Chapter Thirty

Only a Man

Charlotte had delivered a healthy boy. Michael naturally touted it about that he would be the proudest of fathers when his son became governor of Kentucky or perhaps even president. Eventually his son would become a power in Kentucky government with some political clout in Washington.

Michael's son's greatest achievement according to the women had been when he married Loretta's oldest daughter. No one, not even Loretta herself had thought she would ever be a mother but God had blessed her with two daughters and a son.

Mac and Meg married the following spring after they met. They held off having children for a year until their home could be built on the land Mac had purchased. Olivia had had enough of Kentucky and had placed her home on the market. Being spiteful she had offered it to Mac first knowing how badly Erik wanted her property.

Erik had groused about foul play but Mac had reminded him of a certain ghostly entity who had not played fair for years. Only Mac would be brave enough to wave that flag in Erik's face and live to tell the tale.

Truth be told, Erik did not mind Mac living so close. Would it not be fortuitous to have the good doctor close at hand? Erik had not minded even when Mac's youngest son took Erik's daughter's hand in marriage but that would come in later years.

Mac had some concerns about Pricilla's pregnancy. From the rate of growth he guessed her to be carrying twins. As hard as he tried he could never hear that second heartbeat. Fearing another miscarriage Mac had placed restrictions on Pricilla's activities.

During her seventh month he restricted her to her bed. She felt fine and looked healthy but Mac would take no chances. Nearing the end of her ninth month Pricilla went into labor. Erik took turns crying then shouting out orders.

Mac had told them that he suspected two babies were nestled within Pricilla's womb. Erik had been ecstatic until he learned of the complications that twins could bring as well as the fact that a second heartbeat had not been heard. Erik could not even bare to think of what that might implicate. Pricilla had tried to be reassuring while feeling her own doubts eating away at her confidence.

Antoinette had taken to spending the night when it seemed possible that Pricilla might have some trouble giving birth. Erik prayed as he had never prayed before. Every cry coming from within the room chosen as the delivery room had him wanting to barge in so he might see his wife with his own eyes to judge her pain or offer his love and care.

Being a woman Antoinette had been allowed into the room. Erik stewed outside over the fact that he as the father had been banned from his wife's side during one of the most momentous occasions in his life. He wanted to see his children enter into this world.

When Antoinette came out with tears in her eyes Erik lost all restraint. He would be with his wife come what may. The fact that Antoinette had only met his eyes briefly before running off to fetch something Mac had wanted only confirmed he should be with his wife.

Erik entered the room to see Pricilla propped up in the bed with her legs spread wide. Mac had his hands underneath the sheet covering Pricilla. Erik only momentarily took exception to Mac coming into such close quarters with Pricilla.

Common sense won out in the end. How could Mac affectively attend to his child's birth from across the room? Pricilla reached out to Erik plaintively once she saw him. Erik immediately clasped her hand. He- sat down at the side of the bed facing toward Pricilla's lower portion of her body. He would calm his wife while watching the birth of his child.

Antoinette returned with a stack of sheets as well as more towels. It was only then that Erik saw the pile of bloodied sheets and towels lying on the floor. A wave of nausea overtook him but he conquered the urge to lose the contents of his stomach. He could do neither Pricilla nor his child any good if he gave into weakness.

Mac placed his hand on Pricilla's knee telling her to relax for a moment until the next contraction. It was coming to the point where Mac would need to tell them of his concerns. He had been able to feel the second child which concerned him as the first was nearing the point where it would begin presenting itself into the world.

He would need to use his hand to move the second one and turn it which would be quite painful for Pricilla. The birth had already taken longer than it should have. If both mother and at least one child were to survive Mac knew decisions had to be made now.

The first child would need immediate care as it was so small. Breathing would be problematic. Mac had learned how to aid mature people or larger children in breathing but never a newborn. Too much air could damage the lungs, not enough could cause death or permanent brain damage.

If the second child could not be taken in time death would be almost 100% a possibility. If Pricilla kept hemorrhaging as she was now perhaps only one child could be saved if either were at all viable. It was not Mac's choice to make. Save Pricilla or one of the babies.

