Hi everybody, there it is, the long awaited wedding! I hope it does not disappoint.

And hands up, how many of you realized that when I said two chapters ago that Erik asked a favor of Mme. Giry in his letter, that it was him asking her to bring Marie to the wedding? I felt that after I had established that she and Antoinette had been in contact before to get Erik his documents, that we needed to include her at the wedding.

And it is not just our super-couple that is taking a huge step forward this chapter, but read for yourselves!

And please keep in mind that I don't own anything or anybody!

Chapter 39 - Wedding

Nadir's jaw dropped. "Propose?" he gasped. "To Mme. Giry?"

Meg giggled. "Don't you like my mother?" she asked innocently.

Nadir's olive skin took on a reddish tinge. "Um... yeah...," he stammered. "But..."

"But what?" Erik asked pointedly. "I don't see a problem. And I have already told you a few times that you need to talk to Antoinette about your feelings."

"Yes, yes," Nadir mumbled nervously, then he looked at Meg. "Would you..." he began, then cleared his throat again. "I mean, you would not object?"

Meg laughed. "Why would I?" she asked. "I know that maman likes you, and you obviously like her, too. Wouldn't it therefore be natural that the two of you would like to be together?"

Nadir nodded. "Of course, if she will have me...," he stammered, then turned to Meg. "But you, Mademoiselle," he asked her. "How would you feel about it? Assuming that your mother does return my feelings – and Allah knows, how much I adore her – assuming that she does indeed want me, how would you feel about …. a stepfather?"

Meg smiled at him broadly. "I do not remember my own father," she confessed. "He died when I was barely a year old. So I never knew what it was like to have a father. From what I have learned from Christine, though, it is quite wonderful for a girl to have a father, and I do like you, Monsieur." She blushed. "I would be honored to become your daughter."

Nadir smiled. He liked Meg, too. He had always wanted a big family, but after Reza's death, he was left with no children. A stepdaughter was definitely the next-best thing to a child of his own, and Meg was a daughter he could be proud of.

"See?" Erik grinned at Nadir. "Happiness is within your reach. All you have to do is muster your courage and ask Antoinette, and you could have a family again."

Nadir sighed. As if it were so easy to talk to his beloved Antoinette! "What if I do ask her and she is annoyed?" he asked Erik. "You know that she is independent, that she has been able to survive for many years without a husband supporting her. Maybe she wants to keep that freedom and independence?"

"Nonsense," Erik replied. "She is most likely waiting for you to make a move. She does have her pride, that is true, which is probably what is keeping her from showing you more clearly that she is interested. But once you have made your intentions clear, there will be no need for her to hide her feelings any longer. Believe me, daroga, just like this young lady here, I have made my observations. I have known Antoinette almost all of my life, I do understand her. She is not uninterested. All it takes for you, is to open your mouth, say something and woo her properly."

"Please, Monsieur," Meg chimed in. "I do want to see maman happy." She smiled at him. "And I want to finally know what it's like to have a father!"

Nadir groaned. Who could resist that charming young lady's pleas? "I will think about it," he promised.

Xxxx

The next morning, the sun was rising high up in the sky. It was a magnificent day, mild and warm, the little village bathed in golden sunshine.

"The sky is smiling for you on your wedding day," Antoinette said to Christine, as she helped her into the beautiful wedding gown Erik had designed for her.

Christine beamed. She was giddy. The wait was finally over. In a few hours she would be officially Erik's wife, and then they would be together for the rest of their lives. Nothing and nobody would be able to separate them again. And tonight... she blushed at the thought. Tonight, they would finally become one.

"Oh Madame Giry," Christine sighed. "I am so happy!"

The older woman smiled, but there was a melancholic look in her eyes. She remembered her own wedding day. How happy she had been, how full of hopes for the future and a life at the side of her beloved, and how short-lived her happiness had been! Then she blushed, as she caught herself thinking of Nadir, imagining herself at his side, in a wedding dress. Then she shook her head. That was utter nonsense. How could she think of such things, at her age? She was an old woman, for god's sake, she had a grown daughter and her foster daughter was getting married today. Soon she might have grandchildren. Romance was not for people her age, that was something for the young. And she reminded herself once again that Nadir had given her no reason to think he felt anything other than friendship for her.

