Do you guys like the story? Because reviews def. seem quiet...btw, thanks for the review Glinda.
I Do Part Deux
"You're…what?" Erik asked in shock. He got up and paced the room in a nervous fashion.
"I'm pregnant, Erik." Christine said. She realized Erik wasn't happy about it. "Erik, we're going to have a baby together!"
Erik shook his head and walked past Christine. He raced to the bedroom and slammed the door. Christine stood in the same spot oblivious as to what was wrong with her husband.
After a few moments she decided to go after Erik to find out what was wrong. She walked in and saw him cradling himself in the corner. The sight of him broke her heart. "Erik, what's wrong?"
"I can't have children." He said.
"What…why do you say that?"
"If that baby…turns out like…" He sobbed.
Christine realized why he was upset, "This baby will be beautiful like you."
"If it were to be born deformed…you wouldn't be like my…"
"No! Don't you dare think that! No matter what I will love this baby." Christine said hugging him. "No matter what this baby will be beautiful to me."
He hugged her back and whispered, "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about Erik. Just get these silly thoughts out of your head."
Erik paused and smiled, "I'm going to be a father." After he said that he let out a gasp. Never in his life did he imagine the joys of fatherhood.
"You're going to be a great father, Erik."
"God, I can't believe it!" He said more excited this time. Erik jumped up and hugged Christine. Christine was relieved about his new attitude. It seemed he really wanted to be a father, but feared too much for the baby's appearance.
'No matter what…I will love this baby.' She told herself again and then joined Erik in his celebration.
September 3rd
Everyone gathered at Erik and Christine's new house for dinner. They told their guests that they had a surprise. Meg and Raoul also announced that they too had news.
Erik stood up after everyone was eating and smiled. He had a new glow about him that none of them has seen before. He looked down at Christine and she too stood up. "Christine and I have an announcement to make." Erik said and then paused for dramatic effect. Christine finished his statement by saying, "I'm pregnant."
Madame Giry nearly choked on her food and Meg shrieked in excitement. "Oh my God…Christine!" She yelled and was about to jump on her but remembered the baby. Instead Meg hugged her tightly and rocked back and forth.
"I'm so happy for you!" She said and then talked to Christine's stomach. "Hello little one. My name is Aunt Meg."
Christine laughed and then remembered Meg said she had a surprise too. "What do you two have in store?"
Meg smiled at Raoul and mouthed to him that he can tell everyone. "Well, Meg and I are engaged."
Madame Giry choked on her food for real this time. Nadir gasped and went over to her. He hit her stomach and the food she was choking on flew out of her mouth.
"Maman!" Meg and Christine both yelled.
"Are you ok?" Meg asked.
"Yes dear…I'm more than ok. Mon Dieu! You are to be married!"
"Yes." Meg said. She then felt arms around her. It was Christine who was crying.
"I'm so happy." Christine almost mimicked what Meg did before which made the blonde headed girl laugh.
"Thank you." Meg said. "I would like you to be my matron of honor."
"I'll be glad to!" Christine cried. The two girls continued to hug and cry with each other. They continued eating their dinner with new reasons to celebrate.
Nadir stood up for a toast, "Here's to Erik and Christine, and their new baby. And to Raoul and Meg who are engaged. May all of you be happy in your lives."
They all raised their glasses and drank from them.
They continued their meal and talked about how great the wedding will be, and how much fun it will be to have a new baby in their lives.
The Comtesse stayed by her husband's side throughout the night and day. He eventually got better and was able to move around and eat.
Raoul returned to his old house getting the last of his things. He walked in to the living room to find his mother and father sitting together.
"Thank God you're better." Raoul said when he saw his father.
"Thank you, son."
Raoul paused and decided his parent's should know, "Mom…Dad." He started, "I have something to tell you…I'm getting married to Meg."
The Comtesse's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fainted. Raoul's father on the other hand was ecstatic.
"Son! That is terrific! We can start planning the wedding right away."
His father and Raoul talked over the plans for the wedding. The Comtesse later came around and realized she had lost. The "battle" in her mind was over.
"I give up." She said.
Raoul and the Comte looked confused. Raoul asked, "What?"
"You can marry that Meg girl." She said in defeat.
"Well I wasn't asking permission, but thanks." Raoul replied.
