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

[Guile]

"Oh, nothing, my dear. Just that you practically forced it down my throat." Erik laughed at this, the sound being cut off by the kiss she placed in his lips. When Christine sat down, Erik did the same across from her so that they could look at each other while they ate. "Of course I am, Christine. I have to be now that I have you. A proper lady deserves a proper gentleman." With a chuckle he reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers, lightly brushing her wedding band with his finger.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Well, if you wouldn't move away from me, that wouldn't happen." She smiled and put her head down, facing her lap. "I just wish it could be like this all the time, my dear." She held her head up, reaching over the table to bring his head closer, taking the mask off. "I have another request." She waved the mask in her left hand. "This isn't allowed at the table, nor is it allowed on your face in the privacy of our home. You are not my husband with this hiding your beauty from me. You are a stranger to me."

 

[Guile]

Erik sighed at this new request of Christine's, though a smirk came to his lips. "Is that so? Well, then, I suppose I will, once again, have to comply to your wish." It only bothered him a little bit. He was afraid that the children would have a hard time adjusting to this. Then, another thought hit Erik. "Jonathan. He's never seen my face. He's only a baby and I don't want to frighten him. What if...what if he hates me?" Erik had never thought of this before, but was it not possible for his son to grow up afraid of him, despising his scarred father? He had been lucky with his first three children, they had accepted him over time, like Christine. But what about Jonathan?

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"So, you would think that your own son would hate you for your face? I doubt that." She placed his mask beside her plate, one hand over it, in case Erik decided to take it back. "Children don't care what their parents look like. Take William, for example. Catherine is burned, is she not?" Christine ran her thumb across his own. "William doesn't care. He loves her. He loves you." She smiled at the image in her mind of the happy little fourteen month old baby. "He's such a sweet baby, as is Jonathan, who will love his daddy like his siblings do, I promise."

 

[Guile]

Erik looked down at their hands as Christine ran her thumb across his. A weak smile came across his face as he thought about William and Catherine. Christine was right, he knew. Looking up into his wife's eyes, Erik squeezed her hand as a way of thanking her for her kind words. "Christine, you are an angel. You always know just what to say. And I believe you, every time." He made no attempt to take his mask back, feeling much more comfortable with it off now that he had gotten that concern off his chest and been assured that it was silly. "Thank you."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"And you're very welcome." She continued to eat, taking her hand away from everything but her fork now. Swallowing a final piece of lettuce, she spoke again. "If you do not believe me, bond with him when we are finished. See if he doesn't smile when Daddy finally holds him." She kissed his cheek again.

 

[Guile]

Erik ate, practically in silence, for the rest of the meal. He was feeling much better, thanks to Christine's comforting words, and was actually smiling and enjoying their time in the quiet. Erik believed Christine, but a part of him still wanted to see - he had to know how Jonathan would react to him. However, he wasn't going to cut their time short to do this. He ate at a normal pace and finished at about the same time Christine did, grinning from ear to ear at her kiss. "I believe I will...just to satisfy my curiosity." He assured her before kissing her back, but on the lips instead.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine enjoyed this very much, slipping her tongue in and out, until, he finally let go of her. "Oh, good, because it's your turn to see what the child wants. He's been crying for the last five minutes." She sat back in the chair, loving the fact that she was able to relax instead of being the primary caretaker for the little Jonathan. "He truly will be a wonderful singer, with the way his lungs are right now." She basically had to shout over the noise. "He's already beautiful."

 

[Guile]

The way Christine kissed him back caused Erik to become lost in her and the beautiful sensations that she gave him. Still, the kiss broke, as all kisses must at some point, and he found himself longing for more. However, Jonathan was crying and did need to be tended to. Erik chuckled as Christine sat back in the chair and put on a relaxed air about her. "I agree. He screams just about as well as his mother - and we both know what a wonderful singer she is. Yes, there is no doubt he will sing just like her." Laughing at his tease, Erik turned around and faces the bed where their baby lay crying. Immediately, his laughter ceased and his heart beat quickened. He took timid steps toward the bed, fearing what would come when his son got a look at him without his mask on. When he approached the side of the bed, he opened his mouth and dared to speak, drawing attention to his presence. "Jonathan." Erik cooed, placing his hand on the baby's head and brushing back what little hair he had. "Hush, now, son. Everything is alright, Daddy's here." He wanted to pick him up, but decided he would wait to see what the child would do - how he would respond, if he even did.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine smiled, watching her husband and son together. "Erik, if I could make a suggestion, just telling him to be quiet won't work." She knew that she shouldn't help Erik, that he could probably figure it out by himself, still the child, even at four months old, reached out happily for his father, hands clenching and unclenching, trying to grab his face, or something that came into his reach. He would laugh and try to grab at Erik's fingers to put them in his mouth. "So, how are things going, dear?" Christine asked. "You don't need my help, do you?"

