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To Love a Monster

Chapter Six

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Christine stirred, nuzzling herself further into Erik's chest. She was still tired, but something told her that today was very important. Despite the constant nagging of her mind, Christine cuddled closer, content to fall back asleep.

Erik felt Christine move against him and woke up. Blinking fuzzily a few times, his eyes suddenly flew wide open. Today he would marry Christine! Quickly grabbing her shoulder, Erik gave her a little shake. "Wake up!"

Christine moaned in protest, snuggling close into his embrace. She muttered something under her breath about flames consuming, her eyes still closed.

"Christine, do you want to get married today or not?" he demanded, shaking her harder.

One eye opened. "Who's getting married?" she asked blearily, before closing her eyes. Suddenly, she shot into a sitting position. "Oh goodness!" she cried out. "How could I have forgotten!" She was all ready scrambling out of the bed, but her feet got tangled in the sheets and she just ended up as a giggling mass of material on the floor.

Erik laughed, crawling out of bed and untangling Christine easily. "Careful, my dear. It would not do to break your leg on your wedding day, would it?" he murmured, helping her to her feet and kissing her forehead.

Christine craned her head and pressed her lips to his, pulling him close. After a few moments, she broke the kiss with a sigh. "Good morning," she whispered against his lips.

"Good morning, indeed." he murmured. "Come, let's get dressed. Wear something white." he teased, swatting her bottom.

"Something white? And here I was considering wearing black," she teased back. "After all, it is your funeral. Marrying me... someone should have warned you of the precautions..." she muttered. She was looking through her clothes, trying to find an appropriate dress.

Erik snorted and moved to the closet, picking out his finest tuxedo and putting it over his arm. "You may use the bathroom first, of course."

Finally choosing a suitable white dress, Christine carefully picked out the finest of her underclothing before disappearing into the bathroom with a secret smile. She emerged a good twenty minutes later, clothed in a simple, yet elegant white gown, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders.

Erik was faced away from her when she re-entered the bedroom, and when he turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening, he gasped. "You look...beautiful..." he murmured, licking his lips subconsciously.

Christine blushed, smiling at him. "Thank you," she said, brushing hair behind her ear. She stepped out of the way so he could use the bathroom and bit her lip slightly, still grinning.

Erik moved quickly into the bedroom, changing into his tux and smoothing back his hair, then beginning to wash his face. Which mask? he wondered, and decided he would ask Christine. After he'd finished preparing, he replaced his white mask and returned to the bedroom. "Christine, I don't know which mask to wear."

Christine touched the one he was wearing. "This one will do," she said softly. She gently stroked the material over his cheek, before leaning up to press a kiss to the corner of his lips. "Soon," she whispered. She smiled, her hand lacing through his. "Where to now?"

"The church, of course." he said with a laugh. "Unless you... want to eat first..." his cheeks reddened beneath his mask.

"Too nervous to eat," she said quietly, studying the floor. She blushed again, before detangling herself from him to make the bed that they were to... she blushed harder, using her hair to curtain her face.

Erik smiled, helping her make the bed, then brushing her hair from her face. "You are certain you want to do this, Christine? There is still time for you to change your mind.."

Christine turned to him and smiled nervously. "I'm sure, Erik. I'm not going to turn back now, not for anything."

Erik sighed in relief and kissed her forehead gently. "I'm glad. Shall we go then?"

Christine turned her head up to his. "I believe we shall," she replied, grinning.

Taking her hand tightly in his own, Erik led Christine from the room and through the house, guiding her to the gondola and helping her climb in. With ease, he began to poll them along the lagoon, and it wasn't long before he was helping her climb back out on the other side.

Christine clung to Erik, glancing at his face and turning away, blushing. Today was the day. She intertwined their fingers and let Erik lead the way.

Erik just smiled down at Christine, finding her shy blush quite becoming. "Are you excited?" he purred as he led her through the caverns and passageways towards the streets of Paris.

Christine didn't hear the sexual undertones of the question, rather she just nodded. She didn't trust her voice, she was so nervous, excited and... happy.

Shoving open a large door, sunlight nearly blinded Erik and he brought up his arm to shield his delicate eyes. "Ahh, there we are. Now, to get a carriage." Leading her to the street, he tried to ignore the swarm of people all around, and focused on getting the attention of a driver.

She wasn't surprised when Erik flinched at the sun, but she was surprised when she did. She squinted against the brightness, feeling as though it were burning her skin. She buried her face in Erik's chest. She was relieved when a carriage arrived, and quickly got inside.

Erik gave Christine a weak, nervous smile as he climbed into the carriage behind her after telling the driver to take them to the nearest Catholic church. Easing himself to sit next to her, Erik took Christine's hand in his own. "I'm a bit nervous." he whispered, trembling slightly.

Christine giggled. "Me too," she replied, clutching his hand. She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder.

Wrapping his arm around Christine's shoulders, Erik let his eyes fall shut for a moment. "I think I might be sick." he whispered, clutching her hand tightly in his own.

