Chapter 7

Christine clutched the note she had received that afternoon in her hand as she and Charles rode along the stormy streets of London. Thunder cracked overhead as Charles jumped at the sound and asked his mother once again why she decided to dine out on a rainy night like this one.

"I just couldn't stand being in that house one more minute, I had to get out." She answered again. Butterflies filled her stomach with nervousness and it caused her to be abrupt and on edge. Charles sensed this in his mother, but still couldn't figure it out. He glanced out the window at the grey clouds as lightning flashed through the sky.

"Besides, the restaurant I have heard so much about will not be crowded on a night like tonight." She said taking note of the weather. Charles leaned back against the seat, he still didn't understand but he had to put his mind to rest or else it would torment him trying to figure this whole thing out.

The carriage finally pulled up to a fancy restaurant, the name White Swan was printed on a great sign above the door. The driver held his umbrella up as Charles stepped out and helped his mother get out. Standing at the entrance, he held the door open for an elderly couple and finally led his mother in. Looking around in the cheerful restaurant, Christine approached the maître d and told them her reservation. They followed into the crowded room where Christine caught a glimpse of Erik speaking to a group of businessmen and quietly sat down at a table within his gaze. He had his reading glasses on over his mask, and spoke intently as the other men listened. She couldn't hear his words, but she could tell he was passionate about what he was talking about.

Charles pulled a chair out for her and asked,

"Is everything all right Mother?" He asked invading into her thoughts,

"Yes, dear." She said replied taking her seat at the table. Erik looked up and saw her; he felt his heart beat with nervousness as he saw his son sitting across from her. Flawless, the most beautiful creature he had seen. Such a wonderful young man, with the best manners as he could tell, it was quite obvious he was raised in royalty. Erik checked his pocket watch and announced that the meeting was over for the evening.

Christine ordered her wine while Charles ordered one as well. Glancing up from her menu, she noticed the men at Erik's table standing up to leave. Her heart pounded and her stomach felt nervous, she could feel the nervousness rising into her throat. There was the man she always loved, always wondered about. The one man that could take her breath away every time he touched her, the one man that was Charles's father. Taking deep breaths, she glanced at her menu trying to decide on something even though she wasn't the least bit hungry.

Erik sat back down, putting his papers in his case and leaving money on the table for the bill. He kept thinking of the best way to approach this, what was he to say? He had thought about it all day and even throughout his meeting he lost his thoughts, especially when he saw them walk in. He grabbed his case and pretended to be making his way around his table when Christine made eye contact with him. He took a deep breath and walked over to their table.

"Well hello Madame De Chagny how nice to see you here." He said politely. She looked up from her conversation with Charles and said, almost too excited,

"Good evening Monsieur Thibault, how are you?" Charles looked at Erik mysteriously, wondering who this man was, why he had on a mysterious mask and why he was approaching his mother. Christine glanced back at Charles as Erik responded that he was well and decided she would introduce the two of them.

"Monsieur Thibault this is my son Charles." Christine gestured towards Charles who stood to shake the man's hand.

"Please, call me Erik." He said taking his son's hand and shaking it. Charles sat back down and asked,

"How do you know my mother?" Christine took a sip of her wine and glanced up at Erik. He sat his case down and Charles gestured to the empty chair. Erik took a deep breath and took a seat at their table.

"I knew your mother for a long time, when she was a stage actress at the Paris Opera House." Charles continued to stare at him,

"Dear, we crossed paths last week at the Baron's ball. Erik is a renowned architect and has made his way from Paris to London. How is your wife, if I may ask?" Erik's mind was screaming, Christine, the woman he loved and always loved was sitting next to him with their son. This should have been the way it always was, this was his family. He took in another deep breath at the mention of Anna and politely replied,

"She is doing as well as can be expected in the heat we have had. However she is grateful it was raining and to have one cooler day." Charles was excited that Erik was an architect and a popular one at that. He had so many questions for him and rudely interrupted their conversation.

"What are some things you design?" Charles asked Erik eagerly. Erik was a little taken aback by Charles's excitement and slowly asked,

"Are you into architecture as well?"

