Okay time to find out what happens to the meeting of the other grandparents. (Erik assists, by playing dramatic music on the organ) Will things go smoothly or will they turn out for the worst? I know right now that Charlotte is overreacting, but someone like her probably would in this situation. It will all work out trust me.

And eventually I will be going back through my chapters fixing mistakes, making sure the time line fits together with ages and such, and any other tidbits. I want this story to be perfect. Thanks for your patience.

Chapter 62: Alone in the Dark

Christine carried Jacqueline out and went right to Erik seeing as a lot of this had to deal with him. The bond between him and Jacqueline was so strong that nothing could break it. As soon as she was in arms reach of her grandfather, Jacqueline reached out begging him with her eyes to hold her.

Erik didn't hesitate as he took her into his arms. He didn't understand what was bothering her and turned to Christine. "Did she say anything to you?"

"Yes, she told me that she thinks Charlotte and Armand are here to replace you and me. Seeing as you've been there for her since she was born, Jacqueline doesn't want to replace you."

Erik got a look of understanding on his face and turned back to Jacqueline, who had pulled herself into a tiny ball as she lay against him. "I would never leave such a beautiful girl behind; especially not my own granddaughter."

Jacqueline lifted her head and stared at him. What was it about him that made her love him so much? Well he had been there for her no matter what he was doing; he gave the best hugs, and was willing to teach her things. There was nothing he couldn't do and she admired his talents and sheer genius. "You mean it?" she asked already knowing the answer.

"I mean every word. Now will you be a good girl and say hello if I go with you?"

Jacqueline gulped and looked over to where her mama and papa were seated as they talked to Charlotte and Armand. Even though she didn't want to she didn't want to let her grandfather down, so she slowly nodded her head.

Erik carried her over to the organ bench and set her down before sitting down himself. He lost the battle the instant he sat down, because Jacqueline climbed up and firmly placed herself in his lap. He smiled at her and smoothed back her hair while motioning for Christine to join them.

"Finally she decides to join us," Armand said happily.

Lotte looked over and smiled at Jacqueline, who only returned the gesture with a simple smirk. Lotte just couldn't understand why her daughter was acting this way and wanted nothing more than to see her happy. It had been a mistake introducing Pierre's parents this way and she regretted bringing this upon Jacqueline so fast.

"So are you going to say hello to us Jacqueline?" Charlotte asked sweetly.

Jacqueline lifted her head and looked at the woman with curiosity. What if she said more than hello? Would they react the same way everyone else did when she spoke? Maybe they weren't used to having a genius in the family. "Hello," she said meekly lowering her head once again.

"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" Charlotte added.

"Yes, it was," Jacqueline commented.

Charlotte was shocked by this and leaned back on the couch to whisper something into Armand's ear. Erik shifted on the bench and Christine grasped his arm in case he was getting any ideas. He looked over at her and she only smiled at him. Pierre wrapped an arm around Lotte's shoulders, because she too was taken aback by Jacqueline's comment.

"Judging from what I've seen I don't find this the best place for raising a child. She's only a year old and already she's acting like him," Charlotte said pointing at Erik, who gave a confused stare. "This place is unsanitary for one thing."

Erik couldn't believe what he was hearing and he noticed Christine wasn't happy with the comment either. He had seen her working her hardest during most of her free time tidying up the lair till it looked its very best. He had been pleased with her effort and made dinner the night before as a way of saying thank you.

"The catacombs are a nice home," Lotte said breaking the silence. "I was raised here since I was 10 and it was perfect for me and my father. Plus Jacqueline loves it here."

"Well I think she should come back with us and grow up in the countryside like a normal child. Also I want to see my grandchild attending the school Pierre did. She'll get an excellent education there."

"You can't take her back with you now. She's only a year and a half old. Plus by the time she's ready to go to school she'll probably be at a higher level of education than other children her age. She already knows a large number of words and can recognize musical notes," Lotte said in protest.

Erik held Jacqueline close. Why were they thinking on taking her away from them like this? Was it because they were jealous or because they just didn't like the lair? He knew however that he wasn't going to allow them to take her away.

