Stay with me
A/N: this is a little one shot that takes place many years after the opera burnt. Erik's wife lies dying as his daughter sits over them. I didn't intend for the father/ daughter relationship to appear as cold as it does, it just kinda happened. I've been thinking about writing more about little Celeste. Let me know what you think...
Disclaimer: I don't own Erik. Sucks, I know.
The little blonde child nestled in closer to her mother and choked back the tears.
"Mama will be well soon" the child insisted to no one in particular
"Celeste" Mama spoke softly, "do you remember what your Papa told you about the angels?"
The child nodded her pretty little head
"When I am in heaven child, I will send you your very own angel of music"
"I don't want an angel of music. I have Papa and you. I do not need an angel. I do not want an angel!"
"Celeste, listen to me, listen to your mama. I am going to go an sing with the angels"
"But I want you to stay here"
"I'll always be here" Mama put her hand on her daughters heart, "and here" she gestured to the child's fingers, "I live through your beautiful music, because I love you always, never forget that. Keep playing child and I'll always be with you"
There was a brief pause in which mama stroked her child's golden tresses and the child struggled to hold back her tears.
"Go fetch your violin Celeste," mama requested, "I want you to play me to sleep"
Celeste ran off to her room to obliged and fetched the violin form under he pillow. She took a moment to wipe any traces of tears form her eyes. She was going to be a brave girl for her parents.
When she got back to her parents room Celeste saw that her Papa had taken up his usual spot at she side of the bed. They where talking oh so quietly and her father's eyes where full of so many emotions it scared her.
She returned to her place on the bed, sitting cross legged beside her mother. She knew what to play without being asked. She took up a slow Swedish air that was popular in their little house hold. He mama sang along softly, about ice swept landscapes and vast, rolling hill. About having to leave and being sorry, but promising to return.
There was a long instrumental that the child played beautify. It always gave her mother the greatest possible joy to sit and listen to her. Papa lent in close to her ear and sung the sweet melody in his still wonderful voice. Mama smiled at her child and closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her. The child closes her eyes to, playing softly and sweetly, even her father said so. She played and played, letting the beautiful music detract from the aching tragedy of the scene.
When little Celeste opened her eyes, her Papa's where full of tears. She looked at her mother and realised the steady rise and fall of her chest had stopped.
Celeste stopped playing
"Finish the song Celeste" her father muttered
"But Papa"
"I said finish it!"
Celeste took up the melody and her father sung. By the time they stopped Mama hadn't started breathing again. Her hands where cold.
The three of them where silent, apart form the steady reverberations of Celeste's violin, hanging in the air like her mother's perfume. Very quietly, Papa began to let the tears flow.
Celeste sidled silently form the bed, not quite sure what to do. Her father gave her no answer to this, he simply collapsed into deep sobs over his wife's precious, cold body. He did not notice his daughter move away, nor did he seem to care. His wife, his precious wife, had left him all alone.
Celeste walked to her room more sorrowful than she had ever imaged possible in her few years on the earth. When she entered her room she closed the door tightly and covered her ears, trying to shut out her Papa's wails of grief. When that didn't work she went over to her bed and pulled off the bead covers. Settling herself neatly in the corner of her room she threw the covers over her head to shut out the noise.
It was only then that she allowed herself to cry
It was a long time before the tears subsided enough for her to think. And even then all she could think about was her Mama. Her last words swam round the child's head.
"I live through your beautiful music... Keep playing child and I'll always be with you"
Celeste's hands brushed against the strings of her violin as she moved it form under her arm. For reasons she wasn't quite sure she began to strum a tuneless melody.
"stay with me, stay with me" the child sang along. "Stay with me, stay with me" in the other room her Papa continued to wail with sorrow. It was all getting to much for the little child, she wanted her mother back so badly, "stay with me". She wanted to be held tightly and be told everything was going to be aright.
"Stay with me. Stay with me" she wanted to be told she was loved. She didn't want to be alone.
She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes, still strumming.
"Stay with me"
Ah, how cheasy is that ending? I don't want to beg for reviews so i will say simpley this; i could realy use some feedback.. (HINT) So two questions:
1) should i write more about Celeste?
2) who is Mama? cause i think you will find that i naver actualy mention her name.. hehehe
Loves, L x