Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Phantom of the Opera. Only original stuff is mine.
AN: This is the longest I've ever written, and I hope everyone enjoys it. Next is a (long) epilogue, and then that's it for the tale of Erik and Aria. I hope that people will leave a review and let me know what they think of the chapter. Thanks, and keep an eye out for the next story!
Chapter 28: A New Life in England:
Chewing his lower lip, Erik felt ready to leap out of his seat and off of the train in a panic. The only thing keeping him in their private sleeping cabin was Aria's grip on his hand. His wife could easily see that their journey north was affecting him badly, and she was doing everything in her power to ease his mind. They were half-way to their destination, the train all set to arrive at the northern coast of France within the next hour.
Of course, the journey had not been an easy one. Erik had done his best to make it the most comfortable voyage for both him and Aria, but the fact that he was actually leaving the Opera House, which had been his sanctuary for most of his life, was difficult for him. Being around people was something he disliked with a passion, and it was only because of Aria's soothing words and her clever abilities in distracting him that he made the effort to leave for England in the first place.
The morning after Aria decided she wanted him to meet her family, Erik began to think of ways to escape the voyage north. However, Aria could see right through him and his excuses to remain in Paris, and in an effort to sooth his frazzled nerves, she began suggesting ways to make the trip easier. Since they were going to take a train for half the journey, she recommended that they get a private sleeping cabin in a railcar. The same could be done on the ship they would take across the English Channel, and a carriage would doubtlessly be waiting for them when they set foot in London's port, so Erik need not worry about someone seeing him, if he didn't want them to.
Seeing that he wasn't going to be able to slip his way out of this, Erik reluctantly agreed to go to London. Aria, of course, was thrilled, and immediately began packing, though they would not be leaving for several weeks. In the mean time, much had to be done before they could leave, and Aria meeting Nadir was one of them.
Three days after their marriage, Erik felt compelled to introduce his new bride to the Persian. He had decided on a surprise visit to the older man, and when Darius opened the door to find Erik and a young lady on the doorstep, the servant had practically run to tell his master the news. After leading Aria into the recently vacated entry hall and removing their cloaks, Erik found himself wrapped in a gripping hug. Beside him, Aria had burst into giggles as Nadir hugged the air right out of his lungs.
When Nadir finally released him, the three went into the parlor to enjoy tea and a cup of light mint custard. As he sipped his tea, Erik watched in amusement as Aria began pressing questions on Nadir, asking about the Persian's homeland and wanting to know all about their customs and culture. Sharing a look with his friend, Erik knew that Nadir approved of his choice for a wife.
"Not only is she a lovely woman, but she's just that: a woman," Nadir told him when Aria went to tidy her hair. "She is intelligent, charming, and desires to broaden her knowledge about the world."
"She loves art, music, and literature as well," Erik said, grinning at Nadir's quirked eyebrows. "She is my match, Nadir. Christine was a child in a fair angel's body; Aria is a woman who is my muse, my inspiration, and I will never let her go."
Nadir only had time to nod before Aria returned. They proceeded to talk about the Renaults heading to England in a few weeks, and Nadir was eager to be of help to them. He would be sure that Erik had the privacy he desired, and that the couple would travel in comfort and style all the way to England. In the meantime, they would have to wait while the arrangements were being made.
The waiting left Erik feeling rather fidgety, but was distracted from his discomfort when Aria began checking to see what sort of clothes they needed to take with them. Erik thought that bringing a few shirts, cravats, vests, pants and shoes (which equaled a small trunk load) would be enough, but Aria wouldn't have it. She insisted that he would need clothes that were appropriate for certain occasions, including casual clothes for an evening at home with her family, and clothes to go horseback riding and socializing in. All of this was in addition to the elegant eveningwear that he planned to take.
In turn, Erik thought that Aria might as well take her entire wardrobe with her, since she was packing so much. In fact, she spent most of her day deciding which gowns she was going to take, and it drove him mad. Aria insisted that she needed gowns for walking, for riding, for tea parties and for formal evening gatherings, as well as the shoes and other accessories that went with them. When she was finally finished, there were three trunks loaded with everything she had decided to take with her to England, as well as a small personal bag filled with things every woman needs to have with her.
