Wanted

Chapter 18

After two days, the ship docked in America. When the Destler's got off the ship, they were immediately crowded by reporters with cameras. The cameras kept going off, just making Erik angrier.

"No pictures, do you hear? No pictures of the boy!" Erik yelled when the reporters continously tried to get pictures of Gustave.

After dispersing from the large crowd, Erik saw a carriage come up. Three people stepped out and walked up to Erik. The tallest man stepped forward and held out his hand for Erik to shake.

"Are you Dr.Gangle?" Erik asked and the man took a little bow.

"In the flesh. And you must be Erik Destler?" Erik nodded and brought Christine forward to his side and wrapped am arm around her waist.

"This is my wife, Christine Destler. And our son, Gustave Destler." Erik introduced his family to the three people in front of them.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. We will surely get to know each other over the next year, I assume. I'm going to take you to your home now, if that's alright with you." Dr.Gangle suggested and Erik nodded before helping his family into the carriage.

The carriage stopped in front of a beautiful white house. There was a garden to the side of the house and a front porch. Christine turned to look at Erik who just nodded with a smile. Christine threw her arms around him in thanks.

"Just wait until you see the inside, mon ange." Erik said as he held Gustave and helped Christine out of the carriage. Christine ran for the door and slowly turned the handle.

Christine slowly stepped into the beautiful house. Laminate wood floors ran through the entire front entrance. A grand staircase was over to the right. To the left was the living room. Christine wandered through the rooms on the first floor before running up to the second.

On the second floor, a long hallway connected all of the rooms. She examined all of the rooms including the music room, the library, the nursery, the toy room, and the guest bedroom.

Erik smiled and led Christine down to a room at the end of the hallway. He opened the door to reveal the master bedroom. The bed was fitted with crimson sheets and black pillows. On the wall beside the bed, there were many pictures.

Christine looked up at her husband with tears in her eyes. She ran forward and stopped in front of him. Christine kissed Gustave's head and slipped her arms around Erik's waist to hug him.

"How long are we going to be here, Erik?" Christine asked after a moment.

"We have to renovate the amusement park, then open it, and be here for at least three months after opening night. We're looking at about a year." Erik explained as he set Gustave down on the bed.

Gustave crawled around for a while as Erik worked on blueprints for the amusement park, which he planned to call Phantasma. Erik didn't let anything disturb him except for when there was a knock on the front door. He looked over at Christine with pleading eyes. Christine lifted Gustave into her arms and went downstairs to open the door.

James Destler smiled at her when she opened it. Erik hadn't spoken to James since he tried to kill him. Sure he had apologized but you can't but as Christine liked to say, you can't but a bandaid on on a bullet wound. Christine had followed her husband's wishes and hadn't conversed with the man either.

"Christine, it's great to see you!" James exclaimed as he did his best to hug her. It was hard, however, considering she was holding a baby.

"And you as well, James! How have you been?" Christine asked with a smile.

"I've been ok. Is this..." James didn't finish his sentence, but Christine understood perfectly. She smiled lovingly at her son before looking up at James.

"This is Gustave, your grandson." Christine said as she stroked the small scar on Gustave's right cheek. James smiled at Gustave and waved. "Would you like to hold him?" Christine asked and James nodded. Gustave obviously wanted his mother because he cried when he was taken away from her.

At the sound of Gustave's cry, Erik came running down the stairs. "Well who knew that sound of a baby crying could summon the all powerful Phantom?" Christine joked but Erik had stopped dead in his tracks when he realized who was here.

When Gustave noticed his father he cried and reached out to Erik. James handed Gustave to Erik and the baby immediately stopped crying. Gustave reached his small hands up and latched his fingers around the edges of Erik's mask, pulling it off.

Erik tried to hide his face but Gustave whimpered in protest. "Erik, you don't have to hide your face from me." James said and Erik slowly looked up. Christine kissed his cheek as James walked into the house. "So, how long will you be here?" He changed the subject.

"About a year and a half." Christine answered as she walked into the kitchen to make tea. Erik set Gustave in his high chair before sitting down beside him. Christine set mugs in front of Erik and James.

Erik took a sip of his tea before getting up. "I must go check on the progress of Phantasma. Christine, will you be joining me?" Erik asked and Christine nodded.

"James do you think you could watch Gustave while we're gone?" Christine asked after kissing her son's forehead.

"Of course."

Erik led Christine out of the house, their hands entwined. Christine leaned her head on his shoulder. Her other hand gripped Erik's arm. "Darling?" Christine asked and Erik looked down at her.

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Cast:
Erik Destler ~ Ramin Karimloo
Christine Destler ~ Sierra Boggess
James Destler ~ Michael Crawford