The next morning, Madeline was ill. She was so hot that you could most probably boil water at her forehead. She did not notice herself of course, because she was still asleep, but Erik noticed. He rushed over to Ann and shook her carefully.
"Ann, wake up! You must come here, it's Madeline." He said. He was rather worried. Ann sighed. She sat up and yawned. "What is it now? I was sleeping so well!"
She dragged her feet over to Madeline as slowly as possible, unaware that something actually was wrong.
"Oh, dear." She muttered as she felt Madeline's forehead. "Can you go and get Meg?" she asked Erik as she found some water to cool down the sleeping woman with. Erik didn't have to get Meg though, for she came in just as he was on his way out.
"Good, morning! What are we doing tod-…Oh! What happened?" she burst out as she saw her aunt. "Oh sweetie, it is nothing. She is just a little hot. Now, can you go to the doctor two blocks away? Tell him to get here." Se said calmly and turned over to Madeline again.
Meg ran out almost before Ann was finished speaking. Erik stood in the background unable to do anything. Everything he touched was ruined. It had always been like that. He looked at Madeline. Her face was white.
Ann broke the silence. "Erik? Can you come here? She will wake up soon, and she will need you there then. Take her hand. You will not harm her, Erik. This is not your fault." She said. She knew he could believe that everything was his fault sometimes.
Erik moved over to the woman in the bed and took her hand carefully. It was like it was fragile. He looked down at her with a tear in his eye. He squeezed her hand and kissed it.
Madeline opened her eyes slowly. She breathed heavily. "What is wrong, Erik?" she whispered. Erik looked at her for a while before he answered. "Nothing. Everything is going to be just fine." He whispered back at her. "Just get some rest."
She closed her eyes again and fell asleep. A good ten minutes later, Meg stormed in. The doctor was right behind her. "Oh! Good morning. Madame, Monsieur." He nodded at Ann and Erik. Then he continued. "Now, what seems to be the problem?" he asked as he approached the bed where Madeline was fast asleep.
The other walked outside to have some breakfast while the doctor was inside with Madeline. When they came back, Madeline was still asleep and the doctor was packing up his things. "Can I talk to you two?" he nodded at Erik and Ann. They followed him outside as Meg sat down by her aunt's bed.
"Well, she is healthy, and se will be fine by tomorrow, but have she been overexcited lately?" Ann and Erik exchanged looks. "No," said Ann finally. "But why could overexcitement cause that?" The doctor looked at her. "Well, just being pregnant at her age is something that would cause it. She will have to take things more easily and please keep her calm all the time. And I am afraid you will have to do all the housework by yourself from now on." The doctor said and turned his back on them to leave. "Wait!" said Ann. "Pregnant? Who said that she is pregnant?" the doctor raised his eyebrows. "You didn't know? But she is just at the tart of the pregnancy. I hope you know who the father is? She would definitely need someone to help her. At her age…." He muttered and disappeared. Ann's eyes widened. "ERIK!" she burst out. "Have you made her..?" she turned her back at him and stalked inside.
Erik could do nothing but gape. His mouth was wide open. Had he really? No, he could not have possibly. Or could he? He deliberated a little over this as he walked into the room where Madeline was. He glanced at her. She was even more beautiful now.
Ann walked over to him and dragged him aside so Meg wouldn't hear them. "What are you going to do now? How in the world are we supposed to tell her?" Erik had never though of this before.
He turned away and removed some tears. "Would you tell her? I am going to take care of her. I just need to talk to the managers of the Opera Populaire so we can live here together. Please Ann. I really want to do this right."
Ann sighed. "Very well. Go immediately. I will tell her when she wakes up. And when you have found a place to stay, go and get all the things you need. I know you have an amount of money. You are probably the richest person in France." She left without another word and Erik decided to talk to the new managers.
Meg was still sitting with Madeline's bed, watching over her. "Mother?" she asked with a careful voice. "What is wrong with Auntie Madeline?" Antoinette suddenly realized what had really happened and smiled sheepishly. "Everything is going to be perfect. Just that we have to take very well care of her now. And the cousin you are going to get in a while."
