Chapter Twenty-One

The Outcome of Strange Circumstances

A/N: This is the last official chapter of Winter Heat, followed right after by the epilogue, and if it seems a little fast paced it is meant to be that way. Thnx for any and all reviews! DJT

"Erik? Can I talk to you?"

Erik set down the clothes he had been packing to turn and look, surprisingly, at Raoul, who stood in the doorway. He seemed extremely nervous and he kept shifting his weight from side to side. Erik felt his hand clench unconciously and he silently told himself to relax. It would not due to start another arguement.

"What?" he snapped, unknowingly making his voice sharp. Raoul glanced down at his feet before looking at the masked man. He made a bold move and shut the door behind him, leaving them alone in the room together. Erik wondered what would make the man foolish enough to risk such a thing.

"I have just been thinking about my relationship with Christine," Raoul began, swallowing rather hard. Erik growled.

"There is no longer a relationship," Erik clarified for him. He did not need this man interferring with him and Christine any longer. Raoul frowned.

"No, let me finish," he insisted. Erik was surprised by the conviction in the other man's voice. He obviously had something he wanted to say.

"No matter what you think I care about Christine. I always will. When I found out she was now with you I can honestly say it killed me."

Erik had no idea why Raoul was telling him this. Did he want him to feel guilty? Was this some new trick to try and win Christine back? But he could hear the sincere earnestness in his voice and he knew that he had a point he was trying to get at.

"I don't know if you realize it, Erik, but she cares for you. And it is obvious you make her happy," he said with a sigh,"And I love her enough to know that you are what is best for her."

Erik almost had to ask Raoul to repeat himself. Had he just said what Erik thought he said? He was so stunned he did not know what to say. He had never expected this man to say such a thing to him.

"I know my opinion means nothing, but I came up here to apologize for what happened between us."

Erik did not know what drove him to move but he was suddenly approaching Raoul, who took an involuntary step back. But Erik held out his hand to the other man, his gratitude in his eyes. Raoul, stunned, shook the offered hand. A mutual respect for eachother appeared between them. The only thing they had in common was their mutual love for Christine. Erik realized that though Raoul had seemed like a jerk before, all he wanted was the best for Christine, it had just taken him a while to figure out that was what he wanted.

He was acting like a true man and apologizing for something that shouldn't have happened, and Erik respected him for it. He had no idea how this man could have been willing to do this. If their positions had been switched and Erik was the one to marry Christine only to find her in love with someone else he did not know what he would do. So he knew it could not be easy for Raoul. And it was obvious the man was still in love with Christine. And because of that love he was willing to do whatever it took to make her happy.

"We both lost our cool," Erik agreed. Raoul ran a hand through his hair.

"Christine has a way about her," Raoul said, causing both men to chuckle softly. It became quiet again while both men collected their thoughts.

"Take care of her, alright?" Raoul whispered. Erik met his eyes and nodded, silently promising him that he would. He saw Raoul differently and he did not seem like that bad of a guy.

0000000000

Raoul took a deep breath and walked out the door, leaving Erik to his thoughts. It had taken all of his willpower to go in there and say what needed to be said. He did not want an enemy in Erik, and he wanted Christine as a friend if he could have her as nothing else. He was surprised to see the very woman he was thinking about standing in the hallway. He felt his heart squeeze when he looked at her. She had been the woman for him and he had lost her...would there be another? Would he find the happiness she had found with Erik?

"Oh, Raoul, thank you..." she surprised him when she came to him and wrapped her arms around him in a fierce hug. He guessed she had heard the conversation he had had with Erik. When she pulled away there were tears in her eyes.

"Thank you so much," she whispered. He nodded. His acceptance was the only thing he could give her, and it had to be enough. "It means a lot to me."

"It was nothing...Christine?" he said. She smiled.

"Yes?"

"Take care of yourself, alright? If you need anything don't ever hesitate to call me," he murmured. She hugged him again and nodded. Nothing could explain the pride she had felt in both Raoul and Erik for coming to terms with eachother on their own. She had not had to say or do anything, and, to her, that showed her what men they both really were.

"I will, Raoul. And the same goes to you. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to," she said. He nodded, kissed her cheek, and walked away. Christine watched him go before smiling and going to get her things packed.

000000000

"Oh, Christine! I don't want you to go!"

Christine smiled through her tears and hugged a crying Meg. She and Erik had booked a flight that would take them to Christine's home and they were leaving in a few hours. She and Erik needed to start their new lives together, and she was very excited about the prospect.

