"Come away with me. Just for a while." Brett said, sitting in the chair with Meg curled on his lap. She bit her lip.
"B-but I am still married. Divorce takes time Brett." She said, burying her face into the crook of his neck. "Oh God, I haven't even been away from Andrew for one day and I jump right into your arms! This is crazy!" She said, clinging to his shirt.
"Meg, you can't go back to him. He'll ruin you and the baby." Brett replied, calmly stroking her hair.
"The baby!" She cried, becoming angry again, "Brett, he admitted to doing…things…with Jacqueline Marquet. Oh, they are planning something…they want to hurt Erik. He's mad…he lusts for Roxana so badly…I am afraid for her Brett."
"So you're awake." Erik said, as he brought her in a cup of hot tea. She sat up and nodded, but didn't vacate her spot on Brett's lap.
"You know you don't have to worry about Andrew hurting me, right?" Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, the deep blue of her eyes almost made Erik laugh because right then she reminded him of her mother.
"Sweetheart, when I was in Persia, I was trained to…well…let's just say I put them out of their misery." He said and Meg rolled her eyes.
"Erik. I am seventeen years old. Please don't treat me like I am five. Maman told me all about it anyway." She said and he raised an eyebrow at her, but crossed his legs as Roxana carried a giggling Jamie into the room.
"Meg, your nephew is being unruly." She said, with a laugh as she put him down in Erik's lap. "Anyhow, I just received a telegram from Raoul saying Andrew has been there and they told him that you'd purchased a ferry ticket under a false name and had fled to London. He shouldn't be here any time soon if he's after you." She said and Meg sighed, holding her middle.
"It's not me he's after, it's the baby." She said softly. "He wants the baby to get his second half of inheritance." She replied and Roxana nodded.
"I figured. The sick bastard." She thought a moment before looking at Erik. "Still, to be safe, we're going to have you stay inside this house. Do not set foot outside, don't even peek through the window shades. Ana and Carolina are going to stay with you when we are not here."
"And so am I." Brett answered and Meg turned to give him a look.
"Your brother's wedding tomorrow?" She reminded him and he whitened. Roxana looked at Erik, having almost forgotten herself.
"Only the ceremony…I'm coming straight here after." Brett said and she nodded. Roxana stood again, moving to make sure all of the drapes were closed and that the doors and windows were locked.
"Meg, we're going to put you in the downstairs guest bedroom so that you don't have to climb the stairs." She said, eyeing Meg's belly. "For the time being, you can wear some of my maternity clothing, though it will be long on you…I think you should get some rest. Brett, you are welcome to stay if you wish." She said and motioned for Erik to get up and took Jamie back.
"Mama…I have a cookie?" James asked, playing with her silken black hair. She sighed, but nodded and carried him into the kitchen saying goodnight. Erik, yawned trying to look nonchalant, though his mind was reeling. He could see Andrew Westcliff was not a stupid man. He could only hope he received a reply from his old friend soon, desperately in need of the man's advice. He also knew that he had to contact Annie to let her know Meg was fine and also what that man had done to her. He nodded at the two in the chair and went to meet Roxana up in the bedroom. Brett looked at Meg.
"Do you want to go to bed?" He asked her and she nodded, yawning. In the guest bedroom, Roxana had left a night gown and robe for Meg to change into, which she quickly did behind the changing screen. Completely drained, she trudged back to the bed, where Brett was sitting, still fully dressed.
"You're going to sleep in that?" She asked him with a laugh. He shrugged and leaned to give her a kiss on the lips.
"You're beautiful Meg." He said, getting up from the bed and moving to sit in the armchair beside it.
"You're not going to sleep in the bed?" She asked, folding her arms as he looked up at her in surprise.
"You would…want me to?" He asked and she nodded.
"It was kind of the point. We don't have to do anything…I just wanted to be near you." She said and he climbed in beside her after taking his shoes and vest off. He settled himself comfortably with his arm around her and neither of them had realized how obviously tired they were and almost instantly were asleep. Outside the window, the faintest hints of falling snow were slightly visible.
Brett was almost late to his brother's wedding waking up an hour before the ceremony. He'd quickly kissed Meg, gotten dressed and come home to change since the wedding was at his parents' home.
"Oh thank God!" Marie Reynolds said when he joined everyone outside. "Where have you been?" She whispered, taking his arm.
