Chapter 12

"Dinner is served," Marie says as she enters the study. I immediately set my book aside and rise.

"What are we having?" I ask as I cross the room to the entrance to greet her with a soft kiss placed upon her cheek.

"That is a surprise," she says lightly as she takes my hand in hers before leaving the room.

"Do you not think that I have had enough surprises for one day?" I ask teasingly as I follow her into the kitchen.

"This is a safe surprise," she says softly as she leads me to the table before releasing my hand.

"Allow me," I say as I pull out a chair for her and wait for her to be seated before taking my own seat across from her.

"Thank you, Erik," she says softly as she anxiously awaits my reaction to the meal she has prepared.

"This looks wonderful, Marie," I say truthfully. I am in awe by her cooking skills and also in the care she took in setting the table to present me with a very romantic atmosphere in which to dine.

"You truly think so?" she questions uncertainly.

"Yes, Marie, I do," I reply sternly. Why does she doubt her abilities? She is a wonderful cook.

"Thank you, Erik," she says with a blush.

"You are quite welcome, my dear," I reply before picking up my spoon and taking a bite of French onion soup. "This is delicious, Marie," I say as I take another bite as I wonder what the main course is. It certainly smells good.

"Thank you, Erik, but you are too kind," she says as she lowers her head trying to hide her embarrassment.

"I am being quite honest, Marie," I say softly as I wonder how she could be embarrassed by such a simple compliment. "You are a talented cook and that is something to be proud of."

"It is just that I have never had any formal training when it comes to culinary skills and I do not know how I can be good at something I have never really been taught how to do," she admits softly.

"Then you truly are talented for you to cook this well without proper training. A talent is something you are born with not something you are taught, my dear," I say quite seriously.

"If you insist that I am a good cook then I must accept that to be fact," she says as she reluctantly gives up her struggle to deny it any longer.

"I knew you would see it my way eventually," I say with a laugh before I pick up my spoon and finish my soup.

"Are you finished with your soup, Erik?" Marie asks as she gets up and removes her bowl from the table.

"Yes, it was simply delicious. Can I assume by that wonderful smell that there is a main course about to be served?" I ask indulgently as I hand her my bowl and watch her move to place it in the sink before carefully removing a roasting pan from the oven and setting it upon the counter.

"Yes, for our main course I have prepared a small roasted duck with roasted potatoes and carrots set around it and for dessert we are having chocolate soufflé," she says proudly as she carves and serves the duck.

"This looks wonderful, Marie. Are you trying to spoil me? I have not eaten this well in a very long time. If I did not know any better I would think you were trying to fatten me up some," I say lightly as she pours us both a glass of white wine.

"Thank you, Erik. As for trying to fatten you up I must admit that you could use a little meat on your bones... not that I am complaining," she adds with a soft laugh as she prepares a plate for herself.

"This is simply perfect, Marie," I say indulgently as I take a bite of duck before sipping at my wine.

"Thank you, Erik, but you really must stop complimenting me so," she says as she blushes once again.

"But you should be complimented on such a fine meal," I say sternly before taking another bite.

"I am sorry, I am just not used to being complimented and it embarrasses me," she admits reluctantly before returning her attention to her plate.

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about when you are complemented on a job well done, Marie," I say softly as I reach across the table and take her hand in mine encouraging her to look at me.

"You are such a kind man, Erik. How did I ever get lucky enough to find you?" she asks as a tear threatens to escape her eye.

"How is it you consider yourself lucky to have found me? No one has ever thought of my presence in their life as a blessing... more of a curse," I say truthfully as I find it hard to believe what she has just said.

"I think that I am blessed to have you in my life, Erik. I have never known a more gentle man than you," she says softly as a tear slides silently down her cheek.

"I have murdered many people yet you find me the most gentle man you have ever known? How can this be?" I ask as I find this just as hard to believe as what she had said moments before.

"You have been kind and gentle to both my brother and myself. No man has ever treated me with such care as you have... not even my own father," she admits as another tear travels down her lovely cheek.

"How so?" I question softly not liking the way she referred to her father. How had he not treated her as I have?

"My father was a kind and loving man but I believe that he always resented the fact that my mother had given him a daughter instead of a son. He was often rather short with me. It seemed that he never had time for me at all. And if I did not live up to his expectations with my schooling or the like he would punish me until I got whatever it was correct. Those were the nights I would dream of you holding me protectively in your arms. I knew that I would always be safe whenever I could escape to my dreams of you. You have always been my protector, Erik... always," she finishes on a sigh as more tears escape her eyes.