"I know, Meg, but I promise I will not wait so long to come and visit again," Christine assured her. Meg nodded but cried even harder. Jacob took the brunette beauty from his wife and hugged her, beginning to think of her like a sister as well. Erik had little time to do or say anything before Meg threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically into his chest.

"Erik, I am so glad I met you!" she managed to cry between sobs. Erik smiled and hugged her. He felt he had truly found a friend in Meg and he was thankful for the way she had reacted when she had seen his unmasked face. It meant a lot to him. Jacob ended up having to pry his wife from Erik's arms because she truly did not want to see her friends go.

"I will stay in touch, Meg," Christine promised.

"You better," Meg replied, causing both Erik and Christine to smile. Meg nodded at Erik.

"This one is a keeper, Chris, don't lose him."

Christine smiled at Erik and gave him a kiss.

"I won't."

0000000000

Erik took a blanket and gently draped it over Christine's sleeping form. The plane had taken off an hour prior and it seemed to sink in for the first time that he was starting a life with Christine. He glanced over at her, a small smile coming to his lips as he watched her sleep peacefully. So much had happened since he had taken her out of that blizzard that he was still not sure if he was dreaming. If he was he would surely kill himself because this was better than any reality he could ever imagine for himself. He had never shared any aspect of his life with anyone, and since the time Christine had lived in his home he had realized that having the person you love there made it feel more like 'home'.

He knew they could make it together. He wanted to continue his art and Christine had her broadway life, so surely they would make more than enough money to support themselves and do the things they wished. But that was not anything that worried him. They had already gone through enough together to not care so much about trivial things.

What he had to worry about for the moment was much more important, and he was getting more nervous by the second.

0000000000

Christine groaned groggily when turbulance woke her up. Her eyes immediately landed on Erik to see him looking at her. She smiled at him sleepily and he returned the gesture.

"Did you get a good sleep?" he murmured. She nodded. She always did when he was next to her. Her heart was near to bursting with her love for him and it was such a strange and welcome feeling she had no idea what to do.

"I like it when you look at me like that," Erik whispered. Christine focused.

"Like what?"

"Like I am the only man you wish to see," he said. She smiled and took his hand.

"You are," Christine replied. He leaned over and kissed her softly and she giggled against his mouth.

"What?" he wondered.

"I feel so wonderful."

Erik leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"I plan on making you feel even more wonderful tonight."

Christine leaned back to gaze into his eyes in surprise.

"Erik! I'm surprised!" she laughed. She had never heard him talk like that before and it was working on her like foreplay. Geeze, she did have it bad for this man and she was not even disappointed about it in the least. She watched in interest when Erik blushed ever so slightly and looked away. She took his chin in her hand and made him look at her.

"I liked hearing you talk like that," she whispered.

"Really?" he said, surprised. He had merely spoken what he thought out loud and had been embarrassed after he said it. But Christine was smiling as she nodded at him.

"Yes...I think it is rather sexy," she said honestly. They both turned when the older woman sitting in front of them turned to look at them with a small frown. Erik was about to apologize to her when Christine frowned back before kissing him full on the mouth, the woman still watching. He made a noise, as if to protest, but she did not let up. The woman muttered something under her breath but it seemed like Christine was paying little attention to her. Only when Erik responded did she finally break away.

"I am not going to hide what I feel for you simply because we are in public," she murmured. Erik did not know how to respond. He had never had anyone who was proud of him before. For Christine to want people to know they were a couple was mindblowing. The woman was no longer staring at them and Erik decided that he rather liked kissing her in front of everyone, it was letting all potential men know that she was already taken.

0000000000

The airport was swamped with people when they finally landed. Erik was grateful to have both of his feet back on solid ground because he had never liked flying very much. But strangely, with Christine there, he barely even noticed it. They literally had to push their way through the crowd to even get close to finding their luggage. Erik took both his and Christine's while she carried Ramses in his crate.

As they made their way through the airport towards the entrance Erik glanced from side to side nervously. He could do this, couldn't he? In front of all of these people? That idea had his hands beginning to sweat and his breathing suddenly felt labored. Christine was walking slightly in front of him while she tried to walk through the crowd without dropping Ramses. For once in your life, Erik, do what it is that you want!

His heart was screaming at him to do what it was he wanted and yet his fear was making it difficult. If something were to go wrong...

