Meg finished her performance and the applause was overwhelming. She had never seen so many people there before. She hadn't focused on the audience while she was dancing. She only wanted to be one with the music but now that it was over, she couldn't stop herself from shaking. She was about to leave, when she saw a bouquet of roses being presented to her. She did a double take and then bowed as she accepted the flowers.
When she was off the stage, Annie gave her a big hug. "I knew you were gifted but tonight…. How long have you been practicing?" She laughed. "You were just perfect."
"Mama, I didn't know you were watching…."
"What? And miss your dancing? Never. I know Erik would have loved to have seen how much you have progressed. Soon. Soon he will be here to see for himself!"
"Meg! Meg!" Thompson was fighting back a crowd of people that were waiting for Meg to pass by. "Meg!"
However, she couldn't see him and was ignoring everyone. The shock of her popularity, had really taken her by surprise. She just wanted to go to her room and process all that had occurred.
"Mademoiselle Giry?" A young man smiled and showed her his press badge.
"Press? I'm sorry I don't…."
"I saw the ad about this fair in the local paper. It specifically highlighted you and I have to say, it didn't do you justice. You were flawless on that stage."
"I…. I'm sorry, what ad?"
Annie had caught up to her at this point. "Erik sent me the money to buy ad space. We had never done it before because…. Well, with all the new acts." She beamed with pride. I'm just glad it paid off."
"Madame, Mademoiselle. I'd love to do an article about this fair and the talents that are employed here. I know we are a small little paper but the circulation is good and I'm a great reporter. I can get you twice as many people that were here tonight".
"Twi…Twice as many?!" Meg gasped.
"That's right." The man smiled. "My name is Henry Dewitt. Might I have an audience with you Mademoiselle and Madame? I promise I will do this place justice."
Meg looked cautiously at her mother. "Mama, are you sure?"
"Yes, my Meg. Erik would never turn away the publicity. "Monsieur Dewitt, I am a bit occupied right now but please feel free to speak to my daughter. After all, I am sure her face will sell more copies of your paper than mine." She laughed.
"Mlle. Giry?" Henry offered his arm and Meg smiled as she took it, still not used to such attention.
Seconds later, Thompsons arrived with roses. "Meg!"
Annie pulled him back. "She's working. That man has asked to interview her."
"But…."
"It's her destiny, Thompson. I made sure he would be here."
"You did?"
"I told Meg that Erik had sent money to take an ad out for Phantasma. That wasn't true."
"He didn't send any money?"
"No, he left me money to run the fairgrounds as I saw fit. I hired new acts and called the local paper. I offered to pay to get coverage of Meg's dancing."
"But she was wonderful on her own. Why would you pay?"
"Because unless she is dancing at the Opera House, she will never get such publicity. This article and pictures will hopefully, arouse interest."
"For Phantasma?"
Annie shook her head as she looked off at her daughter. "For her."
Thompson looked down at the roses.
"Monsieur Thompson, I'm going to give you the same chance as Nadir, with the same advice. Meg needs to choose what is best for her life. That means it may not be any suitor right now to clutter her judgement."
"I would never stop her from dancing, Madame."
"No but Meg's opportunities are endless right now. She is destined for more than Phantasma and she needs to see that for herself, without entanglements. Do you understand what I mean?"
Thompson looked coldly at her. "Loud and clear."
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Erik looked nervous as he brought Christine into Giovanni's office.
"I am glad both of you are here. It feels right for me to say this to both of you because…" He swallowed hard. "Because I know you both won't turn away from me." I hope.
Giovanni shook his head. "Erik, I have always thought of you as my own son and with fathers, you love your children unconditionally. That was my downfall with Luciana but a father can't help himself. You'll understand what I mean one day. Yet really what I am saying is that you can tell me anything. It won't change what I feel for you."
"Nor what I feel for you, angel."
Erik smiled at both of them. "I know. That's what it means to have family. Annie and Megan know, at least I think Megan knows. It was a bit before her time." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I think it would be best for me to keep my mask on for this, okay? I need the courage." He looked over at Christine, who nodded.
Before Erik could go on, Giovanni's butler came in.
"Excuse me, Signor but you asked me to let you know once a response was received."
Giovanni stood up immediately. "You have word?"
"Yes, Signor." He revealed a letter in his hand.
"Bring it here."
Giovani scanned the letter quickly. "I'm terribly sorry, children but I have to leave at once and address this."
"Is everything alright, Giovanni? You look upset." Christine asked with concern.
"I'll be fine, as soon as I address this." He then went towards Erik. "Don't wait on me. Tell her. I already told you, it won't change what I feel for you."
That response worried Erik, as if Giovanni thought Christine might take the news badly. Giovanni must have realized his blunder and spoke into Erik's ear. "It won't change her mind either but it is best to be completely honest with the women in our lives." He winked.
"Giovanni, do you need assistance in any way? Is this about the building you were seeking my counsel on?"
"Uh… Yes and no. I'll be fine. Stay here."
He then exited the room quickly.
Erik looked concerned. "What do you suppose that was all about?"
Christine walked over to him and kissed his unmasked cheek. "He'll be fine, precious."