The arrival of Meg, carrying the huge bouquet of white and red roses that Erik had put together for his bride, brought Mme. Giry back to reality.

"Are you ready?" Meg asked Christine. "The gentlemen are already on their way to the church, and Marie went with them. They are probably already waiting for us!"

Mme. Giry quickly helped Christine with the veil, then the three of them left as well.

Xxxx

When Christine and the Girys arrived at the small church, they found the mayor at the door. "Everything is ready," he assured them. " They are only waiting for the bride." And he opened the doors, which was the sign for the priest that the ladies had arrived.

Meg went in first, followed by Mme. Giry who was leading Christine. The church was lit by hundreds of candles, and the morning sun shone through the colored glass windows, painting patches of color on the floor. But Christine had no eyes for these beautiful effects of light and color, her glance was fixated on the tall man waiting for her in front of the altar, Giovanni at his side.

Once they reached Erik, and Christine took her place at his side, she felt his hand reaching out for hers. She took it and looked up at him, smiling happily. She was met with a look so full of love and tenderness that it made her heart melt. Oh, how she loved Erik! She could not understand anymore how she could ever have had doubts about her feelings for him. He was the other half of herself. They belonged together, had always belonged together, even since before they had met. He was the Angel her father had promised her, the one she was sure now her father had sent to her. Soon he would be her husband, and maybe, one day, the father of her children.

The priest smiled as he saw the couple holding hands. "We have assembled here today," he began, "to unite these two people in holy matrimony. I therefore ask you, Erik Charles Chenet, do you take this woman, your fiancée Christine Ingrid Daaé, as your wife, for better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do you part ?"

Erik looked Christine into the eyes. "I do," he rasped, his voice almost breaking at the importance of this moment, which bound him and Christine together for all eternity. Then he added, while tears of happiness were forming in his eyes, "always, my love. From now till the end of my days and beyond."

Christine felt tears welling in her eyes as well, and she almost did not pay attention to the priest who was now addressing her.

"And I ask you, Christine Ingrid Daaé, do you take this man, your fiancé Erik Charles Chenet, as your husband, for better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do you part?"

Christine nodded. "I do," she whispered, barely able to speak, looking up into Erik's loving eyes and reassuringly squeezing his hand. "My Erik," she added, barely audibly. "Mine, forever and always!"

Marie was dabbing a handkerchief to her eyes. This was the most touching wedding she had ever been to, and to think that it was "her" boy, Madeleine's little Erik, who got married today! And it was so obvious that this young girl, his bride, well, now she was already his wife, that she loved him with all her heart! This was just so incredibly wonderful! She was glad she had come. She had been hesitant at first, because of the long train ride, but this wonderfully moving ceremony had been well worth the exhausting trip!

Nadir, who was sitting next to Marie in the pew, glanced at Antoinette. What was she feeling right now? Was she as envious of Christine as he was of Erik? Oh, what would he give for being able to stand there in front of the altar with Antoinette! Yes, he was willing to undergo a Christian ceremony if that was what she wanted, if only he could marry her. Allah would certainly forgive him, after all, Nadir suspected that Allah and the Christian God were one and the same anyway. "I would marry her any way she wants me to," he thought, "if only she would have me!"

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced and Erik reverently lifted Christine's veil, looked her in the eyes, then tenderly brushed his lips to hers. There was no passion or desire in this kiss, their first one as husband and wife, just unending love and tenderness and a promise to cherish each other for the rest of their lives.

"I herewith proclaim you husband and wife," the priest declared. Then he asked them all into the vestry, to make the necessary entry into the church book and issue the marriage certificate, which was also signed by the mayor, thus making the marriage binding, both, in front of the church and the government.

