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

[Saiyan Princess]

"It's the same as a first wedding." Catherine explained, now lying belly down on his bed, her feet hanging off of her mother's side of the bed and her head propped up in her hands, explaining this to him. "Simply ask Mother to marry you again. Hopefully, she'll agree." She winked at him. "If not, I don't know what to tell you." She turned over on her back, arms hanging off the side of the bed now. "I'm not a miracle worker, Father. I got the two of you back together, unintentionally, the first time. Now, I'm doing it again." She shut her eyes. "You heard nothing from me."

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled, feeling a bit better now that Catherine had saved him - hopefully - once again. "Yes, I owe you my life, I do believe." He joked, smirking at her, though it was true. "For that, I thank you. Also, I must thank you for getting me out of this mess. Well, at least for giving me the idea that might get me out of this mess. Don't worry, I won't tell your mother that you gave me the idea. Although, I must say I feel like a cheat, and rather guilty that I stole the idea from you." Chuckling, Erik glanced up at the clock, wondering when Christine would be back. He had an idea as to how he would propose to her once again and, hopefully, she would accept.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine shrugged. "Don't worry, she'll say yes, as long as she's in the right mood to accept. I suggest you put some of your own ideas into this as well. I am not going to fix your marriage for you when we've not even started on putting mine together." She closed the curtain behind her and laid down on her father's bed with her son. "I'll let you know when I'm willing to help you." Truthfully, she was enjoying the torture that her father was going through. In town, Christine was having a wonderful time outside, away from the children and her clingy husband, and with Meg, just having a meal with the young woman before she had the baby. "I can't believe that he forgot all about it, Meg. After all we've been through." She laid her head on the table, depressed.

 

[Guile]

Erik sighed, hoping Catherine was right. "Well, my dear, I actually do have an idea as to how to do this..." He stood form his chair and began to pace, deep in thought. After several minutes of silence, he stopped and looked up. "If you would do one more thing for me, Catherine, I believe I have got my idea. I simply need you to watch the children for Christine and I once again tonight. I'd like to take her out - away from the Opera house and the same old scenery. I shall ask her there." Then, as an after thought, he added, "but first...I will shower and change into something more formal, I believe."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Alright, alright. I'll watch them." She waved him away, sighing as she tried to get to sleep. "Just, please do your best. We wouldn't want her running off to certain men, now would we?" She felt a plunge in the pit of her stomach. "Please, just bring her home." Christine, on the other side of town, was now having a glass of wine, though Meg wouldn't drink. "I just hope that he still remembers my love for him." Christine whispered, a tear falling on the table cloth as a man came to her. "Raoul!" Christine exclaimed, giving him a huge bear hug.

 

[Guile]

Satisfied that Catherine would do him this favor, Erik hurried to the shower with the nicest, black suit that he possessed, and cleaned himself. About thirty minutes later, Erik came out of the room smelling rather pleasant, due to a new cologne he had put on generously, and looking particularly sharp in this outfit. For a moment, Erik contemplated waiting for her here, until she arrived home. After all, how would he find her out there in the city of Paris, at night, of all times? Then, he decided to wait for her outside the Opera for when she returned. He left his home, only pausing to grab a fresh, red rose and tie a black ribbon around its stem. On his way out, he grabbed his horse, who was obviously not Cesar, but still a charming animal. As he lead him out through the Opera, Erik thanked God that the House was empty tonight. What a sight that would be, if he were caught leading a horse through the Opera! When he finally got outside, Erik lead the horse around to the side of the building. When he felt they were secluded in the shadows enough not to be spotted, but where he still had a good view of anyone that would be approaching the doors to the Opera, he got onto the back of the horse and waited.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul put in just as much effort into the hug as Christine did, even going so far as to place a soft kiss, a friendly kiss, on Christine's cheek. Christine took this kiss and smiled at it. "You are still the same precious little Lotte that you once were, correct?" Raoul asked, letting go of his former wife, to which Christine nodded. "I am still Lotte, but I am also very much married to a wonderful mate of my own, that being said, I wish for you to move on." Christine kissed his cheek, taking Meg by the fingers, and leaving with her, to go inside the famous Notre Dame cathedral, where she confessed everything that she had done while married to Erik: lusting after Raoul, not believing Catherine or Alistair when they said that they were beaten by Raoul. Christine finally felt good enough to continue home, with Meg at her side. Madame Destler pulled her toward the Opera House, finally passing Erik.