When the time came for a choice Mac stoically presented the facts. Antoinette had already known from her experience with the girls of the opera house that things were not going well for Pricilla. She had hoped Mac could perform a miracle.

Erik took it hard. He had thought God had granted him such a wonderful gift. Now God wanted to reclaim them all. He would not allow it. With his will alone he would not let either his wife or his children leave him. Erik began to rally his belief in positive thinking. If God wanted to battle for their souls then God would need to take Erik with them and everyone knew Erik had sold his soul to the devil long ago. God would not want the Angel of Death to come to live in his house.

He had lost out to God's dictates for too long. Now in this Erik felt he would be the victor. He did not see a life before him as being lived alone. No. He would not let that happen. God had given him a glimpse of heaven and Erik would have it again or die in the process along with his wife and children.

Erik forbade Mac to do anything other than do what he could to save all three. There would be no choices made other than bringing both of his children into the world healthy and screaming their lungs out.

Erik's attitude gave the rest of them hope even if in the backs of their minds they considered it false. For all his having attended medical school Mac knew at times things occurred that went against every medical explanation. He could only pray for this to be one of them. Erik could not withstand the loss of either his children or Pricilla.

Encouraged by Erik's continued belief in him Mac worked diligently to bring forth these two new lives while saving there mother. Mac asked Erik to hold Pricilla's legs aloft while he helped the first child into the world. The option of waiting for the child to come in its own time had passed.

Antoinette soothed Pricilla as best she could in the circumstances. Erik tried to reassure both women with his soothing voice alone. If Erik had ever possessed the power to persuade others to do his bidding Erik gave Pricilla and Antoinette the suggestion that all would be well.

Erik's son came into the world not crying out for having been taken from a warm safe place but quiet and still. Erik's heart began to break when no sound came. Mac used a syringe to extract mucous from the babies mouth. He then turned the baby tapping and rubbing his back and chest trying to get a response.

Pricilla groaned rising to a sitting position as she had been overcome with pain. Her second child wanted to enter the world. Mac needed to turn him slightly as he was not in the correct position. He must trust Erik to attend his son while Mac attended to Erik's wife and second child. Antoinette he would need to hold a towel ready to wrap the child immediately to preserve its warmth while encouraging it to take that first live-giving breath. Mac would need all his concentration then to save Pricilla.

Not ever having held anything so small before that breathed, Erik felt inadequate. Knowing this to be his son doubled his insecurities. What if he did something wrong? He could not live with himself if he were to cause harm to his son. The little bit of humanity did not even fill Erik's hands. How could something so small survive?

Casting aside his self-doubt Erik began to breathe for his son as Mac had demonstrated to him. He rubbed gently over the small body trying to stimulate his son to enhance blood flow and perhaps encourage a protesting cry.

When his son made his first mewling cry Erik could not contain the relieved sobs from escaping. So as not to disturb Pricilla Erik went across the room so he could speak to his new son. Upon inspection of this new little person Erik could find no outward flaws. His son had everything he should and nothing he should not. Other than being small Erik thought his son perfection personified.

Having made certain he had done all he could Erik returned to his wife who now sat back amongst the pile of pillows. She looked so exhausted. Her skin which had always been pale now had the look of cold white marble.

Holding his son in the crook of his arm Erik smoothed his palm over Pricilla's forehead to let her know he was still there to support her. She smiled faintly but did not have the strength to open her eyes.

At last the second child had been moved into the correct position. Mac used an instrument to aid the child's progress. Erik looked at the metal instrument as if it were a device designed for torture. Knowing how fragile the son in his arms was this tactic of Macs to use such evil looking tools did not set well with Erik. He knew with his mind Mac would do nothing to harm any person let alone an unborn child. Erik kept his thoughts to himself no wanting to upset Pricilla.

He leaned down to kiss Pricilla's forehead then whispered to her that her son, their son was perfect. Erik laid him next to Pricilla so she could feel the warmth of his small body next to her own. He was now moving about more vigorously than before. He even made a few small cries rather than the mewling sound of before. His son seemed to be gaining strength.

