Well there is there is only two more chapters, not including this one. This one should have a bit of a cliffhanger, and it will be dramatic, I think. Anyway, just please, read, follow, favorite, and review. Thank you for all the support throughout this story.

~Lauren

Chapter 19

Not Right

Erik wakes up alone in his bed without Eva at his side. He assumes she is in with the kids, so he gets up and walks down the hall into the nursery. But, he doesn't see Eva sitting in the rocking chair with one of the kids. So he walks down the stairs and looks in the music room. Not there. Then he hears a loud crash in the kitchen. He walks in and sees Eva cleaning up a shattered tea cup. He runs over and bends down and helps her pick it up.

"I can get it." She tries to protest, but he still helps. Once they get all the pieces, they throw them all in the waste basket. Erik sits down at the kitchen table. Eva sits down too once she gets her new tea cup and pours some tea in it. He sees that she is sad. "Are you mad at me about what I said yesterday?" Eva shakes her and sips her tea. "I am very tired, Erik. I have been up all night with the kids, so I didn't get much sleep. And I don't blame you for yelling at me. I should not have been going through your things."

Erik feels bad for yelling, but he doesn't know what to say. "I should help with the kids more. You are doing so much work, and I feel terrible." Eva shakes her head once more. "It's okay. You haven't handled a child in a very long time." He shrugs. "Would you like some tea?" He nods. "Yes, please." Eva gets up from the table, grabs a tea cup from the cupboard, and pours some warm tea in it. He grabs the cup and nods in gratitude.

They sit for a few moments, sipping their tea. Eva keeps staring at him and he can't help but wonder why. He sets his tea down and smirks. "Why are you staring at me?" She smiles. "Take off your mask." Erik's eyes bulge slightly, but he doesn't want to disappoint her. He sighs and puts his hand over his mask. He pulls it off, but he keeps the wig on. Eva smiles and Erik is shocked at her reaction.

"You're so adorable."

Erik laughs. "How am I adorable?"

Eva shrugs. "I don't know, you just are!" She giggles which makes Erik laugh as he puts his mask back on.

They keep sipping their tea, then they suddenly hear a cry coming from up the stairs. They both groan. Eva goes to get up, but Erik puts his hand up. "I got it." She smiles as he leaves.

Erik walks up the stairs and into the nursery. Angel is screaming and kicking, which isn't waking up the other babies. But he rushes over to make sure he doesn't wake the others. He grabs Angel and sits in the rocking chair. He rocks back and forth singing to Angel.

You are my angel of music.

You are my angel of music.

He repeatedly sings the same line with the same melody. Angel eventually calms down and goes back to sleep. He keeps rocking him though to just make sure he stay asleep. As his breathing is slow and steady, Erik gets up and places him back next to Rose and Gustave. He turns around and sees Eva standing in the doorway. "You are so good with kids." She states. Erik smiles. "Thank you."

Eva turns around and walks back downstairs. But Erik stays there. Something isn't right. He thinks. I feel like this isn't right. He starts to tear up. That should be Christine. NO-she is gone! Stop thinking about her. You have a wonderful family with Eva. And she knows you don't love her, so everything is okay. Right? No. But he just shrugs it off and walks back downstairs and into the music room to play. Hopefully that will ease his mind.

Later, in the middle of the night, while Eva lay sleeping, Erik lay awake. Thinking. Thinking about Eva. Thinking about the children. Thinking about Coney Island and all his employees. And especially thinking about Christine.

I should not be in this bed with someone I don't love. Christine should be here. Those kids should be Christine's. Our Gustave should be sleeping in his room. I should be with Christine. Why couldn't I have died instead? She had Raoul. She could live with someone else. Whereas, I can't.

He sighs starting to cry. I need you Christine. He turns on his side and he gasps. "Christine?" he says. He immediately covers his mouth. But he could've sworn he saw Christine standing against the wall. Erik jumps up and sits on the edge of the bed. He looks behind him to make sure he didn't wake up Eva. He sees she is still sound asleep and he is very relieved.

He looks back over at the wall to see if Christine was still there, but she was not there. He starts whispering a line from a song he wrote.

And sometimes at night times,

I dream that you are there.

But wake holding nothing but the empty air.

He starts crying, but holds back all the noise he could be making. Erik gets up off the bed and walks over to his wardrobe. He lights a single candle so he can see. He rummages through his wardrobe and finds a simple white, button up, shirt. He takes off his night shirt and slips that one on. He also throws off his pants and puts on a black pair. Erik then walks back over to his nightstand and slips his mask.

He walks out of the bedroom and down the hall to the nursery. He opens the door slowly and is happy to see his beautiful babies soundly sleeping. He walks up the crib and kisses them all on the head. He turns back to the door. "I love you." He whispers before closing the door.

Erik rushes down the stairs and grabs his shoes and ties them on. He stands off of the couch where he tied his shoes, and walks slowly through the house. I am going to miss this place. But I don't belong here. I must go somewhere I am accepted. Before he goes to the door, he goes into the music room and grabs his pile of sheet music. He starts to shove it all in a folder, but he thinks he should leave one for Eva. He pulls out the sheet music for 'The Music of the Night' and lays it on the top of the organ.

Erik sighs and gets up from the bench. He walks to the door, and opens it slowly. He turns around and looks at the house. He smiles and then walks out the door.

He runs to the dock in hopes on the ferry in enough time. He gets there just as they are about to disembark. Erik runs onto the boat and finds a seat next to an old gentleman. He sighs in relief. I am finally going back to the place where I belong. And that place is Coney Island.