Erik's POV

When my carriage arrived, I helped Gustave and Christine inside, taking a seat with the two of them.

"I've never been in a carriage before, Mr. Erik," Gustave exclaimed. "This is so much fun."

I secretly told my driver to take us to the pier on the other end of town, to the spot where one could gaze out upon the statue of liberty. Thankfully, the rain had stopped, leaving the streets soaked and boardwalk damp. When we arrived, Gustave flew out of the carriage, running towards the pier to gaze out upon the ocean. I helped Christine out of the carriage and smiled as she clasped her hand around my own.

"I've never been to this end of the pier before, Erik."

I led Christine over to the end of the pier and lifted Gustave up onto my shoulders.

"Look at the statue, Mr. Erik!"

"I have a surprise for you both," I said, taking Gustave and placing him down beside Christine. I led them both over to a table that was beneath a pavilion and pulled out Christine's chair. She thanked me and I took a seat across from her. In the center of our table, there was a burning candle, one that set the mood for the entire evening. A few moments later, our waiter arrived and placed down our menus. Christine became curious, but I knew the woman didn't know that this pavilion was a restaurant.

"And what will Madame and Monsieur be having tonight?"

"Water," I said. "A pitcher if you have it?"

When the waiter walked away, Christine looked at me and I smiled.

"You didn't know that this pavilion is a restaurant did you?"

Christine shook her head. "Of course not, Erik. You're just full of surprises."

Knowing that I wanted to have some alone time with Christine, I took a few pieces of bread from off of the table and handed them to Gustave.

"Gustave, why don't you go feed the ducks by the water?"

Gustave smiled and hurried towards the water, tossing a few pieces of bread to them.

"You're really great with children," Christine said, placing her hand over my own.

"I don't think I am," I said. "I'm just trying to be good with him."

"Well, you are," Christine said, squeezing my hand. "And I like that you're here for him."

"Christine, I was thinking that tonight you and I could have a voice lesson? You are going to need all the practice you can get."

"That sounds wonderful, Erik. I would like that."

"Christine…I know that I've said a few things that were cruel, but please know that I never meant them. I know I can say a few cruel words every once in a while, but you have to believe me when I say that I never meant to hurt you."

Christine nodded. "I know. But your words do hurt, Erik. They hurt my heart more than anything in the world."

"I promise to attempt to never hurt you again, Christine. Sometimes my anger does get the best of me, but at the end of the day I don't mean any of the words I exchange."

Before I could say another word, Gustave came running back with a smile across his face.

"Mr. Erik, did you see the ducks?"

"Yes, Gustave, I did," I said. "You did a great job."

After dinner, Christine and I walked along the boardwalk as I held an umbrella over both our heads. It began to lightly rain again, and Gustave was running ahead of us.

"Slow down, Gustave," I warned. "It's wet and slippery. I don't want you to fall."

"He'll be fine," Christine said, interlacing her arm with my own.

"It's getting colder," I said. "Soon, the snow will begin to fall again. Winters here do get extremely cold."

"It is chilly."

The moment I heard this, I pulled off my jacket and placed it over Christine's shoulders.

"But what about you?" Christine asked. "You'll freeze."

"No, I won't," I assured. "I'm used to it."

When Gustave couldn't walk anymore, we headed back to the carriage. I had Gustave's sleeping form in my arms and when we were back in the carriage, I laid him across my lap. I was tired, so tired that I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes as Christine rested her head against my shoulder.

"Tonight was wonderful, Erik."

And it was… When the carriage stopped, I lifted Gustave into my arms and carried him inside the house. Once inside his bedroom, I placed the boy down in bed and pulled off his shoes and socks. After covering up his body with his blankets, Christine kissed him on the cheek and turned off the lights. Afterwards, she and I headed towards the stairs to head up to my room. Yes, it was extremely late, but I did agree to give Christine a voice lesson.

"Christine, if you're not in the mood to sing, let me know," I said. "We don't have to sing tonight."

"Why?" she asked. "Are you tired?"

"A little," I said. "But I could teach you if you'd like?"

"Maybe just a small one," Christine said, following me up the stairs. Once the two of us were in my room, I took a seat at my piano and began rummaging through my music scores.

