Three years later, Apollo and Aphrodite were twelve. A lot had changed in their lives. Gustave, Bella, Demetrius, and Athena had moved out of the catacombs and into an apartment nearby. Pierre, Catherine, and Victoria went on a vacation to New York a year ago and decided to move there. Before they knew it, Erik, Christine, Apollo, and Aphrodite were left alone to live underneath the opera house.
The rooms used to be filled with many people. Now, the walls seemed to cry for the companionship of those who once filled them. The catacombs became a very lonely place for the family. It was no longer the warm, loving home it used to be.
Yes, the family still loved each other very much. There wasn't a problem in that area. The family just wasn't used to living in a large home with only the four of them.
One night, at about one in the morning, Apollo woke up Aphrodite. Aphrodite asked her brother what he wanted in a tone that conveyed annoyance. She was having trouble falling asleep and had just successfully done so when her twin brother woke her up, so her attitude was justified.

"Let's have a little excursion," Apollo suggested.

Aphrodite agreed. Both twins got dressed and left under the cloak of night. Aphrodite asked where they were going. Apollo replied that he had a place in mind. When Aphrodite pressed for further information, Apollo just said that he wanted it to be a surprise. He led her to a river.

"Apollo, is this-"

"The Seine River," Apollo finished. "Yes, it is."

"It's beautiful," Aphrodite said. Her expression changed to one of sadness. "I wish Cath could be here. Demetrius would love it too."

"It's not the same without everyone else living with us. I want everyone to come back," Apollo remarked.

"Me too. I missed them all so much," Aphrodite broke into quiet sobs. "It's just...not...the same...I miss Cath..."

Apollo pulled his sister into his warm embrace. Tears stung his eyes as he said, "I miss them too."

Aphrodite tried to change the subject. "How old are they all now?"

Both pondered this question for a few minutes before figuring out that Gustave and Bella were thirty-four, Demetrius was twelve, Athena was seven, Pierre was twenty-two, Catherine was twenty, and Victoria was three.

"Wow. They all seem so old, and yet so young at the same time," Aphrodite remarked.

"They just seem different," Apollo decided. "It's not like we never get to see Gustave, Bella, Demetrius, and Athena."

"They come over almost every day. Sometimes I wonder why they left. Do you remember when Mia found out that Demetrius was moving to the apartment?"

"She cried. Oh boy, did she ever cry."

"I felt so bad for her. She and Demetrius were so close," Aphrodite paused. "Do you think that any of our family would move back?"

"I hope so."

"But do you think any of them would move back?"

"I think it's a possibility," Apollo decided. He thought for a minute before remarking that it had been a little over a year since they had seen Pierre, Catherine, and Victoria.

"Wow," was all Aphrodite could say. What else was there to say? She missed her sister. True, she loved Apollo and they had a very special bond, but sometimes a girl needs to talk to her sister. It was difficult for Aphrodite since Catherine was eight years older that her. There was a communication barrier for a long time, and they had finally broken through it when Catherine decided to move to New York. It was heartbreaking, not just for Aphrodite, but for the entire family. After a while, Aphrodite asked, "Am I the only one who's worried about Father?"

"I am worried about him too. He hasn't been himself lately," Apollo remarked.

"We have to get everyone to come back. We have to. We can't let Father continue on acting like this. I want the old Father back. The one that was happy and full of life."

"We'll get him back. I know we will."