Erik's POV

All throughout the night, I stayed by Christine's side, never letting her go. The following morning, I woke to the sound of my phone ringing in the hall. I groaned and rolled over, pressing my face into my pillow.

"Erik, the phone is ringing," came Christine's groggy voice. "Erik…"

When I didn't answer Christine, I felt her get out of bed to answer the phone.

"Erik, Erik, get up…."

I opened my eyes to find Christine standing in the doorway.

"What is it, Christine?"

"Gustave woke up…"

"All right," I hurried out of bed and dressed. "We'll go as soon as you're ready."

A few moments later, Christine and I were out the door and headed to the hospital. When we arrived, we found Gustave lying awake in the hospital bed. Christine rushed to his side and embraced him, sobbing over his body.

"Oh, thank goodness…"

"Mama?"

"Yes, pumpkin, it's me…"

"Where's Mr. Erik?"

I stepped forward and ruffled the boy's locks. "I'm right here, boy…"

"I'm tired…"

I looked at Christine and embraced her hand. "Christine, would it be all right if Gustave and I had a few moments alone?"

She nodded. "Of course… I'll go and get something from the kitchen."

When Christine was gone, I took a seat at his side and patted him on the shoulder.

"You were a brave boy, Gustave. But, why were you out at such a late hour?"

"I…I can't tell you…It's a secret, Mr. Erik."

"Secret or not, you were hurt in a fire. Did you see anything strange that night?"

"I…I don't remember much, Mr. Erik. I really don't remember."

"What do you remember?"

The boy thought long and hard before answering me.

"I…I was out walking around Phantasma, when I saw smoke coming from the fun house. I…I ran towards the building and heard someone crying from inside. I only wanted to help, but after entering, that's all I remember. I'm sorry, Mr. Erik."

I sighed, for I knew I was never going to find out who set my fun house ablaze…

"It's all right, Gustave. You did just fine. But, from now on, please promise me that you'll stay inside at night. It's dangerous out there, especially for someone as small as yourself."

"I…I promise, Mr. Erik."

"Good…"

"When can I go home, Mr. Erik? I don't like it in here…"

"Soon, boy…Soon."

For the next few days, Christine spent most of the time at Gustave's side while I dealt with the police. There wasn't much that could be done to catch the one who had set the fun house up in flames, for all the witnesses were dead. No, instead, I hired a security guard to watch over my park during the closed hours. It didn't do the families justice, but it was going to have to do. Gustave spent nearly a week in the hospital before being released. Even when he was released, he was ordered to stay indoors and off his feet. His legs were terribly scarred and were still healing. Christine changed his bandages daily and I looked after him when I could. During those days, Christine barely spent any time with me during the evening hours, for she was constantly watching over the boy. Some nights, he was in so much pain, that she stayed with him in his room. It was completely fine with me, for I was too busy to sleep.

Though, something strange happened that following Saturday morning. The night before, I had been working so much, that I didn't get home until the early hours of the morning. After crawling into bed and falling asleep, I woke again a few hours later to the strong smell of something wonderful cooking down in the kitchen. Usually, I would have gotten up and investigated, but since I was still exhausted, I stayed put, closing my eyes once again and drifting off to sleep.

"Mr. Erik?"

I heard my door open and then, Gustave's soft voice. My back was turned, and I had my eyes closed. Oh, what did he want?

"Mr. Erik?"

"Gustave," I groaned. "It's really early…"

"I have something I want to tell you."

"Is this something that can wait until I wake up? I worked all last night, child. I didn't get home until three."

"No, it can't wait…Please…"

I sighed and rolled over, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. But when the blurriness had passed, I realized that the boy was standing there at the side of my bed with a tray in hand. But this wasn't just an empty tray…No, it was filled with a delicious breakfast. Why? Why was this child standing before me with breakfast in hand?

"Gustave…What?"

"Happy Father's Day, Mr. Erik!"

I gasped, tears rushing to my eyes. Father's Day? Oh, I knew of the holiday, but never had I ever celebrated it, for I didn't have a child. Why would anyone want to celebrate such a holiday with me, for I was a horrible person at times. Gustave crawled into bed with me and placed the tray across my lap.

"Did you make all of this?"

"Mama helped, but yes…"

"Gustave, this is very nice, but…but this day is supposed to be celebrated by sons to their fathers…I'm not your father."

