For some reason I decided to go back to this story even though it is so cheesy. I will be updating the eye of the beholder again soon, but I decided to try and finish this one aswell.
"Christine! What are you…?" Raoul stopped where he was in the doorway, staring at the two of them. "What is going on here?"
Christine stepped out of Erik's arms and stared at Raoul. This was slightly awkward. "Raoul. What are you doing here?"
"I've come to get your answer, but I think I already know what it is." He looked dejectedly from Christine to Erik. "You two are together now?"
Christine nodded, turning to smile at Erik, and then back to Raoul. As happy as she was, she couldn't help feeling guilty. She knew that Raoul had cared for her for a long time, and he had wanted to marry her.
"I feared something like this would happen." Raoul looked down at his feet. "Do you love her?" He asked Erik.
"I love her more than life itself." Erik stared lovingly at Christine. Christine stared back at him, and both of them seemed to have forgotten that Raoul was still in the room. After a few moments he had to cough to get their attention.
"I guess I'll just be leaving then." Looking morose, Raoul slipped out of the room, leaving Erik and Christine alone. As soon as he was gone, they fell back into each other's arms once more.
"I can't believe this is happening." Erik moaned in-between kisses. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Christine replied, grinning broadly.
"So you don't wish you were with Raoul?"
Christine leaned back and gave him a piercing look. "Seeing as I have been in love with only you for almost all my life I doubt I will be changing my mind."
"Christine I…" He suddenly looked nervous and began fidgeting. "I need to ask you something. You don't have to answer now, and I'll understand if you say no. Just because you love me doesn't mean you want to do that. Christ knows what the village would say."
"Erik, you're rambling." Christine giggled at him. "What do you want ask me?" She felt that she already knew, and he heart was hammering.
Erik closed his eyes, not wanting to see the doubt in her eyes when he asked. "Christine, will you be my wife? Please, don't answer yet. I want you to think about it. I love you so much and…"
"Yes."
"What…what did you say?"
"I was growing tired of you mumbling so I decided to put a stop to it. Of course I will marry you, you fool! What on earth made you think I would say no?"
"I just wasn't sure whether you would want to, because of what the village would say. You are the most beautiful woman here, and everyone knows it. They will be shocked to say the least if you marry me."
"Erik." Christine felt close to tears listening to him. How could he ever think she wouldn't be proud to be his wife? "Nothing in this world could make me happier than to be your wife, and if you think I give a damn about what anyone in this village thinks then perhaps you don't know me at all."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him passionately. He moaned in pleasure as he cupped her face and kissed her back with all his heart.
"I can't believe this. I think I might be dreaming."
"God, I hope this isn't a dream. If so it's the best dream I've ever had."
"I'm sorry my love but I don't have a ring to give you."
"I don't care." Christine murmured, giving him one more kiss. "All I want is you. When can we get married? I don't care about a big wedding. I just want to be married to you as soon as possible."
"I feel the same. I would marry you today if I could." Erik said. "How about next week?"
"Next week! But what about booking the church, and my dress, and everything else we need to prepare?"
"I thought you wanted to get married as soon as possible. I will have to apply for a special license, but I think it can be done." Erik grinned at Christine's shocked look.
"Perhaps I should have said humanly possible."
"Alright, how about in two weeks? Surely that will give you enough time to get dresses and flowers and whatever else these things involve."
"It'll be hectic, but I'm sure we can do it."
……….
The next few weeks were indeed hectic. Luckily Christine managed to find a dress which she loved when she went into Paris the next day. Erik had managed to persuade the village priest Father Johnson to perform the ceremony in two weeks time. The time passed like a flash and Christine had never been so excited and happy in all her life. Her great Aunt Lydia had come to live at Christine's house after her father's funeral to act as her guardian and chaperone until she was married. This fact made Christine long to be married even more. Though at heart a kind woman, Aunt Lydia was infuriatingly annoying, and never knew when to shut up. Thankfully when she wasn't talking she was sleeping, which seemed to be most of the time now. This meant that Christine could be alone with Erik a lot of the time, and she didn't have to live without his kisses. At times she felt a stab of sadness that her father wasn't here to see her get married, but she knew he would be watching her and that comforted her somewhat.
The evening before the wedding, Christine was sat in her house, and feeling particularly sad about her father. She was looking through piles if his old belongings, and trying to sum up the courage to throw things away. After the wedding she would be living with Erik, so she needed to clear out the house. It was a lot harder than she thought it would be, and she was feeling very emotional.
She felt a pair of arms wrap around her, and a pair of lips cares her neck. Turning around, she buried her face in his chest, and sobbed. "I miss him so much, Erik."
"I know darling." He rubbed her back gently, and kissed the top of her head. "I know it's hard now but things will get easier, I promise."
She turned her head so that she was resting it against his chest. He felt so warm and comforting. How did he manage to make her feel so much better with just a hug and a few words?
"Would you like me to help you?" He tipped her chin slightly so he could see into her face.
"Thank you. That would be nice."