Meg's eyes widened increasingly and she stared at her mother. "Are you telling me that she is going to have a baby?" her mother just smiled at her. Meg screamed of excitement and asked if she could tell the others before she went to bed.
So the rest of the day went to taking care of Madeline. Madeline however didn't wake up until the evening had arrived.
"Ann? What time is it? And why is it dark outside?" She sat up and wanted t get out of bed, but Ann pushed her down again. "You need to rest. Here you go." She said quietly as she laid a cold rag over her forehead.
Madeline looked curiously at Antoinette.
"What is all this about? Why can't I just get out of bed?" she said and tried to get up once more but Ann pushed her firmly down as before.
"You need to rest. I am going to tell you everything. Look. The doctor was here and he told me and Erik something that we would never expect."
She paused for a while and took a deep breath. "Madeline, you are pregnant."
Madeline's eyes got teary and burst out in tears before Antoinette could say another word.
"Oh! Madeline! It is not that bad. You are going to be a mother, and that is something I think you will suit quite well to be." Said Ann as she tried to calm down the crying person in her bed.
"The doctor said that a person at your age needs to be taken very well care of during pregnancy, so we are going to do our best so that you will not have to experience the same thing as the last time you got pregnant. I will not see that happen to you again." She said as she tucked Madeline in.
"Pease get some more rest now. Erik has found a nice place for you to stay. And he has been out all day, arranging everything that is needed and bought furniture and so on. You will love everything he's done. He is right for you, you know. But get some sleep, and we'll see in the morning."
Madeline slept uneasy that night and woke up with a terrible headache.
She stumbled out of bed and leaned against the wall. The headache was dreadful It was like her head was about to explode.
She woke Antoinette up just in time to fall over her.
"Oh, Ann, I am so sick. And my headache is horrible!" she moaned. Ann grabbed her and seated her at a chair nearby. "Just sit there, you need something to drink. Shall I make some tea?" she said.
Madeline nodded. She took a deep breath and took the cup filled with tea.
"Where is Erik?" she asked suddenly.
"I am here." Said Erik and stepped out of the shadows. "How are you today? Are you better?" he smiled gently at her.
Madeline was glowing. She smiled back at him and sighed. "I am fine, Erik. So where were you last night?" she said and straightened up a bit. She would not look too weak to anyone.
Erik hesitated before he answered her question. "I was finding a place where we can live together. Forever I mean. That is if you want to." He was so nervous about this. He could never recall being nervous about anything before.
"Of course I want to!" she kissed him, and made him feel better at once. "Let me see. I have all my belongings here, so why don't we just see the place right now?" she got to her feet.
"It is here. We are living in the opera house. We have gotten the top floor for ourselves." He said. Madeline's face lightened up even more.
"Really? Oh! It is like a dream come true!" she gave him a great hug and he carried her up to their new bedroom.
He came down to speak with Antoinette half an hour later.
"Ann," he said. She turned towards him. "Whit is it Erik?" she asked him cheerfully.
"It is nothing really, just that…How do you feel about me and Madeline?" he asked suddenly.
Ann laughed and said strictly to him. "I thing she will do you good, Erik. And I think you suit quite well, if I might say so."
Erik smiled, very satisfied and walked to his new home. He had actually bought the Opera Populaire, so he could do what he wanted now. He saw Madeline asleep again. He sat by her till she woke up.
The days went like normal at the Opera Populaire. Since Erik now owned it, and got a mighty fine pay check, he and Madeline had now found a big house five blocks away from the Opera house. They were like a normal family. Erik would go to work and Madeline would stay at home. She did not do any hose work though. They had a maid for that.
The time when Madeline was going to give birth drew nearer and nearer. One day in the last week of her pregnancy, Antoinette came over.
"Good morning, Madeline. Erik has gone to work already, I assume?" she said as she walked through the doors.
Madeline was sitting in a grand chair, knitting. "Oh! Hello, Ann! What a pleasure!" she put her knitting away and got slowly to her feet. Her tummy had gotten real big, and there was a slight chance that there might be more than one in there.
Ann walked over to her and gave her a hug. "You look stunning." She whispered. Madeline rubber her large tummy and suggested that they went for a walk in the garden.
