Erik's POV

Marriage life couldn't have been better. For years after our marriage, I took on raising Gustave with Christine. Yes, we had tried for another child, but after several attempts, we decided to stop. God had a plan for us all, and if I wasn't meant to have a son or a daughter, then it was his doing. Perhaps he was saving an innocent soul from bearing my horrible deformity…Only he would ever know. Therefore, Christine and I continued raising Gustave through the years. The boy was top of his class, and when he graduated school, he was taken into New York's finest music school. Endless evenings of tutoring him on the piano had paid off, for he became a better pianist than I was. And even though Gustave never found out the truth of his true parentage, he continued believing that I was his real father. It was a lie, but the child never questioned otherwise… He might not have been my own flesh and blood, but it didn't matter, for over the years, he became even more. He was my world, and so was Christine…

I continued to run Phantasma, my park soaring to greatness each season.

"Erik, we're going to be late…"

I was standing in my room preparing for the night's events…And even though my hair had gone grey and my face might have wrinkled, I was still the same man I always was.

"I'll be right there…"

I adjusted my tie and emerged from my room to find Christine standing there in her beautiful gown. Oh, she was absolutely beautiful. I was much older than her, but that didn't mean that Christine wasn't aging as well. To me, Christine aged beautifully. She was even more beautiful than ever before…

"Late? I don't believe so, ange… We still have an hour."

"And it takes nearly forty five minutes to get there…"

I smiled and interlaced my arm with her own.

"Christine, always worrying about the time. My carriage is waiting, mon ange…"

"And after nearly twenty years of marriage, you're still always the last one to emerge."

Twenty years… To believe that I had been married to Christine for twenty years… It seemed like just yesterday we had said our vows, and now, twenty years later, we were still happy. After getting settled in the carriage, it took off, taking us to our destination. It wasn't much that I ventured into the city, but every once in a while, Christine and I did so. When the carriage pulled up in front of the theater, I helped Christine out and escorted her inside.

"See, we're early…"

"By five minutes," she teased.

I just rolled my eyes and escorted Christine to our seats. This was all for Gustave, for the boy was a big attraction in the city… Ever since he attended Julliard, his career had started. First, as the pianist in an orchestra, and then, to his own solo show in the city. It was opening night for him, and already, the theater was packed. I missed the boy, for he had moved out and into a studio apartment in the city. It was strange walking past his room and seeing it empty. Even when I worked I missed having him around. For two hours that evening, we sat there watching our son play everything from Beethoven to his own music. The performance was beautiful, and when it ended, we snuck backstage to congratulate him. He was talking to reporters, answering questions about his music. The boy had turned into a handsome young man…His dark locks had turned even darker, and his once short body had grew into a tall, thin one… He sort of looked like me without my deformity. When the reporters left, we approached him, his smile already growing.

"Mother, papa…"

Christine wrapped her arms around him and he did the same.

"How did you like the show?"

"It was wonderful…You have some talent, young man."

"It's only my first night…I'm a little rusty."

"Nonsense… You're perfect."

"No one is perfect, papa…You told me that a long time ago."

"Ah, but this is music," I reminded him.

A few seconds later, we heard the small pitter patter of feet and then, I felt someone jumping up into my arms.

"Grandfather!"

I smiled and lifted the small boy up into my arms.

"Jerry…There you are, boy…How's my favorite pirate?"

The four year old looked just like Gustave when he was small. Oh, he was so beautiful and so sweet… Whenever he came to visit, I always made sure that I tended to him. Gustave's room turned into Jerry's room for when he stayed over.

"Wasn't papa's performance great?"

"Indeed, it was…"

Gustave scooped Jerry up into his arms, turning to face his wife who was heavy with their second child.

"There you are, darling…"

Gustave pressed a kiss to her lips, only to have Jerry stick out his tongue.

"Ewww…"

I chuckled and held Jerry in my arms once again.

"You know, Jerry, your father used to say the same thing when Grandmother and I kissed. But I have a story to tell you about that…"

"Is it an adventure story?"

"Adventure story?" I questioned.

"Yes, an adventure story…"

I stepped outside and looked across the bay, noticing my park shimmering in the night. It might have seemed so far away, but it was absolutely beautiful. Just looking at it reminded me of my past and of Gustave. If not for the boy, I wouldn't have ever built it. No, if not for Gustave, I probably still would have been working in Luna Park.

"That place sure is pretty…" Jerry said, looking at my park.

I smiled and held the boy close. "Let me tell you about Pirate Island…"

"Pirate Island, what's that?"

I chuckled. "Oh, you're in for a treat…"

Life couldn't have been sweeter…

END

And that's the end! I would like to thank all of my faithful reviewers and my Beta, JudyBear... If you loved this story and wish to read more, please switch over to my newest story, "Love Is Not Always Beautiful." Thanks again, everyone!