Charlotte sighed and glanced over at Angelina's bassinet, finding her fast asleep. She had been up in the bedroom for three days, and frankly, she was getting tired of it. Yes, she understood that Erik wanted her to rest, but putting her on bed rest for three whole days felt a little excessive.

After letting out another sigh, she stood up and peaked out the door. At finding Erik nowhere in sight, she stepped out into the hall and grinned.

Freedom at last.

She walked down the hall and down the stairs into the kitchen, where she saw Nadir at the table. "Sneaking out, I see?" he said, hardly lifting his eyes from his newspaper.

"Three days, Papa. I haven't left that room in three days," Charlotte sighed. "I'm going crazy."

"I know, my darling. Erik is just looking out for you, but I was going to talk to him about letting you out and about. Now it seems you can do that yourself."

"I might just tie him up in the guest room and leave him there for a week. See how he likes it," Charlotte chuckled, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Speaking of which, where is he?"

"He stepped out. A meeting with a client, I believe. He said he wouldn't be back for an hour or so, so you have a bit of time," Nadir replied.

"Praise the Lord in heaven," Charlotte sighed. "Did Gustave get back from school yet?"

"No, but he should be back any minute now."

"Alright. Is there anything you'd like to do in the meantime?"

"You're the one who's been going stir crazy. You choose what you'd like to do," Nadir said with a smile.

"Perhaps we could play a game of chess?"

"Sounds good. Will it be interrupted by Angelina or is she asleep for the moment? Chess isn't usually a quick game, unless one of us manages to overtake the other abnormally fast."

"Angelina is soundly asleep," Charlotte nodded. "And don't worry, I've been practicing."

"Have you? Someone's confident," Nadir chuckled as he got to his feet.

"Yes, I am," Charlotte said with a giggle. "Let's play in the parlor."

Nadir nodded and followed her into the parlor, quickly setting up the chess board. "How are you feeling after all your bed rest?" he asked.

"I feel glad to be out of bed," Charlotte nodded.

"I would imagine," Nadir said with a laugh. "But I know that you are aware that Erik only has your best interests at heart. The way he executes that is lacking, but he's trying to help."

"I know, I know," Charlotte sighed. "I love him, but it gets exhausting when he's like this."

Nadir nodded. "He can be tiring. You'll talk to him about it, I'm sure."

"If he'll even listen," Charlotte replied, moving her bishop. "Check."

"He will. If he doesn't, I'll talk to him myself," Nadir replied as he made his own move.

"Nice try," Charlotte chuckled, taking his rook with her queen.

"You have been practicing."

"Quite a bit," Charlotte nodded. "When was the last time we played together? Back in London?"

"I think so. Much too long," Nadir said with a smile.

"Agreed," Charlotte smiled.

It was then that the pair heard the front door open, shortly followed by Gustave walking into the room. "Hello," he said. "Charlotte, you're out of bed!"

"Don't tell your father," Charlotte chuckled. "But yes, I am indeed out of bed."

Gustave grinned. "I won't say a word," he promised, then gestured to the chess board. "Who's winning?"

"She is," Nadir grumbled.

"You can do it, Nadir. She is really good, though."

"I dare say she's the only one who can rival my skill," Nadir chuckled.

"Not Papa?" Gustave asked as he sat down to watch the match.

"He's good, but not quite as good as either of us. Actually, your grandfather, Gustave Daaé, was a very talented player too."

"Really?" Gustave said, his eyes full of wonder when he heard even the smallest thing about his relative.

"Yes, he was indeed. I believe that's where Charlotte got her talent from," Nadir nodded.

"Perhaps, but you taught me everything I know," Charlotte smiled.

"What was my grandfather like, Nadir? I know that you knew him," Gustave said.

"He was a good man. Very kind," Nadir smiled. "A lot like you, Gustave."

The boy smiled. "And he was a musician too, right? That's what Mother told me, at least."

"Yes, he was a very talented musician. Listening to him play violin was magnificent," Nadir nodded. "You know, I even knew your mother when she was a little girl."

