Erik's POV

"Ten years and you look as though you've seen a ghost," Nadir replied.

I wasn't happy to see the man standing before me just now. It had been ten long years…Ten whole years, and yet, he shows up on my doorstep now. How did he find me? How did the man know where I was living? I thought for sure he knew I was dead, for it had been that way for an entire decade…

"Well, aren't you going to invite me in?"

Without saying a word, I stepped aside and let Nadir enter. He gazed around the family room of my home and smiled.

"You've come a long way, friend," he chuckled. "Ten years it took for you to build yourself a life above ground."

I closed the door and spun around to face the man. "What are you doing here, Nadir? For one, it's very late, and two, how did you find out where I lived?"

"It's a long story, man…" he replied. "May I sit?"

I nodded and Nadir took a seat across from my arm chair. Like old times, I took my seat and faced the man, ready to hear what was sure to be another long story…He was known for them.

"As you probably know, I've been living in Paris the last ten years."

"And what do I care, Nadir? You obviously didn't care about my wellbeing on that night ten years ago…That mob could have killed me. It was in the papers, you know…"

"Oh, is that what this is about, man? Still sore over something that happened a decade ago? I came to visit you, man…"

"Why now?"

"Checking up on you is all…Actually," Nadir pulled a newspaper out of his pocket and handed it to me. "This Phantasma park seems to be very popular with the crowds…So popular, that the Paris Post published an article about it in their paper. As soon as I read this, it was all too familiar with me. I knew it had to be you, Erik…I knew that you had to be hiding beneath that Mister Y synonym."

"Perhaps," I tossed the newspaper back into Nadir's lap. "That still doesn't explain why you're here?"

"Well, America is the land of opportunity, as they say back in Paris. I came over here to start a new life…But, I couldn't start it without popping in for a visit with an old friend, now could I? All I had to do was ask the town's people where Mister Y lived and they pointed me to this very house…lovely, actually…"

"I didn't invite you here, Nadir…" I pressed my eyes closed. "I would appreciate it if you left."

"Oh, come now, Erik. I haven't seen you in ten years. I wish to know about your life…How have you been?"

"Oh, I've been doing just peachy, no thanks to you, Persian…"

"Erik, could we just let this pass? Come now, man…I've been doing wonderfully…Though, can't say that I haven't missed you. We were the best of friends at one time."

"I wouldn't call us friends, Nadir. You and I were more like acquaintances…Yea, that's the word. Christine was my only friend."

"Some friend she was…"

I immediately flew across the way to Nadir and grabbed him by his throat.

"Oh, you haven't changed a bit, Erik."

"Don't talk about her like that..."

Tears came rushing to my eyes, tears that ran down my cheek. As soon as Nadir saw this, his smile faded.

"Erik, is it true? Ten years and you're still pining for her?"

I released Nadir and sat back in my chair, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand.

"I'm not pining for her, Nadir…Oh, you don't know the half of it."

"Erik, I thought for sure that you would have moved on and found someone else."

"Never, Nadir…Never. I'm sure you've probably already noticed the detestable broad of whores walking the streets and begging every man walking by to enter their brothel…I, myself, have been a victim to it many years ago. They took one look at my mask and saw right through me…They saw loneliness, virginity…Anything to get a buck…But I was strong, Nadir. I only thought of Christine, only of her and everything we had been through. Perhaps those whores are your way of relieving the pain, but it's not my way."

"I didn't mean the whores, Erik… I would have thought that with you being as wealthy as you are, you would have found yourself love…I'm sure there are one hundred suitable women in Coney Island that carry afflictions such as yours…they would see past your deformity."

"I don't want someone to see past my deformity, Nadir!" I cried. "That's not what I want in life…It doesn't matter now. I have love, I have a life…"

"What are you talking about?"

Before I could answer, I heard the pitter-pattering of feet coming up the hall. I knew I must have woken Gustave, for a few seconds later he appeared around the corner and began rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Mister Y, what's all that noise?"

Nadir's jaw dropped at the sight of the child standing before him. Though, like the loving father I was always trying to be, I stood to my feet and lifted the sleepy child into my arms.

"Nothing, Gustave. You're exhausted and should be in bed. In the morning you and I shall be heading to the countryside, like I promised."

"Mister Y, who is that man?"

"And old friend." I replied. "I shall tell you all about him tomorrow during our long train ride. Now, off to bed with you…"

Gustave gave me a kiss to my cheek, before hugging me tightly and walking back down the hall. I waited until the door was closed, before retaking my seat on the couch and facing the man. Oh, his face was still pale, as if he had seen a ghost. Was it too hard to believe that someone such as me could be loved?

