Gustave stayed glued to the couch next to his mother, as she told him of her audition and how she decided she was going to accept Mr. Y's offer and sing at Phantasma permanently.
"Really, Mother? We are going to stay here at Phantasma?"
She giggled. "That's right, my beautiful boy."
Erik smiled at hearing Christine say that to Gustave and she in turn smiled at Erik, seeing his full face in plain view for them to see.
"You know you two, just because Christine isn't singing for Hammerstein, doesn't mean that she is only bound to Phantasma. We could go anywhere. I have no doubt there could be other places or countries that would want to hear "the Soprano of the Century." My point is we could go anywhere and always have a little place like Coney to come home to."
"Mother does that mean you told Father that we are staying here?"
Christine looked at Erik. "Darling, I did speak to Raoul and I told him…. That is…" She didn't know where to start.
Erik sat down next to them. "Gustave, what your mother is trying to say is that, we both love you very much and…I love her very much." He then took her hand.
Gustave smiled. "She loves you too. I know she does and I'm happy, Mr. Y."
"Gustave, I've asked your mother to marry me and she said yes."
Gustave smiled once more. "Does that mean we can be a real family?"
Erik nodded, and Christine pulled Erik closer to them, so she could put her arms around both her men.
"Gustave, my marrying Mr. Y means that we won't be living with Raoul anymore. I don't want to stop you from seeing him and we both love you." She struggled with next part. "We both want you with us, but you need to know something, sweetheart. Something that I have been wanting to tell you for a long time."
"Mother I don't want to live with Father…. Not without you."
"Gustave, your father…. Your real father has been with us all along." Her eyes went to Erik.
"Wait, Christine. We need more time. We…."
"No, he needs to know the truth from us now and I don't know what Raoul may do."
"Mother?" Gustave eyed them both.
She caressed her son's cheek. "Your real father is right here."
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Gustave looked at his mother and then back at Mr. Y. "Are you saying Mr. Y is my father? How is that possible?"
Christine thought the last part was difficult to say. She truly didn't know how she was going to explain this. "I met Mr. Y long ago in Paris, when I was living and working at the Opera House, darling. He was my music tutor."
Erik smoothed out his hair. "Gustave, I know this must come as quite a shock, but it explains so much doesn't it? How we see things in the same way…. How you play the piano…. How…."
"Why didn't you marry my mother? Didn't you love her then?"
Erik swallowed hard and exchanged a look of sympathy from Christine. He stood up and kneeled before his son.
"I loved her the first moment I heard her sing. But I was too shy to tell her. I was afraid she would shun me."
Gustave thought for a moment. "Because of your face." He then looked at his mother. "You didn't look with your heart back then, did you Mother?"
She shook her head. "No, precious. I didn't."
"Mother told me that I needed to look with my heart because that's when you really see the beauty in someone. Love isn't always beautiful at the start, but it can be. It can be very beautiful, if you know what beauty is."
Erik couldn't believe the words coming from Gustave's lips. He looked up at Christine. "You told him that? When?"
She nodded. "Right after he saw your face for the first time. I told him that I reacted very badly when I saw it too and how much I regretted it."
Gustave started to think about all the times that Mr. Y wasn't around and became angry. "It was because of you that kept Mr. Y away?" Gustave backed away from Christine.
"No, Gustave!" Erik responded. "It was not your mother's fault. I didn't make it easy for her. I was convinced she couldn't love me as I was, and I acted shamefully. She had met…. Raoul and he offered her chance at a life, I couldn't provide."
"My mother cried herself to sleep for years. My fa…He never was there. What sort of life couldn't you provide us?"
Christine moved to touch Gustave, but he backed away again.
"Does Fath…Does he know?"
"Yes, Gustave. I told him."
"No wonder he hates me so."
Christine's heart fell. "No, Gustave, I told you that…."
"What else have you been lying to me about?"
Erik reached for the boy and took hold of his shoulder. "Gustave, your mother was faced with a terrible situation. She had no choice but to keep this a secret. I never knew about you, until you came here to Phantasma and she thought I was dead."
"Secrets…. Secrets are bad, then?"
Erik closed his eyes wondering what to say. "Remember when I asked you to not tell your mother about the nightclub? That was a secret. It was temporary, until I could tell her the surprise."
"And your being my father?"
Christine kneeled to join them on the floor. "To protect you until I was able to tell you both. Gustave, I am so very sorry. I never did it to hurt you. I'm sorry I lied to you. I love you more than my own life."
"I have been so happy these past few months, I didn't want Father to return. I should still be happy because I now know why I have always felt as if I belonged here, but I don't know why I had to wait so long to learn the truth. Keeping this secret brought a lot of pain."
He instantly thought of Meg and their secret. Would that cause the same type of pain? He needed to go and find her and tell her he couldn't keep any secrets from the people he loved.
"May I go for a walk by myself?"
"Gustave…." Christine stood up.
Erik released his shoulder and stood up as well. "Are you sure you want to do that? Your mother and I will worry until you are back here safe and sound. At least let me get Ms. Fleck or…."
"No, I need be alone. Please?" As soon as I find Ms. Giry, I will feel much better. Then I can come back and tell them the truth.
When they still hesitated, Gustave calmly spoke. "You both owe me this much."
Christine nodded weakly, as Erik moved to the door.
"One-hour, young man. Or I will come and find you myself." He then hugged him fiercely.
Gustave touched his face and smiled. How could he stay angry when what he had wished for, had finally come true? He then went to kiss his mother's cheek. He loved her so very much. He needed to make things right for everyone.
"I'll be back soon." He opened the door.
"Gustave!" Christine looked at her son and held back her tears.
Gustave smiled at his mother and father and then walked out the door.
A/N: I was originally going to end this chapter after the big reveal, but it was only one page and I couldn't do that to you guys. LOL
