7
Disclaimer: I don't own POTO, duh! But I do own any OC's I do not own Meg or Erik. Sadly..
Meg had put in a good word for Sebastian; but then snuck down to see Erik. When he saw her coming; he thrust a box at her; and his face was red.
"I-I-I-Um. It's a thank you present for-For taking care of me last night." She took the box from him and opened it. "I-I didn't know if you would like it or not. I just thought that it would be a nice gift. B-But as I got done with it; I started to re-think giving it to you." She lifted the doll made from odds and ends; the blond hair hung in it's eyes and draped down her back; and the angel wings made from odds and ends of clothes that no longer fit him; and smiled. It may not have been something a girl like Christine would have loved; but Meg loved it.
"Erik! thank you!" She giggled; setting the box down and holding the doll. "I love it." Erik looked at her; as if her loving it was a surprise to him. She gave him a smile; and held the doll like a child. "You did a good job."
"I would have thought you would have preferred something store bought." But he saw her shaking her head.
"Erik; I love it. You put so much work into it; and judging by your hands; you've gone through some pain making it. I will treasure it forever." That was the day that the blond rag doll with the angel wings became her most prized possession. Erik was relieved she liked it.She held it close to her heart; the doll was made with love. "You look surprised. Did you not think I would like it?"
"Honestly, I didn't. I thought you would pretend to like it; but end up using it to clean up spills." She shook her head fiercely; hugging the doll tightly.
"I wouldn't ever do that! I love it! Since my father died; I never, ever had any possessions like this. I was only given what I needed by the Opera Populaire; Erik; thank you for giving me my first doll."
"Your first one?" He asked. Slightly surprised she had not been given one before. She nodded.
"I never had something so beautiful before. I saw little rich girls throwing their dolls in the trash because they were out-of-date. I wanted to scream at them to take the doll back; and to be thankful they've got something so flawless. Mother wouldn't let me touch them because she feared the dolls would make me sick, or something silly like that. Those dolls looked so brand-new. They weren't dirty; not until they were thrown in the trash. Erik; I will never give up what you've given me. I love it."
"I'm glad my time was not wasted." He replied; she saw happiness in his eyes for the first time since she'd seen him. There were no dark clouds; his thoughts weren't dancing around Christine; he was truly glad she loved his gift. She held it close to her heart; and brushed it's yellow yarn hair out of it's green button eyes.
"I still can't believe you would do this for me."
"I couldn't believe that you would be so nice to me. Especially after the fire." Meg looked at him; and smiled. She threw her arms around his waist and held him.
"What kind of person would I be if I didn't? Besides; I hated seeing you so hurt. Christine never gave you a chance; if she'd gotten to know you, to know the man behind the mask; I am almost positive you would have her now. But she was nearsighted. She saw only outer beauty." She held the doll tightly. "You didn't have to make this for me. I am glad you did though. I mean, you saved my life twice; that's more than enough."
"I know." He told her smugly. "But I wanted to. I wanted to thank you. I had thought about painting something; but that probably wouldn't have much value. Then I thought of writing an opera; but you would only be able to hear it down here. I remembered the doll I had as a child; and thought that would be a good way to say thank you."
"I would have been just as happy with a dish rag." She told him; still holding the doll close to her heart. "But I love what you've given me. You put so much work into it."
"Actually, I made it out of odds and ends; I had hoped it wouldn't matter; I didn't have all the material to make it one color; the wings are made from old clothes." She looked between him and the doll. Finally breaking a silence.
"If you ask me." She told him; brushing the golden yarn out of it's green button eyes. "It reminds me of you. Most people would call it ugly; or unacceptable. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and I love it."
----
Sebastian went to Firmin and Andre' and asked for a dancing position. Firmin was the only one in the office; mainly because Andre' was monitoring the rehearsals.
"Megara Giry tells me that since the fire; you've been short on dancers." He began. "I- good Monsieur- need a job. Monsieur; I am willing to devote all of my time to learning the steps I had not learned; and I will do just as well as someone hear. I will be on time for rehearsals; and anything else you may ask."
"Monseuir. I'm sorry say the salary isn't much. Were spending most of the Vicomte's money on restoring the opera house. As you see there are a few things undone. I can say the Salary will not be more than 25 Francs per performance."
"I'll take it!" He gladly took it. 25 francs per performance was better than no money coming in at all. "Do I have the job Monsieur?" Firmin stood; and shook the man's hand.
"I am glad to say; you do in fact have the job. If you help with the restoring we have yet to do; I will throw in an extra 30 francs an hour."
"Great!" He grinned. "I can't tell you how much this helps."
----
Alex and Sebastian both had childhood crushes on Meg Giry. She was a beautiful girl; so bright and happy. Even when her family went bankrupt and had to move to the opera house. She had a smile on her face; and seemed to love dancing. Alex and Meg had lived their dreams; while Sebastian did not spend his money wisely. He used it on things he did not need; and when he did need the money to buy a ring to ask Meg Giry's hand in marriage; he had nothing. He worked odd jobs around their hometown; to earn enough money to just see her. Sebastian went to America to try his hand at the gold; but ended up with nothing but dirt. To get back to France; he stowed away on a ship; and to get to Paris; he stowed away on three trains. He was not proud all the stowing away; because it was considered stealing. When the ticket man came asking for tickets; he tried to always be in the dining cart.
But he loved Meg, and so did Alex. As it looked; Alex would be the first to ask her hand, for he had the money to have a family.
----
Erik was sipping at some tea after Meg had decided to sleep. She held the doll close to her heart while she slept; as a child would. He was glad she loved it so much; he'd worked very hard on it. His hand was throbbing from the times he hit the needle against his hand accidentally. But he knew the pain would pass soon enough.
