Okay this is it, the moment you've all been waiting for- the ending. It's so sad... I thought I'd never see the day when my little ficcy is all grown up! **cries** -sniff- Anyway- BIG NOTE: The song at the end goes to the tune of 'Flattering child, you shall know me' or 'Too long you've wandered in winter' Just so you alllll know

DISCLAIMER: If I owned the Phantom of the Opera, I'd be dead!

Chapter Ten: Wandering Child…

It was a bright sunny morning. The chill was heavy but the air was crisp, still, and fragrant. Snow covered the ground in the thinnest layer, simply making the grass shine.
A single Asiatic lily is placed on the glistening ground. In front of that lily lays a stone that has an angel poised in eternal song. And on that stone there are several simple lines engraved into it:

'Marguerite Brigitte Daae
Born-
October 31, 1882

Died at age 14,
December 24, 1896

The true Angel of Music now lives in the heavens…'

"She would have loved a day like this," Christine said quietly, breaking the silence. "She would have loved to sit in the garden and sing, claiming that she had to fill the air with music while the birds rested. Oh Erik, it shouldn't have ended like this… not like this. If anyone deserved a happy ending, it was she. I want her here; I want her beside me right now. I want to hold my baby… I want her safe in my arms, Erik… I miss her too much!" A sob stole her breath as her hands came up to her face.

Erik folded her into his arms whispering, "I know". He wished as well that his only daughter had lived. He wished he had been there when she was born, when she said her first word, when she learned to walk, when she sang her first song… but it was not possible. All was said and done and could not be undone. He had the urge to cry so strongly then, but restrained his tears. He promised his daughter… 'You have to be happy… if not for each other, for me'. He heard his daughter's voice in his head as clearly as he heard her speak the words just yesterday.

Yesterday… it was only yesterday…

But yesterday could be forever away.

"Do you think she's an angel now, Erik? Do you think she's watching us?" Christine said as she composed herself.

"She was always an angel, Christine, but now, she has wings to prove it. She saw the light when all there was, was blinding darkness. She was the bridge that brought light" he gestured to her "a dark" he gestured to himself "together." He found that his eyes were welling with tears despite his attempts.

They stood there for a while until Christine kneeled and kissed the cold stone whispering, "I love you, always and in dreams."

She stood then and took Erik's hand before looking into his eyes. "Let's go home."

They slowly walked away, the light crunch of snow in their wake.

Unknown to them, two figures were watching. In front of the large cross above the family grave, two girls stood, holding hands. One girl was older than the other was, but they both had identical smiles on their face.

The older girl looked at the younger, "Do you think she will be all right, Jillian? Do you think she'll be happy?"

The young one looked up to her older sister, "Yes, Maggie, I think she will live happily ever after."

Marguerite's smile widened as she watched her parent's walk away. The sun seemed to have burst to life, the two translucent figures disappearing in its embrace.

A voice danced on the wind, mixing with the birds' voices:

"Wandering child,
Look no further.
I'm always there to be found.
Look at the places about you,
I am all around!"

The song slipped into the waiting ears of two mourning parents. The mother's eyes filled with wonder and the father's face lit up with a smile. They laughed and hugged knowing, at last, that all would be right. And when the time was right, they would stop the waltz of life, and join her.

~END


**claps and dries her eyes** YEA!!!! My first finished Phantom fiction! Okay… now to more important things…

A big thank you and lots of love to…

**takes a deep breath**

Chapter 1-
Sweet Thang aka Harrys Crush
Mc Raver
MADMAD
Warm in pink fuzzy pants

Chapter 2-
Canadian Moose
Chaotic Penguin
Jan Mc Neville - thanks for the star, it's framed on my bedroom wall now.

Chapter 3-
Loper
Raija Darknight
Sweet Thang aka Harrys Crush
Selenity Potter

Chapter 4-
Mehg
The Devil's Advocate
Loper
MADMAD
Lady Euphrosyne Pan

Chapter 5-
Canadian Moose
Sweet Thang aka Harrys Crush
Loper
MADMAD

**gasps for breath, then continues**

Chapter 6-
MAD MAD

Chapter 7-
Sweet Thang aka Harrys Crush
MADMAD
Dawn Moon
Aries Solar

Chapter 8-
Aries Solar
Alexis
Sweet Thang aka Harry's Crush
Dawn Moon
Gremlin Raven
Azure
Phantomgurl33
Raydias

Chapter 9-
SS/Destiny Daae
MADMAD
Megan de Chagny
Hadsufanni
Phantomgurl33
Diana
Aries Solar
Dawn Moon

Chapter 10-
Phantomgurl33
MADMAD
SS/Destiny Daae
Aries Solar

**sucks in a breath of relief** Woo, I'm glad that's over. By the way, if I spelled your name wrong, I'm very, very sorry.

NOW FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR…

The award for the best reviewer goes to…

**MADMAD jumps out of her seat in preparation**

MAD! I know you in real life! And yes I have one… I heard you gasp in shock!! Anyway, Madddddddd-
I gave you your alternate prize anyway…

MAD- OOOOOOOOOOOoooooooh yeah! **takes out skull stick** I have it with me!

CS- That wasn't smart Mad!

Erik- MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! Give me back my stick!

MAD- EEEeeek! **runs**

Erik- **growls and chases after her**

CS- **hits her head in frustration while she watches her two friends running around in circles about each other** Annnnnnnnnyway… as I was saying!

The award for the best reviewer goes to…

**opens envelope**

SWEET THANG AKA HARRYS CRUSH!

**hands her an award that has a hand made cast of Erik's mask on it, signed by Erik in his trademark red ink**

Congrats and thanx- you deserve it!

Peach dreams, coffee ice cream scoops, and phantom roses to you…

Ta-ta,
C




…for now…