MADDIE
Mine and Charles's wedding wasn't a huge affair, at both of our requests and it was taking place at the house not in church. We invited people we knew and people we liked. Deirdre of course, was standing up with me as my matron of honor and Charles had Gabe as his best man. The only other person standing up with us was Erik and he was just standing beside Charles at his request. Raoul was obviously going to walk me down the aisle that had been created between the two sides of seats in the ballroom, and stand beside me as well. My dress was a very light purple gown made of delicate satin and adorned with tiny bows. We actually had found it two days before the wedding. I didn't want to wear white since it didn't feel appropriate to me. Deirdre pinned my hair up though and I did wear a few white flowers in my hair. I carried white roses, which I thought were lovely. As we walked down the aisle, I am sure I bruised Raoul's arm with how nervous I felt.
"Maddie…relax." He said, patting my hand. "You look wonderful…" I sighed, looking at Charles nervously.
"I feel sick…" I said and he chuckled.
"You're fine dear…once you say your vows all you will feel is happiness." He replied as we reached the altar and kissed my cheek.
"Who gives this woman to be married?" The priest asked and I looked at Raoul, who was grinning.
"I do." He said, stepping to the side between Deirdre and I.
"Friends and Family…" The priest went on, "Welcome to the marriage of Charles Gérard de Chagny and Madeleine Lisette Denton. You have been asked to gather here to witness and share in the joy of this union." He went on to talk about marriage before asking us to recite our vows. Charles went first, holding my hands as we'd been told to do.
"Madeleine…There was darkness for a long time and then there was light, and that light was you. Your love has given me wings and our journey begins today. I pledge before our friends and family to be your husband from this day forward. Let us make of our two lives one life. I want you for today, tomorrow and forever."
He was failing miserably at attempting to hide the fact he was crying and I couldn't help but laugh as I surprisingly felt tears burn my own eyes much to my horror. I had promised myself I wouldn't cry. It was silly and stupid.
"Madeleine?" The priest asked me and I looked at him.
"What?" I asked biting my quivering lip in fear.
"It's your turn dear." He said with an amused smile and I gulped, taking a slow breath. Erik smiled slightly as he mouthed the words "You're fine," to me. I found my voice and quietly began to recite my vows.
"I have dreamed my whole life of having someone as wonderful as you love me the way you do. I give myself to you as your wife, and I promise here to treasure for all of my days the love we celebrate today. Let us bring together our lives and find ourselves anew each day."
I had to bring one of my hands to my eyes, as they were now overflowing. Charles just gently held my hand in his patient way.
"The rings please." The priest said looking at Gabe who feigned not knowing where they were. Charles glared at him as he laughed and patted Charles's back, producing the gold bands. "Madeleine, place the ring at Charles's finger." The priest added. I did this as he said,
"Madeleine Lisette, will you take Charles Gérard as your husband, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?"
I breathed, looking at Charles, whose eyes were red.
"I will." I said softly, sliding the ring onto his finger as he smiled at it, looking back up at me. The priest turned to Charles who place the ring at my finger.
"Charles Gérard, will you take Madeleine Lisette as your wife, in happiness and with patience and understanding, through conflict and tranquility?" Charles nodded, biting his lip before he sniffed, unable to hide it at all now. I laughed, through my own sobbing.
"I will." He managed to get out and placed the ring all the way on my finger before wiping under my eyes softly with his thumbs as the priest continued to conclude the wedding.
"In the years, which shall bring Charles and Madeleine into greater age and wisdom, we hope that their love shall be ever young; that they shall be able to always recover from moments of despair. In this hope, may they keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us, and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this earth, our home. Since Charles and Madeleine have declared their love to each other before family and friends, I now greet them with you as husband and wife. You may kiss." He finished and Charles leaned down, gently touching my lips with his as our friends and family applauded. I was Charles's wife.
"Oh Maddie…" He said, pulling me close. "I am going to make you so happy." He said and I laughed,
"You already have." I said, touching his cheek tenderly. God he was beautiful. Not only handsome but beautiful.
"There will be refreshments shortly, if you would all just make yourselves comfortable." Raoul said, as workers began to clear the seats and set up for the reception.
"I just want you to know I am never going to cry like that again!" I said defiantly and he tickled me gently, wrapping his arms around my waist as he stood behind me.
