A/N: As always, a Super-Special thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir.
After all the action and angst in the last 11 episodes/chapters, I decided to write a fluffy/comedic episode (with just a little bit of angst thrown in). I apologize ahead of time… but it just had to be done
Erik: the Vampire Hunter
Episode 12: Giry Family Christmas Special
By: Elektra
Dean Giry's office
"Why was our resident ghost haunting the auditorium?" Dean Giry demanded as she stared up at Erik as he slid down from the air-ducts. "I do not recall giving him permission to crash our rehearsals, nor do I appreciate it."
Erik walked to the wall and leaned casually against it, arms crossed. "And your resident ghost does not appreciate watching perverted college boys groping his friends,"
Giry raised an eyebrow, "Friend. Funny how you still use that word to describe her, when it was obvious your anger was far more then friendly concern." Erik was silent, knowing there was no point in denying it. Giry spoke again. "I went to see Madeline the other day."
Erik noticeably stiffened. "Are you snooping into my business, Antoinette?"
"Oh please, Erik. She has never been your business … but she should be." Giry was silent a moment, then continued, "Don't you even want to speak to her?"
"She was a drugged-up whore when I was child, and she still was when they locked her up. That is all I need to know about Madeline Renau. The woman didn't even have the decency to give me a proper last name!" he responded coldly.
Giry sighed, "All this bitterness cannot be healthy for you Erik. Your mother-"
"Her name is Madeline. Do not refer to her as my mother!" he hissed.
Giry closed her eyes a moment, then opened them again. "Your mother made mention that she would like your company,"
"Do not lie to me, Antoinette. That woman has never liked my company."
"Considering the time of year, perhaps you would be willing to forgive. If only for one night?"
Erik glanced at the calendar on Giry's wall and saw the date – December 23rd. He had been aware that dreadful day was looming, but he had not realized it was so close now, "It has not mattered to her in thirty years, Antoinette. Why would it matter now?" he replied.
Before Giry could say another word, Erik jumped back up into the air-ducts and disappeared.
Starbucks Coffee
"Christine, I'm so glad you agreed to meet me here today," Raoul De Chagny began as he sat across from the lovely girl currently stirring her white chocolate mocha, "It means a lot to me," he said, then took deep breath and gathered his nerve. "I know I didn't handle things very well the other week, but if you would give me a chance to-"
"Raoul," Christine interrupted before he could say more. "I'm not going to move in or marry you. Not now. Maybe not ever. I don't know. I just… I need time," she pleaded. His face fell. "Listen, I care about you. I really do, but…" she bit her lip nervously. "There are other things I want to do first before I even THINK about marriage, ok?"
"I completely understand about your career," Raoul said as he reached across the table and grasped Christine's hand. "And I can hire you the best vocal instructor in the city. In the country even!"
"I already HAVE the best vocal instructor in the country,"
Raoul frowned, "No, Christine. You don't. You have perhaps the freakiest one, but certainly not the best."
"RAOUL!" Christine yanked her hand from his. "Don't start that again!"
"Fine! Fine…" Raoul replied. "I don't know what he's done to inspire such loyalty, but whatever. If you insist on keeping him as your teacher, then have the lessons at my place. I would love to sit in and-"
"And… what, Raoul? Spy on us? Make sure he doesn't try anything?" she frowned. "I can't learn like that. I need to be alone with him in order to succeed. If you're there…" she shook her head. "I just won't be comfortable,"
Raoul was stung. "You're not comfortable around me?" he asked.
"No! That's not what I meant! It's just-" she stopped.
How to explain it without offending him?
The truth of the matter was that when she was in the midst of a lesson with Erik, she could reveal her very soul through her voice. She would call on her emotions, her heart, her past experiences, to get a message across in song. Such things helped her understand the story being told. It went beyond simply acting the part. It gave her something to call upon when she was expected to perform onstage. No one knew this but her and Erik. He made her feel so very comfortable that she often found herself spilling out her innermost secrets through her singing. And yet… when all was said and done, she had never once felt embarrassed about it.
If Raoul were watching her lessons, however, then he would know Christine was not merely acting when she was onstage. He would know there was a part of her she was keeping secret. Christine would feel the need to hide from him. Hide her sadness. Hide her loneliness. Hide whatever made her less-than-perfect in his eyes. If she didn't, Raoul would question her emotions, coddle her like a child, or grow jealous if she released more passion in a duet with Erik than she ever had when she was alone with Raoul. He would not understand. He would, no doubt, accuse her of denying him once again.
No. That just could not happen.
