The Perfect Solution
An Alternate Universe – Phantom of the Opera Story
Nyasia A. Maire
© 2007
DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the rights nor did I create any characters found in The Phantom of the Opera or Phantom, nor have I received monetary compensation for writing this story.
Loss and Gain
When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
Little room do I find for pride.
I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
Has fallen short or been turned aside.
But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Chapter Forty-Five – What I have Gained
He shook his head and a small smirk formed on his lips.
"You have nothing for which you need thank me, Madame. I went to the opera house that night because Raoul pestered me into going. Christine's angel met her for the first time that night. Coincidence? No. Everything that has happened proves that there are no coincidences and that God does have a plan. Sometimes it takes time for us mortals to see it, but it is there. Oui, Madame, Dieu merci, indeed."
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
The front door closed with a soft click and Erik turned to walk across the marble foyer of his home. He paused for a moment to turn down the gas lamp near the foot of the grand staircase. The room showed just the palest hint of the dawn soon to come. He closed his eyes, leaned his head back and rolled his head from one shoulder to the other and back again. He straightened, rolled his shoulders and sighed.
"Well, that was one hell of a night. I think that was just about enough upset to last one lifetime. However, one good thing came of this night and I would suffer it all again. It was wonderful being able to meet and get to know Gustave. He really was a very special man. It is no wonder that Lilith wanted Christine. Having such a father made an extraordinarily special daughter. And, now that woman is my wife. Mon Dieu! I am truly thankful for everything I have gained."
He smiled and walked up the staircase, anxious to rejoin his beloved Christine.
"We have known each other less than a week, but I know more about her than I do about Raoul. I need to tell her about my life, although it seems rather boring when compared to hers."
He smirked and began to hum softly.
"And, now I shall go upstairs, take Christine into my arms and, if she is willing, I hope to spend the entire day holding my wife. After everything that happened, I wish to taste of her lips, but after everything that happened, how can I? Perhaps it would not be too much to ask to spend the day lying beside her. I need to hold her. I never want to let her go. Yet, it seems so strange to think of her as a woman once more. I almost feel perverted for having lustful thoughts about her. I wonder if she feels as strangely as I do. Only one way to find out."
He quietly opened the door to the bedroom he shared with his wife. She sat, propped up with numerous pillows against the headboard of the bed. As she caught the movement of the door, she looked up and met Erik's eyes. He held his breath. A wide smile washed across her lips and flowed into her eyes. She held out her hand to him.
"Come, mon amour. I do believe there is plenty of room in this bed, especially now that it is just the two of us. I am tired and find that I cannot sleep unless you are here to hold me in your arms. Can you do that for me?"
He swiftly made his way across the room and placed his hand in hers.
"Do you even need to ask?"
They smiled at one another as they forgot the rest of the world for a time.
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
"Maman! Oh! At last, you are home! I thought you would never come back. How is Christine? Is she all right? What happened to her? Is Erik all right? Maman! Please, you must tell me what is happening."
Antoinette unfastened her cloak and unslung it from around her shoulders. She hung it on its accustomed hook next to the front door. She frowned at her daughter.
"Really, Meg! Let me get both feet inside the door before you besiege me with questions. I need a nice hot cup of tea. Would you care to join me?"
Meg sighed. She knew her mother better than anyone else did and realized that she was not ready to speak about the events she witnessed that night. Her eyes drifted over her mother's bent form, taking in the weariness of her posture. When she turned towards Meg, the girl gasped as she took in the dark rings and heavy bags around her mother's eyes.
"Maman! Did you not sleep at all last night? You look completely exhausted! Please! I cannot wait a moment longer. What happened?"
Her mother turned and walked away from her to enter their small kitchen. She went to the water jug and poured water from it into the kettle, which she placed atop the small pot belly stove. Moving to the cupboard, she opened it and selected the items she needed to make herself a cup of tea. Antoinette finally allowed herself to sink onto one of the chairs, which sat around the small table. She smiled up at her daughter.
"Megan, do you remember the line from Hamlet that says, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." ¹ Well, I learned first-hand tonight the truth of that and I shall never forget it. You knew that Christine's life here at the opera house has not been a happy one. You know it better than most and, my darling Meg, I have been so proud of how you always tried to protect her and make her feel welcome …."
Meg's hands flew to her hips and she scolded her mother.
"Maman! Please! I did so little. I could have done so much more, but I did not because Christine made it too difficult. I could have tried harder to help her, but I did not. In all this time, do you realize that she hugged me only twice? And, both of those times were after she met Erik. He is the one deserving of praise, not me."
