Disclaimer: Erik, Christine and Co are all property of Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber etc. I own the plot.

Chapter Ten: Wedding Bells

Christine opened her eyes blearily. She snuggled down in the blankets, not wanting to get up yet. There was something special about today, she was sure of it. She had just begun thinking about what it could be when her door burst open. "Good morning Christine." Meg greeted chirpily. Christine sat up with a groan as Meg opened the curtains wide. "What do you want Meg?" She complained as she tried to flatten her bed hair. "You're getting married today Christine. You have to get up already." The memory came flashing back and made Christine leap out of bed. "What time is it?" She asked in a panic. Meg smiled.

"Don't panic, it's seven in the morning. Now get in the bath."

Three hours later Christine was clean; her hair was dry and pulled back into an elegant twist that let a few curls fall loose and her make-up was finished. She was wearing the wedding dress that Erik had given her. Madame Giry had had it fixed and cleaned so it looked as good as new. Meg came up behind Christine and placed a necklace (given to Christine by her father) around her neck. "Something old." She murmured. She looked at Christine's engagement ring. "Something new." She gave Christine her own bracelet. "Something borrowed." She searched around and eventually found Christine's favourite sapphire ring. "Something blue."

Meg stood back to admire the work that she and Estelle (the opera's make-up artist) had completed. "Look in the mirror Christine." The bride turned around and gasped at her new look. "Oh Meg, Estelle! How can I ever repay you?"

"There is no need Christine. You are like a sister to me. Just have a good time and take care of him and yourself." Christine smiled widely as Meg handed her the (1) bouquet of white roses with a single pink one in the centre. "It is nearly time." Meg squealed, getting excited. "I will go get ready."

Some time later…

Erik paced nervously around Nadir Kahn's living room. This was quickly wearing down Nadir's temper even though the persian was usually a quiet, patient man. "Erik! Do calm down. Christine will be very upset if you appear at the Opera House looking like that."

"Like what?" Growled Erik.

"Like a bloody cat that is about to be thrown into deep water." Erik ignored Nadir's comment. "Come on, we have go to the opera." Erik blanched as Nadir pulled him into the coach.

Christine stood outside the doors leading into the main theatre. In all the romance novels she had read, the bride-to-be always felt excited, happy, in love before walking down the aisle. Christine felt these things, but she also felt the overwhelming fear that some thing would go wrong. Madame Giry kissed Christine's cheek. "You will be fine my dear. Don't tell anyone I told you but I met Nadir this morning and he told me that Erik is just as nervous as you."

"He is?" Christine could not imagine Erik being afraid of anything.

"I've never known him to be this nervous before. But it is just nerves. I promise that the minute you see each other you will feel much better." The two smiled as Meg got into her place. "Good luck, Christine Daaé." She said with a grin. The wedding march, played by Monsieur Reyer began.

Erik and Nadir stood at the end of the aisle (there was a ramp up to the middle of the stage), watching the others enter. Erik had been incredibly shocked to find everyone in the opera house attending. First, the bridesmaids (wearing simple, elegant pink gowns) and the groomsmen entered. The two bridesmaids were Christine's friends from the corps de ballet, Sorelli Dubois and Juliet Durand. The groomsmen were Erik's friend, Jules Bernard and his eldest son Laurent. Next came Meg, the Maid of Honour and Luc de Blanc. Little Jammes, the flower girl walked down the aisle with a smile as she scattered pink and white rose petals on the floor.

By this time Erik was losing his patience, he needed to see Christine. Then, there she was. A collective gasp announced the arrival of the young and beautiful bride. She locked eyes with Erik and the world around the two of them seemed to melt away. She walked up the aisle with Monsieur André, who had readily agreed to give her away. Erik smiled at her as the procession ended. The priest gave a long introduction to the wedding and André sat down with Firmin when he had said his part. The priest began the vows. "Do you Erik Charles Destler take Christine Laurette Daaé to be your wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." Said Erik, now full of confidence.

"Do you Christine Laurette Daaé take Erik Charles Destler to be your husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?"

"I d-"

"NO, STOP! CHRISTINE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!" Christine whirled around and stepped forward to face the man who had yelled when the sound of a gun going off pierced the air. Time seemed to slow down for a minute, until Christine fell limply backwards into Erik and Nadir who were behind her. Several women screamed. Then another gun went off. Everyone looked up in shock at Meg Giry who had shot the Vicomte (hidden in one of the empty boxes) with the gun the she had hidden in her bouquet. The man fell out of the box and landed with a 'crack' on the floor below, with his gun in his hand.

"SOMEONE FETCH A DOCTER!" Nadir yelled as Erik knelt with Christine's head in his lap. She gazed up at him, totally unaware of the blood staining the front of her dress. "Erik." She whispered. Holding his hand weakly. "I love you."

"I love you too." He choked out as tears ran down his face.

"I want to sleep." She murmured. It was Nadir who responded this time.

"You must stay awake." He said, as forcefully as he could. "If you sleep now you might never wake up." The persian knelt by Christine's side and cut her dress away from her stomach so he could see the bullet wound. It was just below her belly button and obviously deep. Nadir was holding a piece of his shirt with pressure to the wound to slow the bleeding. Doctor Lloyd ran in and immediately took command.

"Is there a private room nearby?" He asked those closest to him.

"My room is close." Volunteered Sorelli who looked incredibly shaken. "We could go there." The doctor ordered two of the stagehands to bring a stretcher quickly and take her to La Sorelli's dressing room. Erik stayed by Christine's side all this time, holding her hand and keeping her awake by talking about the honeymoon they would go on and other trivial things. When they got to Sorelli's dressing room Christine was laid on the sofa and everyone was sent out. Of course, it took Nadir and Madame Giry together to pull Erik outside. The three sat nearby to wait. Wondering if Christine would escape with her life.

TBC…

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A/N (1) White roses mean innocence and purity and a pink rose mean sweet thoughts.

I decided to have the wedding on the stage of the Opera Populaire as I thought it would suit the plot more.