Wanted

Chapter 66

[March 26, 1893]

Erik swung his legs over the side of the bed and tried to push himself up to a standing position. He knew it was in vain as he had been trying for the last week, with no luck. "Christine." He said, to get his wife's attention as she was in the bathroom pinning her hair back. She turned and smiled at him before walking into the bedroom and holding out her hands to help him up.

Once he was standing, he thanked her and grabbed his cane to walk to the kitchen. Erik had been doing pretty well since the shooting. He had been confined to a wheelchair for three weeks, which Christine would argue was more of a punishment to her than him because she had to deal with his attitude.

This past week he had transferred to a walking cane and was doing pretty well with walking. He only had trouble standing up and sitting down because of the surgery they had done on his bladder. He wasn't supposed to be doing any strenuous activities, including lifting weights, so he hadn't been able to pick up his children.

Today was his first day back at work, much to Christine's disapproval. She was worried about him, she feared he would begin to overwork himself like he had been known to do. "Are you sure you're ready to go back to work?" She asked again, as he lowered himself slowly into a kitchen chair.

"Yes, Christine. I have to go back at some point." He said as she leaned down to kiss him tenderly. She put a hand on the cheek that wasn't covered by his mask and patted it gently.

"But why must it be today. You're still struggling to sit and stand." She pointed out as she began making breakfast for her family. Erik pushed himself up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. She leaned into his embrace as he kissed her hair.

"I'm fine, I promise." He said and Christine sighed as Gustave came into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Both adults bid him good morning as he sat down across from Erik. "You have a therapy appointment today, Gustave. Your mother's going to take you while I work." Gustave nodded as Christine set croissants and jam in the center of the dining table.

Since the shooting, Gustave had been going to therapy to deal with some of the PTSD from the kidnapping and the blame he was putting on himself after his father was shot.

"You can't get me!" A little voice called from somewhere in the house, followed by ting footsteps. A few seconds later Melody came running into the open plan dining and kitchen area, her head turned to see if her sister was far behind. She ran right into her father's legs. Melody gasped and looked up at him. "Sorry, Papa!" She said and he laughed and kissed her head just as Harmony came running in.

After breakfast, Erik kissed his family goodbye when Nadir arrived to help him upstairs. Christine kissed him lightly, a look in her eyes, instructing him to take it easy. He nodded before turning to embrace his son.
---

Christine sat in the waiting room of Gustave's therapy appointment. Never had she thought she would sit here for her son who was barely six. Sometimes she wondered if she could've protected her children from these things had her story gone differently. But she knew what she was getting into when she married the former Opera Ghost. And yet, there were many surprises over the years, and she found now, she wouldn't change anything.

Except maybe the way she had treated Raoul. He had done awful things, but so had her Erik. She couldn't hold blame over Raoul's head if she wouldn't do the same for her husband. Raoul had tried to kill her husband, but Erik had done the same thing less than a decade ago. But it was different now. Erik had changed, apolizing for all of the wrong he ever did, and then he never once did anything ever again, yet Raoul continued to strike her family. Her love for Erik was so strong, stronger than anything she had ever felt for Raoul. Maybe she needed therapy as well, or maybe she just needed some closure; some peace of mind that she had made the correct choice when she married Erik.

That peace of mind walked through the door to the back office a few minutes later. Gustave came running over to her, a smile already on his face, a smile so similar to his father's. "Papa said I could help him at work today when we get home, so we must leave now!" Her boy said and she thanked his therapist, before hugging her son and walking out to their carriage.

They arrived back at the opera house and Gustave wasted no time in jumping out to run inside. When Christine came inside, her husband was leaning heavily on his cane in the auditorium. The chorus was on stage around the piano and he listened from the isle. She wrapped an arm around her waist, and he smiled down at her, leaning down to connect their lips in a chaste kiss.

"You should sit, my love." She said and he nodded and she helped him lower himself into the chair. Christine sat beside him, holding his hand in hers. She looked up at the stage and smiled when she realized Gustave was seated at the piano, leading warm ups. "I was wondering why you were not up there."

"I let my mini me take over." Erik said, the proudest smiled adorning his lips. Christine let her head fall onto his shoulder as they watched their son play. Melody and Harmony were on stage as well, dancing around. When Gustave finished the song, everyone clapped and Nadir appeared from the side of the stage.

"Gustave, that was wonderful." Nadir said as he laid a hand on the boy's shoulder, then looked out into the audience and locked eyes with his parents. "Erik, there's a call for you in your office." He informed from the stage, a look in his eyes that told Erik he should probably go take the call.

Christine helped him out of his seat and handed him his cane, before making their way to his office. Christine sat on the couch and watched her husband as he leaned against his cane and answered the phone.

"You've reached the Opera Populaire. This is Erik Destler speaking. How may I help you?" He asked, looking up at her with an annoyed look. She knew how much he hated speaking to people on the phone. Yet, he did it everyday. She was amazed by how much he had changed since they were first married. He had no confidence, the smallest thing would happen and he feared she would leave him. He would stray away from her touch. Over the years, his confidence grew, and he grew out of his habit of speaking in third person.

Christine sat on the couch and her mind wandered to thoughts she had tried to push away. She knew how the shooting had affected Erik and Gustave, but it had also affected her. She tried not to make it known, but watching the man who had always been independent, having to lean on a case and ask for assistance in simple tasks, was simply heartbreaking.

"Thank you, Officer. Have a great day." Erik hung up the call and looked up to see his beautiful wife looking down at the floor. Her brown tresses falling around her face. He walked over to her and pulled her up, only struggling a bit. Erik pulled her in close, his arms wrapping around her waist, as her hands gripped his arms. "They got him." He whispered into her ear and she pulled her head away to gaze into his eyes. He nodded to confirm her unasked question. "They got him, my dear. He confessed to everything, he's going to prison and Gustave and I will not have to testify."

Christine let out a huge sigh and fell against his chest. A weight was lifted off of her shoulders knowing that Raoul couldn't hurt her family anymore. But a new burden was placed on her heart. She wanted to know why he had become like this. He had always been gentle and kind. Jealousy wasn't becoming of him. She wanted to talk to him, but as she relaxed in her husband's arms, she knew that he would never let her.