Erik, hurry up!
Erik: Can I request a day off?
No way! This fic's about you so get a move on!
GerrysISUChick04: Hah! Erik, you got shushed!
Erik: I hate my life. But at least I'm still cool.
saripunkinpie: Well, although I can't stand Erik sometimes, I've very possessive about him… He's like a brother to me!
Erik: Ha! If we were related, I'd divorce the family! Wait a minute… I'm not cute!
LadyArika: That's really cool! I got introduce to The Phantom in the same sort of way… I'm not in our school's jazz band, but I heard them play the overture from the musical at one of our music nights and on Broadway Night a few people sang some of the songs – Think of Me, All I Ask of You, and Phantom of the Opera. I fell in love with the music! Along with choir I'm in the school's drama production this year and I'm also in the Quinte Youth For Christ performing arts team… It's a lot of work but it's a lot of fun!
Erik: Thank you for that complete run-down of your artistic career, Angel…
VictorianDream: Ah, I enjoy manipulating Erik in my fics…
Erik: One of these days, Angel… You're going to turn your back and find a few rope burns around your pretty little throat!
Aww… He called me pretty! Did you hear that, girls? Erik thinks I'm pretty!
Erik: You're impossible!
Elphie: Well, um… That sounds like an interesting story… What's the name of it? It sounds so nuts my interest is actually perked!
Erik: Sabotage her story? Hmmm… Why didn't I think of that? (Rubs his hands together and smiles evilly) Just you wait, Angel…
Erik, if you ever tamper with my stories I'll chew your fingers off! And then I'll tie you up and make VictorianDream give you a seminar on the torturing arts! Muhahaha!
VagrantCandy: Patience, deary…
Erik: Some big Disney-style-happy-ending make-out scene? Ew! How disturbing!
The Dancing Egg: The eggs will take over the world… Muhahaha!
Erik: Uh… I've never taught eggs how to sing before… Is there a pretty orphaned one that I can take under my wing and try to seduce?
Broadwaylove4ever: Well, at least you've only had to wait a day to read the update… Don't you just hate it when you're reading a fic and it leaves off at a cliff-hanger and then you have to wait three weeks for the next update and all the while you can't stop wondering what's going to happen? Oh, it drives me mad!
Erik: You are mad!
darklady5289: OMG, Erik! You jipped her again?
Erik: Hey, I can't keep track of them all! If she wants a turn, she should do what every other rabid phan girl does… Elbow her way in!
Mrs. Gerard Butler: Oh, you're so evil, hee hee! Not only am I evil, I'm adorably cute, too!
Erik: What is so amusing about me getting hit over the head?
Robika: Why, thank you! Don't mind my sucky grammar… You know, I've often wondered why Gerard Butler looked so obsessed with that ugly monkey music box… I mean, I know the Phantom supposedly made it, but really it's not much to look at!
Erik: My dear, please stop spazzing out! You're going to hurt yourself! (Phan swoons again when Erik calls her 'dear' and passes out into Erik's arms). Oomph! Does someone have smelling salts?
MasqueradingThroughLife: Aww, you're not the person I was thinking of? That's too bad… If you had been I would have totally spazzed out and been all "Yay! Ange, you're reading my fic!" But that's OK, you're my friend, too!
Erik: Oh, Erik, thank heavens you're back… Angel has been driving me nuts!
GalindaxlovesxErik: Apparently this girl is holding tryouts for anyone who wants to be on Erik's personal fop-bashing squad.
Erik: Yes! We can burn my Fop-Raoul doll in effigy and dance around it!
Silent Phantasy: Ack! The marshmallow peeps are chewing on my hair! Bad peeps! Bad peeps!
Erik: (Pops one into his mouth) Mmmm… They bite back! Now this is my kind of snack! You know Angel, if you want to defeat a marshmallow, all you have to do is set it on fire. Ghostbusters taught me that!
Carkeys: Your wish is my command.
Erik: Carkeys? Hey, is that like "Car Keys"?
Mominator124: The problem with Fantine is, she fears male affection… I don't mean being physically attracted to a handsome chorus boy… I mean having a guy who actually loves her. She had convinced herself that no one would ever be able to care about her. And now that she knows for sure that Erik doesn't hate her, she's scared. Also, she feels guilty about the way she's treated Erik. As for just leaving him there, well, I guess you could say she wasn't thinking straight.
Erik: As if she ever thinks straight!
RowenaIsolde: YAY! I love you like a sister, too!
Erik: Please stop hugging me! And no more kids!
Tadriendra and Achilles: Ah, so the truth comes out! Erik? Have you ever found yourself dreaming about being a fop? These two seem to think you want to be one. I can't say that I argue with their logic.
