Hello all! Sorry that it's taken so long for this final chapter. I went in a bunch of different directions before I decided that this was how I wanted this to close.
Thank you all so much for reading...and I hope to have a new story for you soon!
Nico
Rae watched from backstage as Gerard held out the last, impossibly intense note of his band's newest hit song.
The screams and applause from the audience began way before the music ended.
Gerard bowed, thankingNew York Cityfor their continued support of his musical career.
Rae jumped into his arms as Gerard came into the wings of the stage, swooping her up to him, smudging black eyeliner from his sweaty face to hers as he kissed her.
"What did you think?" Gerard asked Rae, ignoring the gibes from his band-mates as they walked past the happy couple.
"I think your career has been sufficiently resurrected," she said, flipping a damp lock of Gerard's black hair from his forehead.
"I'll drink to that!" Dewey exclaimed, quickly popping open a can of his favorite beer.
"Take it easy, Dewey," Rae warned. "If you throw up in the back of my car again I'm going to be pissed."
Dewey gave Rae a half smiled and then disappeared into the crowd of groupies that had begun to gather, desperately hoping for more than a glimpse of their favorite band mates.
Gerard looped an arm around Rae's waist, his black boots walking determinedly past the throng.
Rae did her best to ignore the hateful stares of the women who longed for a hint of acknowledgement from Gerard, who did nothing more than offer a friendly, half-sincere smile to the lot of them.
Inwardly, Rae grinned, knowing full well that she and Gerard had a bond that went deeper than any pop-junkie's crush on the front man of one of the most successful musical groups on the market.
Gerard opened the door to his moderately sized dressing room. Rae slipped in behind him, sighing with relief as Gerard closed the door behind them, effectively shutting out the buzz of the crowds that were growing ever larger backstage.
"Do you still plan on retiring in a year?" Rae asked Gerard, flopping down on a plush velvet-red couch as Gerard downed an entire bottle of water.
He smiled.
"I forgot how addicting the lime-light can be," he admitted.
"I suppose then I should get used to us having no privacy…ever," Rae commented, her voice teasing.
Gerard looked back at her, moving to stand in front of her at the couch.
"You mean you don't like having your picture splashed across hundreds of tabloids a day?" He asked, his voice sweetly mocking.
"I suppose I could live without that," Rae replied, enjoying the joking banter that she and Gerard shared.
Gerard smiled, suddenly lowering himself on top of her, his legs straddling her lap.
"Ugh, get off! You're too heavy!" Rae protested, pushing him away, unable to suppress giggles as Gerard pinned her to the couch.
"You mean you don't like being mauled by a famous rock star?" He teased, tickling her ribs.
"Ack! No! I don't!" Rae yelled, laughing.
"Really? Well maybe I should just go on out into the hallway and see if anyone wants to take your place…"
Rae laughed, pulling Gerard back to the couch as he pretended to head for the door.
"Don't you dare," she said, easing him into a kiss.
Gerard smiled into her mouth, delighting in the response her gentle lips elicited from his body.
He pulled away and looked down at her.
She was looking at something in the distance.
Gerard followed her gaze.
A single red rose sat in a black vase on Gerard's dressing table.
Rae was certain it hadn't been there before.
She scrambled to get up, laughing as Gerard dramatically fell from her body onto the couch with a huff.
"Who brought this?" She asked Gerard.
He shrugged, watching as Rae walked over to the rose, lifting a small cream-coloured envelope from the base of the vase.
"Can I open it?" She asked him.
"What if it's from my other girlfriend?" Gerard asked.
"Shut up," Rae replied, smiling at him as she opened the letter.
The smile fell from her face as she read.
After a moment, she lifted her eyes to Gerard's.
"Gerard," she breathed, handing him the letter.
What a marvelous performance!
Terribly different from my compositions, but Christine and I enjoyed it immensely.
Your kindness shall never be forgotten…all you did for us will not go unpaid.
Until we meet again...
I remain your humble servant,
O.G.
Gerard carefully re-folded the letter.
"What does it mean?" Rae asked quietly.
Gerard smiled. "I suppose it means that the world hasn't heard the last of the notorious Phantom of the Opera," he said.
Rae smiled, enjoying the thought.
"I don't think he would have it any other way," she said.
Silence filled the room.
"Come on," Rae said, suddenly eager to change the subject. "I'm starving."
Gerard nodded, taking her hand and leading her to the doorway.
Neither heard the laughter that filled the room as the lights dimmed on one perfect rose.