I am sorry I haven't been really fast with my updates, but unfortunately, my computer crashed. It decided that it didn't want to work anymore and just died. So everything is somuch harder to do, but at least inspiration is coming in fast. Take care, everyone, enjoy. Tootles!

Christine waved Maria good-bye as she walked past the metal doors. She wiped the make-up off her face as she walked to the back of the auditorium to where her car was.

The parking lot was abandoned, Christine being one of the last to leave due to a celebration that her class threw in honor of their accomplishment.

No sooner did she have the car in sight, did she hear a second sset of footsteps behind her. Christine frowned, her car was the only one there, why was someone behind her?

Christine shook her head, maybe it was someone getting to their dorm. But she began to doubt when she began to speed up and the person behind her did, also.

Christine walked faster still, her heels clicking on the pavement in a fast pace.

Almost there, Christine told herself. A couple of more steps.

She glanced back a bit only to see the person's shoes in the dark. She looked back at the car, nervously, taking the keys out into her hand.

Almost there, Christine continued.

She didn't even make it to her car when she felt a hand grabbing her arm, Christine let out a scream before reaching out to hit her assailant.

He caught her wrist and Christine's scream died in her throat when she saw who it was.

"Erik?" she said out of breath. "What the hell-" she took a deep breath. "You scared the shit out of me!"

Erik only chuckled. "Forgive me, my angel. It was not my intent."

"Why didn't you just call my name?" Christine asked him, looking into his blue depths. "I thought it was a kidnapper or something-"

"I wanted to surprise you," he told her. "I'm sorry."

"You could have at least-"

He silenced her by pressing his lips to hers. She smiled in delight and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her to him and Christine continued smiling as they pulled apart. "Apology accepted."

He chuckled. "I wanted to take you somewhere."

Christine looked at her car. "But my car-"

He shrugged. "Just leave it there."

Christine obliged. "Where are you taking me?"

"That, my dear, is a surprise."

Christine had thought that he had forgotten. That night had been one year since they had been to the beach, the night of the gala. The night that had been romantic without any of them making it so. She would never forget that night. That night when the past hadn't existed, that there was no Raoul or high school auditorium. It had been only them being themselves. Christine had seen the true him, and she would never forget it.

It was amazing to think that it had been exactly one year before.

And yet he had remembered and by the looks of it, he had everything planned out.

Out on the pier, there was a small table with candles and roses and two table settings. Everything had been put to detail, from the rose petals on the table to the fabric tablecloth on the table.

"Oh," Christine could only say. "It's so beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it," he said. Taking off the silver covering off the plate, he announced, "Lobster." He held the chair for her and she sat down.

Christine bit her lip to contain her excitement. "Wow. You really shouldn't have."

"Of course I should," he said giving her a quick kiss before sitting down across the table. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you too." He kissed her hand and let it go as she began to eat. Christine covered her mouth as she said, "This is delicious." Then when finished, she asked, "So this was our first date?"

Erik ran his fingers through his hair and smiled nervously, answering with his handsome smile.

Christine took his hand and squeezed it, "Something wrong?"

Erik shook his head and began to eat his own food.

Halfway through dinner, Christine noticed that Erik had been more silent than he had seen him in weeks. His hand was even sweating! When was Erik this nervous?

When was he ever nervous?

"Erik?"

He looked up at her for the first time since they began eating.

"Erik, I'm worried about you," Christine said standing and walk to him. 'You have hardly eaten anything, you haven't spoken- are you feeling well?" She put her hand to his forehead. "You don't have a fever."

"No, no, I'm fine," he said hastily. "You don't sound fine," Christine said worried. "Was it something you ate?" Christine took a forkful of the food he was eating. "Is something wrong with it?"

"No, no," he said, taking her hand. "Its nothing."

"Then why are you-"

He stood, too and took her hands in his. He kissed her swiftly and passionately, leaving Christine with hardly any breath. "Erik?" she whispered.

He put his forehead against hers , as if collecting himself for a minute. "I just- I want this done right."

Christine looked at him, scared. "What?"

Erik smiled then stroked her cheek. After a couple of seconds he sighed and dropped his hand to his side. Turning his back to her, Christine thought the worst.

How could she have been so stupid? Romantic dinner, romantic setting…Oh, God, he was doing it like this to let her down easy. But why? When had things gone wrong? Yes, they hadn't talked in a couple of days but that was because of work and rehearsals, surely he would understand. He had been on a two-week tour before but they had kept contact everyday- then what was it? Was it her? Did he grow tired of her just like Raoul said he would?

He wouldn't. He would never do that. She held back the tears as she spoke. "What is it?"

Erik turned Christine couldn't tell if he was smiling. In fact, one couldn't read his expression at all.

But then again, when could she, mask or no?

Then he did the last thing on her mind, something that made her put a hand to her mouth and the tears she were holding finally fall.

Erik got one knee.

The only thing that came to her mind were two words. "Oh, shit."

There was a silence as he held her hands and kissed them. "Ever since I saw you, I knew I loved you-"

"Oh, shit."

"You heard me when no one else would. You were my light. You led me from darkness, twice."

Christine thought her heart would burst. She loved him above anything. "Oh, Erik."

He kissed her hands. "Wait, let me finish." He took a deep breath. "Oh Christ, I love you."

Christine laughed a little. "I love you, too."

"Christine, there is no one else I want in this world other than you. You are my angel. I never thought that I would find someone-"

Christine held back a sob as he paused.

"Find someone that would understand me like you do- that wouldn't care about what I had once done-" He took a moment again. "You gave me a second chance, you gave me the one gift that no one else could even try to give me. Understanding and love. Not-not even my own mother."

"Oh, Erik," Christine whispered, touching his cheek tenderly. "You'll always have my love."

He smiled slightly and Christine felt that his cheek was as wet as hers was. "So that's why I'm here-" He reached into his pocket and held out a small box. He opened it to reveal a beautiful ring. "Christine," he said to her. "Marry me. Marry me and I swear I'll dedicate ever minute of every day to making you happy."

The ring could have been a string for all she could care. She didn't need to have the biggest diamond that ever existed to be with him. It was him that she loved- that she wanted to marry.

She started nodding before the words came out. "Yes, Erik."

He stood and pulled her close in less than a second.

"Of course," Christine continued. "Of course I'll marry you."

Christine burst into hysterical giggles as he lifted her up from the ground and spun her around. They laughed as they hugged each other and Christine couldn't help her smile as he kissed her over and over again.

He placed the ring on her finger and kissed her again.

"Oh, God," Christine said ecstatic. "There's so much planning to do!"

He smiled. "We'll worry about that later- much later."

Christine laughed, exhilarated.

But their little dinner was cut short due to Christine's phone ringing.

Christine didn't care who it was calling her, she needed to tell someone!

She picked it up and put it to her ear. "Hello?"

She recognized Meg's voice.

"Oh, my God, Meg!" She said with a smile from ear to ear and looking at Erik. "You would never guess what happened!"

Christine's expression changed drastically. "Meg, calm down. Talk to me, what happened?"

Christine felt her heart to the floor. "He did what?"