A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but I was busy with other things. I will eventually finish some of my stories and post them. Oh, thanks for all the wonderful reviews so far! Keep 'em coming! There is still plenty more action, adventure, romance, and humor coming your way, so stay tuned! I'm even thinking of adding a pinch of suspense and a dash of tragedy in my story as well BWHAHAHAHAHA!
"You think so?" Meg asked, abruptly sitting up. She felt better knowing her angel approved that she was too young to be married.
"Believe it or not, I was in love once," the Phantom told her, sitting down next to Meg.
"You were?" Meg asked, her large eyes focusing on the handsome man next to her.
"Yes, I was in love with your mother. That stupid . . . I mean your father beat me to her. God, I was so in love with her." The phantom went on to explain how he and Meg's mother had met. Even though Meg had heard the story a thousand times, she didn't mind hearing it again. She loved the sound of Erik's voice – it sounded so much like music. When he was done talking, Meg asked him a favor – she wanted him to sing for her.
"All right," he said with a sigh. Meg listened eagerly to Erik's soothing tenor voice.
"Night-time sharpens,
Heightens each sensation . . .
Darkness stirs and
Wakes imagination . . .
Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses . . .
Slowly, gently
Night unfurls its splendour . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
Tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
From the garish light of day,
Turn your thoughts away
From cold, unfeeling light -
And listen to
The music of the night . . .
Close your eyes
And surrender to your
Darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
Of the life
You knew before!
Close your eyes,
Let your spirit
Start to soar!
And you'll live
As you've never
Lived before . . .
Softly, deftly,
Music shall surround you . . .
Feel it, hear it,
Closing in around you . . .
Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind,
In this darkness which
You know you cannot fight -
The darkness of
The music of the night . . .
Let your mind
Start a journey through a
Strange new world!
Leave all thoughts
Of the world
You knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you
Long to be!
Only then
Can you belong
To me . . .
Floating, falling,
Sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me
Savor each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
Let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write -
The power of the music of the night . . ."
Erik sang the song so beautifully, Meg thought that she would cry. As he finished the last verse, a solitary tear rolled down Meg's cheek. Erik reached a gloved hand forward and wiped the tear away, smiling at the young girl. Suddenly, without warning, he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. Meg abruptly pulled away and got out of bed.
"Meg, where are you going?" Erik inquired, rather hurt.
"I have dance recital in a few m. . .minutes," Meg answered, not bothering to stifle a yawn. "We're auditioning for the new opera today," she added.
"Oh, good luck," Erik told her.
"Thank you. I can finally go back to dancing, now my wrist is better," she informed him.
"Be careful," Erik warned as Meg exited the room.
"Don't worry, I will be," Meg told him, wrapping a pink ribbon around her hair already pulled into a ponytail. A few minutes later, Raphael entered the room, looking around for Meg.
"She's not here you idiot!" Erik growled.
"I'm not looking for a fight, Phantom," Raphael told him, struggling to get his sword out of its hilt. Erik rolled his eyes and disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
"Raphael! What are you doing here?" Meg asked, adjusting the sleeves of her floor length beige gown.
"I came to tell you that mother and I are moving," he informed her, hugging her close. Meg couldn't believe that Raphael was moving. It seemed like yesterday that the two had met.
"I'm really going to miss you, you know that, right?" Raphael asked, kissing her on the cheek.
"Of course, Raphael. I'll miss you like the earth misses the sun on a cold winter's day," Meg said, not bothering to brush the tears out of her eyes. Raphael stroked her face with his thumb and held her close to him.
"Take me with you," Meg whispered.
"I wish I could, but you know how strict mother is about us seeing each other," Raphael whispered back.
"Write me when you reach your destination," Meg said, her voice trembling.
"Let me be your freedom,
Let me be your light.
You're safe,
Nothing can harm you,
My words will warm and calm you." Raphael sang sweetly.
"Our song!" Meg whispered in awe.
"It is, my angel," Raphael said, smiling. Meg threw her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. Raphael returned the kiss and put his arms around Meg's waist, drawing her close to him. The two continued to kiss each other. Meg felt his hands unfasten the latch on the back of her dress as she led him over to her bed. She felt his hands go up and down her back as she took the dress off. Raphael took off his poet's shirt and let her kiss his chest. He slid himself on top of her and kissed her all over. Meg closed her eyes as she was being caressed in kisses by the handsome Raphael De Jean.