Thankfully, Erik would not have to carry any of it himself, which was why he allowed his satisfied wife to take so much. There would be people at the train platforms and at the docks to load and unload the luggage, so Erik really had nothing to worry about when it came to their belongings. However, that feeling of liberation was fleeting, for he couldn't help but remember that he was meeting his new family in but a few weeks, and that left him feeling panicked once more.
As the train pulled into the station, Erik felt his stomach flip. Thus far, he had managed to avoid showing his face to anyone besides his wife and new in-laws. Bidding his father and uncle-in-law goodbye had been simple because they were now his family and had accepted him; facing the world, however, was another matter entirely!
Their departure from Paris had been at night, when the streets were deserted. With Erik wearing his black mask and dark clothes, no one could see who he was or what his face looked like. He had quickly boarded the train when no one was looking, and was able to find the private cabin that he and Aria would share without help from a conductor. There he settled down to wait (impatiently) for his wife to arrive and help sooth his frazzled nerves.
Aria arrived a few minutes after he had settled in, having said a prolonged farewell to her father and bearing a bundle of letters to her family from both her father and uncle. After shutting and locking the door, Aria had sat down beside him, her hand slipping into his in order to give him comfort. He had accepted it, and when the dinner hour came, Aria went to the door and ordered it there instead of letting the server inside. Aria also took the dinner tray and brought it in when it arrived, placing it on the small table there after kicking the door shut behind her with her foot.
Erik had eaten his supper without tasting it, so nervous had he been. When the meal was over, Aria set the tray outside for a passing server to pick up and rejoined him on the red velvet seat, her head dropping to rest on his shoulder as they both looked out the window. Her gesture was comforting, and the feel of Aria's head on his shoulder and her hand on his arm calmed him into sleep.
Their arrival in the coastal train station hadn't been too bad, as they had arrived at dusk the next day. Since darkness was his element, Erik was content to leave the train and get into the awaiting carriage, heading straight for the docks and the hotel that he and Aria would be staying at for the evening. As he fell asleep in the hotel by the sea, Erik made a note to thank Nadir profusely, as the Persian had proved himself invaluable in making the travel arrangements. Nadir had apparently done his best to arrange the trip so that Erik arrived at his destinations during the night or when it was getting dark, just so he would not have to show his face before he was ready. In fact, the ship to England had left at such an early hour; it was pre-dawn when they started boarding. Once again, Erik managed to slip aboard the ship with no one noticing his hood was up, or that he wore a white mask on his face.
Now, however, they were pulling into the London port, and it was broad daylight. There would be no waiting until dark this time. Hidden inside their cabin, Erik swallowed hard. The crewmen would make sure that the last passenger departed from the ship as soon as possible, for the vessel was due for some maintenance and had to be cleared of non-employees. He had better get off with the crowd. Aria was standing beside, her belongings in one hand while the other touched his shoulder.
"Come along, Erik," she said, a smile on her lips. "We must go, preferably before they send someone to throw us off!"
Sighing, Erik checked to make sure his white mask was in place. Only then did he allow his wife to take his arm and pull him out of the cabin and up to the deck. Today he was wearing what he considered a rather 'bright' outfit; instead of the usual dark vest, cloak and cravat, Erik sported a dark green coat that Aria had picked out for him, as well as an emerald green vest with gold thread shot through it and gold buttons along the front. Only his pants, gloves and shoes were black.
Wincing as he stepped into the sunlight, Erik inhaled the salty sea air. He hadn't bothered to take a breath of it when he'd first come aboard, for he had immediately hidden himself in their cabin for the voyage, just to avoid contact with anyone. This was his first breath of during their entire journey, and he relished it, closing his eyes and letting the wind comb through his hair.
Beside him, Erik could feel Aria thread her arm through his, her free hand gently stroking his bicep. Opening his eyes, Erik was relieved to see that most of the passengers were along the railing, watching the ship pull into the harbor or looking for family or friends on the dock. A sparse few looked over at him in curiosity, but when they saw Aria there beside him, they smiled.
One old woman in an elegant maroon outfit (complete with a large matching feathered hat) stopped in front of them. "Newlyweds?" she asked with a smile.
