Blushes Awwww...! Thanks guys! I wuv you too!

Without further ado...

To Live Again 9

Yep, it's me again. I think you all know to look back to chapter one for the disclaimer? Good. Ok, now we're getting to the good stuff. I trust you all read the interlude? Well, it wasn't all important stuff, so even if you skipped it, you should know what's going on in this chapter.

To Heather and Adam, the world's cutest couple! You guys rok!

Joelle paced in front of the door. "Where is he? Where the hell is the best man?"

"I'm sure he'll be here soon enough." Dom said calmly.

"But he's very late!"

"Yes, usually it's the women who're late."

She glared, "Just because it's your wedding day doesn't mean you can get away with that." She raised a finger, "After the ceremony, dear brother. Pistols at sundown!"

He raised an eyebrow, watching as she suddenly burst out laughing.

"I didn't have you fooled there, did I?" She asked.

"Not for a second." He replied amiably.

Dom knew where Erik was: He planned on waiting until the last second to come in so that Joelle wouldn't see who he was right away. The man had a rather offbeat sense of humor—Dom knew he'd fit in great with the family.

Those that counted, anyway.

Re: To live Again, a fanfic. (Felene)

Posted: 1:10:38 am on 5/23/2005

Modified: Never

Joelle was beginning to get a headache.

Today was too stressful. First she'd had to leave Erik without saying goodbye, then she'd had to stop Raoul from wearing a gigantic, frilly monstrosity of a hat (honestly, the thing was embarrassing, what had he been thinking?), then she'd had to talk Colette down from a nervous breakdown. After that she had done her hair for her, and then went to go change herself. Then Dom had lost his cufflinks and nearly bit someone, and she'd had to track them down, and make sure Papa didn't start drinking.

And now the best man was late.

"Where the devil is that thrice accursed man?" She growled, pacing.

"Right beside you." a soft voice replied.

The man listened for a moment, then offered her his arm. "Shall we? I believe we're on."

Joelle sighed and accepted it, shaking her head and mustering up a gigantic smile for the benefit of those assembled in the church as they started down the aisle.

Discreetly, she examined the Best Man out of the corner of her eye. He was tall, but not too tall; the top of her head was about level with his shoulder. He had midlength straight dark brown hair, worn attractively loose. His skin was pale and he had smooth, rather ordinary features, with a nice nose and high cheekbones. His eyes were—wait.

Golden eyes?

The only person she knew with eyes like that was…

"Erik?" She breathed, jaw dropping slightly.

He nodded and winked, placing a finger to his lips for a second.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do, mister!" She hissed.

"Later." He whispered, casting a significant glance to the side.

"Oh!" She remembered where they were.

"It's ok." He whispered, laying his other hand over hers on his arm. "Breathe. Now smile."

She stared for another moment, then, for some reason, found the whole situation hilarious and restrained her laughter.

A genuine, loving smile spread over her face, and her eyes danced with laughter. She squeezed Erik's arm affectionately.

He smiled down at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement as well.

When they parted at the end of the aisle, which had somehow suddenly become far too short, their eyes locked on each other from their positions.

As awareness slipped away, as she drowned in his eyes, Joelle wondered idly why he'd ever worn a mask. Something didn't make sense here…

In the pews, Christine was getting worried. Who was that man and why did Joelle look at him like that?

Didn't she love Erik?

He'd be devastated if he found out!

She looked over at Raoul, who didn't seem too concerned.

"Raoul!" She whispered.

"Hmmm…?"

"Who's the best man, and why's Joelle looking at him like that?"

"Nothing to worry about."

"You know who it is?"

He nodded. "I'm sworn to secrecy, but I can promise you it's nothing to worry about."

Christine sighed, "If you say so, Raoul."

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Dom grinned when he saw the looks passing between his sister and Erik.

'Well,' he thought, 'I think we all know now whose marriage we'll be attending next!'

He had wondered what Joelle's reaction the 'surprise' would be, but it seemed promising.

However, he also knew that both he and Erik would most likely be in for some choice words later.

According to Raoul, her temper was far more formidable than before.

Thus the impressive wound on his face. Amusingly enough, Christine had covered it with makeup (Yes, he did plan on rubbing that in later…).

Then Colette appeared, and all thoughts, at least all coherent thoughts, ceased.

She was gorgeous.

Stunning.

Why the hell was this goddess marrying him?

Colette's dark red hair curled around her face, secured loosely with glittering gold and emerald and gold and diamond pins.

Joelle must have helped her with it. His sister's careful handiwork was obvious.

Colette looked like some shining angel in her long white gown. The gold workings gleamed, complimenting her tan skin and crimson hair.

Her green eyes glowed like emeralds in the sun, bright with love and unshed tears.

The rest of the world faded away as the priest spoke the timeless words of the marriage ceremony, finally coming down to a question that he was more than ready to answer.

"Do you, Domenic Alierre Napoleon Etienne take this woman to be your wedded wife; to love, honor, and cherish her for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health, forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?"

