I'm so happy! Fanfiction wasn't working for the longest time and I was finally able to upload my first chapter of this story. This story is going to be a little different from what I'm used to writing, but I hope you guys like it. It'll still have some angst, but it will have it's fluffy moments. The chapters are going to be divided up into months, but I don't know how much I'll like it...I might end up switching back to my normal writing where I put my ^.^ when I want to space stuff...whatever! Enjoy!

Home Is Where I Belong

September

"Brother Erik! Brother Erik!" a little voice called from the window of the nursery. Erik looked up from his place in the garden and smiled at the curly haired child whose head was sticking out of the window. "Brother Erik, will you come play with me?"

"Of course! I'll be up in a second, la petite!" Erik laughed as he watched Christine's head disappear back into her room. He couldn't believe how big she had gotten over the last six months; her hair had become a deep chestnut brown with blonde highlights, her eyes were a beautiful chocolate brown and they still had the strange violet ring around her pupils.

Picking up his violin, sheet music, and mask, Erik walked back into the grand house that Eva and Gustave owned in Sweden; it had two levels, but they didn't have any servants, many bedrooms, many places to hide, and Erik's favorite place in the whole house was the music room. Gustave was a violinist and he allowed Erik to come inside whenever he wanted. Erik immediately fell in love with the room and Gustave and Eva transformed it into his room while they were in Sweden.

Reaching his room, he placed his things on his bed and sighed happily; he couldn't believe how six months ago he was living with his mother, who used to beat him and starve him if he did anything wrong, was now living with a woman he always wanted for a mother. Eva was kind, gentle, and patient. When he would fly into one of his moods, she knew exactly how to get him out of it. Gustave took Erik a little while to get used to; the man was just like his wife, but when Gustave saw him for the first time without his mask on, he avoided the boy at all costs, until Eva had a talk with him and, ever since then, the man had become a father figure to him. Then there was-

"Brother Erik!" Christine giggled, bursting into his room and ran into his arms for a hug. They were preparing to celebrate her birthday in a week and Christine, even though she really didn't know what a birthday was, was still excited! "Brother, why do you have your mask on?" her innocent voice asked, touching the white leather that covered her brother's face. It always frightened her when he wore it because it looked like a scary monster instead of her loving, doting brother.

"I'm sorry, Christine; I didn't even know I had it on." Erik sighed and untied the ties of his mask and let it fall in his lap. Lifting his golden eyes, he saw Christine's pretty smile widen and clap her hands. "What do you want to play?"

"Hmmm…can you play your violin? I love it when you and Papa play!" she squealed, jumping up and down, causing her curls to bounce. Laughing, Erik picked up the wooden instrument that he taught himself to play and pulled the bow across the strings. The song was a simple lullaby that he learned by listening to Gustave play and Eva accompany him. Eva had told him that she used to sing in an opera house in Italy, much against her parents' wishes, and she was very close to becoming the prima donna, until she became pregnant with Christine. At the time, Gustave and I weren't married and my parents nearly disowned me. The day they asked us to come and see them, he proposed. He turned the most terrifying day of my life into the happiest.

Christine struggled trying to get up on the bed so that she was closer to the pretty music that her big brother was playing. She knew that, for some reason, Erik wasn't her real brother, but she didn't care; he treated her so kindly! Finally, Christine accomplished getting one leg on the bed, but she lost her balance and fell off, landing on her back. Erik was lost within his music and he didn't hear Christine until she began to cry. Placing the violin on the bed, he rushed down beside her and scooped her up, as he had seen Eva or Gustave do many times, and rocked her back and forth.

"Are you hurt, la petite? I'm sorry; I should have helped you get up." he whispered softly into her red ear, wiping away some of her tears with his hands.

"B-Brother…"

"Yes, child?"

"The…The song y-you were p…playing…was-was pretty." She choked out and nuzzled her cheek into his bony shoulder. She listened to his steady heartbeat, but as she listened closer, she could tell that there was something off with its pattern…still, that was something that didn't bother her. Right now, she just wanted him to comfort her and kiss away her bruises and hurts.

"What's going on in here?" Gustave asked, sticking his head through the opening of the door, his wavy brown hair hanging in his eyes. He had heard a thud and his daughter crying and he ran as fast as he could up the stairs, leaving his wife stunned and a little more than worried, but it turned out that their worrying was for nothing; Erik was holding Christine close, humming her a soothing tune, while her curly head rested on his shoulder, fast asleep.

