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

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine yanked on the dress, Christine's wedding dress, which was now torn down the middle. "Mother, I didn't mean to have it ruined. I tried to stop it. I ruined your wed-..." she was silenced by Christine's embrace. "A wedding dress could never take priority over you, Catherine. It can be mended to look brand new again, however, my daughter cannot." She pulled Catherine out of the grasp of her husband, both husbands. "My love, compared to you, and, Erik, I apologize if you take offense," she smiled at her husband, then back at Catherine. "This dress means nothing." Secretly, she was cursing herself for believing that Raoul had stopped this behavior during Catherine's adolescence.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled back at Christine when she smiled at him as she addressed the issue of the dress. "I have taken no offense. I understand exactly, for I feel the same way about it. I would very much rather have my wife than this piece of fabric. The same is true for you, Catherine - the dress is replaceable, you are not." Erik ran his fingers along his daughter's cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead to comfort her. Oh, what a mess of a night. My poor, little Catherine. Why did her wedding day have to have an ending such as this?

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine was vaguely reminded of the better half of her childhood, especially at fourteen when she pressed her face against the glass of Box Three. "I'm glad you think so." She kissed his hand as Andrew helped her up, or rather, carried her toward their exit, the staircase behind the stone angel nearby. "Believe me, I will wait for you." Andrew promised. "You are worth waiting centuries for." Meg had come around the corner with the remaining three children. "Erik, Christine!" She called, hurrying to catch up before they disappeared. "Papa!" Alistair sprinted past Meg and into the waiting arms of his father. "You're alright!" He wrapped his arms around Erik's neck and whispered in his ear, a secret between the father and son. "I kissed Lucy." His face was now red hot. "I did it."

 

[Guile]

Erik turned just in time to see Meg running around the corner with the rest of the children. As soon as he saw Alistair running to him, Erik knelt down and opened his arms. When at last his boy had wrapped his arms around him, and Erik the same, he pulled him close. "Of course I'm alright. I'm the Phantom of the Opera, remember?" He chuckled at his joke, then heard the soft whisper in his ear. Erik grinned and pat his son on the head. "Good job, son. I'm very proud of you." He whispered back, knowing that his son was embarrassed. "I just hope you were a gentleman about it, as I'm sure you were."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"No one calls you that to your face any more, though." Alistair pointed out. "We call you anything but that in our family." He sighed, thinking about that kiss. "I don't know, Papa, it was weird, just getting it over with." He admitted. "I just don't know what to do about this now."Meg handed William and Jonathan over to Christine. Lilly ran after her big sister. "Wait for me!" She called, the pitter patter of her feet echoing off the walls, getting softer the further away she got. As Meg left, Christine followed through the portal. "Erik, come along, dear." She chimed in. "Ali, you had better be good to Lucy." To this, the boy rolls his eyes. "Yes, of course."

 

[Guile]

"Of course, darling." Erik replied to Christine and stood, still holding his son in his arms as he went through the portal. "I'm sure it was strange - they will be at first. After all, you're both rather young. Still, there's nothing wrong with showing affection. I'm very proud of you for being man enough to do so." He smiled at his son in his arms. "But there's nothing you need to do. Just let your friendship with Lucy grow, son. Spend time with her, show her your music like I said, and be there for her. Just because you kissed her doesn't mean you can't still do normal friend things, Ali. When you get older, I'm sure you will be glad that you took the time to be her friend. "

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, my sweet little boy is becoming more of a man every day." Christine grinned, hearing the 'private' conversation. "You know, I would wait a while yet, Ali. You're only eight." "I know, I know, Mother. It was nothing to fawn over." The boy was getting quite tired, both mentally and physically. "And, I can't show her much with just three scales, can I?" He planned to work on his song as soon as they were home. "It's just a whole lot of work to finish something like that. It took you years, didn't it, Father?" His attention was back to the man holding him. The howls and yips of their little dog could be heard up ahead. The animal had grown a little big for his fur, as most small breeds do. He was now biting at the ankles of not only Andrew and Lilly, but the 1400 pound stallion not far away.

 

[Guile]

Erik playfully scowled at Christine. "Don't you know not to eavesdrop on a father and son conversation, my dear?" He let out a soft laugh as he saw how tired Ali was getting. I don't blame him. It's been a long day. "Still, that's three scales - better than none, right? And yes, composing is a lot of work." Erik's mind went back to a different time - a time of a young chorus girl, strange happenings in the Opera House, and Don Juan. "Yes, it did. Many years." He nodded his agreement as he was pulled back to the present. "However, I composed an entire Opera. If you're simply working on a song it won't take you such a long time. Still, be patient with it and let the music come to you - don't go searching for it. It knows when your looking, and it likes to run from you when you do that. You have to wait patiently for it to come to you."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"It's three scales better than I can write." Christine added, joining their conversation. "And, if you were so worried about your wife...and mother..." she added to Alistair, "hearing this, then you should honestly wait until we get home and you are alone to say such things." She called off the dog before he irritated his opponent too much. Finally, the family was home. Alistair listened to Erik's advice, clinging to it as tightly as he could, for he was determined to be great! "Thank you." He hugged his father one last time. "It isn't too late, so I could probably get a little more done before bed."

