Chapter Summary: Erik is introduced to the rest of Christine's children and Andrew's sister. He finally sees Annalise and lets her know what she has done to him.
A/N: I have finally reached the point where all this has been leading. All of this angst and tears and romance and adventure and danger has been leading up to the two sentences Erik says to Annalise. I had these sentences in mind before I even wrote the first word of the first chapter. I told this to my brother and he rolled his eyes and said I was hopeless. I beg to disagree - I am hopeful!
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
"I do not know about this," Erik said as he stopped on the grand staircase.
Christine turned around to look at the man whose hand she held. "It will be all right," she assured him. She laughed at the frown on his face. "They are just people."
"They are his sons," Erik told her.
"They have a mother," Christine reminded him and studied Erik's face - the uncertainty on it - for a moment. "They will not cause any harm."
"I am not so sure," Erik mumbled.
Christine laughed delightedly. "Now who needs to grow up!"
Erik found he had nothing to say so he allowed Christine to continue to lead him up the staircase to the second floor. She was insisting that he meet the rest of her children before allowing him to see Annalise. Erik was not sure of this. He was not sure of this at all. He was not sure he was ready to face Raoul's sons. He remembered the stories of them that Annalise had shared and for some inexplicable reason the thought of these young men frightened him. He wondered if they would regard him as a threat to their parents' marriage, to their father. He wondered what they thought of him for not sending word of their sister's whereabouts before going to save her. He wondered if they would turn from him in disgust. He wondered why it mattered. Erik wondered why any of it mattered. Erik wondered why he cared and he smiled inwardly at his own answer; he cared because they were Christine's children. Their opinion of him mattered because their mother's opinion of him mattered. Her opinion of him would always matter.
"Grammer!" a little voice called shaking Erik from his introspection. He felt Christine let his hand go and looked as she held out her arms, a small child with red hair flying into them. The laugh Erik heard come from Christine's lips was a revelation - he had never heard her laugh like that before.
Christine bent down and lifted her grandson into her arms. "Did you escape from your Maman again?" she asked but Bertrand was not looking at her. Christine kissed her grandson's cheek and turned to the man standing next to her.
"Funny," Bertrand said and pointed a chubby finger at Erik's face.
"This is my grandson, Bertrand," Christine said as she covered the little pointing hand with one of her own. She looked at the child in her arms. "Bertrand, I want you to say hello to Monsieur ..." A frown crossed Christine's delicate features, her cheeks turning a soft pink. "I do not ..."
"Monsieur Lachaise," Erik told the child using the surname he had chosen for himself, smiling at his grandmother and not knowing what else to do. Children were utterly foreign to him.
A small woman with flaming hair came racing around a corner of the long hall, a look of relief passing her face as she spied the child in Christine's arms.
"I am so sorry," Therese said as she approached. "We were playing 'kisses' with Chloe and I turned my back for one moment and he was gone." She frowned at her child. "What am I going to do with you?"
Bertrand had more important things to do than listen to his mother. "Funny," he said again and pointed at Erik's face.
"Yes," Erik had to agree. "I suppose I am."
Therese finally noticed the man standing next to her mother-in-law. "Oh," was all she said.
Christine smiled benignly at her grandson's mother. "Therese, this is my friend, Erik." She turned the smile on Erik and she saw some of his apprehension fade beneath its brightness. "Erik, this is Therese, she is married to my son Jean-Paul."
"Monsieur," Therese said as she held out her hand, a hesitant smile on her face.
Erik took her hand and held it gently for a moment. "Madame," he said softly.
"Thank you," Therese told him, taking her other hand and covering his. "Thank you for bringing Annalise back to us."
Another piece of his wall of apprehension fell away. "You are welcome," Erik replied.
Therese took her hands back and held them out to her child. "Come to Maman."
Bertrand shook his head. "No," he insisted and pointed at Erik. "Funny him."
Erik opened and closed his mouth, his eyes flashing to Christine. He felt a bit discomfited as he watched her trying to suppress her laughter.
Therese noted the man's discomfort and put her hands on her son's arms. "Come to Maman," she repeated.
Bertrand pulled away and let out an ear-splitting screech. "Funny him!" the two year old insisted.
