Erik's POV

"Gustave, stay close," I warned as my child ran ahead of me once we were on the festival's grounds. "Gustave!"

Oh, the child wouldn't listen to me. How was I to get the child to listen, when he wasn't obeying my wishes?

"Erik," I felt Christine's hands upon my shoulder, only to look down and spot her standing beside me. "Why don't you hold his hand? That way, he'll stay close by."

I nodded. "If you think that will work."

"It will, ange…" she assured, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"I have animals to bid on," I said. "I must be going."

"Do as you must, Erik, but tonight, I would appreciate some company…Perhaps we could finish off what we started a few nights ago."

"I'm having dinner with Nadir," I said. "But perhaps we could spend some time together afterwards."

But my angel was gone, before she could answer. Oh, she had the strangest ways of teasing me.

"Gustave!" my mind went to the child and I ran ahead to grab his hand. "Enough! I don't want to lose you in the crowd."

"But I'm so excited!" he exclaimed. "Look at all the animals and people, papa!"

"Yes, I know, but you must stick close by. Otherwise I will lose you and won't be able to find you. It would kill me. Now, let us get to the auction."

"But I'm hungry," he whined. "I feel as though I've been on that train for hours."

"All right," I said, walking with him over to a nearby stand. "How about we get you something to drink then? Apple cider sound good to you?"

"What is that?" he curiously questioned.

"It's very good, Gustave. If I get you a cup of apple cider and an apple turnover will that hold you over until we get ice cream later?"

When Gustave nodded, I purchased the cider and pastry for him. Afterwards, he and I made our way to the tent where the animal auction was going to be held.

"This is really good, Mister Y."

"Indeed." I said. "I'm not one for eating sweets, but fall foods are some of my favorite things."

"Do you have apple cider in Phantasma?"

I shook my head. "No, Gustave. These are things you can only get during this time of year. And sadly, Phantasma isn't up and running at this time in October."

"I wish it could be up and running," my child sighed. "I miss it already."

"Well, it will be open soon enough, Gustave. Winter will be here soon, and then you and I will open it together. How does that sound?"

"It sounds great, Mister Y."

Usually, the only time I purchased animals at the festival, was when I needed to replace an animal that had passed away during the season. Just this past season, I had three cats and a horse pass away from old age. It was frustrating having to replace an animal with a new one, but each show had a certain routine, and if the act called for five cats, I couldn't start the season with two. Luckily, I wasn't the one who had to train them…Dr. Gangle was the Phantasma animal trainer among many other things.

"Look at all the kitties…"

I had been so lost in my train of thought, that I didn't even notice the auctioneer talking about the kittens, who were now running around in the auction circle.

"Are you getting any kittens today, Mister Y?" Gustave questioned.

I nodded. "Yes, Gustave, I am."

"How many?"

"Well, the auctioneer is selling an entire box for sixteen dollars."

Along with those box of kittens, I also bid on a horse, one that reminded me of my old stallion, Cesar. Seeing the black horse in front of me, made me realize how much I missed my old companion.

"Mister Y, could we get ice cream now?" Gustave asked, once we left the auction.

"Of course," I said. "But afterwards, I have to pick up the kittens I bid on and set up a delivery for my horse."

My child and I approached the ice cream stand and I purchased two Pumpkin ice cream cones. Afterwards, he and I sat on a few hay bales and enjoyed our snack.

"Mister Y, I miss mother."

"So do I, Gustave. There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss her. And you have every right to miss her as well. But, you are enjoying your time spent with me, right?"

I sighed when my child nodded. "I never had a papa like you before. Yes, I was raised since birth to call Raoul papa, but he wasn't like you. He never spent any time with me…He never took me to fall festivals or on trips. But, this is really good, Mister Y."

"It's my favorite."

Gustave smiled and continued licking his melting ice cream. "Well, it's my new favorite flavor too."

"I'm glad…I have an idea."

"What, Mister Y?"

"Halloween is a week away," I began. "I was thinking about purchasing a few pumpkins. Would you like one?"

"What do you do with the pumpkins, Mister Y?"

"We carve scary faces in them and light them up. Haven't you ever done that before?"

Gustave shook his head. "No, Raoul never allowed me to celebrate Halloween."

"Well," I lifted my child up into my arms. "That will certainly change this year. Come along, you can pick out the perfect ones for the party."

"Party?"

I could only chuckle at my son's excitement. "Yes, Gustave."

For Phantasma each year, I always surrounded it with pumpkins. Yes, we weren't open, but I did hold a party for my employees and their children. This was Coney Island, after all…I had to do something to celebrate the holiday for freaks. After boxing up about fifty pumpkins, I put in an order to have them delivered in two days to my park. Afterwards, I walked with Gustave to the back of the auction to schedule a delivery date for my animals.

"Stay close, Gustave," I warned, approaching the auctioneer.

