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

[Guile]

Erik noticed all too well Christine's pleading eyes. He knew that his duty as a father required him to stop these thoughts from entering his daughter's head. They didn't need a second Phantom wandering around the halls of the Opera. In a desperate attempt to clear Catherine's mind, Erik rubbed her arms with his hands and smiled at his daughter. "Now, Catherine, your mother is right. I appreciate your words, dear, I do. But right now, your wedding day is more important to me than Don Juan." Erik was, admittedly, just a tiny bit surprised to find these words to be true. "My little girl's big day means more to me than a performance. You should be focusing on your wedding, on you and Andrew's relationship. Spend time with him, don't worry about Don Juan, please."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine waited as her father finished talking. When he mentioned another Phantom, her face went red, then white as she doubled over in laughter. "Y-You really th-think...." She had to hold a wall for support. "That I-I want t-to take your t-title!" She hid her tear stained face inside Andrew's face. The man was also laughing. "You're j-joking!" He also doubled over. "Erik, you're mad!" He couldn't help falling to the ground. All joking aside, Catherine wiped her tears of laughter and nodded. "You're right. We have much to do." The other kids laughed too at the thought of a female Phantom. "Alright, enough, please." Christine called for order.

 

[Guile]

Erik raised his brow in confusion at their laughter at first, then he couldn't help but laughing slightly himself. "Hey, one must keep a reputation, after all! What would happen to my credibility if the managers or anyone saw a female Phantom wandering the halls? I would be the laughingstock of the Opera House!" His words were all in good fun though. However, he silenced his laughter as Christine called out for silence. "Oh, Christine, you must learn have fun, my love!" Erik teased while coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and placing a kiss on her cheek. However, he stopped his teasing but did not let her go...not yet, anyway.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine smiled. "Creda-ah!" She felt his arms around her for the billionth time in her life. "Oh, brother..." Alistair rolled his eyes and made a gagging motion. "Can we keep things kid friendly?" Christine giggled at her son's comment. "Come now, child, we aren't doing anything wrong. We would never do that to you." Catherine was still mulling over what her father said. "You're already a laughingstock in the Opera House. Remember Joseph Boquet? He laughed at you almost on a daily basis from what I heard." Christine fell against her husband. "Erik, keep your hands close to you, please." She grinned. "Not now."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed, still holding onto his wife, at his children's obvious disgust at his actions. He jokingly stuck his tongue out a little ways at Alistair's reaction in particular. "Hey! When you bring a pretty girl home and start acting like your mother and I do, and your sister and Andrew I'll be sure to tell how disgusted you are by that type of behavior." Erik teased with a smile as he turned his gaze back to Catherine. "Oh, ha ha. Joseph Boquet was a drunken stagehand who made up false encounters with a phantom with a Death's-head. He was a fool." Erik chuckled as Christine fell back against his chest and spoke to him about keeping his hands close to him. "Hmm..." He seemed to be considering her request before he quickly stole a kiss from her lips. "Uh, no, I don't think I will," he joked, of course. "But don't fret, dear. I know there are innocent eyes around. I'll behave, I promise." Erik whispered into her ear and chuckled.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair moved closer. "No way! Girls are gross and they whine too much!" He inclined his head toward each female in the room, even his mother. "They sing too much too." He laughed at his own joke. "I don't want my ears to fall off before I'm dead." Catherine tilted her head as if considering the comment about the stagehand. "Well, that's true, but killing him? Honestly?" It was meant to come out light, though Catherine was certain that it did not. The air blowing into Christine's ear was hot, making her ear moist. She rubbed it against her shoulder for some time. "Good, I don't want them getting the wrong idea."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at his son's joke. "You will think very differently someday, I promise. Although, I will admit...there is still a lot of whining." He continued his laughter when he noticed Christine's reaction. "What wrong idea? That their parents love each other?" His laughter had slowed to a small chuckle, but it was still full of heart - sounding as cheery as his bright eyes looked. Then, he heard Catherine's comment and Erik's blood ran cold. Oh, what a harsh reminder that was, of all the wrongs he had done throughout his life. The cheeriness drained from his eyes and his arms slipped off of Christine and hung at his sides, his head bowed slightly out of shame. "I have done many wrong things..." Erik practically whispered, his eyes glazing over as if lost in memories. "I am not proud of who I once was and what I did. Joseph Boquet was a pathetic excuse for a man - always tormenting the ballet girls with his false descriptions of me. He would frighten them half to death. Though I'm sure this part of the world is better off without him...I do regret what I did. He did not deserve death. Perhaps a one-way trip out of France...but not death."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt warmth, at first, due to her husband's arms, then, they left her and this caused her to go white in the face. Her body trembled. Oh, God! Catherine, why must you speak so cruelly to your father when it was not he, but his other self that committed that horrid deed! Catherine, silence, please! Christine's blood ran cold. "Tell me, which husband am I speaking to?" She had to face him, she had to meet Erik's eyes. She turned. "My love, Catherine didn't mean anything by saying that about your former self." She took his hands in hers. "Please, don't let that man come forward." She cast a sideways glance at her eldest as if to scold her for speaking in such a foul manner. "Erik, who am I addressing?"