"Nothing serious, Gustave. I was playing the violin and Christine was trying to get on the bed, but she fell off and began to cry. She's not hurt, maybe a bruise or two, but she'll be fine." Erik explained, walking out into the hallway to where the nursery was. It was a very simple room, just how Christine liked it; her bed was off in the corner, her dresser and toy chest sat underneath a stain-glass window of a rose and nightingale, and a baby blue rug sat in the middle with music notes all over it.

"Good. Erik, there is something that Eva and I want to tell you." Gustave said as he tucked his daughter into bed for a short, afternoon nap. Gustave smiled as he stroked his daughter's brown hair, she looked so much like her mother and she was so mature for her age! She could run, walk, skip, jump, talk in full, coherent sentences, and she was the most perfect child he could have asked for. Turning to look at his adopted son, he noticed that the boy looked a tad bit pale. "Son, are you alright?" his blue eyes showed concern. Erik seemed to snap out of whatever it was and gave the man a shaky smile.

"Yes , sir, I am. I'll just meet you and Eva downstairs."

"Alright. And Erik, thank you for looking after my daughter; I never seem to have time to play or look after her anymore." Gustave smiled and walked out the door. Erik stood tense in his spot. What did his adoptive parents want to talk to him about? Did they finally realize that having a freak around their daughter a bad thing? Did his…mother track him down? He couldn't go back t her! He just couldn't!

Walking downstairs, he heard Eva's laughter ring throughout the floor. They're probably laughing at me. To think that I trusted these people! Why, God, why? "Do you think Erik will be happy? Oh, I hope he is!" Eva giggled again. What do you think I'll be happy about, Madame Daae? That you'll be sending back to my mother? Well, I'll just leave before you can do that to me! "Erik, there you are!"

Erik shook his head as he heard Eva's voice broke his thoughts and his vision blurred; she looked…beautiful as always. How could she even think of sending him away? Tears began to fall down his cheeks and he felt Eva's arms wrap around his skinny body. "What's wrong, my child? Is something bothering you?"

"No, Eva. What is it that you and Gustave want to talk to me about?" Besides sending me back to my mother?

"Follow me into the living room and we'll tell you all about it." She smiled warmly, grasping his thin hand and led him to where her husband was waiting patiently. Looking into his eyes, she remembered the reasons why she had fallen in love with him; he had wavy hair that barely reached his shoulders, sparkling sky blue eyes, and a strong build that had many of the ballet girls chasing after him.

"Sit down, Erik," Gustave offered, watching worriedly as his wife wiped away the salty tears on his face. Why was he crying? Did he think he was in trouble or something? Erik sat down as two pairs of blue eyes stared at him, a smile in one of them, and concern in the other. "Erik, the reason why we've asked to talk to you is because,"

"I'm pregnant! I'm having another child!" Eva said, placing a hand on her stomach. Erik looked at them with such relief that he felt tears burn in his eyes.

"You're pregnant? Really?"

"I am. Erik, tell us what is wrong. You haven't been acting like yourself since you left the garden earlier." Eva asked, a frown appearing on her pale face. What could possibly be troubling Erik? Wasn't he happy living with them? Perhaps he did want to move back with his real mother. Shuddering at the thought, she placed her petite hand on top of his, trying to comfort him.

"It's nothing, I assure you." Erik's voice trembled as he tried to rise from his seat on the sofa, but Eva only tightened her grip. "I-I thought…I thought you were…sending me back…t-to my mother." He cried, hiding his face from Eva and Gustave. Now that he thought about it, it was silly to even think that Eva would send him away.

Eva stared at the boy in front of her; he honestly was afraid that they were going to send him away! Getting up from her spot next to her husband, she wrapped her arms around Erik's body again and whispered in his ear that he had nothing to be afraid of, he was going to stay with them.

"I'm sorry if you got that impression, Erik. Gustave and I would never, ever send you back to that awful woman. You're now apart of our family and we wouldn't want it any other way."

"I've...I've n-never had...a-a family b...before."

"Now you do." the strong voice of Gustave joined in, placing a hand on Erik's bony shoulder.

"Thank you..."

December

Eva lay on the bed she shared with her husband, trying to distract herself from the pain that was coming from her abdomen. She didn't know what was wrong! She wasn't having a miscarriage, she was barely showing! Please, let there be nothing wrong with my baby.

Gustave had left a little over an hour ago to go find the doctor and her children were right by her side. Her darling Christine had just turned one back in September and her young man, Erik, was seven with his birthday coming up in February. Erik was currently holding her hand and Christine sat on the bed next to her, singing a soft lullaby.

"Everything's okay, Maman." she would whisper over and over again. Christine was such a sweet, loving child; it surprised Eva that she was only one and not five.

"My dear, you don't have to worry about me so much. Papa will be home soon with the doctor and he'll make me all better."

"Then we can play again, right?"