"A friend of mine was having some trouble and…oh my God." He stopped, seeing the familiar blonde man sitting with Jacqueline Marquet.
"What dear?" Marie asked, confused and Brett shook his head.
"Nothing Ma. How about this weather?" He asked, looking around at the snow, but keeping his eye on the man. She smiled.
"Yes…Alana got her wish…" She said as her husband came to walk her down the aisle.
Raoul next walked his mother down the aisle and to her seat as Elisabeth walked down the aisle with another young man, a school friend of Garrett's. Brett escorted Rosaline, who looked a bit sad but was calm.
"Rosie? You alright?" He asked and she looked at him in surprise.
"No." She said, her blue green eyes flashing with secrets, "But I will be." She added, squeezing his arm. They walked the rest of the way in silence and took their places. He beside his brother and she beside where her sister would stand. The Comte Georges de Chagny tearfully handed over his middle child to the young man she would marry and sat beside his wife and son along with his son's wife.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
The priest droned on and the couple said their vows. Garrett cried. Alana did not. A fact which she would tease him for years to come Brett knew. He felt Andrew's glaring midnight eyes on him. It would take all of his emotional strength to pretend he knew nothing. His eyes flicked to Roxana and Erik, who were whispering furiously back and forth at each other. He looked white as a sheet. They'd left the house very early that morning and hadn't said why. He had heard fighting though. James was left in the care of his grandparents.
"…the ring?" Brett's head snapped up in attention. Garrett was looking at him expectantly with his hand out, and Brett nearly forgot what he was supposed to be doing, but realized and pulled the ring from his pocket.
"…you may now kiss the bride." The priest concluded as they did so.
Brett smiled in spite of himself. Maybe, just maybe things could be like this for he and Meg someday. Granted of course, he didn't suppose Meg would want to get married in a blizzard. In fact, he couldn't see why the hell anyone would want to get married in a blizzard. She did look pretty though. Her long blonde hair was down and her veil was pinned on attached to a small tiara. Over her dress, she wore a beautiful white coat with a train and looked like a snow angel. The bouquet of white roses she carried even further made her seem ethereal. Then again, weren't all brides somewhat ethereal in their own way? Meg had been. He may have even fallen for her then without realizing.
All he knew was since he'd met her he had been inexplicably drawn to her angelic face and fragile body. She was the embodiment of the delicate swan princess she had portrayed in Swan Lake. In some ways, Alana reminded him of Meg. She had golden hair and blue eyes and was not an extremely tall girl, but Alana would always remain to him the silly little girl who had played at his house when she and his brother were children in the summers. Meg was more than someone he was fond of. Brett had never believed in soul mates or fate. Until her. With her, he could believe the impossible. She could tell him that the sky was green and the grass was blue and he'd believe it simply because it came from her lips.
"Alright Reynolds, where is she?" Brett turned around to face the one person he had ever considered killing.
"Who?" He asked, playing dumb. It was better just to let him think he hadn't heard anything. Andrew pushed Jacqueline away from him and got close to Brett's ear.
"You know who. My wife..." He growled before Brett pushed him away.
"What's the matter Westcliff? Can't keep track of her? I sure as hell don't have her. You have my sincere permission to search my house." He said angrily and walked away trying to figure out some way to leave undetected.
"Ugh God...women..." Brett jumped when he heard another voice and turned to see Erik standing there rubbing his temples. He raised his eyebrows when he noticed Brett was staring at him.
"Do yourself a favor boy. Don't get married...it's a trap." He muttered, sipping his champagne. Brett laughed in spite of himself.
"Roxana beat you or something?" He asked and Erik looked at him.
"I wish. That would be easier..." He said as Christine de Chagny flounced up to him and smacked his arm.
"Come on you big baby...let's dance!" She said, giving Brett a wide smile.
"Christine, I hate dancing...you should know that." Erik muttered. Christine rolled her eyes and pulled him off anyway. Brett looked around before slipping into the back of the house.
"Erik Destler, what is your problem?" Christine asked, as she danced with him. He sighed.
"I don't want to talk about it." He said as he caught Raoul's laughing eyes. He was desperately avoiding dancing because he couldn't. Not very well at least. Elisabeth had grabbed hold of him and he was dancing gawkishly with her like a boy of thirteen.
"You never were much for talking about your feelings..." Christine said, almost bitterly making him stop dancing.
