A longer chapter but needed. And I for one had to have a bit of sweetness to combat the sour. Read on my dear readers, read on.
Meg had so many questions floating around in her mind. She wanted to know why her mother waited so long to contact her. Why she was associating herself with Tom, whom she recalls all too well, how much of a scoundrel she said he was. Despite all she had gone through, she suddenly felt as if she were 16 years old, awaiting her Mother's lashing for a missed ballet step or a sloppy dessous.
"Mama?"
"I'm here, Meg." The old woman stepped out and took the lantern that Tom had been holding. "Tom, can you allow me a moment alone with my daughter?"
Tom scoffed. "Yeah, sure."
"Mama is that you?" She looked so different from the last time Meg saw her. Her hair was down, and it was out of place. All these years her mother was someone she would describe as graceful and posed. To see her now, made her cringe. "What have they done to you?"
"I'm fine, my child. Better now that you have returned."
"Mama, I…. I'm so sorry. I never meant to shame you or cause you to lose your status."
Antoinette shook her head. "The sins are not yours, my Meg. We all know who is to blame."
Meg sighed. "Mama, I want to make Erik pay for what he has done to you. He had no right to punish you because of me. He can cast me to the side but not you, never you."
She traced her cheek. "He will pay for all the hurt he has caused us, Meg. I have been watching and waiting for the right moment. He will see that sooner or later, he must atone for his sins."
"What do you mean?"
"Christine and her boy…. They are living here now and from what I gather, she is leaving the Vicomte for him. What do you suppose would become of the honorable Mr. Y once everyone finds out who he really is?"
"You're going to tell people he is the Phantom?"
"As soon as the time is right. He will be left with nothing. Surely his angel won't stay with such a scandal. She will leave him again, just like she left him all those years ago."
"I don't know about that. Scandal seems to suit Saint Christine quite nicely."
"What do you mean?"
"Well she had his child…."
Madame Giry almost choked. "What did you say?"
Meg was a little astonished to say it out loud but then again, it was rare that she knew something that her mother didn't, especially abut Erik. "Gustave is Erik's son."
"How…. How do you know this?"
Meg rolled her eyes. "The boy told me! He couldn't dare keep secrets from his beloved parents now that they told him the truth. I thought I could spent time with him and gain his trust, then slowly turn him against them. Now I haven't thought it all through, but I think I can work an angle by contacting Raoul…"
"The boy is his son?" Her mouthed widened into an evil grin.
"Mother?"
"My darling, child! You are wonderful!"
"I am?" She didn't know whether to smile or be cross. All she knew was that she has never heard her mother speak such praise to her in all her life.
"You say the boy trust you?"
"I think so. He likes me, after all he is a boy. I think he has a little crush." Meg giggled but saw her mother's face was not amused. "I was only joking Mama. Why do you ask?"
"Don't contact the Vicomte. I have a much better idea."
"We don't have much time."
"Didn't you say he had a crush on you?"
"Wait, Mama…."
"Use it to your advantage. Make him want to see you. I am sure you can charm him, my Meg."
Meg didn't like what her mother was suggestion. "He's a child, Mama…."
"I didn't mean to do anything like that! But you can flatter and encourage him, innocently, of course. There is nothing wrong with that. It will be practice for when the fool grows up. He might as well learn what happens if one is not careful. I just need to gather a few things."
"Things? What things?"
"Documents. We can't leave with the child without provisions."
"Leave with Gustave? Why would we do that? We don't need him to tell the French authorities we found the Opera Ghost."
"Because that will eat at Erik much more than losing his prestige or his park. He will be at our mercy. He is finally about to see what I have been saying all along. People matter."
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A month went by and per her mother's instructions, Meg used flattery to keep Gustave close at hand.
"I know we agreed to only a few more lessons Gustave but I will miss this time between us, won't you?"
"Well…Ms. Giry…."
"Meg, please. After all you are a man, and one day we will all be working for you. Might as well get used to it?"
"Get used to what?"
"Everyone paying you special attention. As they should because you really are a very special boy, Gustave." Meg let her hand linger on Gustave's cheek. "Anyway, I shall miss you."
"But why would we have to stop seeing each other? My parents will be very happy you taught me to swim. We will all be friends again!"
"I hope so…. You know I don't want Christine to think I was meddling with her family or trying to take you away from her."
"She's my Mother and you are my friend. I can see my friends, Ms.… Er... Meg."
"I hope so, Gustave. Now then, how about one more lap? I want to show you how you can hold your breath longer underwater."
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Erik was in his office when he heard a knock at the door.
'Yes?"
Christine entered and rushed to kiss him hello.
"Well is this ever a nice surprise. I thought I was meeting you after your rehearsal?"
"Yes, but I wanted to talk with you for a few minutes alone, first."
"Something wrong?"
"No…. Yes…." She looked at him in confusion. "I don't know."
He put on his jacket and walked her over to the couch. "Let's sit down and you can tell me whatever is on your mind."
