A/N: Thank you SexyKnickers, Warriors222, and MandaPanda89 for the reviews! They really do mean a lot! I do not own any of Phantom or the songs in this story.
Songs in this chapter: "Everytime We Touch" Cascada
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you!
_-*Annabelle's POV*-_
I looked at myself in the mirror. I saw myself there, but I couldn't help wondering if Erik was there.
My dress was black and white. The white part was designed to look like music paper. Red roses were on the black part. My mask was white and looked like a music sheet. It was rimmed in gold and had black ribbons attached to a red rose on the side. I had two gloves: one white and one black. I wore red heels that had black on the toe. A red rose was in my hair which had been curled, pulled into a fancy up-due and glittered (thanks to Juliette). I took a deep breath and smiled. I thought I looked beautiful.
A light knock on my door pulled me away from the mirror. Phillip was standing there. Since Erik wouldn't be able to come, I allowed Phillip to take me as a friend. Being the patron, he couldn't show up alone, and our new manager was a guy. I owed it to him because I broke his heart. And we had been friends for a while.
"Think of it, a secret engagement," Phillip whispered to me.
"You wish," I said going to find my friends. I didn't feel so bad about rejecting him now.
Masquerade! Paper faces on parade!
Masquerade. Hide your face so the world will never find you!
The room sang and danced. I joined in the fun.
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around there's another mask behind you
Flash of mauve, splash of puce
Fool and king, ghoul and goose,
Green and black, queen and priest,
Trace of rouge, face of beast
Faces!
I smiled as I danced with my friends and some of the guys of the chorus. It was one of the best nights of my life.
I found Christine and Raoul there, too.
"I have great news," Christine said with a huge smile.
"What is it?" I asked.
"We're having a baby," Raoul said.
"Annabelle," Mme. Giry came up and whispered to me, "The new manager wants you to treat us all to a song,"
I beamed. I had become the leading lady as Caprice had become too afraid to sing. The new manager was a lot older than me, so Erik didn't mind him favoring me so much.
She led me the landing on the stairs. The band began to play a song from the new musical. I began to sing.
"I still hear your voice, when you sleep next to me.
I still feel your touch in my dreams.
Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why
Without you it's hard to survive.
'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
'Cause everytime we touch, I feel the static.
And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so...
I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.
Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky.
They wipe away tears that I cry.
The good and the bad times, we've been through them all.
You make me rise when I fall.
'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
'Cause everytime we touch, I feel the static.
And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so...
I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.
'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side."
The room applauded and I took a bow.
When the ball finally ended, I slipped down to lair. I hadn't seen Erik in two weeks. I missed him a lot. The lair was dark when I arrived. I couldn't see anything.
"Erik? Are you here?" I called.
"Close your eyes," his voice ordered from somewhere in the gloom. I closed them. "Are they closed?"
"Mmmhmm," I replied.
"Alright. Don't open them until I say so," he instructed. Through my eyelids, I could tell that the room was becoming brighter. A moment later I felt him take my hand. "Just follow me." He carefully led me up some stairs and then down some more. "Okay, open your eyes,"
I opened them. I was standing in front of a black curtain. I didn't know what this was about.
"Anna, I want to tell you that I love you and I always will," he said, "You have shown me a new way to live and a way to be happy again. You made me smile and helped me see that I can be loved. You helped heal me. I feel like you are the very embodiment of music. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Forever. So…" he pulled the curtain up to reveal the most beautiful wedding dress I'd ever seen. It was a white ball gown. There were fabric flowers in the back. Crystal stars were pinned in the skirt. A music note design was on the torso. It was strapless and elegant. The veil was embroidered with masks and roses. A diamond tiara held it on. My jaw dropped.
"Marry me?" he asked.
I stared at him wide-eyed. "Take your mask off," I finally said.
"Anna…" he looked at me weird.
"Just do it!" I ordered, rather harshly. Slowly, his hand rose to it and he pulled it off. I could tell he wasn't breathing because he was so nervous. I looked at him for a second. "From now on, you are not to wear that mask when we are alone or so help me, I will pin you down and tear it off,"
He stared at me in shock. "You…you're not afraid?" he asked.
I smiled. "Of course not. Why would I be? Whether you mask is on or off doesn't affect who you are. You're still the Erik that I love. You're still the Erik that I'm going to marry,"
"So that's a yes, you will marry me?" he asked.
I smiled and nodded. He embraced me tightly and kissed me. He then slipped a ring onto my finger and kissed me again.
This. This was the best day of my life!
A/N: Ah, a happy moment in stories! Aren't they just the sweetest? But, we all know that unfortunate events that will follow them…
