Alright here we go ... hope you guys are ready... read on my lovelies !
Seven years later…..
Erik and Christine had lived the past years in peace with their children. A month after they had returned home from their honeymoon Meg gave birth to a little girl she named Selena. Months later Christine had announced that she was again pregnant. Come to find out that she soon gave birth to twins. The boy they named Julian and the girl Harper.
On young Selena's second birthday Raoul proposed to Meg who happily said yes. After a year of marriage to Meg Raoul got what he wanted for a long time; a son, a son of his very own. Raoul and Meg named him Jordan De Chaney. Things went well for the family, but now trouble has just stepped foot off the ship.
Her bright green eyes shined in the sunlight and her long red hair was kept in a messy braid down her back. She had come back to take what was hers. She walked into the Phantasma Theater and went back stage to see Meg sorting through papers at a desk.
"Meg," she called.
Meg stopped, frozen where she stood, praying that the voice she heard behind her wasn't who she thought it was. She took a deep breath and turned to the woman behind her. And it was exactly who she feared. "Hello, Kasey." Meg said with a somewhat evil look in her eye.
Kasey sighed. "Meg please, don't look at me that way."
Meg shrugged. "Look at you like what? Like the awful person you really are? I'm sorry I can't just not look at you like that. You deserve this and what ever other look and/or choice words I care to use, because you shouldn't be here."
"Meg please, I've come to-"
"Mama!" Selena called out with Harper running fast behind her. "Mama quick you have to hide us! Gustave's going to kill us!"
Meg turned her attention to the young girls. "Wait, what? Why is Gustave going to kill you? Girls what did you do?"
Selena looked to Harper with her arms crossed. "We, uh, might have, gotten into, Papa's music room. And, we, also might have, found Gustave's new music."
Meg sighed and shook her head. "Go. If he comes by I'll tell him you're father needs him."
Harper smiled and they both hugged Meg tight. "Thanks Aunt Meg!"
"Thanks Mama!" They said as they ran off and Christine came up with Gustave behind her.
"I know you've seen them." Gustave said to Meg. "Now where are they?" She couldn't help but smile. Gustave was so much like Erik when he was irritated.
"I have no idea what they did," Christine said grabbing some papers and then looking to her son. "But you have a meeting with your father in about twenty minutes, so I suggest you go get ready."
Gustave sighed and smiled. "You know what they took don't you?" Christine smiled and nodded then handed him the papers she picked up. His music.
"Why do you think they stopped to talk to Meg?" Gustave chuckled and kissed his mothers cheek.
"Thank you mother. And now I leave. I'll see you at dinner."
Meg and Christine laughed for a moment, then Christine noticed the stranger in front of her. "Meg, you know I hate being rude. Who is this?"
Meg turned to her. "This is Miss Peters." She answered not wanting to give her Kasey's first name. Meg smiled slyly "Miss Peters, this Christine, Destler. She's married to the owner Mr. Y."
Christine giggled "Meg please," She looked to Kasey. "Call me Christine." Kasey managed a fake smile and nodded. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I have a certain Hammerstein to discuss some business with."
Kasey frowned as Christine turned her back and walked away. "He can't be married. Erik would never do that to Eliza." She protested to Meg.
"Well, it happened. Eliza finally convinced herself that you were never coming back, so she told Erik to marry Christine. Do you know what she calls her now? She calls her mother. Christine is more worthy of that title than you will ever be. Hell, I might even be more worthy than you."
"I came back."
"Yes but you're too late. Erik moved on, and so did Eliza. I suggest you leave Kasey. Before you start something you can't finish, and we all know you have a habit of that."
"Just let me see my daughter. Let me see her at least once, and let me hear this from her. Then, and only then, will I leave." Kasey said.
Meg scoffed and shook her head. "You don't get it do you! That girl that was with my daughter is their daughter. That boy that just left that is their son. And Eliza is hers now too. You lost. There is nothing for you to take. It was one thing to see my brother hurt, but to see a four year old go through that, that's where I draw the line Kasey. No one wants you here, and if you aren't gone within the next five minutes I'm calling security." Meg got up close to make sure the threat was clear. "And that's a promise."
Kasey couldn't believe what she was hearing. She unwillingly left, but this wasn't the last they would see of her. She walked out of the theater and then she heard it. The laugh she remembered all too well of her little girl. Kasey turned to see Eliza with Gustave laughing. Kasey hid herself from the girl as they passed by. "Eliza!" A young boy yelled running out of the theater with Harper.
Eliza smiled and picked the boy up as he ran to her. "And what can I do for you today my little Julian?" She asked playfully.
"Papa says you have to take Harper and I home with you so we can ready for the anniversary party." He said happily.
"Alright, but you must behave. Or else I'm locking you in the tower." She said. The tower is what the children had nicknamed the attic. It started when Gustave and Eliza were young and was just passed on to the others.
Gustave laughed at how their little brother squealed at the playful punishment. Kasey watched them as the piled into a cab. She couldn't believe how much her little girl had grown. Her Eliza's skin was still flawless, her hair a darker red than she remembered, but it was still long and beautiful, and her eyes were still as bright as the sun. Kasey didn't want to believe Meg's tail that Eliza approved of the wedding of Christine to her father. She wouldn't believe it until she heard it from her daughter. Kasey didn't want to believe that Erik truly loved this Christine. "They will have me back. I know they will." Kasey whispered to herself. Then she set off to Destler Manor.
Christine walked out of the theater and squealed as Erik caught her around the waist pulling her to him. They started to laugh as she turned around in his arms giving him a kiss.
