Gloating, Chiding and Worrying

Erik's Eyes:

I stood out in the hall for a moment until I heard the distinct sound of water running in the bathroom. Given all she had been through, I wanted to make sure that Gabrielle did in fact get time for herself and I knew that if I left her to her own devices, she would not dote upon herself. The way I saw it, it was my job to be sure that she was well taken care of.

I listened for a moment longer, trying to keep my thoughts from wandering to the thought of her in the bathtub. It took a decent amount of restraint to keep me from into going back in there when my attempt at controlling my thoughts failed. Instead, I decided to head down to the kitchen and begin breakfast for us all. When I walked into the kitchen I was startled to find Raoul sitting at the breakfast table. I stood and watched him for a moment as he raised his hands to his head, his fingers massaging his temples. So, the brute does have to pay the price for his horrid habit! I walked in smugly, allowing him to finally know that I was there and went straight to the cupboard, ignoring him completely.

"Good morning, Erik" he said. For a moment I was stunned at the greeting and so I turned to him, staring at him as if he was a three-headed serpent. But when I caught sight of the malice behind his eyes, I realized what was to come and so I turned my back to him once more.

"Morning, Raoul" I grumbled, hoping that in responding he might abandon his hopes of tantalizing me. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do to stop Raoul on this day. Now was his time to gloat.

"So, how did you sleep last night?"

I growled to myself a moment before replying in a flat tone. "Well enough, thanks for your concern." I continued to preoccupy myself with making breakfast for the family, but mentally, I was completely engaged within the battle of wits Raoul was initiating.

"Aren't you going to ask me how my night was?"

"I'd rather not" I growled.

"I understand…If I were you I wouldn't want to hear about my wife sleeping with another man either." I cringed, knowing full well that he was intentionally trying to bait me. I refused to allow him to win again.

"Don't attempt to convince me of anything Raoul. It will not work," I hissed.

"Alright…fair enough…it's just that…from a man speaking to a man…Your wife is a goddess."

"Enough"

"Fine…I'll stop…it's just that I would want to know if my wife was a whore!"

"ENOUGH!" I was breathing harshly, but I quickly checked my anger. He could say anything he liked, but nothing would make his dream a reality. I knew exactly the events of last night, and even if I hadn't witnessed all, I would still have believed that my Gabrielle was loyal to me and no one else.

"What? Don't believe that your wife may actually give in to me? Listen, I know that you know nothing happened between us last night. God knows that you miraculously are able to see and hear all…but just know that I was courteous to Gabrielle last night…I could have forced her into doing anything I wanted. She was frightened and cornered…I could have done anything…"

"She is not as weak as you think…she would not give in."

"And if I threatened your children? Would she not give in then, if I had played my cards right?"

"Watch yourself, Raoul…don't make it so that you are a danger to be around anymore. My wife is docile…she would never do what needs to be done where you are concerned. But press her too far and you press me too far…and that is something you should not do unless you have a death wish."

Right then, both of us heard a soft, intentional cough behind us and both of us spun around to face the doorway.

"Well…it is nice to know the depth of the torment that is occurring under our noses within this house…" Angelique's voice was piercingly cold, like a winter wind.

"Angelique…?" The hurt I felt was reflected within my voice.

"I was not speaking to you, father." She responded, though her voice was still bitter.

"Angelique…my dearest…please…see it from my point of view." Raoul attempted lamely. I looked back at Angelique, hoping to judge her reaction before she voiced it. In her, I saw a direct resemblance to Gabrielle, her stubbornness and her anger. Her voice, when angered had the same freezing quality of Gabrielle's.

"I have heard enough from your point of view, Raoul and I do not want to hear another word. If my mother heard how you talk about her, she would be so hurt…and if I am correct in my assumptions, the last thing you want to do is hurt her, though it seems to me that that has been your only achievement through your ignorant actions!"

"Do not speak to me that way, I am many years your senior and therefore, I am wiser than you…" Raoul retorted, finding nothing else to say in response to her reprimands.

"If you were wiser, you would be happy with knowing that she was content with her life as it is, and leave both her and my father alone…not to mention that a wise man would not provoke my father with insults about my mother!"

I felt a burst of pride well up within me and I steeped in it for a moment, enjoying the sensation as it warmed me from head to toe. Reluctantly, I let the moment pass and returned my attention to Angelique and Raoul who were still having a face off. Happily I had to admit that from the look of it, Angelique had the upper hand.

"Alright Angelique, I never wanted you to see me when I was at my lowest moment and I-"

"A little late for that isn't it? I have been living here all my life." Raoul's words died in the air. "Not to mention I was there the night you nearly murdered my innocent mother!"

