Author's Note: SO!...Have you missed me? Just kidding...but seriously...I proudly present to you (DA DADA DAAAAAAAAA) THE WEDDING! HOOORAH:) But in all seriousness, I am so happy that so many of my readers have not given up on me as of yet, and thanks to all of you I have been inspired and wrote all of this in a matter of...ONE DAY...YAY:) I regret to have to inform you all that I will be camping with my best buddy (I LOVE YOU GRACIE!) next week and I ALMOST CERTAINLY...wont get the next chapter up until a little bit after I get back next Thursday...If I do happen to get through the next chapter because of a great inspiration or something, I will post it for you all before I leave on Friday...if, not I will get it to you all as soon as I possibly can after I get back...I thank you all for your devotion and hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did...So, without furthur adeu, I present to you, the next chapter!

You Have Come Here In Pursuit Of Your Deepest Urge

The carriage came to a slow halt after an extremely short but restless ride in it. By now, I was nervous beyond belief. My crazy imagination once again took the opportunity to cause me pain. What if no one could be found to marry us? What if he changed his mind? What if something occurred during our separation in these past few hours and Erik doesn't love me anymore? But as soon as those questions crossed my mind, I banned them from my thoughts with an audible grunt. How could I imagine such a thing…I love him and he loves me, so love will bind us together…one way or another.

The old carriage driver parted the curtain covering the door and poked is head in. "Is all well miss?"

"Yes, it was a pleasant ride, thank you…although I do wish I knew where we are…" I politely responded, in earnest,

"Well, take my hand and close your eyes…trust me and soon you shall see..." I did as I was told, closing my eyes and taking the old man's hand. For a moment I thought I heard the sound of drums beating, but then I shamefully realized that it was my heart, racing in my nervousness. I stepped down and my feet unexpectedly met soft ground, but try as I might, I could not distinguish what it felt like. Ignoring that small detail, I walked on behind him, my hand in his and my eyes closed tightly. Giving up my sight was like placing me in a silent space where I could think in peace. I began to contemplate why I was so nervous as I was able to forget that I was actually moving. In the end, I could only come up with one answer.

The truth was, I wasn't nervous at all, but instead I was so overjoyed in a way that I had never experienced before and the only way my mind could describe my feelings, was by telling me that it was nervousness I was feeling. My heart's beating began to soften in my ears and it was then that I began to notice the soft, salty breeze, the sound of waves gently crashing against a shoreline, and seagulls soaring overhead. At this realization, I gasped and in that same moment the driver instructed me to open my eyes. Immediately, I took in the glorious sight spread out before me.

My eyes were finally able to feast upon an image that had one only been offered to me in my dreams. I took in each sight completely, savoring the beauty and splendor of it all. The soft sand was bathed in the colors created from the setting sun. Luscious shades of gold, red, lavender and pink radiated off of the ground and made everything feel even more like a dream. As the colors caressed the sand, I noticed that there were places that the colors were reflected with even more brilliance. Before me, was a path made entirely our of white rose petals and immediately I recognized it as the work of my Erik. No other person could think up such a magnificent way to lead their bride straight to them.

My thoughts were then possessed by the image of Erik that my heart conjured into my mind. It felt as if I was floating on a cloud as I moved gently over the flower path toward my husbandmy Erik! The waves crashed harmoniously on the shore and it struck me as the most amazing music ever created, the percussion being provided by my racing heartbeat. I followed the path eagerly and pursued it around a corner of boulders. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw the alter.

It was simple and white, but vines of ivy and white roses entwined themselves around it's frame, making it stunning. Underneath it were two figures and I nearly ran towards them, nothing but adoration carrying me to them. As I began to get closer, I noticed that Erik had not yet seen me, moreover, he had not even lifted his gaze from the ground in front of him. For a moment, I doubted myself again, but quickly allowed those doubts to burn in the dying rays of the setting sun. After what seemed like and eternity, I was a few feet away from them both. In that instant, I wanted nothing more than to drink in the striking image of my husband, but he had yet to actually look me in the eyes. It was then that I realized what was bothering him so.

I took in his figure, dressed in an almost entirely black suit, with a white dress shirt underneath his many layers of dark clothing. Everything about him was dazzling, minus his sudden lack of confidence due to the one detail I had nearly overlooked. The right side of his face was bare and exposed for all the world to see as he made me his wife. My eyes swelled up with grateful tears as I took a moment to appreciate the complete show of trust that came from this gesture. The priest smiled at me and I smiled back before I reached out and took hold of Erik's chin with the palm of my hand. I raised his face to mine and was stricken by the doubtful tears that I found hiding in the depths of his gold-green eyes.

