Chapter 8

"I want nothing more in this instant than to lay you down in my bed, and make you mine" he softly spoke. He searched her eyes. Then took her hands, curled over his, and kissed them, first one, then the other. "But I want nothing more in this life than to first make you my wife."

Christine's heart leapt in her chest. Now this was a proposal! She gazed up at Erik and let all the love she felt for him shine through her eyes, her smile. Yes, yes, yes! her eyes said. As Christine smiled, her eyes lit up with a mischievous spark. "You wouldn't happen to have a priest stashed away down here somewhere, would you?"

Erik paused. Blinked. Then threw his head back and roared laughter. Christine laughed as well, enchanted by his beautiful radiant smile. It felt wonderful to laugh with Erik. It felt normal. And these were two people in divine want of a bit of "normal". Erik wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close, all the pent up tension leaving his body.

Christine wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Smiling, she said "I love you so very much." Erik nuzzled his face in her hair, joy radiating out of every pore in his body. "Oh, how I love you, my sweet."

"So then….no priest?" she giggled into his chest.

"More's the pity, but no, no priest" he chuckled.

They sat on the edge of the bed, holding hands. Erik gazed at their entwined fingers and then looked hesitantly into her eyes. "Darling, do you…." Eric blinked several times, and swallowed hard. Exhaled a deep breath and began again. "Would you…" He took another deep breath and tried to slow his racing pulse. Dear Lord, why am I so scared?

Just get on with it man!

Erik closed his eyes, inhaled, and opened them to Christine's gentle, encouraging smile. "I love you more than my own life" he began. "I never before even gave a thought to the possibility of being in love. Certainly I never dreamed of being loved in return." He smiled. "You are the only woman I have ever wanted, the only one I can ever be with." Erik slowly shook his head and gazed off into the distance. "Part of me thinks that this is all just a beautiful dream that will kill me upon awakening." He brought his eyes back to hers and tilted his head, considering her face and marveling at the puzzle before him. He gave her a small smile and leaned in and kissed her tenderly. Unshed tears formed in his eyes as they lingered on hers. "I want you. I want you, forever. I will do anything to make you want to stay by my side for the rest of my life."

Tears spilled down Christine's face.

"I want to be your husband. I promise to cherish you. Protect you. Love you until my last breath." Erik's voice broke. "Please, Christine. Please, marry me."

*.*.*.*.*.*.

"Raoul, what happened to you?" Then Meg remembered herself, "Oh, I beg your pardon. Your Lordship, what happened to you?" Meg had finally gotten Raoul up and settled into the skiff, after several attempts that almost ended with her in the water with him.

He certainly looked worse for the wear. Wet, stained, bruised and bedraggled. And the smell. Meg took shallow breaths through her mouth and tried to stay a bit back from him where the stench was not as pungent.

Raoul was shivering after his time in the water, and was huddled as close to the torch as he dared. In fits and starts, and with chattering teeth, he poured out the story of his failed rescue attempt of Christine, making sure to mention several times that he was certain that she needed medical assistance because she had clearly taken leave of her senses. By the time he got around to his encounter with the rat, Meg had stopped listening.

"…so if you would please just get out here, I will go and fetch Christine, and then the two of us will come back and get you." Raoul concluded.

Wait. No. What? What was that idiot yammering on about now? Meg blinked several times in rapid succession. "I beg your pardon your Lordship. What did you just say?"

Raoul sighed in exasperation. "I said, if you would please just get out of the boat now, then I can be on my way to undo this horrible mistake my fiancé has made."

"No."

"No? What do you mean, no?" Raoul was incredulous.

Meg rolled her eyes. "You're not deaf, and I don't stutter. No. No, no, no. No, you can't have my boat. No, you're not going after Christine. Just, no."

Raoul was nonplussed. This was certainly rather less cordial than he was used to. "But, but, I have to get back to her!" he exclaimed.

"Why?"

Raoul opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Seconds passed. At last he blurted out "Because she needs me!"

Meg snorted.

Raoul sighed heavily and put his head in his hands. "She can't love him. He's a murderous madman" he muttered.

"He hasn't killed anyone that didn't have it coming." Meg retorted. She then told him the truth about the perverted degenerate Buquet. To his credit, Raoul listened carefully, without interrupting. At the end of her tale, Raoul took a moment to consider. "He still acted as judge, jury, and executioner."

Meg shrugged. So?

Raoul sighed. They floated on for a while in silence.

They were coming up to the tunnel entrance that Meg knew would eventually lead them to the Phantom's lair. She gave no indication of that though, as she continued to paddle. She intended to row right past it and return Raoul to a dropping point, far away. As she paddled by, she was inwardly startled to see that there was now a solid stone wall, where there had once been a tunnel. Practiced actress that she was, she gave no indication that anything was amiss. Just frowned in concentration as she mentally reviewed the locations and pathways of the tunnel system.

So he really can move walls around down here. Hmm. Impressive.

Time for one of those contingency plans.

*.*.*.*.*.

Christine nodded, her eyes shining, full of love for her Angel. "One love. One lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you."

Erik released a ragged breath in relief. Their lips met in a full, lingering kiss. In Erik's mind he heard "I now pronounce you man and wife."

*.*.*.*.

Author's note: Thank you for reading, and thanks especially to the very kind people who have reviewed and followed. Any reviews are greatly appreciated!