"Well I can understand that seeing all of you have musical backgrounds, but someone needs to take over the vineyard when we pass on…"

"I don't think Jacqueline would want to run a vineyard," Erik snapped.

"And what makes you think she wouldn't. I personally don't see it right for her to be around a criminal running away from the police for murder and kidnapping!" Charlotte shouted.

Armand grabbed her arm and pulled her back a bit. "Charlotte we talked about this. We don't know for sure and shouldn't make assumptions."

However from the way Erik was glaring at them Armand was beginning to believe his wife, yet remained calm. Now was not the time to start fistfights, especially with Jacqueline in the room.

Christine was just as shocked with the comment, but she noticed just how upset Erik was. And even though these were Pierre's parents they were talking to he had a right to be angry. It wasn't fair for Charlotte to bring up her husband's past faults and throw them in his face like that.

Luckily Jacqueline hadn't heard what was said, because she was covering her ears with her hands. All the shouting was frightening her and big tears started falling down her cheeks.

Lotte saw Jacqueline's distress and decided to end this once and for all; at least for tonight. "All right everyone. That's enough," she said standing up and going over to her father and gathering Jacqueline into her arms. "I suggest all of you end this discussion for tonight and get some sleep. We have another show tomorrow and you two have quite a ride ahead of you, so I'm going to put Jacqueline to bed."

The rest of them looked at one another, but Pierre stood up and followed Lotte into Jacqueline's bedroom leaving the pair of adults sitting across from one another. Erik was scowling and Christine knew better than to push him more into a bad mood. She stood up and offered her hand to him. "Come on Erik. I'll make you some tea. That will help you sleep."

As Erik stood up eager for some Russian tea, Charlotte spoke up. "Where are the two of us supposed to sleep? We checked every inn in town and all the rooms are filled, because people are here to see your Opera."

Christine knew she was going to regret what she was about to do. "You may stay in our room for the night."

Erik looked at her his eyes wide from shock. She glared back with a be-nice-or-you'll-sleep-on-the-floor look. Giving his hand a tug she led him into the kitchen and closed the door behind her.

"Christine, what is the matter with you? Why are you giving up our room?"

"Erik I'm trying to be a good housekeeper even though they judged our home to be filthy and unsanitary. Lotte was mad at all of us and there's still some time to fix the bad images we set in front of Jacqueline. The last thing she needs to see or hear is six adults fighting over her."

Sitting down at the table Erik rested his head in one hand and began tracing circles upon the table's surface. Christine made the tea like she promised, but when she set it down on the table Erik barely looked at it.

She moved around behind him and kneeled beside him, resting her head on his knee. At first he did nothing, but soon she felt him move his free hand up and down along her back. "Christine do you think I'm a murderer?"

She lifted her head and gazed at him. "Don't let Charlotte's words get to you Erik. You aren't a murderer. I thought your intentions to kill were always self-defense. The supposed murder of Lotte isn't true, because that was only a wax figure. Joseph Buquet was when the managers didn't listen to you and you proved to them just how ruthless you were. All the other ones I can recall were of you trying to defend yourself. To me you are not a murderer."

She watched closely as the hate in Erik's eyes began to disappear leaving behind his icy blue eyes. "Thank you my dear. I knew I could count on you to tell me the truth."

Christine stood and was surprised when he pulled her onto his lap with her feet hanging over the side as if he was about to carry her. For a moment they only stared at one another reflecting on the all the times they had told one another how much they loved each other. Erik leaned his forehead against hers and smiled sweetly.

She however couldn't hold back and placed both hands on his face before pressing her lips to his. He made a small groan of disappointment in the back of his throat and she pulled back.

"What?"

"We don't have a bed tonight. Do you think it a wise idea to start this up? What if we get caught?"

Christine nodded. "I forgot about that. I guess I got lost in the sea that is your eyes. At least kiss me."

