The Phantom of the Opera: A Beauty and a Beast (Guile and Melody)

[Saiyan Princess]

"Listen, I want all of you little ones out of here. Out of my way!" He lifted the woman into his arms and rushed her around a corner, down some stairs, and out of sight of all others to deliver her baby in peace. "Rehearsal is over, everyone, until your teacher is alright again." Hearing this, Christine got even more worried for her teacher's plight. "Madame Giry!" She attempted to follow, but was stopped by Monsieur Moncharmin. "No, Miss Daae. You cannot go to her. She needs all the focus she can get." He held her by the shoulders and ushered her away, guiding her behind her fellow dancers. "Off you go." He spoke almost cheerfully. Christine just stood there, waiting for her chance to follow, but saw her 'friends' leaving and followed suit.

 

[Guile]

Erik was torn. He wanted to go to Madame Giry, but Christine looked so troubled that he longed to be by her side as well. God, what shall I do? Erik stood motionless for a few moments, trying to decide who he should go to. He knew no matter what that he could not show himself to Madame Giry because the manager was with her. What would she want me to do? Erik practically begged for answers that he could not receive. However, he told himself that he would not be able to rest until he was sure his dear friend and her baby were alright. Figuring that he would go watch over her from the shadows and report back to Christine when he knew what had happened, Erik made his way through the shadows to Madame Giry's side. What he heard - not so much saw because his view, thank goodness, was obstructed by the manager - made him cringe. The horrible pain of childbirth was so evident in his friend's screams that Erik wasn't sure he was going to be able to stay conscious much longer. Her cries made him dizzy, but he forced himself to stay alert. He had to tell Christine what had happened to her - Erik had to be the one to put her mind at ease.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine desired to be with her mistress, not wanting to be alone with Madame Giry in so much pain and agony. "Phantom? Where are you?" She asked when she reached her room and started shaking the mirror in her fright and frustration. "What's happening out there." She actually ended up touching the glass. Something was strange about this one. It wasn't solid at all. It was like a portal to another world. She felt through it and touched air. Pulling her hand back, she gasped. "What was that?" She brought her hand.back and the mirror was solid again. Madame Giry was struggling to deliver, but the man with her kept assuring her that everything was fine. When, at last, a little baby girl entered this earth, she let out a wail of life, allowing Giry to relax as she was allowed to hold the infant. "She's beautiful, sir." She told Richard. "She's just beautiful."

 

[Guile]

Erik waited in silence, trying not to hold his breath in anticipation for fear of passing out. Then, at last, he heard the first cry of the baby's passage into this world and he let out a silent sigh of relief. Everything's going to be okay. The baby is fine...Madame Giry is fine...Christine! He suddenly remembered that the poor girl was alone, probably frightened half to death. Making his way back through the shadows, Erik found his way into the corridors and back to Christine's mirror, hoping she was in her room. When he found that she was indeed there, a smile crept onto his face and he approached the mirror silently. He waited a few moments, then spoke softly. "Christine? How are you fairing, child?" Erik knew that Christine was anxious to know the state of Madame Giry and her baby, so he wasted no time in reassuring her. "Do not fear for Madame Giry or her little girl." He smiled, hoping she wouldn't mind that he spoiled the surprise. "They are both just fine, I assure you."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was indeed very anxious. "I don't want to lose anyone else." She kept saying as she walked back and forth in front of the mirror. "Please, no one else, Father." She prayed. "Please." She stopped pacing, but kept up her prayer. "Please, let Madame Giry and her bab-" that's when Erik had returned to her mirror, to her side. "Master!" She all but tackled the mirror, knowing that he was there. "Oh, thank God! I thought you had left me forever!" It took a while to compose herself again. "I'm so scared! I want to know how she is!" Then, he told her and Christine's precious little heart gave a huge leap of joy and ecstasy. "She's alright!?!" He then just had to spoil the surprise and at first, she was irritated, then it was a girl! "Is it!?!" She.couldn't keep from jumping for joy. "I can't believe it!" She had lost all sense of worry and anxiety now. "I'm going to have a friend to play with!"

 

[Guile]

Erik jumped back, startled at first by her reaction to his return, tripped and fell back onto the ground. He had not expected her to practically tear the mirror from the wall! Though, it made him laugh, which surprised even himself. Erik was not one to laugh often. "Yes, Madame Giry is just fine. As is her baby." He reassured her, the smile not leaving his lips though she could not see it. He stood again and went back to stand just behind the mirror. "And I suppose you will have a friend to play with once she's older." Erik was surprised to find his heart aching slightly at these words. The idea of Christine having a friend other than he hurt him. You're so selfish, Erik! He thought to himself. What? Did you expect her to want only you to be her friend? The voice behind the walls that can never come out and be near her like other children when she needs or wants you to? The one that must always be in hiding? She needs other friends. She deserves them...

