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

[Guile]

Erik laughed at Christine's words and gladly met her hand with his, stepping out to observe the scene before him. What made him smile most was his son's song. He knew immediately that his son had composed it, though he did not know his son had begun composing, because his music sounded like his own. It was eerie yet beautiful in it's own strange way. Erik couldn't have been prouder in that moment of his own flesh and blood. "Perhaps we should wake up the young bride for her big day, huh?" He chuckled at the suggestion before kneeling beside his youngest daughter as she tried to find a dress. "Many to choose from, but only one can you wear today." Another soft laugh escaped his lips before he pointed to a dress hanging in the back of the wardrobe. "I don't know much about dresses, but I do fancy that one there. What do you say? It's your decision, of course." He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head and smiled before whispering to her. "Did you sleep well last night?" Erik hoped that he and Christine's 'sacrifice' had been worth something, and that his little girl was no longer afraid.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You would think that waking her would be the right thing to do, wouldn't you?" Christine answered when Erik started speaking to Lilly about dresses. "Oh, sure! Have the man talk to a lady about dresses." She rolled her eyes as she moved the curtains away from Catherine's bed and bent over her to hold her grandson. "Come here, my sweet boy." She brought her fingers under his arms and lifted the baby, holding him on her waist, then, with a grin, she pulled on Andrew's ear. "Get up! Get up, you're a man. You won't be lazing about and having my daughter do all the work." Lilly scanned her father's chosen dress. "It's very pretty." Andrew's eyes shot open. "I'm up! I'm up!" He fell out of bed.

 

[Guile]

Erik's attention was torn from Lilly when he heard the thud that was Andrew hitting the floor. Laughing, Erik stood and took a few steps to the side so that he could confirm what he was thinking. Yes, it was Christine's doing. "Good God, Christine! What is it with you and throwing men out of bed? You've gotten rather rude lately, haven't you?" He teased and tried not to laugh as he did so, though his grin was slowly widening. "Men need sleep too, you know. We need to be well rested so that we can tend to women's every whim." Now, he laughed, unable to stop it.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I learn only the best from my Phantom of the Opera." Christine laughed, as Catherine shot up, woken by her fiance's reaction to her mother. "It wasn't me!" She realized where she was and laughed at her fiance. "What? Last night was too rough?" She joked. They hadn't done anything at all...yet. That's when Lucy kissed Ali's cheek and he turned red. "I'm going to say this as nicely as I possibly can, Catherine." Andrew pointed his finger at her. "Not another word." He chuckled.

 

[Guile]

Erik watched what was happening before him, glanced over at Alistair and saw what had happened to him, and laughed. He sounded as if he had gone mad, shaking his head and laughing in such a way. "My...my family has gone...mad." Erik said as he gasped for air through his laughter. "We are like a nuthouse!" Then, he registered Catherine's words and he stopped laughing, but couldn't hide his smile. "Catherine!" Erik pretended to scold his daughter. "Such vulgar words! And in front of the children!" He laughed again at Andrew's reaction. "And you - what do you mean 'not another word?' Are you trying to hide something from me that concerns you and my daughter?" Erik teased before placing his hands on his hips and raising a brow at Christine. "You know, I blame you for how crazy our family is - at least for today. You were the one that started all of this. Honestly, Christine, you create more havoc than I ever did. Now I see what you were actually learning form me all those years. It wasn't how to sing - it was how to drive people insane!" He couldn't help the grin that slowly started forming once again as he looked at his wife. "What will I ever do with you?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair got off of the piano bench and walked toward his father, talking him by the hand. "Father, consider this." He was in shock right now. "We all came from you and Mother." He smiled as he hugged Erik's waist. "It would make sense that you did this to us." Catherine followed her brother's lead. "You've said much worse in front of them. While eating, I might add as well." She faked her shame by looking at her feet. Andrew hid his face, as if Erik were going to strike him. "I meant nothing, sir." He backed toward the closet area that stored Gustav's violin, among other things. Christine laughed. "Yes, you were a master of madness as well."

