Chapter 14: I'll Carry You For The End Of My Days

Erik smiled brightly as Gustave rushed down the beach whilst flying his kite and the former phantom turned and put the break on Claire's wheelchair before lifting her into his arms and began carrying her bridal style,

"Erik, you don't have to do that" Claire insisted but he smiled at her softly and pressed a kiss to her forehead,

"I will accept any excuse that allows me to hold you in my arms" Erik teased lightly causing Claire to raise her eyebrow as she smiled in amusement,

"You can't carry me forever" she pointed out as he sat down on a laid out picnic mat and sat her on his lap,

"I will carry you for the rest of my days, Claire" he whispered, brushing his nose against her own softly before they both shared a kiss and Erik couldn't help but chuckle as he felt Claire remove his mask causing him to deepen the kiss and Claire smiled into it, wrapping her arms around his neck as she did so.

It was in a present day that Gaston Leroux sat before a grown up Gustave Destler whom had his own son sat upon his lap,

"So did your step mother ever walk again?" Gaston asked curiously and Gustave smiled sadly,

"No. But she and my father didn't care. They were happy and that was all they had ever wanted" Gustave explained, turning to look at a protrait on the wall that showed Erik holding Claire in his arms with their foreheads rested against one another's,

"He was true to his word... He carried her till the very end of his days. Well at least until the end of hers. It was mama Claire whom passed away first and my father insisted on carrying her coffin along with Nadir, Gangle and Squelch despite his age but as you already know... My father was a very stubborn man" Gustave reminded with a chuckle but Mr Leroux could only look at the young man before him with a sad expression,

"Such a tragic ending... To lose your step mother but to now have lost your father only months ago... I truly am sorry, Mr Destler" Gaston said,

"But it's not a tragic ending. For my stepmother and my father... It is only the beginning" Gustave reasoned,

"I see... So did Claire and your farther ever get married?" Gaston asked curiously,

"Oh they did but you won't find a marriage certificate i'm afraid. You see, my father and stepmother made their vows to each other in the greenhouse that Claire had helped restore. They didn't need a priest. Only me, Nadir, Madame Giry and Meg to witness their love for each other" Gustave explained and Gaston couldn't help but smile,

"Do you think your father and step mother have been reunited in heaven?" he asked,

"I can only hope so" Gustave murmured with a smile, turning his head towards the window and looked out at the sky.

It was in the great beyond that Erik Smiled brightly as his beloved Claire came into sight and she ran towards him and he lifted her into his arms as they shared a long awaited kiss,

"I have missed you" Erik whispered,

"You don't have to carry me any more, Erik. Here in Heaven. I can walk by your side forever more" Claire reminded him gently,

"That may be my love but the fact remains that I never want or intend to ever let you out of my arms again" he told her, causing her to smile softly as they shared another passionate kiss.

I hope you all enjoyed "Phantom Of My Heart" Please let me know what you thought of the overall story!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996