"Oh, Marie," I say soothingly as I quickly get up from the table and pull her into my arms. "I know how you feel... my own mother was the same way only when she punished me it was usually in the form of a severe beating. She never had a kind word towards me and I spent countless nights crying myself to sleep in my dark room for even my window was boarded shut after I had been caught venturing outside at night," I confess in hopes of taking her mind off of her own troubled childhood. I am relieved that her father is dead for I believe that if he were not I would kill him myself for neglecting and abusing this precious child.

"When my brother was born I could tell how relieved my mother was that she had finally given him a son. My father was overjoyed by this fact but ironically he only lived for a week with such joy before he was killed. I miss both of my parents terribly but I am also relieved to be away from my father and the look of joy he always had in his eyes when he would look upon his son. I am glad that I am with you," she finishes as she tilts her head back and pulls my lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

As are lips part I softly say, "come, let us return to this wonderful meal you have prepared. I would not want it to get cold."

"You are quite right, we have already had one cold meal today... it just would not do to have a second one," she says lightly as she takes her seat once more as I return to my own.

After finishing the duck in silence I am the one to remove the plates this time. "Are you ready for dessert?" I ask as I begin to serve the chocolate soufflé.

"Thank you, Erik," Marie says softly as I set her dessert in front of her before getting my own and sitting down.

"You are quite welcome, my dear," I say before picking up my spoon and taking a bite. "This is the best chocolate soufflé I have ever tasted," I say honestly while I enjoy watching her blush.

"Erik, you are too kind," she says softly as she picks up her own spoon and begins to eat the delicious dessert.

When we are both finished eating I say, "thank you for such a wonderful meal, Marie. Please allow me to clean up... it is the least I can do."

"But you have been through so much today," she begins to argue.

"As have you, my dear. Not only did you save my life today but you also went through all this trouble to make this wonderful meal. Cleaning up is the least I can do." I state as I rise from my chair and begin to clear away the dishes. "I bought a few books while I was out today. Why not go to the study and read while I clean up. I will join you shortly," I add in a tone that leaves no room for argument.

"If you insist," she says with a sigh of resignation. "I shall be in the study," she says as she leaves the room.

After I finish cleaning up I make my way down the hall to the study. When I enter I see that Marie is quite absorbed in the book she has chosen to read. I begin to walk quietly to the couch in hopes of not disturbing her but she seems to sense my presence and looks up from the book with a smile on her face. "Forgive me, I did not mean to disturb you, Marie," I say as I pick up the book I was reading earlier and settle next to her on the couch.

"You did not disturb me, Erik," she says softly as she immediately settles into our familiar position

"Are you enjoying your book?" I ask as I note that the book she has chosen to read is one I had picked with her in mind... Beauty and the Beast.

"Yes, how did you know that I would enjoy this so?" she questions as she smiles up at me once again.

"It reminded me of us," I say honestly as I pull her closer against me, waiting for her reaction.

"Yes, I suppose in a way it does but I do not think of you as a beast," she says softly before turning her attention back to her book.

Opening my book I find it rather hard to become lost in the pages as she seems to have. After all that has happened between us this morning I am finding her body pressed against mine to be quite a distraction and I cannot help but allow my mind to return to what I had been thinking of earlier today. I still find it hard to believe that she has so openly admitted to dreaming of us making love. Does she fully understand the risks involved if we were to do such a thing? If I were to father a child I would not wish for it to be born a bastard. Would she consent to marriage? Christine balked at the idea. Would Marie not do the same? But she has already promised to never leave me and when we had spoken of me playing the role of father in Charles' life I had pointed out that he would think of us as a family... as though we were man and wife yet she did not offer any objection to this possibility. All of this is so confusing! What am I to do? I have always secretly wished for a woman to love me without reservations concerning my murderous past and acceptance of my horrid face. Someone who would willingly spend their life with me, would lay with me. I have wanted this for half a century and now it seems that I have found that special woman who is capable of loving me in such a way and I am so afraid of saying or doing something wrong that would cause her to leave me. She has told me that there is nothing I can say or do that would make her abandon me but how can I believe her when I have been betrayed so many times in the past by people I had thought cared. But she is so different from anyone I have known before, I remind myself. If she attempts to seduce me again I do not know if I will be able to restrain myself and the more I think about it the more sure I am that I no longer wish to restrain myself. She has dreamt of laying with me for a very long time and I have lived without such a thing for far too long to keep refusing myself this joyous joining that she is willingly offering me that so many couples have enjoyed since the beginning of time. But what if I get her with child? If I ask her to marry me will she think it is only because of the child that I wish for her to be my wife? If I ask her to marry me so soon would it not scare her away? I would like nothing more than for her to be my wife.