"With all my heart, I do."

The priest nodded, "And do you, Colette Marie Stéver, swear before god that this is your wedded husband, to love him, honor and obey him, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?"

"I… I do." She replied breathlessly.

"As old as time, signifying eternity, you shall now exchange rings as a token of your union."

And so the rings were brought forth.

The priest continued, "And now as you exchange these rings, speak these words: 'With this ring, I thee wed'."

Hands trembling, they did so.

"With this ring, I thee wed."

The priest took their hands and joined them. "Before God and your Kin, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Dom did so immediately, holding Colette close. Before they parted, he whispered "I told you everything would be ok, my love."

"I love you." She sobbed.

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Soon after the ceremony, two cloaked figures met in an empty confession booth.

"Erik, darling, you have some explaining to do." Joelle whispered, taking his hands.

He sighed in relief, "I was afraid you'd be angry with me."

"No. You must have had a reason."

"I wanted to surprise you."

She chuckled, "You succeeded!"

"I know."

"So you and Dom planned this?"

"Yes."

"No mask?"

Erik looked down. "'Tis but a mask of a different sort." He guided one of her hands up and placed it on his right cheek, the one usually covered by the mask, "That isn't real Joelle. It feels real, and it looks real, and I can feel you through it, but it's really just another mask."

"Oh…" Transfixed, she traced his features.

"This, my dear, is how I would have looked if I had been born without the deformity that forces me to wear a mask. What do you think?"

"It's just another part of who you are: the masks, the face you hide; your insecurities, your strengths. It's all you, and I love you. I'm happy to be with you on the surface, but I was happy under the opera house too, because I was with you. You should know, Erik, that nothing you say or do and nothing that you show me could ever make me stop loving you. I love everything you are."

With a finger under her chin he angled her face up a bit, then kissed her until she sagged against him.

As she clung to him, utterly stunned, regaining her breath, he whispered, "And I love you too, my Joelle." In her ear.

She held him even tighter, suddenly shaking like a leaf. "T..tell me this isn't a dream, please? Tell me I won't wake up and you'll be gone!" She begged.

He stroked her back, "Shh…It's not a dream. I'll always be here if you want me to be. I love you, and I won't let you forget it."

She laughed, "Forget? How could I forget it? It's all I've dreamed of since I met you!"

Erik buried his face in her hair. "I never quite realized how lucky I was: In relinquishing silver, I have found gold."

Joelle couldn't speak for a moment. "S…so you really love me? Though I am impulsive and wild and hardly a proper lady?"

"What need have I for propriety?" He smiled. "You know me."

"We should probably go to the reception soon." She murmured. "People will start to wonder if we never arrive."

"You're probably right." He nodded. Erik held out his arm, as he had earlier. "Will you be my lady tonight?"

"And forever after." Joelle took it.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He agreed.

"One more kiss…? Before we go, I mean."

"With pleasure." He chuckled

-------------------------------------

"I wonder where your sister is." Colette remarked.

Dom smirked over his wineglass. "I'm sure she and the best man will be arriving shortly." He replied.

Her eyes widened, "So he's the reason she's been running off all the time?"

He nodded, "Yes, and it's a good match. I couldn't be happier about it."

"Really? No overprotectiveness? No scaring the prospective husband away?"

"No. He's a good man. The one who saved us back in December, in fact."

"Really?" She stared, "Well how come Joelle never told us that?"

"Erik is a modest man, and prefers not to be gossiped about. Besides, he's very shy. I suspect he simply wanted to avoid the notoriety."

"That makes sense. So how serious are they?" She asked.

"Well you saw them catch the bouquet and garter. Without even trying to! I wouldn't be surprised if they were engaged by the time spring rolls around."

"Well good for her, then!"

Just then, the couple arrived, Joelle looking thoroughly kissed. Their eyes were bright and they walked dangerously close to one another. Family members exchanged knowing looks.

Christine looked concerned, Dom noted. Raoul looked smug.

He wondered if Raoul knew it was Erik that Joelle was with.

---------------------------------------------------

"Are you sure this is nothing to worry about, darling?" Christine whispered.

"You'll see. Why don't we go say hello?"

"Alright…"

Joelle smiled at them when they came over, "Oh, hello Christine, Raoul. I believe you've met my date."

"Nice to see you again Christine. Surprised to see me?" He winked.

Christine stopped dead, all color draining from her face. "E..Erik?"

He nodded.

"Cleans up nice, doesn't he?" Joelle gushed.

Christine's mouth flapped open and closed.

Joelle snickered. She glanced over at Erik. "You're right, this was a good idea."

Erik smirked. "I'm certainly enjoying the reaction."

"It's nice to be on the inside of a joke for once." Raoul admitted, "Rather than the target."

"I'm in a good mood right now, so I'll leave that one be." Joelle drawled. "For now." She added, grinning. She looked over, "Ooh, the band is playing! Come on, Erik, let's dance, I bet you're great on the dance floor!"

