Short but very sweet.

The next morning Gustave couldn't stop talking about all the fun he had at Nathan's. He couldn't wait to go back. Needless to say, Erik was more than pleased with himself.

"So, you want to return to Nathan's or maybe you could spend some time at another part of the park?"

"Where?" He didn't take his eyes off his mother who was slowly trotting along, as he and Erik watched her from the fence by the stables.

"Christine, you look too tense, the horse senses this."

"I'm out here all alone! What if he starts to run?" She shouted over to them.

"Silly girl. I am right here. Nothing will harm you and it's a she not a he. Don't grasp the reins so tightly. Midnight will do as I say but I want her to learn to take direction from you."

Christine nodded timidly. "So, I just allow him…. Her to walk in any direction she wishes?"

"No but be deliberate and talk to her. She is just as scared as you are."

Erik then looked over at Gustave. "Would you like to play music for some of the rehearsals tomorrow?"

Gustave's mouth fell wide open? "Me? Really?"

Erik kept his focus on Christine. "We both know you are very good and it would be nice to have you practice, as you are helping some of the other performers."

"What about Nathan's? I don't want to leave them shorthanded." Gustave said thoughtfully.

"You can go there whenever you wish, it's just one rehearsal." Erik looked at him. "You can do whatever you wish to do, Gustave. Except eat too many hotdogs." He winked. I want you to think of the park, as a second home."

"Thank you, Mr. Y. I do love it here. It's really incredible."

Erik beamed. "You really think so?"

"Yes."

Erik then called out to Christine. "Angel, you're thinking too hard. Don't internalize, just talk to her. Eventually, you will both read each other's thoughts, that and you'll learn to go the right direction with the reins."

Gustave laughed with Erik.

"I hear you two!" Christine tried to look over.

"That's the problem, you are focusing much too much on us."

"Then be quiet!"

Erik chuckled at her answer.

"Mr. Y?"

"Yes, Gustave."

"Thank you for spending so much time with us…. With me. I am sorry about before."

"Gustave, that's all forgotten. That's was my fault."

"Mother asked me if I wanted to go back to France."

"What did you say?" He asked cautiously.

"I didn't want to go back. Not if things are as they were before. Mother is happy here, I can tell." He looked at Erik for what seemed like a long time. "You make her happy."

Erik looked at Gustave. "I sincerely hope I do. And you, Gustave. I would like to do all I can to make you happy too."

"I did it! I got her to turn exactly here I wanted to go!" Christine yelled over to them.

"That's it, Angel. You are doing beautifully! Stay with her. Forget about everything else." He knew Christine would get better with each lesson, but he also knew it would take her longer than Gustave. After all, he and Erik were alike in many ways and one of them was his ability to learn things quickly. Erik then felt Gustave staring at him. "Gustave?"

"I'm sorry. I wasn't staring at the mask. I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Why can't my father be more like you? Mother says he loves me, but I don't know. I always seem to be in his way. I know he's an important man, but I don't think I want to be a Vicomte if that means I have to be like him"

Erik kneeled down to be at the boy's eye level. "Gustave, you can be anything you want to be and when you inherit the title, you can be yourself and not the man your father is. You are your own person. Your fate has not been decided."

Gustave stared at Erik again, only this time he extended his hand to touch his unmasked cheek.

"You're a good man, Mr. Y. I am glad we are friends."

Erik choked up at the touch of his son's hand on his cheek. He coughed to avoid his eyes from getting too misty.

"Do you think my father loves me?"

"With his entire soul, Gustave."

The boy nodded then looked at his mother in the distance.

"Can we ride up to her?"

Erik stood up and coughed again. "You remember how to saddle up?"

"Yes, sir."

"You have an apple for our friend?" He winked

Gustave nodded and pulled it from his pocket, "I remember the secret."

"Alright but try not to show your mother up too much. Today was a big day for her." He grinned.

Gustave laughed and nodded as he got his horse ready.

It was a big day for me too. Erik thought.