POTO aint mine. If it was it would have ended very differently, beeeeliieeevve me!

I spend ages thinking of a title for this story, and could think of nothing, so i just decided to call it "love story", as it is basically in a romance novel style, but cut down to 3 chapters. This is the last chapter, but i may write more. Perhaps a wedding, and a wedding night, in which case the rating will go up to M (wink wink).

Chapter 3

He knew he was dying. Now that he truly was alone, the pain was even worse. He began to play his music pouring every drop of his agony into the song, knowing he would never release it all.

He was truly alone now, just as he always had been, and just as he was always meant to be.

"Oh Christine" he whimpered. He hoped that wherever she was she was happy, and that he had not destroyed that happiness with what he had done. Oh if only he had not said anything. If only he had known that her and Raoul where an item. Then he could have seen her again. He would have kept his love a secret forever, and would have therefore still been able to see her beautiful face. Now she would never wish to see him again, knowing of his feelings. Knowing that a deformed monster loves you cannot be considered a comfort. He could not believe how much of a fool he was, thinking she could care for someone like him. It was not possible for anyone to love him. He told him himself over and over again.

………

He carried on playing. Music was all he had left now. It would never desert him. Music would always be there for him. Music did not judge one on how they looked. It did not favor those who carried beauty. For the remainder of what he knew would be a short life, he would play his music, until there was no more strength left in his body and he would simply die.

He did not hear the door open behind him, and he did not see the girl come across the room towards him.

"Erik" she gasped. Oh dear, he looked awful. He appeared to have aged 10 years over night. "Oh Erik my darling" he spun around and saw her.

"Christine!" he cried out in horse whisper. "My angel, why are you here? Ah of course, I am dreaming. And such a sweet dream it is. And here I was thinking I would never see you again. Oh Christine my dear, I guess I truly have gone mad. Why do you torment me so? Please leave me! Do you mean to cause me even more pain? What sin have I committed which warrants this punishment."

"Erik, my darling. You are not dreaming. It is me, truly it is. I had to find you. Erik I love you."

"What! No you don't. Why do you tell such lies? Leave now specter, cease tormenting me!"

"Erik, it is me, you are not dreaming!"

"I told Joseph not to let you know where I was. That man will lose his job over this!" he yelled. "There was no need to come here Christine. Go now! Please" he whispered the last word in an agonized sob.

"No I will not leave Erik! You will listen to me. What you said last night came as such a shock to me. I had no idea that you loved me. But you must realize that I love you too. Oh Erik I love you so much. Yes I was engaged to Raoul, but only because I did not think I could ever have you. Please Erik, you have to believe me" she cried falling to her knees beside him. "I have loved you for so long my darling."

Erik simply stared at her totally shocked. "I truly must be dreaming" he whispered in awe.

"No Erik. This is very real." and she leaned forward to kiss him full of the lips. Erik jerked away, shocked. Had she just kissed him? No, she couldn't have. But she had, and she leaned in and kissed him again. He did not respond, but neither did he jerk away.

"Erik, I am just as in love with you as you are with me, and if you ask me what you asked last night again, I can promise you that the answer will be yes.

She stared up into his eyes beseeching him. After a few moments, he said what she most wanted to hear in the entire world.

"Marry me." he said simply.

"Oh Erik, yes, yes, yes." and she flung herself into his shocked arms, kissing him over and over again. Her lips trailed down from his lips and over his chin.

"Oh Christine, I know I must be dreaming. You are not here .You are back in Paris with Raoul. You love him, not me! You are engaged to him, and you are happy!"

"No Erik." She drew her lips away from where she was kissing his neck. I am in love with you. Only you. Now and forever."

"Are you sure." he whispered.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I am going to marry you, and there is nothing you can do about it. You are well and truly stuck with me Mousier."

At this he dragged her into his arms and held her so tightly as he kissed her properly for the first time. She had never felt so much passion, and when he eventually let her lips go, they both were struggling to catch their breath.

"I cannot believe this." he cried more tears falling down his face. "You truly love me, and consent o be my wife? He asked in wonder.

"Yes Erik, I do." and she kissed him once more. She realized he was still so unsure and scared. She would have to reassure him a lot. She made a promise that she would tell him she loved him at least ten times a day for the rest of their lives.