"Why, yes," Erik replied, breaking his private oath to not speak to anyone unless necessary. "How did you know?"
The woman waved a white gloved hand at them. "I remember being that way with my husband after we married," she said with a grin. "It's quite clear that you love each other very much. Take good care of one another, and never go to sleep angry; it doesn't do either one of you any good if you do."
Erik stared after the woman in surprise, though he could clearly hear Aria giggling beside him. Turning his head, he asked, "May I ask what is so amusing to you, Madame Renault?"
Aria shook her head, a broad smile on her face. "Nothing," she chimed in an amused voice. "It's just that…well, it sounded like something my grandmother would say to us."
Sighing, Erik led his wife to the railing to watch the ship dock.
I was thrilled to be back in England. Paris had been wonderful, but to me, England would always be home. The docking of the ship had been fascinating to watch, and to my relief (as well as Erik's), no one really noticed the mask on my husband's face. Everyone was too busy looking for whoever would be greeting them on the docks, and there were quite a few servants standing there as well, ready to lead their charge to a waiting carriage. I was certain that one of them had been sent by Grandmamma, so I began engaging the help of a porter to help with the luggage.
It was a good thing I did; after the gangplank had settled onto the wooden planks of the dock, the ship was a buzz of activity and it was nearly impossible to get help in leaving the ship. Erik was desperate to get off, and so he managed to gently and carefully guide me to the gangplank and down to the harbor. I then spotted a pair of servants in russet-red uniforms, and knew they were from my grandmother.
"Erik, over there!" I said, trying to speak above the noise of the crowd.
He looked and nodded, his hand clutching mine as he pulled me towards the servants. The two men bowed politely, though their eyes lingered a moment on Erik's face. Without a word, one of them went onto the ship and began to question about our luggage while the other motioned towards the carriage, indicating that we should get inside to avoid the pressure and noise of the crowd. Erik didn't hesitate; he merely walked us to the vehicle, opened the door and handed me inside before following.
Half an hour later, we were riding through the London streets, the curtains pulled around the windows so that we could see out, but no one could see in. To my pleasure, Grandmamma had ordered her finest carriage to bring us to her, and although it was solid brown on the outside, the interior was lush and comfortable. The seats were a soft cloth that would not stick to or prickle the passengers during the ride, and there were hidden vents in it to allow fresh air in when they were opened.
I turned my head to see Erik staring out the window, a deep frown on his face. Knowing what was troubling him, I leaned to place my head on his shoulder, my hand reaching to grasp his. He had removed his gloves after we had entered the carriage, so I was able to touch warm skin instead of leather. I smiled as he began to squeeze my fingers.
"Relax," I whispered, tilting my head so that my words reached his ear. "They will love you as much as I do. You have nothing to worry about. Even the servants didn't mind your mask, and you know that they tend to stare at anything that is unusual!"
Erik sighed and rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. "I know, Angel," he replied, his voice soft as he spoke. "But I am still unsure as to whether your family will accept me for what I look like and who I really am."
My free hand reached over to gently rub up and down his arm. "It will be fine," I whispered. "Now, do you want to talk about something during the ride to my grandmother's estate, or would you like to try and sleep? You've hardly slept these past few days, and I think you're overdue for some rest."
"I doubt I'll be able to rest much, since the carriage is likely to be jolting back and forth on the road," Erik muttered as he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes. "You will wake me when we stop?"
"Yes, I will," I promised with a smile as he drifted off to sleep.
However, Erik didn't know that we would not be stopping until we actually reached my grandparents' estate, which would be one of their country houses. Upon our arrival, we would eat a small meal in our rooms, rest for an hour or two, then go downstairs for Erik to meet the rest of the family. I could hardly wait for that event.
When Erik awoke, it was to blackness. Letting his eyes adjust, he realized it was because the curtains were shut tightly against the sunlight that was supposed to come through the glass window. A heavy weight was on his shoulder, and he could see that Aria was fast asleep, her hand still holding his. Smiling, Erik raised his free hand to take a peek out the curtained window. It was sunset, and his stomach told him it was time for supper.