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was still excited at the prospect of a friend to play games with. "Oh, I want to see them now! I bet you she's adorable, Master!" She practically skipped to the door, but thought about the company she kept. "Oh, I have forgotten my manners, Monsieur." She whispered, giggling. "Did you want to say something? Are you alright, sir?" She held her head down as she walked back to her mirror. "I must learn not to leave you behind like this." She hugged the mirror again, trying to reestablish herself as his friend. "Forgive me, please." Her head was still aimed at the floor.

 

[Guile]

"Please," Erik began softly, assuringly, "do not ask for forgiveness when there is nothing to forgive." He smiled at her through the mirror, knowing she could not see him. "I am alright, Christine. Truly." He paused, knowing very well that it stung to watch her go off and live her life while he had to stay hidden and away from her. "Now, go and see them, my dear!" Erik forced his voice to sound cheerful. "Your new friend will be wanting to meet you, I am sure! Madame Giry will be glad for your company, you must go." He even let a small laugh escape his lips, making it sound like it was not forced. "You must tell me the baby's name when you return. I should like to know." Erik gave her a small task to focus on, hoping that would distract her from him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine waited as he talked before she dared let go of her mirror. "Alright, then, but remember your promise." She held her little finger high. "Even if it's just for a moment." With that, she lowered her hand and kissed the mirror before turning on her heel and letting her dress sweep against the floor as she left the room. "I will have the child's name for you upon my return." She promised him, knowing that she held all the cards in her hand. "If you cannot keep your promise, I cannot keep mine, Teacher." She gave a sly little grin as she kept going. "Madame Giry?!?"

 

[Guile]

Upon seeing her raise her little finger to the mirror, Erik did the same. "I have not forgotten, Christine." He smiled warmly, then brought his hand back down by his side. At her playful words and sly grin, Erik found himself holding in laughter, though when she left and the room was dead silent, he felt the same overwhelming sense of loneliness that had plagued him for so long. Relax yourself...she will return soon. Still, the feeling did not leave his heart and Erik sank to his knees, his one hand, as well as his forehead, resting on the glass of the mirror. Why does her absence hurt me so? I have been alone so long...why should I only now begin to feel this way? Erik was confused by his emotions and lost in his thoughts, never having felt them before he met Christine.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Little Christine's feet kept going and going until she came upon the stage and crossed it to get to Madame Giry. "Madame!" Firmin Richard saw the little girl coming and got up to block her. "The lady needs rest. Leave." Christine stood there, frightened. "Monsieur?" The woman looked around the man, at her student. "Ah, Christine. Come. Come." She beckoned the tot over. Richard glanced at the two. "But, Madame..." "She is welcome. Miss Daae is like a daughter to me." She removed the blanket from the infant's face. "My child, this is your new friend, Christine." She cooed to her daughter. The baby stared blankly at them, but Christine smiled and reached her hand out to her. "Madame, he wants to know the baby's name." Giry raised a brow. "Oh, does he?" She chuckled, which was unusual for her. "Well, dearest, tell him that my daughter is Meg Giry." Christine listened intently. "...Meg." she whispered. "I hope everyone knows that!" She said aloud. Giry put her finger on her lips. "No, he cannot come. Do not call him. He will be captured." Christine nodded.

 

[Guile]

Erik sat, still in the same position, longing to go to his friends. More than anything, he longed to be sharing this moment with them, for what a beautiful moment it was! In fact, tears threatened to come because of the realization that hit him. I shall never get to experience something such as this. I will never know what it feels like to see a baby born...watch a child take its first breath. Erik forced his thoughts elsewhere so that he would not end up crying, though it was hard to completely ignore that cruel reality that loomed over him. Instead, Erik thought of Christine. He imagined their meeting, the one he promised her. Yet, there was fear in that thought as well. She's so curious...what if, and it's very likely, she wishes to know what lies beneath my mask? Oh, God, she cannot know. She will hate me forever! She will despise me! My Christine! Shaking his head, Erik desperately tried to force that thought from his mind as well. No matter what he thought of, there was always something to fear, something that hurt him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

That creeping, yearning feeling of wanting to be with Erik loomed over her. "I wish he could, though." She whispered. As Meg finally slept, her mother allowed Christine to hold the girl. "There, now. Mind her head." Christine obeyed and placed her hand under little Meg's head, smiling at her mother at the same time. "She's so sleepy, Madame." The mother laughed lightly. "She had to work hard to get here." Standing straight, she guided her back to her room, her home. "Don't worry. He watches us. He's watched you since you came here to live. Even before." She kissed the top of Christine's head. "Phantom, are you here, my friend?" She knew very well that the young man watched them now.

