Erik's POV:

I watched mon ange fall asleep, her resting form as beautiful as ever. I stroked her hair, kissed her forehead, and left her to rest.

Never had I felt so loved, so cared about, until that day. Paige not only had devoted herself to staying with me, but she told me that their was a merciful God up in heaven that cared about me. She'd introduced me to the gospel, 'baptized' me, and so much more.

Thank you, God, I prayed in my mind. Thank you for sending me Paige, mon belle ange. Is she an angel, Lord? She must be, she is everything I've ever needed, she's helped me and cared for me, she must be an angel. A gift from above.

My gift… I sighed, walking over to my desk, which sat beside my organ. Its contents were mainly music, paintings, and countless masks I'd made over the years. Not that I needed them anymore, of course.

Before I met Paige, all the pictures I'd drawn were of Christine. But after that night- you know what I mean- I gave them to Christine, telling her that she was free, and belonged to her beloved Viscount. Soon all my paintings of Christine turned into paintings of Paige.

A silver glint on the desk caught my eye. Picking it up, I realized it was a ring. The ring I'd been planning to give to Christine. I grinned. Maybe now it would serve a different use.

Since that morning, I'd been planning my proposal to Paige. Maybe I'd play a song for her, then ask. Or maybe I'd sing a song for her…

I shook my head, setting down the ring. Give it some time, I thought.

I returned to the swan bed, where Paige slept peacefully. I crawled in next to her, sliding my arms around her waist. She curled up next to me, smiling in her sleep.

I smiled as well, down at my beautiful lover… perhaps, someday, my beautiful wife.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Paige's POV:

I awoke in the same position as always, in Erik's arms, him smiling down at me.

"Hello," I said, resting my head on his chest. Laying their, I heard his heartbeat quicken.

I smiled. "Are you okay?" I asked.

He chuckled. "You could say that… but…"

I laughed at his discomfort, pulling away from him.

He gave me an odd look. "And what, might I ask, did you do that for?"

"You were losing it," I said matter-of-factly.

"I was not," he disagreed, pulling me closer to him.

"If you say so," I said. "But if anything happens…"

"Which it won't."

"If anything happens, I'm blaming you."

He laughed, kissing my forehead. I smiled.

"I will admit, however," he said finally, "that I'm trying… very hard… not to do anything… like that."

"Aha," I said triumphantly. "Deep breaths, Erik."

He let out a shaky laugh. I immediately sensed the depth of his struggle and pulled away, rolling to the other side of the bed.

He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

I smiled. "It's okay. I'm not mad or anything."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Breakfast," he commanded with a laugh.

I complied. Unwillingly, of course.

After eating a traditional French breakfast, Erik insisted we do something different that day.

"We could go up to the roof," I suggested.

"That sounds perfect," he agreed. "We'll make it a picnic."

~0~0~0~0~0~

That afternoon, we brought our lunch to the roof of the opera house, eating in the blissful sunshine, and enjoying the beautiful summer day.

A random thought came to me. "Erik, when's your birthday?"

He looked surprised. "My birthday?" he asked. "I'm not sure. It was never celebrated. My parents couldn't have cared less, and, well, it's no surprise the gypsies didn't celebrate it."

I nodded. "You really don't know? Well, that's just great. Now I can't get you anything for your birthday, because I don't know when it is!"

He laughed. "When's your birthday?" he asked.

"Mine?" I asked. "August 16th."

He nodded. "I'll keep that in mind when August 16th comes around."

I laughed, resting my head on his shoulder, and ignoring it when he tensed up.

"Paige…" he whispered.

"You're fine," I told him. "Completely under control."

"I hope you're right," he said, forcing a smile.

We sat like that for a while, completely still. Erik kissed me on the cheek, causing me to look at him curiously.

"I'm okay," he assured me. It was true- his tensed form was slowly relaxing.

"Why, do you think," I asked, "it's so hard for you to be around me, without…"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I've never… wanted anyone… like I want you."

"Really?" I asked, a bit surprised. It always seemed that's how he reacted to Christine…

"Yes," he chuckled. "You're a new experience for me, Paige."

I smiled. "I hope that's a good thing."

"Don't worry," he said. "It is."

I kissed him softly. What made me happy about being with Erik in any way or form was knowing I had his love, not just his lust.

Looking up at him, I noticed his contemplating expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," he assured me. "I'm just trying to put this in words, the right words…"

I smiled. "Erik, whatever you want to say, just say it."

He took a deep breath, then stood up. He walked over to the stone rail, and I soon followed him.

Erik took both my hands in his.

"Paige," he began. "I love you. I love you with all my heart, my soul, my mind. You are the most important person in my life. You've shown me immeasurable kindness, you've trusted me like no one else has. You've brought me to God, and, as far as I'm concerned, I don't deserve you in the slightest."

I was about to protest that last bit, but he silenced me with a finger to my lips.

"Now, I've got a question to ask you, Paige. A very important question, that might be a bit unexpected, in the short time we've known each other."

My heart raced, pounding in my ears, as he knelt down and pulled out a ring- a ring I recognized as the ring he gave to Christine in the movie.

"Paige Mallory, I love you, more than you will ever know. Will you marry me?"

I stood there in shock for a moment, not having expected something like this to happen so soon. I knew my answer, of course. I knew it by heart.

"Erik," I said, kneeling beside him. "I love you, too, and you know that. You're the best part of my life, and I couldn't possibly live without you. I've known the answer to this question since I first met you, it seems. Yes, Erik. A thousand times, yes!"

Erik kissed me then with such joy that I thought I might die of it. We stood up, still kissing, that is, until he picked me up, spinning me around in pure happiness. Tears of joy streamed down both our faces, and it seemed as if life couldn't get any better.

Of course, we both knew it could. As long as we were in each others lives, life could indeed get better. Much, much better.