Three Days and Nights ( A Rumplestiltskin/Phantom of the Opera story)

Prologue

"Just one last push and you will have your baby," the doctor says. Madeline screams as she pushes with all her might. Madeline's head falls back onto the pillow as the cries of a baby fill the room. A tired smile spreads across her face as she hears her baby's cries.

Using the rest of her strength to sit up, Madeline looks at the doctor. "Can I see my ba-," she starts, but once seeing the doctor's pale face stops mid sentence. "What's wrong," Madeline asks, getting worried.

The doctor walks over to her, holding her baby in a small white blanket. "Your baby is a monster," the doctor says, flatly.

Madeline feels anger and confusion well inside her. What was that supposed to mean? "Give me my baby," Madeline says angrily. The doctor seems reluctant at first, but hands Madeline her baby a moment later. Once she is holding her baby in a comfortable position, Madeline looks at the baby.

Madeline first finds out what gender her baby is; it's a boy. Smiling, Madeline doesn't understand why her baby is a monster until she moves the blanket that is covering part of his face. Madeline takes in a sharp breath at the sight of her son's face.

Half of his face is normal, but the other half is severely deformed. His cheek has a huge scar on it, but under the scar some of the muscle under it is visible. On the top of his head, half of his head has hair while the other half is bald with a spot where there is no skin, where it shows the outline of his brain. And finally, his lips has one half normal while the other half was swollen and a dark red.

As Madeline studies her son's face, she feels a rush of pity then love. It didn't matter what her son looked like, she would still love him. She and her husband made a promise before he died, no matter what gender or how ugly or beautiful their child was that she would love their child. And Madeline was determined to keep this promise.

"My son is not monster," Madeline says as she looks back at the doctor. "He is a human being."

The doctor, still pale, gives Madeline a confused look. "You know if anyone sees your son, they will kill him," the doctor says.

Madeline never thought of that. "Please Madeline says. "Don't tell anyone about him."

The room is full of silence as the two look at each other. The silence is then broken by the doctor sighing. "I won't tell anyone, but that doesn't mean anyone else who sees him won't tell anyone," the doctor says as he packs up his few tools he brought.

"Thank you," Madeline says as the doctor turns to leave.

The doctor is at the turn when he suddenly turns around. "What's your boy's name," the doctor asks.

Madeline smiles and looks down at her sleeping baby. "Erik," she says. "Erik Destler."

----------------------------------------------

And for nine years, Madeline and Erik lived in peace. The doctor kept his word and never told anyone about Erik. Madeline showed Erik love whenever she had the opportunity and the two grew a tight mother and son bond.

As Erik grew, Madeline realized that Erik was extremely intelligent. He could design buildings some architects could have never thought of, could wrote poetry with enough details you could perfectly imagine the scene, and he could even cook food so good a master chef would want lessons from him. But Erik's most impressive ability was his talent of playing and writing music.

When Erik plays the piano, Madeline can feel herself fall under a sort of trance and will blindly follow the sound to where Erik is playing. Madeline wished that Erik's music ability could be shown to the world, but knew that could never happen because of his face. But for nine years, Madeline and Erik lived in peace until one day changed everything.

Erik was outside playing in the backyard one day while Madeline was cooking in the kitchen. Every now and then Madeline would peek out the window making sure Erik was safe. Madeline was walking to the brick oven with a tin of muffins in her hands when she heard it, a scream.

Thinking it was Erik, Madeline drops the tin and rushes outside. Once outside, Madeline realized that it wasn't Erik who screamed, it was a woman who looked no older than twenty. Before Madeline could say or do anything, the woman ran, yelling for guards to come. Madeline could feel fear course through her. If that woman got the guards, they would kill Erik.

Madeline grabs Erik's hand and pulls him inside. They run to Erik's room where Madeline begins to pack a bag for him. She had to keep Erik safe, even if that meant dying. Once Erik's bag was packed, Madeline and Erin run to the back door. Madeline gave Erik the bag and kneeled down in front of him.

"Erik, honey, I need to do some very important for me," Madeline says, on the verge of tears.

"Yes, mom," Erik says. "What is it?"

"I need you to run far away from here," Madeline says as she tries to not cry.

"Why," Erik asks, confused.

"Because some people are coming to get you and I don't want them to take you from me," Madeline says a single tear slides down her cheek.

"Will I see you again," Erik asks as his own eyes begin to fill with years.

"I hope so," Madeline says as more tears spill down her cheeks. "I have something for you." Madeline pulls a snow white mask out from behind her. Then handing it to Erik says,"You have to promise me that you will never take this off."

"Why can't I can't it off," Erik asks, looking at the mask.

"Because if you keep this mask on, the bad people won't be able to find you," Madeline says, sniffling.

"Okay, mom," Erik says. "I'll never take this mask off. I promise." The taking the mask, Erik slides it on his face.

Madeline smiles as she continues crying. "Now go," she says. "And always know that I love you."

"I love you too, mom," Erik says. And with that, Erik turns and runs deep into the forest.

Madeline watches until Erik is completely out of sight. Tears fall down Madeline's cheeks like waterfalls as she starts to sob. Her knees buckle and she falls to the ground. Madeline knows that she will never see her son again, but will die knowing that she did her best to keep him safe.