Erik wasn't about to disappoint her and began kissing her. There had never been a moment where he didn't love her with all his heart. He knew she would stay with him for as long as they both lived till deaths do they part.

xxxxx

Armand and Charlotte said goodnight to Lotte, Pierre, and Jacqueline before heading off to the main bedroom intent on getting some sleep. Lotte was surprised that her father had allowed his bed to be slept in by someone other than him and her mother.

What mattered most to her now was getting Jacqueline to lie back and get some sleep. After a lullaby or two Jacqueline rested her head against the pillow and cradled Monk close to her. She was finally asleep allowing Lotte the chance to move away and get sleep herself, but she couldn't tear herself away from the sleeping child next to her. She wanted to stay and watch over her like her father had done so many years ago. "I want to be Jacqueline's guardian angel."

Pierre saw the look of determination on Lotte's face at the thought of staying up all night, but he knew she had to rest tonight. Being tired wasn't allowed on the stage unless you had a very good reason. At least that's what Erik had said. He placed a hand on Lotte's shoulder and finally persuaded her to come to bed and get some rest.

They came into the music room where Erik and Christine had come to make a comfy spot on the couch for the night. Neither of them cared much, because on a couch that small you have no choice, but to be closer to the other person.

Goodnights were exchanged and everyone made their ways to their designated sleeping places. Erik stretched himself along his left side on the back half of the couch and positioned himself till he was comfortable. Christine then laid across the front half pulling the cloak up over them and laying her head on Erik's other arm. For awhile they stayed like that; Erik playing with Christine's curls as she began to drift in and out of consciousness, but seeing as he eventually got no response out of her he laid his head near her and soon fell asleep himself.

xxxxx

Finally the whole house was quiet for everyone was asleep except for one tiny individual moving from her room to the music room. She had just had an awful nightmare about the adults fighting over her and she wanted it to stop, but as long as she was there the arguing would continue. So she had decided to leave.

As she moved past the organ she caught sight of her grandparents asleep on the couch and looked down at Monk in her hands. She had to leave something behind so they would remember her. She went over quietly and placed Monk in her grandmother's open palm and then hurried away not even bothering to turn back.

She came into the tunnel her grandfather had carried her through earlier that evening and felt up against the wall so she could make her way through the dark. She knew right away that she wouldn't be able to open the mirror by herself, because the mechanism was too high. She was going to need to find an alternative way out.

That wasn't going to be possible for at that minute her hand brushed up against a hidden panel in the stone wall making it completely disappear and she fell down into the darkness of another large tunnel where there was a large puddle of water on the floor. She quickly stood up and tried to shake the water out of her nightgown.

She looked back up the way she had come to see that the wall had slid shut leaving her cut off from her family, which was what she wanted right? Maybe this had been a bad idea. She didn't know her ways around the tunnels like everyone else did and plus all she could see was a sea of black threatening to swallow her up should she take a wrong step. She wanted to go home, but she didn't know which way was home. So she closed her eyes and spun around until she was facing one section of tunnel and hurried down it.

It didn't help that she heard the squeak of rats and bats all around her. This made her run faster calling in desperation for someone to hear her, but soon she grew tired and collapsed against the stone floor worn out and scared. She pulled herself up off the ground and sat against the wall pulling her legs up under her chin.

"This is no place for me. I wish Granpa was here," she said softly.

Clutching her knees she looked out into the darkness hoping to see the flicker of a candle or the white of her grandfather's mask as he came to rescue her, but she saw nothing and began to cry. She had been foolish and would probably be punished for what she did; though it wasn't everyday that a one and half year old ran away from home.

Jacqueline eventually fell asleep, every one of her dreams filled of her family finding her and rescuing her from the darkness. She could see her grandfather smiling at her and lifting her into his arms hugging her tightly. She could see her mother crying and she could hear her grandmother and father sharing signs of happiness upon her return. But it was only a dream; only a dream that was probably never bound to come true.

I'm sorry I gave Jacqueline such a depression situation to endure, but she wants to prove to everyone just how she feels about the whole thing. Don't worry everything will work out in the end. I promise you that.