Chapter ThirtyFour

DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple

"Karen. How are you feeling?" Meg asked on the first day of the ninth month. Erik had already asked her why she hadn't had the baby yet. She'd told him that it would come soon enough.

"I'm fine." Karen replied.

"It should be any-day now, right?"

"Right." Meg had just gotten out of Ballet practice; and was about to head to the stage to practice for the new production. "I will not keep you." Karen told her; letting her go off to practice.

Karen had gone to the cemetery to pray at Iris's grave. She found it terrible that Iris couldn't be there to see her niece; couldn't see the day Raphael was murdered on accounts of attempted murder; and man-slaughter. That she couldn't have gone to the wedding; and couldn't be there for everything that has yet to happen. But Karen knew that even though Iris was not with her in body; she was with her in spirit.

The Opera Populaire was buzzing with all that was going on; trying to get the production ready; Erik fighting with Carlotta to stop being a spoiled diva and to listen to him; and everything else. Erik was extremely excited that the pregnancy was almost over; and he would have a little girl; and another person to protect with his life. He never thought passed that; he never thought of what would happen when she grew older; when she grew out of the diapers and lullabies; out of the baby clothes and out of needing him and Karen to feed her. But he did not think of that; he focused only on Karen; and his little girl whom shared the name of her late aunt. He would protect Iris better than he did the other one; he wouldn't let anyone hurt her; let alone murder her.

Karen slept more than before. The baby's kicks kept her up most of the night; so she would sleep during the day. He would watch her sleep for only a moment; unable to believe all that had happened. He'd slaved over wanting Christine; when a year after she left him; Karen had come to the Populaire; and the two did not even know each other until Karen had been there two years; and Erik had been hurting for three.


It was late in the afternoon while Karen was sleeping. Erik was painting; and Meg was reading. All of a sudden; Karen's scream broke the calming silence. Erik and Meg ran to her and asked her what was going on.

"She's having a contraction!" Meg gasped. Erik sent her after the doctor; and quickly went to Karen's side. Soon; the contractions stopped. He had a hold of her hand; and was stroking her hair. He was as afraid as a little boy would be if he was the only one home and his mother had a contraction. He'd learned what to do though; and tried to keep calm about it.

Meg ran upstairs and started for the door; but Madam Giry stopped her and asked what the problem was. "We need a doctor! Karen's having the baby!" Everyone in the theater stopped and let Meg rush to the doctor. Meg was a fast runner; or fast enough; because of those days she'd have to run to keep up with Karen.

Erik was growing impatient with Meg; and Karen was having pains closer together. By the time Meg actually came back with the doctor; Karen was screaming in pain.

"She's ready to deliver." He told Erik; handing him some pills. "Give her these, they'll lessen the pain." Erik nodded and made her swallow them; telling her they'd knock her out, the pain was so great that she believed him and took them. She squeezed his hand so hard he thought he'd lose circulation in his hand. Meg was not allowed in the room; so she waited outside the room; listening to Karen's screams; swear words; and telling Erik it was his fault she was in that kind of pain.

Everyone stood outside the mirror; some of their arms crossed; some leaning on whatever they could. Waiting to know what was going to happen with Karen's baby. Soon enough; Meg came to them; thigh deep in water.

"So?" Andre' asked in anxiousness.Meg smiled; and told them what had happened.

"Karen gave birth to a girl." She told them the weight of the baby; or what the doctor had told her more so; and told them that the baby's name was Iris.

Erik's hand was nearly broken; but in Karen's arms; she held their girl. Their little baby girl. Iris's eyes weren't open yet; and she looked so fragile. Her lips were tiny like her mouth; and her hands stayed closed in a fist. She was wrapped in a blanket; and all she could do was hear them. Her face had no scar.

"She's so tiny.." Erik whispered; hardly believing that it was his daughter Karen held. Meg, and everyone from the populaire came below to see the baby.The doctor left; telling Erik to let Karen rest. Everyone piled into the room and saw how adorable their baby was.


Everyone but Meg had left them. Karen had gone to sleep; and Erik took the baby into the nursery. He rested her down in the cradle; and couldn't bring himself to leave her to sleep.

"I'll head back." He turned his head and saw Meg saying goodbye to him. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Erik told her before she left. Iris's hands were at the level of her eyes; The redness of her skin began to fade; and he began to see her pale complexion. She had no scar; and he thanked god she didn't. He didn't want her to go through the same hell he did. She had her eyes closed; and rested in the security of her cradle. Everyone in his home was fast asleep except him. Before; when everyone was asleep; it only consisted of him. Now, with his wife and child, he was no longer a family of one.

"Hard to believe isn't it?" He spun around and saw Karen walking to him; having been asleep for two hours. "We've got a little girl." Erik nodded; sliding his arm around her. "c'mon, we should let her sleep."

They walked out of the nursery, Karen walked into the den and Erik into the kitchen to prepare dinner.


They could hear her screams during the night. Cries for her parents to come to her aid. Erik went to her side; letting Karen sleep. He lifted her out of the cradle and held her. She was hungry; so he took her into the kitchen and got her a bottle. He began to think of when she won't need him to get up in the middle of the night and feed her; when she will be big enough to care for herself.She drank the bottle happily; filling her tiny stomach.


It is actually kind of hard to picture Erik as a daddy.

Erik: (Sigh) Same thing happened on the sims..

Me: Ironically yes!you and my sim person had a baby girl I named Iris!

Erik: I hate Irony.