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

[Guile]

Erik smiled warmly at her, letting her touch the scarred side of his face - and noting that it actually felt nice to have someone touch it for once - as he waited for her words. And, oh what beautiful words they were! They made his heart soar and he couldn't have been happier in that moment. Then she placed her lips on his neck, making the sensation in his body and soul even greater. "Oh, my sweet Christine." Erik ran his fingers through her hair lovingly, taking in the wonders of her presence for he would never get enough of her. "You've no idea what you words do to me...what they mean to me." He sat up to where he did not need to prop himself up with his elbow and pulled Christine closer to him so that he could hold her against him. "I need this...I need you in my life. I've never asked for much, and all I ask of you is to just be here. All you have to do is be near me and I am happy, Christine. You need never do anything else for me. Just love me, my darling, because I will always love you." Erik placed more kisses on her, unable to stop himself

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt herself be lifted up, then cradled against his chest, and, oh what an exquisite feeling it gave her to have him so close to her. Nestling herself into his chest, Christine just.enjoyed his company. "God, we're terrible parents, being away from our children so often." She laughed at her own words. "But, Mommy and Daddy need their private time as well, I assume." Hearing what he confessed made Christine's heart soar. "Oh, kiss me!" She turned his head toward him so that she could make out with him, or, his face rather.

 

[Guile]

"Oh, I agree." He chuckled at this. "But, they will understand when they get older what it is like to love someone...to want to be alone with just them and have them in your arms." Erik didn't waste any time obeying her wish. He let her turn his head toward her and relished the kisses she placed on his face. Each little kiss sent sparks flying through his skin, traveling toward his heart. When he could stand waiting no longer, Erik placed his hands on her cheeks to stop her, so that he could place his lips on hers and slip his tongue ever so gently into her mouth. When he did, he did not stop kissing her for quite some time. He just couldn't bring himself to pull his lips from hers. In fact, the longer they kissed, the more he wanted to never stop.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine also had similar practice with her own tongue, letting it slip beyond Erik's teeth as well. "I hope you're so very right." She ran her fingers through his hair, trying to get the grease out and let it run wild. "This look suits you well, my darling." She laughed, but didn't proceed further than just reestablishing herself as his wife. "I love it so much."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at the way she messed with his hair. "Oh, you do, do you? Well, then, I think I shall let it like this. Perhaps I'll become accustomed to it and I'll go out in public like this as well. Provided that I go out in public, that is." He joked and pulled her closer, placing another kiss on her lips. "Well, my dear. What do you say? Would you like to continue to be horrible parents, or shall we go let the children know everything's alright?" Erik wanted to stay more than anything, wanted to spend his night with Christine, right here. Just the two of them. Unfortunately, the circumstances made sure that he would not. Curse this blasted pain...well, it shouldn't be too long yet.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She giggled. "Well, seeing as we can't do anything with you in this current state, I would love to say that we go home." She really didn't want to go back. "We have no privacy anywhere. Either we or the children have the bed every other night." She sighed at that thought. "I'll be honest. We need to get back on track, fix your place up. At least to accommodate two couples and four little ones." She took his hand in hers, kissing it all over. "It's hard to believe that twenty-two years ago, you first revealed yourself and made my heart soar." She stared into space, remembering that beautiful scene. "God, I was so naive then." She smirked at him, "and the famous Opera Ghost was there to take advantage of that."

 

[Guile]

