Wanted

Chapter 53

March 25, 1892

A knock sounded on the door, interrupting Christine's playtime with the twins. "Watch them please." She told her husband who was sitting on the couch and reading. He nodded and gave his attention to the babies who were lying on a blanket on the floor.

Christine opened the door and was suddenly attacked in a hug from Meg. "Nadir proposed!" She squealed and Christine squealed back and hugged her best friend tight.

"That's so amazing! I'm so happy for you!" Christine said once they pulled back.

"I'll give you and Erik more information on the wedding once we get things planned." Meg said, regaining her composure. "Well, I'm sure you're busy spending time with your family, so I'll let you be." Meg said and Christine nodded before hugging the blonde and closing the door as she left.

Christine walked back into the living room and sat on the floor with the twins. "Nadir proposed to Meg!" Christine said and Erik smirked, though his wife wasn't facing him.

"I know." Came Erik's subtle reply. Christine turned around confused and Erik smiled and moved to sit on the floor with his wife and twins. "Nadir told me last week." He said and Christine slapped his arm playfully. Two could play this game. Erik looked offended and turned his back to her.

"I love you."

"I don't know if I believe you." Erik said and Christine smirked and got on her knees so she could reach him. She kissed his neck and let her arms snake around his chest.

"Do you believe me now?" She whispered in his ear and he turned around and caught her lips in a passionate kiss. They pulled back and Erik returned to his seat on the couch, taking his mask off and setting it aside.

Christine laid on the floor beside her babies and put the toys in front of them. Melody reached her hand out and grabbed the stuffed animal. Gustave came into the room and sat down on the couch. "Mama, why we're you squealing?" Gustave asked timidly.

"Uncle Nadir proposed to Aunt Meg!" Christine said and Gustave smiled.

"They're gonna be like you and Papa! Will they have babies?" Gustave asked and Erik laughed and pulled Gustave into his lap.

"Maybe at some point. But first they're going to get married." Erik explained and Gustave nodded. Christine lifted Melody into her arms and looked over at her husband.

"They need to take a nap. Can you get Harmony?" Christine asked and Gustave climbed off Erik's lap so he could get up and take his daughter to the nursery. Once the babies were settled in the cribs and asleep, they all left the room and went back to the living room.

Erik pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to his wife. Christine opened it and pulled out five tickets. "It's about time we get back to France." Erik said and she smiled. Her arms wrapped around him in an embrace.

"Thank you, my love." She whispered and he shrugged.

"It'll benefit everyone. We can finally get Gustave enrolled in school. You can go back to performing in operas. The girls can finally see their home. And I can get new chorus members." Erik said and Christine smiled and handed the tickets back to him. "We leave in a few days. We should start packing. Meg, Antoinette, and Nadir are coming back with us." Erik informed his wife and she kissed his cheek in response.

He watched as she skipped up the stairs to pack their bags. "Enroll me in school?" Gustave asked pulling Erik away from the thoughts of his wife.

"Yes, my treasure. There's a school in Paris that I think will be wonderful for you. Mama and I will just have to look at it once we get back." Erik said and Gustave nodded.

"What if kids are mean to me?" Gustave asked and Erik motioned for him to sit on the couch.

"Nobody is going to be mean. And if they are, they'll have me to deal with me. Do you want to hear a song?" Erik asked and Gustave nodded. Christine came back downstairs and sat with them on the couch as Erik got up.

He came back a minute later with his guitar. "Can you get the twins, Christine?" Erik asked and the soprano stood up and walked upstairs to get Melody and Harmony. She held one in each arm and walked slowly down the stairs.

"Papa's going to play a song, my angels!" Christine told them as she sat on the floor and had them sit up in her lap. Erik strummed a chord on his guitar as he looked at his family and smiled. He played the opening chords and began singing.

"You, who are on the road
must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye
Teach, your children well,
Their father's hell will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams,
The one they pick, the one you'll know by

Don't you ever ask them why,
If they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

Erik looked over at his wife who had her eyes closed as she held their babies. Melody clapped her hands to the music and Harmony was bouncing up and down.

You, of tender years
Can't know the fears
That your elders grew by
And so please help them with your youth
They seek the truth before they can die

Teach, your parents well
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams,
The one they pick the one you'll know by

Don't you ever ask them why,
If they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you."

He strummed the last chord before Gustave clapped for him. Erik set the guitar down and smiled at his family. "Isn't Papa just so talented?" Christine asked the girls in her lap and they both cooed and Christine took that a yes. "But really, my love, that was beautiful." She said and Erik thanked her.

Erik motioned for Christine to come over to him. He sat beside him with the twins in her lap. Erik wrapped his arm around her and kissed her brown curls. He motioned for his son to come to his other side and he obeyed. Erik wrapped his arms around his son and sighed contently.

"I love you all so much. You've given my life meaning and made me the man I am today. So thank you. I promise to always love all of you, if I'm not making you happy just tell me." Erik said and he felt Christine turn his head toward her.

"We love you too." She said before pressing her lips to his and kissing him as best she could with two babies sitting in her lap. They pulled back and she stroked his deformed cheek lovingly. "You're so beautiful."

Cast:
Erik Destler ~ Ramin Karimloo
Christine Destler ~ Sierra Boggess
Gustave Destler ~ Hadley Karimloo
Meg Giry ~ Daisy Maywood