 

[Guile]

Erik had waited in silence, rather patiently and not minding that Christine was taking a while to get back. It was dark out yes, but the full moon was shinning above them and a warm breeze was blowing. It was a lovely night and Erik didn't mind waiting outside in it. He was so lost in the peaceful silence actually, that he almost missed Christine and Meg coming back to the Opera. When they got close enough, Erik nudged his horse forward and into the light. The hooves clicked on the pavement and echoed slightly - he knew there would be no hiding that he was there, but he wasn't trying to hide. He appeared before the two women, looked down at them, and smile warmly. "Good evening, ladies. I do hate to interrupt, but as it seems your night out has concluded, I wondered, Christine, if you would accompany me for a while." Reaching into his coat, Erik pulled out the rose and handed it down to his wife, his smile evident and his eyes shimmering in the moonlight. He prayed she would accept.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine stopped Meg in her tracks, hearing only the clicking of the hooves and not having seen Erik yet. "What was that?" Meg asked in a frightened tone. Christine held her almost in a protective, motherly fashion. "I-I don't know." She had a lot of practice doing this, having had many moments where her children were scared."ERIK!" She screamed at once, not knowing that it was indeed he that was creeping toward them. Suddenly, she saw who it was and Christine laughed at this, how frightened she had been for actually having screamed out for Erik when the hooves started getting louder, not knowing that it was he that was causing them. "Christine, you have a guest, it seems." Meg whispered as Christine let go, finally relaxed as her husband came into view. "I should be getting back to Marcus anyway." She kissed Christine's cheek as Erik came forward and spoke. As frightened as Christine originally was, that only shows how relieved she was that Erik was the newcomer. "Good evening, Monsieur." Meg smiled at her friend before disappearing inside her home, leaving the couple alone. "Don't frighten me like that!" Christine literally threw herself at her husband, arms squeezing his head and neck. "Oh, I'm so glad that it's you!" Finally letting go, she spoke again as she took the single rose. "I would love to accompany you." She always treasured his roses, for he never went out of his way to impress her with an extravagant bouquet or wild, for lack of a better word, courtship rituals. They were always simple. "After all, there must be something spinning the wheels and knobs inside that mind of yours for you to go out of your comfort zone to impress me." Like she did with all animals, Christine placed her hand on the rather rubbery snout of his steed. "You never bring him outside." She moved toward her husband and graced his hand with hers. "No gloves?" She smiled.

 

[Guile]

Erik was flattered, hearing Christine call out for him as she grew weary of who was approaching them. But, he had never meant to frighten them. As he appeared to the ladies, he bowed his head as he greeted them, a soft smile on his lips. "No need to be frightened, Christine, Meg. Though, I am glad you called for me - should there have been any real danger, I would have come immediately." He slipped off the side of his horse and bid farewell to Meg before devoting every aspect of his attention to Christine. Her earlier hug had left him with a longing to hold her, though he remained clam and even managed to chuckle sincerely at her words. "I am delighted that you will come, Christine. I do, indeed, have something in mind for both of us this evening, however, you mustn't expect me to tell you, for that would ruin the surprise." Inside, Erik was panicking. He was going to take her somewhere simple, somewhere away from the city, but he prayed that she would enjoy it. He hoped, more than anything, that he wouldn't let her down.The last thing Erik wanted to do was disappoint his love once again - especially not on the night he was going to offer the idea of a vow renewal. Christine's comment about his gloves went unnoticed for a few seconds, as he was lost in his frantic thoughts. However, the light touch of her fingers to his bare hands caused him to look down, and he quickly realized what she had said. "No, no gloves." Smiling up at her, Erik wrapped his hand around hers. It was so nice to feel her soft skin on his hand, he wore gloves to often to become accustomed to such a feeling. "Gloves are a barrier, my dear. It keeps my hands from yours, my flesh from yours. No, tonight I do not want such barriers." He had the urge to place a kiss to her lips, but refrained from doing so. No, not yet. I am always suffocating her with my affections. I will not do that tonight, as much as I would love to. Perhaps when we reach out destination. "Shall I help you up, my dear?" Erik asked her, motioning to the horse with a smile.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

His wife wanted to tease him. "You're right, I should have called Andrew's name, am I correct?" She watched Meg's blonde head disappear inside the dimly lit building with the father of her unborn child. She realized that she had never taken notice of who this Marcus was, but, now wasn't the time for that. She had Erik again. "Anywhere that I'm with my lover would be fine. I wouldn't notice where we were anyway." Christine moved toward her husband as she dragged her hand up and across the animal's cheek, down the neck and was now holding onto what Erik used as a saddle, or at least that's what it felt like in the dark. "A barrier, you say? Hmm, well, your gloves aren't the only barrier on your body." As Christine's hands rested there, she listened to his question. "Yes, you know that you may, Erik."