Mac asked for Erik to once again to help hold Pricilla's legs. This time Antoinette held one as Erik held the other. From this position Erik could see clearly as his second child came into the world.

If he thought his son to be too small his daughter was even smaller. She began to cry immediately. Not loudly but she did indeed cry which pleased everyone except her brother who began his own weak crying upon either hearing or sensing his sister's cries.

Mac took it as a good sign that both babies were gaining enough strength to cry. They were by no means out of the woods but this gave him hope for the two overly small newborns. Crying would help clear their lungs as well as stimulate the rest of the body.

Now Mac could concentrate on Pricilla. He repaired the flesh torn by the delivery of her children. Erik swallowed loudly trying to contain his composure as well as keep the contents of his stomach in the proper place. He soothed Pricilla as best he could from his position holding her leg on his shoulder. Later they may all remember this moment with some little portion of discomfort but now all that seemed important was saving everyone.

Pricilla's pain could clearly been seen in the lines marring her face. Sweat coated every inch of her skin. Erik wiped her down with a cool damp face cloth. Pricilla had managed to bring her left hand up so her son could grasp it. This connection seemed to give her some peace.

Mac let out an unprofessional whoop when he managed to stem the flow of blood down to an acceptable level. Once the afterbirth had been presented Mac had at last stopped all bleeding other than what would be normal after delivering a child.

As soon as they had both infants cleaned and pronounced to be better than expected Pricilla demanded to have both her children back with her. She had only briefly seen her daughter and had been too weak to even open her eyes to see her son who lay right beside her.

Erik cooed to his children in a manner not like any Phantom. He became a typical father in awe of his small offspring. Once he overcame his fear of frightening or hurting them Erik slipped right into the doting father role.

After those first few months with stumbling steps toward life Erik and Pricilla proudly showed their two healthy children to any one interested or even to those who were not. Erik considered his children his greatest accomplishment in life. He gave thanks ever day to Pricilla's forbearance of his stupidity as she continued to love him as no other could ever do.

For whatever reason she did love him, faults and all. He in turn loved her with a love far deeper than he ever could imagine. Her breaths became his. They each drew life from the other. At times it seemed they shared one heart and one soul.

Christine and Raoul had a son only a few months older than Erik and Pricilla's son Erik Macleod Dante, in honor of his father and the doctor who saved his life. Erik's daughter was named Angelique Antoinette Dante for obvious reasons. Everyone claimed to see how angelic the infant was and Antoinette had been honored for saving the child's father.

The de Chagny's and the Dante's kept up their friendship. They even made trips back and forth from America to France and vice versa. Little Angelique and Raoul Marcus declared they could not stand one another until the age of twelve. Upon meeting during a visit at the age of thirteen they made the decision they could tolerate one another and be friendly for the sake of the family.

When they met at the age of fifteen neither one could make heads or tales of what those emotions were that made them hot yet cold, wanting to be in the presence of the other but not being able to speak a coherent word. They decided to avoid one another.

The year Angelique turned sixteen she begged her father and mother to send her to France for a visit to Aunt Christine's and Uncle Raoul's. She wanted to learn all there was to know about the arts. Raoul Marcu, or Marcus as he decidedd he preferred, had coincidentally come to America to attend school.

In reality Angelique wanted to avoid Marcus and knew her parents would not let her travel anywhere other than to her aunt and uncle's home in France. Angelique stayed for the most part in France only coming home a few times when she could be certain Marcus would not be present. Erik and Pricilla made many trips across the ocean to visit their daughter. Erik pined so when his precious angel put too many miles between them.

Through the years Marcus de Chagny and Rick Dante, remained friends. Rick went to France to study for a couple of years then he and Marcus came to America to attend college for the remainder of their studies.

When the twins were just going to turn eighteen Erik commanded his daughter to return home. She would spend her birthday in her own country in her own home. Angelique reluctantly returned home a pit of nerves in her stomach. She knew she would be meeting Marcus again without any real reason to beg off returning home. Besides, she would not put it past her father to come and drag her home kicking and screaming if she told them she would not be coming home just yet.