 

[Guile]

Upon hearing their voices, Erik forced the tears back and stood up. He did so a little too quickly though and ended up feeling a bit dizzy. though, the feeling went away by the sight of his friends entering the room. "Of course, Madame!" His voice was cheerful, and this time he was not faking it. "I am always here." Erik went speechless at a new sight - the sight of Christine holding a small bundle in her arms. The baby... My, how precious they both looked together. It was a dear sight that no one could deny, not even a phantom. "How are you?" He asked Madame Giry, though he saw that she was obviously standing and walking, so that had to be a very good sign.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The young woman smiled at the sound of her friend's voice. It alone was like music. He didn't even have to sing. "Oh, yes, my dear boy." She smiled and took Meg back from the little five year old. I am well, as is your student. I have returned her to you, safe and sound." She talked softly, so as not to wake Meg. "She is unharmed, Phantom, and, as I have mentioned previously, this is my daughter, little Meg." She kissed the infant's forehead and started humming to her. "Can I see now, Master?" Christine begged. "I did as you asked, sir."

 

[Guile]

"I am very glad that you and your daughter are well. And I thank you greatly for bringing Christine back to me, unharmed." Erik smiled at his own words. At the sound of the baby's name, Erik found that something in his heart warmed a little. "It is a pleasure to met you, Meg." He chuckled slightly, but kept his voice soft. "May God bless you, and may the path he has set out for you be one of comfort and ease, dear one." At Christine's words, Erik grew red in the face...only from embarrassment. For, had he not once promised Madame Giry that he would stay out of sight and not allow Christine to see him? "I...you did, indeed, Christine." He had no intention of breaking his promise to her, but he did not know how to justify his actions to Madame Giry. Erik feared that she would be cross with him for going back on his word to her - something he seldom did.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Giry stopped humming, eyes wide with fear. "Erik, may I speak with you, alone?" Ushering a confused Christine from the room, she handed her daughter off to Daae, then shut the door behind her. "Erik, come out here, immediately. I know you're hiding behind that mirror." She ordered in a new, motherly tone. "You must have lost your senses. How could you promise Christine such a thing? She's innocent and naive." She waited for his response. Christine stood just outside, heart going mad. "Oh, what have I done?" She felt like crying. "If Madame gets too angry with Master, she may not let me continue under him." That thought brought tears to the orphan's eyes. "Oh, God! My father, Gustav, help me, please!"

 

[Guile]

Erik swallowed hard and his face went red as Christine was ushered from the room. He knew he was in for it, but did not object when Madame Giry demanded he come out. Erik did as he was told and within seconds he was standing before her, his face still flushed with embarrassment and his eyes filled with guilt. The tone in his friend's voice was crushing Erik, as were her words, because they were true. How dare he promise such a thing to poor, Christine! "I-I know, Madame..." He started to feel the words sticking in his throat and, as he thought about why he promised Christine such a thing, tears started to form in his eyes. Sinking to his knees in utter despair, Erik did his best to keep the tears hidden from his friend. "I'm so sorry, Madame. I didn't mean to...I never planned on it happening." His voice was muffled because his face was so close to the floor, but he was glad. His voice was starting to quiver. "I only wanted...God, when she asked me...." Erik could hardly form sentences anymore, he was fighting the tears so hard. "She said...she wanted a hug! Did you hear that?" Finally, he forced himself to look up at his friend, not caring anymore about the tears that were rolling down his cheeks. "Christine...she wanted to hug me! Not even my mother would hug me!" Erik did his best to keep Christine from hearing his words, but he wasn't positive if she could or could not hear them. "Forgive me...I am selfish!" He put his forehead to the floor of the room again, his heart aching more than before. "I only wanted...I only wanted to...oh, God!" Erik cried out in agony, as if he had just been cut open. "I want to live!"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The heart of hardened woman softened at these words. It wasn't anyone's fault, what had happened just then. She knew that much. The wind blew in from the open window and you could have sworn that a male voice spoke. "My lady, be kind." The voice whispered with the wind. She gasped as she heard Gustav speaking to her, hearing it as clear as a bell. "Yes, sir, Gustav." She waited for the wind to stop before continuing with Erik. "A selfish man would never give his music to another." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "I wish for you to think this over and make the choice yourself." She went on. "Should you wish it, I will not object." She stood back. "Stay or go. I am letting them return."