 

[Guile]

Erik furrowed his brow at her tease and scowled. "Andrew, huh?" He let out a low growl to show his fake distaste in her words. "And what would that boy be able to do? You know, muscle isn't everything. Sometimes quick wit and a knack for sneaking around quickly is what will save your life." Erik smiled, pretending to be quite pleased with his own capabilities as he placed his hands on each side of Christine's waist and hoisted her up onto the back of the animal. Her comment about barriers made him flush, and even though it was night, the full moon did little to hide it as Erik climbed up and into the saddle himself. It as then that he had composed himself and was able to tease her back. "Ah, yes, but it would be indecent of me to remove those barriers, wouldn't it?" With a low chuckle, Erik grabbed the horse's reins and nudged him in the side, turning him in the direction of their destination.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine grinned as she laid her head on Erik's chest. "You had better hope and pray that he is a good fighter." She breathed him in before continuing. "After all, he is taking Catherine for a wife, is he not? You should want him to be a good fighter, for her sake." Listening to the gentle chirping of crickets, Christine waited a long while before speaking again. "I know muscle isn't everything, but, someone else I know and love doesn't entirely work out, now does he? It wouldn't kill him." She was very proud of this tease. "But, alas, he refuses. Not that I mind, I love him anyway." His wife saw the blush that the man was giving her. "You're right. I would not want you to be indecent. We can save that for our own home or a room of some sort later." She flushed as well. "Though I don't think that the children would take it well." As the horse's hooves made that frightening clip-clop, clip-clop sound that she found so threatening earlier, Christine's eyes got heavy.

 

[Guile]

"Oh, I am sure that Andrew is a good fighter. After all," Erik joked, "you have seen him with his shirt off. We all have." He mumbled under his breath, amusement in his voice at his own joke. "I have every confidence that he will take excellent care of our daughter." At Christine's tease about his own lack of muscle training, Erik scoffed playfully. "I may not work out all the time, but I do have strength, my dear, a good deal of it, too. Just because my muscles don't look like 'pretty boy's' doesn't mean I am not just as powerful." His voice was laced with laughter that he tried, but failed at, hiding. "However, if my pretty little wife finds that she would like her husband to appear stronger, than I shall be obliged to begin working out." At the mention of finding a room later, Erik laughed softly. "So, does this mean that I am forgiven?" He teased, knowing very well that he had not yet repaid her, before answering his own question. "No, I suppose not. Not yet, anyway. Right, love?" Erik looked down to see Christine battling sleep as her eyes seemed to get heavier as they rode on through the city. It would be another few moments, but they would be in the country soon, and then it would only take a few minutes to get where he wished to take her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, stop it, my husband." Christine pushed against him gently. "It gets very hot downstairs with all of those candles lit, even in the summer." She pretended to fan herself. "Now that I think about it, that's exactly why I fainted the very first time I was down there. That, and a combination of a not so traditional way of asking for my hand." Christine kissed his chest through the shirt. "And, if you don't accept him for the shirtless, handsome man that we all know and love, Catherine will never forgive you. She may even elope." Christine shuddered at the thought. When Erik mentioned his own strength, Christine thought something that shouldn't really be said aloud, but had something to do with marital affairs. "I agree that you have power, but not physical power, really, unless you prove me wrong soon. And, don't let me control your life. Don't let your wife tell you what to do." She opened her eyes again, trying to stay awake. "I'm thinking about letting you off. It wasn't your fault entirely. I just have an easier time keeping up with dates." She continued a losing battle with her body.