Christine glanced at her daughter-in-law and smiled before turning back to look at Erik. She held out the child in her arms and Bertrand promptly grabbed onto Erik's neck. Erik found he could do nothing but wrap his arms around the chubby bundle. He actually felt a pang of embarrassment as Christine took one of his hands and placed it beneath Bertrand's padded bottom.
"There," Christine said, "just keep one hand under his bottom and one hand around his back." She twinkled at Erik. "It is not that hard."
Erik was finding it rather hard and he was feeling further put out by the fact that Christine actually twinkled at him. She had the audacity to twinkle at him and find amusement in his discomfort. It was the moment he knew that the Christine of so many years ago was truly gone. That Christine would have been too frightened and unsure to laugh at him. No, Erik realized, she was not laughing at him - she was laughing with him. She was laughing at the absurdity of their current situation; she was laughing at the sheer joy of life. Erik found it infectious and managed a smile back at her. His smile drew the attention of the child in his arms.
Bertrand placed his small hands on either side of Erik's face. "Happy funny him," he announced and burst into giggles.
"Very funny," Erik nodded and smiled at Christine as she took his arm, "and very happy." He turned his attention back to the child in his arms and wondered. He wondered at the incredibly soft touch of his hands, the utter lack of fear, the complete innocence. Erik just wondered.
"Jean-Paul is in the nursery," Therese said to Christine. "Richard and Leonie are there, as well." She turned to smile at Erik. "There is nothing like the laughter of children to cheer weary hearts."
"Then you must show me for I do not know of the world of children," Erik told her.
"I think you are doing quite well," Christine said as she took her free hand and patted her grandson's chubby cheek.
Erik walked in step with Christine as they followed Therese down the hall, past closed doors that allowed no sound to pass. Erik wondered which one belonged to Annalise; he did not wish to know which one belonged to Christine and her husband. There were some things that would always be too painful to think upon. He was drawn out of his silent contemplation by the sound of Christine's voice.
"Are you ready?" she was asking.
He had no answer and watched as Therese opened the door. Erik glanced in and saw another young woman with light brown hair sitting on a chair, a small baby being bounced on her knee. A young man knelt in front of them, his hands reaching in to tickle the child, making it laugh. Erik raised his eyes and saw another young man leaning against a wall, watching the couple, his arms crossed over his chest, a small smile on his face. He found he had no need to guess whose sons they were - they looked far too much like their father. At the sound of the door opening, the young man leaning against the wall raised his head.
"I see that you have found Bertrand," he started and stopped as he looked at the doorway.
"Papa!" Bertrand called and Erik set him down. The child ran over and wrapped his arms about his father's knees. Bertrand raised his face to his father, a huge smile on his lips and in his eyes. "Funny him!"
Christine shook her head. "He is an insistent little man," she said with a smile. She waited until Richard got up from his knees before leading Erik into the nursery. She watched somewhat nervously as Jean-Paul approached. Christine knew that there were times when he could be as stubborn as his father could be and prayed that this would not be one of those times. She could sense Erik stiffen and took his hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. Christine held her breath as Jean-Paul extended his own hand.
"I am Jean-Paul," he began, "and you must be Erik. I am very pleased to meet the man who saved my sister."
Christine heaved a silent sigh of relief as Erik took the offered hand.
"I am very pleased to meet you," Erik replied. "Your sister has spoken warmly of you." He did not betray his surprise when some of the apprehension and conceit disappeared from Jean-Paul's eyes at his words. Erik thought it odd that this young man found it necessary to hide behind an emotional wall. It was amusing that someone who appeared so perfect would have such a need and Erik could only guess at the reasons why. He reached back to the night he had found Annalise and the words she had spoken about the family who no longer wanted her. That memory gave Erik an insight into this young man's emotional wall and he felt another piece of his own fall away.
"Did she really?" Jean-Paul wondered.
Erik knew his musings were correct. "Quite fondly," he said with a slight nod of his head.
Christine saw as a weight was lifted from her eldest son's shoulders and hoped her angel could feel the warmth of her gratitude for his kind words in the warm clasp of her hand. She knew he could when Erik turned his head slightly and gave her the briefest of smiles before returning his attention to the other young man who stood in front of him.
"My brother, Richard," Jean-Paul said.
Richard smirked at his brother and extended his hand to Erik. "I am the oft forgotten middle brother and am incapable of introducing myself," Richard said and grinned sheepishly at the look from his mother before growing more earnest. "Thank you seems so inadequate for what you did for us - for my sister - but I do not know what else to say."