Christine looked up at him before reaching up and cupping his face in her hands. She leaned forward and placed a slow, sensual kiss on his lips. "Better?" she asked when she finally managed to part her lips from his.

Erik grinned. "I don't know, you'd better give me another one, to be sure." he whispered rakishly, before pressing his lips tightly to Christine's once more.

Christine giggled into his kiss, pressing herself closer to him. She was glad to calm his nerves, as her own were slightly frazzled. She knew that he was mostly nervous because they were out around people, and she hoped to make this as pleasant as possible.

Erik smiled against her lips before drawing back as the carriage bounced to a stop. "I think we've arrived..."

Christine grinned cheekily at him. "Ah, but you've all ready kissed the bride."

"Well then, let's just go back home, the sooner we can consummate our marriage." he teased, opening the door and tossing a small bag of coins to the driver, then taking Christine's hands and helping her step delicately from the carriage.

Christine blushed, but smiled at her soon-to-be husband. "Haste makes waste," she sing songed, all ready feeling Erik tugging her quickly into the church.

Chuckling, Erik kissed her temple, then led her into the church, striding toward the alter where a priest was deep in prayer. Clearing his throat, the old man stood and turned.

"Yes, my children?" he murmured, looking curiously at Erik.

"We would like to be married." he replied simply, squeezing Christine's hand.

The priest looked a little shocked and Christine stepped forward, obviously the less imposing of the two. "We know this is a little... abrupt... Please, Father. We are very much in love and... our only wish is to be married as soon as possible." The priest looked Christine in the eyes, his presence softening at her honesty.

"Does your father know about this union, child?" Christine smiled softly.

They say that there is a great view from heaven."

Erik placed his hand on Christine's shoulder gently, giving it a soft squeeze and moving to stand a bit closer to her. "I am ready and willing to make a generous donation to this church if our wedding can be carried out immediately and kept a bit quiet. Surely one of the sisters can act as a witness to our union?"

The priest still looked a bit flabbergasted, but after a moment conceded. The church, while quaint, was obviously in need of the money. He called on the head nun, whom agreed to bear witness. Christine clutched tightly to Erik, nearly glowing in her happiness.

Trembling slightly, Erik brushed a lock of hair from Christine's face and gave her a warm, loving smile. The priest led them to stand before the alter, and opened up the worn copy of the Bible before him.

"What are your names?" the priest asked, grinning at the couple. Christine eagerly supplied her name.

"Erik..." he faltered, before using the last name of his father, finding it quite fitting and giving a moment's thought to how upset his father may be at finding out that he was getting married without even telling him! "Carrier, Erik Carrier." he murmured, glancing at Christine.

Christine clutched Erik's arm tightly as the priest nodded at them before asking one last question. "Do you have the rings?"

Erik felt his stomach drop for a moment, and reached into his pocket quickly, fumbling around and giving a sigh of relief as he pulled out a dainty gold ring. "It... was my mothers." he whispered, looking at Christine lovingly.

Christine removed the ring Erik had given her long ago, his own black onyx and gave it to the priest. He nodded at them before beginning. "Erik Carrier, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in the Holy Estate of Matrimony; to love, honor, comfort her and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?"

projectphantomrose: Breathing heavily, Erik nodded. "I do." he whispered, looking into her eyes worshipfully.

"Christine Daae, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband , to live together in the Holy Estate of Matrimony; to love, honor, and obey; in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, keep you only unto her as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," she breathed, clutching tightly to the man beside her.

Erik clung tightly to Christine, a tear slipping down his masked cheek as he resisted the urge to pull her tightly into his arms.

The priest handed Erik his ring and indicated he should place it on Christine's finger. "Repeat after me, With this ring I thee wed in love and truth and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

Erik's hands were shaking so badly that it took him several attempts to be able to slip the ring onto Christine's finger, and once it was in place, he pressed a soft kiss against it. "With this ring, I thee wed in love and truth and with all my worldly goods I thee endow." he whispered, another tear falling down his cheek.

Christine repeated the process, her own hand trembling as she linked Erik to her soul eternally.

"Inasmuch as Erik Carrier and Christine Daae have this day consented together in Holy Wedlock and have given and pledged their troth each to the other in the presence of this company, by virtue of the authority vested in me under the state of France, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife." The priest smiled softly at them. "You may kiss the bride."

A soft, almost inaudible sob left Erik, before he gathered Christine against his chest and leaned down to press a soft, intimate kiss against her lips that caused the nun to blush a lovely shade of scarlet. "My wife..." he whispered when the kiss finally broke.

Christine laughed, smiling up at Erik. "So it seems. Guess that means your stuck with me," she joked, tears slipping from her eyes.

"Gladly." he replied, before drawing away to turn to the priest. "I thank you sincerely for what you have done for us." he said, joy shining in his eyes. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a stack of Franc notes and pressed it into the Priest's hands. "I shall be eternally grateful." Then he was lifting Christine into his arms and laughing as he carried her from the church.