Suddenly, the carriage began to slow and pull off of the main road, heading down a small track. Soon, the surrounding countryside was briefly cut off from his view by a stone wall. Then, into his line of sight came a beautiful green lawn that seemed to stretch on for miles. Here the grass was a rich emerald green, and the edges were neatly trimmed with planted flowers of a dozen different colors. Erik watched, wide-eyed, as the carriage rolled past a large stone fountain spouting clear water into the huge basin, the falling droplets creating a soothing rhythm to his ears.
Moments later, the carriage rolled to a stop, and through the air came the coachman's voice. "Sir, Madame, we've arrived."
Aria woke with a start, her body sitting bolt upright on the seat, her eyes widening as her hands flew to her hair. "Oh, no! Oh, I can't face Grandmother with my hair looking like a bird's nest!"
Erik felt his lips twitch. "You look lovely like always, my love," he said, grasping her hands and pulling them away from her head.
At that moment, the door to the carriage opened and Erik looked up and out to see the grandest house he had ever seen. Marble, brick, and pure white stone created the masterpiece that was the home of Aria's grandparents, Gino and Caroline Craven. The house was three levels high, and there were three long marble steps leading up to the monumental, pure white Grecian columns at the front of the building. Brick created the main parts of the house, and white stone trimmed the edges, making it elegant and sturdy. It was a work of art in and of itself, which Erik found fascinating.
"Grandmother wanted a more modern home, so she ordered the old drafty place torn down and this one built in its place," Aria whispered as she stepped out of the carriage and took his arm. "Grandfather heartily agreed, as the old house was falling apart and everything needed to be fixed, so he thought he would spend the money and create a newer, better home."
"Hmm," was all Erik could say as the headed towards the steps.
There in the doorway stood a small woman dressed in dark blue, her silver-blonde hair carefully curled and pulled up to a bundle at the top of her head. There were wrinkles across her face, but she wore them well and with pride, the strength of her spirit shining through the well-aged exterior. Beside her stood a man easily her age, his dark hair fading to grey and white. He, too, wore dark blue, and looked as proud and dignified as his wife.
"Grandfather! Grandmother!" Aria said as they stopped before the older couple, greeting them with a kiss on their cheeks.
"Aria." The greeting made by Gino Craven was short, but said in such a soft and affectionate voice that it was clear how much the old man loved his granddaughter. A soft smile was on his lips as he reached out and took her hands in his.
"Darling, it's so good to see you," declared Caroline Craven as Aria was released by her grandfather and embraced by her grandmother. "Now, come inside before it gets dark, and you can introduce us to this new husband of yours."
Blushing, Erik followed the older couple inside, Aria on his arm and a heavy sense of dread in his heart. Would the Cravens accept him as their new grandson, or would they throw him out of their home in disgrace? Swallowing hard, Erik walked into a beautiful parlor, his eyes widening at the sight of so much elegance and wealth.
Blue velvet chairs and couches, elegantly carved wooden tables, expensive china vases on the fireplace's black marble mantle met his eyes. The walls were covered in shimmering silvery-blue wallpaper that cast the room in soft pale light. It was an exquisite room with everything made of the finest materials, and Erik took note of everything, hoping to one day replicate it in a house he hoped to one day share with Aria. Well, except for the unusual amount of furniture there was in the room; there seemed to be an abnormal abundance of couches and chairs in here, and he couldn't understand why.
He took a seat on a couch beside his wife while the grandmother ordered tea for her and Aria, and alcoholic drinks for the men. The service was swift, and Erik suspected that the servants had long had a tray of refreshments waiting, probably since early this afternoon. The drinks were brought in quickly, and a moment later a tray of cakes and sandwiches followed. Erik's stomach rumbled, reminding him that lunch had been missed and breakfast had been ages ago.
Blushing, Erik helped himself to a sandwich while "grandmother" looked at him in amusement. The older woman had seated herself in an elegant ebony chair with blue cushions, and beside her sat her husband in a matching chair. The two were looking back and forth between the newlyweds, watching carefully as Aria leaned close to his ear and whispered which pastries were her favorites and why. Since Erik was unaccustomed to a "proper English tea", he followed Aria's preferences and chose his food according to her descriptions of what was inside them.
