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

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine couldn't believe her attitude toward the man that gave her life. She followed after him with tears in his eyes. "Papa! Papa!" She dropped the two babies on the single bed. "Papa, forgive me! I didn't mean to be rude!" She had lost all traces of him by the time she reached the stallion. I'm so so sorry. I love my Papa. You've just been showing Mother so much attention, I feel like you forgot about your children. The tears stung her eyes like fire. Christine hid under Meg's bed and couldn't keep herself from laughing. Madame Giry was just outside the room, passing by with a broom, when her daughter came out and shut the door behind her. "Christine's hiding from the Phantom, Mother. She's teasing." Giry kept sweeping. "Ah, but our friend is not a man to trifle with. Remember that, dear." Meg nodded slowly. "I know."

 

[Guile]

Erik felt a pang of guilt as he searched for Christine - because of how short he had been with Catherine. A part of him longed to go back to her and apologize, but he was starting to get more and more nervous about Christine's whereabouts. As time ticked by, and he ran out of places to search, Erik's heart beat faster. Thoughts rushed into his mind and threatened to drive him mad. Perhaps I should check outside. But, no, you haven't looked throughout the whole House yet, she could be wandering the halls. What if she did go out for a walk? Oh, God, what if something happened to her? What if someone took her? Kidnappings aren't common here, and Christine's a tough woman - she wouldn't go easily. Still, the more he tried to rationalize, the more worried it seemed to make him. At last, Erik came upon Meg. He ran up to her, his heart pounding in his chest, trying to hide how frightened he was by keeping his voice steady. Despite how much he tried to hide it, his eyes were wide with fright. "Meg! Oh, thank God!" He said as he approached. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but have you seen Christine?" Erik tried desperately to calm himself. "I've been looking for her everywhere."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Hearing the hurt and pain in her old friend's voice caused Meg to want to think about this whole game that Christine was playing. She hated, hated, seeing someone that he loved so upset and anxious. Praying that Christine heard the panic in Erik's voice and understood why this game couldn't continue, she waited before she answered. "Yes, Monsieur Erik. I know where she is, exactly. Please, do not fret. She is safe." She faced him, but heard the click of the door as she opened it. Still wanting to please Christine, she grinned. "I don't know exactly where she is in this room, but she's here." She smiled, kissed him on the cheek and swept from her room.

 

[Guile]

Erik waited, his pulse escalating to higher levels, for Meg to answer. When she finally did, he let out a breath of relief. He smiled when he realized that Christine had only been hiding. "Oh, thank you Meg." Erik had a breathy sincerity about his words. "Thank you very much." He smiled as she kissed his cheek. He watched her go for a moment, buying some time to think about what he was going to say to Christine. Then, he opened the door the rest of the way and stepped inside. Looking around, she was not anywhere out in the open. Grinning, Erik put his hands on his hips and spoke loudly, a tease in his voice. "Christine Daae! How dare you frighten your angel like that!" He tried to coax her out of her hiding spot.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

There was a shuffling in the closet that Christine prayed that Erik didn't hear. She was on the top shelf, so that would mean that she wasn't as easily seen. The clothes would give her some cover. "My Angel should learn how to tease and play. I may be a grandmother now, but I am not old." She whispered. A feather boa that was part of one of Meg's costumes was tickling her nose, but she tried hard not to sneeze, afraid that she'd be discovered.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled and laughter slipped out between his teeth as she spoke. He tried to make out where her voice had come from, but couldn't tell exactly. Erik searched under the bed, but she was not there. He felt like a little boy playing hide-and-seek with his little friend. Strange, how fun it is to behave like a child every now and again. At last he opened the closet. At first glance, nothing was out of order and it seemed impossible that Christine could be in there. Just as Erik was about to close the door again, he saw the slightest of movements - a few feathers on Meg's boa moved slightly, as if pushed by air. He grinned. Christine, you devil. How did you get up there? Trying not to make it obvious that he had spotted her, Erik looked around in the closet for a few more seconds, as if still searching. Then, suddenly, he reached up and grabbed her. Erik laughed as he did so and, making sure he had a good hold on her, he pulled her off the shelf, being careful not to hurt her, and down into his arms. "Got you! What, did you think I was blind as well as deaf?" He smiled down at her, his laughter still ringing through the room.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She grinned as she read his thoughts. Up where? She giggled, watching him search among Meg's dresses and costumes and the like, when he had turned his face to the exact spot that Christine was breathing into and she covered her mouth and nose. When she felt his hand travel across her back, then down to her arm, she fought, be he overpowered her and she was dragged down. "I figured that mask was obscuring your vision." She admitted, playing with her hair as she was cradled.

