Chapter 7: Little Giry and Christelle

9 months later

Erik looked at the baby that Antoinette held in her arms. He had never truly seen a baby and never knew what joy a baby could bring.

" Erik, do you want to hold her?" Antoinette asked

" She's so small," Erik whispered

" She's only a couple of months old," Antoinette replied

The young mother looked at Erik as he held her new born baby girl. Erik looked at the child that was placed in his arms and breathed deep. He could only see new life in his hands.

" Her name is Meg," Antoinette remarked

" Meg," Erik repeated softly

Vincent looked at Antoinette as she watched Erik hold the child.

" Meg," Erik repeated

Vincent kissed Antoinette and then looked at Erik.

" Erik join us for dinner tonight, for a celebration of Meg's birth," Vincent invited

" I'm afraid Monsieur, I must decline," Erik said, " You see I have a piece to finish and I mustn't stop."

" It is only dinner Erik," Antoinette said, " What harm will it do, if you eat something other than bread and wine?"

" And other things," Erik said

" Come Erik, it is for a special occasion," Vincent said

Erik looked at Meg fascinated with the new born. Antoinette looked at Erik and Erik sighed, then nodded. He agreed that it was only dinner and nothing more, that his piece could wait to be finished. Erik placed Meg back into Antoinette's arms and then looked at his domain.

" I shall come, but by my own means of transportation," Erik said, " I mustn't be seen."

Antoinette nodded and Erik looked at Meg, the new born stared at him. Erik felt a settled feeling come over him. He nodded and turned away and Antoinette looked at Erik.

" I have made you some new clothing Erik, some with a little color," she said, " mainly blues and browns, perhaps you will take a look."

" Madame you do know my only color is that of the shadows, I do not prance around in blues or browns, its not me," Erik said, " Forgive my bluntness."

Antoinette nodded and looked at Vincent, she watched Erik lift up something and put it away. Vincent looked around the domain seeing Erik's crafty work still had not stopped, his domain screamed darkness, yet it was a palace of Erik's own, one that would never be discovered unless he brought someone there.

" Then we will see you tonight," Antoinette said

" Tonight," Erik replied, " Good day Madame, Monsieur."

The young couple left with Meg and Erik watched as they vanished. He found an emptiness returned and lifted his hands.

" Such a beautiful child, one a monster like me could never have," Erik whispered, " She will grow up to do good things and find life outside the opera house walls."

Erik knelt down to uncovered his creation and finished painting it. He then placed the a device inside.

" Play for me," he whispered

He turned the key and pulled it from his creation and it began to play.

" Masquerade, paper face on parade…Masquerade. Hide your face so the world will never find you," he sang softly

Antoinette held meg in her arms as she prepared dinner. Vincent walked in and brought firewood for the fire place and then helped her.

" He seems kind of fascinated with Meg," Vincent said

" He's never seen a baby before, nor felt the joy of holding one," Antoinette said

" Erik is afraid isn't he just trying to become a normal person?" Vincent questioned

" Yes, he has a right to be," Antoinette said

Antoinette sat down and fed Meg as she waited for dinner. Vincent looked at Antoinette and she looked at him. Her husband had an idea and it showed in his eyes. Antoinette looked down at Meg and Vincent cleared his throat.

" What if we let Erik take care of Meg while we work?" Vincent suggested, " If one is going to try to be apart of society then why not start him from the beginning?"

" But, Vincent a baby is much harder to take care of then say an animal," Antoinette said

" Come on just for one day," Vincent said, " He will be the perfect guardian for Meg when you are dancing…he won't let her out of his sight."

Antoinette sighed and then nodded, with a reply of hope in her voice.

" Let me take Meg and get her ready, you finish up," Vincent said

Antoinette placed Meg in her husband's arms and then finished up dinner. She then dressed into something new before Erik's arrival.

Erik slipped a black cloak on and slipped a hood over his head. The evening lights died away and night time took its turn to shine. Erik walked out and walked for three blocks to the Girys. Erik knocked on the door and looked around as though to make sure he was not being watched. The door opened and Antoinette stood there with a soft look on her face. She invited him in and he kissed her cheek, she took his cloak and hung it on a coat holder. She walked him through the house to the dinning room, where dinner was set. Vincent came in and greeted Erik with a strong handshake and they sat down to dinner. Erik looked around the home and felt a warmth come from it, he felt at eased here inside this home. They enjoyed a conversation together and found a lot in common with one another.

Later, there was a dessert and wine where they sat in the sitting room. Antoinette got up to see to Meg.

" Erik, Antoinette and I have talked this over and we wish to have your opinion in the matter. You see Antoinette wishes to dance again and will start back soon. Myself, I have many clients now and soon we will be thinking of getting a nanny for Meg. Well, we were wondering if you would take Meg during the days we work, Antoinette will be there if you need help," Vincent said

Erik felt his heart beat against his chest and he thought for a second.

" We thought since you are already so fond of Meg, that you would say yes," Vincent said

Erik looked at Vincent and nodded.

