So, let's see what happens.

Phanatic01, thank you. I had intended to make Nadir a big character, but when things begin to change rapidly I want to focus more on Erik and Cendrillon. So we shall enjoy this whilst it lasts.

Nearly a month had passed. As things began to get back to normal, Erik tending to his business and Cendrillon to her children - eager to learn. Everyday he fell more and more in love with her. Every moment of everyday he yearned to just pull the ring out of his pocket and scream his proposal at her, declaring his love for her. Wanting to spend every minute of everyday with her. He wanted to start something with her, start a family and a future.

Cendrillon woke, feeling the space in her bed next to her was cold. She was alone. With a confused groan, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was late morning and no one had bothered to wake her up - well, it was her day off.

That's when she noticed, at the end of the bed there was a note. In a white envelope, the edges black and next to it sat a rose. It's silken red petals flopped over the paper, a slick black ribbon tied with such care around it.

She smiled and picked it up. It smelled so lovely, sweet and passionate as her lover himself. With great care, she opened up the envelope - trying not to rip the paper as she did so. It read:

'My Dearest love,

My Cendrillon.

Today is a special day. The day which you were born, for this I am thankful. You have saved my soul, made me the happiest man on earth.

I want you to know how much I love you, how much I care for you on this day. Since you have saved me from my darkness, I wish to save you too. There is something I must ask of you, but that comes later.

Today we celebrate a wonderful day, a day I daresay the world would be a darker place without. Come join me downstairs.

I have a surprise for you.

Your loving and faithful servant, always.

Erik.'

With a smile, she wiped the slight tears from her tired eyes. Hurrying to get dressed in her best. Running to her wardrobe and pulling on her corset, applying a little make-up.

The dress she wore was new. It was a mixture of layers of pinks and purples, frilly and with such volume - a high neck. After tying up her hair, she headed downstairs as quick as she could.

Running down the corridor, the house was deadly silent, strangely warm. What on Earth was happening? She knew that Erik could be mysterious, yet this was slightly scary.

When she reached the stairs, there was no one there. The fire was ablaze and its crackle was the only sound in the world left. Only an envelope, lined in black laid on Erik's chair. Even from this distance she could see her name clearly written out on the parchment.

So, holding up her dress-skirts, she hurriedly descended towards it. Nearly sliding down the banister. At last, she crossed the lounge towards it and fumbled it open excitedly. This one read:

'For my love,

To find me you follow the petals,

in a room I wait for you there.

waiting for you, so patient,

to let you know I care.

Erik'

Cendrillon giggled to herself, then looked around confused. For on her way down, as rushed as she was - never spotted any...Petals. Now, as she looked around, she saw them. Scattered along the floor, up the stairs. How in Gods name did he do that, how did he work such magic and wonders?!

With such glee and anxiousness in her soul, she followed the silken rose petals. As red and passionate as their love for each-other. They lead up the polished mahogany staircase.

Then, the trail started to get thinner and thinner and thinner. Leading towards the music room, as she turned her head to it a melody started to play. Light, happy, but so very slow.

Without even thinking she began to drag her feet towards it, her mind enthralled by its sweet sound. Placing her hand on the door, fumbling to find the door knob. When her hand wrapped firmly around it.

Then the music stopped, as did she. An intense nervousness clung in the air, making her shiver and too shy to open the door. So she backed away slightly, scared.

Slowly, the door creaked open - seemingly all by itself. White light invaded her vision and for a moment she had to shut her eyes tight to shield them from its burning gaze. The melody started up again, grander and faster - Erik.

Erik sat at the piano at the back of the room, playing away, the rose petals led behind him. So she carried on following them until she was stood behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders, gently. She heard him sigh in pleasure and smiled. Even now he loved just the smaller gestures, slight touches and tiny embraces - even though he had had so much more.

The melody picked up and he started to move more with the rhythm, gliding his fingers along the keys like tiny ballerinas. Such grace and poise. She found her way to his mask, slipping her had under the mask. Tracing along the deformed lines of his face as he leant back into her - now even hardly playing.

She moved into him, until her body was against his - wrapping an arm across his chest and caressing his deformity. It wasn't ugly anymore. It was just something that he had, it was just there, like any other face, it was just the other side of his face. It was not ugly, nor beautiful - just there.

He finally stopped playing and sat there, enjoying the moment. Placing his hands on top of hers as she traced along his body, mouth parted - hardly noticing when she turned his head and kissed him. But it was enough to snap him out of his daydream and he stood, towering over her.

With not but a word, he picked her up bridal style, holding her against his chest. She looked up at him. Still resting her head against his lean chest - hearing the sound of his heart, thundering away.

She kept her eyes focused on him for so long, she didn't realise when he brought her to the lounge and Everyone was there.

Damien, Damien's mother, all of her students and their grateful parents - her friends and all the workers she would take food and drink out too. They were all dressed in their best, food and drink set out on the tables and an orchestra in the centre of the room. SHe was in pure awe.

Erik placed her down, she was wobbly on her feet but managed to stay upright. The music started up, loud and filled the entire room. Wedding March by Felix Medlesohn, what on Earth was he doing?

Everyone in the room stared up, eyes locked on the two of them at the top of the staircase - holding their breath in anticipation. Cendrillon looked down at them all gawking, nervous. Everything was moving so slowly. That's when she looked to Erik, who was getting down on one knee.

He had a slight blush on the side of his face that was revealed, licking his lips and eyes searching the floor. Even from this distance she could hear the long and shaky breaths. He was nervous too...

"Cendrillon..." He began, everyone gasped, "I've been meaning to ask you something for a while now." As he spoke, he never looked up, afraid to see her face. "Before I met you, my life was just blackness. Everyday I woke up was just a day and nothing more. The sun would rise, then set and I would wallow and lament at my... past."

"At first, I thought you were going to mock me. I knew that you were afraid of me, scared and curious. But I was so much more scared of you." Now he looked up to her, locking eyes with her as she smiled, tearful. "Now, everyday, the sun rises and you are there to fill my days with happiness and wonder. Then when the sun sets I can hold you and protect you, my life has so much more meaning now."

Everyone sighed sympathetically as he took her hand in his gently and kissed it. "You filled my heart with love and my life with companionship. You filled a void that no one else could. I wanted to do something special for you today... something that would change your life forever." Cendrillon gasped as she began to realise what he was doing.

The masked man dipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out a small square red velvet box with a gold lining. "Will you, Mademoiselle Cendrillon Rose Armelle, take this ring and become Madame Cendrillon Rose Destler?"

The entire room was silent, the music stopped playing. Cendrillon was so surprised and happy. She struggled to breath - with the addition of her corset and put her spare hand to her chest as he revealed the ring. It had diamonds! Real diamonds embedded in it!

The glistening silver and shimmering diamond caused a halo of light to appear on top of the ring. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her entire life. She wanted to scream in pure happiness, but no sound came out - instead she nodded.

But the movement was too much. She collapsed, Erik dashed forward as everyone gasped - but he caught her just before she hit the floor and held her close.

Nadir laughed, tipsy.

"We'll take that as a yes then."

Awwwwwwwwwwwwh