 

[Guile]

Erik was hardly away of Christine's trembling, he was too lost in his memories of his old self - of all the horrible things he had done. Why? Why did I ever do such things? Thankfully, he was torn from his thoughts when Christine took his hands in hers after she had turned to look him in the eyes. For a moment, a slight madness - resembling the glazed look the Phantom had always had - had glinted across his eyes. However, within mere seconds a softness had returned to his gaze and his breathing slowed to a calm rate. Erik had successfully fought back the Phantom, once again, thanks to Christine. "Don't...don't worry, Christine." Hoping to reassure her, Erik let a smile come to his lips as he squeezed her hands lovingly. "It is simply Erik. I do not plan on letting the Phantom come out. All he would do is cause pain to you and the children." Of course, not even Erik's Phantom side would make him physically hurt any of them. However, there were many more ways in which his family could be hurt by this old Phantom's actions. Erik would not allow that.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt panic rise inside her as the Phantom's eyes appeared for a short moment. She didn't want that creature around her baby, no, especially not her little Jonathan. When the Phantom's eyes disappeared and were replaced by her husband's, she let out a sigh of gratitude. "Oh, thank goodness." She brought his hands to her face and kissed each in turn. "I was so scared, Erik." True, the fear in her eyes was nothing compared to his, for he would disappear should his evil half emerge, but still, she wasn't scared for herself, but for her babies. "Thank you."

 

[Guile]

Unable to hold himself back, Erik took his hands from her and wrapped them around her in a comforting embrace for a few moments, allowing time for his warmth to radiate over the both of them, but mainly Christine. He wanted to show her his compassion, his own fear even, but mainly his strength to be able to keep that beast hidden within himself and away from their family. Erik was frightened as well, but he knew he could control this - he would force himself to control this Phantom. No danger would come to Christine or their children. "Don't be scared, Christine. I would never hurt you, or the children." Erik whispered in her ear before placing a soft kiss on it. "As much as I hate to admit it, the Phantom is a part of me - a part I will fight to keep hidden and away, yes, but still a part. However, you must always remember that no part of me would ever hurt you or the children. Not even the dark Phantom that still lurks somewhere deep within me."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine trusted her Erik more than anything. She knew that he would be true and keep the Phantom at bay. He had to do this, for their family and especially while Johnny was so very young. Though the Phantom's appearance had caused the child's early birth, Christine didn't want him to get to her family while they were all so helpless. "I feel like such a child, having to be coddled in such a way." She chuckled to herself. "It's just like our infancy, when you would hold me when I had nightmares about my father's death." She sighed. "I love you, my Erik."

