Love stories are
never beautiful.
Not really.
We only see what
we want to see happen.
The truth of the story
is what's left out.
Before happily ever after,
there's the struggle,
the conflict,
the pain,
and the
heartbreak.
And it all starts with
once upon a time...
~Momo Shiro-chan
Chapter 1
Three months ago, Aisling was dealing with her father trying to separate her from the man she considered her true love. He tried convincing her not to sing at a concert being held in Boston where she was attending an anime convention and, unbeknownced to her, fulfilling a bet made between he and her beloved where she would either stay in her world and never see him again or be free to live with the man she loved in peace. But when that failed, he went to more drastic measures by calling the police and trying to have him arrested for kidnapping. But his attempts were in vain when she risked her life once again to save him and convincing her father to let them go.
Two months ago, Aisling was walking down the aisle on her wedding day and finally marrying her beloved who has held her heart since that fateful night when she was fourteen.
Now, Aisling is living peacefully with her husband in an estate just outside of Paris with no trouble from her father or anyone else. She could not remember ever feeling as content as she did now. Twelve years ago her parents divorced, and for the first five years, times have been dark and trying. But when Aisling met her beloved, she began feeling that long forgotten unbridled joy she had thought died all those years ago. This was how she was feeling now.
She sat in the rose garden and busily tended to a bed of white roses. As she brushed her hand against one of the blooms, one of the thorns pricked her finger and she quickly withdrew her hand. She watched as a tiny bead of blood formed from the wound.
"It seems you've pricked your finger." A pair of large hands took hers and Aisling turned to find a handsome face half covered by a white porcelain mask. Yes, the Phantom of the Opera, long feared by the residence of Paris, was the man whom captured her heart and is now her loving and devoted husband.
"That's what happens when dealing with thorns darling." She said. She tried removing her hand from his but he held tight and brought her injured finger to his lips and sucked up the blood. Aisling sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. "What did I do to earn such a wonderful husband like you Erik?" Erik just laughed then scooped her up into his arms and sat them down on a nearby bench with Aisling sitting in his lap.
"I believe it is I who should be asking how I ever earned such a wonderful wife such as you." The amusement on his face disappeared and was replaced with a scowl. "All my life, I've been met with nothing but scorn and hate. I have killed and was feared by all, and yet-" he softly caressed Aisling's cheek as he spoke "-when you came along, everything changed. The fear you possessed for me soon transformed into love. I have no idea how you could ever love someone such as me." Aisling smiled and shook her head.
"Erik, I fell in love with you because I saw the man I knew you were." She reached up and slowly removed the mask revealing his deformity all the while keeping her eyes locked with his. "This is who I fell in love with Erik. You're a good man who has had to deal with a lifetime of darkness." She lifted herself closer to him and kissed his deformed cheek. "Erik, you're the most amazing man I've ever known."
Yes, everything was perfect for the two. They were far enough from the city so they could live without fear of Erik's discovery, but close enough to visit old friends. When they returned home from Aisling's world, they had sent word to Madame Giry informing her and her daughter Meg of their arrival. In turn, she sent word to Christine Daaé, whom left Paris and Raoul all together after that fateful night three months ago. Christine was overjoyed to know Aisling was alive but could not bring herself to forgive her childhood sweetheart for attempting to murder her mentor and actually killing her dear friend. Since then, she had moved away to live in London. She received a job at the opera house and even found new love in a man named Edward. Aisling was glad that Christine found a sense of happiness after the disaster, and was even happier that she wasn't with Raoul anymore.
"I always knew she could do better" Aisling had said after learning of her friend's decision.
Since the Palais Garnier was still undergoing repairs from the night of Don Juan, Madame Giry and Meg would not be going back to work for a while. In the mean time, they have frequented many visits to Aisling and Erik's home.
And since they've been married, Erik resumed teaching Aisling after she supposedly forgot all the lessons they had when she was fourteen. Luckily, Aisling managed to catch on quickly as she began reliving those lessons on the roof so long ago. However, Aisling also remembered how strict Erik would be when he was in 'Teacher Mode', and that certainly didn't let up now that they were married. He hoped that perhaps, in the future, she would be able to return to the stage once they've had a chance to let the dust settle and allow the world to forget about the events that took place. Besides, after spending six years apart and nearly losing her a second time, he wanted to reassure himself this wasn't a dream. He feared that if he let her out of his sight again, she would disappear and he would never get her back.
