Erik cringed when he heard his son shriek with terror at the mere sight of him. Could you imagine if I wasn't wearing my mask?

Christine's arms flew opened for the boy to come to her. "Gustave, it's alright. You're safe, no one is going to hurt you."

"But Mother, his face… please, I'm scared." The boy buried his face into his mother's side.

Christine looked over at Erik with sheer agony in her eyes and mouthed she was sorry. She then kissed the top of Gustave's head to comfort him.

"Gustave, Mr. Y is our friend. He would never hurt you. I promise you that."

Christine did her best to calm the boy, but it was obvious that he was still visibly shaken over what he had seen in Erik's office. Erik was obviously devastated and if Christine could have found a way to comfort them both, she would have done so without hesitation but under the circumstance, she had no choice but to make sure the boy felt safe.

Erik couldn't stand to see the two people he loved more than anything be conflicted by his presence, so he moved to leave.

"I'll leave you both in peace, so you can rest."

Christine opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn't find the words. Instead she stayed focused on her son. Erik seemed to vanish after that.

Christine moved over to the couch and pulled Gustave into her lap.

"Darling, you're safe. Please don't cry."

The boy lifted his head and opened his eyes to look around the room. "He's gone?"

"Yes, dear one. It's just us but I don't want you to be afraid of Mr. Y. He's an old friend of mine and …"

"Mother, where is Father? Shouldn't he be here?"

Her heart fell. "Gustave, your father has gone away for a while."

"Away?" He wiped his eyes.

"Yes, dear. He needed to go away for a while and I…. I think it would be best for you and me to spend some time together, just us two."

"So, we are leaving Coney Island?"

"Is that what you want, sweetheart?"

Gustave thought for a moment. "No…. I do like it here but…. Mother, I really liked Mr. Y when I first met him but after seeing his face…."

"Gustave, Mr. Y never meant to frighten you. He only wanted to be your friend."

"What happen to his face, Mother?"

"I…. Think he was born that way, dearest." She hugged the boy tight, thinking how easily Gustave could have been born with his father's affliction. She wondered so many things in that instance and suddenly had so many questions for Erik.

"Did I hurt Mr. Y's feelings, Mother?"

She looked down at her son's face and saw such genuine concern in his eyes. "He knows you didn't mean it, Gustave. He is not angry with you. I reacted the same way you did when I first saw his face."

"You did?"

She nodded feeling very ashamed of herself. "I was young too and I didn't realize that sometimes you need to look with your heart and not with your eyes to really see the beauty in someone."

"I don't understand, Mother. How does one look with their heart?"

"I think is starts by listening to your heart and accepting that it's very wise. Wiser than common sense or your own mind." She wished she would have had someone to tell her that, all those years ago.

"How do I do that, Mother?"

"Why don't we find out together?" She wrapped her arms around her son and clung to him tightly.

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Erik didn't sleep that night. He got up early and spent most of the day in his office trying to figure out how he could somehow change the way Gustave felt about him. He didn't think he stood a chance before but now that Raoul had deserted them, he thought faith had redesigned things once again and this time, this time he was not going to give up. He needed Christine and his son. Not just for a song, not just for one night but for the rest of his life.

No sooner did the sun rise, did it seem to set, and Erik decided it was time to start making up for his mistakes to his family. He was on a mission when Madame Giry entered his office and blocked his way out.

"Antoinette, not now. I'm on my way…."

"To see Christine?"

He didn't answer her.

"Erik, I will no longer let you cast me aside. We need to discuss Meg."

"I have already told the Stage Manager to promote one of the chorus girls to cover Meg's part. The show will go on as always."

"Do you think that is why I am here, to discuss Meg's replacement?!" She shook her head in disgust. "Of course, this is all so easy for you. To simply replace Meg again. She and I seem to be a very easy problem for you to solve."

"What are you talking about?"

"People matter, Erik. We matter, or have you forgotten all Meg and I have sacrificed to help you these past 10 years? Where was she, eh? Where was your precious, Christine?"

"Enough."

"She left you. She ran away from you and your face. She didn't care what the mob did to you or if you died. But we stayed on. Meg and me. We protected you, helped you and advised you. We built this park just as much as you did. Your Angel was wed to a younger man. A better-looking man. A man who gave her a son and a title."

"You have no idea what she wants. Stop speaking as if you do!"

"Meg and I were the ones that desired your attention, Erik."

"Meg left and ran away with the Vicomte or did that piece of news escape you? She ran off with a married man. Do you really want me to feel sorry for her?"

"Did you stop to ask yourself why she would do such a thing? Did you ever stop to ask yourself what you could have done to stop her?"

"She was a headliner in a very successful show. She came and went as she pleased. What more did you want me to do?"

"Respect us and give what is owed to us."

Erik rolled his eyes. "I told you that you and Meg will get your due. I have never lied to any of you. I have never forgotten what you did for me. But your bringing up the past as a weapon to wound me and ingratiate yourself is not going to bring Meg back."

"So, help me get her back."

"I don't have time for this nor am I going to listen to you recite ancient history. I am needed somewhere."

"Christine? She needs you now, eh? Always her little lap dog, Erik?"

He came towards her and reached to grab her neck but stopped himself when Madame Giry backed into the wall. He closed his eyes and backed away slowly. He forced himself to talk calmly but Madame Giry couldn't help but tremble by his tone of voice.

"I suggest that you think long and hard before you ever disrespect me or her ever again. I told you that you will be compensated for the past. Yet that does not give you carte blanche over your future. Leave me."

She swallowed hard but said nothing as she left the room. Erik smoothed his hair and thought about what Antoinette had said.

People matter.

She was right but, in his eyes, the only two people that mattered to him were Christine and Gustave. He was determined to make them both see that, starting tonight.