I woke the following morning from a peaceful sleep. My skin was warm and the air was filled with beautiful music. I gathered my strength and sat up. Erik was sitting at his piano skillfully running his fingers over the keys. His brows were arched in concentration as he played the notes that ran through his mind. He stopped momentarily and scribbled the notes on his sheet of paper. But he quickly glanced up and looked at me. He looked away suddenly aware that I had been watching him play.

"I'm sorry Darling. I did not realize that you were awake." He rose from the piano's bench and came to sit at my feet on the bed. I crawled out of the covers and into his lap. I lifted my left hand up to his masked cheek. But before I could kiss him something caught my eye. The beautiful ring that sat on my ring finger made my heart swell with joy. I pulled his face to mine and kissed him hard. How could I have ever deserved such a loving man? His arms wrapped around my waist causing me to cower in pain as his arm touched my wound. He pulled back quickly. "I'm so sorry Christine! Are you alright? I didn't mean to- Are you alright?"

"Erik, I'm fine. It's okay." I grabbed his hands and put them back around me, carefully placing them above the tender place on side. I put my hands on his face and pulled his lips back onto mine. His tenseness started to leave him as his kissing became more intense. The passion was becoming too intense and I had to pull away to catch a breath. His lips moved down my neck. My mind started to float into the future. "When are we going get married Erik?" He pulled back and looked at me his eyes thoughtful.

"Oh I hadn't really thought about the date. Well, sometime after you are healed, of course." I looked back at him and nodded.

"But of course."

"Well when would you like to have it?"

"As soon as possible! I can't wait to finally be yours Erik." He kissed my neck tenderly and whispered into my skin sending shivers up my spine.

"As have I, my Christine."

"You don't understand how many nights I've stayed awake yearning of just being here in your arms. Yearning to hear your voice and touch your skin. Oh Erik." I began to cry because the thought of not having him was to unbearably heartbreaking. I buried my head into his should hoping that it would absorb the tears into non-existence. I hated reminding Erik of those dark days.

"Shh. It's alright Christine. That is in the past. There will never be a day that I will stop regretting my choice. I promise that I will never leave your side again." I pulled my head up and he wiped away my tears with the sleeve of his soft shirt.

"I love you Erik."

"I love too Christine, now and forever." He gently kissed my lips and just then just held me in his arms.

Moments later there was a knock at the door and then everything was silent.

"You may enter." Erik's booming voice filled the room's silence. The door opened and four heads popped in from behind the door. Squelch, Fleck, and Gangle quickly shuffled into the room, followed by Gustave.

"Father, I was just wondering if Mother would be allowed to see the new act that we have concocted." Gustave looked into Erik's eyes with all of the hope he had in his little tiny body. I knew that that look would be too much for Erik to deny. And as predicted he turned to me.

"Well, how do you feel my Christine?" I tested the aching of my side and its rawness. I couldn't feel any sharp pains, just a low throbbing. I looked at Erik and then at little Gustave and smiled.

"I'm fine, Erik. I would love to see what you have been working on darling!" Gustavé's smile covered his face from ear to ear. I could tell how proud he was of his work. I rose from my bed carefully with the help of Erik and Squelch. I started to walk out of the room before Erik stopped me.

"Perhaps you would like to change darling. I know it has been a while since you have joined the rest of us in the real world but…" I looked down and noticed what I was wearing. I was bare foot and had on a very sheer nightgown. I blushed and looked up at Squelch and Dr. Gangle who quickly looked away.

"And perhaps you are right. Will you excuse me?" All three men, Fleck, and Gustave nodded their heads and left the room. But Erik quickly returned thinking I would need his help to get dressed. "I am absolutely okay! I have been dependent on anyone Erik and I do not plan are starting now." He nodded and turned to leave. I grabbed his hand before he left and kissed the inside of his palm. "Although, I am very dependent on your love, Erik. You mean the world to me, just remember that." He kissed my forehead and then left. I picked out a very simple yellow sundress from the racks and found its matching white floppy hat a few moments after. I slipped on a white pair of sandals and left the closet. Erik was sitting on the bed waiting for me.

"You look as radiant as ever my Christine." The way he said my name sent chills through my body and I wanted to kiss him so badly. But I knew that if I was to make that fatal move I wouldn't be able to stop myself. Instead I curtsied to him and walked over. I laced both sets of my fingers in his and pulled him up. This time he made the move. He placed a small kiss on my lips and pulled back quickly before I could return the favor. "Shall we go?"

