Chapter 11: Settling Down to Live a Peaceful Life
3 weeks later
Charlotte entered the bedroom quietly and then shut the door. She looked over and saw Erik standing by window.
" Erik," she said
He turned to her and she walked to him.
" Your suppose to be resting," Charlotte softly said
" How can I rest, if my wife is not with me?" he asked
Charlotte smiled and grabbed Erik's hand, she stood beside him and he opened the window.
" Perhaps you would like to go outside today?" Charlotte asked
" Yes, some fresh air would be good," Erik answered
She kissed him and pulled a different attire out and laid it on their bed.
" Perhaps a different color today?" Charlotte said, " No more black my love."
" It remains apart of me," Erik said
" Not if I am with you," she said, " You look dashing in black, but it doesn't suit you."
Erik smiled and looked at her as she lifted a dark blue attire.
" This attire will suite you fine," she said
She stood in front of Erik and looked up at him.
" Shall I match you my love?" she asked, " So, you do not feel out of place?"
" No, what you're wearing is fine," Erik said with a slight smile
Charlotte smiled and first dressed his wounds and then helped him dress. She looked at him as she put his coat on and smiled.
" There, you look very handsome," she said
She reached up and kissed him, then wrapped her arm around him and led him downstairs.
" We are going outside, could you bring some hot tea out on the veranda?" Charlotte asked
" Yes, Madame," a servant said
She opened the door and let Erik out first then followed behind him. The warm sun touched Erik's face and he close his eyes soaking up the rays. Charlotte looked at him and smiled seeing he looked happier than before.
" Come sit my love," she said
Erik looked at her and walked over where she sat. They looked at the healthy lands that Erik owned and Charlotte smiled.
" This is what I need," Erik whispered, " fresh air."
Charlotte looked at him as he sighed with good feelings. She reached over and grabbed his hands.
" Oh, Erik how I love you so much," she said
Erik looked at her and brought her hand to his lips. Charlotte smiled and stood up, then walked to him. She knelt down at his side and he looked at his young wife.
" Dearest husband, what would make you happier," she asked
He saw something in her eyes which made him wonder.
" I am perfectly content my dear," Erik answered, " You have made me happy, there could be nothing more."
" I think there can," Charlotte replied, " Something you long for…life after yours, my love."
" What is it my dear?" he asked
" I think you desire a child to carry on your name, carry on your business," she replied
Erik could only feeling a sudden tingling feeling ran through his body. He nodded and grabbed his wife's hand.
" Yes, this house has not heard a child's laugh in many years," Erik said
A sadness entered his eyes as he stared at the lake beyond. After losing Alexandrie he lost his only son, a year later, it stabbed him in the heart.
" A beautiful child," Erik said
Charlotte smiled and stood up and kissed Erik, she stared at him with a pleasant face. Erik put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. She wrapped her arms around him and let his head rest just below her bust. She leaned her head on his, as he just held her there. Erik closed his eyes as he took in her warmth of her gentle embrace.
After tea they continued to sit outside, taking in the fresh air, Erik stared out seeing that he wished to build something more to the estate. She looked at him and Erik stood up carefully.
" A garden perhaps," Charlotte said
" Yes, a maze garden," Erik said
Charlotte stood up and walked over to him and looked out.
" A rose garden," she whispered
2 months later
Erik began the garden and Charlotte watched him as he worked. She walked out with him around the reconstructed land and smiled. Erik covered her eyes and stopped her when he got to the surprise.
" For you my wife," he said
He removed his hands and she smiled seeing the lake, had a bridge over it, which lead to a gazebo, painted white, with stain glass. He then turned her head to the boat that sat in the lake. She smiled and looked at Erik.
" It's beautiful," she said, " Oh, Erik."
Erik walked her over the bridge and walked her into the gazebo, inside was a place to sit. She looked at Erik and smiled, then kissed him.
" I want this place to be your special place, where you can come and think," Erik whispered
He kissed her lips and wrapped his arms around her.
1 month and 2 weeks later
Erik paced outside of the bedroom, making servants give anxious. The door opened and Erik stopped and the doctor walked out. He shut the door and then turned to Erik.
" What is wrong with her?" he asked
" She's exhausted nothing more," the doctor said
" Exhausted?" Erik questioned
" Yes, tired, fatigue, drowsy," the doctor said
" I know what that means, but what caused it!" Erik exclaimed
The doctor looked at Erik and said, " I will tell you downstairs, there is seating down there. You will need it Monsieur de Bellamont."
Erik followed the doctor downstairs and showed him to the sitting room.
