A/N: And... Here's another chapter. Took a little while to get posted but don't worry. I have another chapter ready to go. Love you all. Please read and review.

Thirty-five

Nervous

After several hours of preparation, Darcey finally felt physically ready but no amount of time could prepare her mentally. Her mind kept racing as she wondered if he would propose to her and if so, when. She wondered what was going to happen tonight. She continually found her mind wandering as Meg continued to talk.

Her attention abruptly brought back to the present as her name was said. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

Meg smiled and shook her head. "I asked if you had any idea when I could meet Erik."

"Oh," she said embarrassedly. "I'm not sure. He should be here soon. Maybe I could introduce you before we leave."

Meg thought about that possibility before a smile slipped onto her face. "Tell me about him again."

Though slightly confused by her friend's behaviour, Darcy obliged. "He's tall and handsome with dark hair. He's very musically talented. He plays the organ, piano, and violin and he has the most wonderful voice I have ever heard."

"Do I now?" said none other than Erik. Darcy jumped and spun around to see an amused Erik leaning against the mirror frame.

"Erik! How long have you been standing there?" she squeaked.

"Long enough," he replied with a chuckle.

Meg giggled earning a small glare from Darcy. "You did that on purpose," she acused.

"Guilty." She giggled again while Darcy attempted to stop blushing. After a moment, Meg's laughter settled to a grin. "Are you going to introduce me before you leave?"

It took Darcy a second to understand what she meant before breathing a small "oh". She turned and gestured for Erik to come closer before speaking. "Erik, this is Meg. Meg, this is Erik."

"It's a pleasure to finally be introduced," Erik said with a bow.

"Yes it is. I've heard much about you from Darcy."

Erik took Darcy's hand in his own. "Does she talk about me a lot?" Darcy blushed when Meg nodded.

"All the time."

"I do not," she mumbled.

"She does," said Meg in a stage whisper. She and Erik grinned as Darcy groaned and buried her face in his arm.

"Can we go know?" came her mumbled voice.

Erik chuckled. "Yes, dear. We can go now. It was nice meeting you, Meg. I hope to get to know you better in the future."

"You can plan on it." She gave Darcy an only slightly awkward hug and whispered, "Don't worry," in her ear. "I'll see you two later. Have a good time."

"We will," Erik said giving her hand a squeeze and walking towards the mirror. Darcy gave a final wave before the glass slid back into place. She took a deep breath and felt Erik's thumb rub against the back of her hand, instantly calming her. As long as she was with Erik, everything would be alright.

They walked in comfortable silence the entire way and soon found themselves in the lair. The most heavenly smell greeted her nose. Upon entering the kitchen, she discovered it to be a type of pasta with a light colored sauce. "I hope you like it. I created the recipe myself," Erik said hopefully as he pulled out her chair for her. As soon as he sat, she took a bite a sighed happily. "Do you like it?" She nodded and he sighed in relief. He finally began eating and soon they began to talk. It was a light hearted conversation that helped Darcy to relax all the way.

After supper and an equally delicious dessert, they continued to talk until they fell into a silence similar to their previous one.

"Thank you, Erik."

"You are most welcome." They smiled at each other for a second before Darcy stood and began gathering the dishes. She froze when he touched her arm. "The dishes can wait. Come with me."

He took her hand and led the way to the main room, where he gestured for her to sit at the organ. He seemed to hesitate and her mind seemed to come to an abrupt stop before continuing. He looked almost... nervous.

"Erik?" He jumped slightly as he was brought out of his thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course." He ran a hand through his hair. He sighed before turning to face her completely. "There's no easy way to ask this but I have to know now. Do you have any... Feelings for the patron? Am I wrong to think that you may," he paused as his voice broke before he continued in a small voice. "Care for me?"

"Oh, Erik. No, I don't have feelings for Lionell. I care about you very much."

He sighed loudly in relief and came to sit next to her on the bench and took her hands in his. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that." He cleared his throat and looked down at their hands. "There's no denying it, I love you Darcy. I've loved you for a long time."

"I love you, too," she said softly as a tear of joy slipped down her face.

He gave her a shy smile. "I love the sound of that. Darcy, I love you so much and don't know what I would do without you and I hope to never find out." He slipped off the bench onto one knee and releaased one of her hands to reach into his coat pocket. "Darcy, will you marry me?" he asked and placed the box in the hand he still held.

More tears of joy followed the first as she nodded. "Yes. Oh, Erik. Yes." She slipped off the bench and wrapped her arms around him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and rested his head on her shoulder. "I was so afraid you would say no," he said after a while.

She pulled back but not enough for his arms to fall. She gave a small laugh as she wiped the tears off her cheeks. "And I was afraid you would never ask."

He chuckled. "Looks like both our fears were unfounded. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong." She nodded in agreement before leaning back against him.

They sat there for several minutes as the news sunk in. "Aren't you curious about the ring?" he asked softly.

Darcy laughed lightly. "To be honest I forgot it was even in my hand."

"Shall we go sit on the settee and you can look at it and we can be in a more comfortable place than the hard ground?"

"As long as I'm with you, I don't care where we are." She pulled back and smiled at him lovingly.

"I couldn't have said it better. Come, my love."

"I love the sound of that," she said as he helped her to her feet.

"I'm glad. I plan on using it as often as possible." He led her to the settee and sat, pulling her close to him. She gladly came and leaned her head on his shoulder before looking at the box. She slowly opened it to reveal a beautiful white gold band with three tiny diamond on either side of large one. "Do you like it? I had the inside engraved with music notes. I thought it was appropriate."

She pulled it out of the box and looked at the inside. A few measures of a song were written in small neat script around the inner circle. "I love it. Are the notes to specific song?"

"Ah, yes. They are from the song, 'All I Ask of You.' Shall I sing the line to you?" She nodded. "As you wish." He brushed her hair away from her ear and sang softly, "Love me - that's all I ask of you." He then kissed her cheek.

She slipped the ring onto her finger before turning to look him in the eyes. "I love you, so much." She reached up and took off his mask and kissed his cheek.

"I love you, too." He cradled her face in his hands before kissing her. She happily returned the kiss.