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at his son's precious actions. "I don't know, Christine. It seems to have calmed him down considerably." A large grin came upon Erik's face as his baby tried to reach out to him, attempting to grab at anything that he possibly could. All of his worries melted away as he looked into Jonathan's eyes, which were still a bit teary from crying before, but were now shimmering with happiness. Erik immediately picked him up in his arms and held him close to his chest. He bent over and placed a kiss on his son's forehead, unable to stop smiling. Then, he looked up at Christine, his eyes shinning. "Things are just fine, darling. Yes," he smiled down at their baby again, "just fine."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Are you sure?" Christine asked again. "He's gotten very quiet, hasn't he?" Opening her eyes, she took in the sound of quiet, still very much enjoying this feeling of not having to get up at every sound that the baby made. "Say, should I go fetch the children that you have forgotten?" She got up and headed toward the exit. "I'm sure that they might want to bring you know what home." She sighed. "It should be fun, seeing the puppy react."

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled as Christine stood, heading for the exit to go after the rest of the children. "Wait, my dear. Perhaps I should come with you?" He offered. "I promised Monsieur De Chagney that I would come back for the children after I found you. I wish to thank him personally, for keeping the children when it was not his job to do so." That was one reason Erik wanted to go. The other was that he couldn't help feeling nervous at the idea of Christine walking so far out of the city by herself. There were some questionable placed out there, something they knew all too well. "I can carry Jonathan - he'll probably fall asleep halfway there, anyway. That is, of course, providing that you don't protest to me accompanying you."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, I suppose that could work out, Erik. If you come, someone will be able to fight off any questionable character." She laughed at the idea. "I'm sure that the boy would love for you to hold him the whole way." She slipped her shoes on and started heading out. "Can I ask you something, Erik?" She had a saddened expression as she stared at him. "Where did you go after this place was invaded after I left?"

 

[Guile]

Erik rolled his eyes playfully at her laughter before following her outside, Jonathan still held safely in his arms. "Of course, Christine. You can ask me anything, you know that." He turned to look in her eyes and smiled at her, but his smile quickly faded when he noticed the solemn expression on her face. Christine's question struck Erik, as it brought back so many memories of the past that he had no desire to remember. He tried focusing on just one: what happened when Christine left. "Well, I'm sure you remember well that ramshackle building that Catherine was held in - the one that burnt down." Another bad memory that Erik didn't wish to relive - the reason for his daughter's own scar. "It was there that I ran to. Actually, I was running haphazardly, just trying to get away. I came across that place and, seeing that it was abandoned, I stayed there for a few weeks. I didn't come out until everything had died down and they gave up their search for me, assuming that I had died. When I felt I was free to return to my home below the Opera, I simply went back on a particularly dark night. I came back to a wreck. They had destroyed nearly everything and I had to rebuild most of it. Some of it was completely ruined and I replaced it with furniture I found. It doesn't matter so much, that. I was tired of having mother's furniture around to remind me of how much she hated me." Erik laughed, half-heartedly. "I suppose the mob did me a favor, in that respect."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine sighed, remembering what she had done on that day. How she had left with Raoul and never turned back. "Did they really? I thought they were just being brutal when they took this place apart." She took his one hand, leading him through the halls, hearing calls of her name every time she turned. "I promise you, it won't happen again. It's like a mob out here. There's too much hassle getting away from here and I can't bear to hurt you like that again."

