Erik's POV

My park's construction was underway, and after a month of being in progress, I had nearly ten rides up and nearly completed. Ever since that night when I asked Christine to leave, I hadn't seen her. I haven't even gone to her home to watch Gustave. Yes, I felt bad about the boy, but I couldn't bear to see the woman again. I was sitting at my desk one morning, when I heard a knock at my door.

"Come in…"

When the door opened, I spotted Gustave walking in. Oh, what did he want?

"Is there something I can help you with?" I asked, looking down at my work.

Gustave took a seat, tears filling his eyes.

"My…My mama told me that you haven't been coming to watch me because she told you not to come."

"That was a month ago?" I growled. "Go back to your mother."

"I don't want my mama…I…I want you."

"Get out of here…"

"I thought we were friends, Mr. Erik…Pirate Island…You promised."

I knew I was being angry at the wrong person, but how could I love this boy and not see his mother? Oh, it killed me inside to be angry at the boy, but what was I going to do?

"Gustave…"

Before I could say another word, the child wrapped his arms around me and cried into my shirt.

"Please don't stay away, Mr. Erik…I've missed you more than anything in the world. My mama said that you weren't ever coming back. Please say that's not true…"

I sighed. "Gustave, I don't know what to say…Your mother doesn't wish to see me."

"Then why does she cry all the time? Why does she cry herself to sleep?"

Christine? Cry herself to sleep? I wasn't sure what Gustave was talking about, but I wasn't interested in finding out. I owed this boy an apology, and I would be sure that he got one.

"Gustave, if you stop crying, I'll take you to Feltman's café to get some milkshakes…"

The boy nodded and wiped his eyes. "Please don't ever leave me again, Mr. Erik…"

"I promise…" I said. "Never again. I was angry is all…Your mother and I had a fight. A fight, Gustave…"

"Would you come to dinner tonight, Mr. Erik?" the child asked, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Please…"

"Gustave, I can't…All right?"

"Mama is making soup tonight. Please say that you'll come…Please…"

I didn't want to go to Christine's apartment, but this boy wouldn't give up. I knew he wanted me to come over for dinner, therefore, I nodded.

"Really, Mr. Erik?"

I nodded. "I'll be there tonight, Gustave, I promise…"

When the child left, I sighed and went back to work. I knew tonight was going to be anything but amusing. When I was finished working for the day, I locked up and headed to Christine's. When I arrived, I knocked and stood there waiting for the door to open. When it did, Christine stared at me, her face filled with confusion.

"Erik," she snarled. "What a pleasant surprise…It has been nearly a month."

"I know, Christine," I said "I've been busy…"

"And angry," she sneered.

"I'm sorry, may I come in?"

"I'm just about to sit down for dinner with Gustave…"

"I know," I said. "He invited me…"

Christine sighed and stepped away from the door. "I don't understand why the boy wants you here…You do nothing but disappoint him."

I didn't answer Christine, for I knew it would only have us in another argument.

"Do you need any help?" I kindly asked.

Christine shook her head. "I'll get you a bowl…"

A few moments later, Christine called Gustave in and we all took a seat around the table.

"I'm glad you came, Mr. Erik, mama's stew is really good."

"Gustave," Christine said, looking up at him. "It would be nice if you asked me before inviting people over for dinner."

"If I'm inconveniencing you, Christine," I replied. "I could leave…Really…"

Christine was about to say something, when Gustave interrupted.

"Mama, please don't make Mr. Erik leave…I've missed him so much."

"Very well, Gustave."

The remainder of dinner was silent, and when it was over, the child yawned and kissed his mother goodnight.

"Mr. Erik, could you tuck me in?"

I looked at Christine and she looked at me…

"All right," I said, following him to his room. Once there, Gustave crawled into bed and I covered him up.

"Mr. Erik?"

"Yes, Gustave?" I asked, taking a seat at his bedside.

"I've always wanted to go to the beach and swim…Mother is always busy…Do you think we could go tomorrow?"

"Gustave, I don't think so…I don't go to the beach."