"It is not inadequate at all," Erik told him as he shook Richard's hand.
Richard turned to the woman who had risen from the chair and was now standing next to him, a little baby in her arms. "My wife, Leonie, and our daughter, Chloe."
"Madame," Erik said as he bowed over Leonie's outstretched hand. He smiled Chloe. "She is very lovely." He was rewarded with a gentle smile from Leonie as she blushed and lowered her eyes.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Christine pulled gently on his hand. "And it is time for you to become better acquainted with small babies."
"Christine," Erik started with a shake of his head but gave in and followed Christine as she led him to the chair where Leonie had been sitting.
"Leonie," Christine said as she held out her hands. Leonie placed Chloe into her grandmother's arms and Christine turned back to Erik. "Hold out your arms," she told him.
"Christine," Erik tried.
"Hold out your arms, please."
Erik sighed deeply and opened his arms. He watched nervously as Christine placed the small thing on his lap and kept her hands about the baby. "What am I supposed to do with her?"
"Cradle her head with your left arm," Christine said as she reached for Erik's arm and guided Chloe to it. "Now take your other arm and move it along her side." Christine moved his other arm so that Erik cradled Chloe in his arms and she stood, looking down at them.
Erik was concentrating on the huge blue eyes that looked up at him and did not see the tear that Christine brushed from her own eye. His brows knit in confusion as the baby in his arms kicked her legs, stuck her tongue out and blew bubbles. "Is that what you do?" he asked Chloe and was rewarded with a gentle cooing sound. Erik was amazed at how soft Chloe was and how light and warm she felt against his chest. She smelled of innocence and Erik felt like he held a piece of heaven in his arms. A tiny fist reached out and grabbed at his hand that rested on the child's chest. Chloe took the finger that she had claimed and aimed it for her mouth causing Erik to send Christine a somewhat panicked look.
"No, no, no," Christine said as she gently pried Chloe's tiny fist from around Erik's finger. She reached in and lifted her granddaughter from Erik's arms and handed Chloe back to her mother before turning her attention back to Erik. "Come," she said as she extended her hands. "I believe there is still someone else you wish to see."
Erik stood and looked at the family surrounding him. He looked at the young couples with their small children held close. He looked at them and saw Christine's past and her promise to the future. He looked at them and knew that part of his angel would continue far into a future he could only dream about. Erik knew this and it gave him a sense of contentment. It was true, he thought, angels never die.
"Angel," Christine was whispering to him, a question in her voice.
He managed a smile for her and looked once more at her family. "Thank you," he said simply and followed Christine out of the room. He heard the amazed statements as the door closed behind them.
"He was certainly different than what I imagined," a male voice said.
"He is definitely charming," a female voice replied.
Christine heard it, too, and rested her head briefly against his shoulder. "You have charmed my children," she told him. "I always knew there was a good man inside of you."
"That is exactly what Andrew said," Erik replied.
"Come, then," Christine said as they walked down the hall. "I believe Andrew is with Annalise. His sister is also here." She smiled up at him. "And you must meet my other son." They stopped in front of one of the many closed doors. "Wait here for a moment," Christine said as she let go of his arm and quietly opened the door, slipping into the room.
It seemed like an eternity to the man who waited impatiently once again locked out from that which he desired. In fact, it was less than a minute before the door opened again and Christine came out. A young blonde woman and a young man with dark curly hair followed her, waiting as Christine gently closed the door. Erik knew that the young man had to be her son for he bore such a strong resemblance to his mother and in his eyes there was something of the skepticism and wariness of his father. He was definitely Christine's son. The young woman had quickly averted her eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Erik could only assume that she must be Andrew's sister. Yet she appeared to be so different from the brash, strong-willed Andrew that Erik had a moment of doubt as to who precisely she was. It was only a moment.
"Erik," Christine said as she placed a hand on the young woman's back and gently urged her forward. "This is Katherine Harrington, Andrew's sister."
Erik reached in for the hand that was hesitantly offered and bowed over it. "Mademoiselle," he told her, "you are as lovely as your brother said."
"Thank you, Monsieur." Katherine raised her head and gave Erik a shy smile. "And thank you for having a care for my brother. I would have missed him if ... if anything ..."