"What was she like?" Gustave asked, taking a step closer to Nadir.

"Precious little thing. Always singing and dancing around, even at three years old."

Gustave laughed at hearing the story. "It sounds like how she used to act when I was young. Well...younger than I am now," he said.

"Yes, it still amazes me that your mother had you when she was sixteen."

"Because she was still so young?"

"Precisely," Nadir nodded.

"She was still a good mother even if she was young," Gustave said with a little smile.

"I think that's wonderful," Nadir replied. "And I do know many people who have had children at that age, but I just can't imagine it myself."

"I think you would be a good father too, Nadir," Gustave replied. "Even if you had been young."

"Thank you," Nadir laughed softly. "My wife had the same feeling about it, though, and we waited until we were in our twenties to have our son."

Gustave nodded, but frowned as a question crossed his mind. "How did your wife die, Nadir?" he asked quietly.

"She...she died having our son, just like Charlotte's mother did," Nadir nodded.

"Oh...I'm sorry," Gustave whispered. "I...I didn't know."

"That's okay," Nadir shrugged. "Now you know."

"I don't want to upset you," he replied, wrapping his arms around Nadir.

"It's alright. I don't mind talking about her," Nadir smiled, though his eyes glistened with tears.

"Do you mind telling me about her a little bit?" Gustave asked quietly.

"Her name was Rookheya. She was very tall and beautiful, and she was very sweet. Had a bit of a temper when she wanted to, but that just made her all the more attractive to me."

Gustave smiled. "She sounds really lovely," he said, only to frown again. "You're crying."

"It's just hard to talk about," Nadir replied as he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed his eyes.

Charlotte moved over and pulled him into a hug. "It's alright, Papa. You can cry if you need to."

Nadir wrapped his arms around her. "I'm alright," he said, though the crack in his voice gave his true feelings away.

"I know you aren't, Papa," Charlotte said softly, kissing his cheek.

"Yes, I know you know that," Nadir sighed. "You would think I would be able to talk about her by now. It's been so long."

"It's okay, Papa. It's perfectly alright."

"I'm sorry, Nadir. I didn't want to make you cry," Gustave said quietly as he watched the two embrace each other.

"That's okay, my boy. Don't feel bad," Nadir replied softly. "It's alright."

Gustave got in on the hug as best he could, only to lift his head when he heard Angelina start to cry. "Charlotte, Angelina's upset," he said.

"So it would seem," she sighed, getting to her feet. "I'll be right back."

Gustave watched her go before he turned back to Nadir and gave him another hug. "I'm sorry again," he whispered.

"It's okay, my boy. Don't feel bad," Nadir said softly.

"I just feel bad that I made you so upset, but also because so much happened to you. Your wife and your son too."

"We all have things that we've been through, Gustave. You lost your mother. I know that can't be easy."

Gustave shook his head. "I miss her a lot," he said quietly.

"I know you do," Nadir sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Gustave replied as he buried his face in Nadir's shoulder.

Nadir wrapped his arms tightly around him. "How about we go out for a walk and get ice cream?"

Gustave nodded. "Yes please."

"Alright," Nadir said with a smile. "I'm going to tell Charlotte first. Go put on your shoes and get your coat, okay?"

"Okay. I'll wait down here when I'm done."

"Perfect," Nadir nodded, going up to Charlotte's bedroom and knocking on the door.

"Come in," he heard her say.

Walking into the room, Nadir smiled at her as he found her rocking Angelina in her arms. "She was just fussy?" he asked.

"Yes, she was, but I think I've gotten her to sleep," Charlotte smiled.

"Good. I'm going to take Gustave out for a walk and get ice cream while we're out. The two of us need to clear our heads," Nadir said, walking to her side and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Alright. Have fun," Charlotte said softly, hugging him with one arm. "Feel better, Papa."

"Thank you. I'm sure we'll both help each other to feel better."