She had missed everyone upon her return home as they had all gone out riding. Her train had gotten in sooner than expected. She left word for her father and mother that she would come down for the evening meal after she had rested from the long journey home.

Angelique had taken pains with her appearance that evening. Living in France, the heart of fashion, she had learned to dress properly while catching the eye of men. When she stepped out onto the landing at the top of the stairs her father nearly had a stroke. His little baby had gone and turned into a beautiful woman.

He searched his pockets but could find no weapons to hold off any of the male guests in his home. Erik scowled darkly at every male in his house mentally issuing dire warnings. He had discounted Marcus as a threat as he and Angelique barely tolerated one another plus he thought of Marcus as a nephew.

Marcus nearly walked into a wall as his attention had been claimed by the fair-haired beauty at the top of the stairs. He vowed that this time he would not return home without some sort of resolution between Angelique and himself. He had matured after all. He had spoken intelligently to other girls. Why did he lose all his senses when in Angelique's presence?

By the end of the evening cupid had shot his arrows with accuracy. Marcus and Angelique had admitted their feelings for one another sealing their new relationship with a kiss which would have had Erik looking for his Punjab had he been privy to the exchange.

The women had their suspicions which had been why they instructed the three musicians to begin playing music so everyone might have a dance.

The simple dinner Angelique had expected had turned into quite a party. By the end of the evening Erik had mellowed with some wine and promises of further entertainment once he and Pricilla had gone to bed.

Fortunately for Pricilla she only had two other children after the twins. It was not for want of trying on Erik's part. Pricilla called him her Don Juan which pleased Erik after he recovered from the connotations of the title. He only wished to woo and conquer one woman, his lovely wife Pricilla.

Christine's youngest daughter Cecelia had always set her sights on Rick. She had declared her intention to marry him at the age of ten. Through the years she had made quite the fool of herself trying to win his notice.

He had humiliated her on her eighteenth birthday when he told her in front of a houseful of people he would not marry her or any other woman as he intended to remain fancy free to do as he pleased. He informed her that any and all attention she paid him would only belittle her further.

Taking his words to heart Cecelia proceeded to engage herself to a Count de Marco of Spain. Upon learning this young Rick wrote to his aunt and uncle with his concerns about Cecelia being too young to be engaged. Did they know this man she had affianced herself to without consultation with any family member?

When none of his letters produced any success he traveled to New York where Cecelia had been staying with his aunt and uncle for a short holiday before they entered into the whirlwind of parties for their daughter's engagement.

Suffice it to say Rick had his father's persistence as well as that hidden charm that could melt the hardest womanly heart. Rick and Cecelia eloped while in New York stunning everyone.

Erik and Raoul had only just recovered from the knowledge that they would be related in reality when Angelique and Marcus married and now their other children eloped making them in-laws twice over without any warning.

When Pricilla told Erik at the age of 35 she would be having another child he had not known how to act. They had both thought after ten years of having no more little ones things would settle in revolving around the two children they had and eventually grandchildren.

After that first shock had worn off Erik took to the idea of having another child. He hoped this one would be more malleable. His other two were far to independent for his peace of mind. They did enjoy music and had a bit of talent but had thus far disappointed him by their lack of interest, not that he would ever let that show to either of them.

Erik had received his wish for a talented child. Maria Claire Dante played exquisitely as well as sang divinely. Much to her father's disgust she chose to muck about with livestock rather than mingle at sophisticated soirees.

In Mac's stable had been where she had met Mac's son Nicholas Alexander at the ripe age of six when she first began sneaking off to Mac's barns when she was supposed to be visiting her Aunt Meg for dancing lessons.

Pricilla had known to be suspicious when Maria had begged to have dancing lessons from Meg when everyone knew the child tripped over her own feet. She had no innate grace. Never had she even shown any interest in that area before.

When Pricilla had asked how the lessons had gone Meg had turned red and couldn't look anyone in the eye. In the end it came to light that Maria loved spending time with animals but couldn't let Papa know as he wanted her to excel at playing music and singing.

