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

[Guile]

Erik heard Andrew's apology, but stayed turned from him and left the young man in suspense until Christine had finished dressing. "Of course I do." He joked softly so the children didn't overhear. "But if you keep teasing me in such a way, you'll have to make up for it later." He raised a brow at her, a sly grin appearing on his lips. "Watch yourself, Christine." Erik warned her jokingly before he felt her soft lips upon his. Then, he heard her plea and sighed. "Oh, alright..." He mumbled before turning around to face Andrew. Erik saw his outstretched hand and he just glared down at it for a few moments before taking it in his. "I forgive you, Andrew. In fact, I am glad that you are protective of my daughter. That means that I won't have to worry for her safety when she's around you. Still," He half-growled at him, warning Andrew with his eyes, "remember that I am her father."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine wrapped her arms around Erik's neck from behind. "And, I gladly will. You know that." She teased him and let go. "Don't worry, you'll get what's coming to you." She promised him with a laugh as be turned to Andrew, who embraced him. "Thank you, but remember, if you mess with a man's family, you get hurt." He teased with a slap on the back for his father in law. "You know I love you, Erik."

 

[Guile]

Erik's ears still tingled with the soft, seductive promise that Christine had spoken. Still, he had no time to enjoy the thought because Andrew's arms were suddenly wrapped around him. Erik rolled his eyes as if this were ridiculous, but he was secretly appreciative and hugged him back, but hesitantly. That's when he felt the slap on his back and he let out a quick, disapproving grunt and pushed Andrew's shoulders so that he would get off of him. "Alright, alright." Erik grumbled. "I love you too, no need to suffocate me." He was unable to hide the small smile that was forming at the kindness Andrew had displayed to him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"The water is far too cold." Christine muttered from behind her husband as she circled around him to go to her three youngest. "Ali." The boy had stopped his crying. "Ali, you must stay strong, my precious boy." The young mother told her son, sitting down next to them both and holding the boy especially. "You are the man of the house, you know that, don't you?" She kissed his head. "Yes, Mama." Ali told her. "Oh, you can't suffocate from that." Andrew chuckled. "Don't be daft." Andrew turned his attention to his wife. "So, this picnic, can we start?" He asked, hungrily.

 

[Guile]

Erik sighed and shook his head at Andrew as he walked over to where Christine and the children had sat down. It was only then that he realized something had upset Alistair, but he wasn't sure what had happened. He had been unaware to anything but what had happened between he, Christine, Catherine, and Andrew. Erik kneeled down beside his son and placed a hand on the top of his head. "Alistair, what is wrong, son?" He asked softly, realizing only then that the boy had been crying.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine noticed the crunch sound under Erik's feet as the man came to them, leaving Andrew behind him. "Ali, Daddy's here, my love." She pet his hair with a soft smile. "Daddy wants to talk to you. Don't be rude." Christine lifted her son's head as gently as possible. "Papa?" Their eyes met. "Papa, I just had a fright, that's all. I wasn't expecting that man to act like that." Ali took his father's hands. "You were right. The world is cruel and unsafe." Ali smiled a little. "Still, I'm glad we're out here."

 

[Guile]

As soon Ali met Erik's gaze, the father saw so much of himself in his son - even more so than before. His heart immediately sunk in his chest. He's too young to be understanding the cruelty of the world. Still, Ali was to bright to not notice it. Who could miss it? It's around every corner, on every street, throughout the world. "I'm sorry, Ali." Erik pulled the child into his arms and held him tightly to his chest. "I don't want you to be as weary of the outside world as I am. I'm sure it's not all bad." He tried to assure his son. "You just have to know which people to avoid, I suppose. And the bad ones that you can't avoid...just don't get on their nerves." Erik chuckled warmly at his attempt to make Ali, at the very least, smile.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair made his father's wish come true. He smiled thinly. "Well, I just asked one question." He argued. "But, it was the same question over and over again." Christine corrected the boy, poking his nose. "Well, if he'd just answer my question the first time, I wouldn't have to do that." He felt entitled, being the son of the Opera Ghost. "He should know better." Lilly rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You're so full of yourself." Ali cast her the evil eye as he huddled on Erik's lap. "Are we gonna eat soon?"