"I agree, darling. We must go!" Erik sighed with a smile on his lips and stood, just a little shakily because the pain had come back to him. He was glad though, that the pain only seemed to be there when he put pressure on it - walked, touched the sore area, etc. He didn't feel anything while lying there with Christine. "Ah, yes!" At her mention of their not being enough beds for all of them, Erik wanted to hit himself, for he remembered that he had been planning to fix that for some time. "I will get on that...immediately actually. I believe I have strength enough to do what I have in mind. But first, we must get you home!" He grinned and held his hand out to Christine, if she wished to take it. "I'll help you get the children put to bed and then I will go off about my little plan." Erik winked, chuckling as if he were going to do something bad - as if every plan of the Opera Ghost's involved danger or scarring someone. Then, he too was lost in the memories of long ago. "Twenty-two years, you say?" Erik knew how long it had been, but he just had to repeat it - the time amazed even himself. "It doesn't seem that long ago...it feels as if it were yesterday." Then, Christine smirked at him and made a comment - something about him taking advantage of her - and he laughed. "Why, of course I did, dear! What else are men to do? Especially Opera Ghosts! We watch from the shadows until the time is right before attacking. Or...until we find prey that is naive enough to come to us." He chuckled again at his tease and pulled her close, placing a light kiss on her temple.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She couldn't move away, even if she wanted to. She was so transfixed by his affection that it was as if she had no control over her own limbs. Christine allowed his touch and his kiss. They were like heaven after all of the chaos from before. Coming out of her emotional sense of bliss, she took his offered hand with a blush. Thinking about what Erik had said to Alistair, Christine finally spoke. "But, I thought you said that there was only one Phantom of the Opera, Monsieur Destler." She raised her brow. "Did you lie to your own flesh and blood?" Christine took no notice of her voice echoing off the walls or the rats that now danced at her feet. It was just Christine and her Erik. "That's not right. I thought we were teaching them kindness and truth."

 

[Guile]

As Erik walked on with Christine's hand in his own and his dear love right beside him, he couldn't help looking down at her a few times and smiling. He didn't know why he was doing it, it just came natural. Christine being near him made him happy, and he couldn't hide it. "Oh, but I didn't lie, my dear. Not to Alistair, that is. Perhaps to you, though." Erik joked, chuckling, raising a brow for emphasis. "Who's to say that I didn't just make it sound like there were more Opera Ghosts to frighten you into staying with me below?" He chuckled again at the very thought. "But, seeing as you've caught me red-handed...I shall confess: I am the one and only Opera Ghost."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, but now that you mention it..." she moved quicker to get close enough to hold him in her arms. "I was quite frightened of the others that tried to sing for me." She hid her face in his arm and kept walking, the screeching of the rats getting louder and louder until, finally, water mixed in with that awful sound. "Oh, praise God. We've reached the boat." She got in and grabbed him as well, pulling him in behind her. "Don't let them get me." She begged. "You must promise me that I am safe and that they will not find me. Oh, God! If they find me, they'll force me to sing! Oh, what horror!"

 

[Guile]

"Others, huh?" Erik chuckled, his brow raised once again as he was pulled into the boat. Playing along, he did not pick up the ores right away. Instead, he pulled Christine quickly to him and held her tightly against his body. "None shall ever harm you, my love. You are in no dangers of being forced to sing for those wicked men. They've only one thing on their mind and that is quite obvious. No, you shall come home with me where I will keep you safely away from them forevermore." Trying not to laugh, Erik broke their hug and grabbed the ores and began to row at an average pace, despite his next words. "We should get back as soon as possible - get behind the gate and have it closed so that they cannot get in. Not that they would find us anyway." Erik scoffed at these imaginary men. "For I am the only true Opera Ghost. And, for that matter, the only one who knows how to build a well-secluded lair. No, they will not find us anytime soon. The rest are impostors - they must have been admirers that saw you took interest in the masked phantom sort of men." At this, a laugh escaped his lips.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She flushed as he had wrapped his arms around her shoulders, squeezing her in such a protective manner. "It seems that they all have that on their minds." Christine looked into his eyes. "Why would they all focus on me? I'm not that attractive." At this, she brought her arms around his torso and into a bear hug. "Besides, I've got what I want." She stepped back as the water from the ore splashed her almost bare feet. "I have the man that all others fear. The man that would never hurt me in any way." Christine rubbed her shoulders. "I'm cold. Please, let us almost be home."