I am drawn out of these thoughts when I hear Marie stifle a yawn. Glancing at the clock I see that it is getting rather late. "Come, it is late and we have both had a rather exhausting day." Just then Charles begins to cry. "I will prepare a bottle for Charles while you prepare for bed," I say as I remove myself from the couch and offer a hand to Marie.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Erik," she says softly as she takes my hand and gets up from the couch. "You are going to sleep in my room tonight, correct?" she asks hesitantly as if she is afraid that I have changed my mind about sharing her bed with her every night.

"Yes Marie, I told you several times that I will share your bed every night," I say reassuringly.

"Thank you, Erik. After spending a night in your arms I do not think I could ever sleep alone again," she says softly as we leave the study and walk hand in hand towards her room.

"As I said before, I will share your bed for as long as you want me in it," I say softly, not knowing how else to reply to such a statement. Her sentiments echoing mine as I think of how much I would hate to spend another night alone in my coffin after knowing the bliss of holding her in my arms as I slept.

As we enter her room Charles stops crying. "I will take Charles with me and while I warm some milk for his bottle I will get cleaned up and changed for bed. While I am gone you can also get ready for bed," I say softly, hoping not to sound like I am ordering her about.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," she says as she gives my hand a gentle squeeze before releasing her hold on me and walking to the armoire where she proceeds to start leafing through the nightgowns hanging there.

"We shall return in a little while," I say as I carefully pick Charles up and walk towards the door.

"I believe I will take a bath while you are gone," she says softly as she continues to look through the armoire.

"Then I shall take my time," I say as I leave the room and carry Charles to the kitchen to warm him some milk. Once his bottle is ready I take him to my room where I sit in my chair and offer him the bottle which he accepts greedily. As he drinks his bottle I allow myself to ponder what tonight might hold. Just the thought of holding Marie in my arms as I drift off to sleep is enough to cause my body to tense. Will she always have such an affect on me? Will I awake in the morning with her atop me once again? If so, will I stop myself from taking it further than I had this morning? She will not object if I would do so... of that I am sure.

"Erik?" Marie calls softly from the doorway, her long, white robe concealing the nightgown she has chosen from the armoire.

"I am sorry, Marie, I must have lost track of time," I say apologetically as I slowly get up from my chair taking care not to wake Charles who has fallen asleep after finishing his bottle.

"It is alright, I know you have had a lot to think about recently. Here, let me take Charles and you can get washed up and ready for bed," she offers as she gently removes Charles from my arms.

"Thank you, Marie, for everything," I say softly as I brush a light kiss to her lips.

"There is no need to thank me, Erik," she says just as softly before she turns to leave the room. "I shall be waiting for you," she adds before turning and gently closing the door behind her.

I hurry to my bathroom and bathe quickly. When I am finished I dress in my black silk pajamas and wrap my robe around me. Before leaving the safety of my room I place a small box in my pocket, not really knowing why. Venturing to Marie's open door I knock softly before entering.

"I have been waiting for you, Erik," Marie says softly as she closes the distance between the two of us and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling my face down to hers for a very passionate kiss. My body tenses immediately and I quickly lose myself in that kiss. When the need for air becomes too great, I reluctantly pull away.

When I regain my senses and my ability to speak I say very softly, "come, let us go to bed. It has been a very eventful day and I believe the best thing for the both of us right now is sleep."

"Yes, it has been a rather trying day," she admits softly as she heeds my advice and pulls me towards the bed. When she removes her robe I am finally afforded a look at the nightgown she has selected for tonight. I had forgotten about that particular nightgown... if you can even call it that. It is black silk with a very low cut bodice and only thin strips of cloth serve for sleeves. The nightgown does not even cover her knees.

"Marie, I think we need to talk," I say as barely more than a whisper as I try unsuccessfully to avert my eyes from the lovely vision standing before me.

"What is it we need to talk about, Erik?" she asks slyly as she bends over to place her discarded robe at the foot of the bed while at the same time giving me quite a breathtaking view.

"About you... about me... about us," I say uncertainly, not really sure what I had in mind when I first made that statement. Maybe it would be best to just tell her how I feel and discuss these confusing thoughts and feelings I have been having with her... after all, she does claim to hold all the answers. Being this close to her and not being able to express my feelings to her is getting to be simply unbearable! It will be best to just get everything out in the open now and find out if she is truly willing to stay with me no matter what instead of waiting for this to come about in the future only to find that she would choose to leave me.

"Do you wish for us to discuss this now?" she asks as she takes a step towards me and reaches out her hand to my cheek.

"I think it would be best to discuss it now before I change my mind," I admit shakily, quite nervous about what I am about to say.

