The Phantom's Carol (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 15 - Marriage

Carol's POV:

I smiled and adjusted Carly's hair. She looked like a dream in her white dress. Yep, today was her wedding day. It had been three weeks since Erik had scared Fraser almost to death. Carly and I had been planning the wedding and I knew she was excited. We had found a minister who didn't mind that the groom and best man were wearing masks and didn't seem even human. Derek's deformity wasn't near so bad as Erik's. Besides, Erik was insane. It made him much more frightening. Derek looked like someone a person might want for a friend. Erik looked like he would kill you quick as look at you. It was strange to think how their pasts had affected them so much.

Carly stood up and twirled a little. She looked like such a young girl in that white dress. It was hard to believe that she was older than me by at least a year. Something then hit me. Erik and I hadn't celebrated my birthday. It had passed at least three months ago. That meant I was now seventeen. I smiled at the thought. I really didn't care about my birthday. It wasn't too important. I was happy as I was. It was nice to know though that I was one year older than I had been. I took Carly's hand and silently we walked to the door which led to the chapel. Her hand was shaking and she was blushing. I looked at her and whispered,

"You will be fine. You love Derek and he loves you. Don't worry. He will treat you well." Carly nodded and I could see the nerves finally showing themselves. Through the whole planning, she had tried to stay calm but now all her fears were surfacing. I laughed slightly at her worry and squeezed her hand. I heard the organ start and I headed down the aisle. I was her bridesmaid as you might expect. Erik was standing beside Derek and I couldn't help but smile. I had figured out that I was completely in love with the Opera Ghost. There was no doubt about it now. I looked into his golden eyes and blushed a little. Now I felt like a school girl. I doubt he cared about me. He was still getting over Christine. I would wait no matter how much it was starting to hurt me. I looked back and saw that Carly was walking down the aisle. She was alone. Her father had abandoned her family when she was young and she had told me her mother had died of an epidemic. It dawned on my that I hadn't ever asked how she met Derek. I would have to ask sometime.

The wedding went on nicely and at last the minister said,

"You may kiss the bride." Derek kissed Carly soundly on the lips and I looked at Erik. There were tears in his eyes and pain as well. I knew he wasn't crying because it was so sweet. I knew he was crying because he hadn't ever been kissed on the lips. I knew that. If he hadn't been hugged before I knew he hadn't been kissed. I smiled at him and he tried to return it. It was the closest he had ever gotten to smiling. It was progress. I blushed as Derek kept kissing Carly. I knew they were very happy to be together but I was getting a little jealous of them. I had a man I loved but he still loved someone else. I was stuck. Finally I cleared my throat. Carly looked at me with a blush. Erik shot me the thank-you-so-much look. I smiled and we hurried out of the chapel. I had offered the lair as a good place for the reception and it didn't take us long to get down there. Surprisingly, Carly's dress didn't get one spot.

We settled down on the various chairs and proceeded to eat what little I had managed to scrounge. Erik didn't keep much around. I couldn't help but think that he might put on some weight if he ate more than once every two or three days. Carly stood up to get some more cake and I followed her. I wanted to ask her about Derek. As she carefully cut another piece I said,

"Carly, I was wondering how you met Derek?" She blushed and looked down.

"Well, you know that my mother died of the pox right?" I nodded. She continued, "Well, there was no doctor in our town. I had heard from my neighbor about a strange man who helped her when her baby became ill. He wasn't a legal doctor but he knew what he was doing. I was so desperate that I went to find him. When I went to see him I didn't even notice his mask or deformity. I just wanted help. Without him Mother would have gone in a lot of pain. He wasn't able to save her but he did ease her passing." Tears welled in Carly's eyes and I bit my lip.

"I didn't mean to make you cry, Carly." She shook her head.

"After my mother died and I was over the grieving process which he was there for me every step of the way, we started to have dinner together as friends. I liked him and he me. In the end he asked me if he could court me. I agree and one thing led to another and we fell in love. About two years ago he asked me if he could marry me. I was really young. Only sixteen. He wanted to wait until I was over eighteen. I was glad. I was way too young to start a family. Well, we waited and then he found an advertizement about the Opera House and he wanted to buy it so badly. How could I tell him no? It had become his dream. So we came here and let me tell you the shock we got when I found out that your friend was the Opera Ghost. Then to find out that I was to be the sister-in-law to him. Ever since I met Derek my life has taken some drastic changes. But I wouldn't change it for the world." I smiled and looked back at Erik. He and Derek were talking. I realized something. When a person meets someone who seems to be deformed that person's life takes some weird turns. My friend was now the sister-in-law to the Opera Ghost and I was the Phantomess. It was a strange twist of fate. I told her so. She laughed and dragged me back to the group. We finished the reception and watched the two lovers leave. I hugged Erik and felt him stiffen a little. He couldn't get used to it. I had hoped he would but it meant a lot to me to know that he treasured everyone of his hugs from me like it was his last.