Chapter 12: Ignoring Publicity
A/N: Hey everyone! Okay, these next two chapters are just kind of the aftermath of all of the evening's events. I took Guitarprincess' suggestion and made these more lighthearted chapters, since the previous chapters hade been so heavy. This chapter involves the de Chagnys and the next chapter is a scene between Erik and Madame Giry. And anyway, happy chapters are always good to sprinkle in every which where in a fic. So, happy for ALL characters! Anyway, enjoy! Oh, and I've a decided to start putting quotes at the beginning of each chapter, I've seen a lot of people do that, and I thought that it was cool.
Quote: "We're family me and you!" James and the Giant Peach(And yes, this does pertain to the chapter)
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As had been expected, a great number of the Parisian papers the next morning had headlines about the events at the opera house the evening before. A few had somehow managed to get photographs. And though Marie Claire worried about the effects of the publicity on both her family and the opera house, she couldn't help but be amused at the audacity and over exaggeration of the reporters. The reports though, angered her slightly as well. The writers acted as if they knew how it had felt to be there. It wasn't possible for them to, she thought. Not possible for them to have felt the shock and fear that those present had felt. They were merely looking for something to gossip about, for the latest scandal among the French nobility. It would all die down eventually, she knew, but for the time being she and her family were in the limelight.
She tapped her bare feet on the cold kitchen floor as she sipped her tea and looked out the window at the lightening sky. She had woken up before the sun had even risen, as her sleep, obviously, had been quite restless. She and Arthur had opted to stay with her parents for the night, for the familiar house gave them both a sense of security. She looked around the silent house, wondering who would be the first to wake. She got up as she heard a creak on the stairs, and smiled as she saw Arthur descending them.
He looked slightly half awake as he walked slowly down the stairs in blue pajamas, his hair wild from a restless sleep. She held up the newspaper and a frown came slowly onto his face.
"I see we recieved some publicity," said Arthur as he looked at the paper. "This isn't going to be a pleasant experience."
"No, it isn't." said Marie, "But I was rather hoping that perhaps that we could ignore it, just for today."
Arthur smiled at his love, thinking that that was a rather good idea. He slid his arms around her slim, blue nightgown clad waist and pulled her to him, so that their foreheads touched.
" I promise," he whispered, in a heartwarming, emotion filled tone, "That what happened last night will not happen again. I won't let you be taken to the darkness again." he said, his brown eyes searching her face.
She looked at him, her blue orbs filled with relieved tears. "Arthur, were you scared?" she asked in a whisper, as she leaned into his shoulder, breathing in his peppermint scent.
"Yes," he said softly, "I was afraid of going to a place where you wouldn't be. But I'm here now, and that's all that matters."
She smiled at his words. She always felt better when he was there. She didn't feel as vulnerable, or as confused. And she knew that he felt the same.
"What do you say we go and scare Felix awake." laughed Marie, "He deserves a little birthday surprise."
Arthur laughed as he kissed her. "Alright. Sounds like a plan. He could probably use a laugh after what happened last night."
Marie nodded, then grinned as she took his hand and they snuck quietly up the stairs. Ah, the wonders of young love.
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Christine blinked her dark eyes slowly open as the sun began to rise. She sat up, running her fingers through her chestnut curls and rubbing her temples. The events of the night had given her a headache. But she smiled for a moment, as today was Felix's birthday. She could hardly believe that Felix was eleven today. It seemed as though it were yesterday that he was a one year old baby, crawling about the manor with the utmost rapidity. She turned back around and gazed at the sound asleep Raoul, silently marveling at how much Felix resembled him, from the honey colored hair to the tall, thin, yet still muscular build. But the big brown eyes that Felix had inherited had undoubtedly come from her. She smiled as she traced her ivory fingers across Raoul's face, her heart filled with a soaring love. Her eyes sparkled as she gently kissed his forehead.
Not wanting to disturb him from his slumber just yet, she slid out from under the down comforter and slid into her slippers. She walked across the room, to retrieve the newspaper that had been slid under the door. When she picked it up, she was met with a blaring and unpleasant headline.
'Fire at the Opera Populaire! The Vicomte de Chagny, tenor Arthur Page', and a mystery man believed to be the infamous Phantom of the Opera have conflict on stage!'
Christine sighed as she read the article, wishing that the man she had once called her angel of music would cease to haunt them. Wishing that that same man she had once trusted had not betrayed her again. She gazed at the cut on Raoul's arm with a tear in her eye. He had always been willing to give up his life, just for her. For her freedom. And he had done that very thing again, last night. She wiped the tear away as she whispered his name to wake him up, loving the sound of his name on her tongue.