Erik: Oh, yeah? Well, I'll tell you what!
What?
Erik: I just told you!
I'm confused.
Erik: Naturally.
Whatever… Sniff-sniff… This is one of our last updates! Well, enjoy it please!
XxXxX
Erik put a hand to the back of his throbbing head.
"What happened?" he wondered.
"Look! I think he's coming out of it."
Erik opened his eyes and looked into the faces of Madame Giry, Andre, Firmin and Reyer. Erik looked around. They were in Andre and Firmin's office. He was sitting slouched back in a chair.
"Monsieur Opera Ghost," Reyer said timidly. "How do you feel?"
"Like a hung-over jackass," Erik replied, rubbing his head. "What am I doing here?"
"We had to remove you from the stage, Monsieur," Firmin explained. "Our audience was getting rather distressed."
"I don't understand… What happened? I remember singing, and–"
"Monsieur Romard hit you over the head," Andre told him.
"Well, I suppose I deserved that," Erik muttered. "Where's Fantine?"
Madame Giry glanced at the floor. "She… She escaped… She took Robert with her…"
Erik felt a stabbing pain in his heart as her words sunk in.
"I poured my heart out to her in song. How could she look into my eyes and not know that I love her?" He closed his eyes. "Perhaps she did know… But didn't care… Perhaps I mean nothing to her…"
Erik opened his eyes. "We have to find your daughter and tell her the situation."
"Erik, I don't know where Meg is!"
"Don't worry, Madame," Erik said reassuringly. "She's backstage. I told her to stay put."
"No, she isn't Erik!" Madame Giry cried. "She heard the screams and came out. She saw Fantine leave with Robert. I found her. She told me that… that she was going to try to talk to Fantine…"
Erik's eyes grew wide. "Of course! That ballet rat knows the way to my lair!" Erik jumped from his seat and headed for the door.
"Erik!" Madame Giry cried. "Don't go after her! Please! I thought I knew Fantine better than anyone! But she is not herself! She could do anything! Erik! She might kill you!"
Erik paused. "What better way to die than at the hands of the woman I love?" he thought.
Without a word, Erik ran from the office and made his way to his underground lair.
XxXxX
Erik reached the edge of the lake, only to find that neither of the two boats were there.
"Of course. Fantine would not have wanted me to follow her… Or perhaps Fantine and Robert took one boat and Meg followed in the other…"
Erik sighed. He stripped off his jacket and dove into the murky water. The cold made him gasp. Erik began swimming in the direction of the lair. The thin fabric of his mask got wet and made it difficult for him to breath as it clung to his nose. With a frustrated cry, Erik ripped the mask off and continued swimming.
The cold made his movements difficult. With every metre he swam, he grew more weary. The lactic acid building up in his muscles was screaming for him to stop. He let out a relieved gasp when he felt his foot touch the softness of the lakebed. He stood up, his wet shirt clinging to him like a second skin. He pushed a soggy lock of ebony hair out of his eyes. The lair was not far off now.
When Erik arrived, he was shocked to discover Fantine, Robert, and Meg there, standing in the main room. Fantine stood behind Meg, grasping the poor girl by her blonde locks, with her sword against the prima ballerina's throat. She glared at Robert, who stood a small distance away, staring at the two women in horror.
"It's your choice, Robert!" Fantine snarled. "Stay with me and your pretty ballerina lives! Deny me, and she dies!"
"I don't love you!" Robert cried. "Why can't you just leave us alone?"
"F-F-Fanny…" Meg gasped, her breathing restricted by the cold steel that rested against her throat. "P-please! I… I know you don't want to do this…"
"Since when have you become the expert on what I do and don't want, Meggy?" Fantine hissed. "I'll tell you what I wanted, Meggy! I wanted a normal life with a husband and a family! But you know what, Meggy? I didn't get what I wanted!" She eyed Robert. "So I guess I'll just have to settle for a cute chorus boy! I do believe I deserve that much!"
"But you don't love him…" Erik spoke calmly from where he stood in the lake.
The three in the lair looked out in surprise at the Phantom of the Opera. He stood knee-deep in water, his white shirt wet and becoming see-through, his face bared with damp locks of black hair sticking to his forehead. Robert and Meg gasped at seeing Erik in such a state. The illusion of a mighty and all-powerful Phantom was shattered as Erik stood unmoving in the water… He was nothing more than a man…
"What are you doing here, Erik?" Fantine whispered.
"To ask why…" Erik replied, as he waded out of the lake and onto dry land. "Why do you do this when you said in your letter that you do not love this man?"
