Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, or Meg, or Madame Giry, or any other characters from the ingenious mind of Gaston Leroux! Or anything by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Anne, however, she's mine...well, she resides in my head until her story is done.

AN: Two chapters in one night?! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them! We're so close to the end my friends!

Chapter 55

I did a small twirl in the room, the white satin flaring out before settling back around my legs. The month of betrothal was well wasted and I looked upon tomorrow as the day that my life would truly begin. Erik and I would be married and we would steal away to our house in the country, where we would live together, happy and carefree. I could not contain my excitement so I had put on my wedding dress again. It was a fine creation that Erik had bought for me. He had not seen it, but rather given the funds to purchase such a fine dress. I felt very guilty when I discovered that he'd done such a thing, and I hated for him to spend so much money on me. However, Erik had pushed aside my words saying that he liked giving me presents, and I accepted them as well as I could.

"You'll wear your dress out, Anne."

I looked up to see Aunt Giry looking at me from the doorway. She had snuck in on me and I grinned foolishly. "I can't help but wearing it again. It's so beautiful."

"Yes, well, now you must put it away. It'll get dirty and then where would be?"

I laughed and allowed her to quickly take off the white dress. Stepping out of it, I put back on my dress of dark brown. "Where is Meg today?"

"She's practicing since she'll be out part of the day for your wedding. I'm surprised the managers allowed her to leave."

I nodded thinking back over the great lie that we had told. No one could know that I was getting married...at least, no one in the Populaire. So, we had made up a story that I had found a position as a governess...a story that was deemed "a tragic waste of my talents." I would leave Paris and return to England and that would be the end of my story at the Opera House. It was a story that all believed and had accepted as my fate. My trunk was all packed and I would say my goodbyes today and leave tomorrow before anyone awoke. In truth, that morning I would be going to a church where a special license had been bought so that banns would not have to be read in church. Erik and I would be married, and have a small lunch with Aunt Giry, Meg, and Nadir and then I would leave for my new life.

"He's here, Anne. Would you care to see him?"

I looked up to the doorway and saw Erik standing there. I extended a hand to him which he gladly took after walking over to me. I never saw Aunt Giry leave but I heard the door shut behind her. Erik pulled me over to my bed and we sat down as it was the only sitting area in the small room.

"How are you, Anne?"

He asked me that every day since the New Year's Ball and my answer was always the same. "I am happy, Erik."

"Are you ready for the wedding?"

I nodded taking both of his hands in mine. "I cannot wait. I am very excited about our new life together and about seeing this house you've prepared." It was a subtle hint and he knew it. Ever since he had told me of this house a month earlier, I had tried to gain a little information about it. It was a secret he didn't seem to want to share with me. However, I knew it was not because he wanted to surprise me.

"May I see your necklace, Anne?"

I was puzzled, but reached for the clasp behind my neck just the same. "What is it?"

Erik simply smiled at me and produced a small key from his pocket. "I've never explained this locket to you."

"I've never asked about it," I replied. "I didn't think you had anything to do with it." I watched, fascinated, as he put the key into a small hole that I had barely seen and with a small click the locket opened. He gave me the necklace back and I looked at what was inside. "I don't understand. Why is there a picture of a rose in here?"

"The rose is a symbol, Anne. When your mother thought of roses...she thought of me."

"Why would my mother think of you?"

"I knew your mother...quite well, actually. Apart from Madame Giry, your mother was the closest thing I had to a friend when she was here."

I stared at him, confused as to why he should be telling me all of this. "I don't understand..."

Erik sighed and pulled me to him. He kissed me, tenderly, as if trying to reassure himself of something. "Will you allow me to explain?"

I nodded, resting my head against his chest and listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. I was not prepared for the story he told me.

"I met your mother within a day of my arrival. Antoinette had brought me here yet was unsure of what to do with me. She brought your mother to me and she was the one who suggested that I be hidden in the vaults and underground of the theatre. Your mother, in the beginning, was the one who took care of me, and brought me what I needed to survive. Maria was truly a person I never would have dreamed would care for me."

"Care for you?"

"Not in a romantic sense, Anna. Anyway, your mother was a true friend and she made sure that I was well looked after. It was only right that I would so the same for her when the opportunity presented itself. She was sure that she would never marry and she did not want to live a life always confinsed to the Opera House. So, I bought her a house in the country where she could live and be her own independent woman, as she saw fit. She loved teaching, but not ballet. She was a graceful and beautiful dancer, but her heart was not in it. About a month before she met your father, I secured the house for her. I had been well established by that time and had that steady income so it was not too difficult."

"But...I've never seen that house. We had nothing after father died."