"What are these?"

When I heard Christine's voice, I spun around to find her rummaging through a box that was beside my bed.

"Nothing," I shot to my feet and grabbed the box from her grasp. "Nothing…Just old music scores."

"I'd like to see them."

Her hands made their way back into the box and began rummaging once more. She pulled out a few of the scores, her eyes going over them.

"These songs are beautiful, Erik," Christine gasped. "Why are they in here?"

"Because they're too hard to look at. Those songs are about love, and yet, I have trouble ever getting it from anyone."

"You know," Christine said, placing the papers back into the box. "I think I'm going to skip out on our lesson."

"Was it something I said, Christine?"

Christine rose to her feet and headed towards the door, shaking her head as she did so.

"No, Erik. I'm just tired is all…"

After sliding the box beneath my bed, I approached her and placed my hands upon her shoulders.

"Christine? Please, speak to me…"

Christine turned to me, her lips lightly placing themselves upon my own. Though, she did not linger, nor did she deepen the kiss. No, a peck was all that she gave me.

"Goodnight, Erik. Thank you for dinner."

From that kiss, my heart was soaring, for I wanted more. As I watched the woman head down the stairs, I called out her name, causing her to stop.

"Christine, would you…that is…"

"Would I what?" she asked, turning to face me.

"Tomorrow is Christmas, Christine… Is that offer for dinner still on the table?"

She nodded. "It is."

"Then tomorrow I will join you and Gustave."

Christine smiled and bid me goodnight one final time before heading to her room. Tomorrow was Christmas, and I would make it worth my while… My first.

The following morning, I woke feeling woozy. My head was pounding, and I wasn't exactly sure why. After rolling over, I groaned into my pillow, only to hear my door open and have Gustave excitedly plop into my bed.

"Mr. Erik…" the child shook my shoulder, his voice filled with extreme excitement. "Mr. Erik, it's Christmas!"

I was in no mood for excitement, but for the boy's sake, I opened my eyes and smiled.

"Is it now?"

"Yes, and it snowed last night! Oh, Mr. Erik…it's Christmas…"

"And did Santa come?"

Gustave nodded. "Yes, he did, he did!"

I smiled and lifted the boy into my arms, carrying him downstairs to find that there were a few wrapped gifts laid out. I wasn't sure where Christine had come up with the money to buy him presents, but she must have come up with it somewhere.

"See," he gasped. "I have presents…"

"Gustave, what are you doing?"

When I heard Christine's voice, I spun around to find her standing in the hallway. Gustave immediately ran to her side and jumped into her arms.

"Mama, it's Christmas!"

"Yes, darling, I know. But first, we must go to church."

"Can't I open just one?" the boy pleaded. "Oh, please say that I can open one present now…"

Christine walked over to the two gifts and handed him one. The boy tore open the wrapping paper and pulled out a knitted scarf. Now, I knew that other children on the island would be opening toys and games, but instead, this boy had received clothes. But, the child didn't even give the scarf a second look…No, he placed it around his neck and hugged his mother.

"Thank you, mama… I love it."

"I'm glad, sweetheart. Now, go and get dressed for church."

Before leaving, Gustave turned to me.

"Mr. Erik, would you join mama and me this morning?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but Christine interrupted.

"Oh, pumpkin, Mr. Erik doesn't go to church."

"Why? Doesn't everyone go to church on Christmas?"

"I'll go," I said.

This seemed to surprise Gustave, for his eyes grew wide with excitement and he ran down the hall to get dressed.

"Erik, you don't have to go to church with us. I know that you've told me many years ago that you don't believe in God."

"Maybe not, but I will accompany you, Christine. Everyone should attend services on the holiest day of the year."

"All right, Erik."

After dressing in my finest attire, I joined Gustave and Christine on their outing. She and I walked arm in arm towards the church, Gustave's scarf flowing in the wind. Yes, it had snowed, but not enough to make it unbearable to walk to church in. In all of the five years I had spent on Coney Island, never had I ever witnessed a more beautiful Christmas morning. Though, my Christmas mornings usually consisted of burying myself in my work to drown out the joy everyone else was feeling.

