Erik excitedly hurried closer to the figure he still wasn't sure was real. He had hallucinated before… can it be happening again? But Florian simply can't cling to the air…

- Chris… Christine…! – He stuttered, reaching out for her, and he was able to feel her smooth golden locks in between his stick like fingers.

- I am sorry I did not write to you before. – Christine gave him an apologetic little smile. – I was… I was just not well without all of you and when Mahtab wrote you all were not going to be with us on Christmas either… I missed you all too much and wanted to come.

- I understand, dear… - Erik hugged her after Flo got off of her finally- But… how…? I mean it is too dangerous for you to travel all alone here and…

- Oh, but I wasn't alone. – Christine smiled. – I was accompanied by more people.

- Who? – Erik got a bit of suspicious.

- Don't you want to go home first? – Christine teased. – I bet you need a bit of rest after that glorious solo.

- You won't believe me, but I feel like I was reborn here. – Erik stated. – I am in great health.

- Oh, now comes to mind. – Christine poked Erik's shoulder teasingly. – Thank you for all those long letters I could not stop reading them.

- Erik is sorry, he did not have too much time and you… you know I hate to write… - He apologized, trying his best to search for excuses.

- I love you just like that. – Christine sighed a bit dreamily and tapped Erik's shoulder lovingly. – You are my husband. Until death do us part.

- I could not be happier… knowing this. – Erik admitted in tears.

Flo was happy to see his beloved Mama again, and he was touched his parents still loved and adored each other so dearly and deeply, after so many years together. The next year there will be their 20th wedding anniversary, and he could only hope so that he will once find a woman he could once marry and live with her like Papa and Mama does. They seemed to be so happy and in love.

- I want to have a dozen of kids. – He stated as he told his parents his thoughts going through his mind, later in the cab.

- Just make sure you are able to feed them. – Erik nodded. – Otherwise I don't mind, you do as you wish. Yet now I would appreciate if you focused rather on your concert and career. Women come later.

- I am afraid you will have grandchildren sooner than you would like it. – Christine whispered in his ear with a small chuckle.

- I hope not. – Erik replied shortly.

As they returned to the flat where Erik lived, he was surprised to see Flo nearly lost his mind with happiness as he ran into the main salon. He could not imagine what caused such a bliss as he was just removing his coat in the hall, but soon he could catch a few excited words:

- Monsieur, you are here!

As he stepped in, he noticed the boy sitting on the floor, hugging the cat.

- How does the animal get here? – Erik asked with astonishment.

- I smuggled him here. – a familiar, kind of deeper and mature voice rang in the air, and as Erik turned his head to the side, he noticed the youngest boy sitting on the sofa.

- Noel! – He gasped from being happy and shocked at the same time.

- Yes, Papa, I am here. – He grinned and walked to his father's side. – It is hard to admit, but I missed you. All of you.

- I missed you too, son. – Erik playfully messed up Noel's hair, as he knew well that the boy wasn't too much fond of hugs and kisses mostly. Noel liked to play the role of the macho man who hides his emotions and lives only for science and learning new things. – And who else is here? – Erik looked around.

- Belle. – Mahtab carried the small girl to Erik, handing her to him for a kiss.

- Did you travel here with the children and the cat? – Erik turned to Christine.

- And Raoul. – She admitted. – He was the only grown up man with us. I did not originally want to accept his offer, but he told me he would not have a calm moment, knowing I was alone with the children.

- A stubborn little girl, really. – Erik sighed. – And now you are here, my love, what do you wish to do?

- The same as in Paris: taking care of my family and watch my son's first concert.

- I want to watch it too. – Noel stated.

- Music. – Belle grinned in Erik's hands. – Dance.

- Yes, yes dear. – Erik nodded happily, hearing the small child talking happily to him.

- She wishes to be a ballerina, I think. – Christine smiled.

- A ballerina? – Erik snorted. – No, I would not think so.

- Why? – Christine asked with surprise.

- Because ballerinas are not the best of occupation. She tortures herself to no end from a young age, only to end up as the well- known lover of some twenty years older Count or such, until some nobleman finally marries her.

Christine gasped at that and a long silence followed Erik's reasoning. Oh the ex Ghost knew well he spoke before he thought, yet again. He was too proud to apologize yet, and wished to act like nothing has happened.

- I am honestly happy he did not have to hear that. – Christine bit her lips, thinking of Raoul, who, to Erik's luck, was staying at a hotel. That nasty remark was clearly about Count Philippe and la Sorelli, and Raoul would surely not leave it as unheard.

- Why, what is wrong with being lovers? – Flo asked suddenly.

- Go to your room. – Erik barked at him- And practice.

- As you wish, Papa. – He walked to the room at the left hand where he slept and his necessities were stored, including his violin.

Thankfully the flat was huge. Erik only accepted the luxurious ones and he was determined to have two separate bedrooms for him and the Daroga, and a room where Flo could live and practice in peace, a salon with a grand piano, a bathroom with hot and cold running water and water closet. It was even bigger what he finally did rent as it met all of his expectations, but they had two extra bedrooms other than the master bedroom with a double bed for well, Erik alone at first, but as Christine moved in, she was happy to occupy the other half. The Daroga had one small room for himself with a single bed, it was nothing much, but he was happy to have it. He would not have wanted to sleep in the same room with Erik either, just as much Erik did not want his presence. Erik accused him of spying on him while he sleeps, but the truth was the poor Persian wasn't able to sleep at all if Erik was around. The past Opera Ghost did snore loud sometimes, and moderately every time, and it happened he was talking or whipering in his sleep. Christine wasn't too much bothered by that, as she was a heavy sleeper, only if Erik had a nightmare, it did wake her up. Originally Erik wanted to put Mahtab and Flo in the same room, but as they had enough rooms, the two boys were in two different rooms. Now that Noel arrived too, he claimed he had no problem with sleeping with Flo, so Mahtab was still alone in his room, and the two younger boys moved in Flo's room. There were two single beds in that room thankfully, one was used to store Flo's suitcase and violin case mostly before, but now it became Noel's bed. The smallest bedroom in the apartment finally became Belle's room. She was happy to have her own room in this new place. The flat was a really comfortable one, so no one could complain.

