Hey everyone! Thanks again for the reviews. N Since you've been good, I've decided to post this chapter up sooner than I was going to. This is hardly the end of the story. I have an idea about how the ending is going to take place, but believe me when I say that it's not ending with Christine getting shot like in LND. I totally hate that ending. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
Christine's POV
For days after the night I sang for Erik, I sat around the flat wondering when he was going to let me start singing again. Our daily lives had moved forward, and without a single date for me to sing. I stayed quiet, and forgot about it, hoping that magically, Erik would come to me one evening and surprise me. But sadly, the summer was over faster than it started, and the last days of Phantasma being open were upon us. Perhaps Erik had lied to me. Perhaps he only said I could sing just to keep me quiet. It ached me to see Meg prancing around the opera house with a smile on her face each time I would come to bring Erik lunch. Perhaps she knew something I didn't. Perhaps Erik had promised her not to replace her act with me.
Once again like the many years in the past, Phantasma closed down, and Erik was gone long hours each and everyday in order to winterize the rides. But me, I would sit in front of the window, looking at all the fall colors, and being….depressed? Something was torn out of me. Something was missing. The night Erik had promised me to sing, I felt whole for the first time in years…..but now….now I felt worse than I had before that night. But still, I kept my mouth shut.
Though soon, Erik had begun acting as if that night never even happened. He would come home from work, kiss me, eat dinner and move to his desk to work. Even when we would talk, never did he ever bring it up. For the longest time I kept quiet about it, but could no longer do so. It was making me depressed, and I couldn't stand one bit of it. I was like a canary, locked in a cage without the ability to sing. Well, this canary couldn't take it any longer! Erik was seated over at his desk working on god knew what….Oh, yes, I knew what! Meg's new performances and what not for next season. My husband had promised me the ability to sing at Phantasma and what was he probably doing? Working on Meg's new act. Everything was about Meg! She was like his little secret song bird…when she really wasn't! Oh, how it aggravated me to no end.
Oh, what has gotten into me? I was so ashamed of myself for even thinking that way about Erik. Just moments ago I was standing behind Erik's desk chair, my hands clenched and ready to pounce on him, but…why would I ever do such a thing? Slowly I backed up, and sat down on our bed, red hot tears falling into my hands. Soon those tears turned into sobs, sobs which caught my husband's attention. He turned in his chair, and struggled to his feet. He knelt down beside me, and tore my hands away from my tear covered eyes. His long slender fingers wiping them away lovingly.
"My love, why are you crying? Has Erik done something to make you feel this way?"
He was asking, but the real question was could I break his heart and say "yes"?"
Finally, I nodded, and both his hands cupped my cheek ever so lovingly, forcing me to look into his eyes.
"Tell me." he begged. "What has your Erik done to make you feel this way?"
"Y…You promised me." I choked. "You promised to let me sing on stage."
Erik cradled me in his arms, and forced me to look up at him.
"Christine. Why would you ever think I forgot about that? When Erik promises something, it shall be done."
"But Phantasma is closed for the winter." I cried. "You promised me and yet I believe you only did so to shut me up."
"Never!" he swore. "Never would Erik ever just say something to hush his wife up. Christine must understand that Erik needs time to think. To create the most beautiful diva in the world."
My Erik left my side for the slightest of seconds to grab a sketch from off of his desk and brought it back to show me. I looked down at it to see myself standing on stage, with a beautiful background behind me.
"See, Erik is working on it. He promises that his Christine shall perform on opening day."
This made me extremely happy. I hugged Erik with all my might, and kissed him. He had not forgot about me after all.
"Christine must work hard in order to be ready for next season."
And Erik was right. As the fall turned into winter, my angel would take me to the deserted opera house to practice singing. It was like old times, back when I was a little girl, singing for him in the chapel. It had been a long time since the last time I had performed in front of an audience, and I knew Erik was going to make sure my voice was in excellent condition. I would stand there one stage singing the musical scale while he would sit in the empty rows, concentrating on my voice. If there was something he didn't like, he would stop me, and correct the problem before letting me continue. Even as his wife, he didn't go easy on me. My angel had once said that there is no such thing as a kind teacher. A teacher was supposed to whip their students into shape to have them be the best they could be. If a teacher went easy on a student, they would never become disciplined enough to learn the task they were being taught. I knew Erik only wanted the best for me, and so I didn't take his mean criticism to heart.
It went on like this throughout the whole month of November, and into the early weeks of December. Erik would always come home from shoveling the snow and make me go with him to the opera house to practice. He never let me take a break, not even on Christmas day. Our Christmases usually consisted of waking up and letting Gustave open the gift we had gotten for him, and then enjoying dinner together. This Christmas however, Erik and I had bought our son a violin, and then spent the early evening eating dinner. Afterwards, Erik insisted on dragging me to the opera house to practice. I was tired and only wanted to relax, but Erik didn't believe in it.