"I have made a few sketches, but I am only 11 sir, it's not like I am going to get somewhere with any of my sketches just yet. But I hope to one day." Erik looked back at the dark eyes that matched his and smiled,

"Well my boy, when I was your age, I had made drawings too, even though it was some years later that those drawings were made into real buildings. I designed for the Shah of Persia for quite some time before I assisted Charles Garnier on the Opera Populaire." Charles listened in fascination.

"What are you doing here?" He asked eagerly, Erik chuckled a little and replied,

"I wouldn't have met my wonderful wife if I didn't move here." Christine cracked a fake smile and thought about the passionate kisses they shared the day before in his office. He looked over at her as Charles rolled his eyes at such a romantic statement.

"Charles, if you are so interested in architecture, why don't you come to my office? I would love to have you around, and show you everything you need to know. That way by the time you are 16, you will start to get your name out there?" Charles's eyes lit up as he looked at his mother.

"Mother, can I please?" He pleaded Christine. She knew she would have to talk to Raoul about it, and she knew what he would say, and the argument that would come. But how could she deny her son, his dream, and getting to know his real father.

"You could come tomorrow." Erik suggested picking up on Christine's worried look. She didn't want to confront Raoul with this, it would break his heart. But her son was pleading.

"It's all right with me for tomorrow, but once your father gets back we will have to talk with him about it." Charles smiled.

"Not all architectural work is exciting though, my boy. There are many times when I have to have meetings with my clients, or check on construction, which we will be doing tomorrow."

"You have to take the good with the bad, right?" Charles smiled again. Erik smiled back at him.

"That's right." Erik glanced down at his watch again and sighed,

"I must get home to my wife, she is with child, you know." He said giving a knowing look at Christine. She smiled weakly at him and gave him the look right back. Standing up and picking up his case, he looked at Charles and said,

"Be at my office at 8:30 tomorrow morning." He said handing Charles a card, "It was nice seeing you again Madame." He said putting his hat on his head and nodding at her.

"Likewise." She replied and smiled at him. He started to walk away towards the front of the restaurant,

"Excuse me dear, I need to use the water closet." Christine said standing up to excuse herself. She walked quickly towards the front of the restaurant as well to see Erik disappear out the front door. She briskly opened the door to the outside and shouted,

"Erik!" He stopped at the sound of her voice and turned around. Walking back towards her and her towards him, they finally met face to face on the sidewalk.

"What was that?!" She asked somewhat frantic, he looked at her quizzically,

"What was what?" He asked back.

"Inviting my son to spend time with you."

"He is my son too, and since I just met him, I figured it would give us some time to get to know one another. We agreed on not telling him and letting him figure it out for himself. To be honest Christine, he reminds me so much of what I was like as a boy, just in my own thoughts of course. But I used to dream just like he does of the things I could create for people." Erik said lightly with a faraway look.

"What am I going to tell Raoul?" Christine asked snapping Erik back into reality.

"I don't know, the truth, I guess. How he is going to take it is anyone's guess. You decided to tell me the truth, you opened the box and released all of its contents, and one day you and I are not going to be the only ones who know about this. You decided to tell your secret, Christine, and I, however, do intend to keep it for Charles's sake, until the time is right." He kissed her hand and looked up at her one more time before turning and saying,

"Don't forget to send him at 8:30." She sighed loudly and nervously,

"I'm sure he won't forget." He tipped his hat at her and walked away. She watched as he disappeared into the crowd heading towards the square where he could catch a cab.

She longed to be his wife, the one he was coming home to. She pulled her thoughts back into reality; she was Raoul's wife, her childhood sweetheart, who always made life so lighthearted and wonderful. The one who gave her everything, but Erik was so much more complex. He kept everything interesting, and always kept her wondering. The kissed they shared the day before created so much passion, she couldn't stop thinking about it. She wanted that passion, and she didn't want it with anybody but Erik.

A/N: I apologize this chapter wasn't that interesting, but the next few will start to generate some speed in this story. Please review? Thanks!