"I think Gustave has been working too hard. He is only a boy, Erik."
"Has he said something to you?"
"No, that's just the problem. He's been distant, since we told him everything. He's always running here and there, and I think he's keeping something from me."
"Why do you say that?"
"Mother's intuition."
He looked at her blankly. "Christine…"
"I know I can be overprotective but…."
"He's a young boy, with a very curious and creative mind."
"I know but he seems very distracted. Too distracted."
Erik then laughed.
"What?"
"Well, I am the last person to know something about this, but I did hire that new family of trapeze artists and they have a daughter."
"I don't…. Oh Erik! Really? He's only a boy!"
Erik shrugged. "As I said, I am the last one to know these things, but a harmless crush is possible. Maybe that's why he seems distant. One wouldn't be very quick to tell his mother about things like that."
"Do you really think so?" She laughed. "I suppose it is possible. Dear me, and all this time I thought…."
"It is natural, Christine for him to distance himself a little bit."
"I know but…." She then placed her head on his shoulder. "I miss him. For so long I was his whole world and he was mine and now…."
"Now you both have more."
She looked up at him instantly. "Please don't misunderstand me. I love that he loves the park and you and everyone here and I am beyond thrilled with my work, it's just…."
"Is it moving too fast?" He was thinking things weren't moving fast enough. Raoul hadn't made contact about the divorce and since then Erik had a few attorneys he counseled with regarding the situation, including custody. Even though Raoul wasn't Gustave's father, Erik still deemed the matter as sensitive and wanted to spare Christine as much embarrassment as possible.
"No, I'm sorry. I don't know what is wrong with me. I'm irritable and too emotional and tired and…." She saw his eyes and knew he was worried. She took his mask off and kissed him. "I feel as if we're not moving ahead and yet there are all these changes and…."
"I am waiting to hear back from one more person regarding the divorce…."
"Erik, I'll just file for it. It's obvious that Raoul won't do it or the annulment. I told you, I'm okay with it. We already told Gustave the truth so what does it matter? I also want to plan our wedding and not deal with another secret engagement."
"It's not exactly secret and your reputation matters. It's already tarnished by…."
"By what? I love you and I told you, I care nothing of what strangers think. The people that matter, support us. And it is secret, if we can't make plans."
"You need to be divorced first…."
"Exactly! And another thing, I want to live with you and our son in our home, together. You've bought that house and we haven't set foot in it since the night before you asked me to marry you. We haven't even been alone since then." She eyed him knowingly.
"Well, that couldn't be helped…. We agreed to not spend the night with Gustave present and…."
"I know but I miss you and not just our coupling, but I miss your arms holding me at night. I don't want to have to keep waiting, Erik."
He kissed her knuckles. "Angel, I want that too. I just thought…. Forget what I thought. I'm a fool. Let's move into the house right away."
"Really?" She beamed at him.
"Really!" He kissed her tenderly. "And the only reason I wanted to wait to hear from one more attorney was because I wrote to Nadir."
"Nadir?" She thought for a moment. "I didn't know he practiced law."
"He was the police chief in Persia and a good ally to know when you are in a life or death situation." He chuckled.
"That was such a dark time for you, from the little you told me about it…I thought there was a reason why you haven't spoken to him."
He took her hand. "He saved my life in Persia and even thought I may not have thought I was worthy of it, we were friends. He may not want to have anything to do with me because of all the time that has pass between us, but I had to try." He smiled at her. "I had to try for you."
She kissed him deeply. "I don't need things to be perfect, Erik. I just need you."
He smiled once more. "I better pack us some food, so we can eat when we get to the house tonight."
She giggled. "I'll pack right away."
She then stood up quickly and lost her balance. Erik caught her before she fell.
"Christine are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Erik. I just didn't eat much today. I couldn't keep anything down, so I only had some tea."
"That's it! I want you to go see a doctor." His voice was stern.
"Erik, really? I'm fine. I told you it's just…."
"No. I'll take you there myself."
"You're being ridiculous. I am perfectly capable of going to the physician by myself. Raoul never came with me."
"Fine. I'm ridiculous but you're still going and please don't compare me to him ever again in any way."
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm not used to such caring." She saw the look on his face and it seemed her reply only caused him more grief.
"Well, get used to it." He embraced her, and she wrapped her arms around him just as tightly.
"Alright." She kissed the space where a nose should have been. "I'll inquire with Dr. Gangle where I can find a physician. Will that do?"
"Today?" He broke their embrace.
"Yes, Maestro or Erik or angel, or pain the neck, I will go and speak with Dr. Gangle right now and see the physician as soon as he is available, happy?" She moved toward the door.
"No."
"No? What else do you want?" She said in exasperation.
"You." He smirked.
She giggled. "Now?"
He nodded as he took off his jacket
"Here?" She walked back towards him and started to undue the buttons on his shirt.
"Right here and right now. I missed you too, remember?" He growled as his lips possessed hers and she giggled as they tumbled onto the couch.
