A.N: Haha. As if it hasn't been long enough. But I'm back, and with more chapters. Because my lovers demanded that I continue, because they actually read it. Also, I wanted to finish something in my life. So, here is chapter 19.

Chapter 19: The Night to Remember

As the lobby of the Opera Populaire filled, Sarine began to get nervous. These people could come close to her; they could look directly at her face. And then she looked over at Erik, and felt so much better. He was still unmasked, and also looked scared. But somehow, they gained strength from each other, and was able to shake hands with each person there.

The lobby had been turned into something more festive than it had been during the masquerade. There were colors everywhere, rainbows of light reflected off of crystals that hung from the ceiling on strings. Tables were set up off to the left side, where the hundred guests could sit and eat from the food served by the waiters. The other side, off to the right, was set up for dancing. That was where Erik led Sarine, his one hand holding her own and the other holding her by the waist.

"Will you dance with me, love?"

Sarine looked up at him and smiled, nodding. Moving so that she had one hand on his shoulder and the other in his own, she rested her head against his shoulder.

"I love you, Erik. I love you so much, and I'm glad I married you," she said, kissing his deformed cheek.

Moving his head so that he could see her, he gave her a small smile and kissed her temple. "I wouldn't give you up for anything else in the world."

"Not even the perfect opera?" she asked, pulling back and looking up at him with a grin on her face. "Not even something better than Phantom or Don Juan?"

"Not anything," he said, kissing her fully on the lips. He remembered seeing such a seen back during the masquerade, but between Raoul and Christine. He had been jealous, but now that he saw who he was kissing, he wasn't so jealous. He was happy.

As a slow song played by a solo violin began, Sarine moved forward to rest her head on his shoulder again. Looking out into the crowd, she nearly jumped as she saw a familiar face. It was Christine. She was standing among the crowd, watching them dance. She looked horrified at the fact that Erik's deformed cheek was resting against her own. Glancing up, she saw that Erik had his eyes closed, and hadn't noticed Christine. The smile on his face made one grow on her own, and she looked back to Christine to see her retreating. So, it was finished. There wouldn't be a war between them. Christine had finally seen him happy, and would find happiness with the man that she chose.

When the music came to a close, Erik woke from his half stupor and led Sarine to the head table. Many more people came over to congratulate them, and Sarine had to hold back a huge smile. Even after the events at the reception yesterday, and Erik's history, many people were happy for them. In a time where their deformity would have them hated, that meant something to the both of them.

After the food was finished, Sarine watched in surprise as Erik stood and clinked his glass lightly. Eventually everyone quieted down, and he cleared his throat to speak.

"First, thank you all for coming. You don't understand what it means to me and my wife. We have had to hide for a good two months together, and I for years, due to our appearances. Not everyone has been as understanding as you all, and we thank you profusely for it. Secondly, I wanted to thank my wife." Reaching down, he lifted one of her hands and kissed the knuckles, straightening himself so he could finish the speech. "She was there for me when I was all alone, recovering from heartbreak. I heard her voice in the darkness of the theater, and couldn't help but watch in awe. Listening to her sing, I thought that maybe I could love again. If she could look at me without fear, perhaps I could find love again. And then I heard her request for an opera, and I couldn't resist. I delivered her the story of me and the woman who had caused me heartbreak. And somehow I didn't have to look at her and see Christine. Because Christine couldn't love me like Sarine does. And I couldn't love her like I love Sarine."

Sarine wiped her tears away as she looked up at him, pulling his hand, which was still in her own, down so that she could kiss it. His words made her feel that, even if she came back again, Erik wouldn't leave her for Christine. And now, at last, she knew that he had finally been able to see that she was not Christine.

Everyone clapped and held their glasses up. Sarine held up her glass of cider and smiled, clinking her glass with Erik's and kissing him as he bent down for one. They were happy, and they would stay that way.

After a few hours of dancing and laughing, people started to leave. It was getting late, and everyone was tired. Erik asked Jonathan to carry the gifts that people brought down to the lair, and he carried Sarine down the tunnel and to their bedroom. Slowly, as Jonathan began stacking the gifts near the organ, he changed her into her nightgown and helped her into bed.

"I'll help Jonathan for a moment, and then I'll be right to bed. Don't stay awake, dear. You look exhausted," he said, then leaned down to kiss her forehead.

As she watched him walk back into the main part of the lair, Sarine cringed as she felt a pain in her stomach. Figuring it was just the baby kicking her, she ignored it. But when it came again, and worse, she let out a cry. "Erik!"

He came running in, Jonathan right on his heels. He ran to her and brushed her hair out of her face, afraid of the look of fear in her eyes. She didn't know what was happening, and neither did he. The only one with their head together was Jonathan. "She's having the baby."

