A/N: Ah yes, Helena returns at last. We all knew she couldn't stay away. I know I couldn't. Erik seems to have that effect on women. But how will Erik and his family react to her return? Will there be a new woman at the head of the de Chagny household? Before you give up on me completely, read this chapter and the next, as the two go together. Oh, and I would ask you to remember that Bella has never seen her mother, and while she would certainly have seen photographs, they would have been black-and-white – a beautiful woman with long, curly hair.
Ch. 42 – A Figure from the Past
In the months that followed, Erik-Philippe and Bridget were indeed married. Though Erik had offered a lavish ceremony, the pair chose instead to be married in the gardens behind the de Chagny mansion with only a small group of family and friends in attendance. The honeymoon was short, as Erik-Philippe was anxious to try his hand in running the prosperous family business. As a wedding gift, Erik presented the newlyweds with the gift of Christine's cottage by the sea. The two were very moved by his gesture and Bridget adored the flowerbeds that had been Christine's treasure. Erik was certain Christine would have been pleased.
With Erik-Philippe happy and successful, Erik turned his attention to his other three children in the years that followed. Alexander and Frederick had finished their years with the National Academy of Music and while Alexander was beginning to show signs of settling down, Frederick remained, as ever, a dreamer at heart. When Alexander left to play in the Paris orchestra, Frederick chose instead to travel abroad for a time. While it was difficult for the twins to be separated from each other, both had discovered the need to seek out their own lives. Though the goodbyes were difficult, they knew they would always have their beloved home and family to return to when they were ready. Frederick had the most difficult time in leaving, for he had become very attached to little Bella, who now a big girl of four was the only person in the world allowed to call him "Freddy".
With only Erik and Bella remaining at home, the two were inseparable. He led her around the grounds on her little black pony, whom she had lovingly nicknamed, "Shadow". They took frequent trips to the seashore, where Bella like her eldest brother before her delighted in examining the marine creatures she found in the sand. Unlike Erik-Philippe however, Bella was seldom satisfied to remain on the shore, and instead always insisted that her father roll up his expensive trousers and wade with her into the water. Sometimes Erik would ask the cook to prepare a picnic lunch and they would take it to the park where he would read Bella story books or push her on the swings until finally she would fall asleep on their blanket spread below the tree and he would carry her home for her nap.
On one such day, Erik returned home with a sleeping Bella in his arms. He proceeded up the enormous staircase to Bella's room just across the hall from his own. Looking down, he noticed with a faint smile that Bella's legs were getting longer, reaching now past his waist when he held her against his shoulder. She will be tall, like me he thought. He laid her down on the bed and pulled a light blanket over her sleeping form, pausing to kiss her forehead. An unruly long auburn ringlet lay across her cheek and Erik tucked it gently behind her ear. Just as I used to do with her mother, he thought sadly. He felt the familiar sharp pain of his loss. It had not lessened in the years since Christine's death. Erik stepped out into the hall and closed the door all but a tiny crack so that he could hear Bella when she awoke.
Lost in thought, Erik crossed the hallway to his own room. Once inside, he stepped over to the window, staring out onto the front lawn. Would he always feel this ache in his soul every time he looked at his beautiful daughter? He guessed that he would. It was both a blessing and a curse that she was the image of her mother, with the exception of her eyes. But it was more than that. No matter how much he adored Bella, every time he looked at her, he could not help but remember the beautiful, tragic night of her birth. His eyes wandered over to the bed where Christine's pillow still lay. The scent of lilac still clung faintly to it and he often imagined he could still see the faint imprint of her head in its soft folds. He had guarded it jealously from any servant who might seek to wash the pillowcase or replace it. Erik raked a hand through his hair. He knew it was insanity, but he couldn't bear to part with it. He knew he never would.
His gaze was drawn back to the window, as he noticed the figure of a woman stepping gracefully up the front stairs. He recognized at once the golden curls and regal bearing – Helena.
He smiled. He hadn't seen her since the fateful night of their engagement gala. Though she had given him her blessing to pursue his love for Christine, he could not help but feel regret for the hurt he knew he had caused her. He had attempted to tell her in person of his wedding plans in the week that had followed his engagement to Christine, but when he had arrived at the inn where she'd been staying, the owner explained that Mistress Helena had left suddenly for Italy on family business. He and Christine had received a short note of congratulations following their wedding and a lovely gift, but never in over twenty years since then had she made any attempt to seek him out.
