Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters on the subject. Thank you.

A/N: It's getting close to that time of year: final exams. Ugh. I am not looking forward to that. Due to it, however, the production of this story will be slow. I have no idea when I will be able to post, so please bear with me. I have a bunch of ideas, just not enough time to put them on paper. I hopefully will still post one chapter a week, but I guarantee nothing. So, enjoy this chapter! Next stop: the wedding!

Chapter 22: Courtship

I could just say the story ends here and relieve myself of the somewhat painful recollection of all that happened in the 19th century. I could just say we were married and lived happily ever after. That wasn't the complete case, however, and I'd hate to disappoint so many kind readers.

We returned to Paris soon after our moonlight meeting. Mr. King was disappointed to loose such a good cook, but Erik paid him well for my staying there. I dare say that Mr. King could have then hired ten cooks with the money Erik gave him. Our return journey was uneventful. We stayed pretty much in our own cabins and did not leave them. Erik did not want attention due to the mask. I just wanted to learn to deal with all the new emotions churning around inside. Needless to say, room service is an excellent thing.

Louise was happy to see me back. She had been greatly confused when she came back from her brother's house and found me gone. I must say, I believe it was due in part to her urging that Erik went after me in the first place. Louise greeted us as we stepped off the ship with hugs and exclamations of, "It's so good to have you back, Elizabeth." She wasn't sure what had driven me away, but she was glad to see Erik and I back on friendly terms.

We didn't get engaged right away. Neither of us was ready to rush into it. We wanted to cultivate our friendship some more, a step most people would call courtship. Erik also did not feel like he deserved to marry me after all that had happened. Guilt from the past hindered him from rushing into anything. So, we waited a year, one very long year. Things went almost back to normal. Erik resumed teaching his lessons, with me accompanying him. I continued helping around the house and doing book work. Our walks in the park resumed.

Things were not the same, though. When Erik and I were alone, he'd take the mask off. Now that he knew I wouldn't be afraid of his deformity or hate him because of it, he was more comfortable. He was still somewhat shy of it, however, and made every effort to keep the right side of his face turned away from me. I wished he wouldn't do that, but there was no arguing with him.

Among other things which changed between us was that he no longer just played music for me. He would also sing for me, something he had done before, but not very often. Oh, the feelings that would wash over me. All other music now pales in comparison. Erik was a genius in his voice. The way he could make it sound was absolutely amazing. How can I describe a masterpiece? It's impossible. I was still forbidden to sing, but he now needed a creative outlet for his singing. I was more than happy to oblige. I could have just sat there for hours listening to him.

Erik soon found that all girls are the same in one way: we like little tokens of a guy's love. Christine had her flowers with black ribbons; I sort of wanted something special, though I never truly said anything. I may have dropped tiny hints here and there but I never directly came out and said it. But, Erik, being the genius that he was, picked up on that little wish. I was soon waking up to have a new book, a vase of flowers, or some other little trinket lying on my bedside table. He was so sweet. In a way, he was very childlike- always wanting to please and trying not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Christine and Raoul still haunted him.

About a week after we arrived in Paris, Erik surprised me. I was chopping up vegetables in the kitchen when he came in and hurried me upstairs. He was like a child at Christmas, face a light and a smile playing on his lips. I wondered what was up. He wasn't one to get happy for no reason.

"I have something for you." He said with a smile, as he led me into the piano room. A small box was sitting on the piano. No, it was not a ring box, being too long in width for it. It was more of a box used to house a necklace or a bracelet.

"What is it?" I asked in eager anticipation. Erik always gave good surprises. He handed me the box. I opened it. Sitting in a seat of dark blue velvet was the sapphire bracelet I had pawned off for money. The sapphires sparkled with the light shining in through the windows. I took it out and held it up in the light.

"Oh, Erik. Where did you find it? I was upset when I had to sell it, but there was no other option. Oh, thank you. Thank you." I gave him a hug before planting a kiss on his cheek. He laughed and hugged me back.

"You're welcome. I can't say how I found it. I just did. I knew you would have to sell it to gain passage on a ship, so I kept my eye out for it. But, I'm glad you're happy to have it back." He took the bracelet out of my hand and slipped it onto my wrist. I wore that bracelet the whole rest of the day, despite having kitchen duty. The bracelet was special to me and I had been sad to part with it.

As the days lengthened and winter came upon us, Erik and I found ourselves spending more time in the piano room talking than anything else. We shared our greatest hopes, dreams, and fears with each other during those long winter nights, as we sat by the fireplace. I learned a great deal about him that the movie and book had only hinted at. He told me about his long confinement by the gypsies (we both shed many a tear over that) and that he barely remembered his mother. He had run away from home at the tender age of six. I felt such sorrow over all that had befallen him. Erik in all since of the word was a tragic hero.

I tried not to probe too deeply, but I was so curious. I asked him about his life inside the opera house. Erik told me it had been interesting, growing up listening to solely music. Actually, he told me, the idea for him becoming the Phantom had come from some opera. I thought that was interesting. He also told me that the night of the disaster with Christine and Raoul; he had escaped the clutches of the crowd via the mirror. Apparently, there had been another subterranean passage behind the mirror, leading to a street. He had followed it out, went to the bank to collect some of the money he had stored away, and left to rid himself of his demons.

Erik told me he had traveled far and wide in an effort to escape the ghosts pursuing him. His wanderings took him to Rome, China, London, and even America. I was shocked. I had never expected him to travel at all due to the mask. He was always people-shy. Erik said he came back home to Paris a year later, bought a house, hired Louise, and the rest I already knew.

Christmas came on fast. I could never believe how time just flew by that fall and winter. Five months was turned into five weeks to me. Erik again gave Alex and Jack gifts and a two week break. They were very excited, but promised to continue to practice. They both were becoming excellent musicians under Erik's gentle hand. Christmas brought about another sweet surprise for me.

I was making some hot chocolate (or the 19th century's equivalent) on Christmas Eve in the kitchen for us, Louise having to run out to get some sort of stuffing, when Erik strode in. His eyes were smiling and I could tell he was excited about something but trying not to show it.

"Can I help you?" I said in my best French accent, looking up from where I was stirring the chocolate. Both his hands were behind his back so I was immediately suspicious.

"Yes, you can, my dear. I have a little something for you and I wanted to give it to you before Louise gets back with the Christmas dinner or whatever it is she is after." I wiped my hands on a towel and walked over to him. I playfully tried to reach whatever was behind his back.

"Well, what is it?" He smiled mischievously as he dodged my attempt at discovering the surprise. "Come now, Erik. You know I hate surprises. What is this all about?" His face sobered quickly, but his eyes were still dancing. I crossed my arms in mock annoyance.

My posture changed the minute he knelt in front of me and produced a small ring box from behind his back. Did I scream? No, but I wanted to. Not from horror, but from delight. Erik looked very unsure as he knelt there and opened the box. The ring was gorgeous. A small diamond surrounded by sapphires on a band of gold. It was the most beautiful thing I ever saw and it probably cost him a fortune.

"I hope I'm doing this right." He said nervously. I felt sort of bad for him, but I wasn't going to help. I just stood there waiting for him to ask the question I knew must be coming. "Louise told me… never mind. Elizabeth, I love you. I love you more than anything. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I was struck speechless as he looked anxiously at me. Seconds ticked by. I finally found my voice.

"Erik, yes. Yes! It would be my pleasure." He laughed happily as he slipped the ring onto my finger. Standing up, he pressed me into him and swung me around. I laughed joyfully. As he set me down, our lips met. Life was good.