"I'm sure too," Charlotte nodded. "I think I'll start dinner and surprise Erik. Any requests?"

"Whatever you want. Whatever you think will make him less irritated when he sees you out of bed and cooking," Nadir said with a chuckle.

"Lasagna it is," Charlotte laughed softly.

"Good choice. We'll be back soon," Nadir replied, giving her another kiss on the cheek before he leaned over to softly kiss Angelina's head.

"I love you, Papa," Charlotte smiled.

"I love you too, my darling."

—————

Erik opened the front door, sighing and slipping off his shoes and coat. He didn't think much of the smell of food being cooked in the air, but when he walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water, he stopped when he saw his wife standing at the stove. "Charlotte?" he asked.

"Hello," she smiled. "How was your meeting?"

"What are you doing down here?" Erik asked, ignoring her question for the moment.

"Making dinner. What are you doing here?" Charlotte giggled.

"I just got home to see you down here instead of in bed. Why?"

"I got sick of staying in bed."

"Charlotte, it's for your own good, my love."

"Three days, Erik. You have forced me to stay up there for three days. Even the doctor said that there's no reason why I can't be up and about."

Erik sighed. "I just want to make sure you're okay," he said quietly. "I'm sorry if I was a bit overbearing."

"I know you only do it because you love me," Charlotte smiled, kissing his cheek. "I promise that the moment I feel that I need to rest, I'll tell you. Alright?"

"Okay. I will trust your judgment," Erik said, leaning down to give her a kiss. "I am glad to see you down here."

"I'm glad to be down here," Charlotte grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm making lasagna."

"Oh, wonderful. How's Angelina?"

"She's been a little angel all day," Charlotte smiled.

"I'm glad. Is she asleep now?" Erik asked.

"Yes, she is," Charlotte nodded. "Papa and Gustave went out, by the way. So it's just you and I right now."

"Well, isn't that nice? We haven't had that for the past few days," Erik said with a smile.

"No, we haven't," Charlotte smiled, kissing her husband gently. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied. "Can I help with anything?"

"Yes. Sit over there and look pretty so that I can stare at you while I cook."

"That I can do," Erik said, giving her another kiss before he went to sit down on a nearby step stool. "As for my meeting that you asked about earlier, it was fine. I accomplished what I wanted to."

"And what did you want to accomplish?"

"To get a grasp on what exactly it was that he wanted for his commission. His description over the phone was rather vague, so having him there to see my rough sketches helped."

"Well, that's wonderful," Charlotte smiled.

"Yes, indeed. It'll be easier to get it done now that I actually know what he wants," Erik said with a chuckle.

"Fantastic," Charlotte grinned. "Could you open the oven?"

Erik nodded and got to his feet, walking over to open the oven for her.

"Thank you," she said, kissing his cheek before she put in the lasagna. "By the way, I found something interesting in your study earlier."

"Oh?" Erik asked, raising an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

"It's a sheet of music you composed. I think it was titled 'No One Would Listen' or something like that. It was dated about a week after I moved in with you."

Erik sighed and nodded. "Yes, it was a composition I was working on. Just a short little thing from just after I met you," he explained.

"It's about me? I thought it was about Christine."

"Yes, it's about you. I think the concept may have started out as about Christine, but that melody never came together for me when I was in America, even when she was near me. When you came into my life, though...it all came together."

"That's really sweet," Charlotte smiled, kissing his cheeks again.

"Did you read it over? The lyrics, I mean," he said.

"Only the first couple stanzas, then Angelina started crying."

"Ah, I see. Well, you can read it over later if you want. Just to see if you like it."

"You could do it now, since the lasagna's in the oven."

"Oh. Okay, yes, that would work," Erik said with a quiet laugh, giving her a quick kiss before he hurried up the stairs to his study. He returned with the sheet music in his hand, passing it over to her. "There you are."

"You aren't going to sing it?" Charlotte giggled.

"Oh, you were looking for a performance! Right, I didn't know that," Erik said, feeling his cheeks flushing.

