"I liked that." Gustave laughed with a blush.

"Oh yeah?" She teased, " I can do better."

She kissed him again and then they both fell on their backs laughing.

After they had journeyed back to the home, both dripping wet and seeking dry clothes desperately through shivering laughter, Christine had bombarded the with warm towels and concerns. 

When they were warmly situated in the arm chair before the fire, speaking quietly about all the other had missed, Erik approached them awkwardly.

"Gustave I have something for you, would you come here for a moment," he said solemnly.

Gustave searched his face, which as always revealed nothing. He followed his father out of the room sending Autumn a happy grin from the door frame.

Once out of sight,  Erik opened his hand.

Gustave stopped and froze. It sparkled and glimmered in the moonlight- it was perfect.

"You are going to ask aren't you? Someday?" Erik smirked his eyes teasing.

Gustave nodded staring at the ring. "Was that mothers?!" he whispered.

Erik nodded sadly, "She never wore it, gave it back to me, too many painful memories attached to it for us. I think you're its rightful heir. You'll have much better use of it I hope."

Gustave grinned. 

"Thank you." he whispered.

"Theres a house." Erik said with a smile, "Just cross the way, not big or fancy just a nice small house, decent enough. I've owned it for ages, I stayed there when the Opera house burned down. Consider it an engagement present. When you're ready of course when you're of age, and if she agrees to wait. If your willing to wait."

"You're joking!" Gustave laughed.

Erik tossed him the key. "I made a vow Gustave, a vow to god that you would have everything. All I create on this earth, everything I'll ever be worth. I'm making sure I keep that vow."

Gustave nodded and shook his father's hand. " I am not worthy of a bit of your praise."

"You're worthy of much more than you know Gustave. Even you haven't realized your full potential yet. When you do, as I did, I will be waiting here to help."

Gustave nodded. Finally a life of his own. No complications, just his life his decisions.

Gustave put the ring in his pocket, timing, it was all about timing now.

Timing and wording.

--------------

Raoul had searched every last inch of the opera for Gustave, everywhere high and low, nothing. He was starting to believe he had deluded himself into seeing it. Then he heard the news.

That Autumn had eloped with some strange tall handsome rich man from right here at the opera itself. An apparently respectable gentleman of "questionable orgins" nature and intent. Raoul knew Autumn was too nice and timid a girl to elope with a stranger. 

She was logical and not foolish, just as Christine had been. And if Gustave was anything like Erik...his father, then he had a talent for ensnaring the right kind of girl.

When they had told him they expected some sort of up-rage. Fredrick for one was expecting a stern talking too and disinheritance. Instead, Raoul smiled and smoked his pipe.

"Oh really." he had said when Fred timidly relayed the circumstances, "And who do you my friend suppose this striking young fellow was? Where could I find him?"

The whole thing rather amused him as he was now seeing the love affair from the outside. It was so ridiculously like his own he was surprised that the local newspapers hadn't picked it up. Though he did suspect that his own Brother may have put in a decent amount of money just to keep the scandal out of the paper.

"I haven't a clue!" Fredrick pouted avoiding his Uncles gaze. 

"Hm." Raoul hummed with a shrug. "Hm." 

---------

Gustave sat nervously in the arm chair.  If she said no he would positively die, but she wouldn't say no. Not after all they had been right? Or could she? Gustave didn't want to think about it...he didn't want to leave the ring in his pocket a second longer. 

"What is it you were going to ask me?" Autumn laughed snapping him out of his daze. 

"Oh my god. My nightmares are all coming true." he whispered.

"Gustave what's wrong you look as if you've seen a ghost." Autumn laughed.

"I've grown up haven't I?"

Autumn looked at him adoringly and shrugged, "Is it all so bad Gustave? Growing up?"

"I'll be dead in 40 years," Gustave exclaimed running his hands through disheveled hair. "And then there's tax and politics and Paris and finding a job and- I'm too young to die!"

"Gustave! Calm down! If this is moving too fast for you, if you're not ready for a promise, for a arangment I understand!"

Gustave looked at her trivially, "You do?"

"Yes!" she laughed, "Gustave we still are young. We have time."

"Your much too good for me Autumn," he sighed. "Much too good for any of us."

"Come on," she said standing up, "We're already soaked to the bone we may as well make the most out of it?"

Gustave looked at her in confusion.

"Fancy a swim Monsieur Destler?" she grinned, exiting the small house. 

Gustave followed hesitantly behind her, only to see Autumn take off in a run before wading into the lake.

Gustave grinned calling out after her as he removed his dress shoes, "I don't know how. I can't swim."

Autumn stifled a laugh, "Gustave, you live on a lake and you don't know how to swim?"

Gustave gave a small put of offense and nodded, "I have a boat Autumn. I'm not completely uncivilized."

"Then let me corrupt you." she laughed, "Come in, it's warm enough!"

----------

Christine had decided to take a walk outside with Ilios, to let her get some fresh air.How she wished she could take her child up and outside, to taste the sunlight, to feel it touch her sullen tired cheeks and tickle her small toes.

But to be seen with a child that was not Raouls would cause a massive scandal. A scandal that would lead to inquiry.

She wouldn't risk losing Erik, not even for her children.

Now though, those fears seemed to dissipate as her eldest son, strong and handsome stood drenched in the shallow of the waters, splashing Autumn and laughing loudly.

"Your brother seems happy Ilios," Christine whispered to her daughter with a laugh. "You'll understand when you're older."

"Gustave just a bit deeper! No, don't freeze up silly! You have to keep kicking." Autumn laughed hysterically.

It was a funny sight, Gustave flailing his arms frantically, just trying to keep his head above the gentle waves.

Christine looked off to the other side of the bank and felt her heart skip and then stop, plunging down into the deep waters below.

The man gave a small tip of his hat and a large smile.

"Raoul?" she laughed breathlessly. He was risking death sneaking down here like this. He appeared as if, well as if he were a ghost. the fog coming in and out and blocking him from view. He looked older, his lips upturned in a gentle, kind smile, the kind she remembered from her childhood. 

Gustave, in his frantic hurry to get back to shore despite Autumn's reaffirmations, turned his head to look upon his mothers pale entranced face.

Then he saw the ominous figure on the shore. A small kind smile crept up his cheeks and he climbed out of the waters, dripping and shloping in the sands.

Autumn too noticing his change in stature climbed out laughing still and turned to face the opposite shore.

Raoul once again gave a small wave, hesitant, but kind.

"Oh Uncle!" Autumn gasped grabbing her shawl and covering herself nervously.

But Raoul hadn't come for anything other than ease at heart. Had Christine been hurt at the hands of her angel Raoul certainly would have took action. Yet here his once wife happily stood, a child in her arms, a beautiful little girl, contentment written plainly across her face.

"Christine!" Erik's voice called from the house, "Eli took my pen and I can't find it. Have you seen it?"

"Just a moment dear!" Christine called out in a tender voice. 

Christine turned to warn Raoul to leave at once but by the time she looked back, he had already dissipated with the fogs.

Gustave took his mother's arm gently, taking Ilios from her arms and handing her to Autumn.

His strong hand on her shoulder offered such comfort.

In a silent remembrance of might had been and former times, they walked inside.

Back to the present, and away from the past.