As he consumed his tea cakes and sandwiches, Erik listened as Caroline Craven asked Aria what had happened during her stay in Paris. "All your father would say in his letters to me was that you were having a good time and fitting in well with the ballerinas and chorus girls there," Caroline said in a disbelieving tone. "Of course, your Grandfather and I know how silly and stupid the dancers can be, so I knew he was lying."
"Besides, a girl of your intelligence would never be satisfied with the topics of conversation those girls are so fond of," continued Grandfather Craven in his soft, patient voice.
Erik had decided that, given that the old man was far more patient and kindly than his wife, he would be more than happy to call Gino Craven "grandfather." Besides, Grandfather Craven had an understanding gleam in his eyes every time he looked Erik's way, and that made him feel more comfortable in the old man's presence.
Beside him, Aria sighed and leaned back, causing him to wince. She would have to tell them the truth of what happened; it was clear that Caroline Craven knew her granddaughter well, and could easily tell if Aria were lying to her. If Aria wasn't truthful with them now, then they would not accept Erik later. Exchanging glances with his wife, Erik nodded, giving Aria silent permission to tell the truth.
The tale of Erik's life was a lengthy one, and by the time I finished it with the details of our secret wedding, dinner was announced, giving my grandparents no time to comment. We all silently stood and walked towards the smaller dining hall, which was for more intimate meals with a small number of guests. Erik and I were seated next to one another, and my grandfather was seated at the head with Grandmother on his left.
The meal seemed to drag on forever. There was a bit of polite talk to fill the silence, and I was glad that most of the questions or comments were directed at me so that I could distract attention from Erik. Thankfully, my grandparents would not wish to discuss sensitive matters before the servants, which was why I was currently the focus of their attention.
After the dishes had been cleared away, and once the coffee and dessert had been served and consumed, we went back to the Blue Parlor, one of my favorite rooms in Grandmamma and Grandfather's house. We settled back into our seats and I took Erik's hand in mine, the two of us bracing ourselves for whatever came next.
"So, Monsieur Renault," Grandmother began, her blue-grey eyes focused on Erik. "You are actually the legendary Phantom of the Opera I have heard to much about. That certainly does explain a great deal about your actions concerning my granddaughter."
I felt Erik's hand tighten around mine, meaning that he was either angry or frightened at her words. "Grandmother, you aren't going to tell anyone about this, are you?" I asked, my voice pleading. "Please, we don't want any trouble to be caused because of who Erik was in the past."
To my relief, she waved a gloved hand at me. "Don't be silly, dearest," Grandmother said. "I have no intention of revealing your husband's true identity to the public. If, or when, he chooses to do so will be of his own accord, not mine."
Erik's hand slackened just a little, obviously relieved. However, that did not last long.
"Of course, I am most concerned about you, Aria," Grandmother went on, her eyes narrowing as she focused on us. "I worry for where you shall live now that you are married. Do you intend to dwell beneath the Opera Populaire for the rest of your lives? I hardly think that will be a good place for you and your health, especially when it is so dark and cold underground."
Surprisingly, Erik replied before I did. "I have no intention of keeping Aria down in the caverns," he said. "Actually, I had thought to employ a friend of mine into looking for a house in Paris for the two of us."
I looked at him, my jaw open in surprise. "Erik, why didn't you tell me?" I gasped.
He shrugged. "I know that you cannot live without the sun, my love," he said, clasping my hands in his. "Besides, I would like to live someplace that is not so dark, as it no longer suits me."
Smiling, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "If we get a house, you will have to decorate it with your work. I want the walls filled with your paintings and the tables littered with your statues."
"You are an artist?" Grandfather asked, leaning forward in interest.
Grandmother also perked up in her seat. "You paint and sculpt?" she demanded. "Are you any good at it? If so, you will have to show me."
Knowing that art was her weakness, I grinned. "Yes, he paints and does sculptures," I replied. "He also composes music and draws exceptionally well. He is a great artist."
With that, Grandmother was off, pressing questions to Erik about his technique and style, asking if he would be willing to teach her other grandchildren to draw, paint, or play music. Erik, startled at her sudden warmth to him, stuttered replies that he would be glad to do whatever he could to help. This went on for hours, and when we went upstairs to rest for the night, I could see that Erik's head was still whirling from shock.
"Aria, is your grandmother always like this when it comes to art and her family?" he asked as we prepared for bed.
