Erik's Domain

Chapter 7

A/N: Can you believe it? It's been, what, a month since I've updated? Everyone who has been waiting for this story, all hail my friend, Jenni. (Laura Johnson). She was the one who nagged me into writing it, and also gave me LOTS of ideas. She also came up with the 'Raoul jumps off a bridge' idea, although it was my idea he jump off the Paris Opera House. All hail Jenni!!

Where did we leave off?

"Erik..." she took a deep breath, "This may come as a shock to you..."

"I think I can handle it," he said smoothly.

"Charsnotrowson," she said hurridly.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to speak more intelligibly, Christine, if you expect me to understand you."

"Charlsnotraoson."

"Say that again?"

Christine took a deep breath. "CHARLES...IS...NOT...RAOUL'S...SON!" She said loudly.

Then she bit her lip.

"What?!"

"CHARLES IS NOT –"

"I heard you, I heard you."

He sat back in the chair and put a hand to his face.

"Erik..."

"I'm fine, my dear," he said, "It's just somewhat of a shock to find that I...have a son!"

"Yes, Erik." Christine said softly, "You have a son."

XoOxXoOx

That was just a little memory jogger for those of you who haven't read it since I last updated...in over a month!!

Now to the current story!!:

"I have a son!" Erik exclaimed. "A son! Me! A son!"

He seemed about to pick up Christine and twirl her around, but stopped himself.

"Where is he? Who is he? How old is he?" he asked eagerly. Suddenly he hesitated. "He doesn't...doesn't look like me, does he?" he asked anxiously.

"He's very handsome." Christine assured him, "Just like you."

"What do you mean?" Erik asked tremulously.

"He looks like you. He is as handsome as you are inside." Christine said.

"How is he? Where is he?" he demanded.

"He's at home, with Raoul." She stated, "They're having dinner. He's fine, Erik. In perfect health."

"How old is he?"

"He's...13 now." Christine said, after a moments thought. "It seems like only yesterday he was a baby." She smiled at the thought.

"I want you to tell me all about him." Erik said. "Everything."

"I've got a better idea," Christine said, eyes shining, "How would you like to meet him?"

"Meet him?" Erik whispered, reaching out as if to touch Christine's hand, but he drew back.

Frustrated, Christine grabbed Erik's hand, pretending to ignore the tremor that went through him. "Yes, Erik. Isn't it natural for fathers to meet their sons?"

"What about Raoul?" he asked quietly.

"Don't worry about Raoul, I'll handle him." she replied.

Erik finally stood up, breaking the contact with Christine, and prompting from her a sigh. "You would really bring him so I could meet him?"

"Yes, Erik!" Christine said, frustrated. "I will bring your son, here, to the Paris Opera House, where you can meet him."

After a pause, Erik finally said, "Where and when?"

XoOxXoOx

Walking in the door to the dining room, Christine circled around the table to where Raoul was sitting, and gave him a 'hello' peck.

"Charles was just talking about wanting to go back to the Opera House and look around a bit," Raoul said, offering Christine a piece of bread. She politely declined it, and asked to see Raoul privately, for a few minutes.

Curiously confused, he set down the napkin that covered his lap, lest he get any food on his precious suit, and followed her out of the room. Charles continued to pick at his food. He was never very interested in eating, which Christine figured must have come from his father.

Turning her attention back to Raoul, who stood with a puzzled expression on his face, she quietly informed him that Erik was still alive.

"What?" Raoul asked in a fierce whisper. He was as aware as Christine was that Charles could easily listen in on their conversation if he felt like it. He had hearing like a cat.

"You heard me," Christine replied.

"So, this was your little expedition, today, was it?" Raoul hissed, "You told me you were going shopping!"

"I was." Christine said, displaying the small bag she still held in her hand. "I bought a book."

"You were gone for three hours, and all you got was a book?" Raoul was now turning red. "How long were you with Erik?"

"2 and ½ hours." She replied with shrugging indifference.

"Christine, we've been married for 13 years! And now you decide to go back on your sacred vows?" he demanded.

"Raoul, I fear you're jumping too far to conclusions. I only went for a nice chat, to see how he was, and to inform him that Charles was really his son."

Raoul was speechless for about 4 minutes, gaping like a fish. Finally he straightened up.

"You mean to tell me, that you have had an affair?" he gasped, "Christine, I thought we meant something to one another! How can you have done this to me?"

"I never did it to you, Raoul. Charles was conceived before we even got married. I did it for love. Don't you love Charles?" Christine asked him.

"I would love him more if he was actually my son!" Raoul shouted furiously.

Christine was furious. "Don't you dare insult him that way! You raised him, and you loved him! He was as much your son as mine!"

"Well, now my son has been taken away from me!" Raoul yelled. "Everything I love has been taken from me, by ERIK!" he uttered the last word with a hiss.

Christine turned away from him, sniffing. He was instantly sorry, and went forward to put his arms around her, comfort her, and kiss and make up, as they always did after a fight. But this time, as soon as he laid his hand on her shoulder, she whirled around and put up her arms, her eyes flashing. "Don't touch me." She warned.

Raoul felt helpless. Erik had taken everything away from him, his wife, his son.

"There's no reason left to live." Raoul said to himself, sadly.

Christine looked at him pityingly. Raoul felt the roles were switched. Christine had once loved him, and pityed Erik. Now she loved Erik, and pityed Raoul.

"Christine, I feel there is no reason left to live." He announced solemnly. "I will end our love for good the same place it was declared. I am going to jump off the Opera's roof."

And with that, he quitted the room, Christine looking after him and suppressing the need to laugh. In some ways, he could be so immature! She wasn't going to worry about him now. She knew him, Raoul could really be a wimp sometimes, and he would never really jump off the roof. She doubted he would even make it to the Opera House, before turning back around to beg Christine's forgiveness.

Leaving the room, she went back to Charles, who was still picking at the food on his plate. He averted his eyes, and she knew he had heard every word.

"Who is my real father?" he asked quietly.

Christine got herself a cup of tea before answering.

"Would you like to meet him?"

Charles slowly looked up, and nodded.

My Domain

Love it? Hate it? Again, thank you Jenni! [bows] Who was the inspiration for this chapter, and probably several more to come. Please, thank her if you've been waiting forever for this chapter.

Reviewers:

LadyArika: Thanks for the nice review! Sorry that I took so long to post!

Laura Johnson: THANK YOU JENNI!! Now you have to update YOUR stories...bwahahahahaaa! And I wanna brownie!! [pouts]

Sharonarnotdon: Thanks for the review!! I'm glad you liked it!

More coming soon!! [eerie music plays]