RAOUL
1907
I can't believe it's Christmas again. The year flew by so fast. It seems like just last week I present Charles with tickets to Faust. Yet, as I sit beside my daughter and her son, I realize we were all led to each other for some reason. Maybe we were guided by a…guardian Angel. Thank you Christine…Thank you God, for giving me a son, a daughter and a grandson. Finding Madeleine was certainly the greatest thing that had ever happened to me because she was not only my child, but her marriage to Charles truly made him my son and his children my grandchildren. The moment I realized Madeleine was my daughter, I experienced the exact feeling of pure bliss as I had when I'd first held Charles. The first time I'd kissed Christine. The first time I'd kissed Chloé. Oh Chloé, you should see her. She's absolutely perfect.
She has your eyes and I'd never noticed before, but my nose. At first glance, we'd all seen Christine, but once you really look at her, they couldn't be more different. They are two completely different women, as they should be. I have never seen Charles happier than when he holds his son and kisses his wife. He lives and breathes for them. In my entire life I have only seen one other man love like that. That man is Charles's father. Erik. My enemy and the best friend I've ever had. That man never ages, I swear to God. There may be a few lines around his eyes and his thick ebony hair is now highlighted with a few random silver streaks, but he is the same.
I never thought I'd see the day when we would be friends, or even civil enemies, but it's happened to both of our dismays. In all honesty though, he's somewhat become my replacement wife, strange as that sounds. He is obsessed with neatness and he is a surprisingly good cook, not to mention his Russian tea with lemon puts Christine's to shame.
Just as I suspected he would, Erik has formed a bond with Charles's Siamese cat Aida. That damned cat. If Erik sits at the piano, so does she. Where he sleeps, she sleeps. He treats her as if she is a princess and she loves every moment of it. She should, she is just like Ayesha, Christine's beloved cat which died when Charles was twelve. Erik had given her to Christine as somewhat of a parting gift. He dotes on that damned animal like she's some Persian queen. I tell him all the time he's as crazy as he is old. His usual response is to raise his eyebrow and threaten to put a lasso around my neck. Then Madeleine and her son enter the room and he melts into a puddle of sentimental mush. Damned hypocrite.
As we sat down to Christmas dinner with our friends and family, I realized how lucky we all are. We've been through deaths, weddings, births, fires and after all of that, we still managed to smile on this special night. As I smiled at Madeleine, she winked at me for I know she has a secret to tell Charles tonight. He sat oblivious beside her, joking with Gabe about his upcoming wedding to my niece Camille. Deirdre, who was now almost ready to pop with she and Daniel's first child sat tiredly, resting her head on his shoulder as her mother stroked her hair. Alex, of course was teasing Genevieve, my youngest niece. Everyone seemed quite content. Meg looked at me sadly and I knew she was thinking about Madame Giry who was sorely missed. Monsieur Nadir Khan was also celebrating with us tonight, having become quite a good friend as well.
Madeleine got up from her seat, and walked over to where Erik and I were sitting and since Erik was in a conversation with Nadir, I took the chubby baby giving her a grin.
"Raoul de Chagny…what does that daughter of yours have up her sleeve?" Erik asked, seeing the exchange of glances between us.
"Nothing…" I said and he glared at me, muttering something about me being a ridiculous jack-ass. I only laughed.
Sure enough Charles and Madeleine came back to the table both of them grinning impishly from ear to ear.
"Now Charles, you know damn well you can't come back looking like that and not tell us what happened!" Gabe said, giving his fiancée a playful nudge. She repeated the gesture. Charles laughed out loud.
"Maddie and I are going to have another bundle of joy at the end of August next year." He said and Gabe's mouth dropped.
"You two don't waste time, do you?" Camille said, sending Gabe into a fit of laughter. It was good to see her back to her old self. Maddie blushed as Erik turned to me.
"You deceitful bastard." He said, touching the baby's cheek.