"How are you doing? Is everything as it should be?" Antoinette asked. She was still concerned about Madeline. Madeline's last pregnancy had ended in a miss carriage. And especially at Madeline's age, it was so risky.
Madeline smiled. "I am feeling absolutely fine. I am of course a little dizzy sometimes, but then I just lie down and it is fine. Erik has been wonderful. He takes so good care of me. We ate dinner the other day and I having a headache, and he carried me up to my bed and took care of me. He is fantastic."
Antoinette thought about how Erik had once been. Hidden in the shadows and despised of all humans. Now he was having children and was the most powerful man in all of France. Madeline must have done him good.
The two women sat down at a bench where they got served tea by one of the maids. Madeline leaned back and laced her tea cup at her stomach.
"I admit that I will be glad when this is over. I feel like a whale." She said, smiling sweetly at Ann. "I think you look stunning! Not everyone suits being pregnant, but you are beautiful. You don't see that every day." Ann replied.
Madeline glowed even more at this compliment and nipped her tea. "Do you think Erik will be a good father? I, myself, believe that he will be great at it. And I think he will like it too." Ann nodded. "I think he will love the child he will get. I remember he used to like Meg when she was a baby. And that was not even his own." She said seriously.
"Maybe I should get inside." Said Madeline after a while. "I don't really feel so good." She got to her feet and hurried inside together with Antoinette. She lay down in the living room until she felt better.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked. "We could go and get Meg and Erik when he's off work." Antoinette would love to so she helped Madeline get dressed.
At the Opera Populaire the new rehearsals were getting started. The new opera was written by Erik and it was quite unlike anything they had ever heard before. It was strange and beautiful tones mixing up. The ballet girls were all watching as they had their day off.
Erik was running around on the stage fixing things and telling people what to do. He was on his way to the new soprano as he saw Madeline.
"Everyone, I want you to all to meet my lovely and devoted soon-to-be mother of my children; Madeline." He said and bounced off the stage. He made a gesture for the chorus to continue and lifted Madeline in a great hug.
"How come you are here?" he asked "You know you should be at home, resting." He said to her. "I am coming to take you home to dinner. Antoinette and Meg are going to join us. Oh, that reminds me. Ann, can you go find your daughter then?" Antoinette went off to find Meg amongst the ballerinas so Erik and Madeline had a few moments for themselves.
"Erik, dear. I feel that it is soon time now. Will you be there then? I am not asking you to get off work for me, but it would be nice to have you there." Said Madeline while wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Are you kidding? I am not going to miss it for the world! I will stay home for the last week now, Madeline. I am sure that Monsieur Lamont can take over for me." he smiled. This was something he had been looking forward to or the past nine moths now. "Just sit down, and I'll go talk to him." He hurried off to see Monsieur Lamont.
After the dinner, Ann and Erik sat in their sitting room and talked. They had a baby room, but it was now obvious that they needed at least one more. They found names for both boys and girls and came up with great names.
"Erik? Are you going to have some time off from work after the birth too?" she asked and rested her head on his shoulder. "Of course I am. And you will probably have to visit me a whole lot at work when I go back." He said.
They went to bed when it was almost morning. "Erik," said Madeline. "Hm?" he said very sleepy. "Two things: I love you, and I am cold." Erik laughed. "Oh come here." He said and dragged her over to him. "I love you too." He whispered into her ear. They feel asleep very fast and were awaken by heavy knocks at their bedroom door.
"What is it?" said Erik, clearly annoyed. He closed his eyes and held his beloved tightly. A servant walked in. "The breakfast is ready, and you have visitors." Said the servant. "Visitors? Who?" wondered Erik and got carefully out of the bed, to not wake up Madeline.
"They wanted to see both you and Madame Madeline, so you better wake her up too, Monsieur. They did not say who they were, just that they were good friends. They are very many. I think they are coming to congratulate you." Replied the servant and pulled the curtains aside. "The breakfast will be served in the winter-garden." Said the servant and left.
"Madeline, wake up. Apparently we have visitors." He said quietly as he bent over the bed to kiss her. "Who?" she asked. She yawned and stretched. "I have no clue. They did not say who they were. But the servant said that they were quite a few." Madeline yawned again and rolled out of bed.
