Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Phantom of the Opera

Chapter 25

Three years later

Aubrey sat on a soft bench looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair was very long now, halfway down her back, and Jane was slowly taking a curling iron to her hair and pinning it up in places. Aubrey rung her hands and bit her lip.

"Now stop that, your going to make your lips puffy and swollen." Lacey said, who was sitting on the bed watching Jane.

"I'm just so nervous. Were you this nervous mom?"

Lacey smiled and got up off the bed. She took Aubrey's hands in her own and patted them gently. "It's perfectly normal, but have no fear, everything is going to turn out wonderful, just take a deep breath."

Aubrey did take a deep breath, but still felt the butterflies flutter just as quickly in her stomach and gave her mother a tight-lipped smile.

"Are you almost done Jane?" Aubrey asked.

"Yes yes, quit fretting. I knew you would be picking your lips, that's a good thing we left those to last, but thankfully everything else is done."

"Then no lipstick."

"Oh Aubrey! Come on, this has to be perfect, let me at least put some clear on your lips."

Aubrey rolled her eyes. "Fine go on." Aubrey said and pouted her lips. She felt the coldness of the gloss roll onto her lips.

"Okay now the dress." Lacey said holding up the huge white sleek dress.

Aubrey brightened at this. She had spent hours upon hours, and many different shops looking for the perfect dress. Isn't the saying it's all downhill after you get the dress? Well it wasn't. Why didn't she know all the stuff you had to do to plan for everything?

The dress was beautiful and it was perfect. The top part was a V neck and a tank-top. The bodice was beaded, and it was beautiful. From the bodice it was slick silk and it formed her body until it hit her hips, then it flowed out slightly. Over the top of the silk was a white sheer material. It didn't have a train on it, she was terribly afraid she would trip over it and fall flat on her face.

Her veil was just as pretty, if not simple. She refused to have it cover her face, so it took a long time to find a good one. It was just plain, except around the edges, where it was very intricate with lace. She gently stepped into her dress and they had to slowly zip it up, they didn't want the zipper to catch on the material.

"Okay now I'm ready." Aubrey said with a smile.

They walked to the doorway and both Jane, and Lacey went to get the rest of the girls and get the music started.

Aubrey leaned against the doorjamb and closed her eyes. She could still recall the exact way Erik had proposed.

Both Aubrey and Erik had decided to go to a two year college first, and decide exactly what they both really wanted to do in life. The school was an hour away from Faith, so they lived in the dorms. Aubrey was with Jane, and Erik surprisingly bunked with Harry.

After Jane and Harry had started dated, they fell madly in love with each other. Things just clicked with them, and Erik slowly started to befriend Harry. When it was time to graduate all four of them were best friends, and they decided to go to the same two year college. For Harry and Jane, that would be it, but for Erik and Aubrey, they had bigger plans.

Erik was planning on becoming a doctor, and Aubrey a therapist. With all four of them having their associates degree, they all decide to go home for the summer. Jane and Harry had plans of traveling to different places in the United States and seeing the sites, like the New York skyline, and Wall Drug, and Mt. Rushmore for a couple months. They already had jobs lined up, but they didn't start for a couple months.

Aubrey was glad to be back in her old room, the Phantom of the Opera stuff had been taken down her Senior year, it made Erik slightly uncomfortable, and stuffed in her closet. Erik slept over most nights, but he insisted on going home one Thursday night, so Aubrey slept a very sleepless night tossing and turning in her bed.

She woke to the feeling of something tickling her nose and Aubrey went to swat it off her nose, only to feel something silky soft, and smelling wonderful. She opened her eyes to see Erik grinning from ear to ear holding a red rose.

"Morning. Do you want to see why I didn't stay over last night?"

Aubrey grinned and nodded her head. "I really need to get ready for the day though."

"Okay, take your time, I'll be downstairs amusing Delilah."

Aubrey rolled her eyes and kissed Erik on the lips. She rushed into the bathroom and 'beautified' herself and went downstairs to see Erik and Delilah playing Mario Kart on the Wii.

"Yes! In your face Erik!" Delilah shouted at Erik, who grumbled "I'll get you next time."

