This is by far my favorite chapter, of them all, hope you like it just as much as I do.

Little Lotte- Damn world, how come there can't be an Erik for us? It's unfair. -pouts-

Chapter 13

After the performance, I found Murtagh leaning on one of the rails of the main staircase, waiting for me. Acting every much like my Erik, I snuck up behind him, covering his eyes with my hands.

"Guess who?" I whispered in his ear. That grin crept across his face, as he tilted his head slightly.

"Let's see, which of my many girls could it be?" I rolled my eyes and laughed.

He always thinks he is the greatest, most loved person around, the arrogant fool.

I pulled my hands away from him, as he turned to face me.

"Oh Ace, it's just you." He teased. He laughed, and kissed my cheek.

"Just the girl I was looking for, I have something for you." He reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a small, golden box with a red bow tied on top. He handed it over to me triumphantly.

"What is it?" I inquired, slowly taking the ribbon off.

"Well open it and find out!" When the ribbon was shed from the box, I removed the small lid. An oval shaped locket stared back at me, my refection looking up in shook. Pulling the locket out of the box, I examined it in my palm. A small inlaid rose covered the front, painted a deep red. I fingered it in awe, till Murtagh pushed me to open it. When I did, the pictures inside took my breath away. The faded, browning pictures of the past looked up at me. On the right half of the locket, a family portrait, when Father and Mother were still alive. Murtagh must have only been around ten, me only six. The faces smiled up at me, innocent, untouched, unsoiled happiness. It must have been taken right before father got sick, and our family shattered.

Tears began to stream down my face as I remembered how I missed them. Murtagh wiped the tears from my face. He took it out of my palms, and clasped it around my neck. When it laid flat against my skin, it hung at my heart, the only place I had the memory of them, till now.

"It's... Oh Scout!" I couldn't form words for the feeling I had. He understood exactly what I was thinking.

"Father gave that to mother, just before his death. She told me, when she laid dying, to give it to you when you grew older. She wanted you to know how much she loved you, more than if you had been of her own flesh and blood." he wrapped his arms around me, in a tight embrace.

"And you have certainly have, into an amazing women, just like her." He kissed my forehead.

My heart jumped when he compared me to her. I have lived my life trying to meet her expectations, living my life how she would want me to. Hearing him confirm my hearts wish only made this all the most special.

"You might notice the other side is empty. She always wanted your family portrait to be put there. I thought you could put a picture of Erik in there."

When I looked up into his eyes, I noticed they were just as watery as my own.

"Thank you, My Brother. No one could ask for a greater sibling."

"You should get going, Erik is waiting for you." He wiped my final tears away. He smiled, but not his usual grin, but more like Erik's, tender, yet mysterious.

"Go." I placed my hand over the locket, over my heart, trying to keep the tears from starting again.

"I'm truly glad you are here."

"As am I, Now go." He practically shoved me forward. Taking the obvious hint, I made my way for home. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Madame Giry glare at me, knowing were I was going, who I was going to.

Even her disappointing glare could ruin today.

I continued on, head held high, nothing could stop my from going home, to my Erik.

Most of the ballet girls flocked to me, trying to wish me a happy birthday. Little Meg finally drew them away from me, something to do with fawning over a young navy man. When they were all gone, Meg stayed back a moment.

"Thank you, Meg." She smiled, and followed the rest, leaving me to go home.

Erik was waiting for me at the door when I returned home. He took my hand in his, and kissed my cheek.

"Hello there." I spoke softly, and kissed him on the lips.

"Hello." He whispered, as he handed me a single deep red rose with a black ribbon tied around the stem, as he planted his lips on mine again.

"Your performance was wonderful."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." I through my arms over his shoulders,

"I see you have visited Murtagh already." He motioned to the locket laying between my breasts.

"You knew?" He picked the locket up and examined it. The feel of his warm flesh on mine always sends chills down my body.

"He returned down here, right after you left, He told me he would stall you." He kissed my forehead, and locked his tender eyes with mine.

"Stall me? For what?" Erik smiled, then lead me to our bedroom.

The usual tall, off white candles had been replaced with short red and black ones. Between the candelabras, hundreds of Deep red and black roses were scattered over the vanity, shelves,and chest. Bright red petals laid over the floor, leading up onto the bed. Ayesha was curled up on top of a black silk pillow on the vanity, she had a a velvet red bow tied around her slender neck. He led me over to the bed, and sat me down. The usual cotton sheets were replaced with Asian silks. He sat down behind me, and snaked his strong arms around me slim waist, his lips caresses my exposed neck, down to my shoulders.

"Why Erik, If I didn't know any better, I would think you were trying to seduce me." He chuckled, then whispered in my ear,

"Maybe I am." He ran his hand down the side of my corset.

"Then it must be my lucky day." He continued to kiss my neck. Each time his sweet lips touched my skin, shots of pure ecstasy shot through my veins, giving my body a tingling sensation.

"I love you." He removed his hand from my waist, and reached into his breast pocket. He turned my body toward him, picking me up and placing me back down on his lap, my legs dangling off the side of the bed.

"Will you marry me?" He slipped a ring onto my finger. looking down at my hand, I was surprised at how perfect the ring looked. A single large diamond was set in the middle, with a ring of eighteen miniature rubies surround it, the same number as my age. tears gathered in my eyes, I had never expected to be treated this was, but then again, Erik has always treated me as if I was royalty, instead of a lowly ballet rat.

"Erik!" I wrapped my arms around him, and kissed him as passionately as I possibly could.

"Of course." He reached up to my face, and wiped a tear away from my cheek with his thumb, he then moved it over the line of my lips, which was then met by his sweet lips.

"This is perfect." His eyes seemed to twinkle, as the bottoms of them filled with liquid crystals.

"You're perfect." Erik moved his hands down my body, fiddling with the lace the held the corset together.

"I can't believe you did all this," He planted his lips on mine again, this time tenderly, as he began to loosed the lace.

"Your worth everything. I would do anything for you, Mon Ange." He laid me down on the bed, so that he was off to the right of me, but his face was directly over mine. placing my hand on the side of his face, I removed his mask, looking up at the face of my fiance, dropping the mask haphazardly to the floor.

How truly beautiful he is, my love. God must love me to give me such a man. No, Erik is not a man, he is an angel. No one shall ever be as joyful as when I am with Erik. Only god, or the devil, could create something like this, nor do I care who. Damnation to eternal torture in the depths of hell is worth just one night with him, and I am given a lifetime.

"There is only one thing I want from you, My Erik." I began to remove his suit jacket.

"And what is that?" He asked seductively, as he finished removing the simple corset, and dropped it on the ground.

"Love me, don't ever stop and regret." He bent down closer, so that his lips hovered over mine,

"I don't plan to."