A/N: So sorry that this took so long! I went on vacation, and wrote so much, and never got around to typing it up. I'll work on it, I love where I've gotten!

Chapter 14: Decided

Christine gazed into her mirror and combed the tangles from her long curls, her mind a thousand miles away. She was startled when her reflection slid away to be replaced by the figure of a man: Erik. She gasped, and then laughed. Erik smiled at this, but neither said anything. Christine just drew nearer to him and stood on her toes, placing her hands on his chest for balance. She lifted herself high enough to place a small kiss on his forehead, half of her lips on his mask, the other half on his bare skin. She placed another between his eyebrows, and then on the tip of his nose. She then brought her lips in front of his, and paused teasingly. He let out a small laugh and closed the distance between them by claiming her lips with his - the enchanting kisses that they shared always manage to take their breath away. Once they parted, Christine smiled, biting her lip, as she backed up, allowing him in her room.

"How are you feeling, dear?" Erik let out an annoyed sigh, but there was a hint of a smirk upon his lips.

"Christine, I've been well for nearly two weeks."

"You are sure, you don't feel weak? If so, you do need to rest until you are fully-" Erik interrupted her by occupying her lips with a small kiss.

"I feel fine, Christine. Superb." Christine smiled, and Erik continued on to say what he meant to in the beginning. "I heard the managers speaking to each other. Monsieur Andre is planning a ball for New Years day next month. A masquerade. It suits me, does it not?" Christine let out a small laugh and smiled thoughtfully. The holiday season was rapidly approaching and she was very much in the spirit of it all.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful!" Erik took her hand.

"Would you accompany me, dear?"

"Really? You would go? Oh, yes, Angel!" Erik slipped a hand around her waist, pulling her close to him, just as Madame Giry's voice was heard resounding through the hallways outside.

"Girls! Rehearsals! Now!" Christine winced.

"I forgot. I should go. It's the last gala of the year." Erik just smiled and placed a chaste kiss upon her lips, before turning to leave. Christine watched as he strode toward the mirror and as he had his back to her, she caught a glimpse of a black knot - a ribbon, forming a necklace around his neck. Her jaw dropped and a knock came at her door just as Erik turned around, facing her, to close to mirror. She whipped her head around and looked at the door momentarily, before whipping it back around, looking back at Erik. He just winked at her, not noticing her shocked expression, and closed the mirror. Another knock. Christine opened the door, and without a word, Meg grabbed Christine around the wrist and pulled her toward the rehearsal area by the stage.

During rehearsals, though, Christine's mind was still back in her dressing room, with Erik, wondering about the makeshift necklace around his neck. She assumed, after the surreal ordeal had passed by, and she hadn't again seen the rings, that she had dreamt them up. She had simply let her imagination carry her away, mixing her love for Erik, her memories of her father, and her desire to wed, into one enchanting dream. Could it have actually happened? Did she really have her father's blessing in her relationship with Erik?

"Christine!" Meg whispered, giving her a little push.

"Leetle fool missed 'er cue!" Carlotta screeched. The last thing Christine wanted to do was cause a tantrum in Carlotta in the last rehearsal for the gala that night.

"I apologize," Christine whispered, half-heartedly. The diva just scoffed and rolled her eyes, continuing with rehearsals. It seemed everyone was in the holiday spirit.

Erik sat in his underground home and traced the two circles that hung from a ribbon around his neck. He had been confused by the rings, at first. 'If Christine's father had told her in a dream, how did she get the rings?' he had wondered. What Christine didn't know was that Gustav Daae had visited Erik recently in a dream, as well. He had told him to love Christine with everything he had within him, to follow his heart, and to never give up, come what may. He had awoken to find the first tears in his eyes in his eyes since before he met Christine.

Now, he was frightened, because he knew what he had to do. It wasn't that he didn't want to propose to

Christine, but he was afraid. To have her as his wife was the only thing he ever wanted in life. What if she said no? If she didn't, what if he wasn't able to give her the life she deserves. Does she want to be wed to a hideous beast her entire life? Other than that, would he be able to start a real life with her, above ground in a real house? He had more than enough money to, and more than enough skill to design her the house of her dreams, and also to live quite comfortably, but he was still frightened. He pondered living in a house. The darkness of his underground lair had been his sanctuary since he was a child. He got everything he wanted by ordering it from people, instigating fear within them to get his way. Could he leave that behind and change his ways? It would take adjustment, but a life in a large beautiful house, sharing a life with Christine in the sunshine, building a family - as opposed to the darkness of his underground solitude - Well, there was just no comparison.

He knew what he had to do.

A/N: claps for reviewers

erik'sangel527: haha, I love your reviews! Because! They! Are! So! Excited! With lots of exclaimation points! Wooo! Hehe, I'm so glad you like it!

mrsgerrybutler: haha yes, every girl's dream name: Mrs. Gerry Butler. Mine anyways! And yours too, apparently! hehe. Well, I'm glad you like it! And yeah, Madame Giry seemed like the protective type. Like in the beginning of the film, with the managers. :)

Ethalas Tuath'an: Well Meg doesn't really believe the daydreaming nonsense, but like, she is always kind of left confused and wondering. Poor Meg. And may I ask what your username means:)