A/N: Okay here it is the last chapter! Yay! Don't worry though I promise there will be a sequel! I probably won't begin posting though until about mid-november or december. This is because of school and Marching Band which will take most of my time :) So without further ado i give you the end of the first part of Charlotte and Erik's story.

Chapter Sixteen: Healing Broken Wings

Erik sat staring at his beautiful fallen angel. She was still unconscious from De Savios's attack, but he knew she would be coming around soon, he could see her eyelids fluttering. He fingered the black velvet box that was hidden in a pocket in his coat, he had never been so nervous in his life, but after all, his last proposal hadn't gone very well. He shook his head to clear the memory of his failed proposal to Christine, it had been a shock seeing her and her son at Charlotte's wedding, but it had served as a reminder that she was no longer his and he was right to move on.

He hadn't even meant to go to the wedding, but he'd had to see her one last time, to say goodbye. He hadn't intended to interrupt the ceremony and take Charlotte either, after all he had given Charlotte's father his word, but it had hurt him so much to see her marrying that cold, pompous pig, and her words that last day that had talked had continued to haunt him.

"Yes Erik, I will go now and you shall not see me here again, but before I go Erik, know this. You may not realize just how much I love you, but when you find that I am dead, know that it was out of love for you. When I marry Barron De Savois and I am no longer here, know that it was only for you."

This combined with Christine's haunting phrase, had made him realize that he was wrong. Promise or no promise he had have Charlotte, or they would both die.

It's in your soul, that the true distortion lies….

Erik sighed as that phrase repeated it's self once more. He glanced once more at Charlotte her brown hair was splayed around her head, her eyes were still closed, and her pale face was regaining some of its color. He found himself focusing on her lips, they had yet to share that kiss and he longed so much to know what it was like to kiss her. His mind traveled back to his days with Giovanni, as it had so often before. Only this time his mind focused on the fairy stories Giovanni had told Luciana; in many the prince had saved his love by waking her with kiss. In his own opera it had been Lorraine's kiss that had saved Talen. He smiled as an idea formed in his mind.

Erik knelt by the bed and took Charlotte's hand in his. He leaned in captured her lips in a soft kiss. Soon he felt her stirring beneath him. He smiled and pulled away as his fallen angel moaned.

"Erik?" Her voice was groggy, but still it was music to his ears.

"Yes mon ange? I am here."

"Were….were you just kissing me?" The shock in her voice would have made Erik laugh if he hadn't been blushing.

"Yes ange déchu, I was."

"And I was not awake to enjoy it." She pretended to pout, an act that made Erik laugh.

"Well then, would you like for me to kiss again now that you are awake?"

"Yes."

The bluntness of her answer floored him for a moment, but he recovered quickly and leaned down to take her lips once more.

If her lips had been heavenly before they were only more so now that Charlotte was able to respond and kiss back. It wasn't long before the kiss deepened into one that they were both able to pour all their love into. Erik was surprised by Charlotte's passion, it easily matched his. He savored every moment of it, but all too soon the need for air became to powerful and the kiss was broken.

Erik looked down in to Charlotte's beautiful, warm brown eyes, so full of love and compassion for him that tears came to his eyes and fell down his cheeks. A look of concern crossed her angelic face.

"Erik, darling, what is wrong?" The concern in her voice nearly caused more tears to fall, but he was able to regain control of his emotions shortly.

"Nothing mon ange, I am just happy that is all. It amazes me that a woman such yourself, could love a monster like me."

"Oh Erik, You are not a monster otherwise you would have taken advantage of me long ago."

Erik smiled.

"Ah, but you are wrong ange déchu, I took advantage of you only moments ago. I kissed you while you were unable to stop me."

"Yes, but I wanted you to. So that does not count."

Erik laughed. He reached for the box that was still in his pocket, if ever there was an opportune moment it was now. He let the smile fade from his face and adopted a look of seriousness.

"Charlotte, mon ange, there is something I must ask you now."

Charlotte stared into Erik's eyes, those deep, mysterious pools of blue, so full of love she thought her heart would break from it.

"Erik, you may only ask me your question if you remove your mask first."

Erik hesitated. His mind flashed back to the day he had first revealed himself to her, she hadn't take in it very well. However, she had asked him to remove the mask, and he would do anything for her, so he closed his eyes as he removed the mask, waiting for the fear, but nothing came, just a gentle caress from a small hand. He opened his eyes and fond Charlotte sitting up and staring into his eyes. She smiled at him and Erik nearly cried again.

"Erik, mon amour, I love you more than life it's self, and now that we have a relationship I want no barriers between us, and this," she gestured at the mask, "is a barrier. So I only ask that you do not wear it when we are alone together."

Erik nodded. He didn't wear the mask when he was alone, and if he and Charlotte were going to be together, he needed to trust her.

"Erik?"

"Yes, mon ange?"

"You may ask me your question now."

Charlotte sat silent as she watched Erik fidget with something inside his coat. There were several seconds of silence until he finally adjusted him self so that he was on one knee in front of her and he took her hand in his.

"Charlotte, mon ange, you know that I love you more than my own life. I almost lost you twice today, once to another man and once to Death. I cannot bear the thought of ever losing you my love." Charlotte breath caught in her chest as Erik pulled a box from his coat pocket. "Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Ó hEachthairn, will you give me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Charlotte nodded to overcome with emotion to speak. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks as Erik placed the ring, a thin gold band with an emerald cut diamond in the center, on her finger with shaking hands. He then took both her hands in his and kissed her, softly and gently, it took her breath away.

"Oh Erik," Charlotte sighed after the kiss ended, "you've made me the happiest woman in the world."

Erik just smiled and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Erik loved the feel of Charlotte in his arms, her body close to his and her hair brushing his cheek. He savored her scent, the scent of roses and warmth unique to her, as he let it set in that this wonderful woman had just agreed to be his for a lifetime.

"Charlotte?"

"Yes my love?" she murmured contently into his chest.

"When do you want to have our wedding?"

"As soon possible darling. I don't know how long I can wait to become your wife."

Erik smiled.

"Well, then how about right now?"

"Now?"

"Yes, now. After we are both dressed for the occasion, Madame Giry and her daughter can serve as witnesses."

"Truly Erik? You would marry me now, right this second?"

"If I could darling I would. However we must first go and get our witnesses. That is if you want to marry me tonight. Do you?"

Charlotte nodded and smiled.

An hour later they stood in front of a priest, repeating their vows as a tearful Madame Giry looked on. Neither Erik nor Charlotte could keep their eyes of the other. Charlotte was truly ravishing in the dress, though one sleeve was torn and stained with her blood, no one really noticed because the joy radiating from her glowing face held their attention. Once the vows were said and the priest had pronounced them man and wife, they shared their fourth kiss of the day and their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Erik Bellmont, it was slow and sweet.

Not long after they were back in Erik's home below the opera. Erik lifted Charlotte into his arms and carried her into what was now their room.

"Tomorrow, love," he whispered, "I shall begin to find a house for us."

"That would be a good thing Erik, because I don't believe it would be wise to raise children here, so close to a lake."

Erik lay Charlotte down on the bed and sat down next to her.

"You mean, you want to have my children?"

"Of course I do Erik."

"You are not afraid they will have my… my face."

"Well, that is a possibility, but it would not matter to me because they would still be our children."

Erik smiled and wiped a tear from his eye.

"And when shall we start my love?"

Charlotte smiled wickedly and placed her hand on Erik arm.

"How about now darling?"

Erik smiled and kissed his wife.