Angel: Screw it! The Closet fic is taking too long to finish. Therefore, I am posting this story now. So, yay! Erik and Fantine are back!

Erik: (unenthusiastically) Oh joy, oh bliss…

Angel: I'm so glad I can finally post this! I'm really proud of this story, guys. I think I like this one better than the prequel!

Erik: I'd like a root canal better than the prequel…

Angel: You're so negative! Well, anyway, I won't be updating everyday on this one. I'll probably only go once a week until the last chapter of my closet fic is finished. But don't worry, you won't have to wait three months for an update on this one. I promise!

Enjoy!

1. A Ghost is Born

Erik grasped his wife's hand. "It's alright, Fantine! I'm here!"

Fantine lay with her head propped up against her pillows. Locks of black hair were plastered to her distorted forehead as she gritted her teeth against the painful task of childbearing. Meg Romard and Madame Giry sat before her spread legs.

"You're doing fine, Fantine," Madame Giry said. "Come now… Push!"

Fantine pushed hard and let out a gasping breath. "Erik, darling? Do me a favour… Get me a bottle of brandy!"

"I thought you gave up drinking, Fantine," Erik smirked.

"Wait… Wait, Fanny!" Meg cried excitedly. "I can see the baby's head… It has a full head of black hair!"

"Don't call him 'It', Meggy," Fantine protested. "He's a boy… I know it…"

"Well, we'll see, Fantine," Madame Giry said.

Fantine looked up at Erik. "I want to name him Elijah… after my Papa!" Then her face twisted as her body was hit with another wave of pain. She screamed out.

"Erik, she needs room to breath!" Madame Giry said, nudging him away. "Give her a little space…"

Erik reluctantly moved away, standing in the corner of the room. Fantine screamed painfully. Erik squeezed his eyes shut. He hated seeing her in pain. He had caused her enough pain already…

"Stop it," Erik scolded himself. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself! Not now. Not when your wife needs you. Besides, Fantine has already forgiven you for that!"

Seven years earlier, Fantine had been a skilled ballerina working at the Opera Populaire. But she had been in an accident… one that Erik had caused… The night that Erik had dropped the chandelier during the performance of Don Juan Triumphant, Fantine had been performing. She had been caught in the flames. Her once-beautiful face was burned beyond recognition. Erik had left the Opera Populaire that night to live the life of a vagrant far from the city of Paris. Fantine had lost her job at the theatre and broke her engagement to a lawyer named Albert. Madame Giry had led Fantine to Erik's abandoned lair, where she lived comfortably for the next five years as the new Phantom of the Opera.

Erik then returned, finding his home invaded by this female. He reluctantly made a bargain with her, agreeing to work as her partner within the theatre and share the lair with her. It was a difficult change for Erik, sharing his theatre with another ghost. She annoyed him so much! He found her reckless, uncouth, and ill-tempered. Yet through it all, Erik was somehow able to relate to her. However, Fantine had been preoccupied pursuing a chorus boy, Robert Romard, who later proposed to Meg Giry. Later Erik discovered that Meg had been Fantine's friend before the chandelier crash, as had been Christine Daaé!

It took a long time, but Erik and Fantine finally admitted that they loved each other and wanted to spend their lives together.

"Fantine forgave me after she found out about what I did," Erik thought. "Sometimes it's still hard for me to forgive myself…"

They had been married only two years before Fantine conceived his child. He remembered that day as well as if it were only yesterday…

XxXxX

Nine months earlier…

Erik entered the kitchen to find Fantine preparing tea. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, just watching her.

Fantine looked up and met his gaze. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No… no, nothing," Erik said softly, not moving from his position. "It's just… You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen…"

Fantine smiled modestly. "You are without a doubt the most biased man on the face of the earth." She picked up his cup and moved towards him. "I swear I'll never learn how to make your tea right, but I'll settle for 'it's the thought that counts.' How you stand this stuff, I'll never know. Far too strong for me. Have you ever thought of trying one of my green teas? They're quite good for you and – oh!" Fantine suddenly clutched her stomach. The cup in her hand slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor, spilling its hot contents.

"Fantine!" Erik cried. "Are you alright?"

Fantine put a hand to her forehead. "Yes… No… My stomach hurts… Oh, it hurts! I feel so dizzy…" Fantine's eyes rolled back into her head. Erik was at her side in an instant and caught her before she could faint to the floor.