 

[Guile]

"Oh, Christine, you are not a child. However, I do love that you humor me by allowing me to treat you as such." Erik chuckled warmly, squeezing his arms around her waist ever so gently as he did so. "I must admit that I quite enjoy comforting you...I suppose I just like to have an excuse to hold you close to me." Erik listened to her sigh and smiled to himself at her words. "And I love you, my dearest Christine. Though, I'm sure you already know that. I'm surprised you aren't sick of hearing it all the time." He joked with her, his eyes glinting with what was now playfulness. "How come you haven't run from your overly-possessive husband yet?" Chuckling, Erik raised an eyebrow at her in question. "Surely I must be smothering you!"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine dropped her head, her hair hanging over his arms. "I would never be tired of hearing how much I mean to you." She smiled behind her hair. "You'd think that I would have told you by now." She brought her head back up. "But, if you want me to leave, I'd be happy." She smiled and kissed him before making her way to the nearest exit. "Fare thee well, Erik." She laughed as she closed the closet door behind her. It was the secret opening where the violin was for so many years. "Goodbye, goodbye."

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed and stood there watching her go with his hands on his hips. The look on his face was purely playful as he pretended to be in utter shock at her departure. When, at last, she had closed the door behind her, Erik shrugged. "Oh, well then...I suppose I'll have to go find a new wife. I wonder if there are any of those women still hiding around here somewhere..." He made his way to the door, behind which Christine was hiding, but did not open it. "Of course, I can't loose my Christine though. So, I think I'll just lock you up in here until I decide that I've grown bored of this other wife, then I'll allow you come out and love me again." Of course, Erik did not actually lock the door. However, he did place his hand over the door and stood there, laughing.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine called his bluff. She knew that Erik was joking. He was wrapped around her little finger. She held the ace. Smirking, she snuck through the closet and came out behind a gargoyle in the main hallway. "Ready or not, here I leave you." She giggled and proceeded toward her friend's room again. "Meg, I know you're busy building your nursery, but, could you hide me? My husband and I are playing another game." She giggled. "Of course, I'd be glad to help you." Meg took her hand and led her to a secret hatch in her floor, just big enough for Daae. Christine slipped in and stayed quiet.

 

[Guile]

When Erik sensed that Christine was no longer behind the door, he risked opening it. As he had expected, she was not there. This put a wide grin on his lips as he snuck into the darkness. Eventually, he stumbled his way to the other side. Erik knew where it led to, he knew every secret passage in this Opera. Once out in the hallway, Erik made sure to stay in the shadows. He still didn't want to risk being caught by anyone as he made his way to Meg's room. Erik was a fast learner - he now knew that if Meg were here, Christine would go to her, especially for things like this. Or...perhaps she knew that I would suspect Meg of helping her and she didn't go to her after all. Oh, now she's gone and played mind trick with me! He chuckled softly at his thoughts, but continued to Meg's room. When he approached the door he knocked softly, still wanting to be polite. If Christine were not here, he didn't wish to make a fool of himself.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

With her belly pushed out, exposing her little baby, Meg opened the door. "Why do I get myself into such situations? Marcus, I'm not rea- oh, Monsieur Destler." She felt her heart skip, truly not trying to look guilty. "What happened? Where's Christine?" She looked over his shoulder. "Is she ill?" She looked worried. "Are you and your children alright?" She hid her smile, having much practice in the theater. "Why are you here?"

 

[Guile]

Erik was shocked to see Meg in the condition she was in. His eyes widened slightly, even though he found himself feeling happy for her. He had not known Meg was pregnant. Returning to reality, Erik shook his head and apologized, trying desperately to avoid that subject though his face was now red with embarrassment. "Forgive me, Meg, I did not mean to intrude. I was actually just looking for Christine. Nothing happened and yes, we are all fine. I...uh, Christine ran up here to hide from me and I was looking for her." Erik hoped Meg understood what he was saying. His cheeks were even more red now because he felt like a child searching for his wife like this. However, he enjoyed their little games so much that he didn't mind a little embarrassment every now and again. "I was hoping you had seen her."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The blonde smiled at him as she caressed her stomach. "Oh, I haven't seen hide nor hair of your wife." She chuckled as she let her hand fall. "Did you try the stage? Her dressing room?" She questioned, brow raised. "The balcony? Rooftop?" Meg tried so desperately to hide her amusement at the two, for lack of a better word, children. Christine giggled and Meg moved a rug over the trap door. "There are many places, sir."

