p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0bce8f1e8000c03320e0a060d432aac4"December was usually a happy time for the holidays - especially in the beautiful Paris, France - but Christine spent time watching over her child. He grew so fast and yet she did not. It began to worry Raoul the most, as he so badly wanted another child. Christine waited in the hall of the physician's office with Gustave by her side playing with the toys. They had been at it for months and yet she did not swell. Christine began to question everything./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="59ff1f2471572490c259d2a7b568d3d7"Raoul sat on the wooden examination table and watched patiently as the physician received test results on his fertility, "Your wife very fruitful, is she not?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a838400091f4f105a578a2d3ef62d6f5""Yes. She is a young woman and even her physician says she is very capable."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7c6968145db3822921c662a0a7bae2d2"Raoul's physician, Dr. Johnathan Brixham, gave a startling look to his patient. He looked back at the test results and shook his head - impossible! A white lie would have to calm him down, "These things happen quite often, you know. You bare a son and then-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="07bc00b9138cbdad5073846cc1f77e21""What is the prognosis?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e2d9111dad39d6cb7deea42228e8809b"Brixham looked to the test and set down his spectacles. He raised from the seat and gave Raoul a friendly pat on the back, "It could be very wrong, but it appears you are infertile."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1e3a2a9152f109aaa43d257b20bc7af5"Christine became suddenly nervous as she looked at Gustave. Every day he seemed more and more different. More intelligent and yet somehow frightening. He shared the toys with another child and they seemed to bond happily. Christine noticed something very familiar about the other child as well - a baby girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Meg left a check up room and gleamed at the sight of Christine, "Oh, dear friend," she rushed over for a hug and Christine beamed up to her, "I thought I'd never speak to you again!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5a8ba966ddb39904bb67b357c331db50""Your child is just adorable, Meg. Who is the lucky fellow?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="04cad867d390d3db46c4611372d98b24"Meg smiled and looked down at their children who played together harmoniously, "He is an old friend. A boy I knew from the ballet academy."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="881b2bba163530dd19c3f848810416de"Christine knelt on the floor beside Gustave and Meg behind her girl. They watched the little ones playing together and Meg looked down at the pocket watch in her hand - most obviously her husband's, "Oh, dear. Come, Fleur," Meg picked up her little girl, who whined at the instant she put the toy down, "Sorry, Christine. Louis will kill me if I am not home in time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="acd06d0ad3128a27d0d080038596e1e2""That's alright, Meg. Enjoy her now while she is little!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8809b44f55fc207203a28cca9b8b4623""I will!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0ea36a30d5673449dccf32b61394fba8"Christine looked to Gustave who watched in a sad slump as Meg left with her daughter, "It was fun. Why she go, Mama?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2a658e14dd221ecdb2bff97edf894e4a""Mama's are always busy, Gustave."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="20017131d2b3d15e85ff138114000b8a"Raoul stomped up to them, saying nothing, but enough to startle her up to her feet. Christine took Gustave's hand, Raoul shaking his head in disapproval. Gustave felt the tension and looked longingly at the front door. He felt trapped between his parents, "Get to the carriage."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="560aac45fd21c2da4be454f032346c85"Gustave followed behind mama closely, looking back at Raoul. He stood there a mess, obviously angry, and Gustave felt as if everything was his fault. He was responsible for Mama being sad all day and now for Papa being angry at them. All he wanted now was to be at home and play on the piano./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cea589dbc0a993691b820bb7e115d405""Is Papa going?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="93c749f8ca917ae1d30f4daf20770cee"Christine looked down at her child, his inquisitive, sweet face a reassuring sight. She sighed, looking down at her gloved hands, and then kissed her child on the forehead, "I am not sure," she tussled his hair and he weakly smiled at her, "It does not seem like it," Raoul dismissed the carriage and waved at them through the window as he went the other direction, "It looks like Papa just needs some time to himself."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="03860e22a3bc68291d1c9f97ee43fd48"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/em/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="799d14018b133b98724cc8f1630ccf3e"Christine sits beside the Christmas tree packing up a gift for her husband as Gustave stands by in his Sunday best. Christine sets the wrapped gift under the tree and straightens out her red gown, the golden sparkles getting everywhere. Gustave looks to his grandparents and they nod at him in approval before Emille approaches Christine./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="497ffe730806837067ed6f82c8f733da""Raoul will be late for the photographer. Do you know where he is?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="52ace5e8a9a5a0dec80958b7ac511723""I last saw him at the physician's-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e4745ac28ba5fbb44cdd1593c2ad0dcc"The front door shuts loudly and Raoul comes inside just behind the camera man. He smiles at Christine and switches coats for the photo, "Sorry I am late. I had to take care of something."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9a41ef4f1428d7f6ee9f0b07d69fe94f"The photographer set down the collodion and began preparing it for use as they gathered around the tree./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e168e0e85e48b4d5f8cca236a7530306""Alright. Wives to the right of husbands and sonny, to the right of Mother," he threw the black cloth over his head and nodded at the picture, "Alright. 3, 2, 1..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="37a9d2c3db379614e7e0a9ad557a2cef"Christine looked blankly at the camera as the flash went off and a gust of smoke blew out. Gustave sat down by the tree and looked up at all the decorations as the photographer sent his men out with the camera, "The photograph will be ready in a few days time. Thank you for your payment, Monsieur de Chagny."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a0bde968fc3eae246759c8597ffc631d""Anytime, Georges."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ff86c8e8654f4e8adfff8edf0aaedeef"Christine grew happier when Raoul's parents finally left. They were always overbearing on her - criticizing her son and her past lifestyle - but she had to stay silent and accept their rude comments. She picked up one of the sugar cookies she baked and handed it to Gustave who then went off toward the piano after eating./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ec35bfeef962889cb91a87b199a6925c""You know, it is very odd, Christine," she turned to her husband, worried about what had happened in the office to make him so angry, "Doctor Brixham diagnosed me as infertile today. You wouldn't happen to be holding secrets from me, would you?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6e932011a3254328e252fb7be04d7ec7"Christine looked away from Raoul for a moment, facing the fireplace. She lost herself in the flames - in the warmth - but a sudden blow to her cheek rendered her conscious and a fire's warmth resonated with her face, "Answer me, woman."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d7c9e81d52e236c5e488980633a16aa6""I- I," Christine felt tears begin to roll down her face - now was not a time to be weak, "Raoul... something happened to-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a828e4659ddda4b9e5456beb44c489f2""Who was it?"/p
p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5a7e17955767e305ece53e478a33cf7a"Christine became silent until she saw a figure in the window. She was not sure, but it seemed familiar like the looming figure of a... ghost. Her skin turned pale and Raoul controlled his flaming anger to comfort her, "Christine?"/p