A few minutes later, Meg was completely undressed and under the covers, Raphael lying right beside her. His body was so nice and warm, Meg felt wonderful lying next to him. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Both Meg and Raphael dressed quickly before answering the door. It was Raoul and a woman Meg had never seen before – she had long curly red hair that fell past her shoulders. She was an inch or two taller than Meg was and had a slender build. The woman glared at Meg with cat – like green eyes.
"Father, who's this?" Meg asked, sitting in front of her mirror. Raphael stood in a corner of the room, arms folded across his chest.
"This is Cosette – the new Soprano. Cosette, this is my daughter Meg and her . . . er . . . boyfriend, Raphael De Jean," Raoul introduced Meg and Raphael. Cosette continued to glare at Meg, but smiled at Raphael. Raphael weakly smiled back and shot a confused look at Meg. Meg just shrugged her shoulders and continued to stare at her father and the new Soprano. A moment later, Monsieurs Andre and Firmin came rushing in, bowing quickly when they saw Cosette.
"Mademoiselle La Bohéime, such an honor it is to have you singing at the Opera Populaire!" Andre told her, kissing her black-gloved hand.
"Why, thank you Monsieur Andre," she purred, taking her hand away from Andre. Turning to Meg, she added, "may I see Meg for a moment in private, please?" the others nodded and headed out the door – Raphael looking longingly at Meg.
"So, now that we're alone, Meg, there's something I want to tell you," Cosette said, looking around the dressing room.
"Y – yes?" Meg asked, her voice squeaking.
"Your father and I are planning to wed as soon as possible and I – I mean we – would so love it if you and that handsome fellow you were with were in the wedding party, what to you think?"
"May I think about it and ask Raphael about it?" Meg asked.
"Yes, you can, dearie," Cosette said, smiling. Meg gulped and left the room to find Raphael and tell him what had happened.
Later that evening, Meg was walking around the corridors, thinking to herself when she heard talking coming from her father's bedroom. Meg couldn't make out what was being said behind the closed door, so she pressed her ear against the door, listening hard.
". . .If we do send her off, you know it would break my heart, Cosette," Raoul was saying.
"I know. That way, you and I can be together without that little brat," Cosette said. Meg gasped as she felt tears in her eyes.
"That little brat is my daughter and how dare you call her that. She'll be your new stepdaughter and I trust you'll treat her with the upmost respect," Raoul said.
"But darling, I thought the whole reason we were getting married was so that we could send your daughter overseas. . ." what Cosette said was all that Meg wanted to hear. She covered her face with her hands and tiptoed back to her bedroom, sobbing. When she reached her bedroom, she closed and locked the door and ran to her bed. Throwing herself upon it, she sobbed into the pillow.
A minute later, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Meg? Open up, please," it was Raphael's voice and he sounded concerned.
"Just a minute, darling," Meg told him, wiping the tears from her eyes and unlocking the door. Raphael stood in the doorway, a solemn look on his face. He let himself into the room and kissed Meg passionately.
"What is it, Raphael?" Meg asked, looking into his kind brown eyes. Raphael took a deep breath and placed his hands on Meg's hips and drew her close to him.
"It turns out I'm leaving in a bit. Mother and I are moving. Ever since grandmother got sick, mother wanted to move closer to be with her," Raphael explained, kissing the top of Meg's head. Meg drew in a sharp breath and cried into his shirt. Raphael rubbed her back and soothed her.
"I can't believe that you're moving away from me!" Meg sobbed.
"I have good news for you – I asked both your father and my mother if you could come live with us and they said 'yes'" Raphael told her, beaming happily. Meg looked up into his handsome face.
"What?" Meg asked, confused. Raphael brushed the tears away from Meg's eyes as he explained that Meg could live with him and his mother.
"Oh, I have one thing to ask," he said, getting down on one knee and opening a small box and handing Meg the most beautiful ring she had ever seen in her entire life. It was a gold band with tiny sapphires on it.
"Meg De Chany, will you marry me?" Raphael asked.
"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" Meg exclaimed, hugging Raphael around the waist. Raphael hugged her back and kissed her cheek.
"This is the most happiest day of my life!" Raphael told her, rubbing her back.
"Mine, too," Meg told him, kissing him.
Two months later, Meg was headed down the aisle of the church on the arm of her father. All Meg could do was look straight ahead at Raphael and the minister. As her father handed her arm to Raphael, Meg smiled at her husband and waited to be married.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the minister told Raphael. Lifting Meg's veil off her face, he kissed her passionately. Everyone in the congregation clapped as Meg and Raphael headed down the aisle and out to a white carriage led by two beautiful white horses. As they sat in the carriage, Raphael leaned over and kissed Meg on the cheek. This would be a day that Meg would never forget.