Music of the Night: The Phantom of the Opera Returns (Guile & Melody)

[Guile]

Erik listened to her words, still holding the knife to Raoul's neck. His heart ached, and he didn't know wether he could trust Christine. However, he didn't have any choice. She was in pain and he could bare it no longer. Removing the knife from Raoul's neck and shoving him out of the way, he ran to her side, shoving his dagger back by his side. He gave her his hand to hold onto, anything to help relieve the pain the best that he could. Still, Erik didn't know what he was doing. Full of fear, he turned to Catherine, his eyes wide in fright. "Catherine, please! Come help!" He waited, running his hand across her forehead, brushing her curls from her face, trying to steady his shaking body. Unable to do anything but wait for fate to play out it's cards, Erik whispered soft, comforting words to Christine hoping to give her something to focus on, other than the pain.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul gasped for breath as he is set free. "Dear God..." he fell against the nearest dresser. Catherine got off of Andrew immediately and returned, timidly, to her father's side. Ignoring her fears, she began her work. "Mummy, I need you to breathe. Slowly and deeply." She demonstrated and Christine copied her. "One two three." Catherine counted as Christine started to push. The baby was born, but it was not breathing. "Pere, now!" She pointed to the dagger. "Use it!" There were tears in her eyes. "The baby is so beautiful, Mother."

 

[Guile]

Erik watched, staying by Christine's side and holding her hand the whole time, as she struggled to give birth. He had only ever witnessed one birth before, which was Catherine's, but now it was Christine and their baby being born. The thought made fear and pride well up within Erik. When the baby was born, he watched through teary eyes as Catherine helped her mother. He was drawn from his thoughts by Catherine pointing to his dagger. He pulled it out, confused, for he didn't notice that the baby wasn't breathing. "What do you mean, use it?" Erik responded, almost in a panicked yell, the fear rising in his chest.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

If this wasn't a serious moment, she'd be annoyed. "The cord!" She ordered him, holding the baby close. You think the father would know and want to cut it. She thought. She was wiping the child clean as best she could. "Happy birthday, my love!" She smiled brightly. "You look just like our Daddy." The twins screamed, both disgusted. "The cord, Monsieur!" Andrew repeated. "Now!"

 

[Guile]

Before Erik could even think about how obvious that had been, he reached out with the dagger and cut it. He went light-headed and had to blink to force himself to not pass out - what an even greater fool he would be then. However, Erik was just glad that the baby was alright. Shaking, he tossed the dagger off to the side out of the way, and sat in awe as he looked upon his child - the first of his that he had ever seen born.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine wiped the towel that she had all over the infant, wiping it clean. She wasn't ready to tell them whether she had a brother or sister. "Look at this little one's lips." She handed the wrapped up bundle to Erik. "So, what is the baby's name?" She asked, watching as Christine reached for Erik and their baby.

 

[Guile]

Erik swallowed hard, his hands shaking as he reached out for the baby. As he took the infant in his arms, he looked down and smiled. As an impulse, he kissed the baby's forehead. Tears blurred his vision, and he forced himself to stop crying by looking at Christine, who was reaching for them. Erik got closer to her, and held the baby out so that she could see their newborn. He bent over and kissed her cheek before responding to Catherine. "Well, I suppose it depends on wether the baby is a boy or girl." Erik chuckled through his tears of joy. "Are you going to tell us, or are we going to have to look for ourselves?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, my goodness!" Christine hid her tears from Erik. "This little baby, I made this little baby." She felt the newborn's fingers around hers and started crying. "I can't tell you. That would ruin your surprise, Papa." Catherine giggled childishly. "You're the father. You figure it out." She giggled as Lillith, Alistair and William all gathered around, as well as Andrew. "Oh, and..." Catherine moved hair from Erik's ear. "There might be some diaper changing involved. And, you won't make me squeal and tell you the baby's gender when you're being too lazy to check yourself."

