Author's Note: Epilogue! How exciting! First, thank you all for sticking with the story until the end. I sincerely hope that you liked it. And good news! If you like my writing, be prepared for more of it! I recently just finished a Harry Potter fanfiction called "The Reminder". I'm probably going to wait a week before I post it (try to focus on some homework for once), but stay sharp and you'll find it. Also, I'm working on another Phantom of the Opera story, but it is not close to being finished quite yet. Anyways, I'll be around.

Thank you so, SO much for reading and reviewing. And as always, enjoy.

Epilogue

Three months later…

Ever since the night when Erik and Christine had made love, they had become inseparable, quite literally. She spent every day and every night by his side, and he would not have it any other way.

Soon after the decision was reached that Christine would stay with Erik, she persuaded him to come out as the owner of the Château de Hac. Mme. DesChanels took the news with a smile, but Christine could tell she was a bit puzzled about how Christine came to be with him. Remembering to whom she was employed delayed asking any kinds of questions, though, and Christine chose to remain silent about her and Erik's meeting.

Erik had become a new man ever since Christine came to him. He was more outgoing and friendly and less prone to the moodiness that before had so often captured him. He also made appearances at all the dinners, regaling guests with stories that he knew and humoring them with various jokes and riddles he had learned over the years. Christine was always at his side.

'Tonight is different,' Erik thought as he readied his kitchen. 'Tonight, we shall not dine with the guests.'

Christine walked into Erik's room, which remained in the south-west corner of the château. She was shuffling through the mail they now received. "Bill, bill, lawn moving service, oh, something from Nadir, bill…" she trailed off as she looked up at the scene before her. Erik pulled out a chair, offering it to Christine with a smile. Christine was delighted that Erik had gone put together this dinner, but it made her suspicious as well.

"Erik, what have you planned?"

"Why, a romantic dinner for two, of course. Now, are you just going to stand there all night, or will you join me?"

She rolled her eyes at him for his cheek and took a seat in the proffered chair. They dined amiably, Christine often catching Erik throwing surreptitious glances at her from across the table. Dessert was over and Christine leaned back in her chair.

"Are you going to tell me what this evening was really about now?" she questioned.

"Well, I suppose so, since you asked so nicely," he said sarcastically.

Christine started to laugh. Her mood turned serious though as she saw Erik leave his chair and bend down on one knee.

"Christine, so much has happened to bring us together. Ten years elapsed from when I first saw you. The magic we have now unfolded within a week. Both of us almost died on several different occasions. And yet, here we are: alive and together, peaceful at last. We were fated to be together, and now, to remain together."

He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. Opening it, he said the words Christine was longing to hear.

"Christine Daaé, will you marry me?"

Her eyes filled up with tears as she looked at the ring in front of her. A small pear cut diamond was situated between two emeralds, all set on a platinum band. It was light, inconspicuous, and absolutely beautiful.

"Yes Erik, oh yes!"

She fell to her knees before him and captured him in a hug. He looked into her eyes, her now shining amber eyes, and kissed her.

When he had finished, Christine was left breathless, much like when he had first kissed her ten years ago. But this time she knew which way was up.