Chapter III- Crumbling Down

Meg bided her time in telling Erik- if she miscarried, he would be even more devastated than she- if that was possible.

So Meg spent a month of waiting, praying, and hoping for the baby. And enduring morning sickness, which proved to be almost as unpleasant as their servants when they said they would be slightly late on their salaries (thank goodness they only had Jean-Paul and Caressa!)

Thus, Meg suffered alone until June 19th. Erik was in the parlor, playing the pianoforte, at the time she decided to bite the bullet and do it. He was composing music. Meg thought the music was up beat in tempo and tune, so she had better interrupt him whilst he was composing music like that.

She stood on the doorframe, feeling a little like Marie Antoinette as she went to the Guillotine. She hadn't meant to do it on purpose!

Come to think of it, how would she tell him? She had never saw any woman say to their husband "Honey, we're going to be parents," or something much more rude, but along the same lines.

Erik didn't even notice her. He just went on scribbling on the parchment that he had drawn musical bars on. Occasionally he would play a note on the pianoforte, and if he liked it, he would draw it in. If he didn't, he normally murmured "No, no, sharp," or even the rare "Should be flat,"

She snuck up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing the back of his head, then the nape of his neck.

"I can't compose if you're doing that," He said, turning his head to look at her. "What?" He looked nervous at the way she was looking at him.

This was going to be a lot harder than she thought. She collapsed on the sofa.

"My God, are the police here?" he said, standing up and pacing around the room.

"Erik," she said, rolling her eyes at her husband. "Don't you think we'd be in the Closet if the police came?"

"Oh," he said. "Meg, I wish you would just tell me! You're scaring me,"

Her mother probably told her father she was pregnant with Meg in a very romantic way. Her husband just worried about the police.

"We're having a baby," Meg said, but Erik was talking over her.

"Really, Meg, I have no idea what's going on anymore… Caressa keeps mumbling how clueless men are, and Jean-Paul keeps giving me furtive glances- wait, what?"

"We're,-well, I am- pregnant. I'm having a baby."

That was just about the time when Erik fainted dead away. Meg shrieked, and the servants carried him to bed, resuscitated him with smelling salts, and then Caressa and Jean-Paul, realizing that Meg FINALLY told Erik, left the room.

"You really mean it?" he said, weakly. "…a baby?" Meg nodded and smiled, and he laid his head on her lap, and she stroked his face lovingly.

"What if I'm not a good father?" he said.

"Oh, Erik," she said, slightly annoyed. "You'll be a fine father, alright?"

Meg got up from the bed with the intent to go make some lunch. He grabbed her hips and turned her around, and buried his head on her stomach. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

Caressa ran up the stairs and barged into the room, panting. "Master, Mistress!" she said, leaning against the wall, trying to catch her breath. "The police!"

The couple sprang into action. The servants were told to behave like Erik and Meg were not at home. Meg and Erik hid in the closet, and Erik locked it with his key.

Erik shoved Meg into the corner and covered her body with his, so she could not be seen if any policemen came in.

"They are not at home, sir." Jean-Paul's calm voice came from the door. Erik and Meg did not breathe. Their fear intensified their silence.

"We don't believe you," the Officer said, and they could hear boots stomping and scraping against the floor as they stomped around the house. Erik covered Meg's mouth, so she could not make a sound. His usual smell of death (which she usually didn't mind) only made her feel worse.

The Policeman (the one who didn't believe Jean-Paul) stopped outside the door to the closet and shook it. The door was locked.

Erik turned away from the door and faced Meg. Even though his mask, Meg could tell he was frightened, and he was sweating. If this had been a much less serious situation, she would have thought it was adorable. He put his arms on either side of her, protecting her incase of gunshots.

She wanted to wrap her arms around him. He looked so brave and strong. If he was as frightened as she was (she was so frightened she was shivering), he wasn't showing it… well, as much as she was showing it.

"This door!" The policeman said. "What's behind it?"

"Coats," Caressa said.

"Unlock it!" He growled.

"We don't have keys." Jean-Paul said, meekly.

The Police knew they were behind the door! Meg's hands gripped Erik's lapels on his jacket and squeezed. Erik pressed Meg's head against his chest.

This was it, it was the end. Erik would be charged for murder and would hang. She felt like weeping.

The door was rammed against. Someone was trying to break it down.

"You know I love you," he whispered in her ear. "If I'm arrested, I'll escape and come back to…"

The door was knocked off of its hinges and tossed away. Police officers swarmed into the closet and dragged Erik into the hall.

"Erik!" She screamed, and followed them.

"Let's see what's behind the Ghost's mask!" Police Man Number One, the youngest, taunted, forcing Erik to kneel, and holding his hair in a fist, making Erik face up.

"No," Meg screamed, and ran at One. "Let him go!"

"No, Meg," Erik said, wearily.

"Look at this, boys," Police Man Number Three, who was nearest to Meg, cried. He grabbed her wrist and held it behind her back. "The Ghost's slut!"

"No they're married!" One said. "Look at their wedding rings! Who would have thought the old Opera Ghost had someone who loved him?"

"I want to kiss the bride!" Said Number Five, the drunkest.

"Me too!"

"My dear," said Number One, and one of his hands stroked Meg's leg. "You could have done so much better!" She stiffened and tried to move away. In response, One moved his hand higher, punishing her. "What's the matter, you sullied your reputation?"

She slapped his hand away. Police Officer Seven grabbed her other hand.

"I still want my 'kiss'!" Number Five slurred and stumbled over to her. His foul lips almost touched hers, and she bent over backwards, trying to avoid him. However, she was unsuccessful.

She had never felt so violated. It was even more unpleasant than the Emperor's teeth kiss.

"You bastard!" Erik yelled at him, and trying to get up. Policeman Number Eight had put his foot on Erik's back, so he could not rise. "Don't you dare touch her again!" He struggled against Eight, trying to protect Meg.

"I think the Ghost has a soft spot for the Ghostess!" One kicked Erik over, and his face landed painfully against the floor. Meg gave a little cry.

"Stop it!" She wrenched herself away from the policemen and tried to attack Number One. She got a good kick in- but Number One pushed her against the wall like a rag doll. She hit the corner of the room. There was a loud crack, and she felt something warm against the back of her head… and she crumpled to the floor, and felt no more.

AHH! –Dodges tomatoes-

I know… poor Eriky. I feel so bad for him… -sigh- well, DON'T WORRY.

That's all I have to say.

Oh, and Review Song time! WOOO!

MEG

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