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

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine sniffled, afraid of her tears causing an early rainy season for her little fleshy bundle that stared up at her, blankly, then he was transfixed by the diamonds around her neck and started playing with them, trying to bring them to his lips. This amused Christine and she forgot all about Erik's little speech, but not about his lovely hands, which were, at this moment, on her shoulders. Chuckling, she pulled the necklace away. "No, that's not for your mouth, little one." She kissed his forehead, praying that he wouldn't start crying because she took his toy away. "Your papa got it for mama." Hugging him, she let Erik do what he pleased. "You're right. We shouldn't dwell on the past. Our family is what matters now."

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled lightly watching his son trying to play with the necklace he had given Christine. Then, a thought hit him. "Oh, my son, I've not gotten anything for you our your siblings." He took a glance around at his home though he didn't need to - he knew exactly what was there and there were no toys or things for children, that was certain. "Tomorrow I need to go out and bring somethings back for the children. They'll go crazy here without things to do." Erik chuckled again, then went silent as Christine finished up what she had to say. With this, Erik nodded but said nothing more. He had agreed, he would try not to dwell on the past. He would try very hard, for Christine and the children's sake. Taking his mind from that matter, Erik walked over to the wall and felt around for something. It must have looked rather strange to Christine, but Erik knew what he was looking for. The problem is, it was behind this dresser and he hand to reach for it with his hand blindly. Then, at last, he found it. It was a small lever that he pulled and, with a soft click, a piece of the wall on the other side of the room slid open, revealing a compartment of some sort. As Erik went over to it, pulling a key from his pocket and opening the lock, he explained himself. "I put the lever on the other side of the room simply to make it harder to find. When it's closed and you feel the wall here, it feels strange - almost hollow. If someone were to get in and start searching the walls it would be easy to find this hollow patch. However, they'd be too busy looking on this side of the room for the lever, they wouldn't be bothered to search behind the dresser. Even if they did get nosy, I'd know long before then. They wouldn't move that piece of furniture without alerting me." Finally, Erik had opened this strange compartment and pulled out what he had been looking for. For, when he turned around to face Christine, in his hands were Gustav Daae's violin and bow. "Not that anyone comes here anyway, but, it was your father's violin. I wanted to keep it in a safe place, just in case." Erik brought it over to her so that she could examine it again. It was in perfect condition, as good as the day Gustav had passed on.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You would do that for your family?" Christine asked, smiling, then she walked to Johnny's crib and set him down there. "I wouldn't want you ruining one of the very few things that I treasure." With a saddened expression, she thought of her father's violin before her...husband....ever started fumbling with the secret passage. She missed the sweet melody, the dancing around her father for hours on end, singing, rather off key at the time. As the wretched tears came, Erik seemed to stop moving, having found what he was searching for. Did Christine dare look around? Yes, she had to. The sight she saw, the instrument in her dear love's hands, was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, apart from childbirth. The fountain just kept sprouting from her face as she took the violin back. Every detail exactly the same. "Oh...Erik..." she was breathless as she held a hand over her mouth. "Oh, you're just wonderful." Some drops fell on it.

 

[Guile]

Erik saw the tears coming from his lovely wife's eyes. Oh, how it hurt him to see her tears, but at the same time he was glad to have reunited her with her father's violin. After all, it truly belonged to her - she was a true Daae. This violin was almost a symbol of the Daae family and it was only right to give it back to one. He happily let Christine take the violin from his hands, smiling ever so softly as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "No, dear, I'm not wonderful. I was simply holding onto your father's violin, keeping it safe, until I could give it back to you. Anyone with a kind heart would have done the same. Of course, I could have never let just anyone take your father's violin. No, I had to make sure it would be safe. That's why I took it into my own position. I simply did what was right, what I wanted to do." After finishing his soft words of assurance, Erik placed a tender kiss on Christine's cheek.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine didn't dare remove it from the box. She didn't want to even think of playing it. She wasn't worthy of playing such a beautiful instrument. "Erik, I don't know what to say to you, my darling." She wiped her face with a smile. "You truly are my angel." She shut the case, leaned over and pulled him into a kiss. "You are so wonderful to me." Christine didn't know what to say. He had given her father's violin back to her. This was better than anything, even her necklace, she felt safe to say. "You've hidden it for all these years, away from everyone, even me." She looked back at her family, who stared at them with a strange expression. "Children, your father just have me my father's, your grandfather's violin. Come see." Andrew, Catherine, Alistair and Lilly surrounded their mother and father. "Mother, it's beautiful!" Catherine exclaimed. Christine smiled. "I haven't seen it in years. Forty years, to be exact. I was certain that it was sold to one of Father's colleagues."

