Christine's POV

The next morning, I woke in the chair I had been sleeping in when I heard someone rummaging through the kitchen. Curious, I threw on Erik's robe and headed out to find out what was going on. That's when I found Erik standing in the kitchen dressed for the day and attempting to make breakfast with one hand clasped over his hurt side.

"Erik?"

He spun around, sweat pouring down his cheeks.

"Christine, I…I wasn't expecting you to wake so early."

"You can't be serious about this, Erik?" I approached him, reaching my hand up to caress his cheek.

"I have things that need to be done, Christine." he said. "It's closing day."

It wasn't my place to argue with him. We weren't married, I was just guests and nothing more. If Erik needed to go out into his park, who was I to tell him otherwise.

"I shant be gone long."

"Here, why don't you relax and I'll make you something to eat?"

He nodded and took a seat at the table, letting out a huge sigh as he sat. As I was making him tea, a flash of parchment laying on the counter caught my attention. I peeked behind my back to see that Erik was reading the morning newspaper, giving me the chance to take a look. It was a program of some sort…dated for today's date. "Phantasma's Closing Show." There was a line up of all his freaks and their performances, acrobats, and dancers….but the final act had yet to be filled.

"Erik, what's this?"

I held up the program, only to have him snatch it from my grasp.

"It's nothing." he assured. "Just a little closing show I do every year."

"Really? What about the final act? It hasn't been filled yet."

"Usually Meg fills that spot, but since I fired her, I haven't gotten anyone to fill it."

I turned to continue making his tea, only to spot him seeming so sad. I haven't seen him looking this way since the night I left him in Paris. Was it me? Was Gustave and I staying with him making him unhappy?

"Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

"If mine and Gustave's presence is making you unhappy, we'll leave on the last ship tomorrow morning."

"What? Leave? What would make you think that I don't enjoy having you here?"

"You've been acting unhappy for the past few days."

Despite his pain, Erik stood to his feet and grabbed my hands, and gently pressing a thousand kisses to my knuckles.

"Never. Oh, Christine, how could you ever think that your presence would make me unhappy? These past few days have been the happiest of my life."

"You don't act that way."

Erik pressed another kiss to my knuckles, lingering this time.

"Oh, Christine. I've been so upset about the show tonight. I haven't a closing act…a headliner."

And then I said the thing that not only brightened Erik's spirit, but made him smile for the first time in days.

"What if I sang for the closing act?"

Erik's face slowly lifted from my hands, his eyes gleaming with joy.

"You mean it?"

I nodded. "Yes, and you won't have to pay me. I'll sing because I wish to sing."

"You, Christine are the most beautiful woman I have ever known."

"What time should I be at the opera house?"

"Six…I must go now." he seemed excited now that he had a closing act.

"Wait…" I giggled. "Don't you want your tea?"

To be kind and appreciative, he took a few quick sips before quickly kissing me on the cheek.

"Thank you, Christine, it was delicious."

And then he was on his way. I knew right then and there that I had not only made his day, but possibly made him the happiest he's ever been. There was a different man standing before me, a different Erik than the one I had known years ago. But, I wasn't sure if this warm feeling inside of me was of love, or just happiness?

Gustave's POV

Early the following morning, I snuck out before my mother or Mister Y were up. The three freaks had asked me to come see them before sunrise the day before and I had agreed. After dressing, I quickly headed out the door, back to the same tent I always found them at. Once I was there, I found them sitting around drinking tea and eating Phantasma breakfast sandwiches, which reminded me of how hungry I was.

"Where did you get those sandwiches from?" I asked.

"There you are." Miss Fleck said. "Didn't think you were going to make it."

"I told you I would come."

Mr. Squelch handed me a wrapped sandwich. "Here, we bought you breakfast."

I took it from him, quickly unwrapping the warm bagel stuffed with bacon and oozing with egg yolk.

"So what are we doing today?"

"Finishing cleaning up for the winter before tonight's show." Dr. Gangle said. "We needed the extra help since your father fell behind."

I sighed. "Do we really have to? I thought you were bringing me here to show me something cool?"

"More like moving props to the opera house for tonight's show."

Miss Fleck placed a huge ball in my hand as we began to walk towards the opera house. I didn't want to move boring props around, but decide to do so….anything was better than being cooped up in Mister Y's house. Though, when I was halfway there, something caught my eye…a beautiful, strange building…It was a tall, black bricked building with a balcony at the top. The door was in the shape of a distorted white mask, making me wonder what could be behind it?

"What is this place?"

I placed the ball aside and walked up to the door, finding it unlocked. The freaks were walking ahead, but I slipped inside, more interested in finding out what this place was.

Once inside, I turned on the lights, only to be met with a beautiful bluish glowing kingdom. There were pieces of a merry-go-round laying about, coaster cars scattered around, even a work table with a robot looking monster laying on top, with its chest cracked open and a few wires sticking out of it.

