Evangeline's POV:

I straightened the dress and smiled. This was our one-year anniversary. Erik and I have been married one year today. I had two things I wanted to talk about. I wanted to tell him about a new addition in our family and I wanted to ask him about Christine. I wanted to know what had happened while I was gone. He never told me and I didn't want to hurt him. In the first few months of our marriage Christine's name brought back bad memories. Now, he could hear her name without flinching. I needed to know. I wasn't going to ask about his past and but I wanted to know what Christine had done. I blushed as I looked at my stomach. I could just imagine his joy when he found out my surprise.

We had moved into the house only a week ago and I carefully walked around boxes. I heard Erik playing the piano and I hurried down to see him. He was planning on selling his music. I knew how much he loved it and I hadn't been sure about his selling his music but he had told me that he needed to support his wife and would do anything to do that. I remembered how proud he always sounded when he called me his wife. Even after a year he was still getting used to calling me that.

I leaned against the doorway of the music room and listened to his playing. He was a true master. I could only imagine how famous he could be if he didn't look like he did. I walked over and placed my hands on his shoulders. He tensed for a moment than relaxed as I massaged he shoulders. He finished and turned around to look at me. I raised my eyebrows disapprovingly. His mask was on. I carefully took it off and laid it on the piano. He took my hands and pulled me down beside him. I wrapped my arms around him and snuggled into his chest. He kissed my forehead and I said,

“Erik, I need to ask you something before we go to the dinner you have laid out.” He looked down at me and I could tell that he was puzzled as to my question. I took a deep breath and said,

“What happened between you and Christine while I was gone for those two weeks?” He sighed lifted me into his lap. Holding me close to him he took a shaky breath.

“Why do you ask?” I smiled against him.

“I want to know.” He didn't say anything for a moment then started to speak,

“I don't know where to begin. You know I kidnapped her. Once I had her in the lair, I told her we would be married. She was terrified. Then Raoul and Daroga came to her rescue. Well, they fell into the torture chamber.” I shivered at the thought of what that room could do. He swallowed before he continued, “I almost killed them and exploded the Opera House. I told Christine she had a choice. Choose me and the opera house would survive. Choose them and everyone would die. It would be my funeral I knew that. But it didn't worry me. I haven't ever been frightened of death. Well, she choose me.” Then I was puzzled. If she had chosen him then why would he had let her go? I waited for him to continue. “Well, I was so insane that I almost killed Raoul and Daroga. I didn't care what happened to them. I knew Christine would try to kill herself when we married. She had told me so. Well, she came to me and begged. Told me that she wouldn't kill herself. I saved their lives for her sake alone. When I came back to the lair...” He trailed off and held me closer if that was possible. I was glad I hadn't asked this of him earlier. He couldn't have handled it. I knew deep down he would always care about Christine. But he would always love me. He took one shaky breath and said, “She was waiting for me. She let me kiss her on the forehead. Don't you understand, Eva? I hadn't ever been kissed before or ever been allowed to kiss someone. This was something I couldn't understand. I broke down then and there. She then called me her poor Erik and I knew that she didn't love me and was only here because of her lover. I let her go. I let her go and I don't regret it.” He held me like there was no tomorrow. I looked up at him and kissed him soundly on the mouth.

“Well, you can't say that you haven't been kissed now?” He smiled and carefully picked me up in his arms. I shot him a glare but he just laughed. He carried me to the dining-room and set me down in a chair. I looked up at him and took his hand. I twirled the wedding ring on his finger and said,

“I am glad you let Christine go. If you hadn't then we wouldn't be here.” He nodded and kissed me.

“I am too. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.” He walked away and fetched dinner. It was romantic and everything one could want. But I had something to tell him and I decided that it was time. I finished eating and pushed my plate away. I took a deep breath and said,

“Erik, I need to tell you something.” He looked at me and his eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure what I was about to say but I hoped he would be glad. I knew it was true. That was the only explanation for how I had been feeling lately. I took his hand in mine and said,

“Erik, I am pregnant.”