 

[Guile]

When Christine commented on the reason why she had fainted on that night so long ago, Erik furrowed his brow and pretended to be offended. "Oh, I see. I had always thought it was because you couldn't get over my charming disposition and the aura of mystery about me - not some silly candles." He chuckled at this tease and the soft sensation of her lips upon his shirt. "Catherine will not elope with Andrew, there will be no need to. I have accepted him and his shirtlessness. Though I must say, I highly doubt I will stop complaining about it, despite how much I do respect the young man." Christine's words of disagreement on his own physical power shocked him, though now he was determined to prove her wrong. "Ah, so Christine does not agree does she? Well then, I will have to prove you wrong, my dear. I shall start working out and I guarantee that it won't take me long to look as good as pretty boy without his shirt." He laughed then, just as they started down an old dirt path, forest on each side. Erik could still tell Christine was fighting sleep - he could hear it in her voice. "We're almost there, my dear." He spoke softer, almost in a whisper, knowing that she was slowly drifting off.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"It was a combination of the candles and your actions, yes. You were quite charming, as I'm sure you'll agree. You had that mystery about you that's certain." She yawned, losing her battle. To occupy her mouth, she kept answering his comments. "Perhaps he would stop if his soon to be father-in-law would say something about it. He doesn't know how to act." She laughed quietly. "He's doing nothing against us. And, I don't know, Andrew looks pretty with his shirt on as well." She was faking a swooning and fawning over the man. "He's quite the looker." She finally drifted off to sleep.

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled as Christine confessed to him being charming on that night beneath the Opera so long ago. Her yawn caused him to look about at where they were. Just a few more minutes... He was thinking as Christine talked to keep herself awake. "Oh, is he, now? Do I sense that my wife finds another man attractive?" It was then that he looked down and she had drifted off to sleep. A smile crossed Erik's lips as he watched her sleeping form for a few moments. She was so beautiful, sleeping against him as they rode on. The journey was finished in silence, which Erik did not mind. He didn't want to wake Christine until the arrived. When they had, Erik slid off of the horse and tied him up loosely to a nearby tree before he gently pulled Christine down into his arms, trying carefully not to wake her. As he turned around to examine the scene before him, Erik smiled, for it was just how he had remembered it. The water of the lake was seemingly glowing, thanks to the moon light, and the fireflies were shimmering all around this peaceful area. The only noise was that of the crickets and Christine's soft breathing. This made Erik weary though, for he had expected something else - another noise that he so often had come here to hear. However, just as he was thinking this, he heard the soft sound of a bow gliding over the strings of a violin off in the distance. Erik knew where it was coming from and, most likely, who was playing it. As a young boy he had discovered this hidden place in the forest. It had captured his interest for it's simple beauty, but, much to Erik's delight, also because of the man that lived nearby. Just beyond the dense trees there lay a cabin of sorts, unseen from where Erik now stood with Christine in his arms. As a boy, Erik had heard the soft sounds of the violin and became curious as to where it was coming from. A quick investigation told him that it was the man in the house on the other side of the trees. For months Erik would come to this place and just sit to listen to this man play his songs. And even though the man did not know he had an audience, he would come out each night - at the same time - and play for about an hour or so. Erik lived for the nights he could hear this beautiful music and he had been praying that the man would still be living here, still keeping to his old habit of playing for an hour each night. True, this man was no Gustav Daae, but he was the only living person that Erik had heard that could even come near Monsieur Daae's skill. Yes, this stranger had played beautiful music for Erik as a child, and now he would play, unknowingly, for Erik and his wife. "Christine..." Erik whispered in her ear, softly, so that she woke peacefully. "Christine, my love...we are here."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Having heard Erik speaking while she slept, she fought with her body to wake and answer him, though she wasn't obeyed at all. She remained as she was, limp in her husband's arms. "I've no genuine yearning for any other man in life, other than God, Erik." She fluttered her eyes open, hearing that beautiful sound that she knew so very well. Breathing deeply, she let a smile come to her. "I haven't heard such a beautiful sound in my entire life." She sat up straight in his strong embrace. "Oh, it's...beyond words!" Christine gasped. "Absolutely beautiful!" She spoke in a whisper, not wanting that beautiful music to escape her. For a second, her immediate thought was that it was Gustav, alive and well again. "Impossible." She sighed, knowing how silly her thoughts were. "Erik, you've truly outdone yourself. That's what I love about you. You don't go for extravagances that cost money, you.find ways to be just as romantic without it." She kissed him passionately, letting her tongue in. "You are very much forgiven."