"Be a man, Erik," he growled to himself. Deciding he had to do this before he lost his nerve he dropped their luggage to his side and grabbed Christine's arm. He had Ramses crate out of her hands and on the floor before she was even turned towards him. When she was towards him Erik took her face in his hands and kissed her with more passion than he even knew he was capable of.

He could feel her surprise against his mouth but he didn't stop, not even when he heard the sound of people whispering distastefully and a few younger people whistling. Christine finally wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him back. Only when Erik felt all of his nerves come under control and his body relax did he pull away. Christine's eyes caught his and there was a glazed look there and a small smile on her now swollen lips.

"What was that for?" she wondered softly.

"Besides the fact that you are beautiful?" he asked. Christine smiled and nodded. Erik swallowed very hard before getting down on one knee in front of her. Christine felt her breath catch in her throat and she suddenly felt like she was suffocating. Several people that had been walking by stopped to see what it was the masked man was about to say and do. Erik swallowed again.

"Christine, I know that we only met under strange circumstances, and we have not known eachother very long, but..." his dark eyes found hers and it was as if the whole world was being offered to her. "From the moment I laid eyes on you I knew that I loved you."

Christine felt tears fill her eyes. To hear this man say those words to her almost made her faint. And the fact that he was saying it in front of all of these people meant more to her than one could ever imagine. She was so proud of him for being willing to talk in front of so many people.

"I've never met anyone like you and I know I never will...you accepted me for who I was and I love you for it," he continued. Several women now standing around them sighed at the romantic words this man was saying. And they all suddenly wished they could be in Christine's place.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Erik..." she whispered his name longingly, needing to hear the words and feeling her heart clench in emotion. Erik reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. Christine was now crying so much she knew she looked a wreck. He took her hand gently in his and slowly slipped it onto her finger.

"Will you marry me?" he whispered softly. Everyone around them waited with bated breaths, wanting to know what her answer was to be.

Christine managed to sob 'yes' before throwing herself into Erik's waiting arms. He felt the tension drain from his body and he held her close, laughing as she rained wet kisses all over the good side of his face. People around them cheered and Christine was smiling even through her tears.

"Oh, Erik, I love you so much," she murmured in between kisses. Erik kissed her back, suddenly feeling like he had never been as happy as he was in that moment. He had heard her say that she loved him to Raoul, but to hear her say it to him directly was a whole other experience. Without this woman he would have lived his life alone and unhappy. She had shown him love and acceptance and now he was quite certain that he could never live without her.

"I love you, too, Christine," he said, pushing the hair from her face. "You have made me into a better man."

"I am glad I could help," she murmured.

"I am sorry this is not the most romantic place to ask you-"

Christine placed a finger to his lips.

"It was perfect."

And he knew she meant it.

"Let's go home, Erik."

He was quick to follow.

Epilogue

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my really good friend N.S.L Jewelles, for all of her help and support! Check out her stories, you will be glad you did. I am really sad to see this story go, but it is time, and these characters finally have their story, and I can work on finishing the others. All of your reviews were appreciated and thnx everyone for all of your support! DJT

Disclaimer: The lyrics in the beginning of this chapter do not belong to me, they are from the broadway show Aida.

"Every moment of my life from now until I die I will think or dream of you and fail to understand how a perfect love can be confounded out of hand.Is it written in the stars? Are we paying for some crime? Is that all that we are good for? Just a stretch of mortal time for some God's experiment in which we have no say? In which we're given paradise but only for a day?"

Applause surrounded Erik as he stood at the end of Aida, the actors and actresses, including Christine, came out to bow for the crowd and Erik could not help it when he whistled. Every time she was up there and he heard her sing he was in paradise, watching what he believed to be one of God's angels. And sometimes he thought she was only singing to him, and that made it all the more thrilling.

As people left the theater Erik made his way backstage, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. Christine's dressing room door was slightly ajar and he silently made his way inside. She was leaning forward over her makeup table, looking into the mirror while she cleaned off the heavy stage makeup she wore. He stood there silently for a moment, knowing she had yet to see him.

Six years.

Six years of marriage and he never tired of looking at her. She grew more beautiful with every passing day and his love for her only grew stronger with every year they were together. Even with the costume she wore he could see the slight swell of her stomach beneath and a rush of pride went through him. That was their child in there, a child that Erik was already in love with.

