Erik's POV

"I…I can't breathe, Christine…"

Christine had taken off her pink jacket and placed it over my torso. Not only could I not breathe, but I was freezing.

"Just relax, Erik, relax…"

My angel had tears in her eyes, hot tears that were dripping onto my neck. I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold on, but I was trying my hardest to do so.

"Mr. Erik, you can't die…" Gustave cried, his tears also falling onto me. "You promised that you were going to be my papa…I want you to be my papa. Please…Please, Mr. Erik…"

From inside of my pocket, I pulled out the pocket watch I had given him the night before and placed it into his small hand.

"T…Take it," I said. "Ke…keep it safe."

"Christine!"

From behind us, Meg was rushing back towards Christine, followed by a group of police officers and what seemed to be paramedics. The officers immediately tended to Mr. Tilyou's lifeless body while the paramedics tended to me. Christine squeezed my hand and refused to let go, even when I was lifted onto a makeshift stretcher. They were carrying me towards some sort of ambulance, Christine's grip loosening as each second past. And then, eventually, I lost all feeling of her hand around my own. I was alone now…alone and surrounded by strange doctors. I wanted to fight with them, but I couldn't, for I was too weak. The first thing they did was cut me loose from my bloody clothing to gain access to my wound. I wanted to fight them, but I couldn't…

"Christine…"

I murmured her name as I felt needles being inserted into my flesh. Soon, I felt my blood run hot, so hot that it comforted me. Warm at last…My eyes began to feel heavy, so heavy that sleep began to overtake my body. I didn't want to fall asleep, but I was helpless against it.

When I awoke, my entire body was in agony. My chest felt numb, and my back was screaming. The first thing I noticed was that I was lying in a strange bed, in a room that was deserted and decorated in get well soon balloons and flowers. The first thing that came to mind was Christine… She was nowhere to be found, which frightened me.

"Erik…"

When I heard my name being called, I turned my head to find Mr. Dublair sitting at my bedside. But wait…I felt something cool hitting my flesh…MY MASK! Oh, where was it? Mr. Dublair had never seen my face, and he was sure to become frightened over it.

"Erik, it's all right, man…You don't need to wear that infernal garment around me. I've seen worse things roaming around Phantasma."

I sighed in relief and pressed my eyes closed. Oh, I was so tired…so tired and so exhausted.

"I'm glad you're all right," he continued. "I've been keeping a close watch over you for the past few days. You nearly died…At least that's what your lovely girl told me."

"W…Where is she?" I crooned.

"She took the boy to grab something to eat. She'll be back in a little bit. We've been taking turns on and off with watching over you. I've also been keeping charge of your park…It can't run on its own."

My eyes gazed off for a few moments to the abundance of cards and balloons that were surrounding me.

"Where did all of this stuff come from?"

"Your employees. They all wish you well. You are well appreciated, Erik."

"W…What of Tilyou?"

"Gone…He won't be coming back for a long time. I not only fired him, but I spoke with a few of the authorities at the jailhouse this morning and by the looks of it, he'll be sent over to the big house by morning. I'm sorry about what happened to you…But, he's gone now."

A few seconds later, the door to my room opened and Christine came walking in with Gustave in her arms.

"Ah, look who woke while you were gone?"

Christine began to cry and ran over to my bedside.

"Oh, Erik…I was so worried about you."

She pressed her lips against my own, and Mr. Dublair rose to his feet.

"I'll leave you three alone. In the meantime, I'm going to check on Phantasma. I'll keep it warm until you return, if you know what I mean."

"Th…thank you."

When Mr. Dublair was gone, Christine smiled and leaned in to embrace me.

"Easy…" I groaned. "Easy…"

"Oh, you're still so sore. I'm sorry, Erik… You were lucky. The bullet barely missed your heart. Though, the doctors said with a little recovery time, you should be back to your old self again with the exception of feeling a little pain in your back every once in a while."

"W…What about walking?"