Erik patted her hand. "I would not have let anything happen to your brother. I have grown rather fond of him."
Katherine nodded and lowered her eyes again.
Erik turned to Christine who laid a hand on the young man's shoulder. "My youngest son, Gustave."
"Sir," Gustave said as he held out his left hand. He raised his eyebrow at the look from Erik, daring the older man to say anything. "I regret not being able to offer my right hand but I am still recovering from a gunshot wound and my arm pains me."
Erik took his left hand, ignoring the somewhat shocked look that Christine gave her son. "Do not stand on manners in my presence," Erik told Gustave, taking an instant liking to the young man's boldness. "I am relieved to know that you are recovering."
"Thank you," Gustave said as he took his hand back, his look softening. "And thank you for finding my sister."
"You are welcome."
"Why do you not take Katherine into the sitting room and I will have Rachel fetch you as soon as we are finished," Christine asked her son softly. She waited as the two young people crossed the hall and disappeared into the sitting room before reaching out for Erik's hand. "I have someone who is eager to see you." She smiled at him as she turned to open the door behind her.
Erik followed Christine into a large room decorated in soft blues and ivory. A long dresser was centered upon one wall, a dressing table on the wall next to it; feminine objects - toiletries, ribbons, childhood dolls - scattered about them. Another wall held a closed door that was flanked by two wardrobes, a young woman sitting quietly in a corner next to one of the wardrobes. Next to the dressing table was a large bed in which another young woman rested propped up pillows. Sitting in a chair next to the bed was a young man, his hands wrapped around one of the young woman's. Both of their heads turned at the sound of the door opening, the young man raising an eyebrow at the two people who stood in the doorway; the young woman managing a very small, very tired smile.
"Thank God," Erik breathed so softly that only Christine heard.
"God?" she said into his ear before turning her attention to her daughter's maid. "Rachel, can you leave us?"
Rachel stood from her seat in the corner and quietly left the room.
"Erik," Annalise whispered - her voice still hoarse - as she held out her arms.
"Go to her," Christine told him.
Erik did not need any further urging and he quickly crossed the room to Annalise's bedside. He sat on the bed and took Annalise into his arms, holding her close. "Little angel," he whispered to her. "You do not know ... you have no idea ..." Words failed him and he just held to the girl who clung to him.
"Thank you," Annalise breathed in his ear. "Thank you for being my friend." She turned her head and kissed his deformed cheek. "Thank you for my life." Annalise rested her cheek against Erik's. "I love you."
Erik could feel his heart swelling at her words and felt as if it would burst. Her actions - the warmth of her touch, the feather like softness of her lips - were the crowning moment of a day Erik could not even have imagined. The man he had once longed to kill had willingly welcomed him into his home. His angel had willingly welcomed him into her arms. Their children had not turned from him or done him harm; they had even trusted him to hold their children in his arms. And now this. Annalise was alive, in his arms and she loved him. It was almost more than he could bear. Erik felt Annalise's tears against his cheek and knew she was also overwhelmed by the moment. He drew back to look at her.
The bruises on her face and neck were beginning to fade but she looked exhausted. There were dark circles under her eyes and her skin was paler than he remembered. But some of the old sparkle was back in Annalise's eyes and Erik knew this girl was stronger than even she imagined. He reached up to brush away the tears and felt the coolness of the skin beneath his fingers. He could also feel the trembling of the girl in his arms and he gently laid her back against her pillows.
"You must not tire yourself," he said.
"How did you know where to find me?" Annalise wondered.
Erik turned to look at Andrew and the two men nodded. "This young man burst through my front door." Erik watched as Annalise's hand reached for and found Andrew's. "He made a compelling argument and I sent someone to search for you. That is all you need to know."
Annalise's eyes grew frightened and she began to breathe rapidly. "Where is he?"
"I told you that he will never touch you again," Andrew said as he laid his other hand on Annalise's arm.
"Please," Annalise pleaded with Erik, "where is he?"
"You must not panic for he can never get near to you again," Erik told her, his hand going to her cheek. "He is in a place that will have a care for him for the rest of his life."
"Truly?"
"I would never lie to you," Erik replied. "Your father has promised to secure his care."
Annalise closed her eyes for a moment, her panicked breathing slowing. "Thank you," she whispered before opening her eyes again, her bottom lip trembling. "You tried to kill my father."