 

[Guile]

Erik could not express the warmth that came to his heart at the sight of Christine's joy. Knowing that he had been the cause for this feeling in her heart made Erik's life worth while. He would do anything for his lovely wife, his beautiful Christine. He would have done anything she asked even before they were married, when they were children even, and Erik knew he would continue to do so until the day he died. Though, Erik never kept the violin as a way of getting to her heart. He had simply kept it safe as a repayment to Gustav, the musician that had filled young Erik's ears with beautiful music on lonely nights, even when the man had no idea he had a small audience of one. Erik remembered coming up to the world above, upon hearing the soft slow tune of the bow on string, to hide in the shadows and listen as Gustav would play for himself and, many times, his little Christine. It was Monsieur Daae's music that kept Erik smiling for a brief period of his life, until the man passed and Erik had only his own music, and the thought of Christine, to keep him alive. Yes, if nothing else, Erik owed Gustav Daae his happiness. Not only had he given him new music, but he had given him Christine. Without that man, Erik's dearest love would not exist. For this, Erik would be forever in his debt. "Christine, my darling, you needn't say anything. It was a small price to pay for all the joy's I have been given in life. I had to keep it safe, I owed that much to your father and you. I knew you would want it some day, to remember him by. Though, who could forget the spectacular Gustav Daae, Paris's finest violinist?" Erik chuckled and relished the kiss Christine placed on his lips. As the children ran over to them, Erik held out the open case so that they all could see the beautiful piece of art, for that is what this instrument was. "I admit, I should have given it to you sooner, love. I apologize - it slipped my mind what with all the events that have been taking place. But no, I could never have let this lovely thing out of my sight. As you say, it surely would have been sold and I trust no one with this violin accept for myself, and the family who has rightfully inherited it." Erik grinned at Christine as he said this, the smile coming from the fact that it was he and Christine who had created said family. Oh, and what a beautiful family it was!

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Lilly's mouth fell, agape with astonishment that such an elderly musical instrument was still very much intact. The case looked almost withered, but its cargo was not. It was truly remarkable! A miracle, to say the least. "Papa, does it still play?" The curly haired, tiny brunette whispered. "Will you play something for us?" Christine couldn't take her eyes off of this treasure above all others. "Father's violin..." she whispered through her teeth, lips barely moving. Catherine hovered over her mother to get a good look. "Yes, Father, you should play something for us." Her teeth shone brightly through her rosy lips. "Or, are you only virtuous on the organ?" She waved a hand at the only other beautiful instrument in their home. "It wouldn't hurt to branch out a bit, Father." 
Lilly's mouth fell, agape with astonishment that such an elderly musical instrument was still very much intact. The case looked almost withered, but its cargo was not. It was truly remarkable! A miracle, to say the least. "Papa, does it still play?" The curly haired, tiny brunette whispered. "Will you play something for us?" Christine couldn't take her eyes off of this treasure above all others. "Father's violin..." she whispered through her teeth, lips barely moving. Catherine hovered over her mother to get a good look. "Yes, Father, you should play something for us." Her teeth shone brightly through her rosy lips. "Or, are you only virtuous on the organ?" She waved a hand at the only other beautiful instrument in their home. "It wouldn't hurt to branch out a bit, Father."

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled at his children's remarks as he tore himself away from his own amazement. It had been months since he himself had laid eyes on the instrument, and it's beauty fascinated even him. Erik had only removed it from the case every few months to simply clean it, check the strings and bow, then return it to its case. He had always felt guilty at the thought of playing the instrument that belonged to such a wonderful musician, even though Erik did know how to play, rather well - almost as much as he could play his organ. Erik knew he could not play this particular instrument without asking consent, and seeing as Gustav Daae had passed, he decided to ask his next of kin. "Actually, Catherine, your father plays quite well on the violin." He chuckled, his smile growing even more. "However, this instrument is practically sacred to this family - a beautiful piece of art indeed. One must ask consent before playing something as beautiful as this, especially if it does not belong to them." Turning his gaze to Christine, who was still focused on the violin itself, he asked in a much softer tone with less playfulness in it. "Well, Christine? Do you protest to me playing your father's violin? If you do I shall never think of touching it again, my dear. I know how special it is to you, to all of us." Because, in truth, Erik was nervous about even placing his hands on this magnificent instrument. However, he would be more than glad to play for his children, and Christine.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was much less puffy eyed than before, but her face was still wet with the slightest red tinted to her cheeks. "Erik, my father wouldn't want such an instrument to be wasting away in packaging." She brought her arms up. Catherine helped the woman that brought her into this world onto her feet. "He has entrusted me to you, he will surely rejoice at the fact that his violin has a new master." Christine took up Alistair. "Play for us, please. Your boy and I will join you over here." She headed toward the organ and sat there, fingering the keys without any pressure. "What key, darling?" She asked her husband.

