Chapter 3

She crawled out from under the table, and found her father, his face drained of color. She went to the door, and found Christine standing at the doorway. "Rose. I knew you would be here. Erik, she's so beautiful."

"Christine, please don't."

"Papa, what's going on?" she said, clutching to his side.

"I'm going to take you home. You're my daughter."

"No. I am not. He is my papa, Monsieur de Chagny is not my father." She said, pulling herself behind her father.

"No, Monsieur de Chagny is not your father. You're right. Erik is your father. And I your mother."

"What?" both Erik and Rose said, she coming out from behind her father.

"Christine, that was only once. And it was about eleven years ago. That would mean that…"

"Yes. Rose and James are twins. She was born at 11:30 at night, and James at 12:12 the next morning. They're both yours. Raoul never found out about Rose, because I had them while he was away. I had Madame Giry took Rose down to you, and we kept James. Erik, I am so sorry that you had to find out this way, and I'm sorry Rose that I wasn't there for you. I should go; Raoul could be looking for me. I'll see you tomorrow at dress rehearsal, Rose. Au revoir."

She left, closing the door. They stood there in silence, just thinking. 'I really am her father. I have a son. James. So, Christine did love me.'

'I have a mother, and a brother? The countess de Chagny is my mother? And papa really is my father… Wait, that means that Christine and Raoul don't have children…Christine does, with papa. Oh my God! The COUNTESS is my MOTHER! The person I have admired is really my mother.'

He turned to his daughter, saying "Well, I think we can skip your singing lessons for tonight. Um, I am going to bed early. You?"

"No, I'm going to eat, and clean it up and then go to sleep. Okay papa?"

"Sure. I'll wake you in the morning. Don't be late for rehearsals again. Bonne nuit little Lottie."

"Bonne nuit papa."

She quickly ate her chili, and washed her plates. She walked into her room and changed into her nightgown and went to bed.