Ahhhh, a bump in the road of life...
Keep those reviews coming, I love them - and I love you...kind of a short chapter, but I will bring you more, don't worry.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.
I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.
Character portraits:
Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)
Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)
Meckenzie - Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)
Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)
Karen - Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long,brown hair)
Ms. Jennison- Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)
Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)
All other original characters, you can use your imagination.
Enjoy.
CHAPTER 34
They ate lunch with Vince and Karen and talked about living arrangements.
"I have plenty of room in my house for you and Meckenzie." Erik stated.
"Yes, you do, and you have several unused rooms that will need occupants." Karen hinted.
Erik looked at her and wasobviouslybaffled at her words.
"Babies, Erik…you and Christine need to have babies." Karen coaxed with a smile, "It's not so noteworthy when I have to explain myself."
Erik immediately looked away from Christine's amused eyes and felt himself flush at Karen's implications.
"How many children do you want, Erik?" Christine finally asked, hoping to get some kind of response from him.
He shrugged his shoulders and would not make eyes contact. The thought of Christine pregnant with his child was almost more than he could hope for.
"I've never given it much thought." He finally responded. "I just never considered that I would have the chance to have a family."
"You have one Erik, and it's only going to get bigger." Christine assured him with a wink. "I want more children and Meckenzie has already asked me for a little brother – she wanted me to give him to her for Christmas last year."
Erik chuckled pleasantly at that image in his head. He used to think babies came from holding hands with a girl; he had quickly found that was not true.
"I wouldn't want to disappoint Pip Squeak, now would I?" Erik teased as he reached over and tickled Meckenzie. "But I don't think I can pull it off by Christmas."
Meckenzie seemed slightly put off by that, but she quickly recovered at the prospect of having a little brother someday.
Erik pulled her into this lap and hugged her firmly. He still found her little girl hugs to be completely captivating.
Erik's phone rang, interrupting the serene atmosphere.
"Hello?"
"Erik Trudeau?"
"Yes, this is Erik Trudeau – how did you get this number?"
"I am Dr. Parker Winston, from Metro Hospital in New York City. I was given your name by a patient of mine. He is looking for Christine Chagny. A friend of his heard the radio broadcast last night, and contacted him."
His heart was beating ferociously in his chest and he felt his world caving in all around him. There could only be one person looking for her by that name.
Raoul.
"That still doesn't explain how you got this phone number." Erik droned.
"My patient has many friends with many friends in many places…it was just a matter of finding the right person with the right contacts." The doctor admitted.
Erik closed his eyes to his threatening headache and rubbed his forehead. Why now…why? Everything was going so well and Christine had agreed to be his wife…now this.
"You called for a reason, I presume?" Erik stated, impatiently.
"May I speak with Ms. Chagny?" He asked.
Erik looked over at the worried face of his beloved, and knew he could not keep this from her; she had to know he was looking for her.
He handed her the phone, got up, and fluidly, and quickly,walked from the room.
Christine watched his retreating back, wondered why he had handed her the phone, and then seemed to leave in anger.
"Hello?"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Erik sat in at the piano in the small music room Vince had in his house. He couldn't stay and listen to her say his name or converse in any way about him….it hurt too much.
His fingers ran over the keys and tears were forming in the corners of his eyes as his heart threatened to crumble into pieces at his feet.
He could not bare the thought of losing them. Would she drop everything to run back into the arms of the first man she had loved…the man who had given her a daughter and a career?
"When I was young...
I never needed anyone...
I could laugh and still have fun…+
Those days are gone."
He sang the words so softly as his fingers whispered over the keys. Had it ever hurt this bad before?
"Livin' alone…
I've no friends to call my own…+
And when I dial the telephone…
Nobody's home."
He remembered this song from his youth and it's message was as profound now as it was then…he would most likely live his life in utter solitude – mourning the loss of what could have been.
"All by myself…
Don't wanna be,
All by myself…
Anymore…
All by myself…
Don't wanna be,
All by myself…
Anymore…
Hard to be sure…
Sometimes I feel so insecure…
And love, so distant and obscure…
Remains the cure…
The last word was choked out as he fought to maintain control of his pain…it would never rule him again…he had the choice to rise above the hurting places, and he would do so.
"All by myself…
Don't wanna be,
All by myself…
Anymore…
All by myself…
Don't wanna be,
All by myself…
Anymore…
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
It had taken Christine all of five minutes to hear all that she needed to hear. Her first thought was that he had finally breached the divorce agreement and interfered in her life; but her anger had quickly faded…to pity.
She flipped the phone shut and looked around for Erik. She caught Karen's eyes and saw the look of doubt in them…the same look she had seen reflected in Erik's eyes.
"Where is he?" She whispered.
Karen didn't have to answer as Erik's beautiful and tragic voice filled the air. She followed the words as they led her to the man she yearned for with every fiber of her being; the only man whose touch could make her melt and whose eyes captured her very soul.
She stood at the door, silently listening to the agonizing words as they ripped through her with deadly force.
He actually thought she would give up everything they had fought so hard to build, just because her lousy ex-husband had wiggled his way back into her life.
She waited until the last syllable was drained from him before she gently made her presence known by wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You're not alone, my love, and you never will be again." She whispered into his ear.
Erik hung his head and wept at the comfort of her arms;he did not wantto admit that he had reverted back to his old self and allowed the darkness to creep in.
She held him, feeling the depth of the doubt that had gripped him.
After his tears had ceased and while she still held him close, she explained what had transpired over the phone.
TBC
I altered the words to fit the story. Song is "All By Myself", sung by Eric Carmen