Bravissimo

The Pair She'd Never Wear

Christine-

The day of the Opera finally upon us, I approach the Opera House with Gustave's small hand in my own. Hopefully the two will be awake by now as they stayed awake all last night. Walking inside I'm happy to see Carlotta and Andre there. "Madame Destler.." "Yes?" I answer André. "Dear the two are... up still." He says as Firmin walks in. 

"Ah, yes it's true, the other two Destlers are... awake." He says walking down the stairs, "Awake? As in... still?" I ask. Carlotta nods her head. "They've gone... mad.. they've been awake a whole day!" I roll my eyes. 

"The question is do they KNOW that?" I say and leave Gustave with Carlotta and André follows me. We open the doors and the sound of the two can be heard. Papers shuffling, and Erik playing the organ as Annabel leans on the organ laughing along with Erik. "I don't get it, two different people should not be able to get along that well!" André says and chuckles. I approach the stage and see what they're all talking about. "Okay you two it was time for bed many hours ago, yes?" I say getting onstage. "Father, it must be day, yet again." Annabel says with wide eyes and a smile.

I look at André and he looks at me confused and I put up my hands. "Promise me you'll never try to understand those two... you'll lose your mind." I say and sit. I walk over to André and we cross our arms just watching them lean against each other as they laugh. "Exhaustion, I assume?"

"Maybe, that or just two geniuses that actually understand each other." I say and shake my head with a loving smile. "My two enigmas. Now, Annabel? I want you to have at least a few hours of rest, you have an important party to attend to, yes?" I say and she looks to her father. "More like I'm to attend a probable slaughter of my own name." she says and Erik begrudgingly looks to the right with a nod. 

"You said you would." he tells her softly. "I say a lot of things." Annabel says with an eye roll. "But you're no liar." "No." she says with a grin. "Your mother is right, you should go. Just be vigilant, you know how." Erik says and Annabel looks around with a nod. "Alright." she says giving it up and walks off taking her father's cape with her to her dressing room.

"Christine." Erik says stretching out his arm for me to take it, but when I do he quickly spins me around and pulls me to him my back against his chest. Burrowing his face in my hair I can feel him smile as he kisses my neck. "And how are you mon Cheri?" he asks as I bring my hand up to his cheek. 

"I am well dear." I say with a laugh. "And how are you? You must be so tired." I say a bit worried. "You give me all the energy I need my Angel." he says and I grin. "Whatever you say darling." I say turning myself to face him. 

"Would you like me to prove myself?" he says with a head tilt and a mischievous grin. I can feel my cheeks get hot and I shake my head. "I believe you dear." I say as he lifts my head with his finger. "That's good." he says looking deep into my eyes and quite possibly my soul, and I can't help but laugh, wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply. 

"So, what are you working on then?" I ask and lead him back to the organ. "Oh, just seeing what pieces could fit different Operas and scenarios." he says and I nod and I gently look at the papers on the organ and see that some of the pieces have been written by Annabel herself. "Where does she find the time?" I ask and look up at Erik. 

"When she should be resting of course." Firmin says joining us on stage. The sound of small feet running down the velvet steps is heard and Erik grins as we hear, "Dad!" Gustave quickly runs around to the side door and makes his way up to the stage. "Hello there son." Erik says crouching down as Gustave runs right into him in a hug. 

"The Opera's tonight!" Gustave says and Erik looks up to me with a dramatically confused face. "No way... was that tonight?" he says and stands back up putting his hands on his hips. "Well Gustave I think that's during your bedtime, maybe we shouldn't go." Erik says and Gustave looks up to him and says, "What?!" I giggle as Erik chuckles.