. I had never hoped to have a wife, and now a child as well..."

"So you like my surprise?" Christine asked innocently.

"Like? I am overwhelmed!" Erik confessed. "I do not know what to say, this is beyond my wildest dreams, this is so... so... utterly wonderful!"

Somebody rather loudly cleared their throat next to them, and as both turned to look at whoever was disturbing them, they found themselves staring at Mme. Giry's smiling face. "I am sorry to interrupt," she told them, "but there are a few things that need your attention, Erik, like for instance Christine's and my luggage..." She gave a pointed look to the porter she had hired and who was waiting at a respectful distance with the bags.

"Of course, I need to hail a carriage," Erik mumbled sheepishly. "We cannot stay here at the station all day..."

Mme. Giry nodded. "That sounds like a plan, Erik," she admitted, then added with a look at his lifelike mask, "by the way, you look quite handsome!"

Erik felt embarrassed and hurried to hail a carriage, telling the porter to follow him. Christine looked at Mme. Giry and giggled. "You know, I had not even noticed," she confessed. "I was just so happy to have him back, to hear his voice, to look into his expressive eyes again, to feel his arms around me, and to see how totally overwhelmed he is about the baby. But your are right, he is handsome, although to the two of us he always was and always will be, with or without a mask."

Mme. Giry squeezed Christine's hand to show her agreement, then the two ladies followed Erik to the carriage.

Xxxx

That night, in bed, when they were clinging to each other, Christine finally found the strength to tell Erik about her unsavory experience with Raoul.

"That dirty pig!" Erik exclaimed. "I should never have left you alone, I should have taken you with me when I left!"

"I could not have gone with you then," Christine reminded him. "I would have slowed you down, it would have been too dangerous. And even though he did see quite a lot of me, and those others, too, he did not touch me or hurt me. It is true, I did feel sullied by his looks alone, and it took me a while to get over it, especially since I feared you would not want me any longer, because other men had seen me like that, but... " She hesitated. "You do still want me?" she finally asked, her voice quivering.

"I will always want you," Erik reassured her. "Just like you want me despite my face, since you know it is something out of my control and not my fault, I will always want you. I would still want you if he had hurt you in any way or if he had seen you completely naked, for just like my face for me, what he did to you was out of your control and therefore not your fault. You did not want to shed your clothes in front of him, that's all that counts."

Their lips found each other in a passionate kiss.

Xxxx

A few months later, Christine gave birth to a beautiful little boy, who seemed like a miniature version of his father without the disfigurement. Erik had been adamant that he would stay with her during the delivery, and despite the midwife's threats to have him thrown out by the police if he remained in the room he had stood his ground. Since his presence had seemed to relax the young mother-to-be, the midwife had finally relented.

When the baby, whose cries seemed to be more melodious than normal baby cries, was put into Christine's arms and Erik could look at his son for the first time, he hardly could hold back tears. His heart was almost bursting with love for his wife and child.

"Thank you, Christine," he whispered, "for everything. For your love, for your trust in me, and for this little miracle in your arms."

Christine smiled at him. "Thank you, Erik," she replied. "For having been my Angel of Music, for having opened me your heart, for loving me the way you do despite everything, and for having created our son with me."

Mme. Giry, who had moved permanently to London with Meg, once she knew that they were needed to help Erik bring the corps de ballet at his theater up to speed, and who had been present at the birth of Christine's child as well, winked at the midwife. "Let's leave the young family alone," she whispered. And both women tiptoed out of the room, just before Erik sank to his knees next to the bed so that he could embrace and kiss his wife and newborn son.