"Forget it, Raoul," Christine finally spoke, not even bother trying to explain. "My lessons remain as they are. Private. That's it. I'm sorry." She met his eyes, then reached out and took his hand. "It's nothing against you, I swear. And I would love it if we still remained friends."
"Friends?" Raoul winced. Not the let's be friends speech!
Raoul then remembered he had given Christine that same speech back in high school. Perhaps he deserved it coming back at him.
"Of course!" Christine offered Raoul a sweet smile. "And I'll start by asking if you're doing anything for Christmas."
"You want to spend Christmas with me?" he asked, reassured once more.
"Well, with you… and the Girys!" she explained. "They're having a family dinner and asked me to join them. Meg wanted to know if you'd be interested, so…" she shrugged. "Would you like to come?"
"I would love to," Raoul replied, then lifted Christine's hand and placed a kiss atop it. "Just tell me when and where!"
Arts building – later that night
Christine and Erik were taking a break from their lessons when Christine's eyes traveled to the window. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of colourful lights reflecting off the whiteness of the snow. Ravelle College had been decorated for the season, though most of the students were home with their families.
Neither Christine nor Erik, however, had family to go home to.
"I've always loved Christmas," the little dancer began wistfully. "When I was a kid, my father would take me ice skating. And we'd always get a picture with Santa at every department store we went to. Christmas Eve was the one night he refused all job offers to entertain at restaurants," she turned around to look at Erik, the sweet smile still on her face. "He used to play violin, you know," she said. "And I'd join him some nights and sing accompaniment - when it didn't interfere with school, of course."
"How nice for you," Erik replied dryly, then brought his attention back to the music sheets he was arranging as he sat at the piano.
"Can you sing for me Erik?" she asked hopefully. "I'd love to hear Holy Night sung by a real angel," she winked.
He let out a harsh laugh. "I am not an angel, nor am I interested in anything holy. In fact, I am quite possibly, the unholiest creature you will ever meet. I am sure such a song would sound like the devil himself was singing from my lips."
Christine scooted onto the piano bench beside him. "You're not some unholy creature, Erik. You're just a man," she looked up at him. "And anything you sing sounds like heaven,"
"If you say so, Christine…" he answered.
"OH!" Christine suddenly remembered something. "Meg invited me over for Christmas dinner tomorrow! Want to come? She said I could invite anyone I wanted to. Please come, Erik! Pretty please?"
Erik glanced down at her. Her face was filled with all the eager excitement of a little child as she looked up at him, her lovely blue eyes wide and hopeful. Had anyone else asked, he would have easily said no, and told them to go to a very un-Christmas-y place, but this was Christine.
"Yes…" he said before he could stop himself. He was quickly finding that he could deny her nothing.
The excited girl clapped her hands, releasing a high-pitched squeal that Erik thought was only reserved for calling dogs.
What on Earth had he just agreed to?
Giry household – the next night
Erik could not take his eyes off the man who stood before him in the doorway to the Giry Residence. Handsome, golden-tanned, blond haired Raoul De Chagny. "Christine…" Erik began dangerously. "Why did you not tell me HE would be here?"
Christine looked innocent. "Oh, I didn't think it would matter." She bit her lip nervously. She did know it would matter. But since it was Christmas, she was hoping Raoul and Erik would be civil.
"Ooohhh… who do we have here!" a loud crackling voice started from the dining room. An elderly lady, who seemed more than a little tipsy, came into the hallway with a full glass of eggnog. She smiled as she saw the two men staring each other down in the front hallway. Neither had removed their coats yet, having entered at the same time, "Mmmm, young men!"
"Grandma," Meg started as she quickly came out of the dinning room with Richard Firmin Jr. "This is Raoul De Chagny, and Erik-" she stopped as she looked up at the masked man, "I don't know your last name!" She said as if she just realized it.
"I don't have one," he muttered.
Meg furrowed her brow, then shrugged. "Um… ok… well… just ERIK then," she said to Grandma, then turned back to her guests. "Here, let me take your coats,"
Raoul practically tossed his coat at the little ballet dancer. Erik, on the other hand, seemed hesitant to remove his duster. His stakes and his rope were in there, after all. Meg stood patiently, waiting. Erik reluctantly handed it to her, "Hey, this is heavy! What do you keep in here?"
Meg reached for the pocket, but Erik quickly grasped her wrist. "Nothing that is your business, Little Giry," he answered. Meg nodded nervously and ceased her search.
The elder Giry, who had entered the foyer with Firmin, didn't seem overly upset about Erik's rudeness towards her daughter. She knew very well what Erik kept in the pockets of his duster, and she would rather Meg never found out.