 

[Guile]

Erik listened to Christine and hesitantly sat the case down on the bed. Once again, Erik found himself opening the lid and gingerly lifting the beautiful instrument from its case, not without pausing to gaze over it for a few brief seconds. Once the violin was safe in his grasp, Erik took the bow in his right hand and made his way to the organ, standing near Christine and their son. He placed the violin under his chin and brought the bow up and over the strings. To Erik's delight, a beautiful noise arose from the violin during this little test to see if it played as well as it looked. Of course, it did. "How about E flat, Christine? Soft and sad." Erik chuckled, for he loved that sound of the lone violin playing that melancholy tune on a dark night. That's the kind of feel he wanted from this song - one that reminded him of the quiet nights he would sneak through the shadows and listen to Gustav Daae playing quietly.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Very well, then." Christine started playing, or, rather, experimenting with the sounds. Instead of her designated note, Christine played a completely wrong key. "Gah! Mother, that's the wrong note!" The little boy covered his ears, as though it hurt them to hear the completely incorrect tune. Christine huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, I'm sorry. I am a dancer and a singer. Your father is the instrumentalist, boy." Her face was red. "I'll just listen to him and not touch this thing again." She turned herself around, away from the organ. "As you wish, Erik. You wanted me to make a mistake and then, you would play a solo." She smirked as she stared at him, accusingly. "You did that to Carlotta, and then you have the audacity to sabotage your own wife."

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled at Christine's attempt to play, her faked attitude, and her accusing words. How can one woman be so attractive? He thought to himself as he leant forward and stole a kiss from Christine's lips, despite the fact that his unfortunate son was so near to them. "Well, my darling, I won't lie and say it isn't true. After all, you asked me to play the violin. Perhaps you should sit this one out...before you hurt all our ears. We wouldn't want anyone going deaf now, would we?" Erik teased her, of course. "But don't worry that you can't play as well as you can sing. I love you anyway." Erik assured her jokingly with a teasing smirk before lifting the bow up once again and running it across the strings to begin the song. He didn't know what song it was, but it sounded familiar. Perhaps it had been a song Gustav used to play? Erik wasn't sure, but he knew it nonetheless. It was sad and sweet, the bow running across the strings slowly and lightly to create the perfect sound. Erik found himself closing his eyes, concentrating on breathing, on the music. He let it flow from his arm, from his fingers even, as well as he did when he played the organ. Erik became enveloped in the song, feeling its emotion - it's sad, bitter sound of longing.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine did as she was told and sat still. "You aren't very fair, dear." She had to speak up over the music. "I gave it my best." She tried to avoid the kiss by leaning back into the organ, only to have it play an angry tune, as though it itself was trying to communicate the unpleasantness of the situation. Alistair bolted for an exit, hands clamped on his ears. "I must admit, your playing gets worse with age, old friend." A familiar voice, a woman's voice interrupted the kiss. "Your own offspring are speechless." Madame Giry chuckled. "And Gustav entrusted you to tutor Miss Daae?" The gate lifted, thanks to Andrew. Catherine grinned giggled like a schoolgirl. "They were just teasing, Madame."

 

[Guile]