There I stood on stage, singing a song Erik had written for me while he sat in the empty rows, listening to me singing. Once I hit the high notes, Erik immediately stopped me.
"Again." my husband demanded, cutting me off.
Once more, I started over on the high notes, only to have Erik stop me again.
"Again, Madame."
I groaned, and stomped my foot down onto the stage floor.
"Instead of straining my voice, why don't you just correct my mistake."
"Because the teacher, Christine, only corrects the amateur students, something you are clearly not. You've sung on stage before, and should know the mistake at which you are making." his deep and serious voice echoed off the walls of the empty theater.
"Well, I'm tired and worn out." I whined. "Opening day isn't for a few months. Why can't we just take a break."
"Oh, Christine, even though you are an adult, you still act like the child that you clearly still are."
"Erik!"
"Again!"
I took a deep breath, and once more began to sing the high notes, hoping this time they would be to Erik's approval.
"Take five, Christine."
I wasn't sure if I had done any better, but I must have done something right to finally receive a break. I walked off stage, and sipped the glass of water that was sitting on the piano. My Erik was still seated in the empty rows, but instead of glaring my way, he was writing on a piece of paper.
"Do you really think it's necessary to be doing this on Christmas day?" I asked.
Erik never looked away from his paper as he answered me.
"Every moment is necessary. Just like every note must be sung at the correct pitch. It's music, Christine, not vaudeville dancing."
"I could do that if you really wanted me to." I said sarcastically.
"What? And have you flaunting your bottom around to other guys? I think not."
"But it's ok for Meg to do it, right?"
"Meg isn't a married woman. Then again, I don't believe she would care even if she was."
This made me giggle. I loved Erik's sense of humor. Every time he would crack a joke, his voice always stayed serious, which made it ten times funnier. Of course, my Erik didn't laugh. There were very few times when he would do such a thing.
"Did I correct my mistake?" I asked.
"If you didn't, do you think I would have given you a five minute break?"
"You don't have to be all serious, Erik. It is Christmas you know."
"Right, it is, but this is rehearsal."
Erik looked at his watch, and then back up at me.
"Alright, it's getting late. I guess we should both call it a night."
My Erik struggled to his feet, and motioned me to follow him towards the hallway.
"Before we go, I would like to show you something."
I wasn't sure what my husband had in mind, but I followed him all the way down the hall until we reached a closed door.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
Erik opened the door, and flicked on the lights, to reveal a beautiful dressing room, complete with a huge vanity mirror and velvet couch. There were pink and blood red drapes over near the window, with a beautiful view of the Phantasma rose gardens that sat behind the opera house. It was heavenly…But who was this for? I felt Erik's hands rest themselves on my shoulders, only to turn to see him smiling.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"I absolutely love it, Erik. It's more beautiful than the one I had back in Paris."
"Good, because it's yours."
My eyes became as big as saucers.
"What!"
"Merry Christmas, my love."
"Erik, you can't be serious." I argued.
"I am. If you are going to be returning to the stage in the spring, a diva most certainly needs a dressing room."
"I…I just expected to share one like everyone else does, even Meg shares a dressing room with her back up dancers."
"Not you, Christine. You are the star."
I threw myself onto him, kissing his lips and thanking him ten times over again for such a wonderful gift. But that wasn't all he had. He broke away for only the slightest of seconds, and handed me an oversized poster. It looked like the ones he always painted for Meg to hang around Phantasma, but this was not one of Meg's….. It was a painting of me, singing on stage with big bold letters running all about the poster.
"Christina Mulheim: The Singing Diva
Two shows daily only at the Phantasma Opera House."
"Christina Mulheim?" I questioned.
"Yes, Christine, that shall be your new stage name. I surely couldn't place you down as Christine Daae. That person is supposed to be dead. I hope you don't mind."
I smiled at the beautiful art work.
"No, Erik, not at all."
"So everything is to your liking? I shouldn't change the color of anything?"
I shook my head.
"You're not dealing with Meg." I joked. "I love everything you do."
"Well then, I shall have to begin making more posters to hang around."
"Oh, Erik, I'm so excited."
"As am I."
"What time is it?" I asked.
My husband checked his watch again, and held it towards the light.
"Looks like a quarter past eight. Why?"
"Dr. Gangle is having a Christmas party over at the café. He asked me to come."
"Right, I remember you saying something about that."
"I would like it if you came. Gustave is already there."
My husband glanced back towards his office, and then back at me.
