A/N: The story will take a lighter turn in the next couple of chapters. Not too much angst for a little while, anyway. Thanks to erikfan for your kind comments. I am humbled by your praise.

Ch. 33 – A New Beginning

Later, as they lay idly enjoying the sweetness of their moments together, Christine raised her head and rested it on her elbow to study him once more. "Erik?" she asked gently, "How long have you looked like this?" She hoped he would not be upset by her question. "For about two years now, I believe," he answered quietly. He turned to her, "Why? Does it not please you?" Christine shook her head quickly, "Oh, no darling. You are truly beautiful now, both inside and out, though I always saw you that way." She blushed, "But it's strange... I miss your face. It was part of you, a part of you that you only allowed me to see. Somehow, though I would know you if I were blind, you feel like a different man to me now. Seeing you and loving you like this makes me feel somehow that I am betraying the Angel that I have loved for so long. It is difficult to explain..." her voice trailed off in uncertainty.

He smiled at the innocence of her heart, "Christine, darling, let me assure you that I am in fact that very same man you knew before, and yet a different one as well. I am a whole man now, and a happy one. I am the man today that you deserved then. Don't be ashamed that you miss that part of me that was most distasteful. All that proves is that you have always been able to love me completely, even those parts that I could not love in myself." He stroked her cheek, confiding to her softly, "Strangely, now, I have come to be thankful for that which appeared to be my curse. In the end, it brought me an unbelievable appreciation for all that is good in my life." She smiled, lying back down next to him in peaceful understanding.

She closed her eyes dreamily, fully intending to laze about in the comfort of his arms the entire day, but he refused to allow it. "Come my dear, there is far too much to be done for us to lie abed all day," a devilish half-smile crossed his face as he eyed her naked form beneath the thin sheet that covered her, "although I dare say that would be most enjoyable as well." Christine protested, but in the end tore herself away from his arms to bathe and dress.

She supposed he had some important business to attend to of some sort, and although disappointed, she was content as long as she could be at his side. Looking at her reflection in the mirror when she had finished getting ready, she noticed a flush to her cheeks, a sparkle to her eyes that had been absent for so long. It was Erik, she realized. He held her spirit, and when he was near, it soared within her. She came down the grand stairway at last, fresh and lovely in a gown of a gentle blue. Erik had sent a maid and his driver early that morning to retrieve some of her things from the cottage. She marveled at his thoughtfulness.

When she entered the foyer, she could hear music coming from the conservatory. Grinning widely, she nearly ran down the long hall in her excitement to hear him play and sing once more. Stopping in the doorway, she merely stood watching him for a moment, taking in his masterful form lost in his art as he swayed slightly with the music. Seeing her in the doorway, he changed the tune, playing a familiar love song from an opera she had once performed in as a member of the chorus. She recognized it immediately. It had always been one of her favorites, and she began to hum the tune softly, feeling an urge to sing as never before. Moving to stand beside him, she began in the enchanted voice that she only seemed to find when he was near. He smiled, closing his eyes again to feel her golden voice encompass him. The perfection of it had always drawn him, and if anything there was an even deeper richness and purity to it now that held him spell-bound.

When the song was finished, they walked together hand in hand to the sitting area in the corner of the room. He settled himself in the chair comfortably, and instead of taking the chair next to him, she chose to kneel at his side, leaning her head against his knee as she used to do back when he had been her Angel. Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Sing for me Erik, just as you used to before." He smiled at her request, and with one hand stroking her dark head, he sang to her a beautiful aria, one she had never heard before. Her soul thrilled in the rapture of the holy wonder that was his voice. She had forgotten its full grace and power to move her unlike any other sound on earth.

Raising her head, and turning to kneel before him, she looked up at him, with wonder in her eyes, "Erik, do you know that I have never heard a more heavenly voice than yours. All those years you worked so hard to make my voice heard, and yet no one has ever heard your own but me. Do you think now you might consider singing for others some day, my love? Your gifts are so great, you really must consider sharing them." Her eyes were serious, and he was deeply touched by her sincere praise.

He leaned forward, kissing her gently on the forehead. "Thank you, my dear, truly, but I think I prefer to sing only for you." He stood and pulled her up beside him. "Now, Christine, in my moments of inspiration this morning, I had forgotten the urgent errand to which we must attend. A late breakfast is waiting for us in the garden, and then we really must be off."

She tucked her arm in his and leaned her head on his shoulder as they stepped out into the sunshine. She couldn't hide her delight in the splendor of Erik's gardens, and he watched her face light as she explored curiously. He had known she would be pleased. Christine had always admired flowers. They shared a lovely breakfast, enjoying each other's company as if they had never been separated.

As they finished their meal, he wondered how to broach the delicate subject that lay ahead of him. After the years they had lost, he wanted to waste no more time in making her his wife. However, he was not certain how she would react to the news of his heritage and his new last name. He stood up, taking her arm in his, "Come, darling, let's go for a walk."

Christine was enchanted, pausing like a child to examine every type of flower along the way, and Erik patiently recited the name of each one in turn. When they reached the breathtaking fountain in the center of the gardens, Erik drew her down to sit next to him. "I have something most important I must tell you Christine. It may be difficult for you to understand at first, but I will try to help you in any way I can." Christine wondered why he suddenly looked so serious, but patiently waited for him to explain.

As he gathered his thoughts for a moment, she took the opportunity to study him. He looked regal this morning in a crisp white shirt and a deep midnight blue vest covered in delicate embroidery. She loved the easy grace with which he moved and the brilliance of his mind, easily naming every flower in the garden that she had pointed out. She wondered that she had ever thought this remarkable man to be somehow unworthy of her regard. In truth, she now felt it was she who had little to offer him in all his talent and genius.

Finally, taking Christine's hand in his, Erik began the long story of his history, beginning with all that Helena had revealed to him. Christine's eyes widened, but she did not speak, wanting to hear all that he had to say. At last, he looked up at her, trying to assess whether or not the news had upset her.

Her reaction was entirely different from what he had envisioned. She threw her arms around his neck, laughing in delight, "Erik, you have a family!" There were tears in her eyes as she brought her hands to his face. "I am so happy for you!" He returned her embrace with surprise, and then cautiously continued, "You realize my dear that this makes me the current Comte de Chagny?" Christine looked at him puzzled, "Yes, of course." Her reaction was a still mystery to him. "And you understand that I would have been half-brother to Raoul?" he quietly ventured. Christine lowered her voice meeting his eyes with certainty, understanding now his hesitance, "Yes, Erik, I understand."

Seeing her unwavering acceptance, he took a deep breath, withdrawing a small box from his pocket that he had purchased earlier that morning while she had been dressing. He knelt down on one knee before her, gazing up at her lovely face in the sunlight, still amazed by his good fortune in having her love at last. With a trembling hand, he withdrew from the box a ring, stunning in its simple elegant beauty, just as she was.

She searched his eyes, wondering at his intentions, and then upon seeing the ring understanding dawned and she began to cry - this time tears of joy and gratitude. He smiled up at her, a gentle smile of absolute love and trust, "Christine, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife at last?" Christine smiled in return, and without hesitation, slipped the ring on her finger and threw her arms around him. They stayed there for many moments, simply holding each other in their contentment.

At last, Erik stood, drawing his new fiancé up beside him. As they walked hand in hand back to the house, Christine looked down to admire her new ring, and in doing so, noticed with a gasp the ring that he still wore on his little finger after all the years that had passed and all that had happened between them. He followed her gaze and said simply, "I told you before, my love, I have always belonged to you, even when you could not be with me."