Disclaimer: Erik, Christine and Co are all property of Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber etc. I own the plot.
Chapter Six: Musings
Antoinette Giry sat on the comfortable sofa in her living room, sewing. She had learnt how to sew at a young age and she quite enjoying doing it. She found it was a peaceful art and required her sole attention. She worked swiftly with the needle. Her stitches paused for a moment when Erik came in. He wordlessly sat in the armchair and flashed a rare smile. She smiled back and realised that nearly every time she had seen the man since he returned mysteriously with Christine, he had smiled. Whereas before then, he had never smiled except perhaps when he was composing.
She watched him for a moment, studying the changes in him as he started scribbling in the little black notebook she had bought him. He was much more relaxed now, his features were still tense but it had eased slightly, now and then a smile would flit across his masked face as he wrote a particularly interesting piece of music. The woman sighed and went back to her needlework, quickly finishing the last few stitches for the patch on Meg's dress. She put the item and sewing kit aside and leaned back to watch the fire. Tiredly she thought back to the previous week's events.
---Flashback---
Antoinette had not slept very well so, predictably, she had fallen asleep on the sofa. All was silent in the house except for Meg, who was twirling around, practising her routine. The silence was disturbed by a knock at the door. Poor, unsuspecting Meg ran to open it so that her mother would not be disturbed. When she came face-to-face with Erik, her jaw dropped at the smile on his face. She gathered her manners and greeted him. "Bonjour, Monsieur. Would you like to come in?" He nodded and stepped inside. After shutting the door, Meg dared to look up into his masked face. He surprised her when he spoke, in his beautiful, deep voice. "Please Mademoiselle, call me Erik. You mother would surely approve of us becoming friends." He glanced unsurely at the shut door before following her into the living room, where Madame Giry sat asleep on the sofa. "As you wish, Erik." Meg whispered. "But you must also call me Meg too."
Antoinette had been very surprised to be awoken by a gloved hand, shaking her shoulder in an almost timid way. She had greeted Erik with a smile. "So you have come back. Perhaps now, you will tell me your secret reason for leaving?"
"Yes Madame. The secret is, in fact my guest. May I go fetch the aforementioned person?" At her nod, he stood and walked through to the hallway and opened the front door. The two women waited in silence as he led his lover inside. When they came into the room, Meg jumped up with a cry and wrapped Christine up in a big hug, whilst Madame Giry looked unsurely at Christine. As the girls separated, Madame Giry looked the young soprano in the eyes. "You chose Erik?" She asked, seriously. The girl nodded, after a moment of silence Antoinette smiled and gave Christine a hug. "Welcome home, child." She whispered in the girl's ear.
---End Flashback---
Antoinette awoke with a start. Christine had, at some point entered the room and perched on Erik's lap whilst the older woman was asleep. They were whispering together in a great excitement. "Madame Giry?" The older woman looked at Christine; her stormy grey eyes were calm and warm for once. "Christine, please call me Antoinette. What is the trouble dear?"
"It is not a problem, Antoinette. It is more of a request."
"Go on." Madame Giry urged.
"Erik has asked for my hand in marriage." She proudly showed the ring. "I accepted. However, we both feel that as you are the closest thing to a mother that either of us has had. We would like to ask for your blessing." Antoinette's face lit up. "Of course. I have never seen such love. I give you both my unconditional blessing and the best of luck. I do expect an invitation to the wedding though." The young couple consented happily.
TBC…
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