The whole company then had lunch at the small local inn. Christine and Erik both ate very little, they were too busy holding hands and looking at each other adoringly, trying to grasp the fact that they now truly belonged to each other and that nothing could tear them apart anymore.

Nadir glanced at his beloved Antoinette. Oh, if only she loved him at least half as much as Christine loved Erik. He would be more than satisfied, but how could he find out? It was true that Erik and Meg had given him hope that she might not be completely averse to being courted by him, but still... Was he not a bit old for her? Was it not a bit ridiculous that somebody his age was still entertaining romantic thoughts?

Nadir suddenly felt Erik's eyes on him and as he looked up at his young friend, he saw the latter give him a tiny wink pointing in the direction where Antoinette was seated. "Ask her," Erik silently voiced to him.

Nadir mustered all his courage, then he got up and approached Mme. Giry. "Would you kindly follow me outside for a moment?" he managed to ask her, sounding quite formal. " There is something I want to discuss with you, Madame."

Mme. Giry eyed him suspiciously. What could he possibly want? The wedding was over, everything had gone as planned, there was no additional surprise for the young couple to be prepared, or was there?

She nodded and slowly followed him outside. Nadir took a deep breath. He felt like a fool. What should he say now? What if she rejected him?

"Ah, yes, Madame," he began uneasily, "I do not know how to begin," he then confessed. "This is not easy for me, and I hope you will not feel offended..."

Mme. Giry frowned. What was that about? "I do not understand," she admitted calmly. "Please explain what it is you want to discuss."

Nadir felt discouraged. That did not sound too promising, or did it? "Well, you see," he began again. Then he sighed. "I don't know how to do this!" he exclaimed exasperatedly. "It's been too long! I have not done this in almost thirty years, and I was not an old fool then!"

Mme. Giry stared at him uncomprehendingly. What on earth was he talking about? Had he suddenly gone mad? "Calm yourself, Monsieur," she said. "You do not want to make a scene here in public, I assume?"

"No!" Nadir exclaimed. "The heck, how does Erik think I can do this?" Sweat was forming on his forehead now and he tried to wipe it away with his hand.

Now Mme. Giry's curiosity was piqued. "What does Erik think you should do?" she asked. "Are you here on his behalf? Does this have something to do with the wedding?"

"No!" Nadir repeated. "I mean, yes. Not the wedding," he blubbered on. "The courtship." He blushed deeply and looked away, adding dejectedly, "ours."

Mme. Giry stared at him. Had she understood him correctly or was she reading things she wanted to hear into his words? "Courtship?" she repeated. "Ours?"

Nadir could not face her. "I know it is absurd," he mumbled apologetically, "please be not offended at my boldness, no disrespect was intended..."

Mme. Giry felt like the world around her was spinning. "Absurd?" she asked. "Why? Are you trying to tell me that you want... that you like... I mean...?"

Nadir nodded. "Yes, but please forgive my boldness to bring this up... I know it is presumptuous to assume that you could return my feelings..."

Mme. Giry reached for Nadir's hand. "Look at me," she told him. "Look at me and tell me. I need to hear this again, before I can believe it. Do you really … love me?"

Nadir looked at her, and grinned, as he saw the warmth in her eyes. "Yes, Antoinette Giry, I love you," he finally managed to say. "I do not expect you to return my feelings, and I hope we can still be friends..."

"You fool!" Mme. Giry blurted out. "Of course I return your feelings! How could I not? You are so considerate, so understanding, always eager to help, a true gentleman, and you understand my relationship with Erik, and share my love for our couple."

Nadir hesitantly put his arms on her shoulder. "You mean, you would not mind... me courting you?"

"Not in the least!" Mme. Giry assured him, smiling at him warmly. "I am glad you told me," she confessed. "It is such a relieve to know that you feel the same way I do! I thought it was just me, and was trying my best to hide my feelings, it would have been too embarrassing if you knew and did not return them!"