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at her comment. "Ah, yes, but I have another eye, my dear." He didn't put her down just yet, he wanted to hold her a little more. "One that doesn't have a mask near it." Though he was having a good time, his mind wandered back to how frightened he had been before. However, Erik didn't want to scold her for it - for one, he didn't own her and could not tell her what and what not to do. And second, he didn't want to make her feel bad about it. So, he addressed it with a smile. "You know, Christine, you really had me worried for a while." Chuckling, he added, "and you got the kids in on it too. You're pretty good at this. But, next time, don't tell Alistair. He smiles far too much to hide anything."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She sighed, relieved that she wasn't getting another Gustav in her life. "Well, I understand." She knew not what to say to him. "And don't scold Alistair about smiling too much, after all, before he was showing no emotions." She pointed out. "Now, let's go home. Believe me, I heard what Catherine said and it hurts."

 

[Guile]

"You're right." Erik put Christine down gently. As they headed for home, Erik thought about Alistair - he really was getting better. The thought made Erik smile. He was glad that his son was opening up to people, letting them see how he felt. Then, Erik thought about what Christine had said about Catherine. He was confused - she must have said something and I didn't hear it because I was too busy thinking about where Christine could be. Hesitantly, Erik asked Christine, "well...what did she say?" He felt bad that he hadn't heard it - he took pride in his connections with his loved ones. But, he had to ask Christine. Whatever Catherine had said certainly wasn't good, and Erik's mind drifted back to how short he had been with her before he left to look for Christine.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's dark brown eyes shone bright along the halls until they could get to their trap door. "I heard her say that she feels alone. You and I are always out and she's at home, raising Jonathan." She started off. "I saw her sketch notebook and she sort of turned it into a diary. She said she misses how it was when it was only the two of you, back when she was fourteen years old. Before I...before I came back and we had more children." She wiped her face clean of the tears. "She misses getting to see you and have you focus on her for the few hours every time she would sneak out." She paused for a breath. "It hurts her that she used to be daddy's little girl and now she just watches the others while we're out." Her voice was cracked and there was something in her throat that was making it difficult to swallow.

 

[Guile]

Erik felt a deep slash in his heart where the guilt of this news cut him. He saw Christine's tears and heard the pain in her voice, so he wrapped his arm around her comfortingly and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Don't worry for her, Christine. I will talk with her. I'll make it up to her, make her feel special to me again - because she still is, she always has been." He paused, thinking about how he could make it up to his eldest daughter. "I'll spend some time with her, let her get out of the house and away from the children for a while. Or, if she prefers, she can go out with Andrew and I'll stay home and watch the children for once." Erik smiled at Christine and rubbed her arm, hoping to cheer her up.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine smiled at him and before they knew it, they were at the gate. "I do hope you mean what you said, Erik." Christine hugged him. The shower was on, only barely heard over Andrew's piano playing. "Is someone going to let us in, please?" Christine asked her son as her daughter played with the babies. "Nope, no ticket, no entry. You should know that about a theater." Alistair shook his head. "Either show your tickets, or you don't see the show."

 

[Guile]

"I do." Erik smiled at Christine before turning to the children, namely, Alistair. He started to laugh at his son's words. "Ah ha, but either you let us in...or you don't see your parents again." Erik was smiling at his own tease. "Now, what do you say to that, my son?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine had heard this, for the water was now off. She was angry that he had said this so lightly after what Christine had just told him, but thought to ignore it. Alistair thought for a second and sighed. "Good, that means Tremaine won't have to deal with you." He teased. "He'll get the theater back." Still, he laughed. "Oh, so you are going to hold me captive." She laughed as her son tried to open it, but struggled. "Better let the big boys handle it, Ali." Andrew had his shirt off, for it was starting to heat up. Rubbing his hands together, he wrenched the lever down, causing the gate to rise.

 

[Guile]

Erik smirked at his son as he spoke of Tremaine. "Oh, so now you're in favor of him?" He chuckled though, and stepped back as Andrew opened the gate. "Thank you very much, Andrew." Erik said kindly as he entered. When he approached Alistair he ruffled the boy's hair. "Good try." Chuckling, Erik smiled down at him so the boy would know he was only teasing. It was then that he noticed it was quiet - the water had stopped. Catherine will be out soon. He felt the guilt hit him hard again in the heart.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"It was nothing." Andrew responded. "I was the only one strong enough that wasn't showering." He chuckled and slapped a hand on Erik's shoulder as his Catherine emerged from the tub. "Oh, you're back. Hello, Mother." She smiled at Christine, not knowing what to say to her father at the moment without crying like a baby. "Catherine, I must go home now. My father will be looking for me." He kissed her cheek. He still hadn't touched her lips with his. Feeling that she knew why he was leaving, she went back to her sketching. "Goodbye, love." Andrew left them alone. Catherine kept drawing, this time, it was her as a little girl and a dark figure behind her, but it didn't show the figure's face. This was her favorite memory. "My dear, should I leave you alone, then?" Christine asked as she got the children ready for the park. "I want you to try and work something out."