"Fantine?" Erik called to her desperately. Fantine's eyes flickered opened. Erik noticed that her pupils were dilating. She struggled to focus on his face.

"Erik? Oh… I'm gonna be sick!"

Erik took her into his arms and carried her to the lakeshore where he helped her lean over to throw up. When she was finished, Erik carried her to their bedroom and laid her down on their bed.

"I am going to get Mesdames Giry and Romard and bring them down here," Erik told his wife as he reached for his cloak. "They can have a look at you and decide if you need to see a doctor."

"Oh, Erik, it's nothing," Fantine insisted weakly. "Indigestion… Food poisoning, maybe… I'm a horrible cook. I must not have prepared that sausage properly last night…"

"The sausage was fine," Erik retorted. "Besides, I'd rather err on the side of caution with you. Just in case it's something more serious…"

Erik left the lair and found Madame Giry and Meg quickly. He hurriedly brought them back to his home to where Fantine was still laying on their bed.

"My dear," Madame Giry spoke softly. "How do you feel?"

"Better," Fantine replied. "A little queasy still… But at least the room has stopped spinning…"

Meg turned to Erik. "It'd probably be best if you left the room while we examine her…"

"But–"

"Please, Erik?" Meg implored him. "It's for the best…"

Erik reluctantly left the room. While he waited he returned to the kitchen and cleaned up the mess on the floor. Then he made some more tea for himself and paced impatiently. He hated not knowing what was wrong with his wife. He hated being left in suspense. He had never felt so helpless. So utterly unable to help her.

After three cups of tea, he finally heard the door to his room open. His first impulse was to run to his wife. To find out what was wrong. But fear kept him frozen in place.

What if Fantine had some horrible, dreaded disease? Vomiting and stomach cramps were symptoms of influenza. The flu could be deadly. With such a virus, death could come in a matter of weeks.

Erik couldn't handle it. He couldn't look into the stricken faces of Madame Giry and Meg when they told him that his wife was dying. He just couldn't! He couldn't stand the prospect of living without his Fantine. She was his whole life!

Erik stood planted, his hands gripping the kitchen countertop. A moment later, he heard Madame Giry approach. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to face her.

Madame Giry didn't look sombre. In fact, she seemed almost… happy! Her eyes seemed to glow as she looked at him.

"H-h-how is she?" Erik managed.

"Your wife would like to see you in your bedroom," she smiled at him.

Erik raised an eyebrow. "This hardly seems like the time to be getting frisky," he mused.

"Meg and I shall leave you now," Madame Giry curtsied as she headed for the lakeshore. As Erik made his way to his room, he saw Meg already waiting for her mother by the boat. She beamed when she saw him.

"Why is everyone smiling at me?" Erik wondered. He paused before the door to his room. Taking a breath and steeling his nerve, he entered.

Fantine sat on the edge of their bed, hands folded in her lap. She smiled radiantly as Erik entered.

"Are… are you well?" Erik asked.

"Yes and no," Fantine answered. She patted the bed beside her. "Sit."

Erik obeyed, nervous about what she was going to tell him.

"Erik…" she began. "Remember how we vowed to share our lives together… till death do we part?"

Erik's throat tightened. "Y-yes…" he whispered, afraid of what was coming next.

Fantine continued. "I want you to know now that I will always keep my vow… I want to share our lives together everyday, for the rest of our lives… And now… Now another life shall become a part of that vow…"

Erik furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"Erik, when we married… did you ever think of sharing a family with me?"

Erik hesitated, licking his dry lips. "I… I don't know… I suppose I never really thought about it…"

Fantine took his hands into hers. "Then let me ask you now… Do you want to? Do you want to raise a family with me? Do you want to have… children?"

"Children?" Erik breathed. He could hardly believe it. Here was his Fantine, asking him to be the father of her children?

"Do you want a child to become a part of our life together?" Fantine asked again.

Erik paused. Then he slowly nodded. "Yes… yes, I would like to have children with you…" Then realization began to dawn on Erik. His eyes widened. "Are you asking me this because you're already…?" he trailed off.

Fantine smiled, eyes shining. She nodded her head vigorously.

Erik dropped her hands, staring at her. "You're… You're…? With my…?"

"Yes, Erik… I am…"

Erik turned his gaze from her and stared out into space. "You're… You're certain?"

