Disclaimer: I do not and have never owned Erik or his story, but I do own this one and the people in it.

Cold Fate: Well there will be no more cliffhangers. I hope you like the finale.

Nemi Jade: : Hides behind scenery: No more torture I promise and you said you'd never use that on me! I deserve though i'm sure. Hope this will appease you.

musicgirl141: Lynch mob :laughs: I can run faster then them, I own a scooter.

Count Orlok: : stares at him strangely: Okay...I'll take that as your for the pairing and leave it at that. As for Malcolm and Veronica I didn't forget them so don't worry.

Miranda de la Costa: Thank you so much. But the story has to end and its time is now. I love your writing as well so. Don't worry about me leaving, i'll probably put up some one shots and make up for my absence.

Agent Alexandra Paris: This should make up for the cliffhanger.

xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: Okay breathe. In...and out...in...and out. Breathe girl, here's the next chapter, so don't turn blue on me.

Jilly: Cool, Geology. That's an interesting field to work in. Its still strange that you kept in time with me on the story but I enjoyed trying to find a way to throw you off. Didn't work but it was fun. I'll keep in contact with you, no doubt. I hope you enjoy this.

sbkar: Glad I could make your Sunday so enjoyable.

Author's Note: I'm no happier then you guys are that the story is over. But all good things must come to an end. I probably won't tackle something this big for a little while, but you can expect a few one shots. In fact i'm working on a phantom one shot that is Christine friendly and set in the correct time period. Its much easier to keep Erik in the phantom demeanor in his own time. I hope you guys have had as much fun reading this as i've had writing it. There would have been no fun in this without the things you have all said about it.

Love Phantom Ange

Chapter 24: Decisions Are Final

Erik couldn't sleep. A year had passed and Ariel's decision never wavered. After all this time he still didn't believe what had happened that night. When his entire world was balanced on the one word that never came from her lips.

( 1 year before)

How could this be! Erik thought when Ariel handed him back the rose. His heart stopped, he'd felt it before. But this was a painful feeling, not akin to her smile or laugh. He didn't look at her, he simply stared at the rose. But she loves me, she swore she did! The words were bitter even in his mind. Why had he thought that any woman would want to marry him, even his beautiful Ariel ?

He felt her hand on his face and Erik made a sound like a wounded animal. He tried to pull away from her as if it burned. In a way it did. But she wouldn't give up her hold on him.

" Erik wait !" She said suddenly and pressed her hand more firmly against his face. That's when Erik felt it, between the warmth of his face and her hand was a cool spot that laid just below his eye. He pulled her hand away and looked at it. Placed on the second finger of her left hand was his ring. She'd placed it there before trying to give him the rose. Erik stared at her in disbelief.

Ariel just smiled. " Do you know how quickly you jump to conclusions?" She asked.

Erik was about to answer that but Ariel cut him off when she brought his mouth down to hers. Erik was quick to respond to the kiss. He broke the kiss and started to laugh. His mis matched eyes shone like two gems that Ariel knew would look on her the same way for the rest of her life.

The audience and cast gave a collective sigh and that sent Erik and Ariel into a true fit of laughter. Darius was the only one who still stared at them in bewilderment. " Do you think that means she said yes?" He asked Malcolm and Veronica who were holding each other close while they watched the couple on stage.

Malcolm looked at Darius as if he'd grown another head. " And you still wonder why Ariel said you made a perfect Raoul?" That earned both the Vicomte and Ex-phantom a knock upside the head from Veronica. " I already have to keep Darius's stupid comments in check, don't make me censor you as well." Veronica said in warning to both men and they quickly shut up.

( 1 year later)

Erik grinned at the memory, the moonlight catching the golden band around his own wedding finger. He was now a half owner of the 'Phantom's Lair Theater' and had the woman he loved as his wife. So why couldn't he sleep? Erik had his answer when he reached for his wife and found himself alone bed. Alone?

Ariel's face was washed in blue, ethereal light from the computer screen. It was one in the morning and she couldn't sleep, writing was always the way she eased insomnia. Tonight, the last page of Ariel's first nonfiction story was what called her attention .

When her fingers brought Malcolm and Veronica's names up a smile tugged at her lips. Malcolm had asked the theaters primma donna to marry him just two months ago. The woman hadn't answered with a yes or no but there was a lot of excited screaming. When he gave Veronica his last name he was welcomed back to the theater and Erik and him alternated as the phantom onstage.

Anthony and Giselle visited at least three times a month with their baby girl Angelique. When Giselle became pregnant they stayed at the theater for her entire maternity leave. Anthony kept telling Erik that this was practice for when Ariel became pregnant. The comment got the phantom very interested in what was bound to happen when his own wife had a child. After all the questions Erik kept asking, Ariel finally pointed him in the direction of the library and let him loose. By the time he was finished, he knew more about childbirth and pregnancy then all the woman at the theater and their mothers put together. Ariel had simply rolled her eyes and kissed him, that at least left the matter of children behind them for a few days.