"We shall" And I pulled one of my hands free from his and held on tighter with the other. He led me to the door and opened it for me. Outside Fleck, Gangle, Squelch, and Gustave leaned against the wall excitedly whispered their ideas for the show. They looked up at me and I could see their mouths drop. No one had seen me so dressed up and healthy looking in weeks. The color in my face was returning. I was able to stand on my own. And I was finally wearing clothes that weren't nightgowns. Gustave ran and threw his arms around me, throwing me off balance and hitting my sore side. Erik caught and righted me quickly and he very discreetly moved Gustavé's arm lower on my waist. Gustave released me and grabbed my left hand. Erik took hold of my right. Gustave started to pull me down a long hallway. There were about eight various doors along the walls of the long hallway. Each door led to a different room and each room had a different door. One of which was opened. That door was white and wood. It led to large powder room. The door beside it was made of a light brown oak. But if you looked closely you could see that there were music notes in the grain of the wood. Beside that door was a light blue stained door. Then we passed a white door and a black door and other various mix match doors all leading to other worlds. Finally the end of the hallway came. It emptied into a large parlor filled with grand furniture and a black metal staircase spiraling downward into the floor. Gustave led me towards it. We began to descend down the stairs. I found that we were now on the ground inside of the largest "tent" in Phantasma. This building held the stage where the main performances were held.

Gustave pulled me to a seat in the first row. I sat down with Erik seated to my right. He looked over at me and grinned. I leaned into his shoulder. Gustave, Fleck, Squelch, and Gangle jumped up onto the stage. There were two large pieces of colored fabric hanging from the ceiling. Miss Fleck grabbed the piece to the right and began to wrap herself in it with Gangle there to spot her. Gustave took the left one with Squelch there to spot him and followed her motions. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in all twenty-seven years of my life. The fabric seemed to slow with them as if they were underwater. They floated through the air and wounded themselves up and down in the fabric. I looked over at Erik and found him staring proudly up at our son.

"So this is what he's been doing in his time?" He tore his eyes away from Gustave to look back at me.

"Yes. He is quite talented. He picks things up very quickly."

"Yes, well we all know where his talent comes from. You are quite amazing yourself Erik."

"Thank you Christine for blessing me with such a boy." He kissed my forehead.

"It was a team effort." I squeezed his hand and we both turned back to Gustave. He was untangling himself from the vast amount of fabric. He jumped off the stage and ran towards us.

"So what did you think Mother?" I pulled him onto my lap and stroked the hair out of his eyes.

"It was so beautiful Gustave! I am so proud of you my darling!"

"Thank you Mother. Did you like it Father?"

"It was quite impressive young Gustave." Gustave beamed at the compliments he was hearing. He jumped off of my lap and kissed me.

"I have to go mother or I will be late for my next lesson."

"And what would that be?"

"Fleck is going to introduce me to one of her cousins. They are going to teach me how to fit in a box!"

"Oh goodness then you mustn't be late!" He turned and ran after the three employees making their way out of the building. I turned to Erik. "He seems to be enjoying himself. You know he wanted to come to Coney Island for months now?"

"Yes well he is very good at seeing the beauty underneath." I kissed Erik. The feeling of being alone with Erik was overwhelming me. I couldn't resist touching him. He pulled me closer to him.

"I love you so much Erik."

"Just hearing those words Christine-" I cut him off with another kiss. But he pulled away quickly. "How well are you feeling Christine?"

"Well fine, actually. I feel no pain." He pulled me up out of my seat.

"Then would you like a tour of Phantasma? You haven't seen much of my new world here and I would love to share it with you my love."

"I would like nothing more." He walked me to the door. As he pushed the door open my skin was greeted with the warmth of sunshine. The air was warm and it had a fresh crispness feel that my lungs gratefully accepted. I hadn't been outside in what felt like forever. The grass was soft and made a gentle, satisfying crunch when I stepped on it. He pulled me further into the world. It was the first time I had ever seen him in the light of day. The way the light highlighted his facial structure made my heart leap into my throat. He was even more handsome in the light.

My beautiful Erik had finally made a life in the light and it suited him. He no longer needed to live below civilization. He no longer needed long black cloaks or masks. Of course, he found comfort in his mask. But maybe one day he would take it off and leave it for good. He was finally being accepted by the world. I felt so proud of him. After everything he had been through he grew to be an angel of music living in the light with the rest of the world. He embraced the beauty of everything when after years he had been tortured for the supposed ugly others saw on him. He overcame his dark past and evil deeds he committed and lived a life of saving others from the same life. He was a new and better man. He became a man that I loved more than anything in the world. He blessed me with a beautiful family and he inspired my voice and gave my life music after the abrupt death of my father. He gave me everything I have ever wanted and needed. He saved me. I couldn't wait to be his wife.