"Right." Eva breathed, falling into a light, painful sleep. Erik sighed, knowing that what most of Eva said was a lie; she wasn't going to make it. She would be lucky enough to get through the pregnancy! Picking up Christine, who kicked and cried the whole time, begging to be with her Maman, they walked out of the room.

"I'm sorry, la petite, but your Maman needs her rest." Erik tried to explain, but all he got was a glare from the tiny girl, whose eyes glistened with tears.

"I want my Maman. You won't let me see her." she said darkly. Wiping her cheeks, Christine ran upstairs and slammed the door shut, completely forgetting about her mother that was trying to get some rest.

Erik stared at the design in the Persian carpet, thinking about Eva, wondering how she had gotten so sick. The day this all began, she was outside watching he, Christine, and Gustave playing in the snow. She had complained that she was getting tired, and they all encouraged her to get some rest, but she said that she could toughen it out. Less than a half-an-hour later, she fainted right in front of them. She constantly had stomach pains and she would get a fever from time to time.

She can't die...she just possibly can't. Why is it when I finally get close to something, it dies or runs away? Erik turned his head at the sound of the door opening and felt a little relieved when he saw Gustave and the doctor step over the threshold.

"Erik, is Eva alright?" Gustave asked frantically. The only reason why Erik would leave his wife's side was if she was asleep or...he couldn't think about it!

"She's asleep. Christine and I left the room so she could rest easier." he answered in monotone, not trying to show the emotions that were about come pouring out.

"Thank you." and with that, the doctor walked calmly into the bedroom while everyone else waited outside, wondering the fate of Eva Daae.

May

"Eva, push! You're so close, darling." Gustave encouraged her, tears forming in his eyes when he saw all color drain out of her face. The doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong with Eva, but from what he could tell, her body was too small and too fragile to harbor another child and that the baby was going to either die within a week after his visit or it would be a still born. Gustave prayed that neither of these would happen, but he wasn't so sure anymore.

"L-Love...please...let me rest. I c-can't...take it." Eva begged, grasping his hand, tears and sweat mingling on her cheeks. Why was this so hard? When she had Christine, it didn't hurt nearly as much as this!

"I'm sorry, Madame, but you cannot rest. If you don't keep pushing, your baby might die." the midwife said tiredly. The poor woman had been in labor for nearly twenty-four hours and she was about ready to give up.

Eva lifted her sparkling sapphire eyes to see Gustave's sad, dull sky blue eyes and she was able to find the strength she needed to give one last push! Letting a scream rip through her throat, she fell back against the sweat soaked pillows, breathing heavily as she listened to a soft cry ring throughout the room. "M-My child."

"Yes, my love, it's our child; our son." Gustave whispered happily, squeezing Eva's tiny, pale hand in his large calloused one. Smiling, he watched the midwife clean up his son and wrapped the squirming baby in a soft white blanket.

"Monsieur, Madame, may I present your son." the midwife pronounced, handing the baby to the happy mother, who took her child into her shaky, but welcoming, arms.

"Look...a-at him. He's...so perfect. Let the...others s-see their...brother."

"Of course, my dear. I'll be back in a moment." he patted her hand, standing up and walking out the door to where his two other children sat. Christine was asleep in Erik's lap and Erik was alert, but trying to fight off sleep. "The baby is here, Erik. Let me grab Christine so you can get up."

Erik nodded sleepily, noticing that the clock read eleven PM. I hope Eva is alright; that was awfully long. Standing up, he stretched his bony limbs and walked back into the bedroom, where he found a half awake Christine snuggled up against her mother's side while Eva fed her baby it's first meal.

"Come here...Erik. Come see your brother." Eva smiled. She hadn't felt so much joy since Christine was born and she was glad that she could spend it with Erik; his gold eyes swam with tears as he looked at the tiny bundle. Who knew that something so little could come out of someone. Did my mother look at me like that when I was born? Did she kiss my forehead? Did she even hold me?

Christine giggled when she saw her brother; he had dark brown hair, almost black, her maman's sapphire eyes, and her papa's chubby cheeks.

"Maman, why is he so little?"

"He's only a baby, sweet-love. You were this tiny when you were born." Gustave explained, kissing his daughter's curly hair. "What do you want to name him?"

"Charles," Eva whispered, falling asleep with her child in her arms.

Well, this chapter is done. Let me know what you think of it and if you like it, I'll update soon! I personally love writing this story because...I don't really know. It's just fun to write about them as little kids. I know Christine seems pretty smart for a one year-old, but Erik was that smart when he was that age! Or at least I think he was...anyway, that's how I'm going to write my Christine and if anyone has issues with it...just tell me! Review please!

^.^