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

[Guile]

Erik chuckled lightly, held her tight, and complied to her wish. "You alone can make my song take flight. Help me make the music...of the night." He finished the song as softly, if not softer, than he had started it. Then, Erik paused, thinking about what Christine had said. "You know something, Christine? I believe you." Erik smiled warmly, though she was pressed against his chest and could not see. "I should hope that you won't return to him." He said, remembering the hurt from the last time. "However, I believe you when you say that a part of you will always love me. And I want you to know that no matter how long you leave me for, if you do, I will always love you. You could leave tonight and not come back for twenty years, and when you did finally come back, you would still find a faithful friend begging for your love again." Erik caressed her cheek gently, then brought his hand up and ran his fingers carefully through Christine's hair. He listened intently as she spoke of when she was a child, and smiled when she mentioned loving him since he had first spoken to her. However, the news of her placing a kiss on the mirror each night came as a surprise to him. A nice one, but still a surprise. "You really kissed the mirror each night?" He asked her softly, amazed that she would do something like that. He hadn't known that she had cared so much about him way back then. "I never knew...it delights me because...I was doing the same thing." Erik admitted and smiled again, hardly believing this beautiful moment.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Ah, no wonder there was a smudge in it much taller than I could reach." She looked up at him with her arms folded under her body. "Of course, I never knew how possessive you would later become because of all of that." She wrapped her fingers in the fabric of his costume. She thought of how he would address her as 'my Christine', and then, she remembered something. "Your chains are still mine. You belong to me!" She teased. "Sounds quite possessive, correct? You had better not act like that when we celebrate your daughter's engagement."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at her tease. "You never let me live anything down, do you?" Shaking his head, he couldn't think of a way to respond to Christine. Erik's face went red as she reminded him of how possessive he truly was, at least back then. "Alright, so maybe I went a little over the top..." His words were cut off by another thought. "Wait...my dear, did you just say our daughter's engagement?" Erik looked at her questioningly. "Did...did Andrew...propose?" He was shocked by this and, admittedly, a little saddened that he was going to see his little girl with a man again.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She did the same as she shook her head. "Nope. I don't." Christine swayed still. "I don't let you live anything down." Her voice started to crack as she laughed. "A little over the top?" She cocked an eyebrow. "And I said your daughter's engagement. No, he hasn't proposed yet." A thoughtful tease came to her. "And, praise God for that. That still gives me time to take him." She cackled. "You have competition, my prince."

 

[Guile]

Erik scoffed at her tease. "Competition? What, with shirtless boy?" He teased back, knowing very well he liked Andrew. "You had better not run out on me with him. Your daughter will never forgive you!" Laughing, Erik held onto Christine just a tad bit tighter. "But, that's alright. You go ahead and make your threats about leaving me for him. Because, in the end, you aren't going anywhere unless pretty boy and pry you from my arms." Erik placed a kiss on her cheek, grinning from the tease.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

" Shirtless boy? Oh, yes!" She continued to tease. "Those muscles are what hooked me in." When he said that she had better not leave with Andrew, she took that as a threat. "Or what?" She questioned him. "You'll hang him like you almost did to Raoul?" She wanted to know what would happen if Andrew stepped out of line. Then, she thought of what he said next. "I can't even pry myself from your arms when you're angry." She thought of how she begged him to let her go. "And, one more thing. When are you going to put all of that money to use and hire a priest?"

 

[Guile]

"Mhmm.." Erik pretended to be unimpressed with the way Christine was acting toward Andrew, this being part of his tease. "I like to refer to that act of his as 'indecent exposure.'" Laughing, Erik considered her question. "Oh, no. He's far too nice of a young man to do that. I'll just torture him for a while, mess up his pretty face just a tiny bit." He smiled to show her he was, indeed, still only teasing. "And the reason you can't get out of my grip is because I'm strong too. Pretty boy isn't the only one with muscles, as you should very well know, my love. But, don't worry, you know I'd never hurt you in the process." Erik contemplated her last question. "Ah, yes, that." He waved his one hand dismissively, as if this were just a minor task that he could take care of at any moment. "Well, as soon as you give the word, Christine, I shall have us a priest."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"He's just a boy, honestly. It's in his nature, any man's nature at twenty-six years on this earth." She nuzzled into him sweetly. "You can't mess his face up. Catherine won't forgive you." She pointed out. "I know you won't hurt me. 'Did you think that I would harm her? Why should I make her pay for those sins which are yours?'" She recited. "I hang onto every word, every song that you produce." She whispered. At last, at long last, she reached his last sentence. "I want it to be soon. Very soon."