"Erik, is something on your mind?" Aisling asked him as they sat in the library that night. Aisling had been reading by the window while Erik sat at a table in the center of the room composing. But when she noticed he wasn't writing and had a very far off look, she thought something was up.
"I was only thinking." He said.
"Of what?" He stood up from his seat and walked over to his wife and knelt down beside her.
"I'm still coming to terms with everything that's happened." Aisling tilted her head and gave him a confused look. "It wasn't long ago that I thought you were dead. Then you appear before me as if you were a ghost wishing to haunt me. Now here we are, happily married and anticipating our future. It feels like a dream." Aisling smiled then lifted her hand to rest on his unmasked cheek.
"Sometimes dreams can be real. This whole experience has taught me that." Erik brought his hand to cover the one that rested on his cheek and gazed into Aisling's eyes.
"It's still hard to believe. After a lifetime of being shunned and despised; of never knowing love, I never expected to find it in a lost little angel wandering in the dark." Aisling giggled a bit at the memory of her falling down the trap door and landing in the catacombs of the opera house. "You've seen what I can do and have done when you stayed at the opera house and yet you can still look at me with all the love in the world. How is that even possible?"
"Do I need a reason to love you Erik?" She asked. "I've told you, I saw passed your face and found what was in your heart. I won't deny, the night we first met I was afraid of you. I was scared you were going to punish me for finding my way into your home. But when you looked at me with those sad eyes, I knew I was being foolish. And when you helped me find my way back, I knew you were good deep down inside. I even saw it when you gave me lessons. Nothing could ever make me love you any less." Aisling put down her book and scooted out of her seat and knelt down before him.
"You truly are an angel." He said. Aisling shook her head.
"You are the true angel Erik. You just don't see it since you've lived your life in the dark."
"Aisling-" He wanted to protest, but Aisling quickly hushed him before he could.
"Not another word. I won't hear of it." She said giving him a mock-stern look. After a moment, she began humming a melody.
"What is this?" He asked.
"It's a song I know." She answered vaguely and continued humming.
"What is the song?" He asked.
"A love song." She said. Erik eyed her suspiciously then moved a little closer to her.
"What sort of love song?" He said. As he leaned closer to her, Aisling felt her cheeks grow warmer.
"Something special." She said. She placed her book to the side and adjusted her position so she was sitting on her knees. She took one of Erik's hands and began to sing.
A time for us someday there'll be
when chains are torn by courage born of a love that's free
A time when dreams so long denied
Can flourish as we unveil the love we now must hide
A time for us at last to see
A life worth while for you and me
And with our love through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us someday there'll be a new world
A world of shining hope for you and me
A time for us at last to see
A life worth while for you and me
And with our love through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us someday there'll be a new world
A world of shining hope for you and me
Erik held his arms out to her and Aisling moved into his embrace.
"This song reminds me of all that we've gone through." She said. We've been through those tears and thorns, sailed those savage storms, waiting for the day when we could be free. No longer hiding our love that's been denied us for so long." Erik felt his heart swell at her words. They have been through so much in both their live. To know they've reached their happiness at last is a miracle. Erik also finds it a miracle that he's been given a chance at a normal life. No longer hiding in the shadows or manipulating others for his own odds and ends and with the love of a living breathing wife. To know he is loved by another is the greatest gift he ever received.
"Aisling, we've certainly been through so much together. To know that you love me is still something I have to remind myself of every day. Until I met you, I never dreamed that any woman could love me." Erik reached up and touched his mask. "This face has been the cause of all the torment in my life. And yet you never seemed to care." He gripped the cool porcelain and removed the mask revealing his entire face to the young woman in his arms. "When you saw my face int he cemetery I thought you would be like everyone else. I was expecting you to turn from me in disgust or curse me to the end of time. But you never did. You have given me the hope I never thought existed for me. Perhaps you are truly an angel sent to save me." Aisling began laughing.
"I'm no angel Erik. I'm human, just as you are. But if there is such thing as angels, perhaps someone wanted us to meet knowing our outcome would be this." It was Erik's turn to laugh. She certainly could say the most innocent things at times. His lost angel was certainly more than she seemed and he was grateful that she belonged to him, even when they were apart.
