Yes, I am doing another chapter today! I just have so much I want you guys to read. But I am sad to say that this story is almost over. This story will most likely not be longer than 15 chapters, but I am planning on writing another story with Ella…But you also have to read "First" for you to understand it. So yeah that's a little hint. Please read, review, follow, favorite, and enjoy. Thanks.

~Lauren

Oh! And PLEASE ANSWER THE POLL IN MY BIO! I AM BEGGING YOU!

Chapter 11

Life Plans

"When do you want to get married?" Ella asks randomly to Erik as she listens to him play the organ. He stops his playing with a screech and gets scared by the idea of marriage.

"Uh…I don't know. I never really thought about it." He says with a bead of sweat running down his nose.

"Erik, you seem scared."

Erik stifles a laugh. "That's because I am."

She walks over to him and puts her hand on his shoulder. "Why?"

He shrugs. "I guess it's because I thought marriage was never going to happen, and now that it is…I am scared it won't turn out well. Like we would divorce. Discover I really am a monster."

"Don't think like that!" she kneels down to meet him eye to eye. "I love you. That is never going to change. Whether you want it to or not." She says playfully.

He giggles and brings her in for a kiss. "I love you." He says when they release.

"Ah, but I love you more."

"I highly doubt that." Erik smirks as he gets up off the bench.

"Oh really?" Ella whips up off the ground.

"Yes, I do, my dear." Erik chuckles.

"Oh, just kiss me." Ella smirks.

He smiles and brings her up for a kiss. He puts his hands on her hips and she puts hers on his. They release and they smile at each other.

"Okay, we need to get back to figuring out when we are getting married."

Erik groans dramatically. "Okay, fine."

"Would you like to get married soon?"

"Not that soon. Maybe a few months."

"Okay, so it's November. Want to get married in December or January?"

"Hmm…let get married January first."

Ella gasps. "Oh, Erik! That's so romantic! A marriage on New Year's!" She gasps again, causing Erik to laugh. "We should have our kiss at the stroke of midnight."

Erik nods. "I like that idea!"

Ella giggles and claps her hands. She leans in and kisses him lightly once again. Then Ella walks over to the kitchen table and sits down. This is a signal that she wants tea, so Erik nods and goes into the kitchen. He sets down a kettle and come back into the room to wait for it to whistle. He sits across from her and smiles at her.

"Oh, Erik. There is also another question I have been meaning to ask you…"

"Anything, love."

"Please don't have a heart attack."

He laughs. "I'll try. Depends on what it is."

"Do you want to have children?"

Erik bulges his eyes and goes all white. His skin almost perfectly matches the color of his mask. He keeps staring. Ella is worried.

"Erik, breathe." Ella reassures him.

He sucks in air and his face regains some color. "Ella, I…"

"You don't have to answer right now, dear."

"Ella, I have always been scared to…um…"

"I know what you mean. And it can be scary to think about. I am a virgin myself. I am just wondering for the future. Just so I know what's coming."

"You don't have to do that. The future is exciting because you don't know what's coming."

"That's true." Ella smiles.

"I don't know if I can answer that right now."

She nods. "That's okay. I wasn't expecting you too."

"Thank you, Ella."

Erik stares off and then jumps when the tea kettle whistles. He jumps up from his seat and walks into the kitchen. She comes back a minute later with a tray with the tea kettle, cups, and a few pastries. She nods at him in thanks when he pours her a cup and pushes it towards her. He pours himself a cup and just stares into it. Ella furrows her brow and looks at him.

"Erik are you alright?"

"Oh, I am fine."

"You don't seem fine. What's wrong?"

"I am just scared."

"Scared about what?"

"I don't know! I'll lose my temper and hurt you or the children. If we even have any. And that's another thing, I am scared that if I saw I don't want children, you will leave me and find some other man. I am also worried about you seeing me without my mask. It is horrible, Ella. Absolutely horrible. I am just scared that...you won't love me anymore."

"Oh my God, Erik! That will never happen. I know that if you lose your temper and hurt me, that you will feel bad so I wouldn't be mad. And if you didn't want to have children, we can just adopt if you would like to instead of going through the whole process. Erik, I have seen you without your mask. It was yesterday when Charley beat you up. You had your mask off then. There was nothing wrong with it. That's actually one of the things I love most about you. You are different."

"Oh. Thank you, Ella."

"You still seem upset."

"I am just thinking about the past. I am tired too."

"Would you like to sleep? I don't have to stay."

"Well, I want to sleep, but I want you to stay."

"I can take a nap with you. I am tired myself."

Erik smiles at her. "I would like that."

They get up, leaving their tea. He leads her to the bedroom and they crawl into the bed right next to each other. He puts his arm around her and embraces her.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

He giggles before drifting off to sleep with Ella in his arms.