 

[Guile]

Erik tried to hold in a grunt as he was slapped in the back by Andrew, who was surprisingly much stronger, and more shirtless, than he appeared capable of being. But, Erik liked him - he was a good man, as far as he could tell. "Goodbye, Andrew. Please, you are welcome here anytime." He assured the man as he left them. Stealing a glance at Catherine, he answered Christine as he helped her get the children ready. "If you would, my love, yes. I think it would be best if we were alone for a while." He placed a kiss on top of the children's heads, then kissed Christine on the lips. "Thank you." He whispered to her with a soft smile. "Don't worry. I promised you, remember? I don't break my promises." Erik assured her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I know you, Phantom of the Opera, you would never break your promise to anyone. Especially not when a little girl is involved." She kissed him and carried both babies with the twins following behind, or, in Lillith's case, dancing ahead alongside the river. She actually came close to falling in and would have, had she been pulled up by her brother. Catherine still sat on her side of the bed and didn't look up for the longest time, too scared of what Erik had to say. Would he think her to be selfish? Jealous? Overreacting? Just craving attention? She knew not, nor did she want to find out, but she spoke up anyway. "What's wrong? Didn't you want to go with them?" She didn't mean for her words to come out as rude. "I thought you loved the park."

 

[Guile]

Erik watched them go as he stood there searching for words to say. He didn't turn around to face Catherine until she had spoken. When he did, a small, half-smile came to his lips and he walked over to her. "I do love the park," Erik began timidly, sitting down on the other side of the bed and facing her, "but I thought I should stay with you." He paused and closed his eyes, still trying to get up the nerve to ask her forgiveness - to even speak to her about his actions as of late. But, he knew he had to and not just because he promised Christine, but because Catherine was his daughter and he loved her. Slowly, his opened his eyes and looked at her, a small sigh escaping his lips. "Catherine...I know how you've been feeling lately, and I understand. I stayed back so that...well, so that I could apologize. I haven't been a very good father to you lately - it pains me to say it, but it's the truth. I guess, if I want to sum it all up, what I'm really trying to say is that I love you. You're still my little girl and I care about you just as much as the other children - just as much as I care about Christine." Hesitantly, Erik reached out and brushed a piece of hair away from Catherine's face and tucked it behind her ear. "I'm sorry if I've been making it hard to see that, but I want to make it up to you. I want to spend time with you and act like a father to you. I've neglected you very much lately, but I want to make it right. If you can forgive me."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Smiling at her father's touch, she considered forgiving him. Thinking of the nicest way to forgive her father for his atrocious parenting style, she started teasing him. "I don't know, Papa. You hurt me pretty badly. I'll think about it and then get back to you on your death bed." She laughed. "Or, maybe at mine." She giggled at this morbid humor. "I really need to think about it. You've really been neglecting me and my lessons." She got closer and laid her head on his shoulder. "Papa, I have to admit something too. I haven't been the best daughter. If I was, you would have heard how I felt from me and not Mama."

 

[Guile]

Erik grinned, knowing she was teasing him. He teased back, just a little bit. Or rather, at least his words were a little lighter. After all, even though Catherine was teasing, he knew she meant some of it. He really had hurt her, badly. The way she laid her head on his shoulder, the gentle way she spoke to him - even after all he had done or rather, not done - made him feel even more guilty, though he was glad to have her close. Erik caressed her cheek with the back of his hand as she confessed to him her thoughts on how she felt she had been as a daughter. He shook his head at this, not believing it. "No, no, my dear. You are a wonderful daughter, believe me - far kinder and sweeter than I deserve, especially after the way I've treated you lately." Erik wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close in an embrace. "It's not your fault that our connection has weakened. That fault rests on me entirely, my sweet. And I promise to fix it - I am your humble servant from now on." He teased, lifting her chin up so that he could look her in the eyes - so that she could she how genuine his promise to her was.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Good, you can start repaying your debt by, gee, I don't know." She sighed. "How will I make you suffer." She laughed at this. "I know, you'll have to sit through a whole lesson with me. And, I feel as if I should warn you." She got really close to his ear, sharing her secret. "I haven't sung a note in weeks. Not since you interrupted Mother and me. So, my voice might fail you." She pecked him on the lips as she stood up. "Maestro, if you please..."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed as she decided to whisper in his ear her big secret. Grinning at her peck on his lips, he stood and went to the piano. "Well, I can't lie and say I'm not disappointed in your lack of singing...but I will lie and say you'll do fine!" He teased, laughter on his breath. "What shall you sing, my liege?" Erik ran his fingers up over the keys, playing a scale as if he were warming up his hands to play, put his hands on his knees and waited for her response.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She rolled her eyes again. "Well, Think of Me is way over done and it's your song for Lilly, but, that is really the only song that comes to mind at the moment, but, of course, I am always open for your input." She added. She then started singing the notes as they were played. "I can't think of one."