Fantine was growing nervous about Erik's lack of enthusiasm over her revelation. "Well… yes…" she replied. "I… I haven't had my… my monthly… I'm over three weeks late… I didn't think anything of it, but… the dizzy spells and nausea… they're all symptoms of morning sickness, and… well… you must admit, it isn't totally impossible… We have had… you know… in bed?" She trailed off, blushing slightly.

Erik sat stock-still gripping the edge of the bed. He simply stared at the floor. His face was expressionless.

Fantine bit her lip with worry. Was he not pleased? He just finished saying that he wanted to have children with her! Maybe he wasn't ready yet? Or had he only said what he thought would please her? Perhaps he really didn't want a child after all?

Then an elated smile broke out onto Erik's face. He threw his arms around her waist and pulled her to her feet. She squealed like a schoolgirl as he picked her up and swung her around.

"We're having a child?" he said excitedly when he finally settled her on her feet. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck while he let one hand lay reverently on her abdomen.

Fantine nodded, relieved that he really was glad to hear that she was expecting.

"Say it for me," he whispered into her hair.

"I'm pregnant, Erik," she whispered into his ear.

"Say it again," he commanded, kissing her throat.

"I'm carrying your child," she breathed. "Our child… A beautiful baby… A little miracle…"

Erik caressed her stomach and lifted his face to claim her lips with his own.

"I love you so much," Erik whispered as he laid Fantine back onto the bed. He laid atop her, supporting his weight on his arms to keep from harming her or their unborn child. He kissed her hard and passionately, caressing her body with his hands, trying to show her just how much he loved her.

"Wait," Erik said suddenly, breaking his lips from hers. "Can we really… raise a child down here? And what of the theatre? You won't be able to come to the surface in your condition. And it's going to be difficult playing the role of a Phantom with a baby on your hip. And what about–?"

"You talk too much," Fantine said, pulling his face down into another heated kiss.

When Erik finally separated himself from her, he looked at her seriously. "But can we really do this? I don't know the first thing about raising a child! And the lair… the baby would need a room and a crib and–"

"For Heaven's sake Erik, I'm not giving birth tomorrow!" Fantine cried. "We have nearly nine months to make sure everything is ready for our child…" She smiled up at him. "And don't worry… you will be an excellent father… I know you'll love our child, and he'll love you dearly…"

"So, I see you've already decided you're bearing me a son," Erik smirked.

"Mother knows," Fantine grinned.

Erik lay beside his wife and gathered her form against himself. One arm slipped beneath her and held her hand while the other slipped over her waist, letting his palm rest against her stomach where his child was growing.

"I love you, Erik…" Fantine whispered before drifting to sleep.

Erik nuzzled her hair and sighed contentedly. "I love you, Fantine… My angel… My joy… My life…"

XxXxX

Seven months later…

"Erik!" Fantine shook Erik awake. He rubbed his bleary eyes and sat up.

"What is it, darling?" he groaned.

"The baby wants something!"

Erik looked over at his wife. Fantine was seven months pregnant now. Her belly was quite swollen, but she looked lovely in the black silk maternity nightgown that Erik had bought for her. Even her scarred face held the glow that all expectant mothers have. Erik thought she had never looked more beautiful.

As her pregnancy progressed, Erik found himself growing more and more protective of his wife. He constantly worried about her health and the health of their unborn child. He had told Fantine that if she needed something during the night, she was to wake him immediately. However, he was beginning to regret telling her that.

"What does the baby need?" Erik yawned.

"Eggs."

Erik gaped at her. "At this hour?"

Fantine pouted and stroked her abdomen. "The baby's hungry."

Erik sighed as he got out of bed and reached for his robe. "Very well… I'll cook up some eggs…"

"Scrambled, please," Fantine said.

"Alright."

"With cream."

"Fine."

"On toast."

"As you wish." He turned to leave.

"Erik!"

He turned to face her. "Yes?"

"Make sure you butter the toast, first. The baby doesn't want dry toast."

"Very well." He turned to leave again.

"And Erik?"

"Yes?"

"Can I have pepper on my eggs?"

"Of course." He left the room.

"Erik!"

Erik came back. "What?"

"I changed my mind… No cream in the eggs… Oh, and while I'm waiting, could you please bring me a dish of cashews?"

Erik leaned against the doorframe. "I'm not going to get any sleep tonight, am I?"

Fantine smirked at him. "You think it's bad now?"

