Charlotte yawned and stretched her arms over her head as her mother tugged at her hair with the brush, "Ow that hurts!"

"Well, if you hadn't slept in the French Braid we wouldn't be here," Christine sat the brush down on the vanity and picked up the bottle of Edwards' "Harlene" for the Hair. She poured some into her hands before smoothing it over Charlotte's hair and scalp. She then returned to brushing it and the tangles came out easier.

"It's not my fault Goose and Rose's wedding reception ran so late. Why are we up so early anyway? I'm sure they want to sleep too? It was a far more exciting day for them."

"We're up so we can see them off at the port," The Soprano rolled her daughter's hair into a simple bun. "They are heading to Paris for their honeymoon."

"What's a honeymoon?" The girl handed her mother a bobby pin. "I keep hearing everyone talk about it."

Christine pushed the pin in and they continued the routine of handing a pin, pushing it in.

"A honeymoon is a period of time where a man and a woman spend time by themselves away from family and friends right after their wedding."

"So Goose wants to be away from us on purpose?"

"No, not exactly," Christine stated. "It's just that, he wants to spend time alone with Rose without any of us around."

Charlotte's eyes widen, "Ahh, this is related to desires of the flesh caused by love isn't it?" She watched her mother's reflection nod and smile in the mirror.

"Is that my cue that this is a behind doors conversation to not be repeated elsewhere?"

"It is."

Charlotte grabbed the make-up tin and brush on her vanity. She unscrewed the lid before looking up at her reflection.

"You know you will not be able to wear your make up at school but I can get you all the rose soap and toilet water you want as part of your…"

The bedroom door handle jiggled and swung open. Arthur ran in at full force, "Mother, I do not think Father did my hair right!"

"I did your hair just fine!" Erik was right behind Arthur, bent and picked him up. The Phantom groaned as he adjusted the boy in his arms, "I keep forgetting I am old. I am going to feel this for a few days."

"What don't you like about your hair?" Christine walked over to her son and husband.

"My part is wrong. There is too much pomade."

Christine ran her fingers down the boy's hair, "I think it looks just fine. You look just like your father; very handsome."

"If you are handsome, father why do you wear a mask?" Arthur turned and looked The Phantom square in the eyes.

"Sometimes the world is mean, Arthur," Charlotte spun around on her vanity's stool and stood up. "And sometimes Dada and I cannot always be brave. Remember when that man attacked us?"

The boy buried himself into his father's neck, "I do. It was scary."

Charlotte stood and walked over to her brother and father, "I used to get mad at Dada for wearing a mask. He doesn't wear it all the time now but now that I'm older, I understand. I use make up on mine when I'm feeling scared. But I just learned I cannot wear make up at school. I am going to have to learn to be brave again in front all new girls. So today you and I can be brave together hand in hand. And maybe we can convince Dada to do the same."

Arthur squirmed down from his father's body, and took his sister's hand, "I like that."

Charlotte smiled as she took his hand. She then looked up at her father, "What do you say, Dada?"

He smiled down at his little reflections with tears in his eyes. He removed the mask, "May I keep the wig?"

"You were a quilt thief the whole night!" Gustave pulled the quilt back to him, not even sitting up.

"Well want did you want? I was cold. I am not used to wearing such little to sleep," Rose sat up exposing the sheer silk and lace of one of the nightgowns that was just for her honeymoon. "And this is what I put on after!"

Gustave grinned as he propped himself up on his bent arm, "Oh, Mrs. Rose Y, don't act so scandalized. Our wedding night wasn't even our third time."

"It was our fifth, sixth…" she smirked as she tapped him on the nose.

"And seventh," he returned the nose tap. "And our bests yet."

"Yes, because we have never been nude before, which is why I was cold!"

He sat up exposing he had only put his pajama pants on, his lips turned slightly down, "That's not the only reason, right?"

Rose placed her hand on his bare chest and ran her fingers up through his chest hair, "Being nude in a bed certainly is a perk. Everyone might know what we were doing last night, but there was no worry of someone knocking on the door or walking in. Having to quickly rearrange our clothes and act like nothing just happened. We got to take our time. We got to try those positions I had bookmarked. And ohhh, Goose," She smiled wide, "You shouldn't have to ask if being nude is the only reason."

He laughed putting his hands over hers, "You've never climaxed so intensely that you've pushed me out before. I was worried I hurt you until begged me to put it back in demanding more. Oh how divine you feel without prophylactics!"

"Speaking of which," Rose leaned into her husband's face. "I need to remove mine. I will do that now and start getting ready."

"So no eighth this morning?"

"Silly Goose. How else am I going to pack my diaphragm if I don't take it out?" She gave him a light kiss before shuffling out of the bed. "And you know we don't want to be late to the port. Knowing your parents, they are going to hold onto you until it is last call to get onto the boat. Your mother cried more than my father yesterday."

Gustave laid back down, "I don't know how tight they will hold. I know my father will not want to scare me off now that I've agreed to run the park."

Two families stood at the dock where a little over ten years ago, the mother now holding her grown son first landed on the shores of America. The embrace ended but Christine still held onto her son's arms, "Are you concerned at all about returning to Paris?" She held his gaze whole.

"A little," Gustave's body softened at the confession. "I discussed it with our pastor. He said sometimes God has to work in roundabout ways. Like how he brought you and Papa back together. Now going back to Paris with Rose, I am no longer a child with no control. I am a newly married man with a strong woman who loves me. I can face the difficult memories with her love knowing I'm no longer that boy. And there is still so much to do that she and I can make new memories. She wants to see the Opera Populaire."

Tears streamed down Christine's cheeks, "Oh, Gustave!" She pulled him back into a tight embrace. "I can never apologize enough for burdening you with my sins during those ten years."

"Don't say such things, Mama," He held her tight but made eye contact with his wife over Christine's shoulder.

Rose gave a knowing smile.

"I have to," Christine still held him tight. "You were my son; you should have never also been my confidant and companion. I just longed to have your father back and in all those moments it was just you and I me I could imagine that we were a family, that he would be the one walking through the door."

She felt another large pair of hands on her shoulders, "Come, Angel, the sooner Gustave and Rose leave, the sooner they can come back. Besides, we have our own trip to finish prepping for." Erik gently pulled his wife away from their oldest son. He then held her at his side tight. She wiped her eyes as she watched the father and son conversation.

"Did you get the extra money I left you in the hotel suite?"

"I did," Gustave adjusted his waistcoat. "You did not have to do that, Papa."

"But I wanted to," Mr. Y smiled. "You'll appreciate it when you learn your mother made an appointment for Rose at House of Worth's showroom."

Gustave's mouth dropped, "Does Rose know yet?"

"No, it is mentioned in the card that was addressed to her that said do not open until on the boat, next to your envelope."

Gustave smiled, "In that case, thank you. Maybe she can wear that dress when we go to the Opera Populaire."

Erik grinned, "Don't forget to ask them about The Phantom."