 

[Guile]

As Erik continued to row, he took notice to Christine's shivering and immediately put the ores back in the boat just long enough to take his coat off and wrap it around her shoulders. They would be home soon and he did not need it for the remainder of the journey. With that, he kissed Christine on the forehead before going back to rowing. At her previous words though, Erik raised a brow."Not that attractive, Christine? You are beautiful. In fact, you are not beautiful. However, there is no word out there to describe your beauty. Gorgeous, extravagant," Erik scoffed, "those words do not come close to describing the extent of your beauty." And Erik was not joking about this. He meant what he said. "But, I'm glad you know that I would never hurt you. I know I can be intimidating sometimes, but it eases my worries to know that you aren't frightened of me...anymore." Though Erik was still slightly pained by memories of the times when she did fear him, he smiled, telling Christine that he was just glad to have her trust now. The past was behind them.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine took it, grateful for the kindness that he showed her. "Oh, my darling, you are so kind and good to me." She helped her husband row faster. "Oh, I cannot wait to be singing again, at last. I've been without your voice for far too long." She kissed him, then kept rowing. "It pains my mind to be deprived of it for so very long." Hearing someone up ahead, she gasped. "What was that?" Out of sight, a masked figure, about four feet tall, skulked along the corridors, laughing maniacally. "Those fools cannot get me!"

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled at her words, and her kiss, and continued to row with her. "Do not fret, love. I will sing for you whenever you wish. You need only ask me." Erik smiled at her warmly. "Oh, but do not forget that you must sing for me as well. For it pains me just as much to go without hearing your beautiful voice." His words were stopped there, for all of a sudden, Christine gasped. Looking out to where she was doing the same, Erik hear, but did not see, this 'mysterious visitor'. He laughed at how ridiculous that laugh sounded. "Christine, tell your child to stop imitating people." Erik teased her with a laugh, intentionally using the words 'your child'. "It could come off as offensive."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Sighing, Christine gave in. "As you say, all you need do is ask me to sing and I gladly will." Again, she nestled into him, rubbing his chest absentmindedly. The laughing seemed to be getting louder, as did the tiny footfalls, until Alistair splashed right past them, masked and caped. "They will pay for what they've done! Down with the chandelier!" He loved playing this way. "Where's my money?!? Those fools won't ever catch me!" Christine smiled and caught him before he could get very far. "Not so fast, my enthusiastic Phantom Child." She kissed his temple. "Aw, come on, Mom. Let go. You're messing up my hair." He whined.

 

[Guile]

Erik flushed at his son's words. God...do I really sound like that? No...no I couldn't. I'm much more intimidating...right? "And what do you call this little stunt? Didn't I say if I heard word that there was another 'Phantom' that I would be having a few words with you?" Erik teased his son. "Plus..." he bent foreword and whispered in his ear, as if he didn't want Christine to hear, even though she could, "you're doing it all wrong. You don't want to look silly, you have to be big and mean. You know? Strong and intimidating." He paused, eyeing his wife with a grin. "That's the part the women enjoy most." Laughing, Erik sat up again and spoke aloud. "Besides...if you're going to imitate me, you have to do it right, otherwise...no one will believe you. I don't sound nearly as whiny or ridiculous. And your voice could drop a few octaves lower too." He still was only joking with his son and his smile and laughter made that clear.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Ali continued to struggle against his mother, who was coddling him like her baby. Again, the boy grew too tired to keep fighting her. Turning his head, Ali directed his attention toward his father, the true Opera Ghost. "What do I call this?" He indicated his clothes, or, rather, Erik's clothes. "This is called 'not having anything to do while my parents are out.'" Sighing, he reached out to Erik, though he wanted to keep the Past the Point of No Return mask that he had plastered to his face on. "You were gone for hours." They had reached the corner just before the entry to home. "Well, darling, we will be with you from now on." Christine hugged Alistair.

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at his son's reasoning. "I suppose I cannot blame you, son." Looking down at Alistair, Erik found himself smiling at the picture of his son in his clothes and...and even his mask. It was a little frightening, to see that mask on his boy - for he had always prayed that none of his children would ever need to wear one like he did. However, Erik forced himself to ease up, for the child was only playing and what was the harm in wearing a mask? At last, their boat hit land and Erik removed himself from the boat, turning as always, to extend a helping hand to Christine. "I'm afraid you're going to have to let the poor boy go sometime." He teased her, smiling sweetly as ever. "You can't function properly with him stuck to you like that. Besides, you'll suffocate the child." Erik winked at Ali, as if this were his way of trying to help free his son from the clutches of his mother.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine almost fell back when the boat came to a sudden stop, but kept her balance in check as she reluctantly let her son go. "Oh, dear, but why?" Christine took Erik's hand in hers. "I like holding him like that. It means he's still my baby." She smiled at the boy, who continued to straighten out his hair in complete desperation to look like his father. He kept grumbling to himself. Something along the lines of "I'm not a baby. I spent hours on my hair." But, at the sight of Erik's wink, he hugged the man. "Thank you, Father." Together, the walked inside. Again, their world was in chaos. The babies screamed, Lilly was 'singing' and Andrew and Catherine were busy cleaning up. "Oh, they're home!" Lilly sprinted to them. "Daddy!"