Erik looked down at her, fearful. He didn't know what to do. He knew he was considered a genius, yet when it came to women, he was clueless. Luckily Jonathan knew what to do, and he lifted Sarine up and took her back upstairs, Erik following quickly after.

"Where are you taking her?" he asked, panicking.

Jonathan looked at him over his shoulder. "I'm taking her to the hospital. She's going to have this baby soon. Her contractions are unusually close."

As if on cue, Sarine reached for Erik's hand, squeezing it tightly and letting out a cry. Erik kissed her forehead and tried to soothe her. He was scared for her, and even more afraid because Jonathan had said that the contractions were unusually close. That word scared him, and he hoped that Sarine hadn't heard it. Luckily, she was concentrating on the pain more than the words being said around her.

After they climbed into a carriage and began heading towards the hospital, Erik let Sarine rest with her head in his lap. She was still grasping his hand, and he didn't do anything to stop it. How could he? But then he saw her dress get soaked by something wet, and he looked to Jonathan. The young man moved forward to touch the fabric, then looked out the window to the driver, yelling for him to go faster. His glance moved up to Erik.

"Her water broke."

Erik didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing that her water broke, but he clung to Sarine's hand as much as she was clinging to his. This he wasn't used to, and his fear grew each moment.

"We're here!" Jonathan cried as he threw open the door in the front of the hospital, taking Sarine once more in his arms. As Erik protested, he looked at him. "She needs your hand right now more than she needs your arms. Let me carry her and you help her through the contractions."

Erik nodded, finally understanding. As the nurse led them into the maternity ward, Jonathan set her down on a table and moved out of the room, knowing that this was a moment for the husband and wife alone. Erik stood there, continuing to hold her hand and helping her ride over the contractions that made her whole body tighten and her voice cry out.

After what seemed like hours, a doctor came in to help her deliver the baby. After examining her for a moment, he shook his head. "There is something wrong. The baby is upside down."

Giving the doctor a frightened look, Erik yelled, "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means that this birth is going to be painful. We're not even sure if they'll both live."

Now Erik was truly scared. He looked down at his angel, her face flushed and sweaty against the pillow. He didn't think he could lose her and survive. She was his life, and he had had her back for only a few months. He wasn't about to let her go. So he decided that, if it came down to it, he would rather lose the baby than her.

-P—

Two hours later, after a very hard and painful breech birth, Sarine lay in a hospital bed covered up to her neck in blankets. She was asleep, and heavily medicated. Erik sat in a chair, staring at her. She looked so exhausted, and so spent. She had done well, and was one of the strongest women he had ever met. And then the second one began to cry.

Erik looked down at his new daughter, trying to calm her down. The beautiful baby girl, named Amelie Grey, had dark, nearly black hair and Erik's golden eyes. The nurses in the infant ward had talked about her all night, and how lovely a baby she was. Erik felt so proud of her, just as he was proud of his wife. This was the best wedding gift she could have ever given him.

"She's probably hungry…"

Looking back up at Sarine, he smiled at her, as she looked down at their baby girl. She held her arms out for her, and Erik stood to place the baby in her arms. She hadn't yet gotten to hold, or even really see her. Looking into the golden eyes, Sarine smiled. To her and Erik's surprise, Amelie mimicked her smile and her eyes widened. Moving aside her hospital gown, Sarine moved the baby to her breast and let her begin to drink. Then her eyes moved back up to Erik.

"She's beautiful, Erik. She's as beautiful as I've never been."

Erik shook his head, touching Sarine's cheek. "You've always been beautiful, Sarine. Always. Amelie is just an outward vision of your inner beauty, and the beauty I see every time I look at you. She is yours all the way through."

"No," she said, shaking her head and smiling up to Erik. "She's yours. She looks just like her daddy."

"Honestly, I think she looks like you both."

Erik grinned as he looked over at Jonathan. He shook the man's hand, unable to verbally express his gratitude. "You saved her life. I wouldn't have been able to help her through a breech birth, but you knew she was having the baby. And I thank you."

Jonathan waved his hand. "It was nothing, honestly. I recognized the signs from when one of my maids was giving birth. You recognize them after a while."

Both men smiled and turned to the two women. Sarine had dozed off again, as did Amelie. Erik called a nurse in and had her take the baby back to the nursery. After Jonathan left to give them some privacy, Erik moved to lie next to Sarine. He switched the lights off and curled next to her, wrapping his arm over her waist. Moving his lips to rest next to her ear, he whispered, "I love you" into her ear, before stroking her still-swollen stomach.

"Erik?" Sarine whispered, still half-asleep. "Will you teach Amelie to sing like you?"

"No," Erik smiled, giving her cheek a kiss before whispering back. "I'll teach her to sing like you."

A.N: Pwah! It's done! Not. There is still one more chapter still left, and it's more like an epilogue than an actual chapter. But you'll figure that out, won't you? Haha. Please. Review. I need more reviews or else I'll think this is stupid…