"The doctor said the bullet didn't damage any of your nerves, but you will need therapy for your shoulder. The bullet went in through your back and got lodged into your left shoulder."

"H…How long have I been asleep?"

"Four days…The surgery was long and grueling, but I'm so glad that you're ok…"

"Mr. Erik, I'm so happy that you're awake…Here, I brought you someone to keep you company."

From out of nowhere, Gustave gave me his stuffed tiger and placed it into bed with me.

"Jerry will keep you company, Mr. Erik."

"I'm sure he will, Gustave…I'm so glad you brought him."

For nearly two weeks more, I stayed in that hospital bed, never being able to budge until the day I was released. Even after I arrived home, I was in no shape or form to return to work. I was able to continue filling out paychecks and forms, but even that was a task all on its own, for with my injured shoulder constantly bothering me, it was nearly impossible to write. Mr. Dublair suggested a therapist that he was friends with, and so, the doctors at the hospital scheduled her to come to my house every Tuesday and Thursday for three hours to work my shoulder back into place. It was grueling and uncomfortable, and most times I did lose my temper, but Christine was always sitting there beside me. If there was one thing I hated, it was this strange woman taking my arm and swirling it around in constant circles while my shoulder cracked and caused me agony. Even after two week of her visits, my shoulder was still bothering me greatly, and each and every meeting with her only made my shoulder feel worse.

"Erik, Mr. Dublair was wondering if we would like to join him for dinner tonight?"

"I don't think so…"

I was sitting at my desk staring out the window and wishing that my shoulder would stop hurting me…

"Erik, you've been sitting indoors for days now, love…Please? Please could we just go out to dinner? He was hoping that we would join him. He said he has some good news to tell you."

"Any news that he has can wait until he sees me in person. He knows where I live, Christine, and he knows that I'm in no condition to go out."

"He thinks otherwise. Oh, come on, Erik…"

"I said no…" I growled, my voice raising a bit as I turned to face the girl. "No means no…Do you understand me?"

There was silence for a few moments more, before Christine wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Erik…Please could me, you, and Gustave go to dinner with Mr. Dublair? I'll do anything to make you feel better. I've been taking care of you for weeks now…I've even sat through every therapy session with you."

"That bat hasn't made my shoulder feel any better. Every time that she comes here, she leaves having my shoulder feeling more twisted and bent than ever before."

"She said it's supposed to feel that way. That's how you know it's healing…"

"Christine, I've broken more bones in my lifetime than one could ever imagine, and I've never heard of a bone healing by being in agony. No, these new doctors with their breakthroughs in medicine…The hell with it. I'll keep the old ways, and that old way is to exercise it on my own."

Christine rolled her eyes and embraced me once more.

"Erik, please…"

Finally, I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

"Christine, you've treated me well, but I'm really not in the mood to go out tonight. But, knowing that you're not going to let this go until I agree, I will. But not by choice…Dinner and that's it."

Christine pressed a kiss to my distorted cheek and smiled. "You're wonderful, Erik."

"No, I'm grumpy and in agony. When we get home tonight, I could use a massage on my shoulder."

"I'll give you more than a massage," Christine said, pressing a kiss to my bare shoulder.

I sighed and turned to face her. "Don't tease me…"

"I'm going to get a shower and dress. I suggest that you do the same…"

When Christine was gone, I stood up from my desk and began undressing. It took longer than usual since my shoulder was bothering me, but having a hot shower would feel lovely against my aches.

"Mr. Erik?"

I was already in the tub, when I heard Gustave calling for me. He entered my room and sat down on the toilet seat, watching me bathe. I found it strange when he did this, for it wasn't decent, but I guess it would have to be something I would have to get used to.

"Gustave, can't you see that I'm taking a bath?"

"You give me a bath all the time, Mr. Erik…"

"That's because I'm afraid of leaving you alone in the tub."

"Mr. Erik, are you sad?"

"Sad? Why would I be sad?"

