A/N: Here's the wedding . Also, I only own Paris and Father Michaels, the rest belong to Gaston Leroux and Sir Lloyd Webber.
Chapter Thirteen
The day of the wedding dawned bright and early on a rather warm day in June. Christine and Raoul had arrived the day before and were staying in the house with Erik and Paris. Raoul had been reluctant to do so but after Christine had whispered something into his ear Raoul had quickly accepted the invitation. Christine had explained to Paris later that evening that she had told Raoul that they needed to stay to keep an eye on Paris so that she didn't sneak into Erik's room and take advantage of his innocence before the wedding.
"How do you know I haven't already?" Paris had teased with a glint in her eye.
"Because you both looked as 'nervous as a whore in a church' as my dear Mama Valerius would say, so I knew nothing had happened between you two. Plus, with Erik's sense of honor as a gentleman I highly doubt he would be able to feel comfortable enough to take advantage of you. I know he has been treated badly in the past by so many people, myself included, but he always remained a gentleman around me," Christine had answered.
Paris had been rather surprised at how well Christine actually knew Erik but she had just smiled and thought no more about it for the rest of the evening.
Now the day of the wedding had approached and Paris was in her room pacing nervously in her petticoats. Her wedding gown was lying on her bed and Christine was sitting next to it. She watched Paris pace back and forth once more before she gave a sigh of annoyance and stood up.
"Paris Felicity Aldress if you don't stop pacing right this minute I'm going to slap you silly! You are driving me up a wall and making me nervous too and it's not even my wedding! Now get over here and put this dress on!"
Paris stumbled to a stop and glance over at Christine. "Oh Christine, I don't know if I can do this! What if Erik takes one look at me and suddenly decides he doesn't want me! I…I think I'm going to be sick!" Paris went deathly white and tried to run for the door but Christine blocked her exit.
"Oh, no you don't. You are fine and you will get in that dress if I have to stuff you in it. Erik will take one look at you and will not be able to take his eyes off of you even if there were a dozen naked goddesses vying for his attention. He hardly acknowledges me whenever you're in the same room so I don't think he's going to just suddenly call the whole thing off. Now come on and put this on, the poor man is probably ready to call the whole thing off out of nervousness himself. But if I know Raoul, he'll tie Erik down and not let him loose until the wedding is already underway."
Paris laughed at Christine's comments as she pictured them in her head. She liked the idea that Erik only looked at her and would only look at her even if there were a dozen naked goddesses vying for his attention. Paris took a deep calming breath and then let Christine help her get dressed. Christine was right, Erik was probably just as nervous as she was.
Erik could barely tie his cravat he was shaking so much. Raoul had to finally knock his hands out of the way and do it for him. Erik muttered thanks and then turned to look for his shoes and gloves. Nadir watched in amusement as the infamous Phantom of the Opera wandered around the small room in the chapel like an anxious child. Erik would sit, then stand and pace then sit again and repeat the whole process. It was driving the Vicomte nuts.
"Damn it Erik, sit down and stay seated or I will take that damn rope of yours and tie to you a chair!" Raoul shouted.
Nadir and Erik had looked aghast at the Vicomte as he cursed in a church. Raoul however, just flushed and clenched his jaw in an agitated manner. Erik sat down though and clenched his gloved hands together tightly.
"I can't do this," he suddenly said and ran for the door. Raoul leapt forward and tackled the poor man just as Nadir blocked the door with his body.
"Get a hold of yourself Erik, you act like you're the first man to ever get married," Nadir reprimanded.
"With the life I've led I don't deserve to have a woman love me the way Paris does much less be able to marry her," Erik growled as he disengaged himself from the Vicomte's grasp.
"Before I saw how happy you and Paris are together I would have agreed wholeheartedly but now I don't and I'm going to make sure you make an honest woman of Mademoiselle Aldress even if it kills one of us." Raoul climbed to his feet and brushed his jacket off.
"I don't think Miss Aldress will be very pleased if the one killed is her fiancé. From the looks I've been getting from her I fear she thinks I'm going to take Erik back to Paris and hand him right over to the police," Nadir grinned as he looked at Erik.