" I wound be honored to take little Giry," Erik replied

" Then it is settled, you shall be her guardian when we can not be there," Vincent said

Erik smiled a little and Antoinette walked out with Meg in her arms.

" She's such an active child," Antoinette said, " Perhaps a future ballerina."

Erik looked at Meg and Antoinette looked over at him. She smiled and placed Meg in Erik's arms and Erik had that look in his eyes. The look of amazement that a child rested in his arms without fear.

" Meg," he whispered her name, " Sweet Meg."

2 months later (1854)

Erik looked at Meg and watched her as she just slept in the cradle that he made for her. He turned the key of the music box and played it, while he wrote his music, but looked up to make sure she was still there. Erik remained in that same spot for hours and watched the child.

" So sweet and innocent, what happens when she wakes up," he thought

Erik slightly circled the cradle as Meg continued to sleep. He soon became weary himself and fell asleep not to far from where Meg was sleeping.

Hours later, the chimes rang and Erik opened his eyes, he scrambled to his feet to silence them before they woke Meg. It was to late Meg began to cry and Erik sighed, he lifted the child into his arms. He held her and rocked her in his arms as he walked around. He covered Meg's ears as the chimes seemed to cease. He remained in the room and listened for footsteps, he then heard a voice.

" Erik, Erik," a soft voice called

Erik walked out with Meg crying and trying so hard to silence her. Erik stopped and saw Christelle standing there, in his domain.

" Christelle," he whispered

" I'm sorry, I know you told me not to come see you, but I told Madame Giry that I knew you. She sent me to help you with her daughter," Christelle said

Erik sighed and looked at Meg as she cried.

" How do you make her stop crying?" Erik asked

" She's probably dirty," Christelle said

She walked over to him and put out her arms. Erik gently placed her in Christelle's arms, she checked Meg's cloth diaper.

" She needs to be changed," Christelle replied, " Come with me Erik, I'll show you how to change her."

Erik followed Christelle as she showed Erik, the basics of changing an infant. He was unsure of how she knew this, but nodded.

" When was she fed last?" Christelle asked

" This morning," Erik replied

Christelle nodded and went ahead and fed her and then let Erik do the rest. Erik looked at Christelle and thanked her. She looked at Erik and smiled with a softness in her eyes.

" You need a woman's touch, I'm here for you Erik," she said

Erik looked at her and then sat down as he rocked Meg in his arms. Erik looked at the young child still fascinated with her. Christelle sat beside him and watched him rock her.

" This life that was created by love," Erik whispered, " Truly this is a miracle."

Christelle smiled and looked at Erik, she was very intrigued by how he saw life. She was 17 and had never seen someone so fascinated with the miracle of life.

" I want a baby," she whispered

Erik looked at her and looked away and Christelle looked at him.

" What about you Erik?" she asked

" I would want one more than anything," Erik whispered, " I don't think there is a woman who can look past the mask and like what she see."

" If you let a woman come close to you, then perhaps there would be a chance." Christelle said

Erik turned to her, his white mask covered his repulsive looks, but there was something it couldn't hide. Christelle breathed deep and reached up towards the white mask. She traced it and Erik watched her hands, then she ran her hand through his hair. Erik felt her gentle touch push away the disguise he wore for so long. She looked at his mask and ever so gently removed it to reveal his disfigurement, from his head to his top lip. She could only show what truly felt, but in her heart it was not his face that she was interested in; it was his heart.

Erik turned away and Christelle reached over turned his head to her. He looked at her and she gently traced his face. She bit her lower lip as though to hold back what she wanted to say. Erik breathed deep as her hand touched his head.

" Your not repulsive," she whispered, " Your perfect."

Erik stared at her and breathed deep, he felt a sudden pound in his chest feeling that this woman before him was the one. She was just like Antoinette and just as beautiful as well.

" Erik, you need to come out of this cellar and up to the surface," Christelle said

" I've been there and I don't want to go again, I want to be here," Erik whispered, " Where I have built my palace."

Erik turned away and slipped his mask on and then the finely made wig to cover the baldness his disfigurement cursed him with.

" Meet me on the rooftop Erik," she said, " I want to give you something, that might change your mind."

She walked off and Erik looked at Meg sleeping in his arms. He sighed and got up then laid her in the cradle by his bedside. He laid down and fell asleep once more until he was awaken by a soft pair of hands.

" Erik, wake up," Antoinette's voice whispered

Erik moaned and turned to his side away and Antoinette sat beside him. She stroked his head and looked at him.

" Erik," she whispered, " come on."

Erik opened his eyes, but did not turn to her.

" She saw my face," Erik whispered, " she was not disgusted by it."

" Who?" Antoinette asked

" Christelle, your understudy," Erik whispered

" I have no understudy Erik, I never had one," Antoinette said

Erik sat up and looked at Antoinette and she touched his face.

" No understudy?" Erik asked

" Erik you must have been dreaming," Antoinette said, " There is no young girl name Christelle."

Erik breathed deep and looked about his room and he breathed deep. He placed his hands over his face.

" But she was real, she helped me with Meg," Erik whispered, " She was before me."