"We should probably get home. The children should have everything set up by now." Christine said. The anniversary party wasn't for Erik and Christine, Raoul and Meg, or even Phantasma. No it was the anniversary of the official start to their family. That day seven years ago Erik and Christine came home and they all started their lives together, so every year they celebrated. They kept Erik and Christine away from the house and wouldn't let them come home until the theater closed to make the decoration, food, and whatever else they could think of to surprise.
Erik glanced at his watch and looked back to her. "Well, we can get going but there's no need to rush. I highly doubt they're ready for us yet. So, why don't we walk home, instead of getting a cab?"
Christine giggled "I think that sounds wonderful." They started their walk to the house and talked about their day. Like always Erik would occasionally say something romantic and Christine would stop and kiss him. When they came up to the gates they slowly walked hand in hand laughing up the pathway. Erik stopped taking her in his arms and kissed her with so much passion.
"I think maybe we should skip the 'welcome party' and go to the bedroom." He said.
Christine laughed. "You say that every year, but you never mean it."
"Oh, well, I think I do this year." They both laughed. And as Erik moved in to kiss her again he saw something from the corner of his eye and he couldn't believe it. He stopped and turned with nothing but seriousness about him.
"Erik. Erik what's wrong?" Christine looked to see the girl Meg was with at the theater emerging out of the shadows.
"What are you doing here?" Erik demanded.
"I've come to see you." She said with a small smile.
"You shouldn't be here Kasey." He said hatefully. Christine looked at the girl with wide shocked eyes.
"Kasey? This is," Christine couldn't even finish the question.
"Yes, and she shouldn't be here. Leave Kasey. Now." Erik was in no mood to deal with her.
"Erik please." She begged. "I've come back."
"Thirteen years too late Kasey! You are not wanted or need here! Now leave!" Erik yelled.
"I'm not leaving Erik." She argued. "I want to see her." She demanded. "I'm not leaving until I see her."
"Then you're going to be there a long time, because you are not seeing her."
"Erik she's my daughter."
He began to laugh. "Your daughter? Your daughter Kasey? Why the sudden interest to claim her? After thirteen years why now?" Kasey stayed quiet not knowing how to come back. "She's not yours Kasey."
"Well she's not hers either!" She yelled pointing to Christine.
"You leave Christine out of this! This is between you and me. Eliza belongs to me! You left her remember! What are you going to do about the fact that she was left without a mother for her entire childhood?! Go! Leave. Before I really lose my temper."
The front door opened and the young redhead herself came out the door. "Papa!" She stopped when they all looked at her and she saw her. She locked eyes with Kasey for a moment. "Father." Eliza called out breathlessly. "What's going on?" She asked as tears started to form.
Christine walked up the front steps to Eliza and placed a hand on her arm. "It's alright Eliza." She looked to Christine and nodded trying her best to fight back tears.
"Get your hands off my daughter!" Kasey yelled moving to Eliza.
Erik stopped her grabbing her by the waist and pushing her away. "I told you she's not your daughter anymore!"
"Eliza please! I'm your mother! Please!" Kasey begged.
Eliza shook her head. "No." She whispered, then turned and ran into the house.
"Eliza!" Christine yelled.
Erik turned to see his little red flee into the house with tear filled eyes. He looked to Christine "Go inside." She nodded and did as told. He turned back to Kasey. "You've seen her. Now get back on whatever damn boat you came her on and leave." He said firmly. "You've done enough Kasey. I don't want you here. Eliza doesn't want you here. We have a family now. She has a mother she can trust and I have a wife that I know won't walk out on me. Go. Now." Erik turned and left her standing there.
Erik went in the house and went upstairs to find Christine with Raoul and Meg. "What's wrong with little red?" Raoul asked.
"Her mother." Christine said.
"Her what?!" Meg said.
"Why didn't you tell me that was her Meg?" Christine asked annoyed.
"Wait, what? You knew she was here?" Erik fussed.
"Yes, I knew she was here. I didn't tell any of you because I thought she would take a hint and leave. Apparently I was wrong."
"Where is she?" Erik asked. Raoul and Meg both shrugged.
"The tower." Gustave said coming around the corner. "She ran by pretty fast. Looked like she was crying. I heard her go up the stairs and then I heard the door shut. She's up there." Erik nodded. "What happened?"
Erik thought for a moment. He knew Gustave deserved an answer, but he couldn't bring himself to talk about it. Erik simply shook his head and told Gustave they would discuss it later on. Christine and Erik climbed up the stairs to the attic. When they got to the door Erik tried to turn the knob but it was locked. He sighed and knocked on the door. "Eliza open the door." No reply. "Eliza please, unlock the door, please." It was still quiet.
On the other side of the door everything was still, except for curtains at the window. The window that led to the roof was open and next to the window was Eliza trying ignore her father's pleas. "Eliza, darling, please open the door. It's going to be alright, please let me in." All his pleas did was bring more tears. Those same words were said to a four year old once.
The four year old would yell at the door begging to be left alone. But now the seventeen year old didn't need to beg she only need to keep quiet and eventually it would stop. Key word being 'eventually'. For the second time in her life she watched her mother leave. She prayed that she could close her eyes and open them to find herself in her room waking from an awful dream. But no it never happened. Eliza was very much awake and those words echoed through her mind. "She's not yours anymore!" Her father's firm voice screamed. "Eliza please! I'm your mother!" The woman would yell.
Eliza had no doubt that she was her mother. After all the years she had never forgotten what her mother looked like. But after so many years she became thankful for Christine being there. Because of Christine's mothering Eliza realized how awful her mother truly was.
Eliza was no longer a child, but she also realized she was not yet an adult. Whereas once she treasured what memories she had of her mother, now she cursed them. Once she wished for her mother's return, now she wished her dead. Now Eliza was so confused. Seeing her mother there it was everything she wished for as a girl, but then something changed. A look, one simple look could go a long way.