Hello my darlings! Welcome back! I know it has been a while since I have updated please don't hurt me! Like I have said before, I have been extremely busy lately but yet I find time to update and write... weird... Not that I'm complaining but when I check my stats I see that I have 200 hits and yet receive ten reviews, I wonder what would happen if everyone that read reviewed. (goes off to ponder) Here is chapter Fourty-Six:

Reunions

The petite woman turned and greeted Christine with a warm smile. "My, Meg really has outdone herself, hasn't she?"

Christine smiled and looked around. "She certainly has." She cleared her throat again and pulled on Erik's hand. "Madame Giry, you remember Erik, yes?"

She smiled sadly. "Yes, I do."

Christine smiled up at Erik.

"But, my dear what does he-" She stopped her sentence short when she looked up at the man behind Christine. Her small hands shook as she put them to her mouth. "Mon Dieu. Erik? Is that you?"

Erik let go of Christine's hand and took Madame Giry's. "Anette," he kissed her knuckles. "Always a pleasure to see you."

Madame Giry smiled and her hands shook even more. Tears brewed in her eyes and she grabbed Erik in a strong embrace.

She spoke so quickly that Christine didn't know what she was saying but she guessed that she was telling him how happy she was. When she pulled away, she saw tears staining her cheeks. "I thought you were dead."

"You were misinformed," Erik said simply.

Madame Giry hugged him once again.

Christine could only imagine how she felt. She had saved Erik when he was little, he was like a son to her. When she found out that Erik was "dead" she had cried and grieved as she would have if he was her son.

Christine smiled and left them, knowing that they would want to be alone.

She knew she had to apologize to Meg for what happened earlier with Raoul. As she walked to them, someone stopped her by taking her arm.

Her once black curly hair was now cut above her jaw, her small blue eyes were hidden behind glasses. She wore almost no make-up unlike before. Before, she would have put on massive amounts. She was dressed conservative with a black dress. She smiled at her and gave her a hug. She had changed a lot.

"Carlotta," Christine greeted her. "How are you?"

"Christine, I didn't think you'd recognize me."

Christine laughed. "I don't think I'll ever forget you. You helped make my junior year memorable."

She laughed. "I was a nightmare, wasn't I?"

"Well," Christine said. "I didn't say it."

"I'm so sorry," Carlotta said laughing. "I was so absorbed on leaving a mark on that school. But someone else beat me to it, didn't he?"

"Oh, yeah," Christine said smiling.

"They still talk about him in the school, you know?"

"Really?" Christine asked interested. "How do you know?"

"I'm Madame Giry's assistant in drama," Carlotta told her. "After André left, they had trouble for years finding a decent enough substitute. By the time I finished college I filled in. I was very lucky."

Christine nodded.

"Madame says that you go to UCLA."

They both talked about their lives up until that point. Carlotta even congratulated her on the single and everything. It was definitely not the Carlotta she knew.

Christine looked at her hand. "You're married?"

Carlotta gave a dazzling smile. "Yes. He's Italian, his name is Ubaldo. We even have a daughter. Her name is Monica. Would you like to see her?"

Christine nodded. "Of course."

Carloota turned around and stepped back, Christine found Monica to be a baby not one year old. When she looked in the carriage, Monica looked up at her and gurgled.

"She's so cute!"

Monica laughed and started throwing her tiny fists around.

"She likes your earrings," Carlotta told her. "Ubaldo worked tonight and I couldn't find a sitter so I just took her with me."

Christine smiled and gave the baby her pinky. Her small fist wrapped around it and she started having more fun than she was a minute before, her large blue eyes full of wonder.

"Would you like to hold her?"

"Me?" Christine asked. "I don't know I'm not very good."

"Nonsense," Carlotta said lifting her infant. "Just support her head and put your arm under her. There, that's it. You got it."

Christine looked down at the baby as she played with one of her stray curls. "She's so pretty."

Christine bounced her slightly which she seemed to enjoy. She gurgled and laughed and Christine fell in love. "She's so adorable." Even though she had heard many people say not to speak baby talk to a baby, she did it anyway. Carlotta didn't seem to mind.

"Ooh," Christine found herself saying. "I want one!"

Carlotta laughed.

After a couple of more moments, Monica rubbed her eyes slightly. She seemed to be more fussy than before.

"That means she's sleepy, maybe if I'm lucky, she'll fall asleep."

Christine handed her the baby and waved her good-bye.

This time, Christine was determined to make it across the room without being stopped to apologize to Meg but was stopped short when she felt arms around her waist.

"I have never found you more attractive in my life," the sultry voice said.

Christine smiled. "Thank you but what for?"

He kept his hands at her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Just now," Erik said enticingly against her ear. "You have no idea how much I love you."

Christine stood on her toes and kissed his lips. "I love you, too."

His hand drifted down her arm and down her sides, she could feel him kissing her neck. "Your skin is so soft, angel. You can't imagine how much I want you right now."