"Because mama and you didn't get to have that wedding under the fireworks. I'm sorry…I feel as though it's my fault."

"And how is it your fault? You didn't have any control over what happened, Gustave. It was me that should have stayed with you…I feel as though it's my fault. Is that something you can understand?"

"No, Mr. Erik, it was both our faults. I'm sorry that you didn't get to marry mama the way you wanted to marry her. I know that you were really excited about it."

I stood up from the tub and wrapped a towel around my waist.

"There will be more chances to marry her…" I said. "I guess now it just won't be a surprise is all…"

"Will you still be my papa?"

"Someday, Gustave… I don't know when your mother and I are going to be married, but when that happens, I promise you that I will be your papa."

After dressing, I escorted Christine and Gustave out of my house and towards wherever Mr. Dublair was going to be meeting us. I really wasn't in the mood to be out and about, but for Christine, I had agreed upon dinner.

"Christine, where did he say he would be meeting us?"

"At your Phantasma restaurant."

"Oh, why does that feel like a million miles away?"

"Because you don't feel well, that's why."

"The doctor said I shouldn't even be out until the first of September… Though, that's nearly three weeks away. To think that I've missed half my season because of a gunshot wound."

"Things have been doing well between Meg and I…Sharing the stage isn't half bad at all, and the tickets seem to sell out faster that way. She and I were even thinking about a double act. What do you think?"

I shrugged my good shoulder. "We'll talk about that later, Christine. I don't know about this season, but maybe over the winter we could work on that double act of yours. How does that sound?"

"Like a plan…"

When we arrived at my restaurant, we went in, expecting to meet up with Mr. Dulblair, but instead, we came face to face with my employees…Everyone of them. They were all dressed in their best attire and when we entered, they made a path for us…But this wasn't just a path, no, there was an isle, and at the end of that isle, there was an alter.

"Surprise!" everyone shouted the moment we entered. But I was so confused…What was going on? Before I could even wonder, Mr. Dublair was standing beside me with a smile across his face, his hand already reaching out for my jacket to pin a white corsage onto the fabric.

"Ah, I was wondering when you were going to show up…"

"What is all of this?"

"A wedding…" Mr. Dublair said. "To replace the one that was ruined. This is my treat…Now, are you ready to be married?"

Christine and I looked at one another, before my angel smiled, tears falling down her cheeks. From there, she removed the wedding band I had given her on the pier and handed it to Mr. Dubalir, who then handed it to Gustave.

"No, miss…I believe the ring bearer is supposed to be the one to hold the rings."

It may not have been the traditional wedding, but it was good enough. I stood there at the altar, my heart pounding a mile a minute from within my chest. When the music started, Christine walked down the isle to get to me while my employees watched. And when she was standing beside me, the priest started the ceremony. Oh, she was beautiful…Purely beautiful.

"…And now, for the vows."

Vows? Oh, how was I to say my vows? I didn't even have a speech written up. Christine looked at me, waiting for me to begin. I swallowed hard and reached deep down into my heart.

"Christine, since the moment I first saw you, I wanted you to be my wife. You mean everything to me, and I would do anything for you…Which is why I'm standing here now. There won't be a day that goes by that I won't stop loving you. Even death will never separate us…"

"Do you, Mr. E Mulheim take Christine to be your lawfully wedded wife? Through sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I…I do…"

"Erik, there have been ups and downs…More than any couple could have ever imagined, but there was never a day that went by where I wanted to leave you. I love you now, forever and always."

"Do you, Christine Daae, take Mr. E Mulheim to be your lawfully wedded husband, through sickness and in health until death do you part?"

"I do…"

"And now, for the rings…"

Gustave came forward and we each took one another's rings and slid them onto each other's left ring fingers.

"With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride…"

Married! I was married to my angel… It was like a dream come true. And when we kissed, I finally felt human. I was a married man with a wife and new son…I was finally normal. Life has finally begun…

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