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled, the warmth in his heart radiating from him as he held their baby. Chuckling at Catherine's words, he sighed and tried to tease his daughter. "But, my sweet Catherine, you're such a good mother! It would make it so much easier on your poor Papa and Mama if you would just take care of this one. After all, you are such a loving, caring woman." He whispered in her ear, a joke. "You know...you're my favorite first child that I ever had." Erik laughed again and sighed. "Alright, since you won't tell us what the baby is..." he put on a fake disgusted look, his smile still showing, "I suppose I'll have to...take a look." He held the baby in his arms and slowly started removing the towel, his heart beating rapidly in anticipation. Grinning down at Christine he asked softly, "are you ready?" Her tears of joy made Erik want to start crying again, but he blinked them away and forced himself to take a look at the baby. Covering the child back up again, not allowing anyone else to see, he grinned at the group that had gathered around. "Do you want to know?" But when he answered he didn't address them, he looked right at his dear love, Christine, and whispered through tears. "It's a boy." His voice got slightly louder as his excitement grew. "Our baby is a boy!" He said again through uncontrollable laughter and tears caused by immense joy.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Excuse me, Papa, but, I'm raising mine." Catherine returned the tease. "Find yourself another babysitter." Christine was as giddy as a school girl. "Don't tease me, sir, just tell me!" As soon as the child was revealed to be a boy, the whole atmosphere changed. Everyone was ecstatic. Raoul heard this from his place by the gate. He wanted so desperately to have Christine join him on the other side. He was crying as he saw the infant and the family that surrounded him. "N-No...." he whispered. "Raoul, don't go!" Christine struggled to get up, but was far too weak to do so. She feared that the Phantom, for she could not bring herself to call him by name, might blow up again and the baby would be in danger. "R-Raoul, please! You can't l-leave me in th-the dark! Please!" She reached for him again. She knew that it was more than likely that Erik would continue his rage, but she cared not. She wanted out of the darkness and into the light.

 

[Guile]

Erik was as ecstatic as everyone else - lost in the beauty of the moment. In fact, he had forgotten the vicomte entirely, and the scenario that had played out before, in the heat of the moment. That was, until, Christine started to beg Raoul not to leave - not to leave without her. Erik's smile faded, but he otherwise was motionless. He could not believe what he was hearing, though a part of him expected this. Why would she just forgive me for trying to murder Raoul just moments ago? Because she just gave birth to our son? However, Erik couldn't help feeling even more betrayed than before - because, after all, she had just given birth to their child, and was already begging to go back with Raoul. I should have known...He started to grow furious, but remained outwardly calm, for he still had the baby in his arms and he did not want to harm him. Erik spoke to Christine, but his words came out softer than he had actually imagined them - almost inaudible at first, and cracking from the pain. "What do you mean, Christine?" He was still in shock that she would turn around so quickly. But, Erik came out of his shock quickly and shook his head, refusing her wishes. Carefully, he handed the baby to Catherine, feeling that, for the safety of the child, he should not be holding him right now. "No, Christine. I cannot let you go." God, she just blessed me with another child and I am refusing her only chance at happiness, even still! The familiar feeling of guilt started to come back and haunt Erik's heart again. If this doesn't make me a monster, I don't know what will. Erik wouldn't look Christine in the eyes, feeling ashamed once again, but determined to keep her there with him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You do not know what it is that you want, Little Lottie, Christine, and for that, I cannot take you back with me." Raoul answered over his shoulder, though he was still yearning for her. Christine, not about to give up this chance, started to crawl. "Please, Raoul! I'm so frightened!" She turned to Erik as she said this. "He'll keep me here as his prisoner, forever! He'll force me to marry him to protect you and the children. Please, Raoul!" The tears came again and again. "I want to go home!" she spoke to the Phantom. "I don't care how many children I bear for you. You cannot hold me here!" She started crawling again, but the children remained frozen in fear, until Raoul helped Christine to her feet and held a protective arm around her. "Alright, I'll take you home." He promised, leading her through the water.

 

[Guile]

Erik's heart tore in two as he watch Christine do anything that she could, even crawl, to get away from him. He remained silent and frozen in his agony as she yelled at him - yelled about how frightened she was. Then, his anger grew once again. Erik blinked away the tears that had started to come to his eyes, now feeling in his heart only fury and betrayal. Without thinking, he grabbed the dagger from where it lay on the ground, and wiped it clean as he made his way toward Christine and Raoul. He did not bother to sneak up on them or pretend that he was innocently approaching. He simply walked up, tore Christine away from him - a slight pang of guilt hitting his heart, even as he raged, because he knew she was weak and in pain - reached out with the knife and ran the blade against Raoul's arm in one, swift motion. There didn't even look to be a twinge of regret in his eyes as he did it - Erik had finally had enough of this. "She does not leave." He did not yell, just stated the words as if they were facts, but he glared into the vicomte's eyes and held the dagger out in front of him, pressing it lightly against Raoul's chest. Erik made sure Christine did not get near the vicomte again - he held his other arm out to stop her if she tried, though his eyes never left Raoul's. "You leave now, alone," he threatened, his voice still as calm as though he were having a normal conversation, "or you die." Then, he shifted his eyes to Christine and his tone grew vicious. "Force you to marry me?" He growled the words at her, and yelled the next. "There was a time when I asked you and you accepted! Willingly!" His eyes blazed with fury.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul let out a howl of agony as his arm was cut open. "No! Please, don't!" Christine, unable to get around the man that fathered her children, simply held onto Erik's arm.


