Healing a Broken Soul

Chapter 13

When Valentine's Day came, Erik, Scarlett, and Arietta had adjusted to their new life together. Scarlett and Erik had also grown closer. He was still mildly uncomfortable sometimes, but she tried really hard to make him feel comfortable around her. Their marriage had kind of been forced quickly because of the situation, but he grew to love her very much. 

They were sitting on the couch on Valentine's Day exchanging gifts. He handed Scarlett a small box which contained a gorgeous amber necklace.

"Oh, Erik, it's lovely!"

He smiled slightly. Then she placed a box in his hand. He opened it to find a pin that said "Papa". On the back, Arietta's name was engraved and there was a space left open. 

"Once this one arrives, we'll add their name."

"That's so sweet,"Erik said grabbing Scarlett's hand. He paused for a moment, "Speaking of the little one. How is it?"

"Good! I felt them move today."

"Let me feel."

She lifted her dress and put Erik's huge hand on her stomach, "Here, right here," she whispered as Erik felt a ripple across his wife's stomach.

"Oh my! Hi there, my precious." He got off the couch and kneeled. He began kissing her stomach and talking to it, "This is your Papa. I love you, angel."

The couple then headed to bed where as per the usual each kept to their own side. They hadn't even consummated their marriage yet. Erik wanted Scarlett to truly love him and not just be his wife for the sake of raising the children so he decided to finally make a move. He turned over and gently touched her back.

"I'm sorry. Do you need more room?" she asked sweetly moving over. 

"No, I'm alright," he sighed. 

"Oh okay," she whispered, "Goodnight."

He wasn't about give up that easily. As he went to make another attempt to cuddle with her, Arietta began to cry.

"Bad timing, baby girl," he thought to himself as he rolled out of bed and went to his daughter. The poor thing had begun teething and had been fussy all week. He went to the nursery and lifted her out of the crib, "Hi, my angel," he brought her close to his chest and gently bounced her. 

Her cries faded and she began babbling. Then for the first time she looked up at Erik and cooed, "Pa-Pa." Tears immediately filled his eyes. He felt like an idiot for feeling such strong emotions, but he loved his daughter more than anything. 

"Arietta! You called me Pa-Pa! Good job, sweetie!"

"Pa-Pa!" she said excitedly.

"Very good, baby girl! Now to sleep."

He sang to her until she fell back asleep and then set her in her crib. Then Erik returned to bed. Laying down, Scarlett whispered, "Is she alright?" 

"Yes and she called me, 'Papa'." Erik shared with excitement.

"That's wonderful," Scarlett said.

He put his arm around her.

"What are you doing?" she asked quietly. 

"I'm showing affection for my wife," he replied.

"Erik, you never show ME affection. You show the baby affection, you show your daughter affection, hell, you show Gustave, Christine, and Raoul affection..." tears filled her eyes as she spoke, "I'm a burden to you. Admit it!"

"Shhh..." he quieted her taking her into his arms, "Scarlett, I don't try to be overly affectionate with you. I didn't want to frighten you."

"Erik, I married you! I love you."

Erik was stunned. She had never said that before, "I love you too! I thought I was just here to father the child. I didn't think you truly loved me."

"The fact that you want to be the father to this child that came from such a horrific night makes me love you..."

He looked deep into Scarlett's eyes and flipped himself over so he was on his knees. He kissed her face and neck down to her chest where he began unbuttoning her nightgown. She began running her fingers through his hair as the sensations became more intense, but then by complete accident, she removed the wig from his head taking the mask with it. She screamed in horror. Erik immediately stopped and got off the bed.

"Erik, no. I just... I didn't mean..."

He left the room mask-less and went to his daughter's room because he heard her cries as he left his room. When he went into her room, he immediately regretted it as she began to scream harder at the sight of him, "No, Arietta. It's Papa! It's Papa!" he said shaking and crying, "Arietta, please. Arietta, shhh..."

Scarlett stepped into the room and Erik snapped at her "Get away. You don't want to see this ugly creature!"

"Erik..."

"Leave me be," he said sharply.

He had soothed Arietta and was bouncing her gently. "Papa," she reached up to his face and rubbed his scarred cheek. He lifted her so she could fully see it once and for all. To his surprise, the little girl kissed it. 

"I love you, Arietta... I love you so much, baby girl."

He left the house and walked to Christine's home. He needed to talk to her or Raoul. When Raoul answered the door, he realized he still wasn't wearing his mask. "I'm sorry," he attempted to cover his face while still holding Arietta who was now sleeping. 

"No need to be sorry. What's got you so upset? Come in, please." Erik realized Raoul was holding Gustave too.

Erik went in and sat on the couch.

"Alrighty, what's going on?"

Erik began to uncontrollably sob to Raoul's surprise. "Scarlett saw me without my mask and screamed. She was terrified of me..."

Raoul's face fell finally realizing why Erik was the way he was. He had been so broken by everyone in his life from the ring masters to his parents to the women that he had loved. "I'm sorry," was all Raoul could say as a lump formed in his throat.

Just as Raoul was trying to think of what to say, there was a quiet knock at the door. He went to answer it, "Is he here?" Scarlett whispered.

Raoul nodded and showed her to the living room. She saw Erik crying and touched his shoulder, "Erik, let's go home," she waited a moment for him to respond. She turned his face toward her looking right at his deformity, "I said let's go home."

He stood quietly and followed her to their home without saying a word. Once they arrived home, he put Arietta to bed and they returned to their bedroom, "Do we need to talk about what happened or should we continue where we left off?"

A slight grin swept across Erik's bare face, "I'm sorry I didn't share the secret behind my mask when we married."

"That's okay. It was your secret to share or not."

"No. You're my wife. Ask any questions of me now. I'll answer anything. Then we can continue..."

"How?"

"I was born this way and my parents disowned me and I was in freak shows and then I became the opera ghost."

She kissed him and then they continued what they had begun earlier at last connecting as man and wife.