He gave Raoul and Christine a semi-apologetic shrug, "Duty calls." He said, hurrying off after Joelle, leaving Christine shell-shocked and Raoul suddenly realizing Joelle's implied jab.

"Hey!" He cried.

Christine tilted her head, jaw still dropped nearly to the floor.

Raoul watched his cousin and rival dance. "It looks like they really do love each other." He remarked sadly. "Oh hell... this means I'll be related to him by marriage!" He looked disgusted.

"I...Never thought..."

"What, Christine, never thought he'd move on and stop being miserable?" Raoul asked, "Because if you want him to be jealous of what we have then that means that, to some degree, you want him to still want you. You can't have it both ways, you know."

She nodded, "I know... it's just... I don't know if I'm ready to have him be a part of our lives, even just as a relative by marriage... I mean, we all thought he'd committed suicide because I'd turned him down. And then there's the fact that that obsession existed in the first place. You don't just get over those things right away. And I know we knew they were together, but seeing him up here just makes it more real. And it means I could run into him anywhere. Things are awkward."

"That's just something you'll have to deal with. And when he loved you, he always seemed to think of himself as below you. And you didn't seem to do anything to change that, no offense, but Joelle treats him like a man; makes him feel like the greatest man alive... the way you make me feel." Raoul paused. His eyes glowed. "I love you, Christine. You are my first, and my only true love."

"And I love you, Raoul."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but if you had chosen Erik, you could only ever have hurt him."

"What?"

"He worshipped you. That always implies that he saw you as above him. You never quite noticed. Joelle told him from the beginning that she adores him and thinks of him as her White Knight. Obviously, he's started to love her too."

"They do make a nice couple." Christine remarked.

"Disgustingly so." Raoul agreed reluctantly.

-------------------------------------------------

"They're still watching us." Erik whispered.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"It's definitely fun to confound her."

"Naughty naughty Phantom!" She teased.

"I'll admit it." He purred, "But I haven't heard any complaints out of you yet."

She sighed, and a dreamy smile spread across her face.

"What's on your mind, Jo, dear?" He whispered, pulling her closer to him.

"Promise you won't laugh?" She said seriously.

"Alright."

She looked up into his eyes, "Well, darling, I was just…. remembering back at the wedding… daydreaming about walking down the aisle, you waiting for me there, at the end, saying those words… Well, except for the 'obey' part, because we both know that would never work… but just think about it; our souls and bodies bound together, husband and wife forevermore." She blushed, suddenly looking her young age, so innocent and sweet. "B…but I'm probably scaring you, talking like this. A lot of men run from commitment."

He pulled her against him, and they stopped for a moment, Joelle nestled snugly against his chest, head resting trustingly in the hollow of his shoulder. For a moment, the music was silent. It was just them, just Erik and Joelle, alone. The world slipped away.

"I love the thought of being your husband." He replied. "I love the thought of waking up to you every morning, of your voice being the first and last thing I hear every day. I love the thought of being with you every second, perhaps raising our children someday. I love the very thought of these things so much that I cannot fully convey it to you. But most of all, I love you, Joelle. Someday, when the moment is right, when we are both ready, I will ask you that question, and I hope you will make me the luckiest man alive."

She sniffled, "I think you know I will."

"That definitely helps."

--------------------------------------------------------

Dom and Colette watched the two figures standing on the dance floor, wrapped in each other's arms.

"They certainly look happy."

Dom started, turning, "Yes, father, they are."

Lyle sat beside his son and new daughter in law. He sighed, "I'm glad she's finally smiling again. For real, I mean. Are you sure he's loyal? Trustworthy? Will he take care of her?"

"Yes to all, Papa. He's a good man."

"I'll have to talk to him. To make sure. I won't let just anybody marry my little flower." He said.

"Not so little anymore, Papa." Dom reminded him.

"Yes," Lyle admitted, "She's grown so much. She looks like her mother." He sighed, "I just hope she chose her love as well as you have." He smiled at Colette, who blushed. "You needn't be so nervous, Ma petit. You're among family." He soothed. "And you, son." He said, "Take good care of Colette, I don't want you to realize how important she is to you too late."

"I will." Dom replied."

"I'm proud of you, son. You've grown up to be quite a man."

"Thank you, Papa."

He looked out at the man holding his daughter again. "And you approve of him?" He asked again.

"Completely."

Lyle nodded.

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From his vantage point in the trees, Rojer was very angry. It was disgusting the way that man touched Joelle, the way she melted against him, the trust that hung between them.

"What are you doing with that man, Joelle?" He muttered.

He turned back to the small group of men he'd taken with him.

"Alright, when I give the signal, we ambush. Kill whoever you want and take whatever trinket or girl takes your fancy. Take the bride herself, for all I care. Or the groom if that's what does it for you. But that one's mine. And I want to be the one to kill her man-whore as well." He commanded.

Heh, I'm gonna leave that a cliffie for now.

Tell me what you think about the wedding because I was a little iffy on my depiction.