ALL I KNOW OF LOVE
Erik and Christine are the creation of Gaston Leroux; the reference to Persia and some of its customs are derived from Susan Kay's book, "Phantom". All other characters and the backdrop of the story are the creations and property of GerrysJackie.
Some places and all names are fictional.
PLAYERS:
Erik – Gerard Butler - Perfect
Christine – The face and coloring of Zooey Deschanel (Failure to Launch, Elf) – and the body of Marilyn Monroe, except 3 inches taller
Gustav - Billy Connelly – Because I really like him.
Patrick Connelly - Paul Bettany – (A Knights Tale, Firewall, A Beautiful Mind)
Pascal – Mel Gibson's looks (slightly older with graying hair) with the cunning and cruelty of J.R. Ewing from " Dallas".
Madam Marie Forsythe – Miranda Richardson
James Lumpkin (the butler) – Daniel Davis (the butler from the TV show "The Nanny")
Kamilla – Georgie Henley (Chronicles of Narnia)
Duke Sergei Beauvais – Derek Jacobi (Underworld:Evolution)
Kaveh Hushmand – Oded Fehr – (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns) Thanks Mlle.Fox!
Use your imagination on all others.
This story has taken a while to develop, but I hope it has been worth it. I have several chapters already written, but I am taking my time. There is humor, drama, and romance in this story, so I hope you will enjoy it.
This rendition of Erik is one of a man who has suffered greatly in his life, at the hands of just about everyone in his life, but his spirit is still intact. He is less self-loathing than others that I have written, but he is very much aware of his self-proclaimed faults. He is dangerous and ruthless, but has had enough of death and destruction. Women are still a mystery to him, and he needs a strong, independent woman who is his equal in every way.
This Christine is not a drop-dead gorgeous woman, but her beauty is less assuming and soft…Erik will see it.
I will try to update twice a week, depending on how quickly I write chapters. I don't anticipate this being a particularly long story, but we'll see.
Enjoy.
Here it is. Thank you for all the wonderful and encouraging words. I have been asked by my beta to consider writing another Erik/OC story - so I am considering that, also. I've never tried writing two stories at a time - I am not sure I have the brain power for such things!!
But, Mlle.Fox is my friend, she keeps me focused, and she tries to make me a better writer...I will do my best, my friend.
CHAPTER 31
Epilogue
Several months after the opening success of "My Beloved Immortal", Erik and Christine were awaiting the arrival of their firstborn child.
Christine had insisted they attend mass for Easter celebration and attend the spring picnic the church was having afterwards.
Erik had not been much of a church attendee until Christine came into this life, but she had made him see the hand of God in every aspect of his life.
This morning, however, a curious young man approached Erik, and asked endless questions about his mask and his horrible time in Persia.
After trying to remain open minded and not wanting to appear rude, Erik had locked up and disassociated himself from the entire congregation for the rest of the day.
Christine was inwardly cringing at the audacity of the young man. Why couldn't he have left them alone?
She wearily approached him.
He stood with his back to her; his broad, obdurate shoulders stretched the material of his coat to the breaking point because of his arms being folded across his chest.
She quietly sighed and went to his side, noticing that he stared into the horizon at no particular spot.
"Erik, stop sulking and come and sit with us." Christine insisted.
He scowled at her from beneath his long lashes, "I'm perfectly happy where I am."
"Kamilla is asking for you."
He turned and waved to his daughter, making a broad, bright smile appear on her face.
"I'll be over in a few minutes." He stated, turning back to Christine, and then back to the horizon.
She gave him a humorous scowl and headed back to the table where everyone was sitting.
She had been hesitant to leave home as her pregnancy had become obvious to everyone, but Erik refused to go anywhere without her being by his side. So, she broke tradition and accompanied him.
Christine turned toward Manuela and rolled her eyes, "You'd think he was the one having the baby - with all the moodiness."
Manuela chuckled, "He is just like his mother."
"He needs to sit down and eat or he'll miss out on all this wonderful food." Christine huffed.
Manuela shrugged her thin shoulders, "He must get used to being questioned, he's a star in his own right – with the successful operas and such; people are just curious."
"Erik…"
As Christine stood up to address him once again, she grasped her abdomen , released a loud scream, and her water broke. Erik was by her side in a flash and she was in his arms.
"It's time." Christine whispered. "Get me home."
Erik looked over at Kaveh, "Get the doctor and meet me back at the manor."
Erik carried her over to the carriage and placed her inside.
Manuela had moved to stand beside him, "I will come with you; she may need me."
He nodded and lifted her into the carriage.
"To Vassadelle."
