Sweet Seduction

Chapter Sixteen: Here Comes The Bride

A/N: Here it is, the chap you've all been waiting for! The wedding! Now, it's way too long to be one chap, so good news: You guys get two wedding chapters! And, make sure you leave a review because... you could be the ONE HUNDRETH REVIEWER! This reviewer will get a special shout-out next chaper! So, leave a review to try to secure your place in "Sweet Seduction" 's history as the one hundreth reviewer! (or at least, make the authoress really happy!)

Christine let out a small gasp as she saw her reflection in the full length mirror. She looked just like one of the fairy-tale princesses she had only read about. The dress looked absolutely beautiful on her. As if it was- well, it was made for her, but that didn't matter anyway. The light material shimmered and shone under the gentle lights of the church's dressing room. The beaded designs on the bodice looked even more exquisite when displayed across her full figure and the two crystals from the chandelier she had sewn right in the center of the bodice sparkled brilliantly when they caught the light, sending glorious crystal rainbows across the room. Her corset was pulled a bit tighter than usual, forcing up her small breasts into the modestly low neckline of the gown, but the corset was worth it when she saw how beautiful the fitted waist looked on her figure. The skirts flowed around her legs, rustling small waves of material every time she moved, and there was a tiny string of pearls along the hemline, with crystal stitching between each pearl. She lifted the skirts a bit to peek at her shoes, well, technically slippers. The shoes were soft, white patten ballet slippers she borrowed from Meg. She had been a dancer before she had become a singer, after all, and it was only fitting a little part of her ensemble reflected her best friend's passion and Christine's own childhood.

Plus, it helped fill the requirements for a bride. She had an old pair of white stockings on, (the very same ones she'd worn the night after her debut in Erik's lair) a new pearl necklace Erik had bought for her, the borrowed ballet slippers from Meg, and she had discreetly slipped two blue hair clips beneath her mounds of curls. And oh, her hair! She would never have been able to fix it in such an elegantly, innocent style if not for Mme. Giry's help. Her hair was pulled up in a soft mounds of curls atop her head, with a few loose tendrils cascading down her back. She sighed, turning to look at Mme. Giry and Meg smiling behind her

"Oh thank you both so much! I've never felt so beautiful before. Just...Thank you both for everything."

"You are welcome dear child. You're certainly welcome" Mme. Giry sighed, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. She and Meg both looked truly gorgeous in their gowns. Meg's maid of honor gown was a beautiful light lilac color, and Mme. Giry wore a lovely satin peach gown fitting for the (symbolically) Mother of the Bride (and groom).

"Oh, Christine, your veil!" Meg gasped excitedly. She reverently lifted the exquisite veil from the box and gently placed it on Christine's head, nestling the fragile tiara that was attached to the veil among Christine's soft mounds of curls and fluffing out the veil, letting it flow down Christine's back. They both looked at her reflection in the mirror

"Oh Christine, you look so beautiful. Like a dream from heaven."

"Meg, thank you so much. Just for..everything you've done for me. I don't know what I would do if we hadn't become friends" she said, tears brimming in her eyes. They hugged and Mme. Giry came up behind Christine when they finally broke apart

"How do you feel child?"

"Excited, but maybe a little nervous. Everything is changing."

Mme. Giry took her hand "Not everything Christine. You still have your friends and your music and most importantly, you still have your memories of old times, and you can visit those whenever you like. And it's perfectly fine to be nervous. I was nervous at my wedding too and it was nowhere near as grand as this one will be!"

Christine smiled "I wish my father could be here"

Meg smiled "He is Christine. He's still here in spirit. And in your shoes" she whispered in Christine's ear, making her laugh. Because Meg's slippers were a bit big for Christine, they had stuffed the toes separately, her left one with her favorite of her father's songs in sheet music crumbled up in her left one, and her right shoe was stuffed was a gently-folded, small picture of her father she'd removed from its frame.