I was so curious, that I began to walk around, my eyes wandering in amazement. At the end of the warehouse, there was a large organ placed up against a wall. It was the most beautiful organ I had ever seen, with golden pipes and silver skulls carved along its entire surface. My fingers were aching to play it…even if it were only a few notes. I crawled on top of the large bench, sitting on my knees as my fingers placed themselves over the ivory keys.

"Now, what to play?" I thought a few moments, finding myself at a complete blank before even noticing the music score sitting there in front of my own very eyes. It wasn't titled, but there were lyrics written under each note and it seemed easy enough. The organ was loud and it echoed as I played the song.

"I have brought you, to the moment where words run dry-"

I instantly stopped singing as the wall in front of me began to lift itself. I gasped and watched as a new room appeared with the same bluish glow. The music must have lifted the wall. Inside, there was a large, elegant mirror standing there, but what was behind it took my breath away. There, on the wall was a massive framed picture of my mother. On the other side, a bed with a few blankets, walls covered in drawings all of my mother and a huge window looking out at Phantasma. I crawled up on the window ledge, placing my hands against the glass, looking out at Phantasma and beyond, small ships gliding across the ocean from far away. It was beautiful, but who lived here?

A few moments later, I heard the door closing…someone was coming! Quickly, I ran out of the room and hid myself in a blue and white stripped bumper car. When I saw Mister Y walking around mumbling in anger, I ducked my head down, but he had eyes in the back of his head, for he turned around and came stalking over to the car I was hiding in. I pretended like he wasn't standing right beside me, but he grabbed me by the coat collar and lifted me out of the car.

"What are you doing in here?" he growled. "This is my private warehouse, notice the word-private?"

"I'm sorry…" I shuddered. "I just…I just wanted to explore."

Mister Y placed me down and patted me on the head.

"You shouldn't have come trespassing, Gustave."

"What is this place?"

Mister Y moved his arms about. "This is where everything is kept. If we need a coaster car, we come here, if we need an extra horse for the merry-go-round, we come here…This is where I build and fix everything."

"Whoa, really?" I gasped. "You built everything?"

He nodded. "Everything in Phantasma was built from these very hands."

"You built the cars and the merry-go-round animals?"

Once again, he nodded.

"Everything, Gustave."

Excited, I ran towards the monster that was laying on top of the table.

"So what's this?"

Mister Y looked my way.

"Oh, that's an automaton that I use for the haunted house."

"Well, why is his guts all hanging out?"

"He's broken. He's supposed to growl and moan, but I have to order a new part for him."

Mister Y looked like he was in some pain as he walked over to a pile of tarps and tried to lift them. I don't know why, but I felt terrible about it.

"Here," I ran to his side, lifting the tarps before he could. "I'll carry them for you."

"Oh," he seemed at a loss for words. "Um…Thank you. Let's head out then."

As we walked towards the coaster, I couldn't help but wonder about the room I had discovered.

"Mister Y?"

"Yes, Gustave?"

"I saw a room with my mother's picture hanging on the wall-"

"That was where I used to sleep when I had to work late."

"That was a big picture of my mother-"

"Yes…erm…let's tarp up the coaster cars."

As Mister Y began to tarp up the line of cars, I couldn't help but notice how much pain he seemed to be in.

"What's my mother doing?"

He shrugged.

"I'm not sure, she is supposed to sing tonight."

"Again?"

"What do you mean, again?"

"I thought she was supposed to only sing once?"

"Well, I needed a closing act, and your mother offered to fill in. Why are you so angry about it?"

I shrugged. "Because you'll make her a regular act by the rate you're having her sing. Then, we'll never get back to Paris."

"I'm sorry for yelling at you a few days ago." he said apologetically. "I have an ill temper, one that causes me to say and do things that I don't really mean."

He sounded as if he really meant it, but I still missed Raoul. I wanted to go home, I wanted to go back to Paris.

"Could we at least be friends again?" he asked.

"I guess so."

"Well then, how about some ice cream?"

Was Mister Y actually inviting me out to get ice cream? He didn't seem like the man who would do such a thing, but I played along.

"All right."

"Great, I know just the place."

And with that, we were off…Perhaps Mister Y wasn't such a bad person after all.

Erik's POV

I found relief in sitting down under the shaded gazebo across the way from Felton's ice cream parlor. My son was sitting beside me on the bench, licking the chocolate and vanilla swirled ice cream he had wanted. It was funny….When I had asked him which flavor he wanted, he smiled and said "Chocolate and vanilla swirl with rainbow sprinkles and a cherry on top…my favorite." This indeed lifted my spirits, for it was my favorite too. He ordered the exact same thing I always did, down to every final detail about it. It was amazing how many things we both enjoyed.

"Gustave, you're making a mess." I said, noticing the chocolate smudges that were stained on his cheeks. "Slow down."

"This is the best ice cream in the whole world."

"Yes, well, it is pretty good, isn't it?"

"What are we going to do after this?"

Was I hearing things? Did my son really want to spend time with me? No, I must have been dreaming.

