The Affair

Chapter 7 *

"Mother, do we live here now?" Gustave looked to Christine, he was curious as to why they hadn't seen his father in so long and he was concerned for his mother.

She looked to him with a warm smile, "For now, yes."

"Do you and father not love each other anymore?" he asked quietly.

"You don't have to worry about that, Gustave. I am going to visit him tonight. I will try and resolve what I can. Perhaps I will find out why he has been so uptight as of late. Wouldn't that be nice?" she kissed his forehead, "Then we could go home, my dear,"

"Yes, mother." he nodded, "But I don't want to go back. I like it here. I feel like I belong here, and so do you." he smiled at her, "Mother, I've made friends."

"Now, Gustave, you're so young, how would you know where you belong and where you don't?" she asked him, "You're so very smart, I will try to get your father on board with us working here, alright?"

"Aunt Meg told me something about father." he said.

"Yes, what about him? Your father used to be a nice man, there's nothing much to tell." she said quietly, extremely saddened by the wedge in their relationship.

"No, about my real father." he looked at her.

"Raoul is your real father, Gustave. Now go to bed. I don't want to hear another word about this." she spoke in a more stern tone.

"But, mother. The masked man-" he looked to her sadly.

"I said not another word." she snapped quietly and she blew out the candles, all except one, "Go to bed."

"Yes, mother. I apologize, mother." he said quietly and rolled over in his bed.

She waited in his room with him until he fell asleep. After she was sure that he was out, she blew the last candle out and went to her room. She changed into her night gown and she laid on her bed for a while before sitting up. She lit a few candles and she went to the mirror. She looked down for a few moments before trailing her gaze up to where she knew Erik's would be.

"Listen- I.. I know you're here. You're always... here." she fidgeted with her wedding ring, trying to find the courage to speak to her angel, "Could you please just..." she deeply sighed, "Am I wasting my time?"

"Yes." Erik replied quietly.

"Alright, I... I apologize." she went to her closet and pulled her cloak out, she wrapped it around herself and she made her way outside. She climbed into the nearest carriage and closed the door.

"Where too, Madame?" the driver spoke up.

She didn't respond to him right away, she sat there for a moment, then spoke, "Monsieur, will you please take me to the De Chagny manor?"

The man simply nodded and began taking her where she'd asked. Soon, Christine was helped out of the carriage and led towards the door. She reluctantly held her hand up to the door and knocked.

"May I ask who's there?" Annette spoke up from the opposite side of the door.

"Christine." she replied softly.

The door slowly opened, "He's been waiting for you, Madame." she said to her.

She looked to her and walked past her. She made her way into the study and sat down, "Monsieur, I only have a moment." she said quietly, looking back as Raoul walked in.

"Monsieur? Are you going to pretend that we're not married?" he sat across from her, "Gustave is with you I presume?"

"Why?" she asked him.

"Because he's my son, I would like to see him." he said sadly.

"Gustave is sleeping." she responded, "So I left him in good hands," she looked to him, "You called me here so late, why?"

"So we can talk. As husband and wife should." he said to her, "I love you."

Annette walked past the study, she'd stopped and looked up at him. She felt her heart break in her chest, but she knew she couldn't confess to Christine what Raoul and her had done.

"Well, as I stated before, I need a little break. I would like to sing again, I would like to perform, you've taken that from me."

"I've taken nothing." he snapped quietly, "Every time you get that stupid place back into your head, you act differently. What's going on? Is it him? Is he back, I-" he paused, trying to collect his thoughts, "Are you leaving me for him?"

"Nothing is going on, however, I need to get back." she stood up.

"No, sit down. Sit back down and talk to me!" he stood too, "Christine, please- I need you-"

"Please, I have a child to get back to."

"He's my child just as much as he is yours! I want to see him!"

"Tonight isn't a good night. Goodnight," she said to him and made her way to the door.

He grabbed her upper arm and spun her around, "You get back here. You're my wife and will do as I say." he spoke in a begging tone, "Please, Christine- I-" he pulled her face close and kissed her.

She pushed him away gently, "You've been drinking again." she spoke sadly.

"I can't cope with how much I miss you, Christine," he held her, "I apologize," he watched her, pleading.

"Pour me a glass," she whispered to him, searching his eyes, "We'll talk."