"I am not having this conversation with a teenage girl! You clearly do not understand what is occurring here!" Raoul remarked, turning his back to her, burying his face in his hands. I marveled at how my beautiful young daughter, had been able to do the one thing that no one else within our family had been able to do: get the effect of his actions through his thick skull! "Angelique…I've loved you since the moment you were born…" I nearly choked on the pitiful comment and it seemed that so did she. He didn't notice and continued anyway. "what can I do to redeem myself in your eyes…How about the party I've been meaning to throw you…what do you say? You can be in charge of planning it and I will make sure all plays out as you wish it! How about that?"

I watched as Angelique opened her mouth, but then shut it quickly as she took a moment to think it over. "You may do as you like Raoul…but know that no matter what you do for me, I will never forgive you until my mother does, and by the way that you have been treating her recently, I do not know if that will ever occur."

At that moment, a loud thud sounded from near the staircase breaking apart the argument. All three of us got up and raced over in a blind panic. When I reached the stairs I saw Gabrielle lying on her knees a few feet away from the last stair. Angelique dropped down next to her mother and I kneeled down beside them both, Raoul remained standing, in the doorway, watching with an anxiousness in his eyes.

"Momma! Momma, are you alright?!"

"Gabrielle, my love! What happened?!"

She looked up at me, her eyes glossy and confused. She then turned and looked at Angelique who's gaze was intently focused on her mother's face. We watched as Gabrielle blinked a few times before she seemed to regain her senses.

"It's ok, everyone…I just got a little dizzy for a moment…" she said, shaking her head slightly, as if to rid her mind of the fog that was crowding around her thoughts.

"Are you certain you are well, mother?" Angelique's voice was clear and firm, contradicting the look of fear that was on her face.

"Yes, my dear…now, will you go to the kitchen and tend breakfast…you brother and sister should be up soon and you know how they are when they are hungry," Gabrielle said lightly, attempting a smile for Angelique's sake. Angelique nodded and placed an affectionate kiss on her mother's forehead before leaving for the kitchen, looking over the shoulder multiple times before she was out of the room.

"Gabrielle…" I said softly, grabbing her upper arms and pulling her gently to her feet. She swayed backward as I let go and I quickly wrapped my arms about her waist, pressing her close to me in order to hold her in an upright position. She leaned up against me, and I couldn't help but smile, knowing that she now felt safe, now that she was within my arms.

"I'm alright Erik…"

"Has this happened to you before…"

Just then she looked me in the eyes, casting me into complete silence. But as I looked back at her, I realized that, in fact, she was not seeing me at all, as she seemed to be thinking through her past. As if in a dream she replied, "Only a few times…but yes…"

"Do you need to see a doctor?"

She broke out of her daze quickly, her eyes flashing towards Raoul, almost as if she was afraid of him, though he was simply standing there (unimposing for once), before she looked back at me, "NO!" she said anxiously, before calming, "No. I am fine…I simply need to sit down a minute." She was acting strange and by the way she looked at me, I could tell she knew I was not convinced. "Erik, I am fine!"

Gabrielle flashed me a smile and I would have believed her, she sounded so sure of herself, except for the fact that as I began walking her to the kitchen, she remained clutched tightly onto my arms about her.

Raoul followed to slow procession of Gabrielle and I, towards the kitchen, silent and solemn and as we reached the breakfast table, Raoul pulled out a chair for her as I eased her down into it. I looked up at Raoul as soon as she was secure in the chair and found that there was a genuine sense of distress in him and the way he looked at Gabrielle. As if sensing my scrutiny, he looked up at me and eased away from her, taking a seat in the chair he had been in before, though now, his demeanor was completely different.

"Here, mother…drink this." Angelique brought over a steaming cup of tea and set it down before her.

"Thank you, dear…"

Just then, soft footsteps sounded on the stairwell, signifying the approach of two small children.

"You cant catch me!" Jaime shouted over his shoulder as he ran, giggling into the otherwise silent kitchen. Caroline darted into the kitchen a few moments after her brother, clearly enjoying the game as much as he was. Jaime found himself cornered with Caroline on the opposite side of the rectangular table, eyeing him eagerly. Finally noticing the room was full of people, Jaime made a break for it, throwing himself towards me and clinging onto my leg.

"Save me, daddy! Save me, save me!" he cried desperately, though I could hear him giggling between words.

"I'm going to get you, you little scoundrel!" She sang, stalking towards Jaime, bent over, her hands outstretched.

Feigning horror, Jaime pulled on my pant leg, "Please daddy, please!"
I took one look at Gabrielle and found that she was watching the three of us, a huge grin lighting her features and making her look less ill. That was all the encouragement I needed to join in the game. I bent over and hoisted Jaime into my arms, laughing at his joyful cry of triumph as he settled onto my shoulders.