 

[Guile]

Erik ruffled the boy's hair with a smile. "You're welcome, Ali." Turning to Christine, helping her out of the boat, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Oh, darling, I know." He placed a kiss on her cheek. "He'll always be your son, but someday he has to stop being a baby. And Ali, you must at least promise your mother frequent hugs. She deserves them for giving birth to you, you know." Erik was teasing at the same time he meant every word. It felt wonderful to walk in his home with his wife and son and, amazingly, the feeling didn't subside even when they walked into that catastrophe. "Ah, home sweet home!" Erik yelled to Christine over the noise with a wink. Because, in all honesty, Erik loved every minute he was surrounded by his loved ones. Even moments of chaos like this. Grinning excitedly and kneeling down to Lilly's height at the sight of her running to him, Erik opened his arms to her and embraced her in a hug. "Oh, hello my sweet, little girl!" He lifted her up, once again ignoring his side, and spun her around with her tightly in his arms, laughing as he did so. When he stopped, he placed a kiss on her cheek, but did not put her down just yet.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

His son groaned. "Don't do that!" He tried to fix his hair again, but it would never look the same as it did last time. "Great, now it won't go back." He took the mask off, rolling his eyes. Christine and Alistair both looked at each other as the scene unfolded and the banshee like screams burned into their minds. "Oh, dear... Catherine!?!" She drew out her daughter's name, but Christine needn't have shouted. Catherine was there, almost immediately as she put dinner out. "I know, I know. Willy is teething, Mother. He'll calm down." She gave her son a wet cloth. "Poor thing." Immediately, she thought of his father. "He's watching his son grow up with a Mommy and Daddy that love him so very, very much." She picked him up. "Thank goodness, now you can have solids." A look of sheer relief spread over her lips. "How did it go, Father?"

 

[Guile]

At last, Erik put Lilly on her feet again, caressing her cheek lightly with the back of his hand before standing up to face Catherine. Her question struck him hard - he couldn't tell her about Raoul's plan to go and kill himself, be it true or not, in front of the children. "Well...we talked. Yes, I know it sounds as crazy as it was. But, we talked...calmly, for the most part. Words were thrown around..." some rather unpleasant memories, "and eventually...he got up and left. He said we wouldn't see him again, though who knows how true that statement is." Taking notice to Jonathan, who was crying just as loudly as William, Erik picked his son up in his arms and cradled him, speaking to him softly. He smiled down a this little one in his arms and smiled, unable to look upon his child and not smile.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine felt that there was something more, but didn't dare to ask questions. She wanted no part in ruining the children's fun with morbid questions about the man that they respected, at the very least. Jonathan cried for just a minute or two longer, until he finally registered who was holding him. The tot laughed at his father, reaching toward his face with tiny fists. Christine took in the relative silence now. "Oh, how wonderful this music is." She whispered, not wanting it to be ruined with meaningless chatter. "Come, give him to me." Christine begged, holding her arms out to him. "This is Mummy's baby right here." Kissing Erik, she took the boy. "You still do so.much to me."

 

[Guile]

Erik grinned down at his son and placed a small kiss on Jonathan's fist that he was reaching toward his face with. When Christine asked for her son, Erik did not object, though he wouldn't let him go without a tease. "Oh, so Daddy gets to calm him down, and Mommy gets to hold him when he's finally quiet?" Chuckling, Erik returned her kiss and placed Jonathan in her arms. Standing behind her, his hands running up her shoulders then down her arms, Erik looked down at his youngest son for a few minutes longer, finding that the feeling of joy was still there - the joy of knowing that he would finally get to watch one of his children grow up.