Nadir laughed. "Me, too, Nettie!" he told her. "I, too, feared, you might not want me!"

Mme. Giry smiled happily. "I would never have made the first move," she confessed. I may be old-fashioned in that regard, but I would never show a man that I am interested, if he had not given me reason to believe he fancied me before."

Nadir smiled. "I feared you would not want a suitor," he admitted. "You are such a strong, independent woman, you do not need a husband to provide for you..."

"I may not need a husband," Mme. Giry told him, "but what makes you think I might not want one?" She raised her face to him invitingly, and Nadir finally understood and cautiously lowered his lips to meet hers.

Xxxx

When Nadir and Mme. Giry returned to the wedding party a while later, Erik noticed Antoinette's swollen lips and smiled. Obviously all was well with his two friends.

Nadir and Antoinette had decided not to say anything about their newly founded relationship today. This day belonged to Erik and Christine, they wanted them to be the center of everybody's attention. Their own relationship and its announcement could wait another day. Now that they knew that they loved each other, they were in no hurry to share the news. They did not have to steal Erik and Christine's limelight - and it was sweet to keep their love secret for a little longer.

Xxxx

Erik and Christine retired rather early that night. They had waited so long and were eager to finally consummate their relationship.

When they were alone in the room Erik had rented from one of the local farmers, Christine blushed. "What do we do now?" she asked shyly. "I mean, I know what, but how does one start?"

Erik took her into his arms. "I think I will start with kissing you, my wife," he told her lovingly, before his lips met hers. Christine wrapped her arms around his neck and eagerly returned the kiss, parting her lips to grant his tongue access.

Once they broke apart for air, Erik began kissing Christine's cheek and neck. "I love you," he whispered, while his expert hands began unbuttoning her dress at the back. Christine moaned with pleasure, leaning back to expose her neck to him, while at the same time reaching for the buttons on his shirt.

Once the dress was lose enough that Erik could slip it from Christine's shoulder, he reached for her now almost exposed breasts. Quickly freeing them from the confines of her corset, he massaged them, before lowering his mouth to one of the perfectly formed rounds.

Christine felt a heat forming in her lower abdomen, and instinctively pressed herself closer to Erik. "Oh Erik, please," she begged. "Don't stop, Erik!"

She impatiently tore at his shirt, finally getting it off him, as she felt his arousal rubbing against her. Her hand curiously reached down to explore that hardness pressing against her, and now it was Erik's turn to moan in pleasure. The remainders of their clothing soon ended up on the floor and the couple was lying on the bed, naked, touching, feeling, exploring each other's bodies.

"Please, Erik," Christine begged again, her need for Erik now almost unbearable. "Make us one, my love!"

Erik hesitated one moment. He wanted nothing more than to plunge into her, to lose himself in the comfort of her warm, willing body. But he had to be considerate of Christine.

"Are you sure, my love?" he asked. "We do not have to go that far tonight. I hear it is painful for a woman the first time, and I would not want to hurt you on our wedding day!"

"Please," Christine whispered. "You won't hurt me, I know that. I need you, please Erik, don't make me wait any longer!" Her body was on fire and she wanted nothing more than to feel Erik within her, to be completely one with him.

Erik nodded, gently parted her legs and positioned himself between them. "Tell me, when I should stop," he ordered.

"I will," Christine promised, "just go ahead, Erik, please, I need you!"

Erik locked eyes with her, then he thrust into her. A small gasp escaped Christine, and she stiffened at the sudden pain. "I did hurt you," Erik said mournfully, but Christine shook her head.

"It hurt just a moment," she assured him. "I am fine now," and she wrapped her legs around him to pull him closer.

Afterwards, they lay in each other's arms, still naked, smiling. "That was wonderful," Christine mumbled, "I had no idea it could be like that!"

Erik kissed her forehead. "Me neither," he confessed. "I never thought it would be so … there are no words for how happy you have made me, my wife!"

Christine smiled at him. "My husband," she whispered, "now we are truly one!"