A/N: Short and not-so-sweet, but I'll update again real soon!
"Erik! Erik, hurry!" Christine called, Madame Giry opening the door for her to come through with Charles in her arms.
Erik bounded up the stairs, his chest already filled with dread.
"What happened?"
"Charles...he..."
Erik didnt need to hear the rest. Charles started screaming again when he saw his father, making Christine's eyes water in sorrow. "I'm so sorry!" She said, her chest starting to heave in sobs. Madame Giry put her hand on Christine's shoulder.
"Why don't Meg and I take care of Charles?" She asked, Meg already waiting to take the boy in her arms. He willingly went to her, and Erik hurried down to the basement with Christine.
"Tell me." He spoke, worried.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it to happen! Please, oh God Erik, don't hate me for turning your child against you! If I had known-" She was full on crying now, her stomach aching from it. Erik quickly took her in his arms.
"Come now, this is not the time to cry. No one blames you. Now tell me what happened so I know how to react to this situation. How bad is it?"
Christine took a deep breath, trying to follow his advice. "There...there was a rip in my dress. Madame Giry hurried me to the seamstress. Meg was on watch, but I should never have left him with her. She's so busy! She has all the younger ballet tarts to tend for-"
"Christine..." Erik reminded her to get to the point.
"Forgive me. But she lost sight of him for a moment, and he met with some of the children there of the girls who work at the Populaire. They must have told him about what the Phantom looked like, because Charles matched you and he, most likely because of your mask. He started to scream that the Phantom was his father. Erik, I'm so scared! What if someone believes him? It's not only you that they rumor about! It's me too! Everyone knows about how you loved me back then. There's suspicion... after all, no one knows who the father of Charles is! What if they believe him? What if they connect it all together? What if they come after you?" With a cry, she grabbed on to him tight, burying her face in to his chest. "I'm so scared, Erik. I'm so scared! They cant take you away from me! Not now! Not after all this!" She sobbed heavily, wetting his shirt.
He held on to her, trying to figure out what to do. "Don't you worry, angel. We'll think of something."
Next he yelled for Madame Giry. "Go back in to town. See what is happening, and do your best to hurry back to inform us."
She turned and started to hurry up the stairs without a word.
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