Giry Family Residence – Dinner time
Everyone had settled into light chit-chat in the living room – all except Erik, who was lurking in a dark corner watching everything before him – when the hostess of the night finally spoke. "After dinner, I shall lead you all to your rooms. The three boys will room in the den together, Meg and Christine will share Meg's room, and Grandmother will have the spare bedroom." No one dared ask where Firmin would be staying, as it was obvious he would room with Giry for the night.
"I would rather sleep on the living room couch, Antoinette," Erik muttered.
"Yes, Antoinette, give him the couch!" Raoul frowned as he glared at Erik, completely aghast at the prospect of sharing a room with the masked man.
Giry raised an eyebrow, "I prefer Madame Giry please, Mr. De Chagny!"
Raoul furrowed his brow. "But Erik just called you-"
"Never mind what Erik called me. YOU will call me Madame Giry. Is that understood?"
Raoul opened his mouth, then closed it again, humbly schooled as Giry led everyone to the dinning area.
When dinner was finally on the table, Erik picked up his fork. A nudge from Christine stopped him before he could eat. She nodded to her clasped hands. Erik seemed confused for a moment, then shrugged and mirrored her gesture.
Giry spoke quietly, eyes closed. "Bless us o Lord and these thy gifts which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord, amen."
Erik squirmed at the words she spoke. Your so-called Lord had never blessed ME, let alone my food. He thought. These words meant nothing to him. Why must he be a party to them? He was quite grateful when Giry finished and they were finally able to eat.
RJ leaned over to Meg as he dug into his turkey. He tried to keep his voice quiet, but Erik's keen ears could pick up his words. "Why does he wear a mask?" He glanced subtly at Erik. "Isn't that kind of… weird?"
Firmin, who was sitting beside his son, heard the question and paled. "Now now, RJ… that is a personal matter," he offered quickly. "It's rude to ask about such things."
"Seriously, dad!" RJ insisted, then looked over to Erik. "Were you in an accident or something?"
"No… but I cause accidents," Erik replied coldly. He raised his golden eyes to the chandelier that hung over the Giry dining table.
How very tempting it was right now…
"Erik?" Christine's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes, Christine?" he glanced at the girl beside him, noticing she had finished her meal. He looked down at his own plate, and remembered it was empty as well. Meg quickly set about cleaning up the dishes with her mother.
"Can you sing for us?" Christine asked hopefully.
Erik was about to refuse… until Raoul piped up, "Oh yes, sing for us, Erik! Since you're so good at giving Christine lessons and all!" His voice was taunting.
"Are you challenging me, De Chagny?" he asked. Raoul looked smug. Erik smirked. "Perhaps we should both sing then!"
"NO, Erik!" Christine protested, and one look at her face made it clear to Erik that hearing Raoul sing would be cruel and unusual punishment for all involved.
Erik sighed with resignation, then glanced at Christine, looking less then happy that she put him on the spot. "Any requests? It seems I cannot get out of this now,"
She smiled, "Do you know Angel by Sarah McLachlan?"
"Of course…" he muttered, then stood up and headed over to the piano on the far side of the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing to gather around, interested in what they'd hear.
Erik raised his hands, and began to play. The moment he parted his lips, a most beautiful sound began to spill out. "Spend all your time waiting - For that second chance - For a break that would make it okay. There's always some reason - To feel not good enough - And it's hard at the end of the day - I need some distraction - Oh beautiful release - memories seep from my veins …"
Christine watched Erik as he sang, his eyes closed, his body swaying gracefully, his fingers brushing deftly over the keys. She felt her chest tighten as she realized these lyrics were, perhaps, hitting Erik far too close to home. The emotion in his voice was almost overwhelming. Christine couldn't help but put a hand to her mouth to stifle a sob.
Erik opened his eyes to glance up at the girl, his fingers never losing pace. She suddenly lowered herself on the bench beside him, her eyes never leaving him as he continued. He had to force himself to look away from those beautiful blue eyes, wishing that they didn't send his pulse racing. "Let me be empty - And weightless and maybe - I'll find some peace tonight…" he begged in his song. "In the arms of an angel - Fly away from here…"
Pareau Women's Prison
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an angel.
May you find some comfort there
Madeline Renau looked down at the paper in her hand.
A birth certificate.
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
Mother's name:
Madeline Renau
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lie
That you make up for all that you lack
Father's name:
What did it matter? It wasn't even a real name.
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
Child's name:
Erik
She hadn't even given him her last name.