"I…I have to finish closing down the park."

"Can I come with you?"

Oh, this boy was making my day.

"If you wish."

"Yeah, the freaks are cleaning up and were trying to make me help them. I'd rather stay with you."

I smiled, handing Gustave a napkin to wipe his mouth.

"Come along then, we have to be at the opera house by six."

And for the first time on my rounds to close down the park, I had someone accompanying me, but not just anyone, my shadow and smaller version of myself, I had my son.

Christine's POV

I did as Erik asked, and made sure that I was at the opera house by six. It was strange, for just a week ago I had been in the same situation, preparing to sing for the man I once loved…and now, here I was doing it again. I found my way back to my dressing room, immediately finding the score to what I was to sing sitting on the vanity. As I sat down to take a better look at the lyrics, the door to my dressing room opened and both Gustave and Erik came walking in. My son had chocolate stains on his lips as he ran into my arms.

"Mother!"

"Gustave, look at you, you're a mess." I giggled. "What have you been doing?"

"Mister Y took me out to get ice cream, and then, he showed me Phantasma as he was closing it up for the winter."

I smiled, it was nice to see that the both of them were spending some time together.

"Did he now?"

I ran m fingers through his blonde locks.

"Yes, it was fun."

"Could Mister Y and I have a few moments alone, pumpkin?"

"Could we explore the opera house?"

"I have to sing first, love. Maybe afterwards Mister Y will take us both around."

"Can I go alone then?"

Erik turned to Gustave, gently pulling at his arm to stop him from leaving.

"Why don't you go up to my private box, Gustave? You could see the whole performance there."

The boy's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes, box number five."

When Gustave left, I noticed that Erik seemed to be in pain. I immediately stood up and motioned for him to sit down.

"Erik, please, sit."

He clutched his side with one hand and held up his other in protest.

"I'm all right, Christine."

But I wasn't taking no for an answer. I pulled him to my seat and had him sit. When I realized there was still enough room for me, I too sat down beside him. As I began to brush my hair in the mirror, I smiled.

"Thank you for treating Gustave so kindly today."

"Please, Christine, you should be thanking Gustave for spending it with me. He was the one who wanted to do it."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm glad."

"Christine, have you heard from Raoul?"

"Not yet. I'm hoping within the next few days, I'll hear something."

"I want to thank you for filling in tonight, Christine." he said, placing his hand over my own.

I placed my brush down and turned to him, caressing his cheek with my hand.

"I love you, Christine."

The mere words pulled at my heartstrings. He loved me. He had said it before a thousand times, but never had the words ever struck me like they were now. If only I could have said the same to him, but I couldn't…I still loved Raoul.

"Erik, I-"

"Yes?" he seemed anxious, as if I were going to say the same back to him, but I couldn't break his heart.

"I can't, and I don't want to hurt you."

Erik stood up, gently brushing my cheek with his thumb.

"Christine, you are so beautiful…" there was a gleam in his mismatched eyes, a beautiful gleam that was shining for me and only me. "I just want you to be happy, Christine."

And then he began walking away…he was walking away!

"Erik, wait!" he turned when he had reached the door.

"Yes, Christine?"

"Take me for a walk tonight after putting Gustave to bed?"

"A walk?" he questioned.

I nodded.

"As you wish…Good luck, Christine. I shall see you after the performance."

And just like that, he left. Yes, I did have feelings for this man, but I needed to know if they were real or not. I knew the only way I was going to know was if I spent time alone with Erik…which was hard to do when I had a ten year old son. So, after putting him to bed, I would walk with Erik…anywhere, just to see if my feelings were true, because if they weren't, I didn't want to hurt him. Quickly, I slipped into my outfit and began putting on my earrings, when all of a sudden the door opened again. I thought it was Erik and looked up expecting to see him walking towards me, only it was Meg! She was dressed in a feather dress, as if she were going to perform.

"Christine?" she blurted out. "What are you doing in here?"

"I am to sing." I said, finishing up with my makeup. "What are you doing in here? Erik banished you."

"I'm the closing act, Christine. He'll soon learn that Phantasma is nothing without my performance. Besides…isn't he home wallowing on death's door or something?"

"No," I stood up over powering Meg's height. "He's here, and waiting for me to close the show."

"He's here? Surely that mugging must have knocked him off his feet for-"

"Mugging?" I growled. "Erik never mentioned that it was a mugging."

Something was up! Mugging? Meg knew more about Erik's beating than I did…Would Meg really? No…she wasn't evil enough to have hired someone to take Erik out?

"Um…Oh, we'll just see about this Christine! I don't even know why you're still here, don't you have a husband waiting for you in Paris?"

"That's none of your business."

'Fucking the master out of pity again are we?"

"Meg!"

The door opened again, a thin man peeking his head in.

"Christine, you're on in five minutes."

And then, both Meg and I both looked at each other, before fighting our way to the door…


DUN DUN DUN! Who makes it to the stage first? Well, I'm back! and with more chapters! Please Please Please review!