Now we are in the epilogue! I hope I am keeping you all interested with this story. I am trying to give you cliffhangers to keep you interested, so I hope it is working. Tomorrow it all ends! But I will have other stories. Thanks for everything.

~Lauren

Chapter 21

Epilogue: Part 1

"Mother!" Gustave runs into the kitchen, followed by Angel and Rose. Eva sees her children and smiles.

"What is it, my dears?"

All the children smirk at each other and then turn back to their mother. Eva smirks back, furrowing her brow.

"What are we going to do for our birthday?" Gustave blurts out.

"We are turning thirteen!" Rose says.

"It's kind of a big deal!" Angel says with a shrug of his shoulders.

Eva giggles and then sits down at the table. Her children instantly sit down too, waiting intently for the answer. "Well what would you like to do?" They all shrug in unison. "Something special!" Rose says with a smile. The boys nods in agreement. They sit for s few seconds, thinking.

"Well what would you kids want? I have no idea what to buy you!" All the kids jump in their sits. They all have ideas. Gustave and Angel seem very happy, but as soon as Rose smiles, it fades and she slumps back in her seat. Eva furrows her brow, but doesn't ask questions.

"I want a violin!" Gustave exclaims.

"I would like some more paint and brushes." Angel states.

And Rose is still slumped in her seat. The boys notice too.

"Rose? Are you okay?"

She picks herself up and sits up straight. "I just don't know if you can get me what I want."

"Anything, darling."

Rose looks at the floor and sighs. "I would like a new wig, mother."

Eva's eyebrows jump. "What is wrong with the one you have?" Rose slips off her wig and holds it in front of her, and for everyone else to see. "I want short hair, mother!" she says with a huge smile. "I would still keep this one if I want longer hair. But I want short hair. I still want brown hair, so you don't have to worry about paying more money for a different color. I just want shorter hair. I don't want to cut this one. Oh, please, mother! I will do anything I can possible can to be worthy of a new wig!"

Eva starts to tear up at this girl's compassion and longing for long hair. Eva smiles at all of them, especially Rose. "I will do everything I can to get all that you children want!" The boys jump up from their seats, high five, and run away, leaving Rose behind. Rose slips her wig back on as the boys run away. She runs up to Eva and hugs her so tight. "Thank you, mother."

They release and they smile at each other.

"Come on, Rose!" they hear Angel yell from the other room. Rose then turns around and runs off into the other room. Eva giggles and just thinks about how happy Erik would be to see this life. The life he could've had. But Eva shrugs it off, suppressing the memory. Eva looks around her house and sees all of her children's things lying around the room. She gets up and walks over into the other room to pick up the things on the carpet.

She picks up Rose's brush, Gustave's sheet music, and Angel's drawings. Eva sits down on the couch, and looks through Angel's sketches. He is truly gifted. He drew Gustave, Rose, Eva, and the house. He draws nature and all his surroundings. They are all so realistic. She gets to the last picture and gasps. Her heart skips a beat. She sees the most realistic drawing…of Erik. How does he know what Erik looks like? Or even about him?

She sets the drawing down, rubbing her temples. "Angel…Angel! Can you come in here?" She yells for him and she soon hears footsteps coming down the hallway. Angel walks into the room. Rose and Gustave's heads peeking out the side of the wall. "Yes, mother?" She holds up the picture for him to see.

"Where did you see this man, Angel?"

"Just in my dreams."

"How long have you been having these dreams?"

"Pretty much, my whole life. Why? Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong, dear. Were these bad dreams?"

"No! Not at all! He was always singing and playing the most beautiful music! They are wonderful dreams."

Gustave walks into the room and chimes into the conversation. "I have the dreams too. I have had them for as long as Angel has."

Eva becomes worried and wonders if this is like the same thing that happened to Christine was she was visited by him.

"Rose? Can you come in here?"

Rose creeps in and stands in the middle of the boys. "Do you see this man in your dreams too?" Rose nods. Eva's eyes bulge and she starts running her hand through her hair. "But I know who he is, unlike the boys." Eva's head shoots up and she looks at her daughter with wide eyes. "Who is it?" Gustave asks curiously.

"It's father."

Eva's eyes bulge, but she immediately stops herself because she doesn't want her kids to get any ideas. Angel and Gustave look at her like she is crazy.

"It's not father! It is just some random man!" Angels yells at her. Rose glares at him. Gustave and Angel then leave the room laughing at Rose's remark. Rose then walks up to Eva. "It is him. I can feel it. Please, tell me, mother. Is this father?" Eva grabs her daughter's hands. "My dear, it is your father." Rose smiles. "But, I don't get how you could possibly know this. He left me when you were only a few days old." Rose shrugs. "I don't know either. If I knew I would tell you." They both giggle. "Please don't tell the boys. They don't need to know about your father. I will tell you all the story someday." Rose smiles once more. Eva smiles back. "Now, go play hang out with your brothers." Rose scurries out of the room, but soon comes back in.

"I also know that father is in America."