Wow, thank you for the overwhelming responses to the last chapter, you lovlies do my heart good. Enjoy the next phase of developments.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie - Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnan (slightly shorter)

Karen - Bette Midler (only about ten year's younger, seven inches taller, and long,brown hair)

Ms. Jennison- Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 32

Not fully aware of anything or anyone, except Erik…all Christine could muster was a vigorous shake of her head, "yes", and then she was in his arms, joyfully weeping the tears she had been holding back.

Vince was busy taking in the moment, when he realized that every one of the phones was ringing.

"For those of you who cannot see this…she emphatically shook her head in the affirmative…she said 'yes'!" Vince announced.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Karen could not stop crying. She had stayed up to hear Christine's song to Erik; something Christine had told her she was going to do; but Erik's song and proposal had been a complete surprise.

She had known that Christine would marry him; all he had to do was ask. The shroud of darkness that had settled over Erik had slowly been dissipating since Christine had come into his life.

She looked down at the sleeping child she stood watch over and smiled a joyous smile. She thought about the prayer that she had heard the little girl pray in the quiet solitude of her room…

"Hello God,

I know You're busy with all the people who have real bad problems, but I want something real bad…is that wrong? I want a daddy like Mr. Erik…ohhhh! Could I just have Mr. Erik? He makes mommy laugh and he makes me laugh…I love his voice and his hands…I love his big hands when they hold me and tickle me; and I know he doesn't have any kids…he told me so."

She had paused a moment to think and her voice. When she spoke again, had changed subtly as she voiced her concerns….

"God, he seems so lonely at times…like he doesn't know what love is…maybe I'm just being silly…if You're not too busy, could he be my daddy?

In Jesus Name,

Amen"

Karen had stood just outside the door and heard that sweet prayer offering lifted to the ears of the Almighty, not four hours before Erik had proposed to Christine.

God was working in their lives, a fact that Karen had never felt as profoundly as she felt it now; all she could do was weep, drop to her knees and beg forgiveness for the sins of her life, and gaze upon the sweet face of Meckenzie.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Vince ended the show early that night, putting on a taped episode for the remainder of the night. He could not stop smiling as Erik and Christine walked toward him holding hands and gazing at each other.

"I thought I'd never see the day…" Vince stated with elation.

"Neither did I." Erik echoed. "Can you believe that she says she loves me?"

"If you weren't so obtuse, you would have known that ages ago!" Vince teased, as he headed out the door.

Erik narrowed his eyes at his uncle and smiled broadly; Vince just chuckled, shook his head, and waved good-bye.

He and Christine walked, arm in arm, out to the car and Erik drove her home. It was 12:30 am, but neither one of them was eager to part company.

"I'd have said 'yes' weeks ago, if you'd bothered to ask." Christine teased, as they sat on the couch and cuddled.

Erik looked down at her and saw nothing but love and adoration in them. He still hadn't fully accepted the fact that she had chosen him.

"I don't think I was ready to accept your love for me weeks ago…you have removed the wall around my heart, one brick at a time..." Erik responded, "…and have allowed me to realize that I am worthy of you and all that you offer me."

Christine reached up and kissed his mouth, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed into him with ardor.

Erik responded by leaning back and resting her atop him, tenderly holding her against him. He would never get tired of the way she felt in his arms.

"I don't want a big wedding, Erik…I want Vince, Karen, Meckenzie, the minister, and you and me." Christine instructed.

"Whatever you wish, my love."

His velvet voice caressed her insides with sweet delight and she felt herself growing more and more anxious to know the pleasures of his touch intimately.

"Can we get married on Sunday?"

Erik smirked at her, "It's normally the man that wants to rush things."

"I'm afraid I may go insane with want for you if we don't do this soon." She stated honestly.

Erik laughed and gave her a tight but tender hug. "Do you think the minister can do it that quickly?"

"Yes, I do believe he can. I'll call him in the morning and see if we can meet with him."

Erik had not set foot in a church in years; he had been battling his anger and bitterness for so long that he had been consumed by it.

"Christine, I haven't been to church in years." He confessed.

Christine caressed his cheek and then reached over and removed his mask, noting that he still flinched away when his face was uncovered.

"That will all change; I want us to go to church as a family, my love..." She softly said, "…God has never failed me, and I won't, intentionally, fail Him."

Erik nodded, letting her know that he agreed. He was thinking, deeply, about something. Christine allowed him a moment of reflection, and then he spoke.

"I know He has always been there, watching over me and guiding me…" Erik admitted, "…I just did not want to accept that…" he looked up into hersoft eyes and almost cried from their beauty, "…until you came into my life."

They sealed the moment in a tender kiss, no passionate thrusting of tongues, just a tender touch of tongues and a soft melding of lips.

Erik lifted her into his lap and stood up, knowing she knew he was fighting his burgeoning desire for her.

"I really must be going…it's really late…" he looked at his watch, "…or early – depending on how you look at it."

"Call me later so we can make plans." Christine said as he began to walk away.

"I'll be here to pick you up at 10 am; we must talk to Meckenzie and make sure she is alright with this, we need to do some shopping, get a marriage license, and make some decisions."

Christine agreed, they kissed again and she watched him walk to his car. He gave her one last tumultuous look, and then drive away.

She went to bed, spent a good thirty minutes admiring the ring that Erik had given her, and thanked God for His blessings, knowing that Meckenzie would be thrilled with the idea of Erik being her daddy.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She arose promptly at 7:30; that inner alarm going off in her head would not allow her to sleep any longer. She showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater.

She knew Pastor Jim would be up by 8 am, so she decided to forego breakfast for now, brushed her teeth and then picked up the phone.

"Hello?" She heard him say.

"Hello pastor, this is Christine Daae."

"Hello Christine, you sure do sound chipper this morning." He said politely, "What can I do for you?"

"I am getting married, and my fiancée and I would like you to perform the service….tomorrow afternoon."

There was a long pause, and Christine was certain she knew what he was thinking.

"Don't worry, pastor, I'm not pregnant. Erik and I have saved ourselves for marriage."

She heard an audible sigh of relief, "That's good to hear, my dear…so why the big rush?"

"That is the main reason. Erik and I have known each other for almost four months. I loved him from the moment his voice caressed my ears, and when I finally met him, face to face, I was completely captivated." Christine explained.

"Tell me a little about him." He probed.

Once she got started, it was hard to stop. She told him about Erik's education and the degrees he possessed, his musical and architectural successes, the school he owned and opporated, the theater - the told him everthing she knew.

"When you meet him, don't be shocked; he was in an accident when he was ten and the right side of his face is terribly scarred. He wears a mask to cover it…needless to say, he has never known a woman's touch; and until me, he had never known a real kiss."

Pastor Jim Veale had never heard such a story. He knew Christine to be level headed and strong in her faith, so he trusted her decision to wed this man.

"I have not seen him in church with you." He stated.

"Erik has had issues since his accident. His mother, father, and older brother all died in that accident; and he was left to deal with the pain and abandonment. He has an uncle, his father's brother, who raised him from ten years of age." Christine's heart still wretched at the thought of what Erik had gone through just to survive. "Just recently, he has renewed his relationship with God, and wishes to begin anew."

Pastor Jim knew the feeling, he had been a rebel in his earlier years, running from God and His calling, but he had eventually yielded to his purpose…and had never questioned the calling, even when times were bad.

"Come by the church at 2 pm this afternoon, and bring Erik. I want to meet this man who has won your heart."

"We'll be there."

She hung up the phone and smiled. Pastor Jim would understand Erik and they would get along wonderfully. They had both been prisoners of darkness, but the Light had come shining through.

TBC