Erik was anxious to see his dear friend despite the awkwardness of the situation. He knew Helena would be kind and gracious no matter what had passed between them before. There was a quickness to his step as he descended the massive staircase that had been absent for some time. He reached the bottom at last and stepped into the foyer. She did not see him at once, for her back was turned to him as she took in the beauty of the grand home around her. Erik could not help but remember someone else who had stood in the very same foyer looking at his home with the same loving admiration. He shook his head to clear it of its memories for a moment and stepped forward. "Helena." He said it softly to alert her to his presence without startling her.
She turned to him then, and he could see in a moment she was as beautiful as ever. Her soft blue eyes stared at him in delight, and her elegant mouth immediately curved into a warm smile. Before he could speak again, he was immediately engulfed in a warm, perfume-scented embrace. Awkwardness was immediately forgotten, and he laughed – something he hadn't done in a very long time. "You always were rather fond of doing that." She laughed in return, "Indeed I was."
They stood regarding each other for a moment. "You look wonderful, Helena," Erik smiled fondly, "as always." Helena's face softened and she raised a hand gently to his cheek, "And you, dear Erik, look wonderful and terrible at the same time." She laughed at the eyebrow he raised in response. "Wonderful because I have missed you and you are as handsome and charming as ever." He made a mock bow. Helena smiled again as he straightened, but her smile this time was sad, "Terrible because I can feel the pain in your eyes as clearly as if it were my own, even after all this time. I was very sorry to hear of Christine's death, Erik." Her voice was soft and sincere.
Erik looked away, the tears springing quickly to his eyes as they always did at the mention of Christine's name. He managed to swallow the lump in his throat and briefly met her eyes, "Thank you, Helena." He was amazed once more by her capacity to forgive and to think of his happiness after the way he had abandoned her at Christine's return. He stepped forward and took her hands in his own, searching her face. "Helena, I am so sorry for the way things ended before. I tried to find you and explain..." Helena stopped him, placing her fingers over his lips. "Erik, there is no need to explain. I know you did not mean for events to happen as they did. That is over and done. All is forgiven." This time, Helena found herself in Erik's embrace. "You are a remarkable woman, dear cousin."
Helena clung to him for a moment and then pulled away gently. She had come merely to convey her condolences in person. At least that had been what she had told herself at the time. It had taken her nearly four years after Christine's death to gather the courage to see him again. She had known it would be difficult, but his freely offered embrace had been too much. It was too bittersweet for words. Now, when he had at last taken her into his arms, it had been as a friend, a cousin. A tear fell down her cheek and she turned her head away. The pain throbbing in her heart told her with certainty that she was not over him yet, even after twenty-four years, and that she never would be. It was hopeless, she knew. It was obvious he would never forget Christine. And yet, for some reason, hope was still the one thing her stubborn heart refused to relinquish.
She took a deep breath and hastily brushed the incriminating tear from her cheek. Composed once more, she smiled brightly and turned to face him. "I will be staying in Nice for the next few weeks, and I thought perhaps we could..." She never finished her sentence, for her eyes were drawn suddenly to a little girl with auburn curls standing at the foot of the stairs clutching a stuffed rabbit. The lovely creature stood staring curiously at the golden lady in the foyer with enormous gray-blue eyes. The eyes turned to Erik, "Papa?"
Erik reached forward and scooped the girl into his arms, nuzzling her tiny perfect nose with his own. "Hello, mon ange, did you sleep well?" The little girl nodded and kissed his cheek. "Papa, who is that lady you were hugging? Is that Mama?"
Helena's heart was torn in two by the combination of the child's innocent words and the look on Erik's face. She remembered suddenly that Christine had died in childbirth and realized that the child in front of her must be around four years old, just the age that baby would be now. She has never known her mother, except from pictures Helena thought sadly. Erik could not yet find his voice; tears filled his eyes. Tears shining in her own as well, she stepped forward to take the little girl's tiny hand in hers, "No, ma chère, I am not your mother." No matter how much I wish I was, she thought sadly. "My name is Helena. I am a very good friend of your Papa's. He is a good man. You are very lucky to have him." Bella nodded solemnly, clutching Erik's vest in a protective manner. Helena smiled softly, "And he is obviously very lucky to have you."