It's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
This glorious sadness that brings me to my knees
Date of Birth: December 25th
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
Madeline glanced at the calendar on the wall of her cell.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow was her son's 31st birthday…
Giry Family Residence
"You're in the arms of the angel. May you find some comfort here…" Erik finished the last line of the song, and took a deep breath. Everyone was stunned into silence even, Erik noticed with some pride, that ever-annoying De Chagny boy.
"WHO WANTS MORE EGGNOG?" A loud slurred voice broke the moment. Everyone turned to see Grandma Giry chugging the eggnog straight from the carton.
The group began muttering to one another as they parted from the piano, grabbing cookies and cakes from the dessert table.
Erik stood up and stretched his long frame out. He walked a few feet, quite aware of Christine's presence behind him. He turned to her. "Yes, Christine?" He asked, then followed her eyes as she glanced up at the green leaves hanging above his head. "What, exactly, is that?" he asked, "I have seen it spread throughout the house,"
Christine looked at Erik. "Mistletoe," she said, surprised that he didn't know. How could he NOT know? Unless - "There's a tradition…" she began nervously. "Um - close your eyes?" She could see the suspicion in his golden depths. "Please close your eyes?" she insisted. He took one last glance at her, then did so. "Can you… uh… lean down a little?" she asked.
"What are you plotting, Christine?" he asked, his eyes opening slightly.
"Trust me, Erik. Just close your eyes, and lean down a bit more,"
"Very well," he muttered. His eyes shut, and he lowered his head a few inches.
Christine stood on her tiptoes and placed a hand on his shoulder for support, the other brushing his ebony locks off the left side of his mask. She slowly tilted her head up and pressed her lips against the black leather. Erik's eyes suddenly flew open, his head shooting up in surprise, inadvertently causing Christine's soft mouth to slide down to the uncovered part of his jaw.
"Oh!" Christine gasped, quickly pulling back, "I - I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" she blushed at the intense look Erik was giving her. She carefully lifted her hand to wipe away the lipstick mark she had left on his pale skin, her fingers lingering longer then necessary, "That… that wasn't my intention," she whispered softly, unable to turn away from him.
"Oooh, you missed the boy's lovely mouth!" Grandma Giry slurred as she reached out and pinched Erik's backside, causing the usually graceful man to stumble back at least two feet. "Here! Let me show you!"
"NO!" Erik's eyes went wide as he immediately removed himself from the vicinity of the mistletoe. "No more! Don't TOUCH me. Don't KISS me. Don't do ANYTHING to me!" he hissed angrily, then quickly headed to the back of the room, checking above for any green leaves before leaning against the wall.
Erik took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of his heart as his fingers gently brushed over his jaw. He closed his eyes, still feeling the warmth of Christine's lips.
A kiss on the cheek!
It was the most affection anyone had ever shown him, even if it was only done in honour of tradition.
"My turn!" Erik saw Raoul come up behind Christine, grasping the girl around the waist as he turned her to face him. The boy smiled playfully, glanced up at the mistletoe, then brought his mouth down full onto hers, catching the girl off-guard in a long lingering kiss.
Erik was suddenly behind him, the masked man's long strong fingers tangled in the boy's hair as he roughly yanked Raoul away from a very flushed – though not altogether unhappy - Christine.
"I don't recall Christine INVITING you to kiss her like that!" Erik growled dangerously into the other man's ear, tightening his grip on Raoul's lovely golden locks.
"I'll invite him to kiss me like that!" said a very drunk Grandma Giry, standing where Christine had just been moments ago - beneath the mistletoe. Erik's eyes focused first on Grandma, then returned back to Raoul, the amber pools suddenly glittering with mischief.
Before Raoul could figure out what Erik was planning, the young De Chagny found himself shoved towards Grandma Giry's waiting arms… and lips.
The masked man was quite certain that no other male on Earth could have shrieked as high as Raoul De Chagny had while in the midst of Grandma's passionate, and very wet, kiss.
Raoul finally broke free from Grandma Giry… and attempted to keep his eggnog down as he desperately raced to the washroom.
Giry Family Residence – 4am
Christine wandered the halls of the Giry residence aimlessly. She couldn't sleep, being far too excited about Christmas morning and the presents that had caught her eye earlier. She passed the living room, and was drawn in by the colourful lights that graced the Christmas tree. It left such a pretty glow along the walls in the darkness.
Christine came around the couch, and felt something hit her thigh. She gasped, and looked to see two legs and socked feet hanging over the arm of the couch. The blankets, which at first seemed to be thrown haphazardly over the couch, stirred slightly now, a low groan emanating from beneath them.