"The tears I might have shed for your dark fate grow cold, and turn to tears of hate!" She let her voice rise as she continued. Raoul, on the other hand, used his own dialogue. "Christine, I fought so hard to free you! Forgive me, please. Forgive me! I ruined your life by taking you from him." Christine shook her head and fought to get to him. "No, Raoul! That's not fair! I love you so much!" She cried still. "Please, do not let him keep us apart!" Raoul remained silent.

 

[Guile]

Erik held tight to Christine, forcing her back and keeping her from Raoul. Still, his dagger rested on Raoul's chest, threatening, at any wrong movement on the vicomte or Christine's behalf, to puncture his heart. Erik turned his head to look at Christine as she spoke to him. The word 'hate' hung in his mind and tormented him. Tears threatened to come as his heart shattered, but he forced himself to stand steady, keeping Christine back and Raoul under close watch. Erik half-yelled at Christine, "too late for turning back! Too late for prayers and useless pity!" His eyes burned with intense hatred, while his heart yearned for Christine. He never wanted this, he had only ever wanted her to love him. She had at one point, and that made it hurt even more - he couldn't understand why she hated him so suddenly. Of course, now it was because he was threatening their lives, but before this had happened, Erik thought everything between them was fine. God, what did I do?

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul pleaded with his former wife. "Christine, forgive me, please forgive me. I did it all for you and all for nothing." Christine didn't waver as she moved forward. "Farewell, my fallen idol and false friend. We had such hopes and now those hopes are shattered." She looked directly at Erik, moving closer to him, a glazed look in her eye. She wanted him, she knew. She wanted to sing and be taught by him. "Erik, please release Raoul." She said calmly.

 

[Guile]

Erik hung his head, full of shame, and had to force himself to look up at her. His body was trembling, though he stood tall, trying to keep himself together. The blade still rested against Raoul's chest, but his hand shook slightly, his grip on the blade softening at her words. He wanted to release the vicomte, he truly did, but how could he ever bring himself to trust Christine again? She left him far too often for Erik to be comfortable letting Raoul go. "How can I be sure you will stay with me? If I let him go..." His words died off and he shifted his gaze away from hers again, unable to look into her eyes that were still so beautiful.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She was now less than a foot away. Erik could easily grab her if he desired. Looking back at the frightened family that gathered in the corner, she prayed that they would calm down. "Angel of Music, guide and guardian..grant to me, your glory." She felt the dagger's handle and took it gently in her hands, then, she tossed it right through the bars of the gate and did something nobody expected. She kissed him once again. "Please, I hate seeing you in such pain. Phantom, I love you. I live for your touch and your voice." She paused. "This face..." she pressed her knuckles to the scarred side. "This beautiful, magnificent face, it has hypnotized me and mesmerized me. You are so beautiful." She started tearing up. "Even more beautiful than I am. You have a voice to match." She assured him. "I want....you."

 

[Guile]

Erik was lost in her voice, and he reluctantly let her take the dagger from his hands, letting his arm hang at his side. He still could not look her in the eyes, but was forced to turn her way when she kissed him. Tears forming in his eyes once again, he reached out and placed his hands gently on her waist as their lips touched. Erik couldn't believe what was happening. When the kiss broke and she spoke to him, placing her knuckles on the scarred side of his face he let out an audible cry, unable to hold it back any longer. Erik could not speak, unable to form his thoughts into words, he managed to get out a soft, "I love you..." before wrapping his arms around her in a loving embrace. "You are far more beautiful than I - even within you I can see your beauty. Your face, body, yes, they are beautiful - beyond words. But, it's your heart that always caught me, my sweet Christine. You were always too good to me." Erik whimpered out his words, forcing them through his throat. "I need you..."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Please, only allow me to say goodbye to Raoul. If you do not trust that the kiss I will give him means less than the one I just gave you, then don't allow it, sir." She turned away and now faced Raoul. Closing her fingers together behind his back and kissing him, just a small peck on the lips, she smiled and wiped her tears. "Please, just leave us here. This isn't goodbye, I promise. We will be able to speak and embrace each other again, but, for now.." she kissed him again. "You must go, unless you wish to stay for the ceremony." Raoul shook his head and backed toward the gate as Alistair let the lever up. "No, I cannot stay. Marry him, if it is your wish, but, promise me that you love him and aren't doing this for me, Lottie." He stared intently at her. Christine backed up into Erik, holding his hands. "I love the Phantom of the Opera, Raoul De Chagney. I love you too, but in a different manner." She assured him. Satisfied that his Little Lottie was safe and happy, Raoul turned on his heel and walked away. For how long, I am not sure.

