Chapter Two- An Unexpected Reunion
AN- Ok. To answer questions....
I got Felicity from the back of my mind, I think it's a pretty name.
As for Angelus, yes, it does sound like Los Angeles, but it's based on an Irish name. Some people know it from the TV show Angel.
And Slippy- The cat is very Slippy, (she steals stuff) that is why they call her that, and Erik keeps her because he knows what it's like not to get chances. (Seconds, thirds, etc)
Christine sighed as she watched her daughter work on her reading by the fire, Angel was laying on the rug nearby, kicking his feet in the air and making gurgling noises. Felicity glanced over and glared at him, then looked at her mother. "Maman, I can't concentrate!"
Christine shook her head. "You can always go to the library. How would you like to be cooped up in a crib all day?"
Felicity kicked her foot. "How come I always have to move? He gets to do whatever he wants!"
Christine laughed richly. "Darling, you must understand that he cannot. He is a baby, and therefore needs help with a lot of things. You on the other hand, are seven whole years old, and should learn that when things don't work out, sometimes you need to lift a hand." Christine gently told her.
Felicity groaned loudly and stormed from the room with her book in hand, leaving her mother to sigh and sit down on the rug next to her giggling brother. "Hello my Angel, are you enjoying yourself?"
The baby kicked his feet and gurgled in response, she smiled softly and ran her fingers over his cheek. "Really now my sweet? Oh you're such a good boy, aren't you?"
Erik watched from the doorway, a soft, lazy smile on his face, and tears forming in his eyes. In all his wildest fantasies back in the cellars he had never dreamed his Christine would become his wife, and he had not even considered the thought that she may bear his children. But here she was, sitting on a rug by a fire in their home, cooing over their third child. Her eyes were lit and tight from her laughter, her cheeks rosy and her smile brightened the room better than any lamp ever would. "You're beautiful." He whispered, loud enough so that she would hear.
With a last giggle she turned her still laughter-creased face, her eyes softening at the sight of him, and the way he was looking at her. Her lips curved and she bent, picked up the child and stood, making her way to her husband, grunting as the still-active child kicked into her stomach. She leaned her head against her husband's shoulder, her free arm sliding behind him. Erik slid his arms around her, so now he held both his wife and son, and she sighed. "If I am, it's because you made me that way."
"Nay cherie, you have always been beautiful." He kissed her temple. "And you always will be," now he kissed the top of Angel's head.
"You two love him more than you love me!" Came Felicity's furious holler, and just as they turned to look, her door slammed obnoxiously.
"I'll talk to her," Christine offered him their son.
"No darling, I'd much rather speak with her. You stay here with him, I'll be back soon I imagine." He released her and made his way up the stairs, and down the hall to his daughter's room. Once he reached the oak door he softly knocked and waited for a reply.
"Go away!"
At this he entered, his eyes soft and kind, and his heart turned as he saw his only living daughter on her bed, tears running down her cheeks. "I don't want to talk Papa."
"Felicity my little angel, do you really believe your mother and I love Angel more than you?"
She sniffled and looked away from him as he sat across from her, she nodded slightly and he kept a laugh down his throat. "Now my sweet, would you like to a hear a story? Well I shall tell you. Not long ago there was a man with a hideous face, who loved a beautiful woman. Well my dearest, that woman managed to look past his face, and she loved him in return, and they went away to a large home in the country and got married. A few years later the woman learned that they would have a baby, and they were very excited, but then an accident happened, and the baby was born, but she wasn't alive. So a little more than a year later they had another baby, a beautiful baby girl just like her sister, and do you know what my darling? Her name was Felicity! Well the couple was very happy to have her, and she grew to be a beautiful little girl and then she had a brother." He stopped looking at his young daughter.
"Papa, are you talking about us?" She asked, her eyes wide.
"Oh yes indeed. You see my dear, we don't love Angel more than you, and we don't love you more than him, we love both of you just the same because we know how lucky we are to have both of you. You are our little angel's, sent from God, and we treasure you more than anything else."
She thought for a moment, then scooted just a bit closer, getting onto her knees in front of him so her little face was level with his. "You know Papa, you were wrong about something."
"Oh? And what was that?" He jumped as she took off his mask.
"You aren't hideous, you're my Papa, and I love you." She kissed his marred cheek and Erik felt a swell of emotion overcome him. He lifted a hand and brought her tiny face to his chest and he held her there a moment while he regained his composure, he took up his mask, replaced it and swung her up into his arms.
"Come, I think you owe your mother an apology." He smiled at her when she looked up at him, and he carried her down the stairs.
"I owe you one too, I'm sorry Papa."
"I know my child, it was quite all right. You just didn't understand." He kissed her forehead and she hopped out of his arms as they reached the parlor.
Christine had placed Angel back on the rug, and had taken to her chair with a book. She looked up at them, her face tired and frail.
"Maman, I'm sorry I spoke to you so, I know you love me and Angel the same." She leapt forward and hugged her mother, who chuckled softly.
"I know baby, why don't you go play with your brother?" Felicity happily did so, and just as Erik sat next to his wife their was a ring from the front. Erik began to stand again but she touched his hand and moved ahead, to show him she would go. Hurriedly she speed-walked to the door and fixed her skirt, then she opened it.
"Can I help you, monsieur?"
The young man smiled lightly and nodded. "I think so Madame. You see, my name is Dominique...."
She tilted her head and he smiled in raw amusement. "That is a common name monsieur, I thi..." She eyed him closely. "Wait a minute..."
"Christine? Darling who is..." Erik froze as he looked out the door. "Dominique!"
Dominique nodded a greeting as Christine moved aside to allow him in and took his coat and hat, setting them in the nearby cloakroom. "Monsieur Flancois, Madame. I was in the neighborhood and thought I would drop by and say hello."
"Have you a few moments to spare? I have some very nice brandy in the parlor..." Erik gestured.
"I have, thank you monsieur." Dominique followed Erik into the parlor and smiled at the young girl on the floor who looked on wide-eyed as they entered. At her feet lay her much younger brother, whom kicked about and giggled. "Yours?"
"Yes, yes. Felicity is seven and Angelus almost two." Erik poured the brandy and offered Dominique a seat near the fire. "Quite chilly outside hmmm?"
"Yes very. But it's easy to manage."
"I say Dominique, how old were you when I last saw you?"
"Eleven sir." Dominique sipped the brandy.
"So that would make you close to seventeen?"
"Almost eighteen sir." Christine moved to a less energetic Angel and lifted him, taking Felicity's hand and nodding over to her father. "All right darling, it's late, go say goodnight to Papa."
Felicity nodded and marched up to her father, waiting patiently for him to turn to her. "Goodnight Papa, may you waken peacefully in the morrow!"
He smiled softly. "And the same to you my dear," he kissed her cheek. " Bonne nuit et dormez bien!" (Good night and sleep well)
She trotted off to her mother who took her and Angel up the stairs to tuck them in to bed. Erik smiled to himself as she disappeared from sight, then turned back to his guest.
"Now, what are you doing for a living?"
"Well I wanted to discuss that with you. I'm not sure what I should do. I know I want to work in a field where I can still have music around, but I have no idea what."
"Hmmmm," Erik looked down for a moment, then smiled at the young man. "I can probably get you a job at Angelil's Printing Shop, and you can make rank there. You would be fine!"
"Monsieur, I... This would be wonderful, how could I thank you?" Dominique stood, his eyes bright and his smile wide.
"If you could bring me some more of your mother's work, I would greatly appreciate it."
"Of course, monsieur!"