 

[Guile]

Erik went silent, save for a few gasping breaths that he took to try and calm himself, when a gust of wind blew in form the window. Strangely enough, the breeze was cool, yet comforting and, as Erik lay on the floor, he could have sworn there was another voice that spoke. Wiping the tears from his eyes and forcing himself to be calm, Erik sat up and looked to Madame Giry for her response. When it finally came, gentle and forgiving, Erik took her hand and placed a kiss on it. "Thank you..." He forced himself not to cry again, though the feeling was there. "Oh, thank you, my friend." Her words brought a smile to his lips and made him feel, for once in his life, that maybe he was not so bad a person after all. However, there was still doubt in Erik's mind, even as he stood and faced the mirror that he had so long stood behind. Wiping the rest of the tears that still remained and breathing deeply until his face returned to a normal color, Erik thought long and hard about what Madame Giry had said. "Alright, Madame..." he paused and turned to face his friend, thinking once again about what he should do, though he knew his mind was made up. "I have made a promise...and...I intend to keep it." God forgive me if I've made a terrible mistake. Please, don't let this be a mistake.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The lock had turned on the door and Christine felt herself stand on her feet again, though she didn't remember ever telling them to do so. Giry stood over the child, taking Meg back and whispering. "Now, Christine, your teacher is ready for you, but, remember, he is very shy." She looked down at her young ward. "He must wear a mask to hide himself from the world. He has asked me to tell you not to remove it." She tilted Christine's chin up. "Swear to me that you will have consideration for him and not take fright. He cares so very much for you." Christine took in all of this information. "I promise, Miss." Before she could stop herself, or Madame Giry could stop her, Christine threw the doors open. "It's you!" She took in the older boy's appearance. There was, indeed, a mask there. "Master!" She tackled him at last, tears flooding her eyes. "I knew I wasn't mad!"

 

[Guile]

As Erik waited for Christine to enter, he turned towards the door and felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He never remembered being so nervous in his life, not even when he went to Gustav Daae to ask for permission to teach his daughter. Then, at long last - after what seemed like forever - Christine was throwing open the door. She was really there - right there in front of him, not blocked by a mirror or an invisible wall built by shadows. "Christine..." he felt the tears forcing themselves back up, but he forced them back. Then, before Erik could understand what was happening, her arms were around him. It was a beautiful sensation - he had never before felt this way. Madame Giry had hugged him and he was oh so grateful every time she did. But...there was something about having Christine's arms around him that brought tears to his eyes again and a warmth to his heart that was different from the warmth he got from Madame Giry's hugs. Erik didn't fully understand this strange, new feeling. In fact, he was hardly able to comprehend that Christine was touching him, holding him. His mind must have been very scrambled because, without thinking about it, Erik's arms raised slowly until they were wrapped around Christine and he was holding her as well. "Christine...how I've longed for this!" He admitted, pulling her closer in their embrace, the tears starting to form again, blast them.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

They were together at last. At long last! Oh, God, it was an amazing feeling, having someone else's arms around her at last. She felt the boy's muscles tense as she returned the hug, glad to have him at last. "My an-angel!" She choked. "Oh, my angel! It's r-really y-you!" Strangely enough, she felt her father's arms around her. Though they had always been there, this time, they were tighter, more tangible. "And now you have it and no one can take this away, sir." She buried her face in his neck. "I promise." She felt her fingers touch plastic and removed them immediately. She didn't want to break her promise to anyone. "I'm sorry." She muttered. "That was an accident."

 

[Guile]

"It is, Christine. It is." Erik assured her through tears of his own. His heart soared at her slightest touch, especially as she buried her face in his neck. No one had ever hugged him like this, and it was a beautiful thing. "Thank you, my dear Christine. Thank you for...for letting me be human." He held tighter to her and refused to let go so soon. However, at the touch of her fingers to his mask Erik tensed, frightened. Then, her words assured him that it had simply been an accident. Immediately, he felt guilty for fearing that she would take off his mask. "Christine, do not worry. I understand." Letting his hand wander up to her face, Erik looked down at her and brushed his thumb across her skin - another thing he had never done before to anyone - and wiped her tears away. God, he was so nervous. He was afraid to touch her, afraid she would reject it. Erik knew better, but still...there was that lingering fear that he didn't know how to put at ease.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Oh, how I've longed to have you in my arms, Erik." She lifted her head up from his neck and kissed his cheek in a friendly manner. "Please, can we have our next lesson like this?" She pleaded, leaning her cheek against the hand that held it. "I promise you that I've got my scales down to your liking. Every single note." She laughed softly. "This feels so nice, having you near me like this and not having to hug a mirror instead." She kissed his forehead. "I've always wanted this, my angel. Truly, I have." Then, she realized that she had just asked him something that he couldn't promise. "Or, our lesson can be just like normal, except you let me see you instead of hiding yourself." She held up her pinky, praying he'd take it. "Please, just this once."