 

[Guile]

Erik glared down at his son, jokingly of course, but wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace. "Hey! Who's side are you on, anyway?" Then, he bent down and whispered in his ear. "You should help me out of this predicament, or I will tease you about that little kiss you just got for the rest of your life." Erik threatened lightly, with a laugh. Then, he glared at Catherine. "Perhaps I did...but it was one time! And in my defense, I didn't know they were there." He tried to defend himself against his family that was quickly ganging up on them. "Plus, I was married to the woman I was speaking to! Not simply engaged like yourself. You must wait until after your wedding tonight before you start saying things like that, young lady." Erik laughed as he glanced at Andrew. "You know, I think Andrew is my new favorite. He, at least, respects my authority in this household. Unlike the rest of you - my own children! My wife!" He glared at Christine now and smirked.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

As Erik whispered in Ali's ear, anyone could tell that the poor child was extremely scarlet in the face right now. It was so bad, in fact, that Ali hid his face against Erik's collar bone. "That's not even fair! I wasn't asking her to kiss me at all." Catherine hugged Andrew's waist as she spoke again. "Oh, yeah. A father would never notice not only his adult daughter at the table with her toddler, but he would never notice two seven year olds either." Andrew chuckled as he stroked Catherine's hair. "I'm an adult. I can talk the way I want to." Andrew pat her hair. "Just wait for it, dearest."

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled at his son's reaction, but knew how embarrassed he was. "Oh, Ali." He hugged his son to him tightly and whispered again to him. "Don't be so embarrassed. Lucy likes you, and she's a nice girl. There's nothing wrong with liking her back, you know. What she did was sweet. You should accept her affections, not shy away from them." Then, he added rather quickly, "just...remember that you're both just children yet." He chuckled before looking up at Catherine again. "Now, now. You may be an adult, but I will always be your father, Catherine. You must respect me and do as I ask." Erik joked. "And don't try and contradict me. I swear - I had no idea you were there!" He mumbled this last bit under his breath, but still loud enough for everyone to hear: "you can blame your mother for that. Distracting me, as always."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair still clung to Erik, even as he spoke to Catherine. There was just something about their relationship that he never got from Raoul and that he needed now. "But, I don't want to look like a pansy." He whispered in Erik's ear, at the same time that the man still talked to his daughter. Lilly giggled with Lucy behind them. Catherine rolled her eyes, shrugged, and took William. "I know, Papa. But, still, you were a father and you weren't aware of the children in the room?" Christine scoffed. "I am not at fault, Erik Destler!"

 

[Guile]

Erik heard his son's whisper and, instead of fighting a loosing battle with Catherine, responded to him. "Pansy?" He whispered back, unable to not smile. "Son, showing affection does not make you less of a man. However, it does - if done properly - make you a gentleman." Erik assured his son as he held tight to him, not minding that his son didn't wish to let go of him - Erik didn't either. "Oh, and...don't blame the woman for anything. They tend to shout." He joked, as he raised a brow at Christine. "Oh, you're not, are you?" He asked his wife. "I honestly believe you are the most distracting thing in this house. Why do think I never spend time with our children?" Erik winked at Ali as if they shared a secret. "It's because you're always dragging me off who-knows-where!" He laughed, picked his son up in his arms, went over to Christine, and placed a kiss on her cheek with a 'whether you like it or not' attitude about him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You think so, Papa?" Ali raised a brow, still digging into his father as he watched Lucy. "I wouldn't even know what to say. My tongue is getting tied, my palms are sweaty and I can feel my heart in my throat." He whispered just enough to let his father hear. "We tend to shout, eh?" Christine took Erik's finger and started to bend it backward. "You choose not to spend time with them. You are infatuated with the famous Christine Daae, the gorgeous Christine Daae!" She laughed. Catherine started to fidget. "Let's move, then. We need to get started!"

