Michaela's news had shaken Katherine, sending terror deep into her heart. Her hands trembling, she hurried along the hallway to the music room. At least that's where she expected and hoped to find Erik. If he'd gone anywhere else...She shook her head. Where else would he go?

The instant she pulled the thick doors open, a blast of angry organ music filled her ears. No doubt everyone in the house would hear it. Pulling the doors closed behind herself, Katherine hurried for the organ where her husband was hunched over the keys. There were several smashed vases on the floor that she had to step over.

She had only gone a few steps when the clash of notes being played were overwhelming. Katherine put her hands over her ears. “Erik!” she shouted, hoping she would be heard. “Please, stop!”

A moment later, just when she thought he hadn't heard her, it became quiet. Breathing a ragged sigh of relief, Katherine lowered her hands. Erik hadn't moved from the organ. From where she was, Katherine could see her husband breathing heavily, his shoulders tenser than she'd ever seen them. “Why will no one leave me in peace?”

“I don't know,” Katherine answered, pleased when she was able to speak without her voice trembling. “I thought Arden would take your warning seriously.”

“He will learn he should have,” Erik said, his tone dark and ugly.

Biting her lip, Katherine hurried to him. Erik flinched when she put her hand on his shoulder. “Please,” the woman begged. “Erik.”

Turning, the man seemed to see his wife's fear because he rose and pulled her into his arms. “I swear to you, no harm will come to you or our child,” he said, holding her tightly. “I will not allow this man to destroy us.”

“If you kill him, it will destroy me,” Katherine mumbled against his chest. “Promise me you won't.”

“Then, what would you have us do?”

Shaking her head, Katherine blinked tears away. “I don't know,” she admitted. “Running will do no good. I'm afraid this man will haunt us 'til we're dead.” She felt her husband give a start and she lifted her head. “What's wrong?”

“I once heard those words spoken about me,” Erik informed her. “I will do whatever it takes to protect you, Katherine. We've done this your way so far-.” He hesitated. “Perhaps its time to do things my way.”

“Oh, no,” Katherine said, tightening her grip on him. “Erik, you're not that person anymore. There has to be a better way-.” She broke off feeling a strange sensation. “Oh.”

Alarmed, Erik took a step back to see her better. “What is it? What's wrong?”

“I-I think the baby moved,” Katherine answered, moving her hand to her stomach. Despite everything, a smile came to her face. “Oh, Erik.”

She took his right hand and placed it on her stomach. When the sensation happen again, Erik gave a start, and wonder filled his face. Of his own volition, he brought his left hand came up as well. He knelt down and rested his head against Katherine's stomach. The woman moved her hand to rest on her husband’s head.

“Swear to me you won't leave me alone to raise our child,” Katherine begged softly. “Let us find another way.”

After a moment, Erik straightened up. “I swear that if there is another way, I will do as you ask.”

Smiling tremulously, Katherine raised herself up on her toes and kissed him. “I do love you,” she said when she pulled back. “Please. Will you sing for me? Make me forget anything else outside of this room.”

Guiding his wife to the one armchair that stayed in the room, just for that purpose, Erik sat her down and crouched beside her. He began to sing, very softly, one hand on her cheek, and the other resting over their growing baby:

Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Helpless to resist the notes I write
For I compose the music of the night

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night

~*~

It was a large group that gathered on the docks to meet one specific passenger. Henri Hemway, his eyes bright with the adventure of traveling, had a pleased smile on his face as he disembarked. When his eyes landed on his only daughter, he hurried forward, opening his arms as he did so. “Katherine,” he called out.

“Papa!” Katherine responded with a tearful laugh. She left Erik's side and rushed forward. She threw herself into her father's embrace. “How I've missed you so!”

“My precious girl,” Henri said, tears in his own eyes. He held his daughter back after a moment. “And what's this?”

“When Michaela and Jane told me that none of my letters had been getting through, I didn't think there was a point to writing,” Katherine explained, brushing at the tears on her face. “You're going to be a grandfather very soon!”