The girl's eyes went wide as a disheveled Erik tossed the blankets off and sat up, blinking at the sight before him as he brushed his messy hair back from his mask,
"Christine?" he muttered lazily, then swung his feet to the floor. "What are you doing up so late?"
"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" she asked as she sat beside him. "I thought Dean Giry had a nice air mattress and sleeping bag for you in the den?"
"Yes… along with a loudly snoring De Chagny, and a perverted RJ - who doesn't know enough NOT to talk in his sleep when dreaming of Little Giry."
Christine smiled at that, then patted him on the leg. "But you're way too tall for the couch, poor thing," she said. Erik simply shrugged his shoulders which, Christine noticed, were bare… along with the rest of his upper body, allowing the decorative lights to reflect off his smooth pale skin, making the man seem truly angelic as he sat before her. She looked away and focused her attention on the tree. "It's so pretty, isn't it?" she asked.
"Beautiful," Erik replied, but it wasn't the tree he was looking at. Christine turned to him, and he quickly averted his eyes. He slid down to the floor and rested his back against the couch. "This was a rather interesting night…" he said as he now focused on the colourful boxes on the floor in front of him. "It was certainly an experience I will never forget… nor repeat."
Christine furrowed her brow. "Didn't you enjoy it?" she asked as she joined him on the ground.
Erik sighed. "Of everything that happened tonight, I'm most enjoying just sitting here with you," he replied. "Let's face it, Christine, I am not made for socializing. I feel uncomfortable, and incredibly out of place. I suppose I have just been solitary for too long,"
"But didn't your family ever have Christmas dinners?" Christine asked.
Erik let out a cold chuckle. "Madeline did. But I was never invited. I spent my time locked away in my room, told not to show my face – or mask – downstairs,"
Christine was confused for a moment. "Who's Madeline?" she asked gently.
"The woman whose body spit me out thirty years ago," Erik stopped, glanced up at the clock above the fireplace, then continued, "Thirty-one years ago now, I suppose. It's after midnight."
Christine's eyes went wide. "Today is your birthday!"
Erik shrugged, "Apparently. I was given life at 12:07am on December 25th. Or so my birth certificate claims. I would never know from the way Madeline did her best to ignore it."
Erik suddenly froze as he felt Christine's silky head resting against his bare shoulder, her fingers entwining with his.
"Happy Birthday, Erik," Christine said as she tilted her head up ever so slightly, her lips only inches from his.
Erik's breath caught. Surely she didn't intend-
"Is there a party I don't know about?" Grandma Giry's voice blared as she stumbled into the living room.
Christine quickly jumped away from Erik, her face flushed as she realized what she had almost done. What on earth had possessed her? For a moment, looking into his golden eyes as he sat beside her, she had found herself wanting to-
"Grandmother Giry," came Madame Giry's sleep-filled voice. "All I have heard is you shuffling around for the last ten minutes,"
"Look, Ant! There are people in here!" Grandma pointed out excitedly.
Christine quickly stumbled to her feet. Erik, on the other hand, took his time, rising with nothing less then complete grace and poise - as per usual. "Antoinette, Madame," he nodded at both ladies in turn. "I hope we didn't wake you,"
Giry shook her head. "No, it wasn't you, Erik," she turned to the older lady beside her, lips pursued in annoyance. "Go back to bed, Grandmother!"
Grandmother Giry seemed rather entranced, however, ignoring Giry as she stared at Erik, a strange smile on her face. "Can I take the sexy masked man with!" she slurred.
After all these hours, the woman is still inebriated? Erik thought.
Despite Erik's lack of female contact, he certainly did not want to have anything to do with Grandmother Giry.
A deliciously evil idea came to him.
"The blonde De Chagny boy was looking for you earlier, Ma'am," Erik said to the old woman. "He wishes you to show him how to kiss a lady properly again. He would like to practice for future reference,"
"OH!" Grandmother Giry clapped her hands together happily, then shuffled off into the hallway.
"Erik! You're terrible!" Christine gasped, appalled that he would lie so overtly to a drunken old woman.
Erik lifted a hand. "Hush now," he spoke quickly, "Wait for it…" And then, they heard it. The high-pitched shriek of terror. The complete and utter horror of a handsome young man's worst nightmare. Raoul's scream was soon muffled as Grandma Giry proceeded to teach the young De Chagny all he could ever want to know about locking lips with a woman.
Erik's laughter started off as a deep quiet chuckle, then grew louder and more frightening as it began to crescendo, filling the room with its evil presence, and causing Erik to stumble back against the wall with the sheer force of his malicious glee.
Oh yes… this was certainly an experience he would never forget…
END OF EPISODE 12