He sat down on the floor with her and helped her to sort through the piles of papers and clothes. A lot of the paper was music scores that he had written years ago, and long since abandoned. Christine was thrilled when Erik said he would like to keep them. It had been a long time since she had heard her father's music, and she knew Erik would do it justice. At the end of the evening they had sorted all of her father's things into piles of things to give away and things to keep. Erik was such a big help when it came to deciding what to keep and what not too. In the end she was able to narrow it down to just those items which held the most sentimental value.
"Oh Erik you've been such a great help. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you." She told him later, as they lay on the couch together by the fire.
"Think nothing of it my love. Now I think you should be getting to bed. You've had a long day, and we have a big day tomorrow."
"Mmmm." Christine groaned, and burrowed closer into him. She was so comfortable where she was, and didn't want to move. At present she hated the nights, as that was when Erik had to leave, and she was alone. She couldn't wait until the following night and every night after when she could be with Erik all the time. Whenever she thought about what would happen in the marriage bed she felt a jolt of excitement mixed with nerves. She had very little knowledge of the doings of husbands and wives, apart from that kissing and hugging was involved. She loved both those things, but that didn't stop her from being slightly fearful. She knew beyond any doubt that she loved Erik with all her heart, and whatever was to come tomorrow night, he would make it wonderful.
"Come on." Erik laughed. "I can't stay here any longer. It's nearly tomorrow, and you know I can't see you before the wedding."
Christine snorted in a very unladylike fashion. "I never thought you believed in superstition?"
"I don't, but I know you do. Now don't you need your beauty sleep?"
Christine gave him an affronted look. "Are you saying I look bad if I don't get enough sleep?"
"You are always beautiful my love, but you don't want to be tired for our big day do you?"
"I guess not." She yawned, and started to get up. "You had better be going before it gets to midnight then."
They shared one last passionate kiss before Erik left.
As Christine lay in bed that night she thought that Erik may as well have stayed longer. She was not going to get a wink of sleep, and spent the entire night tossing and turning. Eventually, when it got to six in the morning, she decided to get up and begin getting ready. The wedding was at midday, but there was a lot to do, and she couldn't bear to stay in bed any longer. When she deemed enough time had passed before the rest of the house was awake, she rang for her maid to help her prepare.
In the end it took a lot longer for her to get ready than she originally planned. Christine had grown tired of being called beautiful all her life, and had often tried to downplay her physical attributes to try any take the attention off her when she went into public. On this day however, she wanted to look as beautiful as she possibly could for her soon to be husband. All of the female staff in the house had crowded into her room, and helped her with her makeup and hair. Seeing as she didn't have any female friends in the village, she had grown close to a lot of them over the years, and she had of lot of fun getting ready for her wedding.
When midday arrived Christine's nerves had built so that she was feeling almost nauseous. She gave her reflection one last glance in the mirror and took a deep breath. Even she thought that she didn't look too bad today. Her blonde curls were piled up on top of her head with the odd tendril caressing her neck, and her makeup was expertly applied to look as natural as possible. Her dress was made of ivory silk, and hugged her curves flatteringly. She thought it was perhaps a little low in the front, and the bodice pushed her breasts up so her cleavage was clearly visible. She knew that Erik would adore it though, she thought with a blush. She gave the beaming maid one last smile before she made her way down the stairs and out of the house.
She was a little sad to be leaving the house for the last time. It held a lot of memories of her father and of her mother before she had died. She knew that after she was married the place would pass onto Erik, and after a talk they had decided to sell it. They had both deemed it a good idea, seeing as they wouldn't be living there, and the staff would lose their jobs if the house wasn't lived in. Christine much preferred the idea of another family living there over it becoming derelict.
………….
As Erik stood waiting for his bride in the chapel, he was growing more and more nervous. It seemed like the entire village had turned up for the wedding. Erik knew the reason was mere curiosity rather than anything else, but he didn't care. They could gawk all they wanted. Christine was his and that was all that mattered. He smiled to himself as he saw various men scattered through the seats looking very miserable. No doubt every last one of them was morning the loss of the most beautiful woman in the world, and the thought made Erik jubilant with happiness. He still could not believe that Christine was finally going to be his. Perhaps he never truly would.
When the music began and Erik saw Christine gliding towards him in a dress that made her look more like an angel than ever before, he swore he forgot to breath, such was his awe of her beauty. Never had he seen such a beautiful sight in all his life. The hair which escaped its style caressed her face in a way that he longed to do, and her breasts were glorious in her flowing white gown. He knew that every man in the room was staring at her in the same way, but instead of his usual jealousy he felt nothing but joy. How could he possibly feel jealous when she was about to become his wife? They were the jealous ones, and Erik almost laughed at the thought. He had never thought that he would be the object of other men's jealousies, but he knew that every single one of those single men wanted to be in his shoes at that moment, and for the first time in his life Erik would have been no one but himself.
Christine felt all her nerves lift away when she saw Erik stood at the altar. It was all she could do not to run the rest of the way and throw her arms around him. That would of course be totally inappropriate. When she did reach his side, she smiled brightly at him, and almost started crying when he took her hand and kissed it. Christine couldn't believe how much she loved this man, and that after all these years her dream of becoming his wife was finally coming true.
"Dearly Beloved…." The priest began the ceremony that would join them together forever.
Yep I told you it was cheesy. I needed to get in the fluffy mood for my other story anyway. Review please and updates for both my stories will come quicker!!