"Raoul, my love, wake up." she whispered in his ear.
He turned over sleepily, and opened his blue eyes, yawning. "Good morning darling." he said, kissing her on the cheek, and eyeing the newspaper warily. "I see we didn't escape the publicity."
"No, but I didn't expect us to. But perhaps we can wait until tommorow to worry about it?" she asked, her face hopeful.
Raoul grinned sleepily, knowing that he could not refuse Christine anything that she asked of him. "Alright. It actually sounds like a good idea." he said, stretching. "I just hope that my parents don't worry themselves to much about it. They seemed quite shell shocked last night. And they had been really looking forward to the opera." he said sadly. "I just can't believe that we fell for that, how can we ever feel safe again? He almost captured our little girl." he said, putting his head in his hands in a very worried fashion.
Christine put her hand warmly over his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Don't worry Raoul, and don't go thinking that this is your fault. It is not in any way. We must hold out hope that maybe Erik will change his ways, and cease to haunt us. That he will find his own happiness. Just let it go for today, and then, tommorow, you'll find that it isn't so hard to face."
He smiled at her, comforted by the love and solace that he found in her touch. He had often said those same words to her when she was troubled. He rubbed his thumbs gently across her face, looking into her chocolate eyes.
"Christine, I love you."
"I love you to." she said, kissing him.
"Well," said Raoul, a sneaky grin on his features, "I believe that we have a birthday boy to surprise. Or perhaps we could make him wait until later." he said jokingly.
Christine slapped him playfully with the newspaper at those words, as she ushered him over to the corner of their room, where a large box was sitting. She chuckled as she and Raoul made their way towards their now eleven year old son's room.
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Coincidentally enough, Raoul and Christine reached Felix's door at the same time as Marie and Arthur. A silent good morning was whispered as the group tried to cover their laughter. They carefully opened the door to find Felix fast asleep on top of his green comforter. They walked in quietly, so as not to wake him. Raoul gently placed the box on the bed, and as he removed the top, a small bark echoed out of the box. A small aurburn- brown Dauchsund puppy crawled out of the box and began to lick Felix's face with eagerness. He had a red bow around his neck and his tail wagged speedily. Felix's brown eyes shot open in surprise at the strange sensation on his face.
"Happy birthday!" they all exclaimed as they jumped onto his bed.
Felix seemed speechless with excitement and glee as a huge dimple to dimple grin slipped onto his face. He had been begging for a puppy for months. The puppy jumped around, barking happily. "Thankyou so much!" said Felix as he hugged his new puppy.
"Anything for you sweetie." said Christine as Raoul laughed at the puppy's antics and touseled his son's hair.
"What are you going to name it Felix?" asked Marie curiously as the puppy lumbered over to she and Arthur.
Felix pondered for a moment on that, then after a minute, realization came onto his face. "Chester. His name is Chester."
And Chester seemed to know his name, for just then, he ran across the bed and jumped into Felix's arms. Then they all ran downstairs in a most undignified manner to eat the traditional red velvet birthday cake. And all of them were glad that they had ignored the publicity, even if just for today. As Raoul teased Felix and Marie, as Christine cut the cake and they sang happy birthday, and as Arthur anwered the door when Meg and Lizzie came by, they forgot that they were the family that was plastered all over the famous french papers, and just basked in the glow of family. Even if just for today.
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A/N: So yay, its Felix's birthday! I hope that you like this! The next chapter is about Erik and Madame Giry. After these two chapters, the plot will continue, with the utmost excitement! And, don't even say it, I know that this chapter is fluffy. As I have said before, being a sap is in my nature, especially when it comes to RC and Marie and Arthur. But anyway enough of my ramblings, please read and reivew, I really need your feedback! Thanks!
Guitarprincess- I am so glad that you like it, and thankyou so much for your continued support. As you can see, I took your advice. Thanks for that! As always, yay RC! I love it!
BlazeLoganLover- I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Thankyou! I hope that you like this as well.
Samantha- Ya I thought the curtain falling added a nice touch. Good old Madame Giry, what would any of them do without her? Thanks for reviewing!
Asia1st- Thanks! Yay I updated! Oh, and Phantom of Degrassi is awseome! Love it!
I am the Angel of Music- No problem. I am glad that you liked the gala, it was interesting to write. As to the Phantom' s revenge, you shall see my opera ghost friend. There are surprises around every corner! Just stay with me. Thanks so much for your continued support. Oh, and I'll keep my hand at the level of my eyes, but please, don't punjab me!