Disclaimer: I Do not own any part of the Phantom of the Opera.
Chap. 9
"I appreciate you letting us stay for the night. But Christine and I best be on our way." Erik told Gaston. "You are most welcome. It was a pleasure to see you again, after all theses years." Erik nodded in agreement. "Yes, very pleasurable." Just then the woman, that Gaston called Mary Anne, entered the room. "You are leaving, Monsieur, Madame." Christine bit her lip and looked down, to hide her face that was now turning a bright pink. Why must everyone call her Madame? Erik saw her and smiled a bit in amusement. He also thought it was a bit weird that everyone kept calling her Madame, Everyone at the Opera Populaire always called her, mademoiselle, or Miss Christine Daae of just Miss Daae. But lately everyone has been calling her Madame.
"Oh yes, we are. We just came by because Christine was getting tired and hungry." Christine nodded. "Oh…well then. Good bye." Maryanne said. "Have a good day, Maryanne and, take care of your self Gaston." Gaston smiled at Erik's words. "Erik. I am a grown man. I can take care of your self." Maryanne Scoffed. "Don't listen to him. He can't even make his own dinner." Maryanne said to Erik and Christine. "I can so! Good bye Erik." The door closed right in their faces, making Christine lose her balance for a brief moment.
Erik just remembered. Christine got tired from walking before, he was going to ask for a horse to borrow. "Oh Christine. Wait one moment my dear, I feel we will need a horse for our long journey back." He knocked on the door, the door opened. "Erik?" Gaston questioned. "Gaston. I forgot to ask you. Do you have a horse that we may borrow? We do have a long journey." Gaston nodded. "Yes, come with me." Gaston walked out the door and walked around the house to a small stable. He went over to the third stall. "Here she is. My baby. She is a good traveler and I would only let someone that I trust to take her." Gaston rubbed his hand on the horse's neck. "Her name is Mary Lou, and she has been faithful to me for a long time." He opened the gate and walked beside Mary Lou. He took a saddle off the hook and set it up on the horse. "Now, Mary Lou." He whispered into the horse's ear. "I am lending you out for a little while. But you'll soon be back here with me, he will not harm you." The horse seemed to nod its head, then look at Erik. "Pet her; she needs to learn your touch." Erik raised his eyebrows and held out his hand and gently petted its nose. Her eyes glistened. "She likes you." Gaston explained. Erik smirked. Gaston led her out. "Well hop on her." Erik got on her. "Thanks again." And then he gently kicked Mary Lou's sides to make her go. He met Christine at the front. "Hop on." Christine held out her hand and Erik helped pull her up behind him. "Hold on to me" he kicked the horse and it took off in a fast trot.
A while later they finally reached the Opera Populaire. Christine got off the horse and stared at Erik when she realized he was not getting off. "Go ahead in…I just have some business to attend to. I'll be back shortly." When Erik saw that Christine got in safely, he kicked the horse again sending it off running.
He slowly slowed down (if that makes sense) to a walk, and rode through town. He looked around looking for a hotel. When he came to one, he got off the horse and went to the door. He asked the inn keeper a question and she shook her head.
It was like this more a few more inns until this time. He knocked on the door, "may I help you monsieur." The innkeeper asked. "Yes…I am looking for a Madame Giry and her daughter Meg Giry." Erik said. "Oh. They just left, although they did give me their address." The innkeeper gave Erik a piece of paper. "There you go monsieur." Erik nodded. "Thank you." Erik got on the horse and headed off to the address.
He finally arrived in front of a small cottage. "Must be temporary." He said to himself. He tied up Mary Lou and walked up to the door and knocked. The door opened slowly and there stood Mme. Giry. "Erik?" she asked in surprise. "Hello Mme. Giry." Mme. Giry stared at him in surprise. "Oh…my, I must say it is a surprise to see you here. Please come in." Mme. Giry moved aside to let Erik pass. "Cozy little home you've got here." Erik said looking around. "Yes...very comforting. The Opera Populaire was home…but this is very splendid." Mme. Giry led Erik to a small room with a couch, a few chairs and a small little table. "Please sit." Erik took a seat on the couch. "How did you find this place?" Mme. Giry asked. "An innkeeper told me." Mme. Giry nodded. "Oh yes. We stayed there for a long while. We just found this cottage. It is very nice." Erik nodded, admiring it. "Indeed."
"Did you want something Erik?" Mme. Giry asked. "Oh yes." He folded his hands and placed them in his lap. "I need to ask a favor of you." He explained. "Of course anything." Mme. Giry would do anything for Erik, her life long friend; he cared for her family for so long. He took a deep breath then said. "I need your approval." Mme. Giry stared at Erik, as if trying to read his mind. She gazed into his eyes and they said it all. "Oh Erik." She placed her hand on His. "Of course I approve. I want Christine to be happy; I want you to be happy." Erik's eyes glistened and a smile spread across his face. He got up and so did Mme. Giry, he hugged her. "Oh thank you. I needed to ask you. Since both her parents are dead, and you were always her mother like figure, I felt I needed to come to you." Mme. Giry laughed. "I just hope she agrees. Do you have a ring?" Erik nodded and pulled THE ring. (A/n yes the ring. You know the one Raoul gives to Christine then Erik steals from Christine, then Erik gives to Christine, then Christine gives it back to him. Damn that's confusing) "oh splendid." Mme. Giry sounded like a little teenage girl. "I am so happy for you two." She hugged Erik once more. "I best be going. Christine is waiting for me. I told her I would return shortly." Mme. Giry nodded. "Alright, you must tell me what her answer is." Erik nodded and smiled at his friend. "Thank you again." Mme. Giry nodded and let Erik go.
Soon Erik returned nervous as ever. He was going to ask her the question in just a few minutes. He was never so nervous in his life; he didn't even know what nervousness was until now. He walked down to his lair. "Erik. You have returned." Christine came up to him and threw her arms around his neck. When he didn't respond she let go and looked at him worryingly. "Erik…are you alright." Erik took a deep breath, and then took Christine's hand in his. "Christine…" He looked around; here was not the right place to do it. They were standing on the shore of the lake. He led her over to the bed, the swan bed and told her to sit down. "Christine." He repeated. "Ever since the day, I heard you sing. I have loved you; the feeling inside me would not disappear, no matter how hard I tried. I felt nauseous and light headed. Soon I could not bear keep it inside of me. That's when I started to sing to you, started telling you that I was your Angel. Soon it got overwhelmed and I had to let you meet me. That's when I took you to my lair and sang, "Music of the night" and them the whole Phantom of the Opera thing happened. Now reason to recall that. The point Christine is…I love you with all my heart and soul..." He gulped. He was starting to sweat; his palms were all sticky and wet. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring holding it out to Christine. "Christine…Will you marry me?"
P.T.O
Ha ha! I am so evil! Yes I am! I am leaving you at a cliff hanger! Muh ha ha!
Anyway…what will Christine say? Hmmm? Please Review! And ill update faster!