"I love you, my God I love you" Erik moaned in between kisses.

"Play for me my darling" Christine asked Erik, as she scooted off his lap, but he hauled her back so she was sat back in his lap, but facing the piano this time.

"Yes I will play for you" he kissed her on her cheek, "but you must remain where you are."

She giggled, and kissed him back.

"I loved what you were playing before, but it was so sad. Will you play me something happier?"

"Anything for my angel. "He replied, not being able to resist giving her another kiss. "Earlier I thought I was never to see you again, and my agony was reflected in my music. Now you have agreed to be my wife, and therefore making me the happiest man in the world, I am quite able to play you something much happier."

She snuggled into his lap, and laid her head on his shoulder listening to the beautiful music he was playing.

When he was finished, she twisted herself around so that she was facing him, and her legs were dangling behind him, and she kissed him once more pouring all her love for him into it.

"I love you so much Erik Carrier."

"I love you too, my angel"

"I love you more"

"That is impossible Christine. My love for you stretches beyond anything I have ever known. You are my every reason for living. Without you I simply die. If you had not come back to me, I would have died. I need you. Please don't ever leave me again. Even if the inevitable happens and you fall out of love with me, please do not leave me!"He pleaded, as he covered her face in kisses.

"Erik!"She pulled back from him, and looked at him sternly. "How dare you say such a thing! "There is not a chance in a billion years of me falling out of love with you. That my darling is impossible. Don't let me hear you say anything of the sort ever again!"

"Anything, my beloved." he continued to ply her face with kisses, nearly driving her insane with desire.

"And another thing! It was you who left me! Don't you ever leave me again!"

"I would never leave you. I only went because I believed you did not love me, and that you were engaged to Raoul! Say it again!" he suddenly declared

"Say what again?"

"Do not tease me woman! Say you love me now, or I will not kiss you!"

She squealed in delight as he mercilessly tickled her

"I love you, I love you! Now stop that and kiss me now!"

He happily obliged and was thoroughly kissing her when the same woman who answered the door came running in to the room.

"Master, I am so sorry. She would not leave. Oh…"

She gasped at the couple sat at the piano.

"Annette, I would like you to meet my fiancée, Christine Daae."

"Fiancé?" She started. "I did not know you were engaged sir"

"It is only recent, but it's true. This beautiful woman has agreed to become my wife. "He said, gazing down at her adoringly. "Christine, beloved. This is my house keeper, and very good friend. Annette Giry,

"It's a pleasure to meet you Madam Giry" Christine stood up from Erik's lap and moved to shake Annette's hand.

"And the same to you" Annette shook Christine's hand, her lips pursed in disapproval

"I am sorry I was a little rude to you earlier Madame Giry, but I was in quite a hurry to get to Erik. "

"Hmm I see." Annette was wary of Christine. She could tell Erik was very much in love with her. The state he had come back in last night proved he had had his heart viciously broken, and this woman was obviously behind it. She suspected this Christine may be a gold digger after Erik's wealth. She would have to watch the woman closely to make sure she did not break Erik's heart again.

Christine could tell Annette Giry did not like her. It was also evident she was close to Erik. However, anyone who was a friend of her Erik's was automatically a friend of hers. She would have to speak to her later and make her understand the situation.

"what happened downstairs?" Erik enquired, beaming as he stood up from the piano bench and wrapped his arms around Christine from behind, and drew her closer to him, unable to bare being apart from her for a single moment.

Christine turned her head to smile up at him, and giggled.

"I believe I was little rude. I was in such a rush to get to you Erik."

Erik laughed. Annette did not.

"I did not know who she was, and you said you wanted no visitors."

"It's ok Annette. There was a slight misunderstanding last night, but thankfully it is all cleared up now"

Christine had to smile at Erik saying a slight misunderstanding. Downright catastrophe more like.

"Well if you don't mind sir, I have a lot to do, and must go."

"That's quite alright Annette." Erik said as he looked down at Christine. It was more than alright. He wanted to get back to kissing Christine as quickly as possible.

"I thought she'd never leave. Now where were we" Christine reached up to kiss Erik and he hauled her into his arms and spun her around the room kissing her madly.

A long time later they were still sat at the piano playing music. They had somehow drifted into a singing lesson of sorts.