They finally stopped crying when they heard a knock at the door, and Isabelle, one of Christine's bridesmaids poked her head in the door

"Christine, if you're ready, we're ready to begin the wedding procession now"

Christine nodded "I'll be right up"

She looked at Meg and Mme. Giry as they started to leave "Well, this is it." she said

They nodded and Meg kissed her cheek before leaving. After they left, Christine stopped and stole another glance of herself in the mirror, singing softly to the spirit she knew was listening

"Angel of Music, guide and guardian, grant to me your glory today"

Christine took a deep breath, looking out at the sight in front of her. She clutched the bouquet nervously, listening to the familiar chords of Pachelbel's Canon in D as the bridesmaids began the opening procession down the aisle. She watched the satin gowns and handsome suits gliding down the aisle arm in arm in tempo with the music. She watched Mme. Giry and Georges arm in arm walking together, both looking as nervous and giddy excited as she felt. It was no secret Mme. Giry still held a schoolgirl crush towards Georges and he was as giddy with excitement as a schoolboy when she was around. She watched Meg walk down the aisle with Jacques, most likely dreaming of her own wedding to him. Christine saw all these details and strangely enough, she didn't really notice or think about any of them. She fiddled nervously with her tiara and wished her corset wasn't so tight and her hands weren't shaking so badly and it wasn't so hot in here and this dress wasn't so heavy. She stopped her thoughts from rambling on farther. She hadn't been this nervous or scattered since Don Juan. Well, she pulled herself together then and she would now. It was just nerves. She hummed the closing chords to the Cannon and took a deep breath as the Wedding March began. The doors swung open, presenting the young bride to every person in attendance. She took her fist steps down the aisle alone and as she began, she could feel him next to her.

She knew her father was there, congratulating her, calming her nerves and encouraging her every step of the way. She could feel his unseen presence walking right beside her and knew he was smiling down on his little girl from above. And then, her gaze fell on the alter and she gave an inward gasp and smiled. Her angel was up there, as nervous and excited a she was, his mask gleaming to match his beaming, nervous smile. A flash of memories swept through her mind, wrapping themselves around her like a comforting fog as she continued her journey up there:

Singing with Erik last night, their passionate kiss, planning this day together, the Eiffel Tower, his proposal, the restaurant. The first time she said she loved him, singing with Erik at Don Juan, watching him move about the stage with an air of confidence she'd never seen, his presence in the cemetery and on the rooftop that night so long ago when she falsely confessed her love to Raoul, their first night down in Erik's lair, when she unmasked him for the first time, when he serenaded her, the boat ride, his magical first appearance in the mirror. Telling Meg of her secret tutor after her debut and singing from within her soul the night of her debut, knowing he listened down below, their voice lessons together, their stories and memories. Her father's stories of Little Lottie and her Angel of Music, the man standing before her today. The man she truly loved, that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. The man that had given her everything and shown her a love so passionate and deep, she didn't know how she had lived without it for so long. She knew the only place in this world she truly belonged was with him.

She felt her veil and gown softly trailing behind her, saw the masses of people all focused on her, the uniformed bridesmaids and their escorts, the priest the church, but she didn't really see or feel any of it. All she knew in that instant was the man up there, waiting for her, wanting her, loving her. She knew the only place she really belonged was in his arms, in his life. She finally made it, handing her bouquet off to Meg and gracefully lifting her gown to step up onto the alter and finally knowing she was ready to begin the rest of her life.