Erik just frowned and turned towards the mirror. He still wasn't used to seeing himself in broad daylight. He usually only looked at himself in a mirror in a darkened room. He reached up and smoothed his hair back and retied the ribbon holding it in a queue. Paris had asked if he would were his hair loose on their wedding day but Erik had said it would just be in the way. Now as he looked at himself he frowned and pulled the ribbon out. His hair fell around his face and shoulders in a wave of midnight. Combing a hand through the strands he brushed his hair back from his face but left it loose. He smiled at the result. His Paris would be pleased when she saw that he had left it loose after all. Maybe her voice did enchant him to a degree.
"Erik what are you doing?" Nadir demanded as he watched the Phantom preening in front of the mirror like a buffoon.
"Making myself presentable for Paris," Erik shot back with a glare towards the Persian.
"You look like a woman," Raoul laughed.
"Paris likes my hair down and specifically asked me to leave it loose for the wedding. I believe a man should always strive to keep his woman happy even if it means stooping to a subservient level."
Raoul and Nadir exchanged amused glances. Nerves did not sit well with the infamous Phantom. They made him silly.
"Just you wait Monsieur le Vicomte de Chagny. Once your ring is on Mademoiselle Daaé's finger and hers is on yours you will do anything to make her happy. One look into her big blue eyes the minute they fill up with tears and you will drop everything and rush off to figure out what you did wrong and try to fix it."
"Oh really, and since when have you become such an expert on women Monsieur le fantôme?" Raoul asked his lips twitching with a suppressed smile.
"Since I met Paris. She has been informing me about many things regarding women. The best source for answers about them is from one her self."
"Oh, and what else has Miss Aldress informed you of?" Nadir asked.
"Always apologize if she starts to cry for no reason and you don't know what's wrong. Most of the time men are the cause of the tears in some shape or form," Erik answered as he straightened his jacket.
Nadir and Raoul exchanged glances again only this time Raoul was worried. Neither saw Erik glance at them with a twinkle in his eye. Just then a knock sounded at the door and Father Michaels stuck his head in.
"Gentlemen, we're ready to begin the ceremony."
"Thank you, Father," Raoul nodded.
As soon as the door closed again Raoul and Nadir turned towards Erik and started. Erik was making a bee-line for the window. Both men rushed after him and grabbed the back of his coat.
"Get back here you idiot! There is a young woman waiting out there for you to put your name on hers and I don't think she'll take your running off like this very well. She might blame us for your escape!" Raoul cried out pulling hard on the bigger man.
"What happened to the dreaded Phantom of the Opera? The man who didn't give a damn for mankind and laughed in the face of danger? The man who didn't bow down to the death threats from the powerful Shah and his mother? The man who survived nearly two years of living in a disgusting cage as a circus freak? The man…"
"Shut up Daroga, I know who I am and what I've done and he's apparently just flown out the window," Erik sighed giving an almost wistful look at said window. Erik then turned and marched towards the door, his back straight and his strides long and sure.
Raoul grinned at Nadir before they hurried after the retreating form of the Phantom. Erik stood at the head of the church while Raoul and Nadir took their places near him. Father Michaels stood next to Erik with a soft smile on his face as he glanced at the nervous groom. A few seconds later the organ began to play and Erik turned towards the back of the church, his breath lodged in his throat. Christine entered first, a small smile on her face as she glanced first at Erik then at her own fiancé. Following Christine in a gown of white satin and lace was Paris. Her black hair was piled up in curls upon her head with a tiara of silver and white resting in them and a thin veil falling in waves about her head. The dress was a high necked gown with long pointed sleeves poofed at the shoulders. The bodice was tight and hugged her tiny waist like a second skin and then pooled out in folds and drapes to the floor in a full skirt with a small train. In her hands she carried a bouquet of blood red and black roses with baby's breath mixed with them.
Erik didn't realize that he had started towards her until he felt Raoul jerk him back. He noticed that Paris' smiled widened just a bit and he felt a small smile tug at his lips as well. Paris finally reached his side and he slipped her arm through his as they turned to face the priest.
"We are gathered here to bear witness to the union of Erik Benedict Desslar and Paris Felicity Aldress in Holy Matrimony…" Father Michaels began the ceremony. "Do you, Paris Felicity Aldress, promise to honor, cherish, and obey Erik Benedict Desslar and take him to be your lawfully wedded husband for richer or poorer, for good or bad, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"
Paris turned to Erik and smiled, "I do."
