A.N.: OMG I am SSSSOOOO sorry it took so long to update this chapter. My mind was pulled from our beloved Erik for a time, and I will never be able to forgive myself, but I am back, and that distraction is gone, so I can write a lot more now. Also, I have a clearer view of what is next, so this next chapter will be out soon. I swear it on my phantom collection.

XXXX to Britt, Megs, Erik, Miguel, Will, and all of my other devoted fans that I missed. I 3 you all! hugs

Chapter Fifteen: Business as usual

When Sarine woke up early the next morning, she got out of bed quietly, leaving Erik sleeping. She quickly got dressed in one of the dresses that Erik had hanging in the closet, then threw a cloak over it. Slipping out of the room, she gave a last look back to her beloved.

Taking a lit candle from one of Erik's candelabra, she walked out of the lair and through the hallway back to her office. The mirror was replaced, no doubt due to Erik's work while she was gone. Other than that, the room was the same it was before she left.

When she reached the stage, she was surprised to see the sets finished. The one currently up was for 'Masquerade', so the huge staircase filled the stage. Sarine walked halfway up the steps, then sat down, wrapping the cloak tightly around her.

She sat there alone for about an hour and a half, thinking. She had her back to Erik when he stood at the top of the staircase in his normal attire. He started down the stairs then stopped having an idea. He stood tall and smiled.

"Why so silent, good mame'zelle? Did you think that you could leave me for good?"

Sarine turned around and smiled up at him, standing up. Slowly she walked up the staircase, her eyes fixed on his. She reached him in what seemed like forever, and he held his hand out to her.

"Bravo monsieur, such spirited words…" she replied, taking his hand.

He pulled her close to him, her hand to his lips, "Is 'I love you' less or more spirited?"

Sarine only smiled, and placed her lips to his, gently. When they parted, she leaned against him and he rocked them back and forth.

"Erik, why can't the world accept us as we are? We're normal enough…" Sarine asked, lying her had against his chest.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers, "Do you want to be normal? To be exactly as everyone else?"

"No," she said. "I just want us to be treated normally."

Erik said nothing and just held her. They were that way until the rest of the cast and crew came to the stage, when they parted. The cast stood in front of Sarine and Erik, unsure of who they were to take directions from. Erik saw how nervous Sarine got in front of this crowd, and stepped forward.

"We have yet to finish the graveyard scene, but the scenery is finished. So… from "Wishing" to "Bravo" for the cast, and it would be great if the construction crew could finish the dressing room scenery."

As the construction crew headed off to work on the set, the scenery crew set up for the graveyard scene. Erik handed Sarine a copy of the score and smiled at her.

"The show is to premiere in three weeks. You think you can do it?" he asked her.

She scanned the score then nodded, "Yeah, I believe I've got it. Good thing I'm a quick learner, or else we would be in trouble."

Erik laughed and watched Sarine as she walked around the now staircase-less stage, humming the music to get it back in her memory. She stopped, looked up to the boxes of the opera house, then back to her sheet music.

A loud noise broke her out of the stupor and she looked around and was surprised to find the cemetery set already up. She looked at the group sheepishly.

"Was I keeping everyone up?" she asked, blushing.

Erik grinned at her and motioned for her to stand in her place for "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again." The whole scene went off without a hitch, and when they were done, everyone cheered. Sarine beamed in her accomplishment, and because her fiancé's opera was turning out perfectly.

When that was done, they went over it again to make sure it was perfect, then they all separated for lunch. Erik and Sarine decided to eat privately in the lair. Erik made some turkey and lettuce sandwiches and handed Sarine a cup of wine.

"You did amazing. I always had faith in you, but that was surprising…" Erik said as he sat down next to her on the shore of the lake.

Sarine grinned at him, "I'm full of quite a bit of surprises that you don't know about…"

Erik raised his eyebrow but said nothing. They ate the rest of lunch in silence, just happy with each other's presence.

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Three weeks later, "The Phantom of the Opera" opened at the Opera Populaire to a full house. From the moment the chandelier flew to it's place until the mirrors were smashed in the lair, the performers had the audience's rapt attention. And when they all came to the stage for the curtain call, they received thunderous applause. Erik received the loudest, and he was blushing furiously at all the attention. The attention he'd been wanting his whole life.

Backstage became a huge party as the wine and champagne overflowed. There were many people looking for Erik and Sarine to congratulate them, but they were missing.

Erik sat in Sarine's arms in the lair, overwhelmed. He had gotten everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wasn't used to it. He began to sob quietly, out of happiness.

Sarine felt him sobbing and looked at him, surprised to see tears falling from his face. She wiped them away.

"Erik?" she asked, concerned. "Honey, are you alright? Why are you crying? We just had a big success… You should be happy…"

Erik smiled at her through his tears, "I am happy. Oh, love. I'm so happy. I have everything I've ever wanted: a love to call my own, a home, a popular opera…"

Sarine grinned at him then whispered, "A baby…"

Erik stopped then, and looked her deep in the eyes.

"Are… are you serious? How long have you known?"

Sarine smiled and leaned against him, content too, for the first time in a while.

"Since earlier today," she said. "I went to the doctor, just in case, and he told me what I was expecting. Oh, Erik! A child of our own! Ours!"

Erik hugged her and kissed her deeply, lovingly. He held her to him and caressed her face lightly.

"A child of our own…" he whispered, even more overwhelmed than before.