"Oh yes you are Maddie…when that baby is born you're going to bawl, and don't even deny it!" He chuckled kissing my ear. "Do we have to stay for the party?" He asked a slight whine beneath his voice. I nodded.
"Yes Charles, we have to stay. It's our party!" He sighed loudly.
"Fine…" I laughed at my crazy husband.
"I feel like I am going to wake up tomorrow in that dormitory bed alone…and this will have all been a dream. Even you." I said to Charles as we danced once the party had gotten underway.
"Then let you sleep forever…for it isn't a dream my Maddie…" He said, pulling at his collar agitated.
"What is the matter?" I asked him and he sighed.
"This damn collar is bothering me." He groaned and I giggled.
"Charles, no one said you had to wear it all night…take off your suit coat silly!" I said, pulling it off for him and throwing it across a chair.
"See? You're already taking care of me." He said, swinging me around.
"Can I cut in?" I turned to see Erik standing there and laughed.
"Certainly…my husband is a bit antsy…" I said as Alana came up behind Charles and grabbed his arm, winking at me.
"I'll just take him off your hands for a few minutes." She said, laughing and I nodded.
"You're too kind." I said as Charles stuck his tongue out at me. A gesture which I repeated. Erik chuckled, pulling me in to dance with me.
"Erik, has Charles talked to you yet?" I asked him.
"You mean about taking my last name?" He asked and I nodded. He sighed.
"It is truly his choice Madeleine…I am not sure if Raoul would want that." He said and I shook my head.
"Charles spoke to him about it and it was actually his idea." I replied. He nodded.
"Raoul always was too noble for his own good. Stupid boy." He said and I laughed.
"He's forty-six, nearly forty-seven and you still call him a boy?" I asked and he shrugged.
"Madeleine dear…compared to me, he still is. I am sixty-one after all." I gasped.
"You are?" I asked, in a state of shock and he chuckled.
"Yes…I was twenty years older than Christine." My eyes widened.
"Yes, I knew you were older than her, but you look so…young! I wouldn't believe you to be a day over fifty!" I said and he laughed again.
"Well that certainly gives my confidence a boost. You're much different than Christine you know." He said and I looked at him.
"Is that…good?" I asked and he nodded.
"It would have done her good to be something like you." He said and I blushed fiercely, sending him into laughter again. It was the first time I'd seen him actually laugh out loud.
Charles was waiting for me in our room after the guests had left. He was grinning like an idiot and I knew what was coming. To my complete and utter shock, he produced luggage and a key.
"What is this?" I asked with a laugh and he smirked.
"We have a suite waiting for us in the Bordeaux Hotel, courtesy of Nadir, Dad and Erik." He said and I nearly swooned excited. I'd never stayed in a hotel, much less a suite before.
"Are you serious?" I asked and he nodded, as I pulled on my cloak and he helped me into the carriage downstairs after I'd kissed all three men gratefully on the cheek.
"Don't stay away too long." Raoul teased, holding me tightly and I laughed.
"Don't worry Dad…we'll be home by tomorrow night." Charles hugged Raoul and shook Nadir's hand before he stopped in front of Erik, obviously lost. Erik shook his head and chuckled holding his arms out jokingly as Charles stepped into them, just as teasingly.
"Thanks Papa." He said, winking at him and Erik shot him a look.
"Oh go enjoy your wedding night you silly boy." He said with a small chuckle. I just looked at Raoul and shrugged before taking Charles's hand and we ran to the waiting carriage.
"Charles." I said, lying in his arms after we'd finally consummated our union that night.
"What is it?" He asked with his eyes closed and I smiled, pulling the covers over our bodies. I was just barely beginning to swell in the middle, but I had yet to feel anything. I made myself comfortable in the crook of his arm with my head on his shoulder.
"What kind of parents do you think we'll be?" I asked and he opened his eyes.
"I don't know." He said truthfully, "But one thing is for sure…this baby will be loved. From Aunt Laney to Aunt Meg to Dad and Erik. I only wish Granny Giry could see him born." He said and I laughed.
"How do you know it will be a boy?" I asked and he shrugged.
"I don't…I wouldn't mind if it was a girl…but seeing my cousins, they're so damn mouthy…not to mention you…" I smacked him, laughing.
"You are a bastard." I said, hitting him with the pillow. He pulled it out of my grip and grabbed me into another round of passionate kissing. I could tell it was going to be a long night…