I hope you guys liked that two chapters yesterday. There is so much more drama now that Erik confessed his love to Ella. But will Ella love him back? We will just have to see. So please read, review, follow, favorite, and enjoy. Thanks.

~Lauren

Chapter 10

Life and Death

Ella's eyes are still shut tight moments after she hears the gunshot. She doesn't want to look at Erik's dead body. She couldn't bear. A tear streams down her face. But she is shocked when she hears a familiar voice.

"Eleanore!"

Her eyes shoot open and she looks to her left and sees Erik alive and well.

"Oh my God, Erik! You're alive! Wait, then what was the gunshot?"

Erik motions to the floor in front of them and they sees Charley laying there and a very surprised Meg holding out a gun.

"Meg! Oh my God! How did you know where we were?!" Ella asks in shock. Meg giggles, puts down the gun, and rushes over to them and starts working at the ropes on their ankles.

"Well, after Erik came to my mother and said you were missing, I became very worried. So I went and followed Erik and Cesar down here. I was hiding on the side of the house. I thought Erik had everything under control, until Charley pulled out the gun and was about to kill him. So I ran in here, pulled out my gun, and shot."

"That is magnificent. Thank you, Meg." Erik says to her when she finishes untying his hands. Meg then moves over to Ella and starts untying her ankles. Erik scoots over too and unties Ella's hands. When they finish, they all get up and walk slowly over to Charley.

"Are you sure he's dead?" Ella asks, frightened.

Meg nods. "I am pretty sure. I shot him in the back. And if he wasn't, he would be up and attacking us by now." Ella and Erik nod, understanding.

Erik sighs and looks at the girls. "We should get out of here. Let's just leave this bastard to die." The girls nod in disgust at Charley. They walk out of the house and Erik jumps on Cesar. Meg grabs her horse from the side of the house and jumps on her back. Ella decides to ride with Erik. So she jumps on his horse too and holds onto his waist. Erik turns around and smiles at her, she smiles back.

"You should lead the way. You know how to get back better than I do." Meg says with a smirk.

Erik nods and they start riding back to the Populaire.

XxXxXx

When they put their horses back and head into the opera house, Meg goes back into her mother's office and Erik and Ella go back into Ella's room. Ella sits down on the chair in front of her mirror and Erik sits on her bed, facing her.

"You love me?" Ella asks with a slight smile.

"I do. So much." Erik says.

"What made you love me?"

"You are caring, sweet, talented, and so beautiful."

Ella blushes.

"I never thought I would find love again, but then I met you." She blushes. "When I first met you, Eleanore, I felt a great connection. I didn't know what the feeling was at first, but then as we met more and more each day, I realized it was love."

Ella starts to tear up, feeling a great rush of joy.

"Oh, Erik…I…I…" She jumps out of her chair and rushes over to him. She puts her hands on the side of his face, and kisses his passionately. He kisses her back, embracing this moment. When they release they smile at each other.

"You love me back?" Erik asks, shocked.

She smiles ta him and kisses him once more. He grabs onto her back, and embraces her into his lips. When she pulls away she says with a giggle, "Does that answer your question?" He smiles at her with tears in his eyes. "Oh, Ella." He mutters before bringing her in for another kiss. She loves the feel of his warm and juicy lips on hers. He just loves having a women by his side that loves him.

Ella suddenly pulls away and stares at him with a furrowed brow. Erik becomes concerned and furrows his brow too. "You called me Ella." She smiles. He smiles too. "Oh, yeah. I guess I did." They both laugh and kiss lightly once more.

Ella gets up from in front of him and sits next to him on the bed. Erik then comes up with an idea.

"Can I take you out to dinner tonight? I will pick you up in about an hour?"

Ella nods with a big smile. He gets up off of the bed and kisses her lightly on the lips before leaving through the mirror.

An hour later, Erik comes through the mirror looking better than ever. His jaw drops when he sees Ella in her gorgeous purple dress.

"Oh my-Ella, you look…uh…um…" he stumbles over his words. He is obviously nervous and doesn't know what to say. He has never been in the presence of a woman like this. He blushes and Ella giggles to herself. She knows what he is trying to say so she says, "Thank you. You look wonderful." Erik giggles and walks over to her and kisses her.

"Shall we go?" he asks her. She nods with a bright smile. He takes her hand, actually without his glove, and leads her out to the front of the opera house. He lets her into the carriage. She nods at him in thanks. Erik tells the coachman where to go and they are off.

When they arrive at the restaurant, Erik opens the door, letting Ella go first. She thanks his and Erik follows her in. He tells the hostess that he has a reservation, and they get led to their table.

They sit down and Ella looks at her menu. But Erik keeps staring at her. Ella doesn't feel uncomfortable, she feels loved. She peers up at him and smiles.

"You are so beautiful."

Ella blushes. "Oh, stop it. I am not that beautiful, Erik"

"You are. And if people don't think that, they are just all idiotic assholes."

"Erik! Language! We are in public." Ella shouts with a smile and another blush.

"Sorry."

Ella giggles once more.

They eventually order their food and have a wonderful dinner talking about their lives at the opera house and a bunch of other random things. Then Erik says something that excites Ella.

"Hey, I have a present for you."

Ella's eyes brighten and she claps her hands together. Erik pulls a tiny box out of his pocket and holds it in his hand. Ella gasps. "Erik…" is all she can say. He smiles. He gets up out of chair and comes next to her chair.

He gets down on one knee and looks up at her with loving eyes.

"Ella, Eleanore, Ellie, whatever name you go by, I love you so much. I have never thought I would love again. But then you came into my life and my heart was dug up from its grave. I just want to spend every moment of my life with you for now and forever. Please make me the happiest Phantom in the world, and marry me."

Ella has had her hands up to her mouth throughout his whole speech. She starts to cry and she nods vigorously. He gets up off of his knee. She grabs him and kisses him, making his cheeks wet with her tears. When they release, he takes her hand and slips the ring on her finger. All the other people around them in the restaurant cheer and clap for them. Erik nods to them and Ella giggles.

Ella looks down at her hand and cries even more at the beauty of her ring. It is a gorgeous sliver band with an orange diamond in the middle. "How did you know my favorite color was orange?" she asks with a smirk. Erik shrugs. "I can just guess with some people." She giggles and leans across the table to kiss her fiancé.

This was truly the best day of her life.

She will have an amazing life with Erik, and she just knows it.