Erik waited nervously for his love to come up the aisle. He looked much more suave and confident than he felt, in a woolen, well-tailored, fancy tuxedo with ebony buttons, white silk bow tie, gloves and jacket lining. His polished black shoes and his black hair neatly slicked down and oiled gleamed under the soft yet bright lighting, creating a stark contrast to his porcelain white mask covering the right side of his face. He was beginning to get nervous. He hated whomever had arranged this century-old wedding procession. The groom had to stand there longer than anyone, watching in agony as at hundreds, probably thousands of (in reality, there were only eight) bridesmaids and their escorts walked slowly up the aisle. Even the familiar, romantic music failed to calm his nerves. He had always secretly dreamed of this day, always forcing himself to realize he would never be married or know of any love in his pathetic life, until she had prove him wrong only to raise his hopes, dash them and then send them soaring higher than he could ever imagine. What if she had second thoughts too? What if she didn't really want to do this? What if-

And suddenly, all his doubts and questions and worries vanished as soon as the doors swung open and he laid eyes on her. She was an angel. She had never looked more beautiful. He felt his best man Jacques elbowing him lightly, but strangely, he didn't notice. He had been alone for so long and now finally, finally, there was someone in his life who truly loved him and cared for him. He never dreamed this day would ever come. He had spent so much of his life miserable, unloved and alone and at last, his dreams were coming true. She seemed to come up the aisle in a dreamy haze as an almost-identical flood of memories washed over him. He saw his life flashing before his eyes in that instant as his angel drew closer to the alter. He heard the crescendo and coming climax in the music and for the first time in his life, couldn't care less about the music or notes as Christine finally came a few feet from the alter and handed her bouquet to Meg. He offered her his arm, gazing at her smiling as she stepped up beside him. They both turned to the priest as he began the wedding vows, but neither one really heard the words that were spoken or their responses. Everything was happening so fast and yet, the two lovers seemed to be in a dreamlike fog. They were both busy imagining their life together, their plans and dreams, their entire lives before them. Neither one had ever cared so deeply for someone before. Neither one was prepared for the love and joy they would bring to each other's empty lives, until this moment. But, at present, the priest finally turned to Christine and after instructions, she repeated the loving words:

"I, Christine, take you, Erik, to be my friend, my lover, the father of our children and my husband. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for as long as we both shall live. I love you with all my heart, angel" she said looking into his eyes

When it was Erik's turn, he repeated the same loving words to her

"I, Erik, take you, Christine, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of our children and my wife. I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for as long as we both shall live." he said, gazing into her beautiful eyes

He turned to the reverend "Father?" he asked "Before we go any further with the rings, may I add something?"

The reverend nodded, looking amused "Yes, monsieur, go ahead"

Erik took Christine's hand, looking at her "Christine, I just wanted to say that I have loved you for almost my entire life, ever since the moment I first heard you sing. I promise I will love you and protect you and guide you every wonderful moment we're to be husband and wife. Becoming your husband was something I once could only dream of and now, at long last, it's become sweet reality. You truly were my Angel of Music and I'm so happy right now that I can hardly speak. I needed to say that I have always loved you and will always love you every day of our lives and I needed to express my love for you in a way we both know is best: through music"

He cleared his throat softly and began singing

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Lead me, save me from my solitude
Say you want me with you, here beside you
Anywhere you go let me go too
Christine that's all I ask of...

he gently slipped the ring onto her finger, while holding out the final note

..You

And unexpectantly, all of the guests in attendance burst into appluase at his heavenly singing, clapping and cheering loudly. Christine smiled as she saw her love's face turn red at the unexpected cheers and thought it was only fitting that he finally recieved the thunderous roundsof appluase he had been denied the night of Don Juan. He smiled and they both turned back towards the reverend. He cleared his throat

"And with this ring, (and that beautiful serenade), I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the..."

And before the reverend even finished the setence, they were already kissing, taking no care to hide their blazing passion or love for each other, savored in yet another sweet kiss. Erik picked Christine up and swung her around, her white dress and petticoats flying everywhere and glimmering brilliantly in a sparkling rush to match her smile. Erik absolutley beamed as he offered her his arm once more and they walked, now at long last, husband and wife into the white carriage, prepared to make the journey to the joyous wedding reception and their bright future together.

Please review for the even fluffier Part Two of the wedding !