ЖЖ
Hours. That was what it felt like. Quiet moans and an occasional scream could be heard from the other side of the door. She had been in there for hours and Erik was about to pull all of his hair out from worry.
"Is this what it's always like?" Erik asked Sergei, who paced beside him, step for step.
Sergei patted him on the back in a fatherly fashion and just nodded his head.
"I wasn't around the manor when Nicole had Kamilla or Timmy…besides – that was different…I did this to Christine…."
"Erik, stop beating yourself up, it has been like this since Adam and Eve…it's perfectly natural."
Erik paced some more and then stopped when Teresa and Gustav walked through the door.
Teresa immediately went to Erik and engulfed him in a giant hug.
"It's going to be alright dear; stop worrying…it took me two days to give birth to Christine…" Erik almost passed out at the thought of that, "…the others were considerably easier."
"How did you know to come?" Erik asked.
"We got a wire from Beth a couple of days ago saying that she could tell that Christine was getting close…we left immediately."
Erik couldn't help the tears of relief that ran down his cheek, "I'm so glad you're here."
She disappeared up the stairs, leaving Gustav to try to calm his son-in-law.
"Erik, I understand what you're going through…"
"Why do they let us even touch them….can you tell me that?" Erik asked of every man present. "Surely this cannot be an enjoyable experience."
"Erik, all is forgotten when that baby is placed at their breast…Teresa said there is nothing like it."
Every man present said the same thing.
A part of Erik was terrified for Christine's life; after all, Nicole had died giving birth to Timmy…what if….
"Don't think it, Erik…I can read that look in your eyes…"
Kaveh looked sternly into his eyes and made him understand that just because it happened to Nicole did not necessarily mean it would happen to Christine.
All pacing ceased when a loud wale was heard from the upstairs room.
Erik bounded the stairs three at a time and crashed through the door in time to see the baby being cleaned and placed in a blanket.
His first thoughts were for Christine and he rushed to her side.
"Are you alright?"
She looked exhausted, but more beautiful than she had ever looked. Erik swiped his hand gently across her damp forehead, moving the hair to the side. Her eyes, although tired and weary, were bright with the love of a mother.
She smiled and caressed his expectant face. "I'm fine, my love."
He allowed himself to feel relieved, forcibly willed his pounding heart to slow down, and his hands to stop shaking.
"Congratulations my lord, you have a son."
The midwife placed the small bundle in Erik's large arms. His eyes landed on the tiny face hidden beneath the soft down of the blanket and his throat tightened up from the swell of love he felt.
"He's so beautiful." Erik stated with awe. "How could he come from me…"
Erik's eyes moved to the woman who rested beside him and he finally allowed himself to weep with joy.
"Because you're beautiful, Erik…don't ever doubt it."
The infant began crying, loudly, and Erik placed him in the waiting arms of his mother, who immediately pulled him to her breast.
The quiet sucking sounds that his nursing made pulled Erik's heartstrings even more; and he was overwhelmed with the reality of what had just happened; he had helped create a new life – he who had felt dead for the greater part of his life.
"What shall we name him?" Christine whispered; the same awe was in her voice that was in Erik's voice.
"Enrique…" Erik murmured. "…he was my great-great-great grandfather, and the only one worthy of a legacy."
Christine nodded and pushed the dark curls from her sons face, "Enrique…you are the most beautiful baby I have ever seen…" She smiled up at her husband, "…except your father…I'm told he was turning heads even as an infant."
Gustav and Teresa quietly walked into the room.
"Meet your new grandson, Enrique Pieter Laroque…" Christine announced.
Teresa cried and rushed over to mother and child, all Gustav could manage was a wide grin and moist eyes.
Erik reached over and lifted a tiny hand, feeling the softness of his son's skin against his. The tiny hand wrapped around Erik's long, graceful finger and Erik knew that he had lost his heart…again.
ЖЖ
"My Beloved Immortal" ran for several years to capacity crowds. No modern opera had ever had that much success.
Several years later, the success of Erik Laroque and his dark hero opera, as well as many of the other productions he composed, made its way across the sea to America, where a newly developed and vastly expanding area called Broadway was becoming the next hot spot.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Merlot eventually moved to the states, dropped their titles and designed and built some of the most elaborate theaters on Broadway.
Erik continued to compose and write operas; he was recognized and celebrated as one of the top composers and writers of his time. His music and productions are still highly popular now, over a century later.
Erik and Christine Laroque were blessed with a daughter, Venus Isadora Laroque, six years after the birth of Enrique. Erik had never thought to have his heart stolen again, but the black haired, blue-eyed daughter he held in his arms, owned him – and he wasn't complaining.
The End