 

[Guile]

Erik his eyes for a minute, letting the feeling of her nuzzled into him soak in. He loved when Christine was close, he could never get enough of her. "Oh, I won't do anything to him." He chuckled a little bit. "He's a good man, better than most I've ever met." His thoughts went to his father - whom he never knew. Then, Erik was brought back to reality by Christine's voice again. And what a beautiful voice it was, even though she was only speaking. "Christine, that means the world to me, I want you to know that." Erik was smiling at the thought of how Christine remembered, so easily, almost everything he had ever said or done to her. "Very soon, you say? Well, what do say to one month? Perhaps that's a little too soon. Then again, all we need is a priest, friends, and family informed of when and where and we're set to go. What do you say, my dear?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She shook her head violently. "No, that's too far!" She protested. "You don't want to marry me! I see that now!" She turned away from him now. "I knew it. There is someone else." She teased. "That's why!" Her voice was shaking as though she were really crying. "I gave you my my mind blindly and you betrayed me." She broke away with surprising strength, hiding a giggle.

 

[Guile]

Erik eyed her suspiciously, surprised that she had been able to break away. He noted that she was far too good at acting - he couldn't tell if she were really crying or not. However, knowing how Christine was, Erik assumed it was a tease and so, he teased back. "Oh, no, my love! There is no one else, I swear to you." He ran in front of her, lifted her chin up, and gently forced their lips to meet in a kiss. After a few seconds he broke the kiss suddenly, as if he remembered something. "Well, okay...maybe there are a few other girls. However, I want to marry you, Christine. You should feel honored! I picked you over the other five." Erik started laughing, unable to hide it.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Unable to hide the tease any longer, she flung herself on him in her desperation to apologize. "I feel very honored to even be learning under you, let alone marrying you." She whispered. When at last the children spoke up, they're voices were drawn out, as though hungry, when Christine realized that she had let the food cook too long. She put the fire out quickly. "I am so sorry!" She raised her voice as she just started making sandwiches and handing them to the twins. "Catherine, William needs to eat." The young mother sighed. "Alright." She lifted William and the two babies started feeding. "I'm such a fool!" Christine added.

 

[Guile]

Christine's words made Erik smile brightly as he held onto her. He would have responded, but his attention was drawn to the children, then to the burning food. Erik reached out to help her with the fire, but she already had it put out. He didn't realize how much fire still frightened him until the flames were out and there was no danger. Erik felt his heart racing and had to blink a few times to get himself to calm down. It was just a small fire...Still, there were flashes of a memory that haunted Erik whirling through his mind right now and, if he hadn't known any better, he would have sworn the right side of his face started to sting as if it were being burned again. Shaking his head to clear it and rubbing his eyes, Erik came back to reality. "You are no fool, Christine. I apologize, this was my fault - I was distracting you."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The look that Christine saw in Erik's face scared her. "Erik, it was only a small fire. I swear." She hugged him with one arm. "I'm here. You're safe. No one will hurt you ever again." She promised him. She watched Jonathan as he let go and smiled at his parents. Christine adjusted her dress again. Watching the baby wave his tiny fist at Erik, she laughed. "Say hello to daddy." She cooed, kissing Jonathan's forehead. "God, his eyes are yours, Erik." She hummed a lullaby to the baby.

 

[Guile]

Erik let out a sigh of relief that he had been holding back since she put the fire out, and a smile formed on his lips. "Yeah..." He cleared his throat, forcing himself not to think about the fire again. "Yes, you're right, Christine. I'm alright, dear, thank you." Seeing where her eyes rested, Erik looked down at Jonathan and smiled. He felt a warmth crawl back into his heart that it seemed only one's children could bring. The kind of warmth that made a parent speak in that high-pitched, squeaky voice. Though, Erik refrained from doing that. However, seeing his baby waving his little fist at him almost made tears come to Erik's eyes. Reaching out, he placed his hand around his little boy's, feeling his soft skin. Hearing Christine's comment made Erik well up with pride, and he looked into his son's eyes - Christine was right. "Hello, my son." Erik's voice was soft as he bent his head down and kissed the baby's hand. Standing up straight again, Erik chuckled. "Good God...I remember a time when I never thought I'd get to have children." His voice was distant, as if he were speaking out loud to himself. "And now I thank God everyday that I was given that opportunity." Erik turned and placed a tender kiss on Christine's cheek. "Thank you, for making me this happy. Not only because you're allowing me to take you as a wife, but also because you've blessed me with four children whom I love dearly."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was still worried about the wellbeing of her Phantom. "You're very welcome. I'm just happy that my lovely children were fathered by such a beautiful voice." Her hand was now on his neck, pressed against it as she pushed him toward her lips. "They need you, Erik. Especially the girls. They need someone to teach them how a man should treat them." Her voice was soft. "I really love the way you are with them." She was just barely paying a mind to what she said, for she was lost in the vision of herself in the wedding dress that used to haunt her, daily. Speaking of which, she blindly walked toward the wardrobe and just stared into the eyes of the Christine figure that sported her gown. She started fingering the lace arms of it, ignoring the Phantom behind her.