Christine smiled. "Yes, well, we really can't right now. I have enough public embarrassment to last me a while, thank you."

Erik chuckled and she felt his hand almost go under her bodice. "Maybe I need to cure you of that phobia."

Christine pulled away and took his hand with her. "There are children here Erik."

He laughed and kissed her cheek. "I shall resist."

"They're about to serve dinner anyways, come on."

Dinner was a three course meal with the best food she had eaten in weeks. Even when dessert was done, she still thought she had a little room left in her. When she was about done with her drink, she felt a presence in the seat next to her. When she looked over, she squealed in delight and placed her arms around his neck, pulling her to him. Christine proceeded to squeeze him.

"Woman," he gasped out. "Let me go! Christine!"

He said her name so out of breath that Christine let him go. She pinched his cheeks and started speaking baby talk.

He playfully slapped her hand away. "You'd think that after four years she'd forget."

"How could I forget my little Brian-dien-wicky-woo?" she hugged him again and turned to Erik. "Erik I want you to meet Brian, the freshmen I took under my wing senior year."

Erik and Brian shook hands.

Brian looked behind him. "Look who I found."

Christine's smile broadened and she stood up to greet her friend. "Layla!"

Layla hugged Christine. "It's been too long."

Christine agreed. "Indeed." Then she glanced behind her. "George!"

George rushed to them and gave the girls hugs.

At that moment Meg turned up. "Is there a meeting no one told me about?" They all laughed and sat at the empty table.

"This brings back fond memories, no?"

"Everyone," Christine announced. "I want you to meet Erik." She pointed to each in turn. "Erik, this is Brian, Layla, George and Meg."

Erik nodded. "Congratulations, Little Giry or should I say little de Chagny?"

Meg laughed uneasily; Christine could tell she was still uncomfortable around him.

"Erik, we're the Marauders of Music," Christine told him. "Brian called us that when he was in his Harry Potter phase."

Brian beamed. "I made it up."

"Genius," Layla said laughing.

Meg giggled. "You guys remember Alexis?"

The group grew into hysterical laughter.

"You guys were horrible to that poor girl!" Christine told them once the laughter died away.

"Serves her right," George said, smiling. "None can outperform Christine."

"Alexis, her dumb ass," Brian said.

Christine turned to Erik. "Alexis was a freshman who thought she could sing and act. So when Madame Giry asked us to sing like André used to do, she got up and said-"

George broke in with a high squeaky voice. "I can sing better than Carlotta and Christine." Then he started his shrill laughter.

"She didn't laugh like that," Christine defended.

"Yes, she did," Meg told her. "That girl sounded like a siren, singing or no."

"Let's put it this way," George said to Erik. "Every time she would laugh or sing we thought it was the fire alarm."

Brian continued with the story. "She made the mistake of taking Christine on. I mean come on; everyone knows they can't take Christine on. Everyone in middle school even knew that. And well, come on Layla, you imitate her the best."

"No," Layla said blushing. "I can't. I'll embarrass myself."

"Come on," Christine pleaded. "Please?"

Layla sighed and smiled. "All right, fine." She cleared her throat and started vocalizing just like Alexis had done. She continued her notes higher and higher and the group broke out in giggles, knowing what was going to happen next.

Erik just watched her with a smile on his face, he was obviously enjoying what they were doing.

Layla continued. "Ah-ah-ah-ah-croak!"

The group started laughing, reliving the moment that had occurred.

Layla tried to contain her laughter as she continued. "Ah-ah-Croak! Croak! Croak!" She banged her fist on the table and spoke in a fake Spanish accent just as Alexis had done. "That wazz nut s'pp'se to heppin! It was the Ghost!"

The group laughed even harder, George fell out of his chair.

Brian spoke through his fit of laughter. "She blamed it on the Auditorium Ghost! It would be one thing to do it when we were in the auditorium where he actually lived but it's another to do it in a classroom all the way across the school!"

Christine laughed just as the others had done and enjoyed herself when she saw Erik was having as much fun as the others.

"Everyone knew the Ghost split just as André and Firmin had done. She was so naïve, the child." Layla sighed.

"Oh, I hated that bloody classroom," George told them. "I hated the new auditorium even more. It was like they put cement blocks together and put it up in a hurry. There were no curtains, no boxes, and no chandelier."

When Christine looked at Erik, he seemed to be full of pride for some reason.

Layla rolled her eyes. "I wonder why." Then she sighed. "Christine, you should have showed her how it was done. I still can't understand why you didn't put her in her place."

Christine shrugged and started fiddling with the tablecloth. "I didn't want to sing at that time."

"Why?" Erik asked.

Christine looked at him fondly, wanting to say the reason why. Because you weren't there….

"Well, she did come around when it came to finals." Meg said laughing. "What was it that Mom said? Oh yes, sing or no graduation."

"Ah, yes," Brian said. "Who could forget those rehearsals with the corsets and dances and the Can-Can?"

Layla threw a piece of paper at him. "We had to wear that! It was Moulin Rouge!"