"Well let's go again then big man." Delilah taunted.

"Sorry Lila, but Erik wanted show me something."

"Aw, it can wait can't it! I'm beating the pants off your boyfriend."

"Nope sorry, I'm curious."

"Erik, please." Delilah begged.

"Sorry I have to listen to the boss lady."

"Aw, okay, but next time right." Delilah asked.

"Right."

Erik stood up and grabbed Aubrey's hands and led her out to the car. He had started to drive to their park, as Aubrey now called it, but when she got there it was different, it had been a whole year since she visited the park last, her and Erik always came up here before they went back to school. The trees were much bigger, and had beautiful flowers and leaves out. There was a blanket placed below one of the trees.

"Did you do that?" Aubrey asked with a grin.

"Yes of course." He replied with a smile on his face.

When Erik parked the car they could hear children playing on the playground part of the park, but they paid little attention to them, they just walked hand in hand to the blanket, and Aubrey saw a little basket on top of the blanket.

"A picnic for breakfast?" Aubrey asked with her eyebrows raised.

"Yeah." He said sitting down on the blanket.

She opened it to see a box of cereal and milk and Aubrey laughed.

"Well what did you expect, there's no stove out here."

Aubrey pulled out the bowls and spoons and they sat and ate their cereal. When both Aubrey and Erik were finished she took his bowl from his hands and placed it on top of hers, putting the spoons in the top bowl and placing them back in the basket.

"So this was why coul..." Aubrey said turning around.

Erik was bended on one knee and was holding a soft black velvet box.

"Aubrey Ruth Inmon, you truly are my true love, and we have been brought together by forces that were not only ours. We had some rough times, but after we got the kicks settled out, we were perfect. I can't imagine my life without you, and I want you by my side forever and always. Will you marry me?"

Aubrey's hand fluttered to her chest and she couldn't believe her heart was fluttering as it was. Erik opened the box and there was a diamond ring, a diamond shape, with a silver band.

"Oh of course I'll marry you!" Aubrey said with a smile and kissed Erik on the lips.

"Are you ready Aubrey?" Jane asked touching her shoulder.

Aubrey opened her eyes and smiled at Jane. "Yes I'm ready."

They walked to the big church doors and the ushers opened the doors. Jane walked down the long hallway and soon it was Aubrey's turn. She turned to look at her father and he gave her a big smile.

"You look beautiful Rutie."

Aubrey smiled up at him. "Thanks daddy."

Aubrey and her father walked down the aisle and he kissed her cheek. Erik and Aubrey changed things up a bit from the 'usual' ceremony.

Instead of the couple looking at the preacher with them a step down, it was reversed. Erik and Aubrey stood on the top looking at each other while the preacher was a step down, reciting everything that needed to be recited.

After the I do's everyone cheered, but Aubrey couldn't hear them, she was still looking into Erik's beautiful eyes. They turned and walked back out, blissful of everyone around them.

There was 30 minutes while everyone filed out of the church, hugging them, and congratulating them, then there was pictures.

After that was over they were escorted to the 'after party' as Erik kept calling it, where they cut the cake and opened their gifts.

Aubrey turned and looked at Erik. "I love you so much, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

Erik pulled her against his body and planted a deep kiss on her.

"Hey your smudging up her face." Jane said besides them and they broke apart.

"Leave them alone Jane." Harry said with a grin, both Aubrey and Erik laughed.

"This is the start of something beautiful." Erik whispered in Aubrey's ear.

"It always has been beautiful." Aubrey said softly with a grin on her face.

Yes the story is over *sniff* I really hope you loved reading it as much as I have loved writing it. I really want to thank a few people who have been reviewing my story since the first chapter: Cinnamon Selkie, Love's Labour's Won, ichigoV13, Isabella101, KellansLadyKatie09, XXClosingTimeXX, Red Queen of Diamonds, thank you for sticking with this story from the begining, your the best! Also thank you to the rest of my reviews your great. I will have a chapter for my Harry Potter story Life Will Always Find a Way to Shine up in a few days, I really hope you check it out. I really hope that we can cross into the 200's reviews with this last chapter, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Desiree'