"I…I well, that is… I have some work that I was hoping to finish up. You can go along if you want, and I promise I'll be there as soon as I can."
What could I do? This was so like Erik to have work to finish up. I simply kissed him on the lips, and rushed off towards the café. The snow was still falling, making the old snow glisten in the light of the moon. Phantasma was dark except for the dim light coming from the café. A week ago, Dr. Gangle had stopped by our flat to see how we were doing. Before leaving, he mentioned that he was going to be holding a Christmas party and wanted us to come. I agreed, and was now headed to the café to attend it.
When I entered the facility, it was full of oddities with the sound of music coming from a violin. I made my way past the oddities and towards the fireplace where Gustave was standing and playing his violin. The music was fast, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. He was only eight years old now, but already he was playing the violin as well as Erik. I stood there tapping my foot to the beat of his song, and smiling at him….I was so proud to call him my son. When the song ended, everyone clapped, and Dr. Gangle scooped him up into his arms, and playfully swung him up into the air.
"That's my boy…" he chanted.
When Dr. Gangle put him down, Gustave came running over to me, and jumped into my arms. Oh my son was getting so tall, and looking more and more like Erik each and everyday.
"Mother, you came."
"I told you I was coming." I said, taking a seat at a table.
My son sat down beside me, and placed his violin on the table.
"You played wonderfully." I said. "Your father would be very proud of you."
"I know he is." my son replied. "Even if he doesn't show it."
"You know how your father is."
"I know."
My son lowered his head, and I placed my hand on his.
'Hey, how about a drink? Apple cider?"
My son smiled like he always did, reminding me of how Erik smiled.
"Yes."
I stood up, and headed to the bar, only to bump into Meg…. Of course, my night couldn't be complete without bumping into Meg. She was the gift that kept on giving.
"Tis the season, Christine." came her familiar voice.
"Yes, Merry Christmas to you too." I sarcastically replied, ordering two cups of apple cider.
"And where's Erik?" she asked. "Wait, I know…he's working like always."
"What's it to you?"
"How is the singing going?" she asked. "Only a few more months until opening day. Wouldn't want to choke on stage in front of everyone."
"I'm doing just fine, thank you."
"My mother believes otherwise."
"Of course she would think that." I said. "You were the star."
Meg grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, and pulled me ever so close to her.
"No, Christine. Let's get one thing straight. I am the star!"
"Really? Then why is that I got my own dressing room, and you have to share yours?"
"What?"
"That's right, Meg. I got my own dressing room. And it's a beautiful one….it has such a wonderful view of the Phantasma rose gardens."
Meg grunted angrily, and let go of my shirt.
"Mark my words Christine, your days performing in this town are at an end."
Just then Dr. Gangle placed down my drink, and noticed how Meg was harassing me.
"Come on, Meg. This is supposed to be the holly jolly season. Can't you just act civilized on the holiest night of the year?"
Meg rolled her eyes, and looked back at me once more.
"Mark my words Christine. If anything should happen to my fame once opening season arrives, I'll make sure to make you feel anything but holly and jolly."
Meg then lit up her cigarette, and walked out into the night.
"That woman is all bark and no bite." Dr. Gangle assured.
"Let's hope so."
I took my two drinks, and headed back to our table to find that Erik had arrived, and was sitting with Gustave. I placed a cup of cider down in front of him, only to have him smile.
"You came." I said cheerfully.
"Of course. I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
"I played for everyone, papa." Gustave said, hoping for Erik's approval.
"You did? That's wonderful."
"Gustave." I said. "Why don't you play something slow. Something that your father and I could dance to."
My son shook his head.
"No, it's alight." he assured. "Papa doesn't want to hear me play."
This had shocked Erik. It had shocked him so much that my husband pulled Gustave to his feet, and handed him his violin.
"Never for one moment think that I don't care about your musical talent, Gustave. Now play for us."
My son nodded, and walked back to the fire place and began playing a soft tune. Erik then wrapped his arms around me and we both began to sway back and forth to the beat of Gustave's slow yet sweet song. As we danced, Erik looked into my eyes, and cupped my cheek.
"He is beautiful, Christine."
"He is because he's you."
My husband smiled, and glanced over to watch our son playing. Once the song ended, we stopped swaying and looked at one another, only to glance up and realize that we were standing underneath a mistletoe.
"Mistletoe." I softly murmured.
"What?"
I looked back at Erik, and began leaning in towards his lips.
"It's a tradition to hang it over the doorways at Christmas." I whispered.
"Why?"
"It brings lovers together."
"How?"
"Like this…."
And then I closed my eyes and kissed him ever so passionately. Oh, what a wonderful end to a wonderful Christmas….
Ok everyone, thanks again! Please review!
