5. As Long As there's Christmas

Two long weeks of rehearsals had passed and Erik and Meg were asleep in the lair. Madame Giry made her way down to the lair as it was Christmas morning. She reached the lair and went into the bedroom. Erik and Meg were snuggled into each other. Erik's head was nestled at Meg's neck and her hand was resting lightly on the covers, holding them up to cover her nudity. Madam Giry woke Meg up, but not Erik.

"What is it, mother?" she asked. But Madam Giry put her finger to her lips and told Meg to follow her. Meg got up and pulled on her robe. She followed Madam Giry out to the living room.

"Merry Christmas," Madam Giry said to her daughter. Meg looked astounded as decorations and a Christmas tree covered the lair.

"Mother, you did this?" Meg asked. Madam Giry nodded.

"Me and a few ballet girls came down last night and did this for you two. We know Erik has never experienced a proper Christmas with a family so we are helping him," she told her daughter. Meg hugged her mother.

"Here are your presents, one for Erik and one for you from me. I will see you at the performance tonight," she said, kissed her daughter and left their home. She ran back to the bedroom and saw Erik still fast asleep. She went over to the bed and took off her robe. She lifted the covers and covered his naked body with her own. She felt him shift under the sudden warmth of her body on top of his. She kissed his neck and played with the little tuft of hair that was on his chest.

"Good morning Meg," Erik said, with his eyes still closed.

"Merry Christmas Erik," she said, kissing his chest. He opened his eyes and looked down at Meg.

"So tomorrow, we are getting married?" Erik asked. Meg nodded.

"Yes my love. Upon the stage of the Opera with everyone who works here watching," she told him. He smiled and kissed her.

"Come, let's open some presents," she said and got off of him. She pulled her robe back on and Erik pulled on a pair of clean pants.

"Oh Erik, close your eyes," Meg said suddenly. Erik raised his eyebrows at her.

"Why?" he asked. Meg smiled.

"Just do as I say," she said and he obeyed. She took his hands and led him out of the bedroom to the living area. She then stood him still and went behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"You can look now," she said. Erik opened his eyes and got the shock of his life when he saw his home. He smiled. He turned to Meg.

"You did this?" he asked her. She looked around at all the decorations.

"No, mother and a few of the ballet girls came down to do this for us. Now let's open some presents," she said as they sat beside the Christmas tree.

xxxxxx

Christmas Day went fast for the people of the Opera Populaire. They were now getting ready for the performance of Don Juan Triumphant. Meg was nervous as it was one of her first performances as a Prima Donna and not a dancer. Erik and Meg were changing in their joint dressing room. Erik sensed that Meg was nervous. He finished adjusting the tight pants and shirt he had to wear and he walked over to her. He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his.

"Meg, are you alright?" he asked, worried slightly.

"Erik, I wanted to tell you earlier but I forgot, so I might as well tell you now," she said. Erik was confused.

"Tell me what, my love?" he asked. Meg smiled at him.

"Erik, I am having your child," she said. Erik looked shocked. Then he smiled. He was about to say something back when there was a knock on the door.

"Erik, Meg, ten minutes to curtain up," Madam Giry's voice said through the door. Erik kissed Meg passionately.

"We'll talk after the show," he said, the smile never leaving his face. He got up and pulled off his white mask. He replaced it with the black one. He put on his jacket then helped Meg with her corset. He placed the rose in her blond locks and took her hand.

"Let's go," he said and they left the dressing room to go to the stage.

xxxxxx

Meg was nervous. She was just moments away from walking out onto the stage. Erik sang his last line and Meg knew it was time. She walked out of the wings:

"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy;

No dreams within her heart but dreams of love."

Meg sat down on the stage with her basket of roses. She took this chance to look around the audience. There were no police this time looking for Erik. She looked up at the manager's box, where she and Erik would usually sit but looked up to see the broad smile of her mother looking back at her. Then she looked at Box 5, and got the shock of her life. There, sitting in the box, was Raoul and Christine. They both smiled at her when she looked up but she pretended not to acknowledge them. Suddenly she heard Erik's heavenly voice fill the auditorium.

