Him.

Chapter IIX

Sitting there blankly, Erik watched as the dark liquid in his mug swirled around between the ceramic walls. He tried not to pay attention to the ache in his chest, but damn the thing since it wouldn't go away.

He listened intently to the melody in his mind, the same one over and over echoing off the walls of his mind. Each time it played in his head his fingers itches to play it more and more. But he felt like he would betray someone if he played it, the piece that he and Haya had created. It burned into his memory, gnawing at his brain to walk to the piano and sit down. To feel the cold seat under him as his legs stretched out over the wood and his back turned straight. He wanted to touch the soft keys, their ivory delicately depressing themselves to hit strings and make chords, all upon his command. He wanted to press down the metal pedals with his pristine shoes and listen as notes vibrated into the house, shaking the walls.

He wanted to feel the piece they'd created together, and he could hear the way it sounded, the way their love sounded.

"Erik!"

He nearly cringed as Philippa burst through the door with his two children. He'd been expecting them, but the masked-man was dreading her return. He felt like he'd cheated on her, but he knew very well he hadn't physically.

"Philippa," he greeted her gently, embracing her as she placed a kiss to his lips.

"Papa!" Toddlers suddenly exclaimed for his attention.

They'd been gone almost two months, and Erik felt like he'd missed their whole lives. His son had grown, and the little girl's hair had lengthened remarkably!

"Marjory!" He held his arms out to his eldest and then embraced her tightly.

"You've grown so much," he remarked and looked at her, placing delicate kisses to her face as she giggled and hid in her mother's skirts.

"And my son," Erik said stoically to the boy who laughed heartily, as heartily as small two-year-old could.

"Papa!"

"Yes, Henri, how are you?" He asked him with a wink, kissing the boy's forehead.

"Uncle said Hellos!" The girl suddenly remembered.

"He did?" Erik asked and looked suspiciously at Philippa who nodded.

"He hopes you're doing well and that you're caring for me promptly." Philippa smiled to herself as Erik winked.

"As promptly as ever," Erik said and swept her waist into his arm, kissing her passionately as his children scrunched their noses and ran off.

"Where is...?" Erik knew to whom she was referring, but he also knew that her brother had corrupted the small bit of acceptance she'd allowed in her mind.

"Haya left a while ago, my love. She wanted to focus on her career," Erik dealer as he glanced to the piano, his wife unable to notice.

Philippa smirked and pulled at her husband's lapel, kissing the side of his neck despite his distraction.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Erik, but it's for the better..."

Raising an eyebrow that she could see around the mask, Erik looked quizzically at his wife as she grabbed his hand and placed it gently over her stomach.

"We're expecting again."

Erik was speechless, but he was at least able to mutter a few question words, "How did you find out?"

"Well, I remembered the night before I left how passionately you said you would miss me... and then I began to get the signs last month and this one only confirmed it, Erik. I am with child again."

Erik lifted Philippa into the air and kissed her, wonderfully elated to devote his time to another child of his own, one that he knew he would love just like the others. They were his children after all, and nothing could take that away from him.