"You know I think being married to you is going to be fantastic for my singing. I've had about 2 hours practice in one go!"

"Oh my God Christine. What are you doing here?"

"Erik? What are you on about? I've been here for ages!"

"No! You were due to be at the Paris opera house today!"

"Oh my God! So I was" she giggled.

"Aren't you worried? You may have lost you chance to perform!"

"I think I'll be ok. Anyway I completely forgot about it. All I could think about was you."

Erik looked at her strangely, but gave her a kiss anyway.

"Are you sure it will be alright my love. Singing at the opera means everything to you. Will they give you another chance?"

The smiled at him sweetly. "You mean everything to me Erik. I am pretty sure they will give me another chance. I already have the job. It's not as if it is an audition after all."

"I suppose you are right, my dear."

They continued as they had before, Erik playing the piano, whilst Christine sang. After a while, they moved to the large sofa by the fireplace, where Erik was able to kiss his fiancé to his heart's content.

Erik reached into his pocket to withdraw the ring he had showed her earlier.

"I believe that this belongs to you my dear." He slipped it onto her finger before kissing each knuckle.

"Oh Erik, it's so beautiful. I love it." She leaned forward and kissed him.

"It is nothing compared to you my angel."

Christine could not stop staring at the gorgeous ring Erik had given her. She could not believe that all of her dreams were coming true.

Whilst kissing him, she reached towards his mask, but he jerked away from her.

"No Christine. I have only just got you! I will not lose you again. You should not have to look upon something so hideous.

"Erik, I want to see your face. I love you darling. There is no face in the whole world that could make me turn away from you."

"You do not understand Christine. Even my mother could not…" He trailed off, not knowing how to tell her about how much his mother had despised him because of his face. He was so scared that if she saw him she would never let him touch her again. He would lose her just as quickly as he had won her.

"I am not your mother Erik. Don't you understand? I love you, and that means I will love your face. You do not have to show me now if you do not wish, but eventually you will, OK." She ran her hands down his chest, feeling his muscles ripple under his clothes.

Erik kept his eyes cast down, not daring to meet her gaze. If he did, then he knew he would not be able to deny her wish.

"You may think that now my dear, but you do not know what I look like."

"And I don't care! I love you." She kissed him passionately. "Please."

The one thing he had wanted ever since he could remember was to be accepted by the world. If Christine could look upon his bare face, without screaming in horror, or fainting away dead, then he would have all the acceptance he could ever want. Was it possible that she could look at him without retching? Would she still marry him? He could not bear to lose her now.

Slowly he nodded his head, placing his entire being in her hands. She held all the power now. She could either heal him, and make his greatest wish come true, or she could destroy him totally.

He closed his eyes, as she lifted the mask from his face, not wanting to see her face contort in disgust. A few second passed, and she still had not screamed. He opened his eyes to find Christine staring at him, a look of such tenderness and love in her eyes, it nearly took his breath away.

"Oh Erik." she whispered. She then leaned forward, and kissed him. It was completely the opposite reaction he had expected, and he could barely move, his shock was so great. He simply sat there as she proceeded to kiss him all over his horrific face. How could she bare to press her perfect angel's lips to his loathsome face?

Christine prepared herself for the worst when she lifted off his mask. She knew that whatever he was hiding, it must be awful, but she also knew that she loved this man with all her heart, and she could not care less what he looked like beneath the mask. What she saw was terrible. His face was ruined, barely even recognizable as a face. He had no nose to speak of, and the rest of his face appeared to be made of a patchwork of different tones of skin, and was very irregular. It was not his face however, that she found terrible, but the realization, having seen it, at how much pain and suffering he had gone through in his life. She had heard him speak of his past very briefly during their lessons, and knew that he had run away from home at a very young age. She did not know what he had done, before he had found his fortune in Paris, but she knew he had suffered a great deal.

When Erik opened his eyes and looked at her, she also most burst into tears at the look of pain, and fear there. He was so afraid that she would reject him, and she knew of only one thing that would convince him of her love, so she leaned forward, and kissed him. She could feel the shock in his rigid frame, and continued to kiss him all over his face, not wanting to neglect any part of him. She only stopped, when she felt wetness on her face, and realized that he was crying.