 

[Guile]

Erik listened to Christine's words and hoped that someday he could look back on his life and they would still ring true. He wanted his girls to be treated with the utmost respect from men and he hoped that by being around and treating them right, they would - or had already - how a man should treat a woman. Plus, he wanted to raise his sons to treat women right. There would be no tolerance for the disrespecting of women if Erik had anything to do with it. But, these were his children - his and Christine's. They were born with naturally good hearts and Erik was confident they would grow up to be wonderful adults. Christine's compliment about how he was with the children brought a great deal of happiness to Erik - it meant the world to him, being a father. Hearing from Christine that he was at least doing something right overjoyed him. He turned at watched her now, staring at the figure and gown. Walking up behind her after several moments of silence, he spoke again. "I can't wait to see you in it...again." He added with a soft laugh. "The next time you wear it, you will be an actual bride." Erik smiled, pictures of what their wedding day might look like began flashing through his mind and his heart raced in anticipation of it.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's fragile heart felt like slowing again as she saw the dress. She was so close to being married to the father of her children, and yet, freedom, pure freedom seemed further away from her grasp now. Once she uttered "I do." She was a servant to him once more. This was devastating, yet, part of her, most of her, actually, didn't mind at all. She had some chance at happiness! So what if she wouldn't be allowed anywhere without him. She loved having him beside her. "This reminds me, what will you be wearing to our ceremony?" She didn't take her eyes from the dress as she fingered the veil, the very same that he had tried to bestow upon her mere days before

 

[Guile]

Erik bowed his head slightly as he saw Christine fingering the veil, his thoughts going back to the guilt of his actions just a few days ago. He cleared his throat and stood up straight again as he thought about what he could wear. "Well, I...I didn't put much thought into that." Smiling, Erik confessed. "I was focusing more on you, but it seems you're all set. I suppose I'll have to go out and buy a nicer suit. Perhaps one more suited for a wedding rather than my everyday affairs at the Opera."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You never put yourself first, Phantom." Christine pointed out. "It isn't right, my dearest." She put the veil back on the figure's head. A small, tiny, miniscule part of her was still unsure about who she wanted more. The man that jumped into ice cold water to fetch her scarf so long ago, or...Erik, the man that blessed her with a family. "You should be merry, my darling. For this is your wedding day we speak of." Alistair made a small, nervous sound, as though something bothered him about this wedding. What if Raoul returned and tried to take them back? "Papa, if something happened to us, you'd protect us, right?" He hugged Erik's waist.

 

[Guile]

Erik thought hard about Christine's words. "But, my dear...it's because my family comes first." He looked at her curiously, there was something about her - the way she looked at the dress, perhaps - that make Erik feel something was a bit off. He wasn't entirely sure, so he didn't wish to bring it up though. "Ah, our wedding day." Erik smiled so genuinely at his dear love. "And I am merry!" He decided to joke a little. "It's this mask - it makes me look angry all the time." Erik's laughter was cut off by Alistair, who was hugging him by the waist. He smiled down at his son and wrapped his arms around him comfortingly. "Of course, son. I will always protect you." He ruffled Ali's hair just a little. "I will never let anything happen to you - any of you."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine smiled at Erik. "Ah, I know, dear. I don't see why you wear it in private, though." She watched Alistair tackle his father. The tears in the boy's eyes and understood immediately. She felt it too. Something in her told her that she couldn't wed the Phantom, for she was still in love with Raoul. In love with the man that brought life into her dark little world. Raoul on the other hand, was preparing to free his family from the dark. He would do it in a few hours, when the Phantom was asleep.

 

[Guile]

Erik thought about this. "Well, I...I really don't know why I do." What he said was only half the truth. What he meant to say was 'I don't know if it would frighten the children still or not.' Basically, Erik still wore the mask out of courtesy for the family - just because they were no longer afraid of it didn't necessarily mean it didn't bother them. Erik didn't know if it did or not, so he kept the mask on. Looking down at Alistair he noticed his tears at last, they had been hidden from him before. Erik knelt down so that he was face to face with his son and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Alright, now. There's no need to cry, son." He smiled at Ali and spoke softly, not wanting him to think that he should cry never, just that there was no need to right at that moment. "Don't worry about a thing. You'll always be safe while I'm around."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair rubbed his eyes and nodded. "Yes, Papa." He whimpered. "I just wanna go to bed." Christine smiled at her son's improper English. "Well then, tomorrow we can talk about this. I promise." She started putting the children to bed. "I think we should all get some rest." She kissed Erik, hiding the sadness in her voice. She still wasn't ready to marry him. Wasn't ready to leave the light and head into the dark permanently. Smiling, she laid in their bed and tried to go to sleep.

 

[Guile]

Erik stood as Christine went to put the children to bed. He helped her do so, then let her kiss him. Erik smiled at her brightly, then got into bed beside her. As he lay there in the dark, listening to the steady breathing of the different members of his family, Erik grinned. He finally felt at peace, like everything was falling into place. Perhaps my life can be normal after all...It was his last thought before he drifted off into sleep, one arm resting lightly over Christine.