So as not to make everyone a complete liar Maria did spend fifteen minutes of every visit practicing grace. In the end it helped her with riding later. Mac's son Nicholas had lost his heart to Maria the first time she had stuck her blond head around the corner of the barn.

He went away to school to learn about veterinary skills while Maria had read books on the subject. She had not found a college willing to take her on. After Nicholas had come home they had picked up their close friendship that blossomed into a courtship then marriage.

Nicholas had gone to the president of a couple of those colleges with threats of encouraging his Uncle Erik Dante to pull out his funding as well as political measures from his cousin and uncle in Washington.

Maria had been accepted by both. She chose the one with the best credentials. Her father sat proudly in the audience when she received her degree. He forgave her not letting music rule her life as it had his for so many years. There was honor in saving lives even if they were members of the animal kingdom.

In the mist of all of this mounting drama Erik's fourth child, Amelia Rose had been born. In this child all of Erik's dreams for one of his children to succeed in music were realized. Amelia rose to stardom conquering every major theatre audience in America and abroad. When she had established herself in the musical community she had demanded that no music other than her fater's would be performed by her unless her father deemed otherwise.

Erik finally got the recognition for his talent that he had craved. It meant a lot to him but not as much as the other accomplishments in his life. Now he thought he might just have enough reserve energy to enjoy a few grandchildren. He tried not to push but his days of producing children had ended but not his need to have young minds to enlighten.

Never again would anyone think Erik anything other than a very lucky man. Nothing about his life after he met Pricilla held any resemblance to his past life. Every day with her Erik counted as a blessing.

He considered the scales of justice to begin to be in balance at last. Perhaps they tilted in his favor. Every new accomplishment, every wonderful day with his wife and family, every new branch added to his family tree took him further and further away from the Opera Ghost and Phantom. There were times when he thought perhaps all of that nonsense at the opera house had been a dream or nightmare.

His life had become something men dream of but few actually obtain. He was happy. The only sadness had been when Christine passed away unexpectedly. Poor Raoul had been beside himself. He had taken to his bed then lost his will to go on. Only the return of Cecelia and Marcus with their children rallied him enough to leave the bed he thought would be his death bed. Having spent so much time in bed had weakened him and he never did regain his full strength.

When the notice had come about the auction at L'Opéra Populaire Raoul knew he had to go. He had made the promise that if ever he had the chance he must bring her some memento from the opera house. While Christine had lived it had not seemed so important. With her gone and the auction being announced Raoul could not let his love down. He would obtain something that would have some sentimental value to lie at her grave.

Erik had forgotten he even had that ring Christine returned to him. He had destroyed everything else that had belonged to Christine or reminded him of her. Only the ring had remained. When Pricilla had accused him of conveniently forgetting it Erik had thought himself to be in real trouble. Pricilla had let him grovel for a bit before she had relented.

As punishment for giving him a near heart attack Erik consigned her to a night in bed using her wiles to convince him he should forgive her. Erik held out for many nights before he would utter the words giving Pricilla the forgiveness she asked of him. By then neither really cared who forgave whom. They simply enjoyed the benefits of the punishment.

Erik had returned to France a couple of years later upon hearing of the auction from Angelique. He had hesitated asking Pricilla if he might make the journey to France but in the end his wonderfully perceptive wife had offered to accompany him even before he could ask.

They had left the ring at Christine's grave sight tied with black ribbon to a red rose. Pricilla did not mind the sentimental gesture for she knew every piece of Erik's heart belonged to her and their children. Once she had him trained properly he became an exemplary husband.

When Raoul had left the music box his attention had been caught by the rose. When he saw the ring he knew Erik had been here, perhaps still was. He sent a mental thank you to Erik for having kept pleasant memories of Christine even after what had taken place all those years ago.

Everything had come full circle. For a time they were all in France in the city of Paris where once an Opera Ghost and Phantom had wooed a young diva. The end to this opera had been happier than anything any stage had presented.

The End

A/N: Alas we have come to the end of this tale. Thanks to all who have left reviews and for reading my work. I'll be posting a couple of stories probably within the next few days.