I chuckled and settled down underneath the white sheets of the bed. "If you think she is bad, I can hardly wait for you to meet the rest of the family," I smiled, laying down and rolling away from him as he joined me.
"The rest of the family?" he groaned as he lay beside me and put an arm around my waist. "Why do I have a bad feeling about that?"
Smiling, I kept silent and closed my eyes to sleep.
The next morning found Erik pacing the floor of the Blue Parlor, his stomach tied in complicated knots. Listening to the sounds of a dozen carriages rolling up the drive, he began to panic. He hadn't believed Aria when she'd told him how many aunts, uncles, and cousins she had, believing it to be a joke she was playing to frighten him. Now he wished he had taken her seriously.
"Erik, stop fussing!" Aria said, walking through the doors of the parlor to join him by the large window. Reaching up, she began to straighten his cravat. "Hold still and calm down before you pace a hole in the floor."
"Calm down?" he asked, incredulous. "How can I calm down when an army of people are approaching this place to meet me?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Erik, these are all people who are very dear to me and will support me no matter what my choices are," she replied with a smile. "Now, take a deep breath, calm yourself, and be prepared for when-"
Aria never got to finish her sentence, because at that moment, a flood of men, women, and children flowed through the front door, practically overwhelming the servants standing there waiting to accept articles of clothing that were not wanted. Apparently the servants were accustomed to such a large gathering, for they easily juggled the numerous bonnets, hats, coats, shawls, canes and parasols being thrust at them. Children with toys in their hands flowed into a back room that must serve as a nursery, and the young adults and their parents entered the parlor. When they saw Aria standing there beside him, Erik saw them pause and grow quiet.
From her spot on his right, Aria cleared her throat. "Hello, everyone," she said in a cheerful voice. "I'd like you all to meet my husband, Erik Renault."
There was a brief moment of silence before the dam broke, and when it did, Erik found himself attacked by well-wishing aunts and uncles. His shoulders, arms, and hands were soon sore from the amount of congratulatory handshakes, pats on the arms, and slaps on the back. To his astonishment, a few of the aunts pressed kisses to his bare cheek and welcomed him to the family before taking their seats in the parlor. It was all so new, this overwhelming warmth and acceptance. This immense group of warm, kind people had accepted him without question, all because he had married a woman who was raised to be just like them.
He felt a familiar touch on his hand, and looking to his right, he saw a beaming Aria. "Well, what do you think?" she whispered while pulling him towards a pair of empty spots on a couch.
Now Erik understood why there had been a need for so many chairs and couches in the Blue Parlor. Many of the couples preferred to sit next to each other, and when all of the couches were full, Erik saw that chairs had been put together so that a husband or wife could sit next to their spouse. In the mean time, Erik saw that the young adults, too big for the nursery and too young to be left alone without supervision, had all taken seats on small stools that were near their parents, or close to a cousin they felt more inclined to talk to.
Tea was served, and soon Erik found his mind challenged to try and see who was talking about what. Several of the adults were talking about possibly going to the opera in a few days, and a few others were talking about painting a mural in the dining room of one of the aunts' houses. Both conversations interested him, as he longed to see what the London Opera House had to offer, but he also was curious as to what one of the aunts was going to have painted in her home. Trapped between the two conversations, he looked to Aria for help.
Leaning over, she whispered, "Grandmamma and Grandfather have box seats in the London Theater, since they spend a great deal of time at their house in the city. We will most certainly be able to attend the opera while we are here, so you needn't worry about it. Oh, but listen to what they are saying about Aunt Mary's dining room!"
Aria giggled softly into his ear, which delighted him. "Apparently, she wants to put nude dancing muses there! Could you imagine the looks on people's faces when they come to her home for dinner? The other aunts will do their best to talk her out of it, just you watch."
Sure enough, several ladies were trying to dissuade their sister from making such a taboo mistake. One of them, a pretty little blonde woman, looked over at Erik and, with a mischievous gleam in her eye, said, "What do you think of my sister's ideas for her home, Monsieur Renault?"