 

[Guile]

Erik couldn't help laughing at Alistair's remark and his family's reaction to the boy. He whispered in his ear with a sly grin on his lips. "I understand, son. I can see no one else does, but we Opera Ghosts do. Society should learn not to mess with us." Erik chuckled, the devious look that he'd had while speaking slowly disappearing from his face. "Oh, alright. I suppose we should eat something." Now, he looked to his wife and he held onto his son still. "Well, my dear? Do you approve, or would you have us starve?" Erik put on his best pleading face, looking innocent and adorable as he held Ali tighter, as if he had to beg for their food.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"The children are little. They can't serve themselves." Christine spoke as she laid out a tarp for the family. "But, you seem to think it funny when people can see more of me more than they should." She laughed. "Wait, who has the baby?" Her head shot up. "Andrew?" She asked the shaggy haired de Chagney. "Wha? Oh, yeah." He was stuffing a piece of bread in his mouth as quickly as possible. "They're alrigh'. Their pwayin'." He pointed to the trees, where Lilly was on baby duty. Andrew swallowed, causing his wife's laughter.

 

[Guile]

"Of course I do, my love. In fact, it is hysterical to me, actually." Erik said, only a small grin and a twinkle in his eye hinting to just how funny he found it to be. He was just beginning to open the basket to get the food for the older two children before he heard Christine ask about the baby. Erik's head shot up as well and his heart leaped in his chest. Fortunately, his fear was assuaged when Andrew told them exactly where they were. A smile crept onto his face as he handed Ali his sandwich. "You may want to try chewing before you swallow, Andrew. I find that it comes in handy." Erik chuckled and shook his head.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's stress was just getting worse, it seemed, with each passing day. "Andrew, you're going to be the death of me." She groaned, indeed seeing the young ones with their sister and aunt. "Why thank you, Mother." Andrew laughed and helped set up. "So much food, don't you think, my dear?" He asked Catherine as the woman brought all of the children together. "Come on, that's enough play. William, you will eat your apples first." She added to her son. "No!" The child argued as he stood and walked, or, stumbled forward. "Don't want apple!"

 

[Guile]

Erik shook his head, grinning at Christine's words. "I thought that was my job, Christine." He turned and glared teasingly at Andrew. "You really should stop trying to replace me. It just cannot be done." He laughed at this and stole a slice of apple, biting into it rather difficultly with his mask on. "There is only one Opera Ghost." The way he was struggling to eat was almost comical, as he had a very agitated look on his face. "Though, perhaps I wouldn't mind trading places with you for a while after all, Andrew. You can be the disfigured hermit beneath the Opera, and I shall be the proud, pretty boy who walks around shirtless all day." Erik laughed at his joke, despite his agitation with the mask rubbing against his skin as he tried to eat.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Andrew chuckled. "Look, if I wanted to take your reputation, I would have done it by now." He sighed as he ruffled his stepson's hair. "Come on, boy. Listen to your Mommy." He pleaded with the boy. "Apple first, cookie after." He held a cookie at arm's length, out of Willy's reach. "No, sir." He told the baby, but William, not used to being told 'no', waddled to Erik. "Pweez? Cookie?" Behind him, Catherine shook her head. "Pweez?" The boy repeated.

 

[Guile]

Erik was mid-chew, one he had worked quite hard for, when William came up to him. His eyes widened as he looked back behind the boy to Catherine and saw her shaking her head no. He wasn't used to having to tell any child no, but at least with Lilly and Alistair they were understanding. The last thing Erik wanted was to make William upset. Unfortunately, he couldn't deny Catherine's wish. "No, child. I'm sorry, William, but you must listen to your mother."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

That's when all hell broke loose. The child threw himself on the ground, kicking and screaming. "Cookie!" William demanded. "Cookie!" The twins just watched their nephew throw this tantrum. It was difficult for Catherine to watch. She wanted to give in, but knew that she couldn't. A tear escaped her. She had to turn away. "God, I hate this." Andrew couldn't help but feel guilty as he held his wife for a second before he had to take the discipline upon himself, knowing Catherine couldn't. He bent down on one knee. "William van Sergey. If you don't stop throwing this fit, you're going to time out." He spoke calmly, but the child wouldn't listen.

 

[Guile]

Erik immediately jumped, just slightly, having been startled by the sudden screaming coming from William. His face went red and his heart broke knowing that he was the cause for such behavior from the poor boy. The guilt piled even higher on Erik when he saw how upset Catherine was. He couldn't blame her. God, it killed him to hear and/or watch any of his family cry. But, dear God, those wails from William! They were ear-splitting. Erik tried to speak to the child to calm him, but it was useless. "Oh, William. Must you do this now, child?" He smiled, despite the fact that the boy was still screaming. Unfortunately, Erik had no idea how to calm the child. He had never had to handle an infant with throwing a tantrum before. Little Johnny was usually easy to take care of and Ali and Lilly could listen to reason. Poor Erik just watched, being about as helpful as the twins.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine was about to call this whole thing off and give in, when Andrew held up his hand to his wife. "No, Catherine. Let me handle my son." He looked down at the baby. "William, take this, and eat it, then you can have the cookie." Andrew passed the baby an apple, which he took with a frustrated sound. After eating it, he looked up. "Daddy, cookie now?" He clung to Andrew. "Wow, that worked." Lilly was stunned. "That was cool!"