That night, Erik and Aisling lay asleep in bed dreaming of each other and of what their future would hold for them. Erik's arm was wrapped protectively around Aisling's middle while Aisling was snuggled up against his broad chest. Aisling's eyes shot open when she heard a strange sound from outside. She turned in her husband's embrace and faced the window. She silently slipped out of bed and made her way to the window and peaked out. She saw a small speck of light in the distance. It was very far off and kept being cut off by the trees.
"Is something wrong?" She jumped a bit when she heard Erik speak. She didn't even hear him get out of bed or approach her.
"Do you see that light?" She asked and pointed towards the trees where the light seemed to have grown bigger. Erik peered into the darkness at the light. Soon, the sound Aisling heard earlier was becoming louder as the light seemed to come closer. Soon, the sounds of hoof beats and battle cries filled the air.
"Oh God." Erik muttered and grabbed Aisling by the arm. "We have to leave, now!"
"Erik, what's going on?" Aisling asked frantically.
"I'm not sure, but we can't stay and find out!" He threw open the door to their bedroom and led her through the corridors of the house to the front doors. As they opened the doors and entered the courtyard, a large mob of people had stopped at their gates.
"Look! It's him!"
"The Phantom is here!"
"So the monster is alive!"
"Let's get him!"
Erik and Aisling ran back into the house and impulsively locked the door before heading towards the back entrance. As they made it to the door, they heard the front gates being forced open with a loud clashing noise.
"Erik, how did they know we were here?" Erik's grip tightened on Aisling's hand.
"I'm not sure, but we can't think of that now." He said. They ran through the house until they made it to the back exit. They opened the door and made their way through the garden and into the forest surrounding them. After a few minutes they stopped to catch their breath. "Are you alright?" Aisling nodded as she bent over and breathed heavily.
"Damn, I hate running." She said. "Just who were those men?"
"I don't know. But we'll figure this out later. For now, we need to get as far from here as possible."
"You're not going anywhere!" Before they knew it, they were surrounded by at least twenty men. Half of them were holding guns while some others had swords on their belts. "Grab him!" Erik began fighting off the men that came at him while trying to protect Aisling. But since they were completely surrounded, the feat was quite difficult. Finally, a frightened scream tore Erik from his fight to find one of the men holding Aisling with a knife to her throat.
"You'd best cooperate Phantom, or I slit the girl's throat." He hissed. Erik stared into his wife's eyes and saw that she was fighting to keep the fear from them. But he knew that he could not afford to see her die. So as the men grabbed him and restrained him, he dared not resist. "Take him to the house."
When they returned to the manor, the men brought Aisling and Erik into the foyer and forced them to their knees and binding them. Standing before them were two figures, one taller than the other, wearing long black cloaks and large hoods obscuring their faces.
"We caught them monsieurs." Aisling looked up at the hooded figures and felt their eyes on her. The shorter figure looked to the taller figure and the taller figure waved his hand to the men holding Aisling.
"Right. Come on, we have our orders." They grabbed her by her forearms and pulled her to her feet and began leading her to the open doors with the second figure following close behind.
"Wait! Where are you taking her?" Erik began to panic as he watched them lead her away. "Aisling!" But he was quickly silenced when the figure pulled a gun and aimed at his head.
"No!" Aisling struggled against her captors trying to get back to Erik. "Leave him alone! Please, let him go!" But her pleas fell on deaf ears as she was forced passed the threshold of her home and the figure readied for the kill. The second figure obscured her view of her husband as he closed the doors behind them making her struggle even more. And as they finally shut…
BANG!
Aisling stopped struggling after she heard the gun go off. She was frozen in place unable to allow herself to move, worried something more would happen. The house was dead silent. Aisling began shaking her head and whispering to herself.
"No. This can't be happening." She said to herself. "Erik!"
The figure before her began walking toward her and she felt her strength return. Anger and grief fueled her actions as she tried lunging at him shouting all the profanities that entered her head. She didn't even notice the figure nod his head. She suddenly felt something jab her in the neck and her vision faded as the world around her went black…
A Time for Us lyrics written by Larry Kusik and Eddie Snyder. The song is an extension of the "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" arranged by Henry Mancini derived from Nino Rota's original score from Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (the 1968 film).
It is a beautiful piece of music. I highly recommend checking out the version performed by André Rieu.