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled at Christine's words and rolled his eyes at her, so that only Alistair could see. "You're right, Christine. I shall have to be more careful about hiding things from you now on." He joked as they arrived home. Erik hugged his son back before placing him on his own two feet and contemplating his statement. "Well, alright, son. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you to compose a little more before bed. Just remember that work, when done tired, is never as good as it ought to be. You will need your sleep to make truly beautiful pieces." He grinned and pat his son on the back.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, whatever shall I do?" Christine sighed as her son tested his father's instrument. "You keep secrets from me all the time. Your biggest you wouldn't show me until I was what? Seventeen, Eighteen?" She was now busy filling a bowl with nice, clean water, then she took that to Andrew to help her daughter. Then, as all mothers would do before bed, she put Jonathan and Willy in the tub, washing them. Andrew was just downright angry with the situation. His cousin had ruined his wedding night. His wife wanted nothing to do with them being 'together' for a while. "Erik, thank you." He mumbled as he polished his own weapon and put it in his boot for the night. "You've made me think about my family."

 

[Guile]

Erik saw the anger in Andrew's eyes and he did not blame him. Erik himself was furious with the idea that Raoul had done such a thing to his family - especially on the day of Catherine's wedding. "Andrew, I am very sorry about what happened today. I don't know where that man's head is. Who picks the wedding day of a cousin to decide he wants to torment people?" He scoffed and shook his head, his own anger becoming visible. "If it's any consolation, the ceremony was beautiful. Plus, you two are married now - that is what truly counts." Erik did his best to bring comfort to the situation, though it was difficult.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"It was, wasn't it?" He had to smile at that thought. "I guess it helps that you take Christine out a lot. I had not only my own sisters helping set things up, but I had your daughters help too." He chuckled. "Your Lilly is truly something to treasure. Always willing to help with anything and everything." He got up and changed back into his clothes before the wedding behind that wall. Then, he came back. "Thank you so very much." He fiddled with the curtain of Catherine's bed, closing it tight. "I don't think I've ever been this happy in years." Deciding to take to one of the chairs tonight, Andrew curled up there. "Goodnight." He fell asleep listening to Ali play.

 

[Guile]

"That, she is." Erik grinned, just thinking about Lilly and how helpful she always was. It made Erik proud to know his little girl acted such a way and naturally, not just because someone asked her to. She was always a little angel. "You are very welcome, Andrew. I am glad to know that you and Catherine will be happy together. Goodnight, son." As Andrew fell asleep, Erik made his way to the piano and rested his hand on Ali's shoulder. "How is everything coming?" He asked softly, hesitant to disturb the composer while he was working.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair was writing when his father touched him. He was so very wrapped up in his work, was so very much like Erik, that it really was like going back in time. But, the one mistake any man can make is disturbing a composer at work. With ink on his work, his hand slipped and made a half note look like a sort of weird quarter note. "Why!" He laid his head on the paper, ink getting on his forehead in his frustration. "I was just about to have a breakthrough." Christine walked toward them. "Son, the only thing you're going to break is your skull if you don't relax." She kissed Erik, then her son on the back of his head. It truly was deja vu.

 

[Guile]

Erik accepted Christine's kiss with a smile before turning to his son again. "A breakthrough, huh?" From his pocket, Erik pulled out a cloth which he licked a few times before lifting Alistair's head off the paper and wiping the ink from his forehead. "Forgive me for disturbing you, Ali. I know what it is like to be interrupted while working." He raised a teasing brow at Christine before continuing. "However, sticking your head to your work isn't going to help either." Erik chuckled before checking his watch. "It's getting late, son. Are you sure you want to continue tonight? There's always tomorrow. Perhaps that great symphony you were working on will come back to you in sleep." He teased lightly, patting his son on the head.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine saw the look that Erik gave her and lifted a brow as well. "Oh, forgive my curiosity. You're the one that went off the deep end without learning to swim that day." She smirked childishly. "Don't blame me for that." Alistair made a disgusted face as his father's saliva wiped the ink from his forehead. "Ew! Gross!" He squirmed away. Then, Erik told him that it was late. While wiping his forehead with his clean hand, Alistair groaned. "Something will come back, but it won't be the same." He smushed his face into his pillow and growled.