I whispered softly to him, "My love…abandon all your doubtful thoughts! Forsake them to the utmost corner of your heart, so that you will never question my love for you again. I love you despite all of your flaws inside and out. Nothing could ever change that…not now, not ever. I will love you until the day I die and when that day comes, I will die at your side so that we may lie together for all eternity… and perhaps then, God will see our devotion to each other and allow us to remain together forever, even in death. So now, let us be joined in the eyes of God himself, as we truly are…no masks to hide behind…no barriers of doubt to separate us…nothing…but you and I, together as one."

I watched as the last dark shadow within his soul was devoured by the glow of love. I now knew that he would never be the same man he was when he threatened Raoul and Christine. He had changed and was now one of the risen angels, instead of a fallen one. How his spirit now displayed that! He beamed at me in joy and took my hand off of his face and held it firmly with his, turning us both toward the nearly forgotten priest. Silently, he mouthed the words 'I love you' and for some reason, this time as he spoke them, they held more meaning for me than I ever thought possible.

The priest then began to perform the ceremony. Each and every word he spoke was burned into my memory, but at the same time as well, I heard not a single word of it. Each sentence he spoke was like a fog, whirling around Erik and I as we stared into each other's eyes; mesmerized. Suddenly, I awoke with a start as I noticed the beginning of our vows.

"Do you, Erik Muhlheim take Gabrielle Beauvais to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward 'til death do you part…?"

Erik snapped to attention and beamed at me as he loudly pronounced, "I do!"

"And do you, Gabrielle Beauvaistake Erik Muhlheim to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward 'til death do you part…?"

"I do!"

The priest then handed Erik a black velvet box which held a breathtakingly detailed diamond ring and he carefully caressed it with his fingertips before gently slipping it onto my hand, his fingers lingering on mine. I then was handed a similar box which held a simple golden band that was his ring. I noticed an inscription on the inside and it read 'the miracle of an angel'. I kissed the ring once before sliding it onto his hand as well. His hand then took my own once again and gripped it tightly.

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife…you may kiss the bride."

As if he had been waiting the entire time for those words to be spoken, he pulled me to him in a flash and kissed me deeply. I could do nothing but simply allow my senses to be ravished until I had lost all ability to think, move or speak. He then pulled me back so that we could face each other. He was so happy that I was nearly brought to tears once again. How could he, the most ingenious and remarkable man I have ever known, be denied such moments of happiness? But I cannot help but adore him all the more for it… Is he not the most marvelous husband the world has ever seen? No other man could have ever been more ecstatic than he! Through the mist in my brain that his kiss had created, I heard him thank the priest with the most compassionate of voices and then he took my hand and led me away toward an awaiting carriage.

Once we had reached the carriage, he helped me inside and then climbed in next to me, placing an arm around my shoulder. I suddenly noticed that he had finally decided to look over my appearance. I had to admit that I understood his delay. The entire wedding had been so intense with our love that he had not even a chance to think of anything other than making me his. I blushed and he placed a kiss on one of my cheeks before casting his eyes downward once again.

"What is the matter, Erik?" I abruptly was obsessed with worry for him.

"It is just that…I couldn't arrange for a honeymoon. I had wanted to, so very badly…but the arrangements would have been far too dangerous…so I hope you don't mind, but we will have to spend our wedding night in our own home…" He seemed ashamed by this somehow, and I knew as well as he did that the blame for the necessity of secrecy lied on us both, not only him.

"Oh Erik! As long as I am with you, nothing else could ever matter…!" He pulled me close to him and I laid my head on his shoulder. The rocking movement of the carriage was soothing as he fingered the silk of my dress, I nearly fell asleep. We rode the rest of the way in silence. It felt so right for him to hold me as neither of us spoke and I knew I could and would remain like that forever with him.

After a bit of a ride, the carriage once again came to a stop, but this time we were at the edge of the woods that concealed our home. Erik got out first and then extended a hand for me. I smiled and took his hand in mine as we both set off into the woods. It didn't take long for us to reach the front door of our cottage. I was about to open the door and go in, when Erik spun me around and took me in his arms.

"You're not getting away that easily…" he playfully growled into my ear as he took my mouth with his. His tongue gently parted my lips and soon we were lost within the taste of each other. I couldn't help but let out a soft sigh as he pulled back from me once again. "Welcome home, my love!" I suppressed my surprised yelp as he took me in his arms and carried me in through the door. He set me down soon after and it took a moment for me to realize that he had planned this part of our evening as well.