"I guess I best get some suitable clothes on then." She went into her wardrobe as they had a whole room for their clothes, and found a green dress. "Think that would be good?" she asked. Erik nodded and got dressed himself.
"Need some help?" he asked Madeline as she struggled getting the dress on. "Yes please." She laughed. Then they went down the stair to find out who the mysterious guests were. Halfway down, they heard loads of people talking. So there were quite a few of them. They exchanged looks and both sighed.
Erik went first into the winter garden while Madeline was fixing her hair. She took a deep breath and dragged her feet slowly into the garden. She loved new people, but she was so nervous that they might not like her because they obviously knew Erik from earlier. She saw that Antoinette and Meg were there too, so she got a little more courage. So she walked in.
Everyone stopped speaking. "Oh there you are." Said Erik. "This, ladies and gentlemen is my lovely lady; Madeline." He said proudly. She too his hand and pressed it very hard. "Everything will be fine." He whispered comfortingly to her as she stepped closer to him. "I will introduce you to them all."
First, he took her to a tall woman and slightly robust man. "This is Señroa Carlotta and Señor Piangi. They used to work at the opera house. Tell me, will you two ever come back now as the Opera Ghost has disappeared?" he asked them. They actually seemed very positive to this and then Erik and Madeline moved on to other people.
"This is Richard Firmin and Gilles André." He said as they approached two men looking rather overdressed. "They were the managers at the opera house before it burned down. Any chance you will be coming back? They could probably use some help when I am gone now." The two men said they'd go straight to the Opera Populaire and say that Erik sent them.
Last, Erik introduced Madeline to a young couple. Apparently they were the count and countess of Chagny. Madeline liked these two and when she got to know that the young woman she was talking to was the famous Christine, she got even more excited.
Eventually the guests left and it seems like everyone had gotten themselves work at the opera house again now. Erik and Madeline ate in peace and quiet before the doorbell rang. One of the maids came into the winter garden. "Mademoiselle, there is someone for you at the door." She said and left. Madeline looked worried at Erik. "I'll come with you." He said.
The door was wide open and Madeline was annoyed about the maid always leaving it that, but then she saw who was outside. She pushed Erik in front of her. "You go first. I think this will astonish you as much as it astonished me."
There on the staircase stood the emperor of France with his wife. They only saw Erik and asked. "Good morning, dear monsieur. I was wondering if your wife is at home? We have some very important questions for both of you, but for her mainly."
Erik was just standing there looking puzzled so Madeline stepped in front of him. She took a bow as deep as she could and asked them in. She was feeling as puzzled as Erik looked, but knew that this had to be important. She nudged Erik and he followed her and their guests into the house.
"Do you want something to drink?" Madeline asked their guests as she led them into the sitting room. They both said yes to a cup of tea. "I'll get it, darling." Said Erik and helped Madeline over to a chair. He disappeared into the kitchen and Madeline was alone with the emperor and empress.
"The reason we are here," started the emperor. "Is to inform you about your husband. I am sure you know all about his past, but we are here to tell you what will happen in the future."
Madeline sat quite still. She was nervous for what she might hear. "We want to tell you the good news before we tell him. You might know that you are the most powerful couple in France. You are even more powerful that we are. Monsieur Erik owns most of France now and you are very rich. So we want to come here personally to make you count and countess of Paris. The whole of Paris."
Madeline opened her mouth, but no words came out. "Erik!" she shouted "Please come in here!" The emperor smiled as Erik stormed in.
"I was just telling the wife about the new count and countess of Paris." He smiled. Erik looked curiously at Madeline. "It is us, Erik!" she burst out and threw her arms around him. Erik was stunned so he just held Madeline tightly.
"We need to get going now, but we will get someone to guard this house and we will also get someone to hang the flag up at the front so everyone will know who lives here." The guests left.
"Madeline, you know what this means. We are next in like for the throne." Erik smiled at her when they were alone. "That was not what I was thinking. I was thinking that you will have even more work."
Madeline sighed and rested her head at his chest. "But you will be with me on this work. We will be together." They smiled at each other and spent the rest of the day laughing at the terrace.