"Why are you so shy all of a sudden?" Charlotte laughed.

"I don't know," Erik said with a shrug. "I'm just not used to singing for anyone, really, since I haven't done it in a long time. Playing piano or my violin is different."

"You performed in your opera in front of over five thousand people," Charlotte chuckled. "What's changed to make you so shy?"

"For one, I had a mask that covered more of my face and was wearing a costume at the time. This is a more...intimate performance, you could say. A heartfelt song about the woman I love in front of the her. Something about it makes me the slightest bit shy."

"You're so cute," Charlotte giggled. "Come on. Just sing for me."

Erik took a deep breath, but eventually nodded and glanced down at the sheet music in his hands, reminding himself of the notes. "Shamed into solitude, shunned by the multitude. I learned to listen. In my dark, my heart heard music," he sang softly, looking back at Charlotte as he did.

Charlotte smiled back at him, sitting down. "Go on."

"I longed to teach the world, rise up and reach the world. No one would listen. I alone could hear the music. Then at last, a voice in the gloom," he continued, smiling over at her as he reached the part of the song that she had inspired. "Seemed to cry 'I hear you. I hear your fears, your torment and your tears.'"

Charlotte closed her eyes, folding her hands in her lap and smiling blissfully as she listened.

"She saw my loneliness, shared in my emptiness. No one would listen. No one but her heard as the outcast hears," Erik said, kneeling down in front of his wife so he could lean his forehead against hers. "No one would listen. No one but her heard as the outcast hears."

"That's beautiful," Charlotte whispered, giving him a gentle kiss.

"Thank you," Erik replied quietly. "I had hoped you would like it."

"It's amazing," Charlotte said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much."

"Of course. You are my inspiration, my love," he said as he moved his hands to cup her face.

"I love you," Charlotte whispered, kissing him again. "Did you really have feelings for me that long before we started courting?"

"Perhaps," Erik said with a smirk.

"That's sweet."

"You understood me and my life in a way no one ever had. It was impossible not to develop feelings towards you. Plus, the fact that you are a gorgeous young woman certainly helped."

Charlotte blushed a light shade of pink, laughing a bit. "Thank you."

"I can still make you blush. I'm impressed with myself."

"Oh, hush," Charlotte chuckled. "Just kiss me again."

"Is this when I get to give you those kisses I promised you a couple days ago but never got to actually give you?" Erik asked.

"Precisely. I've been waiting so long that I've started charging interest. You now owe me about ten kisses."

"I think I can do that," Erik said with a smirk as he pulled her towards him and gave her a tender kiss, eventually standing up and getting her to stand with him so he could wrap his arms around her waist.

After about three kisses, they heard Angelina begin to cry from upstairs, making Charlotte pull away and sigh. "You have got to be kidding me."

Erik laughed quietly. "Frustrated, are you?" he asked, leaning down to gently kiss his wife's neck.

"Not with her. Just that we didn't get to finish," Charlotte sighed.

"We'll find time for it. If you can get her back to sleep, I can wait here," Erik proposed.

"Alright," Charlotte smiled, kissing his cheek. "I'll be back in a moment."

"Okay. I'll be waiting," he replied with a wink.

A few moments later, Charlotte returned with Angelina in her arms, looking to her husband with a small smile. "She was looking at me with her big blue eyes and I couldn't put her down."

"Not even for my kisses," Erik said with a playful shake of his head.

"Sorry, but she's cute," Charlotte giggled. "Look."

"I know. I would abandon your kisses too if I saw her," Erik admitted, smiling down at his daughter. "Hello, my darling."

Angelina stared up at him intently as she studied his face, making Charlotte quietly giggle. "Do you want to hold her?" She asked.

"Yes, of course," Erik said softly.

Charlotte gently passed the baby over. "Darling, look, she's smiling."

"She is." Erik smiled wide at the sight of his daughter's little grin up at him. "God, she's so sweet."

"She just loves you," Charlotte chuckled.

"I'm glad because I love her just as much."