The older woman shook her head and held out her hands to her daughter. The girl hesitated a moment before walking to her mother and kneeling on the floor before her. Antoinette cradled her daughter's face in her hands and placed a soft, loving kiss on her forehead. She then drew the girl into a tight embrace with one arm and stroked the pale gold silk of her hair with the hand of the other.
"I know I do not tell you often enough, but I love you, Meg. I love you very much. I pray that you always remember that."
Startled at the quaver in her mother's voice, Meg drew back slightly and her breath caught in her throat for tears streamed freely down her mother's cheeks.
"Maman, are you certain everything is all right?"
She nodded and releasing her daughter, rose to tend to the kettle, which began to whistle shrilly.
"Yes. Everything is better than it has been in years. I only cry because I now know that Christine no longer needs me. Well, she never really needed me, but tonight Erik saved her. Tonight I tried once more to help her, but I could not. All I could do was stand and watch as Erik saved her."
Meg began cautiously.
"I do not know or understand what happened tonight, but Maman, is not Erik supposed to be the one that protects her now? After all, he is her husband. Is that not what spouses are supposed to do for one another?"
"Yes, you are right, Meg. That is what is supposed to happen, but all too frequently, it does not. Erik is unique. He is not afraid or embarrassed to show how much he loves Christine. I have seen many men make promises to women that they have no intention of keeping just so they can win a woman's heart and her favors for a night. Erik does not use empty words. When Erik speaks, he speaks from his heart."
"Well, then, Maman, Christine is safe and you need not worry for her any longer. She has Erik now."
A brittle, broken smile formed on the older woman's lips.
"Yes, indeed she does, but someday, God willing, you will learn that just because your child has a husband that loves and protects her, it does not preclude you from worrying about them. When you love and care for someone, especially your child, Meg, worry walks hand-in-hand with that love. It is simply the way of things."
"Perhaps, but surely knowing that she has someone that truly loves her must ease your mind somewhat. Trust in his love for Christine, Maman. Christine told me that as long as love is true, all would come out right in the end. Their love is true, Maman. And, you know it. Come, later we can speak more of this, but for now, you need to rest. I shall inform the managers that you do not feel well and need to rest today. I will oversee practice today. Go on now to bed and rest."
"Oh, ma chère fille, I think I shall take you up on your offer. I must be getting old, but I am very tired. However, I shall only miss the morning practice. Inform the corps I shall attend the afternoon session and they had best be at their finest."
The woman's eyes sparkled with mischief as she spoke, then she held out her arms to her daughter.
"Come give me a hug, ma chère and then I shall go to bed."
After receiving the requested embrace from Meg, Madame turned and walked to her room, leaving a thoughtful Meg and the unfinished tea steaming in the gray light of dawn.
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"Really, Raoul, I am so nervous at the thought of meeting your parents, I feel quite ill. I have no idea what they expect of me. What if they do not like me? What if I drop my teacup and spill tea all over your mother? What if I giggle at an inopportune moment? Oh, I think I may be sick!"
The young man at her side attempted to hide his smile by biting his upper lip. Meg saw the amusement glistening in his eyes and she peevishly smacked his arm.
"Oh, do not mock me, Raoul. A girl's first meeting with her young man's parents is very important. It sets the tone of our entire future relationship. It is …."
Raoul interrupted her tirade.
"And, you believe that your Maman's discovery of our indiscretion was any less devastating for me? I am still not quite certain how we got past that incredible blunder, but I thank God for it. Anyway, Meg, I would like to ask you something, if you can spare me a moment of your time away from your worrying over the luncheon at my parents' home."
Her mouth dropped open as the import of his words took form in her mind.
"Surely he does not mean to ask me now? Does he?"
As if to confirm her thoughts, Raoul dropped to one knee and took her hand into the two of his. He looked up into her eyes unblinkingly.
"Megan Marguerite Giry, would you do me the honor of agreeing to become my wife? Would you do me the honor of wearing my ring as a token and sign of our betrothal? Meg, will you marry me?"
She slowly closed her mouth with a click of her teeth and she grimaced slightly.
"From the first moment I met him, this is everything I have always wanted. Why am I so frightened now?"
Without realizing it, the words flew from her mouth of their own volition.
"Oh yes, Raoul! Of course, I will marry you!"
¹"Hamlet", Scene V – William Shakespeare
Author's Note: Yada, yada, yada … please read and review! --ny