Erik felt helpless yet again. He sat with Raoul in the living room as Scarlett screamed in agony. Christine was with her and there was a doctor there.
Raoul went to the liquor cart and poured Erik a shot of Whiskey. "Here, take the edge off."
Erik downed it and sat quietly. Gustave, Clara, and Arietta were all asleep in Arietta's nursery. It was the middle of the night.
Erik and Raoul heard a painful scream and then tiny cries filled the room. Raoul and Erik stood. Their friendship had flourished so much and Raoul stood with his arm on Erik's shoulders waiting for news.
Finally, Christine emerged holding a tiny bundle, "How's my wife?" Erik asked nervously.
"She's wonderful. She did a beautiful job. Now the doctor is just making sure all is well with Mama."
Raoul felt Erik release the breath he'd been holding since Scarlett began laboring hours ago.
"Sweet girl," Christine said looking at the baby, "Meet your Papa."
She put the baby in his arms and he was instantly in love. She had flaming ginger hair like her mother and she was beautiful. The thought would never cross his mind again that she wasn't biologically his. She was his forever now. His daughter, Aria Marie.
It seemed looking into her eyes his life was flashing before him. He remembered everything and everyone that brought him to this moment. All those that had hurt him had made him into the man and father he was today. He had to thank them for it. Without the abuse, he wouldn't have figured out the right way to love and he had certainly done that in recent years.
Finally, the doctor emerged breaking him away from his thoughts, "Mr. Y, your wife did beautifully. You can go see her now."
Erik went into the room holding their daughter, "Aria Marie, my beautiful girl come here." Erik handed Scarlett their daughter and kisses Scarlett's sweaty forehead.
"Thank you for this precious gift. She's absolutely perfect."
Christine knocked on the door and carried in Arietta, "Your big girl would like to meet her little sister."
"'Etta, come here, darling," Erik said taking her from Christine.
Then the the four of them sat together on the bed. This was what it felt like to be loved.
YOU ARE READING
Healing a Broken Soul
FanficWhat happened to the Phantom after the lair? Where did he go? What did he do? Well, he finds his way to NYC with Meg and Madame Giry only to continually face sadness and rejection that is until he opens his heart to the one who has always been there...
