Thank you once again for reading and reviewing. A special thanks for the Guest reviewer who actually went back to read my other stories. Much appreciated!
I own nothing…. But the last line is mine and I have been waiting forever to write it!
The next morning Christine was on a mission. Her first priority was to spend time with Gustave. Although, he had seemed happy about the news of the baby, she wanted to make sure he knew without a shadow of a doubt, how much he was loved.
"Darling, I wanted to talk with you before you head off to work." She smiled.
"Mother are you feeling alright?"
"Oh yes, now that I know the reason, I'm more cautious of my actions. It's just like when I learned I was going to have you, darling."
Gustave blushed. "Mother, I am not a baby. I understand…. Sort of. I think it will be excited to be a big brother."
Christine smiled and hugged him. "This baby is so very lucky to have you, Gustave. We all are. I know there have been quite a few changes lately. With your learning about Erik and the new house and now this… I want to make sure you know how much I love you and how special you are to both your father and me."
Gustave nodded. "There have been a lot of changes, but they are good. I know where I belong, and you and Father deserve to be happy."
"Gustave, you deserve it too and I want to make sure you never doubt our love for you."
He nodded again. "It was just us for so long, I know this is right and I love Father but sometimes I do miss just us. That's silly though, because I am growing up and I need to start acting more like it."
"Hey," She cupped his chin. "You are growing up into a fine young man, but you will always be my baby. Always."
He laughed. "Come on, Mother…."
"No, I'm serious. You were my first born. You have always been my light. In my darkest days, you still made me smile. You'll always be extra special to me, my love."
Gustave embraced his mother tightly. "I didn't know it, but I needed to hear that."
She kissed his head. "I needed to make sure you knew it too."
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Christine and Gustave left the house arm in arm but soon parted as she was going to see Erik and Gustave was on his way to see Squelch. He had a swim lesson with Meg later that afternoon and this time, he would have to be firm and tell her that he couldn't continue seeing her, unless his parents knew about it.
She has to understand. Mother and Father won't turn her away. Then we can see each other more often and not just in secret by the sea.
Christine had hoped that Gustave would share with her if he had a little crush but maybe Erik was wrong. Then again, maybe Erik was right, and it still wasn't something one tells their mother. She laughed.
"I suppose I can forgive him." She then touched her belly. "But you little one, it will be years and years before you keep such things from me."
She walked up the stage and saw Molly hard at work.
"Hello Molly. How are you?"
"Busy, but that's a good thing. Mr. Y is in his office and he's just been given a stack of papers to sign, curtesy of yours truly." She smiled.
"I'm sure he appreciates all you do, Molly."
Molly made a face. "Would you mind reminding him?"
Christine laughed and made her way to Erik's office.
Knock, knock
"Molly, so help you God if you have any more forms for me to sign…" He looked up and saw a smirk across Christine's face. "How…. Hi!" He got up and greeted her with a kiss.
"That's more like it."
"I'm sorry, angel. I just didn't expect all this work. I wanted to make the rounds and see the people and…."
"And maybe start telling people about our little news?"
He was grateful his mask was still on to hide his expression. "You yourself said we should stop hiding about and with our engagement…."
"I'm teasing. I am bursting with happiness too. I had to bite my tongue, so I wouldn't tell Molly." She took his hand and led him to the couch. "Sit for a minute, I want to talk to you about something."
"Are you alright? Did you take a carriage here?"
"A carriage? Why would I do that? It's only a short walk."
"Christine, you and the baby…."
"This is exactly why I wanted to talk to you right away Mr. Y. I am not going to put up with this for seven in a half months. I'll go mad."
"Put up with what?"
"The hovering!"
"I…. Christine, I'm just being careful."
"You're being a pain in the neck, again. The way you were acting before the doctor came over, remember?"
"Now wait a minute, you told me you had already gone to the doctor and when you almost fainted and looked so out of breath…. You have no idea what I was thinking."
She took his mask off and caressed his right cheek. "I know, Erik. I am sorry I worried you, but I am fine. Perfectly healthy. Please don't treat me as if I can't do the things I was able to do only a few days ago. If I need help, I'll tell you."
He sighed. "You promise?"
She nodded. "Yes, I do. I won't put my health or the baby's in jeopardy. If you recall, I was pregnant before and managed to get along alright."
Erik frowned. "You said you were alone, except for servants. I won't have that. I won't hover or make you feel stifled, but you must include me on everything!"
"Everything?"
"Absolutely. I want to be a part of it all. This is an adventure we are both going through."
She shook her head. "I knew it would be different, but I had no idea how different." She couldn't stay mad at him, not when he was being so sweet. "Okay but on a scale from one to 10, promise me you will only go about as far as a five, and that's not normal people's five, that's former Opera Ghost, five."
Erik chuckled. "Five, eh? As in Box 5?"
"Take the reference anyway you'd like. We have a deal?"
He extended his hand. "Deal!"
"What kind of deal is that? It only counts if we cement this in a lip lock, Mr. Y."
"You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Daae."
Erik's lips interrupted her laughter.
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He would have showered her with more kisses, but something was on his mind.
"Christine?"
"Hmm?"
"You were alone before, but you did have servants. I know we don't have that now. Is that something you would like?"
She looked up, so she could see his eyes. "Oh Erik, no. I don't want a house full of servants. I like taking care of our home. Besides, you help me with everything. I never knew how domesticated you were." She teased. "Was your lair always so well kept?" She grinned and kissed him once more.
He wanted to be serious. "I know this is a different life, but it isn't one that you should lack comforts. I can provide…."
"Shh. I have everything I need and want. You provide perfectly and if there is something I need or want, I do have my own money. La Daae doesn't sing for free, even if it is for her future husband."
He relaxed then. "Well, that settles that." He stood up. "I don't suppose you would be willing to convince me to forget these papers and go around the park with me, telling everyone our news, eh?"
"Erik…."
He made a face. "Alright, I'll do my paperwork."
She grabbed him by the arm.
"I'm ecstatic that you are so happy."
"Of course, I am! I've never been more excited. I have you and Gustave and soon…." He placed his hand over her stomach. "I only wish we could know ahead of time if the baby…. If the baby looks more like you than me."
"Angel…"
"I'm sorry. I can't help worrying."
He walked over to his desk. "You better go, if I'm going to get any work done."
"There's one more thing I want us to discuss."
"That is?"
"I don't want you to spend these months worrying about the baby's face." She came up beside him.
He began to fidget. "Christine…."
"Erik, I mean it. I never thought about it once when I was carrying Gustave. He was beautiful and no matter what this baby's face looks like, he or she will still be beautiful. I need you to believe that and rest your fears."
He tried to look away, but she brought his face right back to hers.
"I love the baby, Christine. I only want our child healthy, but I do worry that maybe he or she might…."
"Don't. I'm not. It changes nothing of our love for the child."
He nodded and closed his eyes as Christine wrapped her arms around him.
"I am so happy you will be here from the start. This baby is going to know so much love. And this baby will be able to do something that regrettably Gustave and I couldn't do."
He opened his eyes and looked at her with curiosity. "What's that?"
"Accept you upon first sight."