Caught off guard, Erik opened his mouth to try to reply. Just then, however, a blonde little girl raced into the room. A doll was clutched to her chest, and there was an excited spark in her blue eyes as she searched the room. Upon spotting Aria, the child let out a squeal of delight and threw herself across the room, her arms outstretched towards what was obviously her cousin. Laughing, Aria threw out her arms and caught the little girl in a warm hug.
Seeing Aria pick the girl up and put her in her lap, Erik felt something stir inside him. A voice was telling him that he was missing something in his life, and that the answer to it was right here in the form of this little blonde-haired girl. What it was, Erik didn't know, but he had no time to figure it out, for at that moment the child turned her head and looked at him.
"Who are you?" she asked, her tiny voice betraying no sign of fear of him.
"This is my husband, Erik," Aria said to her. "Erik, this is my little cousin, Grace."
He had never had the experience of speaking to a child before. For most of his life, children had always screamed and run away in terror whenever they saw him, or threw stones at his head and called him horrible names because of what he looked like. Little Grace, however, stared at him with innocent, sweet blue eyes and gave him a smile.
"Are you our new cousin?" she asked, blinking up at him.
Erik nodded, though a bit stiffly. "Yes, I am," he replied, wondering if this would be enough of an answer. Hopefully she would not start asking questions at this point…
"You're very tall," Grace said, childishly blunt and innocent of her rudeness.
"Grace!" gasped the blonde woman who had asked for Erik's artistic opinion. "Mind your manners!"
Erik felt his mouth twitch in amusement. "Thank you," he said, smiling just a little. "I believe I shall take that as a compliment."
Glancing between the child and the blonde woman, he realized whom the little girl must belong to. According to the family tree that Aria had made for him to memorize this morning, the blonde woman had to be Aria's Aunt Nancy, and Grace was her daughter. The smile presented to him by the woman confirmed it, as it was identical to the one that Grace was giving him right now.
To his shock, Grace slipped out of Aria's grasp and slid over the couch, traveling the short distance from her cousin's lap to his own! Staring down at the girl, Erik swallowed uncomfortably as Grace settled in his lap, her doll tucked under her arm as she looked up at him. It took all of Erik's will power not to squeak in surprise at this new experience.
"Do you like my doll?" Grace asked, holding it up for him to see.
The doll was a replica of Grace herself, everything from the blonde hair to the blue eyes crafted to perfection. It was a beautiful doll, and Erik made sure to say so.
Grace sighed. "It's not my favorite, though," she said, pouting slightly. "I had to leave my Princess Melody doll at home because I don't want to get it dirty. She's my favorite, because Aria's the one who gave Melody to me for my birthday."
As Grace began to babble on about her doll, all conversation around the room, which had dimmed upon the entrance of the little girl, started up once more. With the air full of warm and loving conversation, Erik turned and looked over at Aria, whose eyes were filled with a soft mothering look that he had never seen before. When her warm brown eyes went to meet his, Erik realized that she wanted the same thing he did. And that meant the world to him.
After Grace's acceptance of Erik, the rest of my cousins took a quick liking to my dear masked husband. Dinner was, as usual, a rather chaotic event, but it went rather smoothly. I imagined that everyone wanted to put on a good first impression for Erik, and for that I was grateful; the poor man already looked rather stunned and overwhelmed, so a nice meal was a good way to end the day.
As my aunts and uncles were leaving, all of them stopped to tell me how much they liked Erik and that they hoped that I would be very happy for many years to come. Since most of them had introduced themselves to him over the course of the day (so as not to overwhelm him), I knew that my family had seen the good, brilliant man he was. Erik had made a good impression, and was accepted.
When we had climbed into bed and settled under the covers, Erik's arms wrapped around me as we lay on our backs, my head tucked under his chin as my head lay on his chest. Then, just as I was falling asleep, Erik said something in a drowsy voice that sounded on the bridge of sleep.
"Angel, I was thinking…perhaps we should move here to England to start our own family."
Shocked into wakefulness, I listened for more, but heard only the sounds of Erik's deep breathing, meaning he was already asleep. A family? Erik wanted children? And he wanted to raise them in England? Instantly, my mind filled with endless possibilities, drifting from one scenario to another until it finally relaxed and let me drift into peaceful slumber.
AN: Wow, huge chapter! Please review and let me know what you thought! Only an epilogue left!