 

[Guile]

Erik took Meg's words into serious consideration. In fact, he was about to thank her, apologize for interrupting again, then turn and go check the places she had mentioned and that he had been careless enough to skip right over. However, his eye caught sight of something as Meg was shifting a rug. Not only that, but Erik could have swore he heard a muffled noise from in the room. Ah ha...so that's why Meg is trying to send me off on a wild goose chase. Christine, you sneaky little devil, you almost got away with it too. If only you hadn't laughed. "Pardon me, Miss Giry," Erik said, taking a few steps into her room. "But I'm afraid I must intrude. I don't believe it will rack up to be that much of a crime - especially not after you've lied to me. I suppose we're even now. Well, not yet. First, I must take back what is rightfully mine." With a playful smirk, Erik went over to the rug and moved it off to the side, revealing the trap door. "Ah ha! What do we have here, Meg? A trap door? Now, why on earth would a young woman like you need such a thing in your room? To hide a journal, no doubt. But no, you seem not to be that kind of type. However, I do know what type of girl you are. You're the type of girl who enjoys hiding your friend's wife!" Chuckling, Erik knelt down and opened the trap door at last.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Meg's heart threatened to excite her precious cargo. "Erik, is that truly necessary?" She felt her palms clam up. "Is it so important to you that you must charge into my room like you own the place?" She sighed, protecting her baby. "It's none of your business what I have in my room. I don't like the fact that you're barging in and claiming someone as yours." She smiled. "Marcus will be here soon." She tried to make it sound like a threat. "You c- Christine!" She smiled, knowing that they were caught. Christine didn't move from her hiding spot, instead, she humored herself. "Oh, thank Heaven you found me! I.was so lost and scared!"

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed upon seeing Christine and hearing her words. "Oh, of course you were lost, my love. There's no doubt about that. Otherwise, how on earth would you have ended up in a trap door in Meg's room? Surely you weren't hiding from me." He raised his bow playfully at her, his eyes glinting with happiness. "If you had been hiding from me, I would no doubt have to punish you for such a thing - lock you up, most likely, so that you could not leave me again." Erik grinned, showing his shinning teeth, as if he had won. "Now, would you like to come out of there, Christine? Or am I going to have to remove you?" Erik threatened lightly, playfully, as he bent down closer to her and held his arm out as if preparing to lift her up and out of her hiding spot.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine shied away from him. "No, I don't want to go. I'm perfectly fine here." She smiled in the darkness. "Leave me alone, Erik." She teased. "Go back to the other woman that you want so badly." That made her shiver. "And, she had better stay away from my son especially." Turning her face away from him, she sighed. "I'm not going back with you." Her smirk broadened. "You'll have to kill me or drag me out like your other half would do. And, if I recall correctly, you said that he was locked away. Just like I'll be if I go back with you." She sat down, further from her husband.

 

[Guile]

Erik's lopsided grin widened when he realized she would not leave without teasing him some more. "You know I want no other woman but you, Christine." He looked up at Meg and rolled his eyes as if poking fun at Christine's tease. "I don't think Meg would appreciate the Phantom showing up just now - nor would you. So, I suggest you come out now, my dear." Of course, Erik was only teasing. The fact that Christine turned away from him and sat down made Erik smile. In a way, he was glad she had continued to protest. "Alright, Christine. Have it your way, then." Without another word of warning, Erik placed his hands on the floor and lowered himself into the trap door. He didn't realize how small the hidden place was until his shoes hit the bottom and he was standing inside. Without waisting a moment, Erik knelt down near Christine, which wasn't hard to do because of the cramped space, and wrapped his arms around her before whispering in her ear. "I believe you were looking for a Phantom, my dear?" He joked, knowing very well that he would not let his Phantom side known again, before placing a kiss on her neck. "Well, now that you've got him out, what do you plan on doing?"