 

[Guile]

"Of course I do, son. You don't need to worry about what you say - just be honest and kind. Be a gentleman. She already likes you." Erik smiled at his son before resuming his whispering. "Why else would she have kissed you? Just show her your music that I heard you playing earlier. Which, by the way, sounded phenomenal, Ali. I am very proud of you and I should like to hear more sometime. Still, just talk to her about things you're passionate about. Oh, and tell her that she's very pretty. Woman loved to be complimented." He chuckled, but soon Christine was bending his finger backward. "Ow. Ow..ow!" Erik had no choice but to place Alistair down so that he could use his other hand to pry Christine's hand off of his finger. When he finally managed to free himself, he rubbed his hand and stared at her, shocked, though he was smiling as he did so. "That was very rude of you, Christine. I've never laid a hand on you and then you go and hurt me in such a way." He raised a brow at her yelling before wrapping his arms around her waist, picking her up, and spinning her around in his arms. "Yes! Yes, I admit it! I am infatuated with you!" Erik laughed before placing her back on her feet. "Now, if you're quite finished distracting me, your daughter is getting married today and she needs our help." He said as if scolding her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Uh, oh, that? Papa, that was nothing, really." Alistair would be even worse, though his pigmentation couldn't do so. "It isn't done yet." He sighed and finally let go just in time for Christine to laugh her precious, sweet laugh that everyone loved so much. "Now is not the time to make me want to go out with you. We must remain focused." Christine took Erik's hands off of her. Catherine groaned and pulled her mother along, to get the dress ready first. "Andrew, I'll meet you at the altar." She dragged Christine to the singer's dressing room.

 

[Guile]

The smile that Christine's beautiful laugh had put on Erik's lips remained, even after she left with Catherine. "Nonsense, Alistair." He responded to his son's modesty. "It was brilliant and I want to hear more, when you're ready to play for me, of course." Erik chuckled and ran his fingers through his son's hair just once before heading to the wardrobe and pulling out a suit for him. "Here, Ali. I think this would be nice for you today, don't you think?" He smiled and handed the clothes to him before pulling out a suit of his own. As soon as his fingers touched the fabric, reality hit Erik. His little girl was getting married. Today. He was going to have to walk her down the isle. He was going to have to give her away. Erik put on a smile and forced his heart to calm itself. "I-I think I'll go change now." He seemed a little flustered, but urned to Ali before he went. "If you need my help son, just let me know. I'll be out in just a few moments." With that, Erik disappeared to another room and changed into his more formal attire. As he fixed his hair and tie in the mirror he tried to calm himself. Andrew is a good man...he will take care of Catherine. She will be happy.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Well, maybe tomorrow, then." Alistair whispered, so that only Andrew heard as they both changed into their very best suits. "Promise that you won't tell Erik until after Catherine and I leave that I am taking her to a nice little hotel afterward for our first night together. " Andrew asked his future brother in law, to which the boy winked. "You're just looking for trouble now. You're talking about the daughter of the Opera Ghost here. You can't just take her not even tell Catherine where you're going." Andrew laughed. "Relax, we'll be in Paris still." He dressed William, but left Jonathan to Alistair.

 

[Guile]

Erik came out a few moments later to find Alistair attempting to dress Jonathan. "Thank you, son. I'll take it from here." He smiled and finished dressing the baby before turning to Ali. "Are you all set, or do you need help with something?" He looked up at Andrew and took in the image of the man that would be his daughter's husband. Erik's heart ached again, for the thought was bittersweet, but he knew he had to get over it sooner of later. Catherine would always be his daughter, no matter what. And Andrew would be good to her, good for her and William. "The same goes for you, Andrew. Are you sure you don't need help with your tie?" Erik joked, letting out a small laugh.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Nope. I remember how to do things now. I've been working on it since you married my mother." Alistair smoothed out the suit. "I'm just thankful that this is the very last one that I have to sit through for a while. Every one will be there, William's parents, our family, Andrew's family and others." He rolled his eyes. "I think Catherine's got me serving food." With that, he jumped in the boat. "One last time, Father." Andrew laughed as he picked up Edmund and got in the boat to meet with all the girls other than Catherine up above. The poor guy's heart could probably be heard echoing off the walls.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled down at Alistair as he smoothed out his suit. "Good boy. Turning into a gentleman means learning to look like one too." He chuckled, held Jonathan in his arms, and got into the boat behind Alistair. "Here, son. Take your brother for me, please." Erik handed Jonathan off to Alistair so that he could take up the ores and row. As he did so, he noticed Andrew's uneasy look. The young man appeared calm, but Erik knew that look in his eyes - you could see it in any man about to get married. "You'll do just fine, Andrew." He assured him, without needing to be asked anything. "Catherine loves you. We love you - the whole family. You're a good man, the best I think my daughter ever could have found." Erik smiled at him from where he rowed. "I'm going to be very proud to call you my son-in-law."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Andrew faced ahead of them, sweating bullets under his suit, far from the confident, hardworking man that they knew. At twenty-five, he realized that he.would be a new husband and father in a few hours and, on top of that, he would meet the boy's biological paternal grandparents. That thought made him sick. Catherine would be taking the same last name of the man that had taken William Sr. away from his son, taken Christine and the children away from their father! Finally having courage, he turned around in the boat. "Erik, how do you feel...about Catherine taking my name?"

