"Mama said we'd finish my room before the baby came," Charlotte sighed dramatically spreading herself onto the couch. "And now the baby is coming and it takes forever."

"Forever?" Matilda looked up at her sister from the Persian rug on the parlor floor. Half the contents of the nursery were spread out there to help entertain the girls and keep them from the second floor.

"A long time," Charlotte sighed again.

"Why don't you play with your sister to help pass the time?" Hannah, the family's still faithful nanny asked.

The older girl, slithered down from the couch onto the floor, her pale blue skirts rising up exposing her petticoats and bloomers.

"Charlotte!" Hannah exclaimed. "That is not how proper young ladies behave."

"And proper old ladies shouldn't make comments about my face," Charlotte snapped before smoothing out her dress.

Hannah sighed sitting down her mending project in her lap, "Yes, my dear child, I know. But you should strive to be better."

Everyone was silent for a few minutes, both girls working on building with their blocks, when a muffled cry from Christine jerked their heads towards the landing.

"Mama hurt!" Matilda cried. "Mama hurt!" tears welled up in her eyes.

"Mama's okay, Tilta," Charlotte pulled her little sister onto her lap. "She's having the baby, remember?" The older girl tilted her head and looked at the nanny, "Why don't you have a baby, Hannah?"

The woman's pale cheeks flushed, "Well, I do not have a husband. One needs a husband to have a baby."

"So a husband gives you a baby? So why did Dada give me to Mama looking like him but Tilta looking like her? And what about Gustave? Did Dada choose to give Mama an old boy on purpose? Why didn't Dada make Gustave little so he could still be here?"

"Gustave!" Matilda exclaimed clapping her hands. "Where's Gustave!?"

"If Dada gives her babies why are they inside her?"

Hannah jumped to her feet, her sewing falling to the floor, "Let's see if Ada has lunch ready. I asked her to make some extra special treats for you."

The ringing of the door bell almost covered up Christine screaming, "Don't tell me how to breathe!"

"Dear Lord, what now!" Hannah made the sign of the cross before heading into the foyer to answer the door. "Young Mister! What are you doing here?"

"Lovely to see you too, Hannah!" Gustave's laugh traveled down the foyer into the parlor followed by the young man himself.

"Gustave!" Charlotte shrieked jumping to her feet, causing Matilda to tumble to the floor. She ran, throwing her arms around her brother, leaving her sister to cry. "Gustave, Mama is having the baby!"

The teenager dropped his bag, "What?"

"She speaks the truth," Hannah collected the crying toddler. "It's been a few hours now."

"What the Devil?! Why didn't anyone send me a message?"

"Your father sent one to your dormitory."

"That explains it. I didn't go to my last class and didn't stop by my room so I could come straight here. I must see her!" Pulling his sister from him, Gustave darted up the stairs and pounded on the mater bedroom door, "Mama! Let me in!"

Erik opened the door, "You may see her quickly. We need you to help distract your sisters."

Christine sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at her son. Her face already glistened with sweat, "Prefect timing. Between contractions."

"Are you okay, Mama?" He sounded like a little boy again as he took her hands.

"I'm scared; the baby is coming early and fast."

"Fast is good if it's early, right?" Gustave looked up at his father. "Right?"

"Young man, it's best you listen to your father and tend to your sisters. It's terrible enough your father insists on being in here," the annoyance in Dr. Bundy's voice was too obvious.

"I love you, Mama," Gustave kissed Christine's cheek before disappearing from the room.

"I've been with my wife for all her deliveries minus his because of the circumstance," Erik snapped at the doctor. "Not another quip about my being here!"

"Oh, oh oh!" The Soprano called out in pain as she fell back down on the bed. "I'm ready to push! I need to push!" She opened her legs to the doctor.

"Yes, yes, you're starting to crown…" Dr. Bundy's brown eyes went wide. "Wider Christine! Spread your legs wider! Push!"

She cried as she pushed, finally gasping for air when she was done, "Something doesn't feel right."

"Erik! I need more light! Get me a lamp!" The Doctor's voice loud and demanding.

"What's wrong?" The Phantom asked as he wiped his wife's forehead.

"The crowning doesn't look right."

"No!" Christine exclaimed. "Don't say that! I want my baby! Give me my baby!"