The next morning, Erik led his wife and son out of the labyrinth and into the garish light of day.

"I remember when you once told me to turn my thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light," Christine commented. Erik laughed in reply.

Meg was waiting for the three in a carriage outside the opera house.
The group rode to the cemetery in silence. Christine realized that it had been ten years since her father had passed away. She missed him terribly. She wished that Erik had known her father.
They arrived at the cemetery and brought Gustave over to his grandfather's grave.

"Gustave, meet your grandfather Gustave. You were named after him," Erik said to the child being held in his right arm. He could sense his wife's sadness. "I never met him, but I happen to know that he was a great man."

Christine embraced her husband. She felt his strong arm wrap tightly around her as he tenderly kissed her forehead. "I miss him," she said softly, burying her face in Erik's shoulder.

"I know, Angel," Erik stroked the back of Christine's head lovingly. "I know."

Seeking to be cheered up, the group spent the remainder of the day looking in shops around town. At least that could be enjoyed.
That night, Erik and Christine had a long discussion. Mostly about how much Christine missed her father.

"Oh Erik, I wish you had met him. I just know he would have loved you," Christine said.

"Your father would have been happy that you ended up marrying a deformed recluse who killed people with a Punjab lasso?" He asked.

Christine laughed. "You are so much more than that, Erik. I could see it and I know my father would have seen it too. Besides, you've changed. You've replaced hate and anger with love and compassion."

Erik smiled as he gazed upon his lovely wife. She was so kindhearted, so pure. He didn't deserve such beauty.

"What are you thinking about, Dearest?" Christine asked.

"I was thinking about how fortunate I am to have you," Erik replied.

Erik and Christine continued to talk for a while. Christine went to bed soon after the conversation. Erik, however, could not sleep. He had been thinking about Christine's encounter with Raoul from the day before. Christine told him everything the Viscount said.
It wasn't self hatred that plagued Erik this time. It was the fact that, despite being engaged, Raoul seemed to still have feelings for Christine. Christine would never leave Erik, of that he had no doubt. He only feared what the Viscount would do to try to get Christine back, if he did anything at all. "Maybe Raoul will be civil and admit his defeat," Erik said aloud to himself. He tried to convince himself that this would be the case. Still, the thought lingered in the back of his mind that maybe Raoul might try to harm him, to exact revenge.
What many people didn't know was that Raoul had turned to drinking for a time after Christine left him, but he was able to quit once he met his fiancée.
Gustave began to cry and Erik immediately went to his aid. Fortunately, this time Erik wasn't wearing his mask and Gustave ceased crying at the sight of his father. The son smiled. Erik sang his son to sleep and after he himself was tired. He took this opportunity to retire to his bed beside his wife.