Thanks for the reviews Glinda and LightLife4Ever! This story is not done just yet...there's a few more chapters left to go.
Disclaimer: I do not own the idea of "Charles". I don't want to ruin it for anybody who hasn't read a certain book...so just know I do not own him. I also don't own James Gustave De Chagny...that idea came from my friend, and loyal reader Jana (I think I spelt your name right...? lol.). Who will play the part of Christine if this ever turned into a movie. lol.
I do however own Raoul James: "R.J.", Francine, and Angela.
Learn To Be Loved
On May 25th 1872, Christine gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Charles Raoul De Chagny at their new house. Erik continued to fear throughout Christine's pregnancy that the baby would be born with a skin deformity like him. He prayed to God nightly that the baby would not have to suffer the same fate he did. God seemed to answer his prayers because the boy he held in his arms had no deformities and was completely healthy.
The little boy had dark hair and mesmerizing green eyes. He had a very soft sweet sounding voice when he cried. Erik could tell right away this boy was born to be a musician. He gave the baby to Christine so she could hold him.
Luckily Christine was fine. Her labor pains were nothing too serious and she did not lose too much blood. She smiled down at her new baby and sang to him. His crying had stopped at the sound of her voice. Erik smiled and sang with her. They soothed the baby with their voices and he fell asleep immediately.
Everyone waited outside in the living room to see the baby. Erik walked down the steps to the living room and showed everyone little Charles.
Charles was wrapped up in the blanket Erik's mother made for him. On the side it said "I love you."
He handed the baby to Madame Giry, her first considered grandchild. Madame Giry cried when she held the little angel in her arms. He slept soundlessly as she rocked him back and forth.
"How's Christine?" Meg asked.
"She's fine. Everything went perfect." Erik replied.
"May we see her?" Raoul asked. Erik nodded his head and they went up stairs to check on Christine. Erik watched as Madame Giry held the baby.
She looked up at Erik and said, "I'm so proud of you."
He cried a little and replied, "Thank you…For everything."
"You're welcome." She said. Nadir walked over and smiled at the little boy Madame Giry was holding which reminded him of his son in Persia. Nadir's son was very sick and Erik gave him a potion that would give him a quick and peaceful death. Otherwise the boy would have suffered greatly. Erik noticed his friend's sadness and frowned.
"I'm sorry, Nadir…I know you probably miss him."
"It's ok."
"You do forgive me, right?" Erik asked.
Nadir smiled and replied, "Yes, Erik. You did what you had to do."
Erik hugged his friend but Nadir changed the subject. "Can you believe it? You're a father."
Erik cried and nodded, "I know...all I ever wanted was to be loved. Christine is my angel, my gift from heaven...but my child is a miracle to me."
Madame Giry and Nadir smiled and continued to fuss over the baby boy.
Meanwhile Raoul and Meg visited Christine which made her happy. "Hi, you guys. Did you see the baby?"
"Yes, Christine…and he's beautiful!" Meg said.
"Thank you." Christine replied rather weakly.
"Congratulations." Raoul said softly to Christine. She smiled and said thanks.
She fell asleep from exhaustion.
On July 7th 1872, Meg gave birth to her own baby boy whom she named Raoul James De Chagny II. Later on they gave him the nickname, "R.J." She too gave birth in her house with Raoul by her side. When the boy came out Raoul cried in happiness.
"My God, I can't believe it." Raoul said.
Meg saw her baby and smiled, "He's so beautiful…"
The boy had light brown/blonde hair and had blue eyes. He too was a healthy baby and Meg also had no problems during labor. Raoul held his firstborn son who was named after him.
"Little Raoul James." Raoul said. He smiled at the baby and turned the baby to face Meg. "See that beautiful lady…that's your mommy."
Meg laughed and held out her arms. Raoul placed little R.J. in Meg's arms. He then bent over and hugged his wife who was resting with the baby.
Madame Giry waited downstairs with Nadir, Erik, and Christine who was holding an almost 2 month old Charles.
After a few minutes they heard Raoul walking down the stairs and he was carrying a baby in a blue blanket. Madame Giry cried and he walked over to her new grandchild. He showed her the newest edition to the family.
She held her second grandchild, her first biological grandchild, and cried in happiness. "Oh my…" She said and smiled down on the sleeping boy.
"Looks like Charles has a new friend." Erik said. Charles looked interested in what was going on. Christine walked him to his new cousin, and future best friend. Charles' tiny hand touched the top of R.J.'s head. The room echoed in "awwws".