Erik had been waiting for that very statement. His eyes flickered to Christine who had taken the seat next to Andrew and their eyes locked for a moment, speaking volumes. Erik looked at Andrew briefly who wore a smug little smile and winked at him. Erik thought - yet again - how irritating Andrew could be and just how very much the young man reminded him of himself when he was much younger. He was also grateful for that irritating smugness for it was the perfect thing to see Annalise through her recovery; Andrew would never let his little angel succumb to the darkness and despair that he had known. Erik turned his attention back to Annalise.
"Annalise," he sighed, lowering his eyes, "that was a great many years ago." He raised his eyes. "Do you not remember the letter I sent to you when I told you that the woman I loved had returned my heart to me?" He waited until she nodded. "That was your mother as I am sure you know. It pains me to say that there was a moment when I did want to kill your father. I am sorry to have to say that for I see that it grieves you and I would not willingly bring more sorrow into your life." Erik sighed. "When your mother returned my heart to me, I began to change and at that moment I could no longer kill your father or anyone. Or I thought not till the moment when Andrew had safely spirited you from that place and I was left alone with the man who had," Erik watched his words, "nearly killed you."
"What happened?" Annalise sniffled.
Erik laid a hand upon Andrew's and Andrew removed his hand so that Erik could hold both of Annalise's in his own. "You happened, dear child."
"Me?"
"You," Erik nodded. "From that first day we met in the woods all those weeks ago you began to cast a spell upon me. You were open and loving and did not turn from me or fear me. You treated a stranger as a friend. I pondered upon what it was that you had done to me and could not find an answer. I did not know what it was until I was face-to-face with that man and all I wanted to do was to kill him in as painful a manner as possible. I wanted to make him pay for all that he had done to you. I reached in to strike him and found I could not even do that."
Annalise's brow knitted in confusion. "Why?"
Erik turned to smile at Christine and saw that she had placed a hand on Andrew's arm. He looked at Annalise. "I told your mother that when she gave me back my heart, she began to fix the broken boy that I was." He lifted a hand to rest it against Annalise's cheek. "You finished putting the man back together."
"How?"
"Your mother gave me back my heart," Erik said softly. "You gave me back my soul."
Annalise took her arms, and wrapped them about Erik, resting her head against his, their tears mingling.
Now it was Erik's turn to say the words he had been hearing all day. "Thank you, Annalise," he whispered only to her. "Thank you, my beloved little angel." He held her for a silent moment. "Do not let Andrew slip away. Promise me you shall hold to him and let him love and care for you."
"I promise," Annalise whispered back.
They did not see the tears that slipped from Christine or the hands that held so tightly to Andrew's..
"I knew there was a good man inside of him," Andrew whispered to Christine.
"I have always known it," Christine whispered back.
Erik had not wished to tire Annalise out so he only spent a few more moments with her, knowing it was time to leave when Annalise could no longer hold her eyes open. Erik had taken Andrew's hand and promised to stay in the Paris apartment until he felt it was time to return to the country. Andrew had also made him promise not to slip away without sharing where he was going. Erik assured the young man he would always let Andrew know where he was so that Annalise would not fret over him.
Now Erik and Christine stood in the front doorway of her home, hands clasped, eyes studying the feelings of the soul.
"What happens now?" Christine wondered.
"I shall do as I promised and wait in Paris for the time being." Erik shrugged. "Then I shall return to the country and decide what to do next." He gave Christine a smile. "There is a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. I think that I should like to see it - as a whole and complete man.
Christine nodded, her chin trembling. "I would like for you but what happens to us?"
"We shall be each other's dearest memories for that is something no one can ever take from us," Erik told her. "Let it be enough." He studied her. "Please, Christine, let it be enough."
The smile she gave him spoke volumes. "It is enough. It will always be enough." Christine lowered her eyes.
"Angel," Erik breathed as he drew her into a final embrace.
"Angel," Christine whispered back. "Godspeed, my love."
Erik's breath caught in his throat. "And to you and those you hold dear." He squeezed her gently and placed a kiss on her cheek. "I shall always love you." He let her go.
Christine laid a hand against his marred cheek. "I shall always love you," she replied with the smallest of smiles. She felt the soft touch of Erik's lips as he turned his face to kiss her palm before turning on his heel and walking out the front door, the sound of it closing echoing around the still foyer.