The Phantom After the Opera

Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom, or anything to do with the Opera.

A/N: Well it's taking time and energy but I'm slowly getting this done. Well read on my fine faithful readers!

Dedication: To my friends, I would never be anywhere if it weren't for you. I love all of you and I would die for you. Given the chance…right, on with the story.

Chapter 21

Star Crossed Lovers

By: Kristen K

Edited by: Samantha T.

Erik sat at his table with the miniature opera stage in front of him. The once beautiful figurine of Christine lay next to the stage and the now radiant Adele figurine was in a white gown and veil below the proscenium. He looked at his hands at something intently. The ring was white gold, very hard to come by, and the diamonds had been hand cut by himself. Marriage. He never thought a thing could ever happen for him. He had lust from Christine, but what he felt for Adele was so much more. And she didn't care how he looked. That fact barely mattered anymore anyway. The truth was Erik was in love and he wanted to marry Adele and start a family with her. The only thing holding him back was his fear she would say no, and her brother. He still did not know that it was him who caused the chandelier to fall and kill his mother and injure his leg. Erik rose from the chair and planted the ring in his breast pocket. Grabbing his cloak he quickly headed up to Adele's room to ask her the most important question of his life.

Adele laid naked in the moonlight staring at the stars. Tear trickled from her eyes down her face to drop on the soft ground below her head. She cried silently; no gasping; no sound; only tears falling. Her fingers glided up her soft chest to her collar bone. She grasped her mother necklace and prayed a loud.

"Please mother. Help me now. What am I supposed to do? Who do I marry?" She started to weep separating her words. "I love him. Oh God how I love him. I do not understand? Are you not supposed to marry the man you are in love with?"

"Yes Adele, you are." Adele tilted her head back looking upside-down in the direction of the voice. Erik was on one knee holding the most beautiful ring in a small velvet box. It was white gold with a sapphire and five surrounding diamonds sparkling in the moonlight. Adele turned over and fumbled as she stood and kneeled in front of Erik grabbing his face in her hands and pulling him in to a passionate kiss. She broke the kiss and smiled wrapping her arms around him knocking him on his back to the ground.

"Oh Erik, I've wanted you to ask me for so long. I love you so much," She kissed him but between their lips she whispered, "I need you." Erik kissed her fervently and rolled her over so he was on top of her. It was now that Erik realized Adele was naked beneath him.

"Oh forgive me!" rapidly covering his eyes and leapt off of Adele. Adele grabbed her cloak near by and covered herself with it. "I did not mean to come and… I'm truly very sorry."

"Erik," Adele crawled to him and pulled his hands from his eyes. "Do not worry. If there were any man to see me naked I would want that man to be you." She smiled slyly and stood up. Slowly she gracefully walked to the edge of the lake. Erik's eyes were watching her every move, then she dropped her cloak and looked back at him. Smiling slyly again she dove into the moonlight lake. Erik scampered to his feet and to the edge of the water. Adele's head burst to the surface and gasped. "Would you like to join me?" She asked him her arms wadding in the water around her but the water was no cover for her breasts. Erik started to shed his clothing and when he was just down to his pants, bare feet, and mask he watching Adele back stroke past him. She noticed that he looked rather nervous. "What is it? Is it because I'm naked? I can put…" Adele was worried but Erik stopped her before she could continue.

"No I, I don't know how to swim." He said sullenly. Adele sighed and chuckled a little.

"Erik you live along an underground river and you have never swam?" Adele asked.

"I never had to. I have the gondola." He plopped down by the shore with his arms dangling on his knees. Adele swam over to him and pushed her head to see over his knees.

"I can teach you." Grabbing his hand Adele pulled him awkwardly in the water. At first she let him stand where he could touch. Slowly she told him to kick his legs and move his arms to keep him afloat. He tried to be brave but began sinking. Adele pulled him over to the shore and laid him on his back. She lay on her side brushing back his wet hair. "Are you alright?" He looked into her eyes and smiled. He brought his hand up and pulled off his mask.

"I am now." He threw the mask somewhere and pulled Adele to him for the most loving kiss she had ever received.