"Christine, I have to hand it to you," I said, after a while of silence. "You have no money, and yet, you still manage to give Gustave a wonderful Christmas. Any other child would have taken one look at that scarf and threw it aside. He, on the other hand acted as though it were the greatest gift in the world."

"Gustave appreciates what I can do for him," Christine said. "I may not have enough money to buy him the latest toy that's out on the market, but we make do with what we have. I knitted him that scarf weeks ago with the yarn I had purchased with my final pay."

"And what's the other gift that you got him?"

"It's a top… I found it at a market last month when I was out shopping. It cost me nearly ten cents, but he'll love it. It'll keep the boy busy."

When Christine and I arrived at the church, we walked inside and took a seat at the back pew. I hated crowds, which was why I was so relieved that we sat in the back. It was strange being in a church, for I had never gone on my own. When I was a child, I begged my mother to let me accompany her to Sunday service, but she always beat me for asking. Though, over the years I had come to hate God, which was why I never bothered going to his house of worship. Today's service, however was a rather interesting one, for it was all about Christmas. Yes, there were children and adults who glanced back at me during the service, but I ignored their glares and sat there quietly while the priest spoke. When service was over, Christine and I walked arm in arm out of the church and back towards my house. Truth be told that I was still feeling extremely uneasy…This morning, it was just my head, and now, my stomach was bothering me.

"Erik, are you feeling all right?"

I nodded as I unlocked the door and entered.

"I'm going to go upstairs and lay down for a while."

"But, Mr. Erik, you have to see me open my other gift…"

"I'll see it a little later, Gustave," I said. "I'm not feeling so well at the moment."

"I'll make you some tea, Erik," Christine said. "Perhaps that will make you feel better."

When I was upstairs in my room, I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes. Christine came walking up a few moments later with a steaming cup in hand and placed it down on my night table.

"Thank you, Christine."

"Drink up," she said. "Hopefully that will help."

I sipped on the minty flavor, placing the cup down after a few sips.

"I need to go start dinner, Erik," Christine cooed. "I'll come check on you in a while."

When Christine was gone, I continued to sip on my tea, only to have my stomach churn. I groaned and pressed my hand against my stomach, leaning over to vomit into the chamber pot that I kept beneath my bed. For days I had been feeling ill, and usually, what made things worse was when Christine brought me my afternoon cup of tea. Believing it to be nothing, I groaned into my pillow and closed my eyes.

"Erik, you're so pale…"

When I heard Christine's voice a while later, I opened my eyes to find her standing over me. She ran her fingers through my thin locks of hair.

"I hope going with us to church this morning didn't upset your stomach?"

I shook my head and pressed my eyes closed, knowing that if I spoke another word to this woman, I would most likely throw up again.

"Erik, you don't have to come to dinner tonight if you don't feel well enough to do so."

"I'll be there, Christine," I assured. "Just set me a place. I'm going to rest up here for a while and then, I'll be down."

"I hope your cholera isn't coming back."

"No, it's not that… I know it's not…"

Christine stood to her feet and took my empty cup with her.

"I'll make you some more tea if you'd like, Erik?…"

"No, it only makes me feel worse when I drink tea."

"Really? Tea never makes you ill… I'll have to ask Madame Giry where she got this stuff from."

"Madame Giry?" I weakly growled. "What are you talking about?"

"She's the one who gave me the tea. She said it was your favorite blend."

"And when did she give that blend to you, Christine?"

"When she came over the other day…"

"Don't brew anymore of that stuff!" I snapped. "Not another teaspoon…"

"Erik, are you all right?"

"Of course," I lied. "Just no more of that tea. In fact, seal up the tin it came in and place it on my desk…"

Christine hastily nodded and ran out the door, leaving me grasping my stomach in agony. Now I knew why the tea had made me ill…For days after drinking the tea it had made me sick, and now, I knew why… Madame Giry had poisoned it. I sat up in my bed, grasping my stomach in agony and hoping that the illness would pass. Oh, when I felt better the woman would surely pay for making me ill…

I wouldn't want to be Madame Giry when Erik gets better...As if he wouldn't find out...Please... Haha, anyway, please review!