“I believe I already am,” Henri commented, putting his arm around his daughter's shoulder as they walked to the rest of the group. “Can that be little Pip there? My, what a mischievous young man he looks to be!”

“Mischievous is by far the kindest term for the boy,” Erik remarked, removing his hat. He held out his hand. “Mr. Hemway."

Henri gave a start. “I believe I told you to call me Henri, Erik,” he said as he shook his son-in-law's hand. He nodded at the rest. “Hello, D'Arcy, Mrs. D'Arcy, Miss Michaela, Miss Jane...And who is this?”

Dressed in the cleanest clothes he'd ever seen, Crutchie had reluctantly made the final member of the welcoming party. “This is Crutchie,” Katherine introduced. “He's become part of our family this winter. Crutchie, this is my father Henri Hemway.”

Leaning against his crutch, the boy held out his hand. “My family expands in leaps and bounds,” Henri declared, shaking Crutchie's hand. “I look forward to seeing what mischief I can get into with these grandsons of mine.”

Pip laughed, while Crutchie looked vaguely confused. “I'll see to your luggage, while you get out of this wind,” Erik said. He squeezed his wife's hand before he hurried off.

“You'll have dinner with us tomorrow night, of course,” D'Arcy said to his friend. “I look forward to speaking to you.”

As the D'Arcy family hurried to their own carriage, Katherine lead her father to their own waiting conveyance. “I have the feeling you have a great deal to tell me, Katherine,” Henri commented as he helped his daughter in first. “Well, we're going to be a bit cramped for space in here, aren't-.”

He paused, a frown crossing his face. “What is it, sir?” Pip asked, twisting around to see what had caught the man's attention.

“Ahmir Khan is here?”

Leaning out, Katherine spotted the tall Persian who was leaning against a wall. “I'm going to go say hello,” Pip decided and darted off before Katherine could grab his collar.

“You know the man?” Katherine asked.

“I employed him not too long ago,” Henri responded. “He's a good man. I'd trust him with my life.”

Katherine grimaced. “You better get in, Papa,” she said. “There's much I need to tell you.”

~*~

Khan couldn't find any surprise when he spotted his street waif friend, Pip, standing among the group on the dock. Even staying back, Khan recognized his employer before the comte and Arden had hired him, Henri Hemway.

“Hello,” Pip said, running over when the group broke away to their carriages.

“You've been keeping secrets from me, my young friend.”

Unabashed, Pip shrugged. “I do what I have to do to protect my family,” he said simply. Chuckling, Khan shook his head. “You're working for a bad man.”

Looking down at the boy, Khan sighed. “Your friend Katherine is married to a bad man.”

“If he was bad before, he's not now,” Pip insisted. “He doesn't make Katherine cry. The man you're working for does. Just the mention of his name made Katherine terrified. Crutchie saw it happen, and hardy anything make Katherine scared. Why would you work for a man such as that?”

“If I said I didn't know what he was when I took the job, would that excuse me?”

“Well, if that's the case, quit!"

Again, Khan shook his head. “I'm afraid you're too young to know the ways of the world, young friend. I have been hired for a job, and I must do it. I gave my word.”

“What job?”

The boy was relentless. “To find the Phantom of the opera here in New York City and report his whereabouts to my employers.”

Pip grinned. “Well, have you found him?” Khan frowned down at the boy. “I haven't seen any phantom at the opera house. He was a monster who hid in the shadows. But my Katherine isn't married to a man in the shadows.”

Had the boy found a loophole? “I hadn't considered that,” Khan said slowly. He could honestly say he had not found a man who even remotely met the description of the murderer that had terrified the Paris opera house. Erik Ombra had shown himself a man who regretted his past, who was living a life of hope with a loving wife.

“I've got to go,” Pip said. “I still want to beat you at chess.”

Khan watched the boy run back to his family. Pushing away from the wall, Khan began to walk the streets of New York. He had a great deal to think over, and a very short time to make a decision.