Dedications from Little Luxa...

To Emily; You are the greatest best friend in the world. Even when I was moaning about writers block or other crap in my life, you always listened. You are my Erica in real life. Luv you!

To everyone who ever read or reviewed; Thank you. Just, Thank you. You guys brighten my day and make me laugh. You bring so much joy with every positive review you write and I will be forever greatful for everyone of you.

And at lastt, but not least...

To RoseLoveHeartBeating; Rose, you are absolutely fantastic. I learned so much from you as we wrote this story together. I'll never forget the first few times we wrote to each other and talked about writing a story together. Thanks for the memories, Rose.

Chapter 53: I'm Your Happy Ending

One year and a few months later...

"Open your eyes!" Lotte could hear Erica gush. The girls had spent a long amount of the day preparing her hair and makeup and had finally let her put on her dress.

Lotte was utterly speechless when she opened her eyes and looked in the mirror. The wedding dress was somewhat simple by today's standards, but it was perfect. The tiny sparkling flowers embroidered onto the hem of the flowing dress matched the headband that kept her vail in place while a baby blue ribbon tied was around her waist.

"You look absolutely fantastic!" Rin clasped one her hands tightly, looking at the mirror. Lotte's eyes started to mist over and she became eternally grateful that Meg and Christine had put on waterproof makeup on her.

"Thank you so much, you girls look lovely as well."

Erica and Rin were wearing baby blue dresses with white trim and cut off right after their knees. Erica had already been twirling around in it so it swished around her.

"And here's your bouquet!" Christine added, setting a small bouquet of lilies with a blue ribbon in her hands. Lotte smiled and sniffed them, shaking.

"You nervous?"

"Of course she's nervous, Erica!" Rin admonished "She's about to get married!"

"Guys, I don't we are helping." Meg added. Lotte closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"It's alright guys. I think I'd like a few moments alone though before the ceremony. Besides, you need to get into your places."

"Alright!" Erica then swiftly gave Lotte a hug and then bounded off. "I have to go find my boyfriend!"

"Raoul and I will be next to the Geralds and of course Sarah." Christine hugged her as she mentioned the newly engaged couple.

"You will be fine, Lotte." Meg assured as she followed after Christine. "I'll make sure your dad gets

It was just her and Rin now, enjoying the silence of the brief moment. The past few months had been hectic, with their graduation and planing the wedding.

"Don't forget to thank your husband later for letting Richard being one of the groomsmen."

"I think all the men have been getting along much better recently." Lotte smiled, thinking about Erik and Raoul's recent ping pong tournament that mostly friendly. Mostly was a key word in that sentence.

"I personally think that they also don't want to be chased around by angry women..." they both laughed and hugged each other.

"Go on," Lotte shooed her away with her hand, "we need to have both the maids of honor in their places!"

Rin happily agreed and ran off, leaving her alone at last. Lotte sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. Her stomach felt as if she had a million fluttering butterflies inside of it. She turned around and grabbed her coat the was sitting on a chair. Lotte frowned and rummaged in her deep coat pockets, searching for what she was looking for.

Hands shaking, Lotte took the unopened letter from the pocket. It was addressed to her, but there was no return address. She already knew who it had to be from...

Masque.

It had came in the mail yesterday. She hadn't told anyone that it had came, not wanted them to worry. Besides, no doubt this was meant to be between her and him.
Drawing a breath, she opened the envelope and read the letter, holding a picture of a smiling Erik Masque and a girl with strawberry blonde hair leaning on his shoulder .

To my dearest Lotte,

I honestly don't know if I will actually ever send to you, but it gives me relief to be simply writing this down. I'm now living in a very nice little apartment in England. The girl in the picture's name is Lydia. We met at an art museum and have been together for almost 5 months now. She is the light of my life and might be possibly moving in with me soon,

I still think of Emma and you everyday. I'll always feel guilty of the way I had mistreated you in the short time we knew each other. You may might not know this, but I have said before, you are truly an angel. I feel like I barely know anything about you and we only knew each other for a short tine, but you changed my lie so much. The happiness I experience now is because of you and I am eternally in your gratitude for as long as I live.

Most likely I will never see you or write to you again, Lotte Silvermen. I hope though that you are happy with your Erik and what ever you do. I hear you are getting married tomorrow. Congratulations. Perhaps one day, I will forgive myself, but until then I will simply live my life knowing that you are happier. Thank you, my redeeming angel. Enjoy your wedding day.

Forever yours,

Erik Masque

P.S. Next Thursday, there will be a box on your porch. Do not panic. It is just Solomon, Ex-Lambert Stradivarius of 1729. Do you remember when you played him for me? I do, as clear as day. Think of him as a wedding present from me.

Lotte's eyes were brimming with tears as she clutched the letter and photo.

"Lotte? Darling, are you in there? It's time." Lotte could hear her father say behind the door. Hastily, she wiped her eyes and put everything from Masque in her coat pocket.

"Come in, dad."

Jeff Silvermen couldn't believe how perfect his daughter looked when he opened the door.

"You remind me so much of your mother." His voice was gruff as he choked back emotions.

