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

[Guile]

Erik sighed, a smile still on his lips. "Oh, alright, let me see..." he sat there a few moments thinking about what he could have her sing. Then, an idea came. The song he thought of was his and Christine's, but where was the harm in having Catherine sing it? After all, they had already cleared that mess up and Catherine understood. Now, it was simply a song that would probably be good for her to play. "Well, Catherine, if you don't object to it - you can sing your mother and I's song." Erik smiled at her. "It would be good practice, especially with the series of notes at the end for you." He paused, waiting for her answer. "What do you say?" He positioned his fingers to start playing it.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She smiled, ecstatic that she would allow her to sing a song meant for her mother, but she wanted to be sure that his brain wasn't scrambled for some reason. "Doth mine ears deceive me?" She teased him. This song, she was certain, meant everything to her father and she would damn herself to Hell for messing it up in front of him. "Are you absolutely certain that it's alright and that you won't get upset if I do?" She wanted so desperately to sing this song for him. With him. But, would it ruin their relationship? Would it hurt her beloved parents? "You wouldn't mind at all?"

 

[Guile]

Chuckling at her excitement, yet weariness, Erik smiled at her. "Of course, dear. I promise you that it's perfectly alright, and I don't mind at all if you sing it." He remembered back to the time when he did - he had been foolish then. Yes, this song was everything to him and Christine, but his children were also everything to him. What would the harm in sharing it with them be? Erik patted the piano bench. "Come, sit with me." He inched his way over a little to make a tad more room for her. "We shall sing this song."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She didn't want to sound so giddy about all of this. Yes, this was in the top three of her favorites, and she did want to do well, but something was still not right. She quickly shook that feeling away as she kept herself from skipping over to the seat next to Erik. "Thank you ever so much, Papa..." she kept calm as she said this. Meanwhile, the family was coming home.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled and started to play the song on the piano. "You're welcome, my dear." He said over the sound of the piano, waiting for her to begin as the music drifted off into her part. Erik found himself getting excited - he hadn't heard Catherine sing in quite awhile. Plus, he had never heard her sing this song, not entirely anyway.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

It took her a small amount of time to find the correct starting note and, at long last, she gathered all the courage she had and stored it in her voice. "In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came...." she started off soft, for her fear was fighting to grab hold of her throat. "That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name..." she kept glancing at the gate, which was still open. At last, her family was home and she sighs, before she continues, for there was an encouraging smile on her beloved Mama's face. "And do I dream again, for now I find...the Phantom of the Opera is there...inside my mind." Christine urged her to continue forward without speaking to Catherine, not even singing. Erik would owe Christine Music of the Night later.

 

[Guile]

Erik had closed his eyes to listen to his daughter's voice, his fingers being accustomed to the placement of the keys of the piano by now. He smiled as she sang, gradually growing more and more confident, and sounding beautiful right from the start. "Sing once again with me, a strange duet. My power over you grows stronger yet." Erik chimed in powerfully, hardly having to work to match his voice with his daughters' - they naturally sounded good together. "And though you turn from me to glance behind, the Phantom of the Opera is there inside your mind." Erik turned to see Christine and the rest of the family coming home. He winked at Christine, a bright smile on his face, but said nothing - just listened to Catherine's voice.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear.." to add theatrics, she scooted away from him. "I am the mask you wear..." she waved a hand over his mask. This felt amazing to be singing a much more mature song than Think of Me for a change. She kept looking back at Christine, though she didn't need to, for Christine seemed to enjoy the fact that she wasn't having to sing for a change.

 

[Guile]

Erik grinned at her enthusiasm and, for once, decided to join in with her. As she waved her hand over his mask, he grabbed her wrist gently in his hand and looked her in the eyes intensely, though there was a smile on his lips. The room was silent in that instant, except for his voice as he sang, "It's me they hear..." Erik let go of her wrist and continued playing immediately as they sang the next part together. "My spirit and your voice in one combined, the Phantom of the Opera is there inside your mind."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She stared at his white knuckles around her wrist and immediately took this as another part of the song. "Your spirit and my voice, in one combined! The Phantom of the Opera is there...inside my mind!" She smiled as he let go. She kissed his cheek.

 

[Guile]

Erik grinned as she finished with him and kissed his cheek. He was so proud in that moment that he didn't even ask her to continue with the notes at the end. She had done so beautifully and Erik was thrilled by this. Wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace, he whispered to her, "you did so well! I mean, we all know you have a voice as beautiful as your mothers, but even still! That was beautifully done, Catherine!"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine was taken aback when her father yanked her into a hug. "Th-Thanks, Papa..." she felt a little weird, but ignored that feeling as well. "You know, your father is correct. You did that even more beautifully than I did in the beginning." Christine confessed, embracing Catherine as well. "I love that song for your voice, darling." Christine caressed her daughter's cheek. "Granted, it is a much more difficult piece than Think of Me, much darker, but it is a beautifully done work for you." Christine hugged Catherine again. "Now, what's next?" She asked the Phantom.

 

[Guile]

Erik let Catherine go, looking up and listening to Christine as she talked, and folded his hands in his lap. "What's next?" He asked himself, chuckling at her enthusiasm to sing more. "Well...I don't know..." Erik started to tease, looking down at his hands and flexing his fingers. "My hands are kind of warn out...I don't know if I should play anymore tonight. And what's a song to sing without music to back it up?" He started laughing at his own tease, knowing perfectly well he could play more or even sing without the piano. Erik just enjoyed picking on them.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Well then, you should let me take care of that for you." Christine teased him and sat on his lap and massaged his hands for him. "Very well. I guess you can't do anything else then, can you?" She winked at him to clarify what she meant. "Oh well, I guess I can live without it." She brought Jonathan close to her and fed him. "Such a shame."