Ariel came out of her revelry for a moment and stared at the gilded invitation leaning against the computer screen. An invitation to Darius and Jeremy's wedding. Instead of going to Canada they decided on getting married in Paris and the Opera Populaire. Everyone at the Phantom's Lair Theater was invited to go, so Ariel and Erik were closing down the theater for a month so they could all attend. Phantom Phans were not pleased about it but they were loyal enough that they would return when it reopened. Darius had been considerate enough to ask Erik if he'd be comfortable returning to the opera house. Erik said that it was about time he faced the past and made peace with it.

While she typed away, something fell onto the keyboard and put a bunch of letters on the screen that made no sense. Ariel looked down to see her wedding ring had fallen off again, it was still too big even in her present condition.

" I told you before we should of had it fitted to your finger Ariel." Erik said, slipping the ring back on her finger. " Or you should of let me buy you a proper wedding ring."

Ariel turned in the chair and kissed her husband in greeting. There was no cold porcelain against her skin. Erik barely wore the mask except for rehearsals. The mask seemed to be a necessary piece of his dress suite and he barely wore that either.

Ariel frowned when she pulled away. " Erik you know very well I hate diamonds and I love your ring more then anything. A jeweler would only destroy it because they don't make rings like this anymore." Erik only shook his head and laughed.

" Why do I even try?" He asked with a smile. Ariel shrugged. Then Erik looked over at her shoulder to stare at the computer screen. " What are you doing at one in the morning by the way?" He asked and Ariel panicked.

" Nothing!" She said a bit too quickly in response and attempted to turn the screen off before he finished reading it. But Erik wrapped his arms around her shoulders securely to stop her and he rested his chin on her shoulder so he could continue reading in silence. " I'm sure it's nothing when you try so hard to hide it mon amie." He said sarcastically. Ariel slumped in his hold and finally gave in. " Fine, go ahead and read it."

A few minutes later had Erik staring at her with a strange expression. "Since when did our life story turn into a piece of fan fiction?" He asked and Ariel turned red. " And when did you plan on telling me about this, when it was finished? Ariel's there's fourteen chapters to this!" He said in amazement.

" Well i'm on the last chapter, so yes I was going to show you when it was finished. I used the theater as it's title." She said and Erik started to laugh. "What!" Ariel asked indignantly.

Erik had seen what Ariel had chosen for a pen name and found it strangely appropriate. " Phantom Ange?" He asked and Ariel turned a deeper shade of red. " I thought it sounded fine, considering who I married." She said. Erik kissed her soundly before she could go on. " I love it, and I love what you've done with the story." He said, making Ariel smile and relax into his embrace. " And I love you." He added in a near whisper. " I love you too, even if you are a nosy phantom." Ariel said with a chuckle. They stayed like that for a little while before Erik stood back up.

" Come along Ariel, it's too late to still be up." Erik urged, pulling her out of the chair. " You can finish it in the morning." Ariel groaned but didn't resist as Erik brought her back to bed. She nestled into Erik, it was too hot for blankets this late in summer. She was gently drifting off to sleep when Erik spoke up.

" Ariel, you left something out of the story."

She opened her eyes to look at Erik who had his face resting on her bare stomach. " Hmmmm?" She asked sleepily. Erik didn't say what it was, all he did was press a kiss against her swollen belly and hummed against the skin. Ariel smiled when the baby kicked towards the sound of her fathers voice. She put a gentle hand on her stomach to soothe the babe to sleep. And Erik placed his hand over hers. " Our baby?" She asked and Erik nodded.

" Because Erik, that's a part of our story that hasn't even begun yet."

Erik smiled and kissed her. " Your right seraph, your absolutely right." He held her close until she and the baby had both fallen asleep before letting himself join them. " I love you both." He whispered before drifting off with the two loves of his life beside him.

Author's Note: : smiles happily: That's it everyone. I hoped you enjoyed the story. I worked so hard on this. I loved hearing what you guys say about the story and have been on the floor laughing most of the time when hearing some of your responses. You know who you are. You all made it worth it.

You are all part of the 'Phantom's Lair Theater' no matter what.

Please review to tell me what you think of this. Its the end but please don't forget to say what you loved about it. I want you guys all to know that this story wouldn't be half as great as it was without the help of my mother. Who is just as big a phantom phan as me and gave so much help when I got writers block. So i'd be happy if you guys showed her how much she's appreciated for it.

So long everyone, see you in Paris...: waves: Love you all.