"Congratulations to you too, you dolt!" I shot back, biting my cheek to keep from grinning as he scowled at me. I knew he didn't mean it though. It was his way of showing excitement, insane as it sounds.
"Oh no…" Deirdre moaned. That tone could only mean one thing. Daniel lost all color in his face.
"So soon?" He asked and Madeleine shook her head.
"It's only three weeks early." She said and he sighed in relief.
"Right…so…what do I do?" He asked, looking at Charles helplessly then at me.
"Well, might I suggest we go home so that I don't give birth in the Chagny's dining room?" Deirdre asked as her mother helped her up. Charles nodded.
"Yes, besides, we just had the carpet cleaned and that would create and awful mess." He said with a smirk. Deirdre glared and him and threw her napkin at him.
As the Reynolds family and the Bennetts left, we began to clean up as Maddie and Charles put Erik Raoul to bed. They joined us in the sitting room an hour later, as we talked about the night.
"I only wish Madame Giry had been here too." Madeleine said and Charles nodded.
"She was though, in a way…I mean, it felt like she was, you know?" She nodded.
"Yes, I know what you mean." She replied as Charles bit his lip.
"So are you feeling sick at all this time?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No. I didn't the first time either. It must just be good luck." She said as there was a knock at the front door. Charles got up to answer it and opened the door to find Gabe and Camille standing there grinning.
"Do we have a baby?" I asked, and Camille nodded.
"Anna Belle. Oh she's perfect Uncle Raoul. She's blonde of course, and it's hard to tell, but I think she looks just like Deirdre." She said as Gabe looked thoughtful.
"I rather think she looks just like a vegetable." He said and Camille smacked him.
"That's because you're an idiot." She said, not missing a beat. "You will eat your words one day Gabriel Ames because I for one, want at least three children." She said as he put a hand to his head.
"God help me." He said and Charles laughed.
"Well, give them our congratulations…and congratulations to you Millie for becoming an aunt today." He said kissing her cheek. She nodded, waving her goodbyes and pulling Gabe out the door.
"Well, now the world really is overrun with Girys." Erik said sadly. "Isn't it funny Antoinette, that your great granddaughter was born on Christmas, two days before your own birthday?" He asked no one. It was easy to see he was struggling with his emotions. We all knew the baby's name had been a tribute to her great grandmother.
"I must go see Alana tomorrow." I said aloud and Maddie nodded.
"I'll come too. Erik Raoul can meet his cousin." She laughed as Charles kissed her forehead.
"I'm tired, love. Bed?" He asked and she nodded, yawning before she moved to kiss Erik's cheek and then mine.
"Goodnight dear." I said as they left the room. Erik was still staring into the fire with that frown on his face.
"Was she in pain when she died?" He asked and I became confused.
"Who? Madame Giry?" I asked and he shook his head, almost afraid to say the word.
"No. Christine." He uttered the words and time seemed to stand still. I sighed, not wanting to tell him the truth. Hesitantly I bit my lip and whispered.
"Yes. But by the end, she was a bit delirious with the morphine they gave her and she managed to smile through it all." I said and he tried to smile.
"She always did." He said. Unthinking I patted his shoulder as I would try to comfort my son or nephew and he grabbed my hand for a moment, but only for a moment and I knew then that we were friends. I left him to his thoughts and went to my own room.
As I lay in my bed thinking of Christine, Chloé entered my mind. What if I hadn't left her? What if we had raised Madeleine together and Erik and Christine had raised Charles? Would Maddie and Charles still have loved each other? Or would we have allowed the bitterness to get in the way of true love for I know in my heart that Madeleine and Charles were meant to be together. Then I realized that we aren't supposed to question. Things had turned out the way they should have and I realized that there are no more questions, only answers. I had been fortunate enough to love two women in my life and for my brief time with those women I will be forever grateful. And Chloé, not a day went by that I did not think of you…not one. Finally, things were as they should be…finally.
One more to go! Can you guess who's POV it will be? GUESS! Anyway…the end is near. Hope you all liked it.