After all of the people and their necessities were sorted out, getting prepared of living in London for some time, and Erik and Christine stayed alone in the master bedroom, she was thinking if she should demand Erik to apologize for clearly hurting the memory of Count Philippe, which was especially a nasty thing, considering the circumstances of his death. Christine did not know about what exactly happened, which fact bothered her even more. She was sent out of the room when Erik told it to the Daroga and Raoul, and she wasn't sure why. Raoul did blame her for the happenings when they broke up, and Erik sent her out of the room…

- Erik, I want you to confess me what have you done to Count Philippe. – She stated suddenly.

Erik turned to her with a huge gasp, nearly dropping the glass he held. He shook his head firmly.

- You just said nasty things about his memory. – She continued. – I want to know what had happened.

- It wasn't my intent. – Erik murmured. – I just… did not really think of him.

- It does not matter anymore, you did talk about him. And I demand a reply.

- That is why you came after me? To nag me? To torture me? To make my life miserable with twenty – year old questions?

- You kept it in secret for too long.

- And will carry it to the grave with me. – He retorted.

- Are you sure? – Christine's tone suddenly changed from an accusing one to a bit more understanding.

- Yes. – Erik replied brokenly. – And now what shall happen? Can't we just live happily without you jumping on my every remark? Christine, I am so tired of the constant drama.

He dropped down sitting on the side of the bed, waiting for a new little scenario to happen, as always. He sighed, and closed his eyes, in utter apathy. He did not want to imagine what will happen again, after a few minutes. He was in a foreign country, and the troubles followed him there as well. The ground slipped out from under his feet, and he did not even want to plan forward. He was old, helpless and tired. He buried his face in his hands as he placed his elbows on his knees. If he wasn't considering it extremely rude towards Christine, he would have plugged his fingers in his ears, not to hear anything of the coming speech. He only hoped she won't yell too much. His head was already hurting him.

Christine watched her poor old husband in a sudden wave of compassion. Oh what did she want of that poor old man? He was already 68 years old, and that thing happened nearly 20 years ago. He already confessed it to Raoul, who accepted his reasoning, and they became fairly close acquaintances and helped each other whenever they could. If Raoul was able to accept and forgive, it is really not her job to judge him. Can the past be buried? What is the use of it anyway? If they don't have a problem otherwise, why to generate them? This poor man tried and did his best to be the best husband and father he could be. And at each time they had a more serious misunderstanding, Christine would say something rude, Erik would say something rude in return, and something totally disastrous would happen. Erik's convulsions flashed in front of her eyes for a second, then storming out of the room, a car accident… after a life Erik had before, should they do this over and over again? Shall this man have no peace and calm finally in his last years? Why does she always have to question his actions?

Erik was unintentionally rocking back and forth on the side of the bed, bracing himself with his arms, trying to compose his thoughts to be able to accept the things he will have to face. But something else had happened than he was prepared of.

Christine sat down next to him, placing her hand on his trembling shoulder and stroke it with love. Erik looked up at her, trying to figure out what was going to happen. He was truly afraid. The worrying wife hugged him close to herself, placing his skull head against her breast, stroking his right ear. She knew in these long years, that it was going to settle his nerves. Erik chose not to say a word yet, as he wasn't sure if Christine was still angry with him or not, and he did not wish to test it out. Things were going to happen anyway. They were sitting like that for a time when Christine finally asked.

- Can you hear my heartbeat, Erik?

- I can. – He replied shortly.

- And what does it say? – She went on.

- I… I honestly… am not sure what… what do you wish, Christine… where are we going?

- I would suggest you to clean out your ears if you can't hear it. – Christine chuckled.

Erik looked up with surprise. He was prepared of a fight, and yet Christine was joking around with him, just like nothing had happened before.

- Christine…

- Sssssh! Erik… I wish to tell you something.

- Go on. – He looked at her with a hint of hope.

- Once a clever man told me life was too short to live in anxiety. – She started.

- Truer words never spoken. – Erik nodded. – Yet he is not that clever. If he was he'd watch his mouth better.

- Oh Erik… do you know what is the truth?

- What?

- That actually your statement about ballerinas… is true. – She sighed.

- I told you. – Erik laughed out, half crying. – But if our daughter wishes to be one… it is fine with me.

Christine sniffed as well, hugging him close to her, and they were hugging and kissing together for a long time, finally learning that huge scenes were better on the stage than in real life. They both agreed that they will not get everything so seriously, and that some things in the past are better not bothered and buried deep inside the back of one's mind. They should concentrate on happy remaining years together – as neither of them will get younger. Christine learned that she does not have to constantly judge Erik, and keep an eye on him to prevent catastrophes, which were rather going to happen if they quarrel. And Erik learned to relax… it was not always what he expected. Things can turn better, not always the worse. He learned that misunderstandings did not mean Christine did not love him anymore, and did not necessarily lead to catastrophes.

They needed nearly 20 years to learn the lesson – it took long, but it was worth it.