Erik broke away from Christine's lips and ceased his playing when he heard this all too familiar voice. "Ah, Madame! You and your rude comments are both welcome." He teased with a chuckle. "And my children are speechless because it is beautiful music I am creating. After all, I have been playing since I was very young, if I remember correctly." Erik let out a scoff at Madame Giry's last tease. "I believe I did a fine job as a tutor." He turned to face Christine, raising a brow as if to jokingly say 'right? You better agree, or you'll pay for it later.' With a chuckle, he placed a kiss on his wife's cheek and set the violin back down in its case momentarily before turning back to his old friend. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" Erik asked her, wondering why she was here, although overjoyed by her appearance.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Madame Giry came forward. "It's the same as every other time, Monsieur." She stood, feet from him, a look of utter happiness in her eyes. "Are you not happy to see me at all? I simply came to inform you that everything is in place, not only for Thursday's performance, but the wedding of your Catherine." She grinned. "You had better keep that in mind. I was able to procure the evening for her family." Catherine looked like the giddy little fourteen year old in the beginning. "You did?" She hugged Madame Giry. "Thank you!" The old woman pat her hand. "It's a pleasure to serve this family. Use your time wisely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go. Don Juan, Triumphant isn't so triumphant at the moment." She looked irritated as she left. "They don't seem to care that the composer is someone we both care about." Catherine grew angry, but hid it well.

 

[Guile]

"Oh, of course I am, Madame!" Erik chuckled and threw his arms around his old friend in a hug before reluctantly letting her go again and stepping back just a step or two so that he could look at her without feeling as if he were towering over her. "Thank you so very much, my friend, for bringing this news of Catherine's wedding. It is very good to hear that everything is in order as it should be. Of course, I was not worried for a moment, knowing that you were up their representing myself and my family's views on the matter." Of course, the news of his failing Don Juan Triumphant turned Erik's mood around, making him feel as irritated as Madame Giry looked. "What is the matter with them and Don Juan? How hard could it be to simply out it on? What could be wrong now? I swear, they will ruin my work!" He couldn't help growling under his breath, but then forced himself to shake his head to clear it. His family didn't deserve to hear his ranting and raving when it was not them that caused his irritation.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine squeezed his arm, attempting to comfort her husband. "Phantom, stay calm and don't pierce Erik's body. Leave him alone." She spoke as if she were talking to a completely different person, for Erik was good and kind and loving, whereas, the Phantom of the Opera was the exact opposite. "I'm certain that they're trying, Erik. Surely they care about the state of this building." She turned him around to face her, holding his head in her hands. "Erik, come back to your family and don't do something you'll regret." Catherine took off, wanting so badly to play her part and not have the cast ruin her father's work. "I'll meet you later, Father! Mother!" She called over her shoulder.

 

[Guile]

Erik felt Christine's grip tighten on his arm and it comforted him only slightly. Her words though, yes, it was her words that brought him back to her. When she turned him around to face her, he placed his hands on hers and held them firmly, but lovingly. Erik forced himself to close his eyes for a few moments and just breathe deeply. Yes, Christine was right. If he went up and meddled in this business, he would be sure to do something he would regret. Something that could even end up hurting his family, which Erik would not allow himself to do. "You're right, Christine. I'll be alright." He smiled weakly at her. "You aren't loosing your Erik that easily to the Phantom." Erik chuckled and pulled his wife close to him, placing a kiss on her lips. He didn't know why he did so, but he needed to. He felt reassured, calm, in her touch and just in her presence. "Goodbye, Catherine." Erik practically whispered after the kiss, lost in his love's eyes. "Do good out there, like I know you will." Though he spoke to his daughter, he couldn't remove his gaze from Christine.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine shook her head in playful annoyance. "God, don't they ever stop touching each other?" She was glad that one parent loved the other and vice versa, but the constant goo goo eyes and hand holding could get a little annoying, as though they were the only two in the room and their children didn't exist. She never expressed this, for she was like that everyday with Andrew. "Oh, sweet joy!" Christine breathed. "You're back!" She hugged her husband as though he had just come back from a long journey. Catherine heard cries of anger coming from backstage. "This is an outrage! Who cares if this is not the right pitch! NO ONE WILL KNOW!" She threw the work on the stage floor. "THE COMPOSER IS NOT 'ERE!" Madame Giry stood firm, but before she could say anything, Catherine stormed in. "I can assure Madame Carlotta that the composer will know if you slander his work in such a cruel way." Carlotta stood, exasperated. "I assume you know said composer? Even so, tell 'im, little rat!" Catherine barely heard this insult, for she was busy putting the score back into proper order, tears threatening their ugly appearance. When it was all together, Catherine dusted it off and held it to her breast. "H-He'll know." "This eez all your fault, Catherine!" Carlotta pointed an accusing finger. " 'e wants you and your muzzer to take my part!" Catherine climbed on stage and read one of the songs. "That's an A major, not minor, Madame." She smiled at Carlotta. "There's a difference."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed and wrapped his arms tightly around Christine. "No, darling, I never left. I was simply hidden momentarily." As he held his wife close to him, Erik was aware of the horrible ranting and raving of the one woman he hated most in this world: Carlotta. As much as Erik tried, he could not put the horrible words of that dreadful woman at the back of his mind. "Ugh!" Erik growled, feeling that sense of irritation coming back to him. "Does she ever stop complaining?" He tried to keep himself focused on Christine or anything that would take his mind away from Carlotta and what she could be doing to his work up above. Unfortunately, it didn't work as well as Erik had hoped, for he found himself still brooding. "That woman is far more trouble than she is worth. Why won't those idiotic managers see this?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt her husband tense up on his hold. "Erik, if you must go to them, I'll understand, but, I pray that you'll make the decision to stay with me and let Catherine work this all out." She nestled into him, like she did on that horrible night when she had first rejected his love. "I don't want you to get in over your head, my love." Catherine smiled innocently at Carlotta. "I'm only trying to help." Carlotta glared at the child. "You think zat just because you point one leetle mistake out that you're quite ze hero? No, you are nozzing but a chorus girl. Your muzzer doesn't deserve her position!" Catherine's words hit Carlotta. "You act as eef you were zere when eet was written, girl." Catherine chimed in. "I was! The composer is my f-family friend." She stopped herself before revealing too much. "Well, tell you're precious friend that I will do zis performance my way!" Carlotta sneered. " 'e cannot stop me." Catherine wiped her tears. "Fine, as you wish." She went away.