Erik seemed lost in thought for a moment but then nodded. "You're right." He led her back to the couch. "You know if the story had gone differently, I might have…. No!"
"What might you have done?"
"Frankly, the Vicomte and I would have been friends and perhaps I would have wanted you two to actually…." Erik couldn't bring himself to say it. "God, could you imagine?"
"I'm not following you, angel."
"It's rather comical. You and he are both so beautiful and he has everything. Culture, sophistication, nobility…. You would never be embarrassed being on his arm."
"I'm not embarrassed being on your arm. True beauty is found from within." She touched his heart. "You're beautiful inside and outside to me. I love you, not the Vicomte. I never loved him, Erik!"
"Of course, you never loved him. You never really met him, aside from that day at Phantasma. I suppose I was just referring to the fact that at one time, he and I were friends."
Christine did all she could to steady her trembling hands. "Friends?! How? When?" She was glad she was sitting down.
"Before you were born or at least several years before you came to live at the Opera House. When I heard you crying all those years ago, I never thought I'd end up falling in love with you. I wanted to be a good person. It had been years since anyone had filled me with such compassion. Yet when you left, I felt something inside of me had left with you and I never stopped thinking of you. Then you came back and you brought love… Real love into my heart."
Christine wanted to scream. Whatever had gone wrong between Raoul and Erik, she felt sure that Raoul was completely at fault. She feared that Erik was about to reveal Raoul's biggest lie of all.
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Meg finished her interview and headed to the house. She stopped when she saw Thompson in the middle of her path.
"Hi."
"Good evening."
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to make sure I saw you before the night ended, so I could tell you how incredible you were tonight. I suppose I shouldn't be so jealous of all those rehearsals." He chuckled when he saw her blush. "I guess you're too tired to eat, eh?"
"Charles, I'm sorry. Do you mind if we have supper tomorrow?"
"Not at all. That sounds nice. After the show?"
She then remembered she was performing again tomorrow. "Oh right. Maybe lunch? I forgot I need to meet with the reporter again tomorrow after the show."
"I thought you already gave your interview?"
"He said he wanted more. He wants to take pictures afterwards. How did you know about it?"
"I saw you two after the performance."
"Oh." She then tried to hide her yawn.
"Okay, prima ballerina, you best get to bed. I can't have people seeing us and saying you found me to be a bore."
She giggled "Never you, Charles."
"Well, goodnight then."
"Thank you for understanding."
He nodded.
Meg made her way home and up the stairs to her room. She opened the door and almost couldn't make her way in due to all the roses that were inside.
"What in the world…."
Charles popped his head inside. "I never gave you flowers and since the bouquet from that stranger was bigger than the ones I had brought you, I decided I need to up my game."
"You did all this for me?"
"Who else?"
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Christine needed some air. Yet she didn't know how to distract Erik until she remembered her present.
"Precious, maybe you need to relax a bit before telling me?"
"I'm alright. I promise." He kissed her hand. "I've come to terms that this last part of my story was really all my fault."
"Play."
"I'm sorry?"
"Don't tell me you forgot about the piano in the parlor. Why don't you play something before you tell me? It will calm you." She got up and went to get the package that was underneath her shawl.
He seemed receptive to the idea but then hesitated. "I wouldn't know what to play. My mind is all over the place."
"Why not try this?" She handed him the package.
"What's this?"
"A present, from me to you."
Erik studied it for a moment.
"Erik, is something wrong?"
He looked up at her. "No, only I'm not quite used to gifts. Other than you." He kissed her hand again.
"That breaks my heart most of all. And it stops from here on out. Now open it, please?"
Erik ripped through the packaging and once he saw the sheet music, he was deeply moved.
"Do you like it? I remember Nadir speaking about a piece of music that you enjoyed playing. While you probably don't need the sheet music anymore, I saw it and thought you might enjoy having it with you."
"Ah, Christine. You really are an angel."
"Far from it." She then kissed him quickly. "Play and I'll meet you in the parlor with some refreshments. Not Giovanni's kind." She giggled. "Then you can tell me. Provided, I don't crumble from this charade.
Erik watched her walk away. "God, if you are there and truly have not forsaken me, you'll find a way to make her stay. I couldn't lose her now."
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Christine placed a cold towel over her face, touched up her make-up and made certain her hair was in place, as she cursed her unruly curls. She then hurried to pour two glasses of wine for her and Erik. When she entered the parlor, all her fears and thoughts melted away, as she heard him play and sing.
"Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch.
A long, lonely time.
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much.
Are you still mine?
I need your love.
I need your love.
God speed your love to me.
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea.
Lonely rivers sigh
Wait for me, wait for me.
I'll be coming home, wait for me.
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered, for your touch.
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much.
Are you still mine?
I need your love.
I need your love.
God speed your love to me."
Erik embraced the keys for a moment, making mental note of how much he missed playing. Christine was right. He felt at peace. If he knew she was there, he didn't look up. Instead he whispered,"That was for you, Christine. Every song is for you, now."
Christine's eyes filled up with tears.
A/N: Can you imagine our boy singing that song with every fiber in his being? Besides it was far too long since he had sung. "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers.
