Twisted Every Way(Phantom Of The Opera Fic)

Chapter 48: Memories

Ilios watched with intrigue from the doorway as her father slid the razor across his face.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

She shifted her position ever so slightly and played with her hair, "Where did your beard go?"

Erik gave a small smile, "I shaved it off, see? It's smooth now, no more scratchy kisses."

Ilios pouted with a frown, "You can't put it back?"

Erik looked at her with a scoff, "Do you want me to?"

Ilios grinned and nodded furiously. It made Erik happy to see her so joyous. After her scare on the roof, she had fallen almost as silent as Eli, running around like his shadow doing everything he could wish for.

She made his bed, cleared his pate, cleaned his piano. Eli could barely be annoyed with her before she was off doing another of his chores, trying desperately to make it up to him.

"Father?" She asked again.

Erik gave a sigh, dabbing his face with the towel and giving a good look in the mirror. "Yes dear."

"Could I have another-"

Erik stopped and turned his attention to his daughter. Her eyes had cast downward and she was drawing little circles with her shoes, avoiding the question.

"Yes?"

"Never mind."

"What is it Ilios?"

"I'd have to ask Mother too. Never mind."

Erik was left with that small beginning of a question running around his head for the rest of the day. What had she meant to ask?

He had been lying awake with it racking his brain most of the night when Christine got up and paced awkwardly around the floorboard.

"Are you alright?" he asked with concern.

Christine gave a jump backward, "God Erik you scared me I thought you were still asleep."

He gave a small shrug, "I don't sleep."

He put on his slippers and sat at the edge of the bed, watching as her faint figure stood displaced in the middle of the floor.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" He yawned.

"Yes-" Christine started, "No I don't-But I do."

Erik gave a few words of encouragement until Christine finally spoke her mind.

She brought up how old she felt, her son so far away and her past so far behind her.

"Older yes." Erik nodded, "But wiser, and oh so much more beautiful."

Christine closed her eyes, fearing his reaction, "We are older Erik."

"Yes." he laughed.

"And with the Eli and Ilios grew up, they're slipping away so fast-I- I know we agreed but..."

"Christine speak your mind," He encouraged.

"Oh, Erik I don't know how to say it."

"Then feel it, deep enough for me to sense, and words will follow."

"Another child-"

"Christine," Erik smiled, rising and taking her hand, "If that's what you want. I'm willing."

Christine shook her head, clearly distressed. "I didn't want- Erik its such a mess."

"If you don't then we won't."