 

[Guile]

Erik watched with widened eyes as Andrew handled the screaming child so efficiently. Inside though, Erik cursed himself for being useless. Well, I suppose it's good. I've learned now that I'll just have to be persistent with Jonathan when he gets old enough to argue. He knew that was going to be very tough to do. He was not one for patience, nor did he like seeing children cry. If it had been Erik in Andrew's place, he might have given in to William. However, William was not his son and so, he did not go against Catherine's wishes. "You uh...you will have to teach me your ways, Andrew. I can already tell I am going to struggle with Jonathan." Erik chuckled, though he was serious too.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

As the baby got what he wanted, Andrew chuckled. "I probably should have made him eat dinner first. The cookie was something that I should have held out on." He confessed his own mistakes. "No." Alistair pointed out. "You showed mercy on all of us, believe it." He finished a second sandwich. "Still, when you want me to parent your baby, I will." Andrew smirked. "Then, I'll torment our friends and wear a mask, whilst you wait in the unemployment line." Andrew was sarcastic. "But, I've had practice with my siblings. I helped my dad out." Andrew reminded Erik. "That's what caused me to take this into m-" he stopped as William dared to hug his leg. "Thank you." The baby smiled as he did so.

 

[Guile]

As Andrew began to tease, Erik glared at him, smirking. "On second thought, stay away from my son, Andrew." He laughed at this. "Still, you are a lucky man. I believe anyone with younger siblings is lucky. They get to practice on them before they have children of their own." Siblings, at the very least, would have been nice to have had growing up. Then again, loving parents would have been a blessing too. Erik watched with a soft smile as William grabbed onto his stepfather's leg. He has taken to him. It's no surprise, really. Andrew is practically his father and now, because of his marriage to Catherine, he technically is. Just not biologically.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"No, I don't think I will." Andrew smirked back, waving Alistair over as he took Jonathan from his mother. "Oh, dear. It seems I'm able to hold your sons." He wrapped his left arm around the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll make sure that they know you." Catherine clearly didn't agree. "Yes, Daddy. Younger siblings are wonderful to deal with on a daily basis." She rolled her eyes. "Always getting into your stuff, whining, screaming, fighting." She listed off. "Hey!" Lilly objected, but her sister didn't waver. "They get annoying."

 

[Guile]

Erik stared at Andrew, his mouth open in shock, as he held his sons. "Why, how dare you?! The insolence!" He joked, then glared at Ali. "Jonathan is too young to fight, but you didn't have to go to him. You traitor!" He smirked slightly, then turned to Christine. "And how could you just let him take our defenseless child? My whole family has turned against me! I knew this would happen if I let you inside, Andrew. I knew there was something about you that was questionable. Now I know what it is. You want to turn my family against me just so that you can destroy me from the inside-out and kill the dreaded Opera Ghost once and for all!" Erik laughed now. "You may get reward money if you turn me into the managers at the Opera, you know. Perhaps that's not a bad idea on your part. You are a horrible man...but you're quite clever." He shook his head at his own joke before turning to Catherine and teasing her a bit. "Well, perhaps their older sister should have been more understanding since, after all, she is the oldest and obviously knows better." Erik replied sweetly, smiling at her as he teased.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"How dare I?" Andrew repeated. "Well, it was quite simple. You said that I couldn't touch your sons, well..." he ruffled Alistair's hair and kissed Jonathan on the forehead. "What do you say to that, Father?" He finished with a chuckle. "Daddy, you always taught me to respect my elders, that's why I went with Andrew." The child argued his case. "Don't hate me." "And, I saw no harm in Andrew holding the baby. He's not spent any time with him." Christine explained her actions. "And, I thank you for your complements." Andrew released his younger brother, but still held the baby. "Now, what will you do for me to get him back?" Andrew held the child for ransom.

 

[Guile]

Erik still glared at Alistair, but was smiling. "I don't hate you...I'm just disappointed." He crossed his arms in defiance and turned to Christine again. "No harm? You let him hurt my pride! There was much harm done, thank you very much." Erik turn to face Andrew again at last. Alistair was released, but Jonathan was still in his arms. "What will I do for you?" He let out a loud laugh, similar to one that he would use when tormenting the poor managers as the Opera Ghost. "No, no, my son. I believe the real question is 'what will I do to you if you don't give him back.'" With that, Erik reached stood and reached into his coat and pulled from it, a decent-sized rope. He still carried one around, especially when they left the opera, just in case. Though, he always prayed he never had to use it again. Still, it was handy for jokes like this. "I still know how to tie a noose, you know." Erik stared into his eyes as if daring him to disobey him again.