 

[Guile]

Erik nodded his head to her and stepped back, waving her foreword. "Please, say goodbye to him. I understand." He assured her softly, then stood nearby and let the two part ways. Erik waited, admittedly a little nervous - unsure wether Christine would really stay - until she back up into him and held his hands. He smiled slightly at the warm tenderness of her skin against his, before looking up at the vicomte. In Erik's eyes there was no hatred, in fact, he was almost blankly looking at him. However, if Raoul had been looking hard enough, he would have seen a slight hint of appreciation glazing over the Phantom's eyes. When the vicomte had turned and gone, Erik placed his arm comfortingly around Christine. "Thank you." He whispered to her, knowing it was the least he could say. Erik knew it had to hurt her, parting ways with the vicomte, but he was just glad that she had chosen to stay and had not, indeed, been forced into doing so. More than anything, Erik was glad that she hadn't chosen him because he was threatening Raoul. "I owe you my happiness, Christine." He placed a kiss on her cheek. "And now, it is my life's ambition to make you as happy as I."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"One thing that will make me happy now is a nice, hot meal. I'm too weak to do it myself." She was, admittedly, using all of her strength to stand, mostly holding onto the Phantom for leverage. Losing her footing, she collapsed into him. "Oh, forgive me, Master." She attempted to tease. "Weak ankles are even more so in the face of such beauty." She grinned up at him, childishly.

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled, and held onto her tightly as she collapsed into him. "No need to forgive, my love. You have had a very long day." With a grin, he swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the water and over to the bed, where he lay her down gently. "Now, if you will excuse me, I shall go make you that meal you desperately need." He teased a little bit, "I just pray I don't mess it up." Erik smiled warmly at her, kissed her on the forehead and went off to make her something to eat in the other room. Clanging of pots and pans filled their house with racket, but in no time at all Erik had returned to Christine with a bowl of steaming hot soup. Placing it on a tray near the chair, he went over to where Christine lay and smiled down at her. "If you'll permit me, I shall escort you to your seat." He bent down and picked her up in his arms again, carried her to the chair and sat her down gently, moving the food in front of her so that she could eat. "I think it turned out alright." He assured her, jokingly. "I mean, I tasted it and I haven't died yet, so it must be safe." Chuckling he turned to the rest of the family, and Andrew as well. "Please, feel free to eat if you'd like. I apologize that it is only soup, but there is plenty in there for everyone." He indicated to the section of the house that he had closed off for food and cooking stuffs. "The next time I try cooking, I shall go out of my way to make a feast for you all." He promised with a chuckle.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine lay on the bed, shaking, for some reason, then, she felt her dress and it was soaking wet. She was chilled to the bone. "That would be awful if you burned us all alive." Christine smiled and stroked his hair before he left, in a similar fashion to an owner petting a dog, but she didn't care. "What a gentleman..." she giggled as his arms wrapped properly around her, not placing them where she felt would be uncomfortable. "I would hope you did, or you'll be committing homicide." She tried to tease, though the soup smelled so delicious that she could not focus. But, she would not ladle the soup onto her spoon, instead, she sat on her hands and smiled up at him. The entire family tried the soup, minus the two babies. William just stared at his uncle like the newborn were an alien.

 

[Guile]

Erik stood beside Christine, not hungry at all. He was smiling down at her, his brow raised in confusion as she simply smiled back up at him. "Yes?" He asked, a playful lightness behind his words. "Are you going to tell me why you aren't eating, or are you just going to keep looking at me like that?" Erik laughed before remembering her shivering earlier. He went over to the wardrobe and pulled out another dress. This one was new, one that none of the family members had seen before, but it was just an everyday dress. He held it up so that Christine could see it. "I bought it for you because I never seem to have any around when you need it." Glancing at her wet dress he added, "and now I'm glad I did." Chuckling, Erik laid the dress on top of the bed. "You can change into it when you're done eating so that you do not freeze to death." He smiled, returning to her side.