The Phantom's Carol (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 27 - Children

Carol's POV:

I guided the girl who was still holding onto her brother like her life depended on it down into the fifth cellar. It was a long walk and she was exhausted. I arrived at the boat and carefully rowed her across. I stepped up onto the land and called,

“Erik, we have company.” I didn't want him to come out without his mask and scare the girl to death. She was frightened enough as it was. Erik stepped out (masked) and stared at the straggly girl before him. He walked toward her and she hid herself behind my skirts, still clutching the baby in her arms. She hadn't let him go the whole time I had been taking her home. Erik dropped down onto one knee and said gently,

“What's your name?” I had completely forgotten to ask her name. I looked back at her and she was shaking,

“Rochelle. And my brother is Noel.” Erik was being especially gentle with her. I was surprised how calm he was.

“Well, it is a delight to meet you, Rochelle. My name is Erik Destler.” He extended his hand and she took in gently. There was such a difference but the girl didn't flinch. She smiled and whispered,

“Same here, Monsieur Destler. Madam told me I would be taken care of here.” Erik gave me a strange look and then I realized what she had said. She assumed Erik and I were married. I blushed and said,

“This is my fiancee.” She looked at me then realized her mistake.

“Forgive me, Mademoiselle...”

“Teubner.”

“Mademoiselle Teubner.” She spoke clearly and fluently. The girl wasn't as frightened.

“Bring them inside.” Erik led the way to the fireplace and said,

“I need to look at Noel.” Rochelle pulled him away and wrapped her arms tighter around him. She wasn't letting him go. I smiled and sat down beside her.

“Erik is nice. He just needs to make sure Noel is alright.” She looked at him distrustfully and carefully handed her brother to him. Erik looked positively cute with a baby in his arms. I blushed and thought about what might happen when we had our own. We were going to be married soon anyway. Noel started to cry and Erik hummed to him. I wondered where he had learned to deal with children but right now wasn't the time to talk about that. Rochelle watched him like a hawk. Erik stood up and she followed. He laid the boy on the table and started to examine him. Rochelle wasn't happy but she let Erik do what he had to. When he was done, he smiled at both of us.

“Rochelle, your brother isn't sick as I first feared. You both just need a lot of good food. Carol, draw a bath for Rochelle and I will find a place for her and Noel to sleep. Rochelle, take your brother and go with Carol.” Rochelle nodded and followed me. I didn't know where Erik was going but I hoped he was readying his coffin for the girl to sleep in. If he was then I was going to have words to say to him about it. I drew a hot bath for Rochelle and helped her in. I left her with some soup and told her to wash up. I carefully bathed Noel and then told Rochelle I would keep him with me until she was done. She seemed to trust me enough to let me take her brother with her. He wasn't more that a few months old and so thin. I carried him into Erik and I's room and saw what he was doing. His old coffin was laying on the floor but now it was filled full with pillows so as to make it more like a bed. He turned to look at me and I glared.

“Erik, I didn't want the sleeping in the coffin.” Erik turned toward me and said,

“Love, they need a place to sleep. This was the easiest thing. It won't do them any harm for a while. May I hold him?” He reached out for Noel. I handed him over and asked,

“Erik, how did you learn to handle children?” Erik sighed.

“When I was at the palace in Persia I would sometimes spy on the nurses with their wards. I couldn't help but imagine what it was like to hold a child in my arms. I like him.” He rocked him gently. I smiled.

“Erik, you would make a great father. What do you say we keep them?” I looked at him and I knew that boy had him wrapped around his finger. I was sure of an answer I liked. Erik looked at me and said,

“Okay, we will try to raise them. I am now a father.”