"NO, NO, NO! That is all wrong! It is left tap, right tap, pirouette, right TAP, then cross left 180. Now, lets us try it again!" Madame Giry was drilling the young ballet dancers once again. Damian was in the center practicing his sad song of the triumph of his lover Djamileh and how he has now found true love in her. He was doing spectacularly but no one really noticed because they were all working on their own parts. Only Adele was not. She was behind the sets in a dark corner, her back against the wall, kissing Erik; who rarely wore his mask around her anymore. She had to push him away to breathe.

"Oh God I can not wait for us to be married. Then we can finally…" Erik stopped her before she could finish.

"You know after everything that has happened since that night at the lake two weeks ago…I still haven't properly proposed. You jumped on me before I could." Erik gave her a stern look, but in a teasing, sexy way.

"Oh well I was excited." Adele brushed past him so her back could face him. "I just thought it was an understood thing. I mean you were on one knee and we did almost…" Again Erik's hand stopped her speech. He turned her around with a soft grasp and went to one knee. He held out the ring once more but this time it was on a chain to wear as a necklace.

"Adele, I have tasted your sweet lips, and I have felt your soft touch. I have held you in my arms, but I'm afraid that is not all that I want. Adele I want to be able to hold you in my heart from now until we part by death. Adele Amelia Courtie, will you do the honor of marrying me." Erik sat there for a moment. He knew she was going to say yes but he still had more butterflies in his stomach than he did the night at the lake. He watched her eyes fill with tears. Adele had heard three beautiful proposal speeches, but Erik's was the most at heart, the most, feeling. She already knew the answer, she just was so happy her words wouldn't come out. She nodded blissfully and Erik stood again. They kissed as he clasped the necklace. They were still kissing when someone called Adele's name but she did not hear it. Someone's shadow came from around the comer and saw them kissing. Erik broke the kiss and held Adele in his arms.

"Do you realize that if you had not thought I was Christine you would never have tried to convince me to restore the Opera?" Adele smiled.

"Well I have to burn down the Opera first for you to come back." Adele's face went a little said but she was content. "Oh Adele I am sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"No it is alright. I have forgiven you and I know my mother has as well. It is just still painful to think about. She dies trying to save me and you, well, you killed her. So really it is both of our faults." They were quiet for a few seconds then Adele smiled a big smile again. "But you know we have our future to think about, so let us not dwell on the past." She kissed him again as the shadow of the figure finally moved away. Adele noticed this and was startled. "Oh perhaps I should go back?" She started and Erik pulled her into another kiss. She pried herself out of his fingers and giggled away.

Erik was in high spirits as he flung his cloak around him to hide away and watch his beloved rehearse as the lead role, Djamileh.

Adele hurried to the stage blissfully happy when a strong hand grabbed her arm. She was frightened for a moment then sighed.

"Warrick. Oh you gave me a fright." She said laughing but she saw that Warrick's expression was not a happy one. "What's wrong? Is your leg ok? Is Airabella alright?"

"Everyone is fine. I'm fine." He said fiercely.

"Well, ok. I have to go to rehearsal now." She started for the stage again but Warrick held tightly on her arm. "Ow Warrick you are hurting me! Let go!" She tried to free herself but it was no use. She had always been weaker than her twin. Then Warrick put his face in hers and whispered.

"That was him wasn't it?" Adele's heart stopped.

"Who?"

"You were kissing the man that killed our mother and crippled me for life." He was squeezing her arm very hard now.

"Ow, I don't know what you are talking about?" Adele didn't know what else to do but lie. /Please you need to understand Warrick. I love him/ She tried to pull her arm away once more in vain.

"You know what I'm going to do to him right?" He paused and pushed her up against the wall looking straight into her eyes. "I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him because he deserves to die." Adele couldn't lie any longer.

"No Warrick please! No! He's changed, you don't even know him!" Adele gave up struggling with her arm but now Warrick's other hand was clasping around her neck. Her own brother was chocking her.

"I don't want you to ever see him again. Do you understand? He will die by tonight and you will never think, or talk, or dream of him EVER AGAIN!" Warrick let go of Adele and slapped her and she fell to the ground. Warrick limped away. Adele coughed and cried. /What have I done/

A/N: I'm sorry this is taking forever for me to update but I'm on a roll now, so expect this to be done soon.