"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge;

In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent, silent;

I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge;

In you mind you've already succumbed to me,

Dropped all defences, completely succumbed to me;

Now you are here with me, no second thoughts,

You've decided, decided."

Meg watched Erik intently. He never took his eyes from her as he sang these words of passion that should never have been meant for Christine at all. He looked around the audience as the last word emerged from his lips. He was drawn to Box 5 where he saw the Vicomte and Vicomtess de Chagny sitting. He glared at them from behind the mask for a minute before carrying on his verse.

"Past the Point of no Return, no backward glances;

Our games of make-believe are at an end!

Past all thought of "if" or "when", no use resisting;

Abandon thought and let the dream descend;

What raging fire shall flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks its door?

What sweet seduction lies before us?

Past the Point of No Return, the final threshold;

What warm unspoken secrets will we learn beyond the Point of No Return?"

Erik had done everything to Meg that he had done towards Christine when they performed together, but with Meg, Erik put more passion into his caresses. Meg felt that every place Erik touched on her body was on fire. There was so much more passion between them compared to what there was with Christine and Erik. But this time, instead of walking away from Erik, she held his hands as she sang. They stared into each others eyes, a flicker of a smile on each of their faces:

"You have brought me to that moment where words run dry;

To that moment where speech disappears into silence, silence!

I have come here hardly knowing the reason why;

In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining;

Defenceless and silent!

Now I am here with you, no second thoughts;

I've decided, decided!"

This Opera, between Erik and Meg, was basically a declaration of love for each other before the married each other. Meg let go of Erik's hands and they both turned towards their separate staircases, eyes never leaving each others.

"Past the Point of No Return, no going back now;

Our passion play has now, at last, begun;

Past all thought of "right" or "wrong", one final question;

How ling should we two wait before we're one?

When will the blood begin to race?

The sleeping bud burst into bloom?

When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

They both arrived at the top of their staircases and smiled at each other. Erik threw off his cloak and Meg let the lacy straps of her corset fall further down. Erik's smile widened slightly as this happened. She was teasing him, right here on stage. He loved it and Meg could tell.

"Past the Point of No Return, the final threshold;

The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn;

We've passed the Point of No Return!"

From Box 5, Christine had to admit that they were made for each other but that didn't stop her from hating both of them. She still wanted revenge on the hell that Erik had caused on her during the time of his obsession. She watched as he held and caressed Meg on stage.

Erik put his head on Meg's shoulder as he held her to his body. She smiled slightly as she felt Erik's hands slide over her abdomen.

"I love you Meg," he whispered into her ear and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She smiled and a tear trickled down her cheek. She had never, ever been in love before now.

"I love you too," she whispered. The Erik began to sing again.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime;

Lead me, save me from my solitude;

Say you want me, with you here, beside you;

Anywhere you go, let me go too;

Love me, that's all I ask of you!"

Meg began to cry slightly while he was in mid-song but then as he finished singing she pulled him to her and kissed him passionately on the lips. Then she heard the audience begin to applaud. But she continued to kiss him. When she broke away the audience were still applauding. They turned to the audience and took each other's hand. They bowed and descended the stairs to the wings. The rest of the cast came over to congratulate them on their success.

"Well done," Madam Giry said as she came down from the manager's box. "You two better get home. You are getting married in the morning. You need all the rest you can get." They nodded and Erik carried Meg, wedding style, down to the lair.

Hiya everyone! Sorry this chapter took so long to post! Was feeling unwell and also studying for tests and exams. I used Don Juan in this chapter, because I couldn't think of an opera to make up! But its more romantic with Erik and Meg and especially with Christine and Raoul watching. They are maing Christine jealous!

Erik and Meg's wedding in the next chapter with a bit of a dilemma! Tune in for that, love you all x x x x x x x x x x