Erik and Christine: Loves Secret (A Phantom of the Opera Story)

Chapter 49

A month later, at the Daae Mansion, Erik paces in the hallway outside Gabriel Daae's office before he gets the courage to knock and open the door. Gabriel is sitting in his chair, reading letters and drinking his morning coffee, turns and faces Erik. "Monsieur Daae...Gabriel. Could I ask you something?" asks Erik.

"Of course," Gabriel replies. "What is it?" Erik enters and closes the door. "Have a seat."

Erik walks toward the chair on the other side of Gabriel and sits down. "Well, I don't know where to begin, but I just want to thank you for allowing me to stay here after all the pain I caused. I don't deserve it -"

"I know, and I get it. Yes, I should be upset with you for making my niece upset and believing she was still in love with Raoul. But I value you because even though Christine told you not to look for her, you did anyway, and you never gave up. I see why Christine fell in love with you because you put her or anyone else. Before yourself, you've been there for her when no one else was when she lived in the opera house. When Christine told me she was marrying Raoul, I was happy for her until I saw him and heard what he had done to her. That's when I realized I saw who he was and knew she didn't deserve him. But enough about that, what would you like to ask me?"

"I...I um...Gabriel. Monsieur Daae. I love your niece with all of my heart and soul. Ever since our friendship began, I just felt different, and then she grew up into a beautiful woman as time went by." Outside the hallway, Charlotte is walking down the hallway when she happens to hear Erik talking to her father. "But, Christine is honestly not just beautiful; she has helped me by understanding me from the very beginning. I thought I was the only one who truly understood what it was like to be alone in the world. But when Christine told me how alone she felt when she was a child, I felt that she and I have a connection to our loneliness.

Charlotte sees Eliza, who is reading a book and is on the far side of the hallway. "Eliza...do you hear that?" she asks.

"Yes, it sounds like Erik," Charlotte replied. "Talking about Christine."

"I know it sounds a little confusing," Erik adds. "It sounded a lot better in my head till now."

Alex sees Charlotte and Eliza leaning against the door at the far side of the hallway, listening to Erik and Gabriel's conversation and listening to Erik's conversation about Christine and his love for her. "What are you two doing?" asks Gabriel softly. "You shouldn't be listening to your father's conversations with whoever -"

"Erik and my father are talking about Christine," Charlotte replied softly.

Alex blinks several times, then leans in to listen to the conversation.

Gabriel mutters nervously, "What I'm trying to tell you...to ask you...is...I want to ask for your niece's hand in marriage. I want to marry her. Please, will you give us your blessing?"

Charlotte, Eliza, and Alex look at each other and lean back against the door.

"Erik...of course, you have my blessing," he replied with a smile. "I knew you were the one as soon as I met you. My niece is a lucky girl. Please take care of her and my second niece or nephew."

Erik stands up and shakes Gabriel's hand. "Oh, thank you, sir! I will, I promise!"

"Wait before you go. My brother gave this to his wife when he proposed to her. I think you should have it. That's what her parents would have wished." Gabriel goes to the mantel on the fireplace and opens a small chest. Inside it's a box. He then gives it to Erik.

Once Erik has it in his hand, he opens the box and sees that in the box is a beautiful engagement ring. Erik sighs as he is overwhelmed by the generosity that Christine's uncle is giving to her. "It's beautiful. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

Later that night, Alex notices Charlotte and Eliza acting suspiciously. So he walks toward them and asks, "Charlotte? Where are you and Eliza going?"

Charlotte replied, "We're going to see Erik propose. Come with us."

"I don't know. It doesn't seem right to spy on them."

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun."Charlotte takes Alex's hand and pulls him to follow them.

Erik has Christine's hand and gently pulls her as he lures her to his secret place. "Erik, where are we going?" Christine asks.

"You'll see," he replies. "It's a surprise. Erik moves the curtain away.

Christine gasps as she sees that Erik has made a romantic table for two. "Oh, Erik... it's so beautiful. But you didn't have to do this for me."

"Nonsense. I wanted to do it. And besides, I think this is a perfect time to have a romantic dinner, don't you?" Erik pulls out a chair for her. "Please sit."

Christine raised her eyebrow and thought, "What is he up to?"

A few hours later, Eliza, Charlotte, and Alex are spying on Erik and Christine. "Has he asked her yet?" asks Eliza.

"No," Charlotte replied. "Not yet."

"Oh, Erik, look at the stars," Christine gasps as she looks at the stars. "Are they just the most beautiful lights you've ever seen."

"Yes, they are," Erik replied. "Christine, you also look beautiful tonight, and I mean it."

She can tell that something is off about him. "Erik? Are you ok?"

Charlotte, Alex, and Eliza turn to each other as they realize what's happening. "He's getting nervous," whispers Charlotte.

"That's how I was when I was proposing to you," Alex implied softly. They turn back to spy on Erik and Christine.

"Yes, it's just... there's something I want to tell you, but I don't know how to say it," Erik stutters.

Christine replies, "Erik. It's ok. Whatever it is, just tell me."

Erik pauses as he looks down and begins. "Christine, ever since we met, I felt like I wasn't alone anymore. And as I got to know you more and more...I started to fall in love with you and not just because of your beauty and voice. But because you knew who I was. Christine, what I'm trying to say is...I love you. You are more than my student. You are the woman of my dream, the one I want to always spend my time with." Erik looks down, puts his hand in his pocket, and pulls out a box in his hand.

As he does this. Eliza and Charlotte turn to each other with excitement.

Charlotte whispers with excitement, "Oh my God! He pulled out the ring!"

Erik kneels on his knee and opens the box. Christine is shocked to see that Erik is proposing to her and that it is her mother's engagement ring. Erik says, "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Christine, will you marry me?"

Christine answers, "Yes! Of course, I will!"

Erik stands up and puts the ring on her finger.

Charlotte whispers, "Yes! About time!"

Alex says, "I'm happy for them."

"Me too!" says Eliza.

"Come on, guys," Charlotte implies as she backs up. "Let's leave them so they can have their moment." Eliza, Charlotte, and Alex leave them.

As Christine sheds tears, Erik kneels to her to wipe away her tears. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing it's just... I'm so happy," Christine replies. "Because not only are we going to be a family, but we can finally be together. I love you, Erik!'

"I love you too, Christine."

Christine and Erik lean in and passionately kiss each other.