With You I'm Home

This was it.  This was the moment I had been waiting months for.  I, Raoul de Chagny, was going to ask the love of my life, Christine Daae to marry me.

I had been anticipating and dreading the moment when I would finally ask this beautiful woman such an important question.  We had known each other since our youth, and sure, I had always felt a certain infatuation towards her whilst growing up, but I never imagined this happening.

Tonight was the night of the Bal Masque.  I decided that tonight would be the perfect time to ask Christine the question that would determine our futures. Now, however, I wasn't so sure.

I stood outside the doors of the opera house before hesitantly entering.  I could view the ballroom from the entrance.  I saw the orchestra and Monsieur Reyer perfecting final touches on the music that was to be played that night.  I walked past the ballroom entrance and headed towards the dressing rooms.

When I reached the hall of dressing rooms, I looked diligently for the door with a gold plate stating her name.  Once I found this room, I knocked ever so lightly on the door.

"Come in!"  I heard Christine's voice come from the other side of the wooden barrier.  I opened the door swiftly to find Christine, sitting at her vanity wearing a purple and pink gown while her friend Meg was placing silver hairpieces in her cocoa curls.

"Raoul!"  She stood suddenly, causing Meg to drop the silver piece she was trying to secure in Christine's hair.  Christine came and embraced me. 

"It's been too long, Raoul."  She stated, continuing to hold her embrace on me.

"Whatever do you mean, love?"  I pulled her from our intimate embrace.  "We saw each other only yesterday."

"I know," she looked down, sheepishly, "But I can't stand being away from you for more than a moment."

"You are too sweet, darling." I complimented.

"Ahem." I heard Meg clear her throat from her spot by the vanity. "I'm sorry to interrupt Monsieur de Chagny, but Christine, I need to finish your hair."

"Of course, I'm so sorry Mademoiselle Giry."  I stepped back, allowing Christine to sit back down at the vanity table.  Once Meg had finished her hair, she added light rouge to Christine's cheeks and applied a pink lipstick to her lips.

"There you go, Christine!  All ready!"  Meg grabbed the items she had brought with her and headed out the door of the dressing room, closing it behind her.

Christine patted on the chair that was next to her vanity, wishing for me to sit.  I granted her wish, taking a seat right beside her.

"Oh Raoul, I'm so excited!  I can hardly stand it!  Are you excited, darling?"  She asked with eagerness in her eyes.

"I guess you could say so, love." I knew I needed to get this over with, and I could only fiddle with the ring box sitting in my coat pocket for so long.  I knew it was time.

"Christine, before we leave for the party, I have something I need to ask you."

"Of course, Raoul.  Anything." She replied, seriously.

"Christine," I took hold of her hands in mine.  "I think I've known since the moment I met you that I loved you.  Unfortunately, at fourteen, I did not realize it, and I thought I had missed my chance to love you forever.  However, it would seem that the fates had other plans.  I love you in every way possible.  And this time, I won't let my chance get away."  I stood from my chair, only to drop down on one knee in front of my love.

"So, Christine Daae." I pulled the ring box from my coat pocket. "Will you do me the absolute honor of marrying me?"  I asked her, opening the box to reveal a simple, but elegant diamond ring inside.

I saw tears forming in her beautiful green eyes.  Normally, I would be concerned, but I knew that these tears were joyful.

"Yes."  She whispered.

"What was that darling?"  I asked nervously.

"Yes!  Yes, yes, yes, YES!"  She forced me to rise and claimed my lips with her own.  "I love you Raoul de Chagny." She repeated the favorite words of mine to come out of her mouth. 

"And I, you, Christine Daae."  And right there, I knew that my life was complete.