"Shall we go to the study or is here fine?" she asks as she looks up at me with a look of understanding in her eyes as she retrieves her robe from the bed and places it around her once more.

"I believe the study would be best... I would not want to wake Charles," I say as I glance at the sleeping child. With that decided I take her hand in mine and lead her from the room. As we enter the study I release her hand and take a seat in one of the chairs, not wishing to be distracted by her body pressed against mine when I need to think clearly.

Not questioning my distancing myself from her, Marie sits down on the couch so that she is facing me and asks softly, "What is it you wish to discuss with me concerning us, Erik?"

"As you already know, I do not trust easily nor do I share my feelings with others," I begin reluctantly. "But, somehow you have managed to destroy the wall I have spent the past two years building around my heart. I trust you, Marie, and I think that it is time I start sharing my feelings with you." Marie waits silently for me to continue. "Marie, I... I love you," I say as barely a whisper as I watch to see her reaction. Hoping beyond hope that she will not find those words insulting.

"Oh, Erik, I love you as well," she begins as she looks happily at me. "I have been hoping that you would eventually share your feelings with me as I have shared mine with you."

"You love me?" I ask in disbelief, still stunned by her admission even though I have heard her say those words to me before. How could this beautiful young woman possibly love a deformed old man like me? I ask myself for what must be the hundredth time since I have discovered my feelings for her.

"Yes, Erik, I do love you. Why is it you find that so hard to believe?" she questions gently. "I have told you this before yet you still doubt me... why?"

Having been the one to start this conversation I know that I must answer her question. "Because I have lived my entire life without love. Not from my mother, not from Lucinda, not from Christine... but now there is you," I say as a tear silently slides down my twisted cheek.

"Yes, there is me and I promise you that I will never hurt you as those you have known before have, Erik. I have seen in my dreams the pain those people have caused you and I would never subject you to such agony and pain," she says softly as she reaches out a hand and gently wipes the tear from my cheek. We remain completely silent for a few minutes before either one of us speak.

I am the one to finally break the silence. "When we were speaking of Charles thinking of me as his father I had pointed out that if he thinks of me as his father and of you as his mother he will think of us as a family. In his eyes it will be as though we are husband and wife and the thought of such a thing did not seem to bother you. Can I assume that if I were to ask for your hand in marriage there is a possibility that you would accept?" I ask quietly.

"Are you asking me to marry you Erik?" Marie answers my question with a question of her own.

After a few moments of silent thought I decide that the look on her face when she asked me has given me the courage to plunge ahead. Perhaps the bump on my head has truly knocked some sense into me I think wryly to myself once more before I respond to her question. "Yes, I suppose I am," I say as I gracefully move from my chair to kneel on one knee on the floor before Marie. I remove the small black box that I had purchased when I was out earlier from the pocket in my robe and shakily hold it out to Marie. "Marie, can you find it in your heart to allow a deformed old man the honor of calling you his wife?" I ask very softly for I am afraid that if I were to speak too loudly this dream would vanish before my eyes and I would wake to find myself completely alone again.

"Oh, Erik," Marie sighs softly as she takes the box from my trembling hand and slowly opens the lid. It is a gold band with intricately etched roses circling it and at the center of each flower is a small diamond. I find that I am holding my breath as I wait for her answer. Removing the ring from the little box she proceeds to place it on her finger as she says excitedly, "yes! Oh yes, Erik I will marry you!" With that said she throws her arms around me and, catching me off guard, I tumble backwards onto the floor with her on top of me.

Releasing the breath I have been holding I find it very hard to believe that she has just said yes to my proposal. "You will marry me? You will be my wife?" I ask in stunned disbelief. Could I have possibly heard her correctly?

"Yes, Erik, I will marry you," she says lightly as she caresses my cheek and smiles down at me. She then presses her lips to mine in a very passionate kiss. It is almost as though she is trying to prove to me that she has truly said yes to being my wife. As she deepens the kiss I wrap my arms around her and pull her tightly against my body as I eagerly return her kiss.

After what seems like a lifetime but in reality only occupied a matter of minutes our lips part reluctantly as we both give into the need for air. "If this is a dream, Marie, I beg you to never wake me from it," I say softly when I am once again able to speak. Marie's face is simply radiant as she smiles happily down at me. Her body feels so perfect pressed against mine and I cannot help thinking once again of how perfectly our bodies seem to fit together as though they were made for each other.

"Believe me, Erik, this is not a dream," she says soothingly before pressing another kiss to my lips.

After we reluctantly end the kiss and I regain my ability to speak I say rather seriously, "you know, Marie, if we keep this up neither one of us is going to get much sleep tonight."