Brian sighed. "Best semester of my life."

"Pervert."

"Oh, I hated those things," Christine told them. "Especially when half through the first rehearsal I almost passed out." She turned to Meg. "I don't know what you're mom was thinking."

Meg smiled. "Too bad we didn't wear them at the end, it would have made it better."

"Sure, it would have," Layla added. "With half the cast passed out from hardly breathing."

Christine sighed. "I swore off corsets after that."

Brian chuckled. "Sure, you did," he said sarcastically. In between coughs, he said, "Phantom of the Opera." He cleared his throat. "I seem to have caught a cold."

Layla sighed and rolled her eyes. "That bit got old the first the first half hour we met."

Christine covered her face to hide her laughing.

"You have to admit, the result was a success, I got shipped off to UCLA." Christine beamed.

"While we stayed and went to NYU, Barry University."

Christine smiled. "You guys still love me."

"You guys remember the song?" Layla asked. "The one that George said he thought he was going to choke on all the fluff he was singing?"

Meg laughed. "Oh, yes, who could forget?"

Layla gasped. "Oh! Meg, you said it was your song! Christine, sing it for her! It could be her wedding song!"

Christine smiled. "Yes, come on, George, let's boogie."

George groaned. "I gave up on singing."

"Gave up on singing my ass," Brian said. "I caught you the other day singing to your niece's Barbie."

They all laughed. "No way!"

Christine stood up and took George's hand. "Come on, let's go."

Meg got up and ran to Philippe, taking his hand.

Christine went to the karaoke and took the microphone, telling the DJ to turn down the music and if he had the song she was asking for. When she saw he didn't, she cleared her throat and started speaking into the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the de Chagny-Giry wedding. As the Maid of Honor and Meg's best friend I want to dedicate her a song. It was Meg's favorite song and hopefully it will be Philippe's favorite too."

She waved for George to join her but he shook his head.

She pulled on his arm and he joined her on the small stage. "Since the DJ doesn't have the CD, we'll just have to sing it by ourselves, so, George whenever you're ready."

She handed George a microphone but he wouldn't start.

He didn't start until they heard Brian's voice over the hushed guests. "Hey, George, is your niece around here?"

George put the microphone to his lips so quickly that Christine laughed. "Never knew I could feel like this, it's like I've never seen the sky before."

Christine smiled knowing the power that little sentence had over him. George looked at her as he did when they were performing in their high school. "I want to vanish inside your kiss. Every day I love more and more. Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything!"

Christine smiled reliving her past memories.

"Seasons may change, winter to spring but I love you until the end of time.

Come what may, come what may, I will love you until my dying day."

Once, when Erik had been her Angel, he had told her to put her emotions into the song. She had to use past experiences so that she could live out the words. If she just sang the words, it would stay words. If she felt the passion behind it then she would convince everyone around her and astonish them with her voice.

Christine put the microphone to her lips, singing to Erik and Erik alone. "Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place, suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace. Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste, it all revolves around you."

George joined her singing, taking her hand to make the fervor seem real to everyone around them. "And there's no mountain too high, no river too wide. Sing out this song I'll be there by your side! Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide-"

George looked at her smiling. "But I love you."

Christine looked at her friend fondly, imagining Erik in his place. "I love you until the end of time."

Christine looked at Philippe and Meg dancing on the dance floor. Meg had her head on his shoulder and they swayed slowly with the ballad they were singing. "Oh, come what may, come what may, I will love you, I will love you."

The song, now over, both Christine and George were received with applause. Christine and George bowed and Meg received her friends with a hug. Philippe greeted them both with a hug also, she could see the tears in their eyes.

When she gave the DJ the microphone, she ran to Erik and hugged him.

She smiled when he told her, "You never cease to amaze me."

Everyone continued applauding but didn't stop until someone spoke into the microphone. "Bravo, bravo," the voice slurred. He was obviously heavily intoxicated.

When she looked up at the small stage, she saw a man tripping over himself trying to get the attention from everyone. "Everyone, Christine Daaé! Whoo! And now- hiccup- we raise our glasses for a toast!" He raised his champagne bottle. "But first, I have some things to say."

Christine looked at the young man, hardly recognizing him but realzing what was about to happen. "Oh, shit."

Layla is actually Erik'sLittleLotte, she has really helped me in writing my phic. Thank you! (Erik tried to put a cookie through the computer screen)
Thank you for all of your reviews, I really enjoy reading them and answering Xayla's comment, yes, i do like to read that ;o)
I know that using Moulin Rouge's Come What May has been horribly cliched in phics, but if it's any consolation, Christine didn't dedicate this song to Erik, or vice versa and neither did Erik to a Mary Sue (shudders) Anyhoo, this song has been in my mind for some time now and I wanted to include it, so...yeah... there it was... Okay! So, (rubs hands together in glee once again) the next chapter is going to be SWEET! (ahem) anyways, take care you guys, I'm going to go write chapter 47! Remember, reviews keep me motivated! ;o) Erik sends his regards!