Twisted Every Way(Phantom Of The Opera Fic)

Chapter 60: Growing Up

Erik watched Eli and Peter from the window with a smile. They tackled each other in the sands and for a moment, Eli looked as if he had forgotten his face all together. 

"Gustave and I used to play like that." He noted to Christine.

He turned and saw her nod with a weary smile, and then returned his attention to holding Wade and rocking him gently.

"We'll have some good times on those shores," he smiled at Wade, "You and me."

"And me," Ilios huffed, "If I ever finish peeling potatoes."

"The more you complain the longer it takes," Christine noted.

"Phooey." Ilios snarked sticking her tongue out when her mother had turned away.

"Potatoes," Ilios repeated sneeringly, making a contorted face that caused her younger sister to burst into laughter.

Ilios frowned, "It's not funny Winnie!"

The baby continued gurgling and laughing until Ilios lost all patience and threw a potato peel at her. To Ilios surprise the baby simply took it and threw it right back.

Ilios smiled meekly, fiesty wasn't she?

"Listen Winn," she started, "You don't have to be naughty like me. You can keep the rules, you don't have to make your own. I try to be good, but its just so hard."

"GgGgg." Winnie laughed with a drooly grin.

"Gross." Ilios cringed. She never liked babies.

Sure they were cute, but not hygienic enough for her taste.

"Someday," Ilios stated, "When I'm older. I'll leave this whole place behind. I'll go and get married, you can come if you want, and the whole world will be ours."

Winnie laughed and smiled and blinked, showing no signs of comprehension.

"And don't you let Eli convince you I'm nonsense. Cause everyone else here believes him."

Erik turned his attention to his daughter and frowned, "I pay you plenty of heed."

"Yes," Ilios said quickly, realizing her blunder, "But no one here thinks me exceptionally good at anything except trouble."

"In my younger years, I was a professional in trouble!" Erik insisted passionately, "And one can certainly make quite a living off of it! 10,000 francs a month when done properly."

"Erik!" Christine scolded entering the room from the kitchen, "For God's sake don't tell her that."

"Go on!" Ilios urged excitedly.

"Watch carefully," Erik smirked, "I'm going to tell you a story. And while I do, I want you to pay extra close attention."

Ilios was so enthralled in her fathers story of monsters and mayhem she barley noticed as he undid the clasp around her neck snatching her necklace away.

Barley.

"Erik," Christine scolded, "Give her back her necklace."

Erik smiled, only his Christine could notice his tricks with such presision, such miraculous attention to detail.

"What necklace?" Erik teased as Ilios felt the empty space on her chest.

"Erik you know at her age she copies anything and everything."

"Please Christine she knows better."

Christine scoffed, "like how last summer she knew better than to tie up Eli and play cowboys by tossing him the river."

"Well..." Erik stuttered.

Christing pointed with her frying pan in the direction of the door. "Or when she thought wall murals were for anytime anyplace."

"Hey I didn't teach her that. Besides, it was brilliant."

Ilios beamed cheekily.

Christine countinued on and on, about how Ilios had cut her clothes into rags, scraped more knees for more stupid reasons than any child before her, and above all, had made many an ill advised desion.

"You really think she wont use whatever you teach her to her full advantage?!"

Erik looked down at his daughter, her little helpess eyes and darling smile softening his heart.

"Darling what could she do? But to please you, I will cease this lesson for today."

"Give her back her necklace, it was my Mothers," Christine sighed with a unapporving look towards her husband.

Erik reached into his pocket to retrieve the necklace, to his horror finding it misplaced.

He felt frantically in his other pocket, patted himself down and then turned to face Ilios small hand dangling the necklace in front of his eyes.

"Are you looking for this Father?" Ilios asked innocently.

Erik gawked and turned red as Christine pointed her pan at his head for a moment and silently mouthed the words "I told you so."

"Ilios," Erik stammered, "When did you take that?"

"While you were talking." Ilios grinned.

"Its such a waste, such a shame." Erik groaned pitifully with a laugh to Wade.

The baby laughed and reach for his finger.

"Whats a shame Father?"

"If me and your Mother weren't so set on you growing up properly, you would have been awful good at being bad."

Ilios frowned, "I do try to be good Father, I mean to be. But it never seems to go as I please."

Erik gave a sigh and gently put a hand on Winnies deformed neck. "Tell me about it."

"Gustave never gets into trouble." Ilios noted in a whiny tone.

Erik let out a heart felt scoff. "Gustave gets himself into more trouble than you can imagine. We just dont talk to you about it. It isn't your business."

"Father," Ilios said thoughtfully, "Suppose, when I got into trouble, you just didnt mention it to me either. It would make getting along frightfully easy."

Erik gave a laugh and shook his head, "But it wouldn't make little girls keep their rooms tidy now would it?"

"No," Ilios mumbled begrudgingly, "I suppose not."

Erik gave her a small spank and sent her off into the kitchen, "Go on! Enough jammering. Help your Mother."

"Just you wait," Ilios thought to herself. "I'll show them. I'll show them all."

But for now it was back to potatoe peelings, and little Wade knawing endlessly on her finger.

"Be a good girl Winnie." she thought to herself, "Good Girls get to have all the fun."

Of course every good girl wishes to be bad, every bad girl good. Every blonde; brunette and every brunette; blonde. But in the end, we all settle for who we are.

Ilios however, was now determined, she knew what she wanted out of life and she was going to get it.

No matter the cost.