"What?" He asked and she shook her head.
"You run. You run from any feelings you have...that's why you don't want to talk about it." She said, folding her arms as he huffed.
"You want to know what's wrong with me?" He asked finally. She nodded.
"Yes Erik, I do! You're one of the few people I consider family...don't I deserve to know?" She asked as he sighed again.
"Roxana is pregnant."
Roxana eyed the hors d'oeuvres with a ravenous eye. It was official. There were consequences in life. She was with child. They had gotten up early this morning after she'd thrown up for the sixth day in a row and she was due in mid June. Erik hadn't said three words since they'd found out and she wasn't even sure how she felt. To be honest, she was scared to death. It had been going on four years since she had been pregnant and she couldn't really remember what it was like. Nibbling on a cracker, she felt another wave and excused herself from conversation with the Comtess and Madame Giry to relieve herself in the back bathroom.
"Roxana!" Brett looked up from his seat at the kitchen table when she emerged. "Are you alright?"
"Oh! You heard that..." She said and he nodded. "What are you doing Brett?" She asked, sitting near him as he shrugged.
"Hell if I know...I can't leave...what if he follows me? I can't put her in danger." He said when she nodded.
"I know...I am even reluctant to go home. What if he suspects me?" She mused aloud and he fidgeted with his hands.
"I know...so what is going on with you Roxy?" He asked. She sighed, knowing she would have to tell someone sooner or later.
"Brett. I am pregnant...Erik and I are...having a baby." She said, the words sounding foreign to her. He smiled.
"That's great!" He exclaimed as she began to cry. "Uh...isn't it?" He asked, his eyes wide.
"Oh Brett...I feel like I violated every vow I made to Justin...and yet, I am happy. So deliriously happy I could dance...and for that I am even more guilty!" She laid her head into her arms and sobbed. He patted her shoulder uncomfortably.
"God Roxy...Justin would have wanted you to be happy...you have to stop this! He's gone sweetheart...just because he died didn't mean you had to...he would not think you betrayed him. You know Justin...he was never petty...it was always about your happiness. In fact, he'd be quite pissed to know you wasted three years feeling sorry for yourself...don't deny it...he'd make that face he always made when he was annoyed and stand there with his arms folded until you did what he wanted!" Picturing this, Roxana laughed.
"Look Roxy, it's obvious you and Destler love each other. Any idiot could see that...even this idiot..." He said pointing to himself. She wiped her eyes and sniffled.
"I do love him..." She admitted and Brett stood, throwing his arms up.
"Well what the hell are you doing in here with me? Come on, let's get you out to the man you should be with instead of sitting here wallowing with me." He offered her his arm which she took and they walked out, nearly knocking right into Erik. "Speak of the devil." Brett laughed and handed her over, but Erik's face was serious.
"Erik, I..." Roxana began, holding his hand but he shook his head.
"Roxana..." He said and she could see there was something very wrong in his eyes.
"What is it?" She asked, touching his cheek. He sighed.
"Andrew is gone..."
"Brett? Is that you?" Meg asked with a light laugh as she made her bed and hummed softly to the baby. The door had opened as she was tidying up. She'd put on one of Roxana's maternity dresses, the shortest one which was still far too long.
"Sorry to disappoint my love, but it's your husband." She gasped and whirled around to face the man who's beautiful looks were now nothing but a pretty statue. Emotionless and cold.
"Andrew! How did you find me?" She asked quickly as he grinned.
"Oh...let's just say a few people are very talkative...now come on dear. Pack up. You're coming home..." He ordered and she stopped, trembling, but determined not to show fear.
"No Andrew...I am not...I am filing for a divorce first thing..." She said and he laughed.
"You actually think you will get one? First you are a woman...and second any lawyer in their right mind will say that a pregnant woman can not have a divorce." He sat and lit a cigarette as he stared at her. "I believe I told you to pack Marguerite." He said again, crossing his legs. She grabbed the candlestick holder on the night stand. He chuckled.
"You think that will protect you?" He asked and she backed against the wall.
"I will not go with you..." She said and he stood, brushing himself off. He sighed and clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
"Meg, Meg, Meg...here's the deal...You either come with me...no fuss...or I kill your lover boy and your Maman...take your pick Marguerite." Tears came to her eyes as she stood in cold shock and dropped the candlestick holder.
"You bastard..." She whispered.