In our dining room was a small table with candles lit all around it. A single red rose in a vase sat at it's center and two plates were set across from each other on the table. I could feel his gaze upon my face as I thought about the time and effort he put into this surprise as well. I smiled at him and he rushed over to pull out one of the chairs for me. I laughed and took the seat he had offered. He then disappeared into the kitchen for a moment but soon returned with plates of food that I assumed he had prepared earlier. He placed one such plate in front of me and another in his place.

"Erik…This is wonderful…" I said breathlessly. He had put so much thought into this evening and I couldn't think of any way to put my feelings for him into words. I was beyond loving him…he was more than I could have ever hoped for in a husband…

Dinner passed fairly quickly. We spoke little but our eyes could not break away from each other. With a small smile I realized that I had forgotten entirely that he was not wearing the mask. His deformity itself was still as terrible as it had always been, but the truth of the matter was that, the more I looked upon his unmasked face, the more each imperfection became precious to me. I loved all of him. From the one side of his nose that was nothing but an empty black hole, to the thin skin of his right cheek.

We were still sitting in silence, but the quiet between us was so comfortable it did not matter. We were both simply admiring the fact that we were finally together forever. Erik rose from his seat and languidly walked over behind my chair. He wrapped his arms around my bare shoulders and held me from behind. He bent slightly and slid his lips over my exposed neck as he whispered against it, "Dance for me?"

His touch sent shivers down my spine. I responded so softly that it was amazing to me that he had even heard me. "There is no music…"

"I shall make the music for you…come…" With that he released me and walked over to the piano that was in our living room and sat down before it. He rested his hands gently on top of the keys before looking at me. I stood awkwardly and shifted uncomfortably under his expectant gaze. "Are you nervous to dance in front of me?" He gently inquired.

"To be quite honest with you, I am!"

He laughed robustly and then softly depressed a chord on the piano. "I shall sing to you if you give me the honor of a performance…," he offered temptingly.

"Alright…I suppose I could agree to that deal…" I responded, still somewhat anxious.

Knots formed in my stomach as he turned his attention back to the instrument in front of him. But as soon as his notes began to form together, I was lost completely in the splendor that his music created. I had never heard anything like it before. The melody that seemed to come straight from his fingertips was so bittersweet that I my stomach lurched. Even without corresponding lyrics, I could recognize the theme of desire, longing and love. The harmony of each note was so captivating that the song itself seemed unearthly.

My body began to move simultaneously with each movement of his hands upon the ivory keys. My ardent mind couldn't control the urge to imagine his hands moving in a similar fashion upon my body, causing the steps of my dance to intensify along with the music. I knew his eyes were no longer upon the piano in front of him, but were now following my movements, but as long as he continued playing that sensual music I could do nothing else but dance.

I was possessed by the tune that wasn't only playing in the air around me, but inside of me as well. I felt each note course through my veins and it caused my body to want so much more than his music. I allowed myself to inwardly curse at my indecent thoughts for a second, but the merciless music would not allow me more than that second for my own contempt. It continued to push me on relentlessly and I began to pirouette furiously around the room.

I could feel my limbs growing weak and tired as Erik neared the end of his piece. The demons inside of me raged at the climax of the ending music, but my body screamed at them to be merciful and allow me to slow my pace. No such thing happened as the last note finally began to fade into the silence that had been hiding underneath the feverous melody. I was panting desperately and my body began to shake as the weakness began to take over. I felt my knees buckle and the floor rushing up to meet me.

A large pair of arms grabbed me from behind and kept me on my feet. I leaned back against him, still breathing harshly. Small beads of sweat were sprinkled over his broad forehead and I knew that the effort of playing so fervently caused him to grow tired as well. I let out an exhausted laugh and he smiled back at me before taking my mouth with his. The fatigue I felt moments before dissipated before my very eyes and I was lost within the struggle to keep up with his kiss. He then released my mouth and began caressing the exposed skin on my neck and shoulders. My stomach grew painfully hot as it twisted onto itself.

I moved backward just enough to be able to look into the depths of his eyes. His eyes were almost completely gold and they were burning with a powerful hunger that I felt within myself as well. I smiled wickedly at him and he seemed to take the hint willingly.

His voice was dark and compelling as he whispered, "come…let me prove to you how much I truly love you…" I took his hand and we both made our way upstairs.