 

[Guile]

Erik grinned as Christine sat on his lap and massaged his hands, as if that had been his goal all along - to get her to do that. Then, she made a comment and winked at him, and Erik cleared his throat, teasing back. He clapped his hands together lightly and said suddenly, "you know what, Christine? I think I'm all better now." He laughed and continued, "so, uh...no need to worry about living without anything." Erik bit his bottom lip, trying not to smile, but he couldn't help it.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She smirked and laid back against him. "Oh, you're a fast healer, aren't you?" She kissed his neck lightly. "It seems that you only heal when there is something in it for you." She pointed out. "Now, let's go and not come back for a while." She teased and led him behind the curtain of the bed. "We need at least two more beds here, darling. The children are too big now." She curled up and slept, or, did she?

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed, the prickling sensation of her lips on his neck making him feel light headed - in a surprisingly good way. He stood and followed her, willingly - and very much so - behind the curtain. Erik nodded at her comment on them needing more beds. "You're right. I shall have to take care of that very soon. Perhaps tomorrow I can go out and get more..." He let his voice trail off as he remembered quickly why he had been so eager to follow Christine in here. And, it certainly wasn't because they needed more beds. Erik watched as she curled up on the bed, then quickly followed suit. However, he didn't sleep and he wasn't sure that she was sleeping either. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, Erik whispered in Christine's ear. "Well, my love. I kept my promise to you once again." Grinning he teased her. "I think I should be rewarded for all the times I have kept my promises, should I not?" Trying desperately to hold back his laughter, he placed his lips on her neck and kissed her, breathing her in.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She rolled back over. "Perhaps you should be repaid." Everything went black for Erik and Christine. And, once again, Catherine was left with the children, but, she didn't mind, for she had her relationship with her daddy back again. Sneaking away herself, she went in search of the cast for Il Muto so that she could continue playing the page boy. She tried her best and was constantly told that what she was doing was wrong. "Who taught you to act, eh?" Anastasia was once again being a pain in Catherine's side. "That Opera Ghost isn't around to save you this time." Catherine ignored Anastasia, fighting the urge to knock her out.

 

[Guile]

When their time together had ended, Erik lay beside Christine and smiled at her. He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and kissed her lips. She was too beautiful and, if Erik were honest, too precious for him to keep his hands off of her. "You are most generous." He teased softly, a small laugh escaping his lips. Then, he heard a commotion above - they were rehearsing again. Erik sighed, unaware that Catherine had gone to join them, and looked up at the ceiling where the cast stood above. "It's nice to hear them rehearsing sometimes...it reminds me of how much I love this business. Why I've been so persistent when it comes to staying here and trying my best to help out."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Well, Erik..." her laughter was like chimes. "You'll have to get over the whole generous thing. I have to raise three babies still."Catherine kept balling and unballing her fists. "Shut your mouth..." she hissed. "Or what? You'll send the scary Phantom of the Opera after me again? His former ways are merely a myth now. He doesn't do anything anymore. He hasn't collected gold in years! He's weak!" She chuckled and took center stage. Catherine just let it go.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled at Christine. "Ah, but now you have me to help you." He turned to her once more and kissed her on the cheek. "Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it for you, my princess." His laughter died out as he thought about their children. Raising one brow in suspicion he spoke softly. "Speaking of our children, Christine. I haven't heard a sound out of any of them for quite some time." Erik turned to look at her, smiling. "What kind of trouble do you think they got into now?" He joked, knowing the children to be, normally, very well-behaved.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine reached for a piece of Erik's hair and moved it from his face. "Your hair is usually so well kept, unless your angry, of course." She chuckled nervously. "I like having our time together. But, we do have little ones that need us." Both William and Jonathan started crying as soon as Erik said that it was quiet. "Oh, dear. It seems you spoke too soon." Christine pushed him away gently and opened the curtains.

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed softly at her remark about his hair, trying not to wake the children. His effort was futile, they were already awake and crying. "It seems I did." He shook his head, a grin on his lips, and followed Christine out. Erik made a motion to head for the babies that were crying, but stopped and looked around. He noticed that Catherine was gone. Confused, he turned to Christine. "Did Catherine tell you if she had any plans for tonight, dear?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine lifted her infant into her arms and rocked him. "Now that you've said something, I don't remember, dear." She took Jonathan through the lake and poked her head out. "Oh, dear..I pray that she is alright." Christine looked left and right for Catherine. "Catherine? Dear, are you there?" She was starting to worry about the obedient girl that always told them where she was going. "Catherine!" She kept going until her bare feet touched hard ground. "Catherine!" Her breathing came in rasps. "Where are you!?!" She heard music starting and Anastasia's singing, alongside Carlotta's voice. "Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye..." that voice duet made her angry.

 

[Guile]

Erik waited for Christine, a part of him hoping that Catherine would just be coming back from a stroll or something and that her mother would spot her. However, Erik knew that wouldn't be the case so, after a few moments of waiting, he ran out to Christine. That's when he heard the music and the voices of Carlotta and Anastasia themselves - the sound made him cringe. "Dear God, those managers must have gone completely mad..." Erik whispered almost to himself before turning to Christine, facing the matter at hand. "I will go look for Catherine, dear. I'm sure she's just fine." He tried to remain calm, for Christine's sake, but found himself growing worried.