"Maybe not, but you're the next best thing, Mr. Erik. I always wanted to celebrate this day…But, I never had anyone to celebrate it with until you. I love you, Mr. Erik…"

The boy threw his arms around me, causing tears to rush down my cheeks.

"I…I love you too."

"I have something for you, Mr. Erik…"

"You do?"

Gustave nodded. "Yes, a present… But you have to eat your breakfast first. Afterwards, mama and I will take you out."

"Everything looks delicious, Gustave."

"I've been up all morning…You're not angry, are you?"

"Of course not, boy… You've made me the happiest man alive. No one has ever said that to me before."

"I wish you were my papa, Mr. Erik."

I paused in eating my breakfast and looked at him.

"Someday, perhaps, Gustave… But, I'll never be your real father."

"Just because I'm not your own flesh and blood, doesn't mean that you can't be my papa. Anyone can be a father, Mr. Erik, but it takes a lot more to be a papa."

Gustave crawled into my arms and hugged me, and oh, how that hug made me feel alive.

"Are you finished with your meal?"

When I nodded, Gustave carried the tray away and left me sitting there in bed. A few moments later, Christine came walking in with a smile across her face.

"Did you enjoy your breakfast, Erik?"

I nodded. "Yes, it was very good. A little too much, but still good. Why, Christine? Why did you allow Gustave to do this for me?"

"Because he wanted to. You know, Erik, he's always wanted to celebrate Father's Day, but he couldn't. Sometimes, on Mother's Day, he would double treat me. A few weeks ago, he mentioned that he wanted to celebrate Father's Day with you, and who was I to say no? Please don't be angry, Erik…"

"I'm not," I got out of bed and began to change as the woman continued to talk to me. Usually, I would have asked her to leave, but she and I had spent numerous nights with one another. "I'm actually very happy today… Though, breakfast was more than enough, Christine. I don't know what the boy has planned for me, but whatever it is, is too much."

"I don't even know what he has planned, Erik. He wouldn't tell me anything more than breakfast. No, that was a secret I couldn't get out of him. He's a lot like you at times when it comes to keeping secrets…He does it well."

I chuckled and adjusted my bowtie. "Well, he's learned from the best."

"Mr. Erik, are you ready to go?"

"Yes, Gustave, I am…"

Christine and I followed him downstairs, but once we were there, he approached me with a map.

"We're going to go on a treasure hunt, Mr. Erik…"

"A treasure hunt?" I questioned, taking the handmade map out of his hands. "And will there be some treasure at the end of it?"

"Of course," the boy exclaimed, crossing his arms over one another. "It wouldn't be a treasure hunt if there wasn't any treasure at the end of the hunt…"

"Well, tell me what to do."

"On the map, there are clues to a series of locations around Phantasma. You have to go to each location and look for a letter. Write down the letter on the blank area to make a word. At the end of the hunt, the word will spell out a location and that's where I'll meet you."

"All right, Gustave… I guess I shall see you a little later."

"You and mama have to go together. It's a hunt that involves two people."

I paused, looking over at Christine. "Does it now? And why do your mother and I have to go together?"

"Because it's my rule. Work together and I will meet you at the location to claim your treasure."

When we left the house, Gustave wished Christine and I luck before heading off in the opposite direction.

"I don't know what the boy is up to, but something tells me that he's certainly up to no good."

Christine giggled and pulled the map out of my hands.

"Well, clue number one reads… "It's round, it's big, it's bright at night, find the clue beneath its great height…"

"Poetic, isn't he?" I teased. "But, that would be the Ferris Wheel…"

Both Christine and I headed towards the giant wheel…But now we were to search for a letter…We looked like two idiots, searching endlessly around its perimeter. Though, Christine was smart when it came to this sort of stuff, for she found the letter taped to the ticket booth that was beneath the wheel.

"G, Erik…The letter is G."

"G?"

Christine nodded and wrote G down on the first blank space.

"All right, clue number two… "It's wet, it's fun, sometimes you can even see the sun. Don't let its appearance fool you, for there are no real feathers on these boats."

"The tunnel of love!" I exclaimed. "The boats are in the form of swans."