"And do you Erik Benedict Desslar promise to love, honor and cherish Paris Felicity Aldress and take you to be your lawfully wedded wife for richer or poorer, for good or bad, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"
"I do," Erik's deep voice filled the church with his strong and definite answer.
"If there is anyone here who believes these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold you peace," Father Michaels paused and when no one spoke out he continued with the ceremony. "Do you have the rings?"
Raoul produced the two rings and placed them on the open Bible. Father Michaels turned back towards the couple in front of him and gave a small smile.
"Paris, take this ring and repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed," Paris' voice was just above a whisper but it was loud and clear to Erik's ears as Paris slipped the band onto his finger.
"Now Erik, take this ring and repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Erik gazed deeply into Paris' eyes as he spoke the words that would bind her to him forever.
"Then by the power vested in me I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," Father Michaels announced, his rosy face beaming broadly as he closed his Bible.
Erik needed no further encouragement as he pulled Paris towards him, lifted her veil and pressed his lips against hers. As soon as they connected everyone and everything around them faded except for each other. Raoul glanced at his pocket watch when they still didn't part and he frowned. He cleared his throat loudly a few times before they finally separated. He received a glare from Erik.
"This is a House of God; you were desecrating it with that kiss. If you want to do that sort of thing go home," Raoul reprimanded with a mock frown.
"If you are finished Monsieur Desslar you need to sign the marriage certificate," Father Michaels spoke up stopping any further fighting from going on in the church.
"Of course, Father," Erik nodded. Then he, Paris and Nadir followed the priest into his back office to sign the certificate. Raoul and Christine joined them just in case they were needed. Nadir signed in the space marked for the witness then handed the pen to Father Michaels who signed his name as the one who performed the ceremony.
"Well my son, you are now officially a married man and I wish you both the best of luck. If you have any questions don't hesitate to see me, my door is always open."
"Thank you, Father." Erik shook the priest's hand and made sure to pay a sizable donation to the church. The small group then quietly left the church to return to Erik and Paris' home for a small reception.
"Oh, Paris I'm so happy for you! You are a married woman now, how does it feel?" Christine cried out happily as she clasped her friend's hands in her own.
Paris glanced over towards her new husband and smiled happily. "Wonderful, so far. I don't plan on letting him go now that I have him. Oh Christine, I never thought I could be this happy; not after the way my life was. Now with Erik by my side I know I can do anything!"
"You will come visit me and Raoul and you two must come to our wedding in December. It will be a small wedding not much bigger than yours was of course since Raoul knows so many more people than Erik does," Christine smiled.
Paris smiled back and nodded although she was a bit leery about returning to Paris so soon after leaving. There would be people at the de Chagny wedding who would recognize Paris and Erik and might send for the police. However, Paris said nothing of her thoughts out loud for fear of insulting Christine in some way.
After eating a late lunch Raoul and Christine said they had better be on their way. So good byes were said and the couple left promising to visit in the future. Nadir left shortly afterwards with a quick warning to Erik about staying out of trouble and a quick kiss on the bride's cheek with a warning about Erik's penchant for sleeping in. Paris had just laughed while Erik had chased Nadir out of the house with false threats upon his head.
As soon as Erik returned and closed the door behind him he froze and looked at Paris. His wife, he thought with a thrill. She still wore her wedding gown and looked even more beautiful than he could ever imagine. He realized that they were all alone now in their house. Paris turned and headed towards the stairs where she paused and glanced over her shoulder coyly. With a wink at her husband she jerked her head upwards.
Erik got the hint and with a growl he reached her in three strides. He scooped her up into his arms and kissed her hard as he made his way carefully up the stairs to the master bedroom. He paused just outside the door and looked down at Paris for a moment.
"You're mine now and I'm not letting you go for anything." With that he entered the bedroom and closed the door softly with his foot behind him.
A/N: Just a brief little side note, the next chapter is actually a very explicit Lemon which, since posting this story, I have since added it as an extra under may stories. However, I have written this story in such a way that it can be read without having read the Lemon. Celticreeder.