They all went up to visit Meg, but she was sleeping. Raoul informed them that she too had a very successful delivery. Nothing bad happened to her in the process.
In October of that year both Christine and Meg announced they were pregnant with their second children.
Charles and R.J. played together everyday and in July they both welcomed the two newest editions of their families.
Angela Meg De Chagny was born July 12th 1873. She is the daughter of Erik and Christine. Erik was very proud to now be the father of a very beautiful baby girl.
Francine Antoinette De Chagny was born later that month on July 30th 1873. She is the daughter of Meg and Raoul. Unfortunately this time things didn't go so well for Meg. She had a lot of problems during labor and the baby almost didn't make it.
Meg herself lost a lot of blood but eventually got better from the whole ordeal. But now she was no longer unable to have any more kids. She didn't mind, though. The two little angels were enough for them.
Christine was still able to have kids. She announced for the third time that she was pregnant in February 1874. She gave birth to James Gustave De Chagny on September 15th 1874. Erik's second son, and once again had no deformities.
Over the years Erik and Raoul grew a brotherly bond that they never had before. They had their differences in the past but now they seemed to get through their issues and were able to actually become friends.
Charles and R.J. were the best of friends. When James grew old enough they allowed him into their little club and became like the three musketeers. James and Charles got along well as brothers and considered R.J. their brother and not a cousin. The same went for Angela and Francine. Angela viewed Francine as her sister, and R.J. like a brother.
The three boys would love to run around outside and get into trouble. They liked to run across the street and play hide and seek in the Opera House. The managers didn't mind this. They almost considered the De Chagny's across the street like family. They continued managing there until they retired.
Charles showed a love for architecture and music very early on in his life. Erik and Christine got him started in school right away. He was very successful and got very good grades.
James seemed to have gotten Erik's sense of adventure and rebelling nature. He was the main trouble maker of the three. He too loved music and math. He also had a thing for magic.
R.J. loved to fence and horseback ride. He was very athletic and very handsome. The girls around school and around his neighborhood grew very attracted to him. Along with Charles and James he loved music.
Angela and Francine were also the best of friends. They played at each other's houses everyday. Their days consisted of dolls, playing outside, singing, and listening to stories.
Francine loved ballet and singing. Meg enrolled her in the ballet as soon as she was four. Two years later Meg retired as a ballet dancer and helped her mother as a ballet mistress.
Francine also loved to go horseback riding with her brother and father. She became very athletic like her mother because of ballet and occasionally sang in operas when she got older because she was in the chorus too.
Angela was a born opera singer. Erik tutored all the children in music and recognized Angela's raw talent. He focused a lot of his attention on her voice and trained her to sing. When she was four she joined the ballet and later on sang in the chorus. Christine was the Prima Donna after Carlotta retired for good in 1878. When Christine retired in 1889 her daughter Angela took her place. Angela's Opera debut was in Carmen as the leading role.
Erik and Christine loved to tell the children stories, mainly the "Dark Stories of the North" Gustave would read to Christine.
But they're favorite one to read was the Angel of Music. The boys thought that the story was ok…nothing special. But the two girls loved to hear the story and never got sick of it. Angela especially loved it. She would make her father read it to her every day.
Soon she claimed the nickname of "Little Lotte". Christine smiled realizing Angela was just like her when she was a little girl. And like Christine, Angela loved her father dearly.
December 2nd
1879
"Papa, have you ever been visited by the Angel?" Angela asked after her father read the Angel of Music story to her.
"Yes…and my angel was a beautiful one. She came into my life at a very dark time and changed me completely."
Christine smiled, "And I too was visited by the Angel. He also came into my life at a dark time and changed me completely. I don't know where I would be without him."
Erik glanced at her and smiled.
"I wonder if I'll be visited by an angel." Angela pondered.
"I'm sure everyone is visited by an angel in their life. I was visited by many." Erik replied.
"Really?"
"Yes. And one of those angels is sitting on my lap." He said and Angela giggled.
"Daddy…I'm not an angel!"
"Yes you are Angela, you're my little angel." Erik said and kissed her on the head. She hugged her dad, rested her head on his chest, and fell asleep.
"I told you you'd be a great father." Christine whispered in his ear.
"Thanks." He replied and kissed her full on the lips. After ten minutes Erik carefully lifted his daughter up and placed her in the bed.
"Good night my angel." He whispered.
A/N: Review please :-)