"It wasn't until much later after that, that Nadir received a letter that had been lost in transit. It was from your mother, asking that he sell the house and whatever precious possession she had that held any monetary value. These small jewels are in your trunk now, for they had been gifts to show my appreciation to her. After consulting with me about it, I told him not to sell the house or the jewels but to keep a close eye on the property in case something should happen. In the end, after your grandmother had found you, Maria wrote to Nadir again and discovered that he still had the deed and jewels and he sent them to her. This house, Anna, is where we are going after we wed."

I was fascinated at the almost impossible story he told me. I could not believe it, and yet I knew it to be true. I had seen the deed and the jewels for they were in the wrapped parcel that had been given to me upon my departure from England. I looked down at the locket and saw the picture.

"The rose?"

"I believe your mother had roses in her garden at your old house. I had managed to give her some cuttings which somehow managed to make their way to England. The roses are also a reminder of the friendship we had. Your mother was a greater friend than I could have ever expected. Like mother like daughter...she saved me."

The image warmed me and yet I felt too bewildered by his story. Tears pricked my eyes as I realized that mother should be here to see Erik...to see the life that we were now going to share. How I missed her so in that brief moment!

"Why haven't you told me any of this before?"

Erik shrugged. "The time never seemed right. And...this place we're going to live at, it's the place I bought for your mother."

Erik waited, holding his breath. He had not imagined Anne would take this news so well. He had thought she would be bitter or even angry because she would not have had to grow up with the life she did if she had lived there. He looked at her and told her as much.

"But Erik," she smiled, sweetly. "If we had lived there, I may never have met you."

Unable to control himself, he wrapped his arms around her and held on to her as if she were a life line. Dreams and happiness rarely come true in this life and each day Anne was proving herself to be more ethereal and not of this world. He placed a hand underneath her chin and raised her face to his. The kissed he placed on her lips was supposed to have been a chaste on, but something in the air changed. Anne's hands traveled up his chest and her delicate fingers intwined themselves in his hair. Her body was too soft and too yielding. He didn't know if she guided or if he led but somehow they ended up laying down upon her bed, his lips moving to her jaw, her neck, and the small hollow at the back of her ear. His hands traveled down her sides, gripping her waist.

"Erik," she heard him whisper, and it was then when he realized what he was doing and where this would take them. He pulled away instantly, feeling ashamed of himself.

"I'm sorry," he said, turning away from her. "That shouldn't have happened."

Anne reached out a hand and grasped his wrist in her delicate fingers. "Don't, Erik. We're going to be married tomorrow so it's only natural..."

"Not with your past, Anna. I don't want to hurt you." He looked away from her, not daring to meet her honest gaze.

"Oh, Erik." She leaned against him, resting her head against his back. "You are far too good to me. Believe me when I say that while I am scared of what tomorrow night will bring, I know that you would never hurt me."

Just as Anne finished this confession, a knock came from the door. Erik silently stood and Madame Giry walked through the door. He knew that his limited time with Anne was up.

"Anne, Madame Carrolton is waiting for you. You are to say your goodbyes and she is then taking you out for dinner. So, let's get you changed and on your way. Erik...it is time for you to go. You'll see her tomorrow."

Erik turned to the woman who held his heart and gave her one final kiss. "Til tomorrow then."

Anne nodded. "Yes, til tomorrow."

They day had proven long, far longer than I had ever thought possible. I had enjoyed saying my goodbyes to the cast, crew, and orchestra. I had no idea that I'd gotten as close as I did to the members of the Populaire. They had all been so kind and welcoming to me and each had wanted to wish me well on my new life. There were some tears from the ballet corps and the managers had even given me a few well meant sentiments. Now, I was sitting in a restaurant with the Prima Donna, finally finishing up dinner and getting ready to go home.

"I cannot thank you enough for all of your kindness, Madame."

"Oh, think nothing of it, dear. I, however, am quite saddened that you are leaving us, mademoiselle. You have such great talent."

I smiled, showing my gratitude. "Well, I have a new calling in life, and I cannot stay at the Populaire forever."

"But I thought music was your calling?"

We had now risen from our seats and were making our way to her carriage. The night was chilly and I wrapped my arms around myself stomach trying to keep all of the heat close to me.

"Well...it is still a passion, but there are things more important than that now." I wondered why we were standing outside her carriage instead of getting in and making our way back.

"Perhaps the man who has taught you to sing so well and has bought you so many beautiful new dresses is the reason you are leaving?'

I gaped at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"Do not consider me so blind, Anastasia. It is obvious that you are not leaving for a governess position but for a man. Such a pathetic reason, really. Though, I should be glad. You would have replaced me had you stayed. However, for your insolence I cannot let you return to the Populaire tonight. You have caused great pain to others and you must be answerable for it."

I heard a rustle behind me, and I turned but didn't see anything. I felt a sharp pain at my head and then my entire world went black.