XxXxX

Erik's thoughts were interrupted by a lusty wail coming from between Fantine's legs.

"Come out, little one," Madame Giry murmured. "Come out and see the world…"

Fantine's face was soaked with sweat. "I… I can't… do this… anymore…" she gasped. "Hurts… too painful…"

"You're almost there, Fanny!" Meg encouraged her friend. "Just one more push!"

Fantine gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. She gave one more hard push and Madame Giry pulled a slimy, bawling bundle from Fantine's body.

"Come Meg, let's clean him up…" Madame Giry and Meg took the child over to a wash basin at the other side of the room and went to work. Erik craned his neck, trying to catch a glimpse of the baby over the women's shoulders. Meg finally turned around with a bundle of blankets in her arms. She immediately went back to Fantine and smiled as she placed the package in the tired girl's arms.

"Congratulations, Mama," Meg beamed. "It's a boy!"

"Told you so!" Fantine smirked. She gazed lovingly at the child's face. "Hello, little one…"

Erik stood fidgeting in the corner of the room. He wanted to see his baby, but he was determined not to interrupt the sacred moment between mother and child.

Fantine smiled. "He looks just like his father…"

Erik went rigid as his heart nearly stopped beating. Surely the child wasn't deformed, like him? Surely he wasn't born with the same terrible curse that had deprived Erik of a mother's love?

Erik felt his stomach twist into a knot. Nine months of pregnancy and it didn't occur to him until now that his child could be born a disfigured monster like him. It was actually quite probable. The child had Erik's imperfect blood in him. And what would that mean for the boy? He would live his whole life in seclusion, hiding his face from the world. And the boy just might blame Erik for his plight… for his bad blood…

"Erik?" Madame Giry said softly. "Would you like to see your son?" Without waiting for an answer, Madame Giry took the child from Fantine and advanced upon Erik.

Erik stiffened. He had never held a child before. What if he dropped him?

Madame Giry noticed Erik's discomfort. "Erik? Are you alright?"

"I… I don't want to break him…" he whispered.

Madame smiled. "It's alright to be nervous." She moved close to Erik, shifting the bundle into his arms. "Here, support his head like this… that's right… put your hand under him… very good…"

Erik stood breathless with the delicate bundle in his powerful arms. He closed his eyes for a moment before looking at his son for the first time. He needed to prepare himself for what he might see.

"He will be loved," Erik decided. "Even if he is disfigured, I will love him, and Fantine will love him. He will never be alone. I will always protect him from the world…" With such thoughts in his mind, Erik opened his eyes and gazed at the baby's face.

The very second Erik opened his eyes and looked upon his son for the first time, he was hopelessly in love. This, he knew, really was love at first sight. He swore he didn't ever want to stop holding his child. His heart was bursting with what Erik decided could only be pride. He had created a child! A miracle! Surely this was his greatest masterpiece. His magnum opus. It actually took a moment for Erik to register the boy's appearance.

The child was pale, like him. He had a bit of black fuzz on his head that served as hair. But his face was smooth and soft… a perfect face…

The child yawned, making a soft squeaking noise. He opened his eyes, gazing up at the man who held him. Erik noticed that the boy's eyes were the same piercing blue as his own.

"He… he does look like me!" Erik exclaimed.

Madame Giry smiled. "Congratulations, Erik… How does it feel to be a Papa?"

Erik did not answer. He moved over to the other side of the room where Fantine laid on the bed. He crouched by her side.

"He's so beautiful, Fantine," he whispered, holding his son so that she could see him too. "He'll have your smile. I can tell."

Fantine caressed the child's perfect face. "He has your eyes…"

Erik was silent for a moment. "He's not like us… He is perfect… The world will not look upon him in fear…" His eyes appeared almost sad. "What if he fears me? What if he is disgusted by me… his hideous parent?"

Fantine touched his arm. "He will see you as I do."

Erik met her gaze. "And how do you see me?"

"As a kind man with a good heart… Someone to look up to… It's in your soul that your true beauty lies…"

Erik said nothing, but turned back to gaze into his son's blue depths.

"Hello, Elijah," he whispered. "I am your father…"

XxXxX

Angel: Love it? Hate it? Let me know!

Erik: I hate it...

Angel: Well, no one cares about your opinion, so neh!

Erik: I'm hurt...

Angel: Want me to kiss you better?

Erik: NOOOOOOOOO!