" Now speak man," Erik said
" Please, sit Comte," the doctor said
" Tell me now," Erik impatiently said
" Your wife is with child, from what I can tell she is in her third month," the doctor said calmly
Erik stumbled slightly and sat down almost missing the chair. The servants pushed the chair underneath him.
" With child?" Erik asked
" Pregnant, going to have a baby…your going to be a father," the doctor said
Erik lightly shook his head and laughter escaped his lips. The servants looked at Erik thinking he was crazed.
" Congratulation Monsieur," the doctor said, " I shall return in a month to see you wife again."
Erik stood up and shook the doctor's hand and then walked him out. He turned to his servants and they smiled
" Tell the cook to make the best meal, it's time to celebrate," he said
He walked off and the servants looked at their master, seeing his smiling very differently. Erik wrote to Charlotte's parents inviting them to dinner, and announcing that Charlotte was with child. He signed it and sent it to a servant, then entered the bedroom. Charlotte rested peacefully and he sat beside her, then leaned over and kissed her head.
" My dearest wife is with child," he whispered, " I will give my life and always watch over them."
As the evening came, Christine and Raoul arrived and Erik greeted them. Christine looked at Erik seeing he was well since the last time they had seen him.
" I see your hard to kill, Erik," Christine said, " My daughter is well as well."
" Would you doubt her happiness, here in my home?" Erik questioned
" I wonder sometimes Erik," Christine said, " There have been many nights she cried for your well being."
" Weeping is a sign of happiness," Erik said
" You're an Optimist Erik," Christine said
Erik smiled at Christine and then shook Raoul's hand, seeing there was no longer a grudge between them. Erik led them to the sitting room as they waited for Charlotte to grace them with her presence.
" Madame wishes to see you, master," a servant said
" Excuse me for a second," he said
He walked off and Christine looked at Raoul, she grabbed his hand.
" Our daughter is with child," Christine said
" I'm happy for them both," Raoul said
Christine smiled and kissed Raoul, she touched his cheek.
" We need to support them as best as we can," Christine said, " After all their our family."
" And we will," Raoul said
Erik and Charlotte entered and Christine and Raoul rose. Charlotte hugged her mother and Christine congratulated her.
" Oh, Mother I'm so excited!" Charlotte exclaimed
" And you should be," Christine replied
She looked at Raoul and smiled, he hugged his daughter and congratulated her with all his heart. Erik looked at them and nodded, seeing there was no unhappiness. A servant came and announced that dinner was ready.
" Shall we?" Erik questioned
Christine wrapped her arm around Raoul's and Charlotte's arm around Erik's. They sat down and Erik raised his glass to them all and Raoul raised his glass to the couple and wished them luck. They sat down and ate and talked for hours and then continued in the sitting room. Charlotte and Christine listened as their husbands actually spoke to one another. Christine and Charlotte sighed and then smiled seeing there was no more warring between Comte and Vicomte.
Christine and Raoul soon departed back to their cozy estate and Erik took Charlotte into his arms. He looked at her and then got on one knee, she looked down at him. He grabbed her hand and kissed it.
" I am pledging my loyalty to you and this child, I will not lose sight of what means the most to me," Erik said
Charlotte knelt down next to him and embraced him.
" My angelic gargoyle," she whispered, " You are a gentle soul."
Erik embraced her and then lifted her into his arms. He kissed her and she smiled deeply, she removed his mask, seeing he wore it in the presence of guest; but never around her or the servants. He carried her upstairs to the bedroom and shut the door, the servants sighed as they watched their master become just as happy as they were, when he was happy.
3 months later
Charlotte was being taken care of by a nurse, Erik continued to work hard, to continue the steady flow of money. He received a large amount of money from Christine and Raoul.
Dear Erik,
We have given you this money because it is Charlotte's dowry. I hope it is to your liking seeing that this money will go to my daughter's child. We look forward in celebrating the arrival of a new member to the de Bellamont family.
Sincerely,
Vicomte de Chagny
Erik folded the letter and nodded and placed the dowry in a safe place. He walked down the hall to a room and opened it. The room was filled with sweet smells and repainted a lighter color. A cradle, and everything a child needed was placed in the room. Erik made sure that he hired a least two nurses to care for the child when he nor Charlotte could. He wanted the child to feel safe in its home. He was filled with worries and excitement and at night he was the one up. He would stare out the window, out in the distant as though he was waiting.
Erik's dreams came to him of the past, he would fall back to it often. Holding his young son in his arms, while his wife played the piano.
Flash back
Erik knelt down and set his son down and helped him balance. Alexandrie looked at her son and husband as she finished playing a piece. She looked at Erik as he talked so delicately to their son.