 

[Guile]

Erik forced himself to calm at Christine's touch, at the way she cuddled up into him. Her presence made his shoulders relax and his anger fade slowly but surely, as always. Christine was a miracle, to say the least, in more ways than one - she had saved him so many times over the years. And, Erik couldn't help but wanting to do everything she asked. Christine wants me to stay... "I will stay, my darling." Erik placed a kiss on her forehead and rubbed her back lightly with his finger tips. "I will stay because you ask it of me. Also, because I do not fear for Catherine. She will work something out. At the very least, she will let it be known what I want out of this production." Erik smiled at Christine lovingly, his eyes unable to hide how his heart felt for her at the moment, as with every other moment.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine smiled at Erik's touch. "Darling, she gets her courage from you. Our sons get their looks from you and Lilly gets her kindness from you." She went through each child in turn. "They all have your precious qualities. Even when we are gone, we won't be. Do.you understand?" She looked into his extravagantly dark eyes. "Catherine sha-" she was cut off by the sound of her forlorn child. "Cathy, what's the matter, child?" She lifted her head to watch her little one, who wasn't so little anymore. But, the child wasn't focused on her mother, but her father as if in apology and agony. "P-Pere, I tr-tried..." she rammed into him, shaking. "They were so awful to your work, Papa." She held out the copy she had, the one Carlotta destroyed. "I'm so sorry, Papa." Her hands were shaking as she laid there.

 

[Guile]

"Oh, Catherine." Erik was immediately disheartened by the sadness in his daughter's eyes. She was so distraught and it was all the fault of those horrible managers and that dreadful Carlotta! The sight of his work destroyed, at least this copy, made Erik queasy. It was his life's work! However, it was not his little girl's fault - it was those managers. "Catherine, my child, hush now." Erik wrapped his arms around his daughter and pulled her close to his body to comfort her upon noticing her shaking. "You did all that you could. I don't blame you, I thank you for trying, my dear. I blame those awful managers. If they would listen to me for once then Don Juan would be a hit. But, how can it be with Carlotta playing the lead? Ugh! That woman doesn't have the voice for it! No wonder it doesn't sound right! It's her awful singing that's ruining it!' Despite his anger, Erik couldn't help letting out a laugh at that dreadful woman. Still, he calmed himself and placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead. "Thank you, Catherine. I am sorry - sorry that you had to go out there and deal with those ridiculous people." He glanced at Christine with a smirk and chuckled slightly. "And you all wonder why I want to stay down there most of the time!"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine managed to quiet herself not long after her father's request. "Yes, Papa. I will." She kissed his cheek in return. "I promise that I would never let your work go to waste like this. I love your work and won't stand to see it destroyed." At these words, she felt even angrier. "She must be stopped, but how?" Christine knew that the Phantom had not only invaded her husband, but her child as well. "Catherine, we must not focus on this. You have a wedding to get on with, right, Erik?" She stared the man down as if to say 'help me out, don't let her get so upset this close to her wedding day.' "Well, dear?" Christine pressed on.