Christine giggled and wrapped her arms around my own as we headed towards the tunnel of love. Once there, I jumped up onto the railing that was beside the line of swan shaped boats and began searching for a letter. I found it attached to one of their beaks, pealing it off and showing it to Christine.

"A…The next letter is A…"

"All right…Clue number three. "Your appearance is about to change, short, fat, skinny or tall, the choice is yours, stand before it all."

"Strange…"

"That sounds a lot like the maze of mirrors, Erik…"

"You're exactly right, Christine…"

At first, I wasn't having fun, but now, I wasn't even thinking about the puzzle…No, I was having fun with Christine.

"Look, Erik, you're fat…"

"And you're short," I chuckled, pushing Christine before another mirror.

"I've found the next letter, Erik… It's Z…"

"Gaz? What on earth?"

"Clue number four…It's fluffy, it's pink and sticky too, this yummy snack is your next clue."

"Let's walk," I said, taking Christine by the hand and walking further into Phantasma.

"Erik, look!" Christine pointed to the nearby stand.

I stopped when I noticed the bags of pink cotton candy hanging up at the concession stand.

"I'd say that's our next clue."

"I'm actually hungry," Christine said, grabbing a hold of the bag of cotton candy that had our letter attached. "Here…"

"E…The letter is E."

"Like your name," Christine jested, handing me a handful of the soft substance.

"I've never eaten this before," I nervously replied.

"Then you're in for a treat…"

"It certainly is sticky…"

"But it's good…"

"What's the next clue?"

"Clue number five… "Its endless circles will have you dizzy, but look for the lion, he'll keep you busy."

"Now, I'm stumped," I said. "He certainly has us on this one."

"Endless circles?"

"Wait…The carousel!"

Christine grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the carousel. When it stopped, Christine continued pulling me inside the gate and towards the lion that was towards the back.

"Ha! I was right…" I scoffed. "And you didn't believe me…"

"I said no such word, Erik."

I held the letter up in the air while Christine reached out for it.

"No you don't, woman…Not until you admit that you were wrong."

"Never…" the woman jumped up into the air, grabbing the letter and smiling.

"B…Only one clue left."

"Well, it's getting dark. We've kept the boy waiting all day. I'm sure he believes that we've gotten lost."

"All right, clue number six… "Your last clue is the most important one, for it will bring you together once and for all. Happy Father's Day to you, your next clue will be at the gate of your zoo."

"Well, that was easy," I said. "He practically gave it to us."

"You know, Erik, I did have fun today," Christine said as we approached the gate to my Phantasma Zoo… "What I don't get is why the boy sent the both of us on a hunt? If he wanted to spend Father's Day with you today, then why didn't he join us?"

"I'm not sure… Perhaps this day isn't over after all."

When Christine and I approached the gate, we not only found the last letter, but we found a note there as well.

"O…" Christine said. "That spells Gazebo."

"He wants us to meet him at the Phantasma Gazebos no doubt."

From there, I unfolded the letter and read it out loud.

"Mr. Erik,

If you're reading this, then you completed the treasure hunt. Not only did you complete the treasure hunt, but you solved the location. Meet me at the Phantasma Gazebos to claim your prize.

Gustave."

"Well then," Christine held out her arm. "Shall we?"

"Certainly, Christine…"

Christine and I walked arm in arm with one another all the way to the Phantasma Gazebos. They were away from anyone and everything on the island. With a beautiful view of the beach, what would be a more perfect sight? Though, we both paused when we arrived at the gazebos to find one lit by beautiful lights and sounding of wonderful, yet slow music. Inside the gazebo, there was a table set for two, with a candle burning in its center.

"What is going on?" I questioned. "What is this?"

"It's your prize, Mr. Erik…" Came Gustave's voice.

Christine and I both spun around to face the child who was standing before us dressed in a handsome suit. But that wasn't all, he was holding a bottle of wine…

"A dinner?" Christine questioned.

Gustave shook his head. "Not just a dinner…It's a romantic dinner for you and Mr. Erik. I'm going to be your waiter tonight."

It was then, that I figured out Gustave's plan. His plan wasn't to give me a Father's Day…No, it was to insure that Christine and I fell in love with one another, insuring that he would have me as a father for the rest of his life, and not just for today…Oh, what a clever boy he was.

Please review everyone, and if you haven't already, catch my newest story "Love is not always beautiful..." Thanks!