Must Be Fate's Design

Chapter 13 [part 1]

Erik POV:

"Five little speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log, eating some most delicious bugs, yum, yum!"

I let out a long, frustrated sigh, "If you sing that one more time-'

"One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool, now there are four speckled frogs!" Opera took Andrew's hands in hers and cheered, "Yay!"

"Why are you cheering for him? He's only clapping his damn hands!"

She narrowed her eyes, "Grumpy, grumpy," she muttered, picking Andrew up and bringing him to her lap on the couch. I thought she was quite done, but I was wrong again as she started to whisper to him, "Four little speckled frogs-"

"Opera, please, for my sanity!"
"Oh, don't be such an old fart."

"Don't you have to get to rehearsal?" I pressed. Anything to stop that damn song. She played it for him once during his breakfast and since she adored the reaction he had she's been singing it to him nonstop. I think it was more annoying than listening to Carlotta rehearse for Hannibal.

She picked him up and blew against his stomach, making him laugh some more. Then she brought him back to her lap where he was still laughing, "Ugh," she whined, "Can't I just stay here?" she pouted, "Odds are they're not going to need me. They focus all their attention on Caroline-" she froze, wincing as she looked at me, "Sorry....I didn't mean to bring her up again."

I sighed, "It's fine."

It wasn't. It was easy for me to push her from my thoughts, but the sadness of never finding love was what hurt me the most. Especially now that I was out of my own time, there would be no way in hell to find someone here. I don't understand my purpose anymore.

"Erik?" She asked.

I looked up at her, "Yes?"

"Do you want to just...stay here?" she asked, "You know, instead of going there. That way you don't have to see her?" she shrugged, "You know, just promise not to burn the place down."

I shook my head, "No."

She gave me a long look before sighing, "Well, I guess I should get up," She said as she brought her arms in the air and stretched as far as she could. I watched as her shirt had rose up a bit with that small motion, allowing me to see her stomach. I found this moment move slowly as I examined first her navel, since there was a small diamond music note pierced into her skin. Then my eyes drifted to a scar that traveled across the lower half of her stomach.

Unfortunately for me, she had stopped stretching and crouched down to pick up Andrew, making her stomach no longer in view for me. I quickly cleared my throat and turned my attention to anything that wasn't her. I mentally cursed at myself for taking advantage of her weak moment to admire her body. It wasn't like I was attracted to her or anything, which made me wonder why I found myself angry to see that scar there. I wondered who would cut her in such a strange spot, who would have attempted to hurt such a kindhearted person like her?

It must have been that man, Danny, that she often regrets to speak of.

"They're having a seven show, can't miss that," she cooed at her son, "Can I?" She eyed me, "Oh, God, I need to get out of the house...I'm talking in baby talk again."

I couldn't help but laugh at her. I found myself doing that most days, Opera was a humorous woman, at least I found her to be.

"I'm going to go bring him over to Margaret's." She announced, grabbing Andrew's fairly large bag and lugging it over her shoulder. I can't imagine a small child like him needing so many things but I shook it off as I made my way into the kitchen while she left the apartment with him, "Say goodbye to Erik!" she said to him, once again, in her 'baby voice' as she likes to call it, before leaving the apartment all together.