The Comtesse sighed and sat down with the two men in her life. She decided to help plan the wedding anyway.
"I do want this wedding to be in the church your father and I married in." She said.
"Fine, mom." Raoul replied.
"And I want the whole family to be there…"
"Ok…" He sighed.
"Good. Then it's settled." The Comte said. "I don't want you two fighting all the time. We don't need family rivalry in this house."
The Comte waited for either one of them to answer. "Ok. Francine, you must stop this constant need to control's Raoul's life and make others…well…miserable."
The Comtesse looked offended so she turned her head.
"What he means is stop being such a pain in the neck." Raoul spoke up. This didn't make matters any better.
"Please, hun. Stop pestering Raoul."
"Fine." She said.
"Good…now Raoul." He paused, "Listen to your mother every once in a while."
"Fine." He said.
"Now you two say you're sorry."
His mother looked at her son, "I'm sorry Raoul. I only did what I thought was best for you and this family. I didn't mean to bother you…I love you."
Raoul smiled, "I'm sorry mom. I love you too."
"Thank God." The Comte exclaimed and sank back into his leather couch.
October 20th
1871
Today was the wedding of Raoul James De Chagny and Marguerite Anne Giry. The wedding was held in a near by church and was filled with hundreds of friend's of the De Chagny family and everyone from the Opera House.
It was obviously a lot bigger than Erik and Christine's wedding but they didn't mind. The Comtesse refused to have a small wedding for her son. Though Raoul and Meg preferred the smaller wedding they decided to let his mother have her way at least once.
The wedding was a traditional catholic mass and wedding ceremony. Raoul's best friend played the part of his best man. His groomsmen included Erik and Nadir of course. And Madame Giry would walk Meg down the isle along side Nadir who for the second time is playing the part of the father.
Meg's father also died when she was a little girl, but he died when she was three so she barely remembered anything about him.
Meg chose to have the brides' maid's dresses in blue, and she wore a very beautiful white wedding gown.
The woman joked again about the tradition…
"Something old…" Christine said.
Meg put on her necklace.
"Something new…" Madame Giry continued.
"The wedding dress." Meg replied.
"Something borrowed…" The three women seemed stuck on this one. Christine thought back of the past and how Meg would steal her bracelets. Christine was currently wearing them so she took it off and handed it to Meg.
Meg smiled and remembered, "Thanks. And I'm sorry about always borrowing them…"
"It's ok."
"Something blue…" Madame Giry said.
"The garter." Meg replied.
"And the silver sixpence in your shoe…" Christine said.
"Got it!" Meg exclaimed. "I think I'm ready."
Madame Giry looked at her two daughters and cried. "My babies are all grown up."
The two younger girls laughed and then hugged Madame Giry. She held on to the two of them and didn't let go.
"Maman…" Christine said.
"Yes?"
"You kind of have to let us go. Meg needs to get married."
"Right, right." Madame Giry said and let go of them.
They got in to position outside and were ready for the wedding to begin.
The music started and Nadir and Madame Giry both led Meg down the isle. She looked into the crowd and noticed she barely knew any of the De Chagny family…but that didn't bother her. When she looked over to the other side she saw all her friends and family which made her smile.
The music continued and she walked to the altar where Raoul was standing. Next to Raoul was his best man along with Erik and a spot for Nadir among other groomsmen. Meg had a few bridesmaids next to Christine, her matron of honor.
The priest cleared his throat and said, "Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here today in the face of this company, to join together Raoul James De Chagny and Marguerite Anne Giry in holy matrimony. Into this estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any one can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
The Comtesse was about to stand up but The Comte held her down. The Priest noticed the woman about to say something but she stopped. He waited for a couple more seconds but heard nothing so he continued, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
Nadir and Madame Giry stepped in and responded, "We do."
They walked Meg to Raoul. Raoul couldn't believe how lucky he was to stand by her in holy matrimony. She must have thought the same thing because she couldn't stop smiling and crying. The Catholic mass started with songs, readings, prayers, the Eucharist, and then the actual wedding ceremony.
"Raoul James De Chagny, do you take Marguerite Anne Giry as your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
Raoul smiled, "I do."
"And do you Marguerite Anne Giry, take Raoul James De Chagny for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honor, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"
Meg replied, "I do."