The daughter and father embraced tightly, both thinking of the women that never saw her daughter grow up.

"Dad, do you think mom would have liked Erik?"

"Without a doubt," He whispered. Jeff then straightened up and smiled, "I believe it is time for me to give you away now."

The church was packed, from what Erik could tell from he was standing. Erica and Rin were on the right of the priest, already fidgeting a bit. His groomsmen were on the left of him. Jareth, his best man, was grinning at his fiancé while Richard and Nadir kept on glancing over at their girlfriends.

Erik felt as if his heart stopped beating when the door opened and Lotte entered on her father's arm.

Everyone stood up and starred at the glowing bride that was being led down the aisle by her beaming father. Just before reaching Erik, Jeff let go of Lotte and kissed her on the cheek. Looking only at Erik through her eyelashes, Lotte walked up the three steps by herself, reaching a hand out to Erik.

"Today we are brought together to see the union of Lotte Silverman and Erik le Fantom. If anyone objects, may they speak now or forever hold their peace."

A silence filled the room.

"Very well, please recite you vows, Ms. Silverman."

Lotte took a deep breath and looked into Erik's eyes. Suddenly, she wasn't nervous anymore. She knew he was the one and that he would love her forever, no matter what.

"I, Lotte Silverman, take you, Erik le Fantom, to be my lawfully wedded husband, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love.
On this special day, in the presence of God and all those in attendance, my promise to stay by your side as your wife in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad." Lotte took a breath and squeezed his hands, "I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

"I, Erik, take you, Lotte Silverman, to be my lawfully wedded wife, knowing in my heart that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love. On this special day, in the presence of God and all those in attendance, my promise to stay by your side as your faithful husband in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you without reservation, honor and respect you, provide for your needs as best I can, protect you from harm, comfort you in times of distress, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

"You may exchange the rings."

Erik wordlessly took the diamond ring out of his tuxedo's pocket and slipped it onto Lotte's finger. Meanwhile, Rin handed Lotte Erik's plain silver ring and a smiling Lotte placed it on his finger.

"I now pronounce you, man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Lotte leaped into his arm, tore off his mask and kissed him. They felt as if time slowed when they held each other and looked into their eyes. The cheers and claps of their friends were thunderous in the background.

Lotte gasped in amazement.

The air in the church was now full of white rose petals gently floating down.

"How is it possible?" Lotte was astonished. Erik laughed at her wonder and smiled.

"I think one of our friends is responsible..." Erik motioned with his head to the left. Lotte looked over his shoulder to see Jareth not so subtly winking at her, cause her to laugh.

"Come, Mrs. le Fantom," Erik said taking her hand as they walked down the aisle, "there is a reception we need to go to."

"Ooh! I hope there is lots of cake!" Erica said to her boyfriend as the followed the happy couple down the aisle.

"Of course there will be," Nadir assured her, "I also must say this shade of blue looks delightful on you two."

"I agree with Nadir," Richard told a blushing Rin as they followed behind them, "you look ravishing."

"Think you went a little overboard with the flowers?" Jareth turned around to see his fair skinned lady, eyes twinkling with delight.

"Of course I did," He smirked as he wrapped his arms around her, "but it looked fantastic and they all are happy."

"You better do this at our wedding too," Sarah told him before chastely kissing him. "but before we get ahead of ourselves, we better head to the reception." Jareth nodded and they vanished in a smattering of glitter and swirling rose petals.

The night air was cold and crisp as the three couples ran the church, white roses wafting out the door also.

"Erik!" Lotte squeaked as Erik picked her up and twirled her around. Her white dress shimmered in the light.

"Yes, Mrs. le Fantom?" He set her down and brushed a stray lock of black hair out of her face. They then softly kissed again, arms wrapped around each other.

"Hey! You two!" they turned around and saw Erica standing outside the limo, "You can be lovey dovey later! Everyone else is in the car already and we want to have cake!"

"Hold on, we're coming!" Lotte cried, picking up her dress. She started to run, but then she turned around to see that Erik hadn't moved yet. "What's wrong?"

"Never in a million years before I met you," he whispered, walking towards her, "did I think that I would ever be so happy."

"I guess I am your happy ending then, eh?" Lotte kissed him on the cheek. They then both walked to the limo, rose petals fluttering at their feet. A wind flutter through Lotte's hair as she entered the limo. She could almost swear that she heard violin music being gently played.

"You sure are, Lotte..." Erik whispered as he looked back at the church one last time pausing when he though he heard rustling before shutting the limo door.

A man stepped out of the shadows, unseen by the few stragglers leaving the church, grasping his violin in his hand. He walked away from the now empty church through the rose petals, playing the violin softy and singing in a soft but hauntingly beautiful voice.

"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!"

The only indication the man was ever there was a single red rose, dropped in a pile of withering white rose petals blowing across the grey pavement...

Uh, hello... It's me, Rachel. Most of you know me by the name of Luxa. And... Wow. Just, wow. It's over. Now... a sequel? Maybe, we haven't decided yet. Now... it gives me quite a bit of joy and a ton of sorrow to say these last two words:

The End