Sweet Seduction
Epilogue
A/N: The music of the night really is over. I just wanted to thank all the wonderful people who have read and reviewed this story, or simply read it, as long as you enjoyed it. I don't think I've ever enjoyed writing any of my other stories more than this one, and I just wanted to say thanks. Your reviews just made my day, and I loved reading them. I'm planning to write some other POTO fanfic stories (and I've already written a new Wicked fic!) , so I hope everyone will check up on me once in a while to see what I have in the works. So (For the last time) please leave a review. And enjoy ;)
Erik and Christine Destler went on to lead happy (and musically) fulfilled lives. After the enormous success of Don Juan, Erik Destler continued writing operas, many of which were acclaimed as works of genius and some are still performed today. Eventually, after great consideration (and heavy persuasion from his wife) Erik Destler quit conducting and went on to become the Opera Poulaire's lead tenor to his wife's lead soprano for thirty wonderful years. Erik and Christine performed in many classical and modern operas, creating many memorable roles and performances and gaining fame all across Europe. Eventually, the controversies and fears about the "Phantom of the Opera" died down. Even with the publication of Leroux's novel of the same name in 1911, the Phantom was still only accepted as a myth or work of fiction, certainly not as a flesh-and-blood man and amazingly enough never once connected or suspected to the famous Erik Destler.
Christine and Erik were blessed with four children: Emilie-Annaliese, Bernard, Danielle, and Colette Destler. All of their children were musically and intellectually blessed. Emilie-Annaliese was an extraordinary singer and student, and later sang for the Opera Populaire. Bernard was almost a child prodigy on the violin and piano, a passion he turned a fine musical career out of .Danielle was a very talented composer, but she preferred architecture and mathematics over music and later became one of the first female mathematics professors at École Polytechnique. Colette was an astounding dancer from a young age and eventually quit her schooling to tour with the Russian Ballet.
Unfortunately, Emilie-Annaliese and Danielle did inherit parts of their father's deformity. One of Emilie-Annaliese's eyes was slightly larger than the other, and a different color, but nothing that stood out horridly once she applied some stage makeup. Danielle did have a more serious deformity, on her left cheek and upper forehead though, so she and her father always shared a sort-of special bond. But, unlike her father, Danielle never wore a mask, preferring to humiliate anyone who insulted or embarrassed her with her razor-sharp wits.
Meg Giry did get married to her sweetheart Jacques after another year of courting, and Georges finally proposed to Mme. Giry weeks later, allotting for a double mother-daughter wedding. All four remained with the Opera Popluaire within their respective jobs for the rest of their lives. Meg and Jacques were always know as "Auntie Meg and Uncle Jacques" in the Destler household, and were always dropping in to chat with their friends and godchildren, just as Mme. Giry and Georges were affectionately known as "Grand-Mere and Grand-Pere" and always stopping by to see (and lovingly spoil) their "grand"children. Erik and Christine experienced the normal fights and feuds married couples go through, as well as the difficulties and fights with their children about the usual things; discipline, school, courting, and so forth.
Erik and Christine eventually told their children the story of their meeting and romance, sparing no details (including their struggle with Raoul, who by that time was long-deceased from suicide), and their children never saw their amazing parents or their Opera House in the same light again.
When Erik and Christine eventually retired from performing, they spent their golden years traveling luxuriously around the world (even to America), regularly corresponding with their children and friends, and of course, singing.
Christine Daae died of a heart condition on June 15th, 1912 at the age of fifty-nine. In her final hours, she was surrounded by friends and family, and her final moments were spent as her husband sang softly to her at her bedside, her last words being "Erik, I love you angel". Nothing could console Erik Destler, who after the death of his wife wasted away and fell into a deep depression. The only minor act that relieved his pain was laying a fresh, red rose with a black ribbon tied around it on his wife's grave until his own death of natural causes on November 26th, 1914.
Years later, anyone who visited the lover's side by side graves were said to have heard gentle whispers on the breeze, one high soft and sweet, the other low, strong and warm, surrounding the graves and blending together in a fair harmony that sounded like music from the angels. Mayhaps it is the lovers singing together, maybe even the same words that are inscribed on their side-by-side tombstones:
You Alone Have Made My Song Take Flight,
It's Over Now, Our Music of the Night
THE END