" Tristan," Erik said
The boy looked at his father and smiled and Erik let him go.
" Erik, he's not able to walk," Alexandrie said
" He's going to have to learn," Erik said
Their son took to steps and then fell and Erik smirked.
" We all learn and fail at the same time," Erik said, " And when he's older he will have to learn to live without us sometime."
Tristan looked at his father and reached up to touch the white mask. Alexandrie looked at Erik and Erik turned away.
" He is to young to understand such a disfigurement," he said
" Like you told me?" she asked
" Yes, like I told you," Erik replied
Alexandrie knelt down and turned Erik's face towards his son and removed the mask.
" He is your son Erik, he must see what lies beyond the mask," Alexandrie said, " So he will grow up loving these people, who call themselves the devil's creations."
Erik looked at his son and Tristan stared at his father and then reach up. Erik leaned over and picked up his son, the boy gently placed his hand on Erik's face. He then leaned his head on his chest, closing his eyes.
" He doesn't care what you look like, he knows that you are his father, his only father," Alexandrie said, " Erik don't wear this mask, it scares me, because I can't see your face…your true face."
End of Flash back end
Erik turned on his side and looked at his wife and smiled slightly. He touched her cheek as she slept with ease.
" I will be here always," he whispered
He kissed her cheek and then fell back to sleep with ease.
3 months later
Erik stood at the door waiting to hear sounds of a baby. He couldn't be with Charlotte as she was giving birth, he stood close to the door. He turned away breakfast and tea as he waited, for news. He sat down at a chair that the servants brought up. He fell asleep leaned against the door and suddenly he heard cries of a child. He awaken, to the sound of the door. The doctor walked out and Erik stood up and the doctor gave a smile.
" Is she alright?" he asked
" She's fine Monsieur de Bellamont, she is a very strong young woman. You have nothing to worry about," the doctor said
" Can I see her?" he asked
" Yes, go and see your wife," the doctor said
Erik walked in and slowly entered and Charlotte looked up at Erik. She smiled and Erik walked over to her.
" Erik, you're a father," she said, " A father to a beautiful baby girl."
" A girl?" he whispered, " where is she?"
" Right here Monsieur," the nurse said holding the bundle of joy
Erik looked at the baby as the nurse placed the child into his arms. He looked at her and breathed deep and Charlotte looked at him. He couldn't stop staring at the little girl, Charlotte sat up a little and Erik placed the baby into her arms.
" What do you want to call her Erik?" Charlotte said
" Aurore, the morning light," he said
" Aurore de Bellamont," she whispered
Erik kissed his wife's head and then his child's head.
" Your beautiful my angels," Erik said
2 weeks later
Celebration circulated around the estate, champagne was served to welcome the baby into the de Bellamont family and de Chagny family. Erik stood beside Charlotte as she held their child in her arms.
" To my guest, I welcome you to my home," he said, " To my wife and our daughter and to her beloved parents."
Christine and Raoul looked at Erik and raised their glasses. Charlotte kissed Erik and Erik looked at his daughter. He took her into his arms and kissed her head.
" May her life be filled with opportunities," Erik said, " And may her parents help her understand this time."
Erik and Charlotte walked around and were congratulated. Charlotte looked at her mother and father and hugged them.
" She's beautiful," Christine said, " Just like you."
She kissed her daughter's cheek and looked at Erik, and he kissed Christine's cheek.
" I trust you will take care of her," Christine said, " Don't be afraid anymore Erik."
" I won't," he said
Raoul looked at Christine and then placed his hand on her shoulder.
" Don't be strangers any longer," Raoul said, " Come and stay with us sometime."
Christine held her grand daughter and smiled, she felt tears fall from her face.
" She will grow up just as you did Charlotte," Christine said
As the celebration went Erik and Charlotte visited with their guest, and as it ended they wished them a safe journey. Erik came up after the last guest left and went to the nursery; seeing Charlotte looking at Aurora as she slept. Erik walked over to her and wrapped his arms around Charlotte.
" She will be fine my dear," he whispered
" I'm so afraid to leave her," she whispered
Erik kissed her and pulled her close to him and Charlotte turned around to face him. He kissed her and she kissed him.
" Monsieur de Bellamont are you trying to seduce me…again?" she joked
" Again?" he question, " No my dear it was you who seduced me first."
Erik kissed her passionately and Charlotte kissed him. Erik led her out the room and had the nurse do the rest.
" Don't worry about a thing, we are happy for once…let us settle down and live a peaceful life," Erik said, " Because we are content with each other."
Charlotte kissed him and nodded.
" Hush my sweet angel and let us rest," she whispered
THE END