Fantine breathed deeply. She did not release Meg. "I told you, Erik," she began, her voice filled with emotion. "All I desire is a man's companionship. I no longer entertain dreams of finding someone who could love me. I know that no one could love this face… Moreover, I am not a lovable person… Nor am I a likeable person!" She gazed at him. "For awhile, Erik, you were a most wonderful companion to me… For that, I will always be grateful. But my presence here is causing you pain. And when I leave you, I will be alone again…" She directed her gaze at Robert. "Robert, I need someone! I… I don't want to be alone… Not again…"
Pity filled Robert's eyes. "But I love Meg," he said gently.
"I know," Fantine whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut. After a long moment, she released her hold on Meg. The ballerina gasped for breath and ran to Robert's arms. He held her close.
Fantine stared at the floor. "I guess I should have known that I couldn't make you stay with me against your will," she whispered. She glanced up at the couple with glassy eyes. "Go. Forget me. Live your lives together, and don't ever think of me again. I suppose I must learn to come to terms with the fact that I was not made to be loved…"
Erik drew close to Fantine and slipped his arms around the girl's waist, pulling her near. "That's not true, Fantine," he whispered into her ear. "Because I love you…"
Fantine gazed at Erik with wide eyes.
"He loves me? But how can this be? How could he?"
"Erik, please…" she whispered. "You don't have to… You don't have to try and make me feel better. I–"
Erik silenced her with a single finger to her lips. "Fantine… You must believe me… I love you… I love you more than anything in this world! I have for a long time now! I was afraid to tell you. I feared that you would be disgusted by the thought of me – the one who had ruined your life – having feelings for you…"
"He loves me… He means it! He loves me! But… Do I love him?"
Fantine had to turn her face away from his inquiring eyes. She knew what he was waiting for. He was waiting for her answer. He was waiting for her to tell him how she felt.
"I know I care about him… But do I love him?"
Fantine shut her eyes, searching her soul.
"He's always there for me. He has always looked after me… He makes me feel safe… Every time he touches me, I feel like my heart is going to burst… He's exactly the man I had always dreamed of marrying... I… I want him… I need him…"
Fantine finally met Erik's gaze. "I… I… love you… too… I love you, too!"
That was all Erik needed to hear. He tangled his fingers in Fantine's hair and kissed her hungrily. Oh, how he had missed the taste of those sweet lips! Fantine responded with a vigour that matched his.
Robert and Meg stood frozen in place, watching the two phantoms share their passionate kiss.
Erik lifted his lips from Fantine's and looked at the pair. "Well, do you two plan to stand there all day and watch us? Any other person would be running from this place as soon as we turned our backs! Go now… We desire some privacy, as I am sure you two do as well…"
Meg and Robert quickly obliged, hopping into one of the boats and heading off.
When they were gone, Fantine turned to Erik with a smile on her lips. "I believe you were trying to say something to me back there on that stage?"
Erik looked deep into her eyes and began his song anew. "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Take my hand, let's leave our solitude. I'll be here for you, always beside you. Anywhere you go, I'll go with you. Fantine, that's what I promise you…"
Fantine smiled as strong arms wrapped themselves tightly around her, and his lips descended upon hers once again. She almost couldn't believe it, part of her certain that this was a dream. How could it be so? How could anyone love a monster? Especially one like her?
But Erik didn't see her as a monster. He saw her as a woman… A woman made to love and be loved.
Fantine sank into Erik's arms, feeling safe and secure in his embrace. She was loved, finally, after so many years on her own. At last, she didn't have to be alone any longer. She would not be alone any longer. She could look forward to a lifetime with Erik – the man she loved.
And Erik? His heart was so full that he was sure it would burst from his chest. He had suffered alone for so many years… and it all came down to this moment. She was worth it, he knew. And he would have gladly gone through it all again if only to have her in his arms a moment longer.
Erik and Fantine found love in each other, and that love would be everlasting. They would heal each other's inner wounds and save each other from the darkness that had covered their lives for so long. No more hiding, no more secret fears. They had each other, and in each other they found happiness.
After all, even phantoms deserve to be loved…
XxXxX
Well, Erik? What do you think?
Erik: All I can say is, I'm glad it's over.
Erik, you should stop making assumptions! There's one more chapter left!
Erik: What? One more?
Just to tie off a few loose ends.
Erik: You're not going to write an explicit sex-scene, are you?
Erik, what kind of person do you think I am? I refuse to spoil a good fic by making it all sex and fondling! And I refuse to spoil a good fic by ending with all sex and fondling!
Erik: You know if something like that doesn't happen tomorrow, many of your readers will be displeased.
Oh, well... See you guys tomorrow!