Merry Christmas again! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Well technically, Christmas ended 8 minutes ago, but you get an extra present this year! It's the Masquerade! Bum bum buuuuum! And yes, the POV changes a lot towards the ending, but I think you'll forgive me when you get to that point. Read, Review, and Enjoy! (Oh yes, by the way, one of my signature cliffhangers is waiting for you XD)

~nibblesfan

"You look absolutely gorgeous!" Meg cried when Ella emerged in her costume. "You are going to be the envy of every single woman there!"

Ella spun around in front of the mirror. "I feel like it's too much. Should I change something? My hair maybe? Maybe I shouldn't go."

"No!" Meg shouted. "Don't you dare change a thing! You look perfect, and you are going to this ball, even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming!" She stopped and studied Ella a little more. "Actually there is one teeny tiny little thing you can change."

"What's that?"

"You forgot the necklace Archer got you."

"Oh right," Ella said with a sigh. She was hoping Meg would have forgotten the necklace, but apparently not.

Her friend grabbed the diamonds and fastened them around Ella's neck. "That'd be awkward. He did say he wanted you to wear it tonight."

"Good thing you remembered then." Ella wasn't even sure she wanted to go to the Masquerade. It was the only thing Meg had talked about for weeks, but she just couldn't get excited. And she knew why. Ella knew she would never admit it, but she knew why. Erik wasn't going to be there.

"C'mon, if you don't hurry, you'll be late!" Meg announced, looking at the time. She helped Ella tie on her mask, and Ella did the same for her. "Quick, how do I look?"

"Beautiful," Ella assured her. "I swear."

"Thanks, you do too." Meg grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. "Now let's go! We're missing the party!"

Despite Ella's protesting that she wasn't ready, Meg dragged her through the opera. "Oh my God," Ella whispered. "This is amazing."

"There he is," Meg replied. "Monsieur Handsome is waiting for you!"

Ella looked across and saw Archer was indeed grinning at her. "Oh God," she whispered. "I can't do this." She turned to run, but Meg grabbed her arm. "Meg, don't make me."

"Oh, you're just nervous. This is your first big high society thing isn't it? Don't you worry. You'll be perfectly fine. Archer is the kind of guy that he'll just tell you all what to do anyway," Meg whispered in her ear as she steered her towards the patron. "Hello Monsieur Dubois," she said, this time loud enough for him to hear.

"Good evening Miss Giry," Archer replied with his warm smile. "You look lovely." He turned to Ella and kissed the back of her hand. "Hello Ella. You look absolutely stunning."

She turned beet red. "Thank you," she murmured.

He gave her a sweeping bow and offered her his hand. "May I have this dance?" Ella glanced at Meg who nodded urgently. After a moment's hesitation, she slowly put her hand in his, and he swept her off into the crowd of dancers.

Erik paced back and forth in front of the mirror. He needed to make sure his costume was perfect. No one could recognize him, no one but her. Vanity had never been his strong suit, but now he found himself adjusting his mask so no part of his deformity was visible, running his hand over the wig to make sure it stayed slicked back, and smoothing his costume, desperate to look as best as he could. He paused, thinking about what all this meant.

"I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide it"

If he was going to do this, he was going to do it properly this time. No threats, no lies, and above all, he had to keep his godforsaken temper under control. He couldn't afford to lose it and scare the girl away. And maybe, just maybe she could learn to see beyond the mask like Christine never could.

Realizing the night was slipping away and he was losing precious time, Erik reluctantly left the darkness of his lair for the bright party above.

By the time he reached the ball, the Masquerade was in full swing, and no one took notice to the man who slipped in late and unaccompanied. Scanning his surroundings, he finally spotted a redhead dancing with her partner on the other side of the room. Erik quickly worked his way through the crowd and grew close enough to hear their conversation. "Be exhausted," he heard the voice of the patron say. "I'll go get you a glass of champagne. I'll be back by your side in a moment."

The moment he disappeared from sight, Erik gently touched Ella's elbow. She jumped in surprise and whirled around, but the moment she realized who it was, her eyes lit up. "I thought you weren't coming."

"Well someone managed to talk me into it," he replied with a smile.

He took in the full effect of her costume. She wore a soft golden dress that was simple yet elegant, as was the matching mask. The color made her sparkling eyes look like liquid silver. The mask flared out at the top, reminding Erik of butterfly wings. It was most fitting, he thought, since Ella was slowly coming out of her cocoon to become something great. Her red curls were pulled from her face in a sophisticated up-do. A few stray strands had managed to escape and fall into her face, but Erik found it rather charming.

"I'm glad you're here."

Erik realized they needed to move before the boy came back and tried to take her from him. He took a deep breath and mustered all his courage before offering her his hand. "Would you care to dance?"

A smile lit up her face. "I would love to." Erik took her hand and quickly pulled her into the crowd, triumphant with this small victory.

Ella wondered if Erik could hear how loud her heart was hammering in her chest. This was the closest they had ever been, and if she was honest with herself, she never wanted to leave.

He was clothed in a suit of a deep midnight blue. The mask he wore was the same color and highlighted the deep soulfulness of his green eyes, which she found herself getting lost in as he led her around the dance floor. His eyes were locked on hers, pulling her into his world. Despite the fact they were in the middle of a crowded party, it was as though there was no one on earth but the two of them.

The pair waltzed through the night, all thoughts of Archer gone from her mind. The clock began to chime in the background, pulling Ella out of her dreamy haze and back to reality. "It's midnight already?" she asked in surprise.

He seemed just as shocked as her. "I suppose we must have lost track of time," he replied.

"Yes, I suppose we must have," she agreed. She couldn't believe how late it had become. The party was going to be ending much sooner than she could ever want it to. Desperate to cling to every moment she had left with him, Ella pulled herself closer to him, savoring every last second of his touch.

As Ella brought herself closer and closer, Erik could feel his self-control slipping away. Her lips seemed to call to him, and he knew he only had a little time left with her. It was a miracle he had managed to hold her and keep her away from the boy for as long as he had. Every now and again, Erik had spotted him looking for her, but Erik had always managed to get Ella out of sight before Archer noticed them.

She looked up to gaze at him again, and a soft smile touched her lips. He groaned inwardly. Could she tell that she was teasing him?

Finally she started to pull away from him. Erik felt a rush of desperation, not ready to let her go yet. He leaned in and, as sweetly and gently as he could, pressed his lips against hers. Ella's arms reached up and wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. He couldn't believe it. She wasn't rejecting him, she was returning his kiss! She knew what he was, what he had done, and yet she still returned his kiss!

When they broke apart, Ella felt a rush of emotions. She stared into his eyes and found nothing but joy in them. But there was a question she needed answered. One she needed answered even though she dreaded the answer, no matter what it was. If he said no, she didn't think she could bear it, but if he said yes, she was terrified of what would happen from now on. But she had to know. She worked up every bit of courage she had before whispering, "Erik, do you love me?"