"But why?" he whined. "Please, Mr. Erik? Mama doesn't work until late tomorrow. We could go in the morning…"

"Gustave, I don't want to go to the beach. I don't do well with crowds…They make me uncomfortable…"

"Please…Please, Mr. Erik?"

Knowing that I owned the boy an apology, I decided to agree with him.

"I'll talk to your mother, Gustave, but no promises."

The child hugged me once more and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Erik…We can build sandcastles and play in the ocean…"

"No promises," I assured. "Now go to sleep."

"Goodnight, Mr. Erik…"

I smiled and walked towards the door. "Goodnight, Gustave…"

When I approached the kitchen, Christine was standing by the sink washing dishes. Deciding to help, I picked up the dish towel and began to dry the cleaned dishes that were sitting in the strainer.

"Dinner was very good, Christine," I said.

"Thank you, Erik…That is very kind of you to say."

"Well, now that we're talking with one another, your son has a request."

"Request?" Christine questioned. "What sort of request? Oh, that boy, I swear…"

I chuckled. "Gustave has requested that you and I take him to the beach tomorrow."

"Has he now?"

"Yes…"

"And what exactly did you tell him?"

"I told him that I would talk to you."

"And what do you wish to do, Erik?"

"I wouldn't mind if you wouldn't…"

"Then I will agree to this request."

A few moments later, I heard footsteps and Gustave's laughter. When I spun around, I spotted Gustave hiding in the family room.

"I believe we have a spy, Christine," I teased, entering the family room and looking beneath the couch.

"A spy?" Christine said, playing along as she entered the family room with me.

"Indeed. I believe we need to stop this spy. Eavesdropping is a horrible crime…"

When I peeked beneath the couch, I pulled Gustave out from under it, causing him to giggle.

"The spy!" I cried. "He is found!"

"Mr. Erik…" The boy giggled. "Put me down…"

"Put you down?" I replied. "Oh, I think not… It's time for your punishment."

"Punishment?" he giggled.

"Yes," I said, turning to Christine. "What shall his punishment be, Christine?"

Christine smiled. "Hmm…That's a tough one. What could we torture this boy with?"

"Oh, I think I know," I said, placing the boy down on the floor and pulling up his shirt. Before Gustave could protest, I began to tickle his stomach. The boy squirmed and cried out in laughter, pleading me to stop. But I didn't…I was enjoying this a little too much.

"Mr. Erik, please…"

"Not until your crime is served."

"And it's not served yet," Christine said, placing her lips down upon Gustave's belly.

"No, mama…No…"

Christine blew onto his stomach, while I tickled him. For the first time in my life, I was happy…I was never happy, but now I was. When the boy couldn't take another moment, we both stopped and he wrapped his arms around me.

"So we are going to the beach tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Your mother says it's all right."

"Yeah!"

"But you have to go to bed, Gustave. We will be getting up early tomorrow."

When Gustave was back in bed, Christine came walking out with a smile upon her face. I knew Gustave made her happy, for he made me happy too.

"It's late," I said, glancing at my watch. "I'm going to head home and crawl into bed."

Christine nodded. "What time should I be expecting you tomorrow?"

"Well, I'm closer to the beach," I argued. "Why don't you and Gustave come for me around eight?"

"Eight sounds lovely," Christine replied. "Perhaps we could spend the entire day together and then go out to dinner tomorrow night?"

"We shall see…Goodnight, Christine."

After bidding Christine goodbye, I walked home. I was exhausted from the day of work, and now, all I wished to do was crawl into bed. Though, as I was unlocking my door, I heard a voice from behind me.

"I tried earlier, but you weren't home."

The voice caught me off guard, causing me to gasp and spin around. It was hard to tell at first, but as I continued looking at the figure, I realized that it was Meg Giry. What was she doing here? And what on earth did she want?

"Isn't it a little late?" I angrily questioned.

"Not really, monsieur…Coney Island is a night town. Luna Park just closed a few moments ago."

"Well then," I began, opening my door. "It's time for bed then…"

"The bars are open until two."

"Well, good for them. I, on the other hand, am going to bed. I've worked all day, girl. Goodnight."

"May I come in for a few moments?" she asked.

"Why? There is no reason for it…"

"It's business, monsieur."

