Here we go! Last chapter! Just a quick speech before we get started…

For those of you who consider this whole thing medically improbable, it is. But according to Leroux, he survived a life of abuse and beatings without obvious lasting physical damage, he can work on his opera for two weeks at a time without food, drink, or sleep, and as soon as his dear Christine walks out on him, he curls up in a ball and dies of love. If that's not medically improbable, I don't know what is. So blame Leroux, okay?

Still don't own anything.

I woke from my nightmare-filled slumber, feeling a bit better than I had the last time I had been awake. For one thing, that dreadful nausea had subsided. I also did not feel nearly as cold as I had before.

And of course there was the added benefit of my beloved Christine hovering over me, an anxious, loving look on her adorably perfect features.

She saw my eyes open and smiled. "Hello, Erik."

"Hello, my love."

"Darling, do you recognize me?"

"What?" I inquired, confused. I could never forget my little angel, even if she had forgotten me. The last several times I had woken, Christine had not been there. Someone had been at my side, but it was not her.

"Of course I recognize you. Christine, where have you been?" Suddenly, I felt a hard lump rise in my throat, but I swallowed it and blinked to restrain the tears that had sprung up in the corners of my hideously ugly eyes. "And who has been down here with me?"

"Angel, I've been here the entire time. Just me."

She was lying to me! "That's not true!" I almost sobbed. "I saw her!"

"Shh. Erik, it was me. I swear I never left this house."

"Y-You? Why did I not know?"

"I tried to tell you. You had a terrible fever and you were delirious. Your mind was…not right. You had no idea who I was."

"Good Lord," I whispered. "I hadn't realized… How long was I like that?"

"Seven days," came the unexpected response. "Oh, Erik! There were times when I truly thought I had lost you!"

"Well, then at least you could have gone back to your darling Raoul," I muttered sadly. "Tell me, when is the wedding?"

"That depends on you," she murmured.

"Why?"

"Do you still love me, Erik?" asked Christine.

"Angel, I will always love you."

"Then I shall never marry him. Oh, Erik, those three weeks without you- I nearly died! I missed you terribly. And I felt so guilty about deserting you! I understand now, Erik. I love you. All this time… I've always loved you."

"C- Christine, do you mean this?"

"Yes," she whispered. "I've explained it all to Raoul- he understands, Erik. He won't pester us any more. I'm here to stay with you forever, Erik. I love you."

Slowly, Christine bent over me and kissed me on the lips. Though I was stunned at first, I kissed her back eagerly. She opened her mouth slightly and our kiss deepened. I let out a soft groan of pure joy as Christine Daaè, the love of my life, leaned against my bed, held me in her arms, and kissed me with all her heart and soul.

Our tongues were entwined with each other as I ran my fingers through her golden hair. I could feel her arm around my waist and her hand at the nape of my neck. It was impossible that I could be this close to her and not have fainted, was it not? Perhaps I would faint; I felt quite dizzy.

Suddenly, Christine pulled away from me. I was instantly terrified that I had gone too far and that she was angry with me. "Angel, what have I done?"

"Oh, Erik, are you alright? Why are you crying?"

"Am I? I hadn't noticed. Oh, Christine, I am just so happy to have you with me. I love you. God, I love you!"

"Shh. I'm here now. I love you, too. Erik, everything will be alright." She paused and laid a hand on my forehead. "You still feel a bit warm. Here, lie down again." Gently, Christine helped me adjust myself in the bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin.

"I need you to get well, Erik. You'll be just fine if you rest in the house for a while. Don't worry, I'll take care of you."

"Thank you, Christine." I smiled weakly at her. As I watched her, a frightening, exciting idea suddenly occurred to me.

"I… I doubt, my dear, if you are interested- if you would want to- but I- my marriage proposal still stands… should you care to accept…"

"Erik, why do you think I still wear this?" She showed me her left hand, which bore the plain gold ring I had once given her. "Oh, my darling little husband, of course I'll marry you! But only if you promise to behave, eat right, and get enough sleep. Do you promise?"

I burst out laughing. It was not the cruel, humorless laugh of the Opera Ghost; it was my actual laugh, which had not been employed for… oh, I had no idea how many years! "Yes, dear, I promise."

"Wonderful. Are you comfortable?"

I nodded.

Christine leaned very close to me. "Erik, I love you more than life itself."

"I love you more than I could ever possibly tell you, my angel," I answered.

"Then don't speak," Christine murmured as she leaned down to kiss me again.

And the lived happily ever after! Okay, I'm finished. What did you think? Let me know either way, and if you liked it, please check out my other stories. :)

Love to all my readers!

Emilie Rose