They both looked at each other and recited their own vows. The Priest then asked the best man for the rings.
"You have chosen these rings as the symbol of your marriage covenant. They are made of gold, a metal that does not tarnish and is enduring. These rings represent the ties that bind you together as husband and wife. They are an endless circle representing your marriage union which shall be eternal and pure as these rings."
The priest handed one ring to Raoul and said, "May this ring be blessed so he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end."
Raoul placed the ring on Meg's finger and repeated after the priest, "With this ring, I wed you Marguerite Anne Giry for today, for tomorrow, and for all the years to come. Please wear it as a sign of my love and a notice to the entire world that you have chosen me to be your husband."
The priest handed Meg a ring and said, "May this ring be blessed so he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in peace, and continue in love until life's end."
Meg placed the ring on Raoul's finger and repeated after the priest, "With this ring, I wed you Raoul James De Chagny for today, for tomorrow, and for all the years to come. Please wear it as a sign of my love and a notice to the entire world that you have chosen me to be your wife." T
he priest announced, "The couple has decided to do an extra ceremonial wedding tradition and sign of their love for one another."
Raoul and Meg both loved the candle ceremony Christine and Erik did. Meg saw this once at her wedding from one of the other ballet girls years ago and wanted it done. Christine was there too and said she would want that done at her wedding. They both promised to do that at both of their weddings.
The center, larger, candle was already on the table. The priest brought two candles and gave one to Raoul and one to Meg.
He lit them both and then said, "Raoul and Meg, the two lighted candles symbolize your separate lives, your separate families and your separate sets of friends. I ask that you each take one candle and that together you light the center candle. The individual candles represent your individual lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining of your two families and sets of friends to one."
Raoul and Meg both lit the central candle on the table.
"Raoul and Meg will now extinguish their own candles, thus letting the center candle symbolize the union of their lives. As one light cannot be divided, neither will their lives be divided." The priest continued.
They blew out their candles and left the one in the center burning.
"Bless this marriage, as Raoul James De Chagny and Marguerite Anne Giry begin their journey down the road of life together. May they respect each other's likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams, and fears even though they may not always understand each other. May they rest in the knowledge that no matter what happens by holding on to each other things will work out for the best.
Most of all, dear God, help them to keep the torch of love burning with the fire that they now share in their hearts.
Amen."
The priest placed Raoul's hands on Meg's. "May this couple be prepared to continue to give, be able to forgive and experience more and more joy with each passing day, with each passing year. Raoul and Meg, are now beginning their married life together, we hope that they may have loving assistance from their family, the constant support of friends, and a long life with good health and everlasting love. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Raoul and Meg smiled, he lifted her veil and then kissed her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you for the first time the loving couple Monsieur and Madame Raoul and Marguerite De Chagny."
They walked back up the isle as the new Vicomte and Vicomtess De Chagny. Everyone joined after them and heading to the reception where they danced and partied all night.
Meg soon moved in with Raoul in the house next to Erik and Christine. The four of them continued their friendship and Meg and Christine continued their careers.
As for the Opera Ghost…he truly stayed dead. To the disappointment of the ballet girls the ghost seemed to retire from his hauntings. And that pretty much gave them less to talk about.
On December 9th Meg realized something exciting. She too was pregnant. They decided to wait to tell everyone else until they had their Christmas party on December 24th.
On that day they drank Champaign and eggnog while exchanging gifts. This was Erik's first celebrated Christmas and it was new to him. The group also celebrated Christine's birthday which happened to be Christmas.
When Meg told them it was yet another exciting Christmas gift…
"I have an announcement!" Meg yelled. "I'm pregnant!"
Christine jumped up and screamed. "Oh my God!" She nearly jumped on her friend like Meg had done before but stopped herself.
"Congratulations!" Her mother hugged her. "I'm going to be a grandmother!"
The three women hugged and bounced around the room.
Nadir once again held up a glass for a toast. "To Raoul and Meg, and their new baby." He said.
They raised their glasses in the air and then drank from them.
They all celebrated and sang Christmas carols. Afterwards they went outside to have a snowball fight and built a snowman. Christine and Erik also decided to make snow angels.
They continued living their lives in high hopes of having healthy babies.
A/N: Please review