Caroline stood up straight and brushed off her skirt, decidedly conducting herself like a proper young woman now that the game seemed to have ended. I looked at Jaime who was still on my shoulder and winked at him before letting out a playful growl and running towards Caroline. She squealed and turned back into a little girl as she ran around the table, attempting to put as much distance between us as possible. I mentally measured my steps, making sure that I would not catch her all too soon. I chased her all over the kitchen and the other rooms connecting to it, Jaime's arms clamped tightly around my neck, all of our voices filling the entire house with laughter. I continued to pursue her for a while until she began to grow tired, at which point she made a dash for Gabrielle, throwing herself into her mother's lap, catching Gabrielle pleasantly by surprise.

"Caroline! Get off of mother! You are far too old to be doing that! She isn't feeling well today and here you are playing silly games!" All laughter died as Angelique's chiding words cut through the happiness that filled the room. Caroline looked to the ground shamefully as I took Jaime off of my shoulders and placed him back on the floor.

"Angelique!" Gabrielle chided, "Do not speak to your sister like that! I am happy that she still plays with Jaime…she is still young and has time left to simply be a child. Don't worry about me, as I know you are…you brood on things, just as your father does and it will do you no good!"

"I'm sorry, mother…" Angelique responded mechanically.

"Don't apologize to me, apologize to your sister!"

"But, Maman! I was simply-"

"Now!"

"I'm sorry, Caroline…"

Caroline looked happier at this and she sat up a little higher, looking at me for approval. I nodded my head at her and she looked back at Angelique, her eyes glistening with happiness. Without warning, she flew out of Gabrielle's lap and landed in Angelique's arms. "It's ok, Angelique! I know you were only concerned about mother, as we all are! I love you, sister!"

"I love you too…" Angelique said slowly, as she wondered at her sister's easy acceptance of her apology. Inwardly, I laughed at Caroline's quick rebound. She had always been like that, ever since she was a tiny baby. If something upset her, it only took a small amount of time for her high spirits to return. She was a cheerful little girl by nature.

"That's better now," chimed in Gabrielle. I smiled at her and she turned her gaze upon me, her eyes warming to the point of burning my skin. I tore my attention away from her, knowing all too well the thoughts that were swarming both our heads, and looked back down at Jaime, who had apparently found a small toy within one of his pockets and was now using that to occupy himself. I nudged him softly with my boot and he looked up, only realizing now that the drama was over.

"Daddy! I'm hungry!" He stated, as if instead of having to endure his sister's squabble, he should have been receiving breakfast.

"Are you now?"

Angelique quickly brought over the plates of food she and I had prepared, which included, fluffy buttermilk biscuits, strawberry crepes, and cheese omelets. Jaime squealed and jumped up onto a nearby chair, scrambling to make it up faster. "Hungry. Hungry. Hungry." Jaime chanted, excitedly. I smiled at his eagerness and looked over to find that Gabrielle was amused as well, laughing at our beautiful son. Her eyes danced with delight and I found myself entranced at how completely content she was. At this moment in time, it seemed that she was allowed a moment of contentment, without any dark clouds hovering over her. I had to admit, that Raoul was attempting to behave himself and I was thankful for it. Helene then came into the kitchen yawning.

"Good morning sunshine!" Gabrielle called to her, happy that we were all together in peace for once. She walked over to the table and took a seat on my right, ignoring the empty chair next to her father completely. We all sat down to eat, passing the plates around to everyone. I had to believe that it was the children that were causing both Raoul and I to keep our inner quarrels to ourselves. Happily I noted that Gabrielle was to enthralled by her children to care about Raoul. Raoul noticed the lack of attention upon him and so he decided to resolve the situation.

"So…I was talking to Angelique earlier…and I must sadly admit that I am neglecting my responsibilities where the children are concerned…" Gabrielle's head snapped up as she regarded Raoul with a delighted and surprised expression. "I was thinking that perhaps, after breakfast I should take the children over to the lake for an afternoon swim…and then perhaps later, Helene, Angelique and I may discuss the party I have promised to throw to celebrate their success at the Opera." Everyone stared at him in silence. The children were not ignorant to the problems surrounding Raoul, Gabrielle and I, causing them all to be uncertain about the invitation for an afternoon out.

"Daddy, are you going to come swim with us?" Jaime asked, skeptically.

"Yes, Daddy! Come with us!" Caroline agreed.

I smiled at them and looked at both Gabrielle and Raoul. Gabrielle nodded and so I turned to Raoul.

"Come if you like, Erik…" I stared at him for a moment, attempting look through his kind statement and see the evil motive inside. Finding no way that he could trick me and cause problems, I agreed, at which point all the children began talking excitedly about swimming at the lake.

"What about you, Gabrielle?" Raoul asked her, "Would you care to come with us?"

"Oh, no…I have a few things to do around here. You guys go and have a good time." She smiled sweetly before continuing to eat her breakfast. Only I caught the secretive look that was in her eyes as she lowered them back to her plate. I didn't like not knowing, but I trusted her to tell me if it was important and so I decided to ignore the feeling I had that something was going on with Gabrielle.