 

[Guile]

Christine's kiss was all that Erik needed to make this night perfect. He held her tight in his arms, letting his tongue explore her mouth as his lips explored her own. To hear the words 'you are forgiven' from Christine's lips was such a beautiful sound. "Oh, Christine, I am so glad. You've no idea the relief that it brings me to know you forgive my mistake. I wish I had never made it, but thank you, my love. Thank you for forgiving me." He, too, spoke in a whisper, not wishing to disturb the peacefulness of the night. "I know my mistake was dreadful and, even though you have forgiven me, I doubt that I will ever forgive myself. You mean the world to me, Christine. You are all that I have ever dreamed of and more. I love you so much, darling, and I want you to know just how much I love you. I would go through my past all over again if need be to have you here beside me like this, every day. Now, the question is, would you? Rather, what I mean to ask you is, would you redo the best night of my life, along with me, to prove our love for each other, once and for all?" He smiled sweetly at her before directly stating his question. "Christine, my dear, would you marry me...again?" Erik waited for her response to his proposal of a vow renewal with his heart seemingly lodged in his throat. Oh, what will she say? I don't think I can bare a refusal. He smiled, masking his deepest fears at the moment.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Grinning from ear to ear, Christine finally confessed her own mistake, or rather, very cruel tease. She felt wonderful, though the lie was very cruel indeed. "So, you can't recall how many babies were at the wedding, how long we've been married, or how old your son really is?" She teased him, tortured him, just to get him out of the house and alone and, if I may say so, she enjoyed this tease more than any other. "Don't hate me for teasing you so badly, and for making you go out of your way tonight to please me. I believe that I should make it up to you now." Now, she tried her very best to look ashamed of herself, though the laughter couldn't stop.

 

[Guile]

As Christine confessed to her tease, Erik placed Christine down on her feet and crossed his arms over his chest. He was half annoyed, half shocked. "Why, Christine Daae, how dare you hurt me so!" Though he looked and sounded completely offended, Erik himself was teasing. "Oh, dear, do forgive me. I meant 'Madame Destler.' However, if you continue with cruel teases like this, you may, once again, be Mademoiselle Daae!" He turned his head away from her, trying desperately to hide his smile. "Hate? Hate you? Christine, how could I ever hate you?" Erik replied sarcastically. "However, I do feel that you should be punished for this...let's see..." Suddenly he spun around to Christine and grabbed her. He picked her up in his arms and made his way over to the edge of the lake, holding her over the water. "I suppose a refreshing dip in this lake water would do you good!" Now, Erik let out all the laughter he was holding back from his tease. He had no intention of actually dropping Christine in the water, but he held her over it, waiting for the right moment to put her safely back on the grass.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The newly wed wife actually laughed, herself, as she was let down on her own feet again, to regain the feeling inside her numb legs. "Oh, dear, whatever shall I do? Perhaps I'll go to America with Raoul and raise our children there." She always had a fallback in her sleeve, though she was truly frightened that there was even the tiniest possibility that she would truly suffer a divorce. "Before you do this, think about your visitation with your children, should there be any." Looking as serious as she could, as she was dangled over the water, she added. "Believe me when I say that I'll take them with me." She velcroed herself to Erik.

 

[Guile]

Erik waited in silence, still holding Christine over the lake, as she threatened him back. "Go to America? With that fop?" Erik laughed at his own insult of the man. Still, he teased her back, his hold on her becoming stronger as he took a few steps away from the water. "Well now...I wouldn't want to loose the children. And, since you are a wicked woman that would take them all the way to America and away from me, I suppose I just can't let that happen." Erik laughed before becoming sounding as serious as Christine looked. "You know I would never be able to live separated from you. You are the light of my life...even if you are cruel to me sometimes." He smiled sweetly down at his wife before placing a kiss to her temple.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine held onto him, though her fingers were now red as she dug them into his neck, until he started backing up. "Believe me when I say that I will go away from you should you stop loving me and actually end up removing my ring from my hand." Christine showed him the beautiful wedding band around her finger. She knew she was lying. She would never go to America with Raoul, perhaps, she would leave alone with just her three younger children, but never with that drunk again. "If I.could point something out, what if this were real? What if you actually forgot our anniversary?" She eyed him with a serious expression. "We must find some way to keep track of the date, my love." She kissed his hairline, finally reaching up and smoothing it out, even though there was nothing to do with it, for Erik had done all the work. "I know how you feel, my love."