"Oh Erik." She gasped. "Am I hurting you?" She hadn't considered the fact that it could cause him physical pain.

"No my dear. Completely the opposite. I never expected that you could… How can you bear to…" he attempted two sentences and failed at both.

"I told you Erik. I. Love. You." She paused between each word, as if trying to drum it into his head how much she adored him.

"I love you too." Erik whispered.

She smiled at him, and went back to kissing him, not able to get enough of him. Erik moved to replace his mask, but Christine stopped him.

"No Erik. I prefer you without it."

"You can't. Even if you can accept it, that does not mean you have to look upon my face all the time."

"If I could, I would throw that blasted thing in the fire, but I know you will want it when we go out. When it is just us there will be no masks, do you hear me!"

"What ever you say, Christine." He could not stop smiling. He was loving this dominating side of Christine very much.

Christine stood up. "I am starving. What say you and me go and get some food?"

Erik beamed up at her. How was it possible to have gone from feeling as if his world had ended, to having every dream he had ever had come true?

"Of course my love." He stood up, replaced his mask, and led her to the door. "I will show you the kitchens."

……….

A few minutes later, they were sat in Erik's large dining room, happily enjoying the meal Madame Giry had prepared.

"This is huge." Christine stared in awe around the room, taking in the giant chandelier hanging above them.

"Yes, it is rather large for just the two of us."

"This whole place is amazing. I never knew you had a place out here."

"I haven't been here in ages. I guess it slipped my mind."

She laughed, and snuggled closer to him. "How many houses does one have to own for one to just slip your mind?"

"I have another further south, but that is it, I assure you."

"I have to say I prefer the house near Paris. As grand as this all is, it's all a bit dark and creepy."

"Well I am dark and creepy. I would say it suits me quite well."

"It does I suppose." She smiled at him, and leaned forward to give him a quick kiss, before standing up. "Why don't you give me a tour?"

"Alright, but only a quick one. We need to prepare to leave tomorrow."

"Leave?"

"Do you want to be the star of the opera or not, my darling."

"Oh dear. I really need to stop forgetting about that. I do hope they still accept me."

"They will." Erik assured her, "and they will have me to answer to if they do not." he declared vehemently.

"Oh they will, will they. I should like to see that. I do like it when you're bossy."

"I'll be as bossy as you want me to be. Now come. If you want to see the whole house then we need to hurry."

……

When they reached the master bedroom, Christine felt her stomach flip. She was about to see where Erik slept. True, he hadn't slept there in a long time, but it was still his bedroom.

She gasped as she entered the room.

"Oh my. I've never seen such a big bed." It was huge, and shrouded in darkness. A black quilt covered the large 4 poster bed, and she had a sudden image of being made love to by Erik in it.

"Is everything alright, my dear?"

"I'm fine. I just feel a little faint."

"We should prepare to leave." He took her arm, and led her out the door. "Did you bring anything with you?"

"No." She said absentminded, still trying to rid her mind of the erotic image from before. "I was in such a rush to get here. Why did you come here Erik?"

"I told you my love. I didn't know what else to do. When I thought you loved Raoul, I had nothing left to live for. I came here to die."

"What! Oh Erik." She flung her arms around his neck, not being able to bear the thought of her beloved in such pain. How could you think such a thing? Didn't you realize how much I felt for you over the weeks?"

"You're one to talk. You had no idea about how I felt for you." Erik declared.

"Yes, but you were not obvious at all. I was the one acting like a complete idiot for the past 6 weeks."

"Were you? I didn't notice." Erik laughed,

"I have been like a love sick puppy the whole time I have known you!"

"Well I must be terrible at spotting it, as I have been so in love with you from the moment I have met you, and have been in agony thinking that there was no way in a million years that you could ever love me in return."

"Oh my darling. You should not think such things. I am crazy in love with you. I think we have both been rather silly. Both of us have been in love with the other, and neither of us has known it."

"Well we both know now, and all misunderstandings are cleared up. You love me, and I love you. We are going to get married and live happily ever after."

"That we are my darling. That we are." And Erik leaned forward to kiss her once more.

Right, that's it. Hope you enjoyd the fluff, and don't forget to R&R! Watch out for my new story, which should be up in the next few weeks. This one will be longer, and will have more of a plot line.