 

[Guile]

Erik was unprepared for such a question. It caught him off guard and he swallowed hard, thinking about it quite seriously. Oh, God...do I really want my little girl to have the same name of the man that tormented me for years? The man that killed her first love? But, then again...it isn't really up to me, now, is it? He smiled at Andrew, his heart starting to come to it's senses. "Andrew, you are a good man. Your name, though it is shared with a man who has done much wrong to this family, is something that you deserve to share with Catherine. I admit that it will bother me some, the thought bothers me now, actually. But, do not let that worry you. I will get over it, Andrew. Catherine will have your name and we will all grow to respect that. In fact, you may even redeem the de Chagney name and make it something that we all don't cringe over when we hear it." Erik chuckled as the boat came to a stop. "Catherine is to be your wife, and I respect the name you are to give her. I will do all that I can not to associate it with the Vicomte, but you instead." He smiled his reassurance as he stepped out of the boat.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Andrew sensed Erik's feelings before the man ever spoke. Immediately, his stomach entangled itself right inside his intestines at the thought.of what he had just heard. "When the man asks for any objections, I want you to have a voice at least. Say something if you cannot approve of us being together." He got out, took Jonathan from Alistair as he.got out and walked with the baby tucked under his chin up and out of the catacombs. "I am not sure about William having my name though. He may want to keep his." He tried to laugh. What would he tell William Sr.'s parents? 'Hey, my cousin killed your son?' He.wanted to vomit as he opened the doors and stepped up to the altar, handing Jonathan to Alistair in the process.

 

[Guile]

Erik was stunned, to say the least, by Andrew's words. Why would he ever want to object to them being together? Andrew was a good man, surely he would take care of Catherine and make her happy. There was no need - no reason - for Erik to not want them to be married. However, he didn't get a chance to say this to Andrew, for the young man was already making his way to the altar. Meanwhile, Erik went around to meet up with Catherine. His heart started pounding in his chest. He would have to give his little girl away...soon. Oh, too soon, it seemed. But it had to be done. It was for her. She would be happy.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine felt her heart giving out, but she couldn't faint yet. She was to be married in less than an hour. "You look absolutely stunning, my little Cathy." Christine gushed over the young woman, looking at her in the mirror and holding her shoulders gently, purring in her ear. "I couldn't ask for a better husband for you. He's such an amazing and talented young man." Meg helped Catherine into her shoes, careful not to chip Catherine's toenails. "You two will be so happy together." Many guests filed in, among them William's parents and...the entire de Chagney family. Andrew felt his heart run a marathon again. "Oh, God...why now?"

 

[Guile]

Erik found his way to the dressing room and knocked on the door before entering once he realized that they were decent. "Catherine?" He asked, slipping in and smiling as soon as he noticed her, her mother, and Meg. "Oh, my little girl...you look so beautiful." Erik stared, for she truly was beautiful. In fact, he couldn't believe that this young woman was the same little girl that came running around the Opera House searching for information about the dreaded Opera Ghost so long ago. "Forgive me. I shouldn't call you a little girl anymore. You've turned into a mature young woman. But...I'm sure I'll slip up a time or two still." Erik chuckled slightly at his words, though his heart seemed to break and swell with pride in the same moment.