"Erik, you have a child?" Nadir curiously questioned.

"There was a child just walking through here, was there not?" I scoffed.

"Is…is he yours?"

Oh, how I wanted to wring this bastard's neck…Was he mine? What kind of hideous question is that? Was Gustave too beautiful to come from something such as me?

"No, he's not," I sarcastically replied. "I went lurking around the streets of New York one evening and kidnapped him as in infant straight from his bedroom window…Of course he's mine, you idiot!"

"And where is his mother?"

"Dead." I replied. "She died, Nadir. Are you satisfied now?"

"Erik, I don't understand…You just told me a few moments ago that the only one who have ever loved or would ever love is Christine."

Oh, how I loved it when Nadir made himself sound so stupid. It made me feel wonderful inside, seeing that the man always had to be number one every other day.

"Yes, it's true," I said.

"So, who was the mother?"

"Christine…"

"Christine who?"

"Christine Daae, you idiot! Do you truly believe that I would walk the streets and search for another woman named Christine? Oh, Nadir, you truly have no idea who I am."

"And how is that possible, Erik?" Nadir snapped. "Christine married Raoul right after the opera house disaster."

"Once again, you have it all wrong, man…But, like always, I have to wind up telling you everything."

"Oh, I'm truly interested in this story," Nadir replied, sitting back against his chair and staring me in the face.

"If you must know," I began. "Christine came to me that night. The Giry's hid me in a small inn, warning me to stay until morning. That night, I heard a knock at the door and opened it to find Christine standing there. She had come to me because she was tormented by her choice…Well, we sat down in the dark and spoke to one another, but soon, talking was a thing of the past…"

"And? What is that supposed to mean?"

I rolled my eyes. "Are you truly interested in hearing every detail of that night?"

"Of course, Erik…What are you talking about?"

"For God sakes! Christine and I slept together…She took my virginity, and I stole hers. Needless to say, that I began regretting it. I woke the next morning to find that my room was no longer in darkness and the sun was beginning to shine in through the window. I was afraid of what she would think, afraid that she would regret what we did. So, I dressed and slipped away before she woke…"

"But she still married Raoul!"

"I came to find out a few weeks ago that she loved me…She was going to wake and swear her love to me, but found me gone instead. I've regretted it for ten years, Nadir. Christine came to Coney Island just a few weeks ago to sing for Oscar Hammerstein. Though, I had to see her…I couldn't bear to be away from her for a moment longer. I begged her to sing for me, and surprisingly, she did…We were going to be a couple again…That child, her child…He is of my own flesh and blood. We conceived him on that night and she had raised him as Raoul's child. Though, when you listen to him play the piano, it's easy to see who's blood he has flowing through his veins."

"Erik, where is Christine?"

"And I'll say it again, Nadir…Christine is dead. She was shot on the pier by Meg Giry a few weeks back. I feel guilty, for I can't help but feel as though I should have jumped in the way, taken the bullet for her…She begged me to raise the child, and so, here we are. It's hard, but I love that little boy as much as I loved Christine."

"What is his name?"

"Gustave," I said. "After Christine's father."

"I'm sorry, Erik…"

"Life goes on, I suppose, but I know it will never be the same. Not without Christine. It's taking a toll on the child as well. He misses his mother deeply."

"As would any child his age. I'm glad to be back at your side, Erik. I know you could use a friend during this hard time. But, if you would give me a job in your park come spring, I will help you as much as I possibly can."

I nodded, knowing that Nadir had more experience when it came to raising a child.

"Gustave and I are going to the country tomorrow in order to purchase animals for my park. I do it every year…Tomorrow evening, if you would like, I could meet you at my restaurant. I would like the two of you to properly meet."

Nadir nodded. "That would be nice,"

My friend stood to his feet and wrapped his arms around me.

"I shall see you tomorrow then…"

"I look forward to it."

When Nadir left, I locked the door and spun around to see Christine standing before me. She smiled and pressed her lips up against my own. Oh, how wonderful it felt to be kissed.

"It's nice to see you two being friendly for once."

"Whatever we fought about in the past was all his fault, Christine. The man believes that he is smarter than every other living soul on this earth. I loathe people like that…You know I do."

"Perhaps, but he is your friend. Friends don't fight with friends, Erik…But, it will be nice for Gustave to have another man in his life…an uncle."

"I wouldn't call him that, Christine."

Christine followed me as I walked up the stairs to reach my room.

"Well, in that case, would you like some company tonight?"

"Always…"

And as I crawled into bed, my angel crawled in beside me. Christine might have been a ghost, but it was still my Christine, even if she did disappear in the morning…for now, I was beside my angel and I could feel her…