 

[Guile]

Erik was glad that she had taken his hand. Though she may not have realized it, but she comforted him in that moment and he needed that. His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of people calling for her. Christine was right - it was like a mob out there. "Christine, I know you won't ever hurt me like that again. I will go out there with you if you want. I can do it for you, I promise. I want to." What he really wanted was to be a normal husband, one that could show his face, or at least be present, in public. He wouldn't mind trying to start now. "I said I would come with you. I plan to do so."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"That would be lovely, Erik. Truly, it would be a delight to have you come and protect me from any scary men that might harm me." She pretended to be frightened hiding her face in her own hand, the one that was free. "I don't like the fact that this place is outside our normal area of knowledge. It scares me, a bit, I'll admit, that they're with Raoul's cousins, but I know that they would never be harmed there." She covered her nose as the smell seemed to get worse.

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled at Christine's pretend fear and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Of course I will protect you, Christine. No one will harm you, my angel." He squeezed her hand lovingly, remembering the time that they had practically been attacked. Erik wasn't about to let Christine go so far on her own. "And don't worry about the children, Christine. I'm sure they're alright. In fact, I am positive. They were such lovely people. I honestly son't see how they can be related to the Vicomte. It's actually a shame. If he had any decency he would be helping them. You know that they aren't doing well finically and they have a fairly large family. Raoul should help them, but I doubt he does."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt the same reassurance that had always come to her whenever Erik spoke to her. "Well, perhaps, if someone talked to Raoul, he would be willing to help his family. I'm certain that there's something that someone could do about this." Christine suggested. "He isn't a bad person. He's just upset, Erik. Like you were when I left you." She didn't like talking about it, but it was true, for the most part. "He's a good man."

 

[Guile]

Erik felt an old feeling of resentment toward Raoul rising in his chest, but he pushed it down. "You're right, Christine. The last time I saw him, I thought I was walking into your dressing room only to come out as a dead man. And then...he didn't even hit me. He hardly raised his voice. Both of us just...talked. It was strange, rather unusual I had thought, for the Vicomte." Then, he remembered all the things Raoul had done to him, or tried to do. "If he wasn't a bad man though, why would he do such things? The children - he beat them. And I know he hated me, but God you should have seen the crazed look in his eyes when he had you back - when he came out of that house and lit that match. He threw it by my face," the memory still hurt Erik. "Christine...good people don't just do that. You would never do that to me. And I know you love me, but what about Andrew? Madame Giry? Sure, there were times when you all hated me, I am sure. But...you would never have done something like that no matter how hurt you were. I would have never done something like that to our children and I've even...I've killed before." Erik bowed his head, his shame not allowing him to look Christine in the eyes. "I know he would never hurt you, but I do not trust him. He would have at least been decent to the children, if he were truly good. At least...that's what I believe. I am sorry, Christine. I know how you don't like to talk about this."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine listened to him, trying not to sound upset that Erik was practically insulting her friend. "I know, dear. But I can't be angry at anyone. That's not how I was raised." She sighed as they were nearing the farm. All of the little ones were now playing out front, while James and Andrew took axes to an enormous tree. "Ali, look!" One of the De Chagney children pointed in the direction of the Destlers. "Mother, Father!" Lilly was the first to put down what she was doing and sprint toward her parents. "We had such a fantastic time!" She hugged Christine's leg. "Wait until you see him, Mama! The puppy is so cute!" She now tugged on Christine's skirt. "Papa, help me!"

 

[Guile]

"I understand, Christine." Erik dropped the subject from there, hoping that she wasn't too upset with him for what he had said. He was grateful for the distraction when Lilly came running up and hugged Christine's leg before tugging on her skirt to get her to hurry. "Help you?" Erik laughed and ruffled his little girl's hair slightly. "And how do you suppose I do that? I have little Johnny in my arms." He joked with her. "We will get there, all in good time." And they did, within just a few moments.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The children immediately took their parents to see the entire family. "Mother, Father, you know everyone, right?" They asked as Catherine hugged her parents in welcome. "I was worried that you wouldn't make it in time to get us home before it got late." She let her mother go, but Christine held her there, having missed her little girl's embrace over the years. "I love that you missed me. It reminds me of that sweet little girl that would run to me after each performance." She let this last a while longer.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled, cherishing the hug Catherine gave him. It was nice to hold his little girl again and he knew Christine was feeling the same way, by the way she wouldn't let go. After the hug went a few moments too long, Erik placed his hand on Christine's shoulder comfortingly, knowing why she did not wish to let go. "I know Monsieur De Chagney, James, and Elizabeth. However," he smiled down at the little ones. "I do not believe I was introduced to the young ones."