"Are you suggesting that that would be a bad thing?" she asks teasingly as she smiles mischievously.

"Marie, I am trying to be serious here. We have both been through a great ordeal today and should both get some rest and I do not find the floor a very comfortable place to be pinned down at the moment," I say as I wince slightly from a stab of pain radiating from the back of my head where I had been hit earlier. When I fell backwards I seem to have bumped that same spot.

"I am truly sorry, Erik. In the excitement I forgot about your head. Did I hurt you when I knocked you over?" she asks with concern as she quickly gets off of me and attempts to help me sit up.

"I am fine, Marie. My head is just a bit sore," I admit as I sit up slowly not wishing to become dizzy as I had in the alley. My head is spinning but not so much from the pain but more so because of what has just transpired... Marie has actually agreed to become my wife! The fact that I have actually asked her is a shock in itself!

"I am so sorry, Erik. I was not thinking. Your head must be quite sore after the blow you received in the alley this morning," she says softly as she tenderly feels the lump that has formed. "Come, you need your rest," she says softly as she takes my hands in hers and encourages me to stand.

As I get to my feet I say teasingly, "does that mean you will not attempt to seduce me tonight?" Before she has the chance to respond I pull her into my arms and kiss her deeply as I pull her body tightly against mine. As we continue to kiss I caress her back allowing my hands to journey down to her hips and pull her body even closer to mine as I do so.

After our lips reluctantly separate from each others Marie says teasingly, "who is seducing whom, Erik?"

"I am not sure, my dear, but I must beg your understanding on this matter. Please do not become upset with me for what I am about to say. I think that we had better cease these kisses and caresses for tonight. My head is throbbing rather painfully and I think it would be best if we both got a good night's sleep," I say reluctantly as I await her reaction. I know that what I have just said is not what she was hoping for and I myself would rather risk a loss of consciousness from lack of oxygen due to the intensity of our shared kisses but I know that such a thing would scare her.

"I understand, Erik," Marie says softly as she eases from my arms and takes my hand in hers before leading me from the room. "I will not try to rush you, Erik. I know that you have been through a terrible ordeal today and that you are trying very hard not to allow me to see just how much pain you are in. You do not have to act brave around me, Erik. Please allow me to help you in any way I can. You took such good care of me when I was injured and I wish to do the same for you."

"Marie, it is merely a bump on the head. I will be fine after a good night's sleep," I say reassuringly as I stop us in the hallway and reach my free hand up to gently caress her cheek. "Thank you for saving my life, Marie," I say softly before brushing a light kiss to her lips.

"And thank you for allowing me the honor of being your wife," Marie says softly before returning my gesture.

"It is I who should be thanking you for such an honor," I say quite seriously as I gaze down at her lovingly. I am still rather shocked that she has agreed to wed me and I cannot help but wonder if I am imagining it.

"I love you, Erik," she says softly as she kisses me softly once again.

"And I love you, Marie," I say as a tear travels down my twisted cheek. Marie gently wipes the tear away before leading me into her room. "I believe that you have made me the happiest man in the world," I say quietly as she leads me over to the bed before releasing my hand.

"You have made my dreams come true, Erik," she says softly as she throws back the covers on the bed. "Most," she adds slyly as barely more than a whisper as she removes her robe once more.

"I heard that, Marie," I say lightly, feeling more at ease around her than I have ever felt around anyone else. "And I plan on changing that just as soon as we are wed," I add wishfully knowing full well that we would have to be married tomorrow for me to be able to keep from making love to her before we are wed.

"When are we to be married, Erik?" Marie asks softly as she gazes at me wistfully and I cannot help but wonder if she also has the ability to read my mind.

"When would you like?" I ask seriously, not wishing to rush her and wanting everything to be perfect for such an event which will only happen once for me. I will need a best man and the only man that would fit that description is Nadir. The poor fellow probably believes me to be dead by now... most everyone does except the managers and Madam Giry that is.

"I do not wish to wait too long but I also realize that this is a very special event that will only happen once in my life for you are my destiny and I know that I will never marry another," she says truthfully as she gets into bed.

"We can discuss the details tomorrow, my dear. Let us simply enjoy the knowledge that we will soon be husband and wife," I say softly before removing my robe. I crawl beneath the covers and immediately pull her into my arms.

Snuggling closer to me she sighs softly as she closes her eyes. "That sounds wonderful," she whispers softly. I know that sheer exhaustion has finally caught up with her for she soon becomes completely relaxed in my arms and I know that she is asleep.

"I love you, Marie," I whisper softly and press a tender kiss to her brow before closing my own eyes and allowing sleep to finally claim me.