"Can I help you?" the man asked.

"Yes, I'm Mister Y. I'm the one who won the black stallion and the box of kittens."

"Right," he replied, looking down at his clip board. "About that."

"What is it?"

"The box of six kittens has downsized to five."

"And just why is that?" I growled. "I'm paying for a box of six. Sixteen dollars."

"Oh, Mister Y, don't be so angry. I'm going to cut the price down by three dollars."

"And just what happened to the sixth kitten?"

"He's a runt, Mister Y. He's not farm or show material."

"Let me see him." I ordered.

"But Mister Y…"

"No butts," I barked. "I wish to see this kitten."

Like asked, the auctioneer brought Gustave and I back behind the curtain of the tent, bringing us to the stables full of animals.

"There he is," the auctioneer replied, pointing to a closed gate.

I peeked inside the gate, taking notice to the small Siamese kitten that was hobbling about. He was a beautiful kitten, one that reminded me of Ayesha. She too, had been a runt, for I found her outside in the snow, all alone.

"Wow, he's really cute, Mister Y." Gustave said, looking through the gate.

"Indeed. Though, he's not a show animal. He would never be able to do something such as that. He would have to be a house cat…"

"He looks hungry," Gustave replied.

"He does." And then, an idea came to mind. It had been decades since I last had a cat, but I believed it would make losing Christine easier on Gustave.

"Gustave," I said, pulling him to his feet. "Doesn't the kitten seem lonely?"

"He sure does, Mister Y."

"Do you think you're up to taking care of a kitten?"

Gustave's eyes widened. Oh, I loved making him happy, and I knew this kitten would do just that.

"Really, Mister Y?"

"Of course, but I need you to make me a promise."

"Anything, anything, Mister Y! I never had a pet before."

"He is going to need constant care…Not only care, but lots of attention as well…attention that I don't have time for. I run an entire amusement park, which is why I don't have any pets. But you, you're still young…Surely you could take care of him."

"Yes!"

I then looked at the auctioneer and motioned to the pen.

"I want that kitten," I replied. "I want him right this instant."

"But Mister Y…"

"No butts! I want him, right now. The other kittens are going to be delivered with the horse next week, but I will be taking this kitten with me today."

The auctioneer handed me the kitten and then, I handed it to Gustave.

"He's so tiny, Mister Y…"

"He'll grow, Gustave. He's the runt of the litter. But, with food and love, he will grow."

Gustave instantly became attached to the kitten, for he held him the entire way home. I loved to make my child happy, and I knew this kitten could do just that.

"So, any names yet?" I questioned, gazing at my child who was sitting across from me.

Gustave held the small animal in front of him and shook his head. "I'm not sure. But, I really do like him, Mister Y."

"I had a cat when I lived in Paris with your mother."

"You did?" he questioned.

I nodded. "A Siamese, just like the one you're holding. I found her one cold, winter night. I had never taken care of a cat before, but felt terrible for her and brought her home. I named her Ayesha and she became the most loyal pet I had ever had. At night, she would it at my feet, and sometimes, she would crawl into bed with me."

"What happened to her, Mister Y?"

I swallowed hard. "She…she passed away, Gustave. She lived a long, happy life in my lair. Though, I believe she became jealous over your mother. Every time she came to my lair, Ayesha would act up…I guess in her eyes, she thought as though she were supposed to be my only girl."

This had caused Gustave to giggle. "Do you want to hold him, Mister Y?"

"Um…sure,"

When I agreed, Gustave handed me the small black and tan ball of fur. I gently petted him, causing a purr to erupt from his body.

"See, Mister Y, he likes you…"

"Lucky me…"

"Can we bring him to dinner tonight?" Gustave asked.

I handed him back the cat and shook my head. "Absolutely not, Gustave. There are no pets allowed in my restaurant. We will take him home and give him some milk. Afterwards, you and I are going to change and meet Nadir."

"I want to stay home with my new kitten."

"Gustave," I warned. "You will have plenty of time to do that. For now, you will do as I say. Nadir is going to be waiting for us at eight and we will be there."

Gustave placed his head down on the table and looked at me. "I don't want to meet Nadir, Mister Y. I'm tired…"

"You can't possibly be that tired," I growled. "You ate everything they had to offer at the festival."

"I'm hungry…"

"And we'll go eat as soon as we drop the cat off at home. Plus, you need a bath…"

"I don't want a bath, Mister Y."

"You and I will both be taking a bath, Gustave. We need to look our best for Nadir. And, if you're good perhaps I will allow you to choose a desert for after dinner."

Finally my son nodded and crawled over to the seat I was sitting on.

"I love you, Mister Y…"

And with that, my child snuggled his head into my shoulder. This stopped my heart, but not enough for me to stop myself from wrapping my arms around his small form. My child…My beautiful and sweet child. Oh, how I loved him more than anything in the world.

Please reivew!