Between Mirrors and Roses (A Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction) ✓

38: Another Child

Erik

"She is your daughter, all right," Christine told me as we watched our two-year-old's antics from the side of the room.

Aria knelt on the floor, erecting cathedrals from a custom set of blocks I had made her. Notches let her fit the pieces together in sophisticated arches and towers.

"I can't imagine what our house will be like if the new baby is another Erik clone," Christine continued. "Two of you are more than enough." She met my eyes so I could see that she was jesting.

I kissed her quickly before we went in to supper.

Christine was beginning to show, her stomach swelling to fit the maturing child inside of her. She glowed with that intangible something all pregnant women possess.

We'd broken the news to Aria the week before, and she had been cautiously excited to have a younger sibling. She took delight in moving her "big girl" toys to a new bedroom, leaving the nursery for the baby's use.

I suspected, however, that she was nervous at the prospect of another child in the house, or perhaps she thought that Christine's pregnancy could be harmful, for she seemed determined to spend as much time with her parents as possible. Particularly, she clung to Christine. If Christine left a room, Aria was on her heels, and when Aria had to lay down for a nap, she wouldn't settle down unless Christine stayed with her.

That night, Christine returned to our room with Aria on her hip. The toddler held a stuffed rabbit and sucked her thumb.

"The storm is scaring her," Christine explained. "Can she sleep with us tonight?"

I consented of course, and the two girls crawled into bed beside me.

"Goodnight, darling," I said as Aria made herself comfortable between us.

"Goodnight, Papa." She snuggled her rabbit and put a tiny hand on Christine's stomach. "Goodnight, baby." She closed her eyes.

Christine took my hand, and we shared a powerful, quiet moment.

I marveled at the perfection of my little family—daughter, wife, and child on the way. Aria was raven-haired and dark-eyed, but her slight build resembled Christine's more than mine. They both had exceptional minds and exceptional beauty, and I knew I would protect them at any cost.

...

Christine screamed from behind her bedroom door, and I flinched.

Soothing women's voices urged her to stay strong and push again, and a kindly midwife cracked the door and stuck her head out. "Your wife is doing extremely well. The baby is almost here."

I thanked her for the update, and she shut the door again.

"Papa?" Aria asked from the ground near my feet. Christine's shriek had frightened her.

I picked her up and carried her downstairs to the parlor. "Your mother is fine, and she wouldn't want us to worry. It's almost over now. Why don't we wait in here so that we aren't in anyone's way?"

Nadir was already in the parlor, on standby in case he was needed, as he claimed. I reckoned his motivations had more to do with Giry's proximity than his own charitable spirit. He could be of no assistance with the birthing taking place upstairs. Like me, he had been banished.

While Aria stumbled through a beginner's reading book, I paced the length of the room. Then I took her into my lap and focused on her voice to drown out the noise in my head.

I was in agony. Again, Christine was removed from my influence, and I hated this helplessness. My place was with her, not shoved aside like a useless, broken tool.