 

[Guile]

Erik scowled at Christine teasingly. "Now, look what you've done." He said as Ali sulked off to bed. "You've upset the child." He laughed at his tease before following his son and pulling the blankets up over him. "Don't worry about your piece, Ali. I promise something will come to you and, although it may not be the same as earlier, it will still be great. Have faith in your ability, son. After all, it's in your blood." Erik finished speaking and placed a kiss on the top of his son's head before heading back out to Christine. "I don't believe I've ever felt worse in my life." He exaggerated slightly with that statement. "I should have known better than to interrupt him. I wonder if he'll forgive me." Erik sighed, half annoyed with himself, but brushing it off to the back of his mind.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, leave it, Erik." Christine muttered. "You aren't father of the year." She kissed her son on the cheek and left him. "Now, we're all alone, my darling." She giggled. "It's too bad that you've upset me as well by disrespecting me as the mother of your children." Now, Christine left him standing there, while she decided to take a walk, alone. "I love this place, Father." She went to her dressing room to light a candle, just as she did every night, for Gustav. On her knees, she lit the single candle and prayed. "I miss you so much." She continued her prayer.

 

[Guile]

Erik smirked slyly as Christine mentioned the lack of people in the room - the two of them being the only ones left awake. "That is very true, Christine." Then she laughed. Oh, that laugh sent shivers down his spine. It was unfortunate that she decided to leave him there, staring after her with a shocked expression on his face. Damn my teases. They just make her tease back! Oh, how I despise being on the receiving end on times like this - when we're finally alone! Still, Erik's shocked expression turned into a smile rather quickly. Curious as to where she went, Erik followed up to the world above and happened to overhear Christine's voice. He followed it until he was behind her mirror once again. Then, he stood there and listened. She was praying.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Father, I don't recall ever getting the chance to truly thank you." Christine told Gustav. "Honestly, when you told me that you would send me my very own angel, I never thought that I would marry that angel and he would provide me with my four babies." She whispered ever more quietly, then, as if Monsieur Daae had asked a question, she answered him. "Yes, Father! They're beautiful! Sometimes, I believe that you not only sent my angel of music, but four more angels to inhabit my body and give to me four beautiful children." She felt a warmth that was very rare. "They're...I couldn't imagine my life without them."

 

[Guile]

As Erik listened to Christine's words his heart softened - everything about him suddenly eased and he felt as if the world had been lifted from his shoulders. She's praying to her father - thanking him - for me and for our children. In that moment, all doubts that Erik had once had of Christine's loyalty to him left entirely. I should never have doubted her love for me. She is happy. She is happy with me, with our family. And that realization was the best that Erik had ever received so far in his life. Christine was more than content with her life, she was glad to be living it, and it was because of what he had done for her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine finished her prayer and stood up. "I will gladly dance once more for you, Father." She smiled and bowed. "Just once more." She began to dance around the open room. The exhilaration that had long since been shut up inside her body came through with her dance. "And, when she finishes, the crowd goes wild!" She stood there, breathless. "And, now, she takes a final bow and exits stage left." She laughed and wandered the halls for a while, until she saw a familiar, no, two familiar faces at the end of the hall. Her heart skipped a few beats. "So that's where...that's who he's been sneaking out to see." She laughed. Then, as Lucy got closer, looking rather giddy, the boy she was with also came into focus. She wasn't with Alistair, not even with Edmund. She was entwined to a boy, rather handsome. "I don't believe it. What will our son think?" Christine hid in the shadows.

 

[Guile]

Erik continued to watch Christine as she danced. It's as if her father is speaking to her... Despite his slight confusion, he was entranced by her beauty. She had certainly not lost her ability to dance like the young girl he had seen so many years ago on stage with her father. Every move was captivating and it caused Erik's heart to leap in his chest. All too soon she had finished and left the room, leaving Erik to follow her without being noticed yet. It was while they were wandering down the hall that Christine ended up joining him in the shadows, only she was a few yards away from him. Erik quickly caught up and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Fancy meeting you here." He whispered and was about to ask what she was doing sneaking around when he saw them. It was Lucy, but Erik couldn't tell who the young boy was that she was with. Oh no...Ali will be heartbroken...Erik's playful nature had left him the moment he saw Lucy with another boy, and now it was replaced by dread. He knew all too well what it was like to care for someone that loved someone else. The last thing Erik wanted was to see his son go through the same thing.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine couldn't move. She was filled with sorrow now. "Ali..." she whispered, taking in this heartbreaking sight. "Erik, I'm sorry." She immediately hugged her husband, now getting a clearer picture of what she had done to him twenty-two years ago. "What shall we tell him, my dear?" She asked, leaning back into him as Lucy passed by, not noticing them. "Our son will be crushed. He worked so hard on his gift to her." Christine couldn't take much more. "Do you...do you think Andrew and Catherine know?" She asked, suddenly realizing how strange Lucy's behavior was tonight. "Do you?"