Many things had changed in the last six years. The biggest being the fact that Raoul had married and was truly happy and Meg and Jacob had had twins two years ago. Erik now thought of all of them as family, including Raoul, who he had become close friends with.

"Keep looking at me like that and it may be a while before we leave this dressing room."

Erik's gaze found his wife's to see her smiling at him. He went to her and handed her the flowers. She took them and gave him a long, torturing kiss.

"Don't tempt me with such a statement," he murmured against her mouth. She smiled and pulled away, liking the frown of frustration she saw on her husband's face.

"We have to get home, honey, and then, if you're good..." she let herself trail off, hearing him growl as she turned to get out of her costume. He helped her and his hands took every oppertunity to run along her skin, having Christine enflamed in a matter of moments. It still amazed her that their passion and desire for eachother never diminished. In fact, she wanted him more every time he touched her.

Christine turned and pushed him against the makeup table, making quick work of his shirt.

"I think we've both been good enough..."

0000000000

Taking the keys out of his pocket Erik opened the front door and let Christine walk in first. The house was quiet except for the noise of the television from the living room and after they took off their coats they both made their way towards the noise. Erik could not help but smile when he walked through his house, seeing his own drawings and paintings on the walls as well as pictures of him and his family, several of which he had drawn and painted himself.

The living room contained the television which was set above the fireplace, which blazed with life beneath it. Pictures were in this room as well. There was a couch with a coffee table that had several magazines, coloring books, and crayons, and what looked like left over pizza sitting on it. Macy, their babysitter stood when she saw them come in.

"Thanks so much for coming over tonight, Macy, it is very appreciated," Christine said.

"Of course! The kids are wonderful," the young woman replied. Erik took out his wallet and payed her for the night. He walked her to the door and after he saw her safely get into her car and drive away he shut the door and locked is securely. Christine was cleaning up the living room and Erik went into the kitchen to get himself something to eat.

He never got tired of how comfortable he felt in this house. He had bought it for Christine and given her the keys on their honeymoon in Paris. She had been so happy about it that she wanted to leave their honeymoon early just so she could see it, saying she had never had a house before, only apartments. Since then she had made it into a home and he loved being there, feeling needed and wanted.

"Erik, are you ready for bed?" Christine asked. Since the moment they had moved in six years prior she had never gone a single night to bed without him. It was a small thing but Erik liked it.

"Yes, I'm exhausted," he grinned, leaving little doubt as to why he was tired. She grinned at him and took his hand, leading him upstairs. There were three bedrooms upstairs and like they did every night they stopped at the first one, Christine quietly opening the door.

"Erik!"

Her husband nearly pushed his way past her when he heard the worried tone in her voice. Everything in the room was the same as it had been when they left, toys littering the floor, and pictures of dinosaurs and superheros on the wall. But there was no one lying in the bed. Christine rushed to the second room, her eyes greeted with ballerinas all over, but with the same result, no one in the bed. Christine was as close to panic as she had ever been.

"Christine..."

She turned to see Erik standing at their bedroom door, a small smile appearing in the darkness. She rushed to his side and peered inside, seeing her two angels lying cuddled together in their large bed. Ramses and Pancake lying at their feet. Sighing in relief she went inside, Erik following right behind her. She went to the bedside and peered down at her two children. Six year old Mackenzie was lying with her body pressed closed to her brother, her dark brown hair spread out around her like a halo, looking for all the world like a sleeping angel.

Four year old Alexander slept with his thumb in his mouth, his black hair mussed. He slept on his back with one arm flung wide, his tiny body encased in dinosaur pajamas. She had never seen a more beautiful sight than her two children sleeping. She had been frightened when she had not seen them in their beds but she was glad they were in her and Erik's bed. There was not a better feeling in the world than to wake up next to her husband and children.

Erik had made his way into their bathroom and she could hear the shower running. She changed into her own pajamas and climbed into bed beside Alexander, his small frame naturally curling into hers. Christine smiled and kissed both of their brows. She was almost asleep when Erik finally came to bed. He pulled them all as close to him as he could and Christine felt protected and warm.

"I love you, Christine," he murmured. She watched him lovingly as he kissed both Mackenzie and Alexander's brow, hugging them both even more tightly against him.

"I love you, too, Erik," she whispered. He leaned forward, pressed a soft kiss to her mouth and settled down for the night. Christine watched him long after he had fallen asleep. She would be forever grateful for what she had been given.

Within Erik's arms she had found the place she belonged.

A/N: Review please!