Healing a Broken Soul

Chapter 11

Erik felt his stomach turn at the phrase.

"I don't mean to bring up..." Raoul said quietly.

"No, that's the first thing I thought of too." 

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Raoul asked his hands shaking.

Erik put his face in his hands, "Oh God."

"I know," Raoul whispered in reply, "The doctor's coming tomorrow. Ah, Erik... Gustave's birth was awful for her... I thought we were going to lose her. I can't... You... We can't lose her too."

Erik held Arietta tighter as Raoul spoke. She then stirred and began to cry, "Let's take a walk, my dear, shall we?" Erik cooed at his daughter, "Raoul, would you like to join us?"

"Yes, I would."

The two men and the little pink bundle strolled all around Phantasma until Arietta stopped crying. Neither of them said a word the rest of the night. They both were terrified for Christine after what had just happened with Meg. 

The next morning Erik brought Arietta over to the de Chagny home to see what the news was. Raoul was sitting with a glass of Whiskey outside his home, "Well?"

"She's with child," Raoul answered, "I haven't slept all night and I can't sleep now. I won't sleep until both the child and Christine are safe. I want another child, but not right now. You know?"

"I never wanted children and now all I want to do is be with Arietta. I don't want to leave her ever."

"Gustave is my world... So is Christine."

Erik patted Raoul on the back, "We're going to get through this."

A month later the dysfunctional family celebrated Thanksgiving. Christine cooked a turkey while Erik and Raoul played with the kids. Then they sat down to dinner together, "This is delicious, Christine," Erik said as he ate while holding Arietta. 

"Thank you," she said quietly in response.

"Very good, my dear wife," Raoul smiled leaning over and giving Christine a peck on the cheek.

"Stop it," she whispered.

"Stop what?" he whispered back.

She then yelled waking up both babies, "Stop acting like everything is okay!"

"Christine, calm down. It's not healthy for you or the baby to get that worked up," Erik said calmly.

"I won't calm down! Raoul, talk to me! You don't talk about it!"

"What the hell do you want from me? I don't know what to make of all of this. I'm scared, Chrissy! I love you."

"You don't think I'm scared?! I watched my best friend hemorrhage after giving birth and die! No damn doctor could have ever fixed that. What if-"

Arietta was screaming and so was Gustave. Erik had a tear running down his cheek. 

"I'm sorry, Erik," Raoul said quietly.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry, Erik..." Christine whispered. 

He held Arietta and shushed her as he tried to calm himself too. Christine sat next to him and put her hand with her long skinny fingers on his shoulder. 

"I'm going to head home. Arietta needs to take a nap."

"Oh, Erik, you don't have to go," Raoul said, "We'll behave I promise."

"It's okay," Erik stood and headed out the door holding onto Arietta. She was still so tiny and he felt like he handled her so clumsily. As he was walking toward his home, he noticed Scarlett standing by the door. 

"Mr. Y., hi," she said as he approached. 

"Scarlett, what can I do you for?"

"Can I talk to you please?"

"Sure, come in. I have to put Arietta down for a nap."

Scarlett took a seat in the sitting room while Erik went upstairs and finally settled Arietta down after Christine's outburst. 

Erik sat down across from Scarlett. "Alright, Mademoiselle, what's wrong? You're acting strange."

"Sir, I have to resign..."

"What?" he asked in shock, "You're the best dancer I have. Why?"

"About three months ago, I was in the performance hall practicing alone. And...and... I can't it's too embarrassing."

"No. What happened?" Erik asked sternly.

"The one cleaner came in and... and... he forced himself on me."

"THAT SON OF A BITCH!" he screeched.

"You fired him anyway for doing a poor job."

"I should have killed the bastard! I'm so sorry, Scarlett."

"There's more..." she murmured.

Tears began to fall from her eyes and he reached for her hand. She squeezed his for comfort and then began to speak, "I'm pregnant."

"By him?" Erik ask very quietly.

"Yes, I had never...before... I don't know what to do," she cried harder, "I didn't ask for this!"

He moved and sat next to her pulling her into his shoulder. She sobbed for more than an hour repeating that she couldn't be a mom. 

"You can do this, Scarlett. I will be here with you."

She turned her head and kissed him, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have...especially since..."

"She would want to take care of you and she would want me to be happy. It's been over three months. I miss her everyday."

"I do too."

"Mr.-"

"No, my name is Erik."

"Erik, I'm scared..."

Having lost his wife, Erik changed. He would never touch anyone or show affection, but Meg had shown him the way. Love was everything. He shakily put his hand on her stomach feeling a tiny bump and leaned down, "Hello there, mon ange," he whispered to her stomach, "This is your Papa. I love you, sweet little one."

Scarlett stopped sobbing, but silent tears fell down her face, "You mean it?"

"Scarlett, I...I... I care for you very much so."

"Erik, I care for you as well." He squeezed her hand.

"This child will never know the truth. No one will ever know the truth."

"Thank you," she whispered. Leaning on him,  she quickly fell asleep. Erik sat still and let her sleep. He assumed the poor young lady hadn't slept in months stressing over the child. So he didn't move all night long. Erik just stared in awe of her. Meg was beautiful and young, but Scarlett was even younger. He figured he was nearly forty years old maybe a little younger and Scarlett had to be just over twenty. Her face was like porcelain and her red hair cascaded to the middle of her back. 

He kissed her forehead and continued looking on at the sleeping beauty in his arms.