"Business?" I questioned. "If that's true, then you can come to my office tomorrow. It's on thirty seventh street…You know the place, one can't miss it."

"It will only take a few moments…Please, monsieur."

I sighed and let the girl enter. After closing the door behind me, I began my trek up the stairs with the girl following me.

"You have a nice place."

"It's home."

I entered my room and closed the door behind me. I would have offered the girl a seat, but the truth of it all was that she wasn't welcome here. No, I wanted to find out what she wanted so I could go to bed. Tomorrow would be a busy day for me and I needed my rest for it.

"So," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "What is it that you need?"

"Mother said that you were working on opening your own park…"

"And so what if I am?" I questioned. "Every man here has a right to do as they please…Even if that someone looks like me. Look, girl, I'm losing my patience with you. What is it that you want?"

Meg began to circle me with a seductive look upon her face. Oh, what was she up to? It was driving me insane. All I wanted to do was change and crawl into bed, for I had a long day tomorrow, one that would most likely test my physical strength.

"I heard there is to be an opera house as well," she cooed. "If so, I'm sure you will need a star."

"As a matter of fact, girl, I have myself a star. Christine shall be my star, and that's final."

"Christine?!" the girl snapped. "She doesn't even care for you. She's using you, monsieur."

I grabbed the girl by the throat and gently slammed her against the nearest wall.

"How dare you come to my home and speak ill of Christine? She may be many things, but by God, she is not using me."

I used to be able to frighten the girl with just one look, but even now, as I had my hands around her neck, that didn't seem to even scare her. No, instead, I felt her hands slip into my trousers. I gasped when I felt her grope me, for even the slightest touch to my body set me off…No, it wasn't because I felt for her, because in truth, I hated the girl more than her mother…No, I had just gone through life too long without pleasure.

"Make me your star," she erotically whispered. "And I will do anything for you…"

I tried to grab her hand, but her grip upon me tightened, causing me to sigh.

"I know how it must feel, monsieur…Alone, always alone. To go through life without the slightest touch upon your core. I even know about the time you went to the whore house and got turned away. It's a popular story around those parts….How embarrassing. But I can bring you all those things….I can make you feel every fantasy you've ever dreamt of."

"Well then," I sighed. "You know what my fantasy is, girl?"

Meg's eyes widened as she looked up to face me. "Say it…"

"For you to get your filthy hands out of my trousers!"

I finally had a firm grasp upon her hand and pulled her away. How dare she come to my home and take advantage of me in such a way! Oh, if she wasn't Madame Giry's daughter, I would have killed her.

"You need to leave," I growled, pointing towards the door. "You need to leave, now. And when you do, I don't want you to ever return! That stunt may work on other men in the city, but it won't work on me…"

"And why not?" she snapped. "And why wouldn't it work on you? I know what every man wants…I know what they lust for. You turned me away as if I disgust you. Does the female species turn you off, monsieur? Do you fancy men now?"

Oh, this angered me, for I flew forward and pressed her against the nearest wall again.

"You have no idea what I fancy, girl…Right now, at this very moment, I would love nothing more than to snap your neck off your spine. You know I can do it, for you have seen me kill before. I'm not afraid to rid the world of your scum…"

"You won't though."

"Test me… And no, I do not fancy men, girl…I have myself a woman, one who lets me have everything a man needs to fulfill his pleasure."

"And yet, Christine probably feels revolted by your touch. Do you truly believe that she would ever love you, monsieur? No one could ever love something as disgusting and hideous as you. She's merely using your manhood for the pleasure that she hasn't gotten in years. You're a tool to her…"

This hurt me deep to the core. I pushed the girl away and pointed towards the door.

"Go!" I cried. "Just go!"

"She'll hurt you, monsieur…If you know what's best for you, you'll push her aside and hire me for your main attraction."

"Never…"

"Well, if you change your mind, you'll know where to find me."

I waited until I heard the door slam shut before rushing downstairs to lock the door. And as I did so, I sunk down to my knees, my eyes filled with tears. For I knew that the girl was most likely right. Who could ever love something as hideous as me?

Poor Poor Erik...