- - - Current time - - -
It was a fondly remembered day for Erik, even though he did faint and found it difficult to remain steady on his feet for the next few minutes. No expense would be spared to make Christine happy. She was sent to an expensive shop for a dress, and the soprano picked out the simplest one possible. Her flowers were pink roses and her only request was to be married in a church. The guests were to be Meg, Mme. Giry, the Daroga, and (begrudgingly on Erik's part) Raoul.
The morning of the wedding involved the masked man being incredibly nervous the entire time in a hidden room where the Daroga was desperately trying to relieve his irrational anxieties. Finally, Erik was persuaded out onto the altar with the thin, leather mask he'd made just for the occasion- it was just the same color as his skin tone and had many little indents for texture to make it appear more realistic. The priest smiled to him in greeting and the Daroga sat down, weary, with the other guests. Erik distracted himself with anything he could see in the room: white ribbons, pink roses, candles, religious icons, the sunlight perfectly illuminating the room, until all he could fixate himself on were the toes of his shoes.
Meg arrived shortly, walking down the aisle as the sole bridesmaid and signaling that the bride would be entering soon. Christine made her way through the tall doors slowly, feeling overwhelmed by emotions and overall very happy about the event. A childlike glimmer shined in her blue eyes upon seeing Erik's surprise and delight upon seeing her. She donned a very traditional, but stunning, A-line gown that fit her simple frame perfectly. A veil thinly hid away her face until she reached the altar, motioning for Erik to place the front portion of it on the other side. They didn't even hear the proceedings of the wedding until the very end.
"Do you take this woman to be your bride?" Asked the monotonous voice of the priest.
"Yes." Erik confirmed.
Christine mimicked his responses and excitedly smiled, knowing the next words would bring Erik to bashfully kiss her in front of everyone.
The party traveled then to the Populaire. It was the place where everything had started for them: Erik's first encounter of the young Christine in her grievance, the Giry's meeting with Christine, the soprano's unexpected success, and her home for almost the entirety of her life. The expansive front room was vacant, besides the staff Erik had secretly hired to surprise his new wife to provide anything needed to them for the rest of the day. There was much dancing, and even some singing, but even more pure happiness after all of the previous chaos that surrounded them.
Unknown to them, a dear girl would join their newly formed family within the following year or so. Erik spoiled her like a duchess, granting whatever wishes the modest girl would merely think of. She hadn't been musically gifted, but rather enjoyed learning he art of ballet from her auntie Meg who later met a wealthy merchant to marry. Raoul went off to an expedition to Antarctica with his fellow Navy men, but sadly didn't return after a dreadful storm that downed their ships. Madame Giry remained as a grandmother figure to Erik and Christine's daughter until later passing away of old age in the girl's teenage years. The Daroga was finally able to retire from his chaperone position and spent his time traveling then occasionally visiting his masked friend's family.
"Erik, dear, it's the Daroga! He's finally returned from Persia and Japan." Christine announced.
"Wonderful. He should go back and leave me alone, I no longer need an advisor." Erik would grumble jokingly.
"Uncle Daroga?" Their daughter called excitedly, knowing that his presence always involved wise words and stories that embarrassed her stoic, but caring father.
But Erik was not nearly in the same health as Christine after twenty years had passed since their union. He'd spent all those decades beaten in a cage, below the opera house, and never having adequate time for things like sleep. An illness was growing in his body, but he never dared to confess the truth to Christine and his daughter. He wrote music that resembled the bleaker, bittersweet melodies of dying composers as a way to cope with his condition. Erik prepared his will, knowing that it would soon be put to use.
He couldn't complain, even after all of the brutalities he endured. It allowed him to truly cherish everything in his current life: his family, the Daroga's loyalty, his home, and all of the other things he'd never dreamt of having in his life. Erik could happily, but unwillingly, die at peace.
Every day could've been his last and he treated them as such. Any wish that his daughter or wife had was fulfilled, and he behaved only with kindness to them. He even spent time with the cats and dog of the house, despite how he was usually loving but indifferent to them.
But the secret was up when his condition worsened and became too obvious to deny. His dear family and friends were devastated, absolutely pained to imagine losing him. It was endearing to see their affection, but Erik wasn't ready to leave them. Their family friends all remained near the estate and stayed at his bedside when he became critically ill. He died smiling, unmasked, holding the hands of his beloved Christine and his dear daughter.