A/N: And this my darling readers is the end. The last installment of Life Must Go On. I thank you for so many reviews, faves, and follows (even though this is the second time 'round!), thanks for joining me on this journey!

The sun was setting when Erik finally climbed the stairs to his room, it had been a wonderful service, Lucy and Tuck were now happily married and Erik's wedding gift, a small cottage at the edge of the property, had been well-received. The whole way upstairs, Erik thought about how life was moving ahead so smoothly; Raoul had agreed to watching over Phantasma until Gustav was ready, Erik himself was apprenticing the boy whenever possible, Emily had started tutoring Angela, yes . . . everything was changing.

Erik opened his door and was about to fling his tuxedo jacket on the floor when he saw someone sitting on the edge of his bed, moving closer, he saw it was Emily, his breath caught in his throat when he saw her dress discarded on the floor, all that clothed her was her undergarments,

"Emily?" Erik was surprised at how hoarse his own voice was, he quickly cleared his throat and tried again, "What are you doing here?"

Emily turned her head in his direction, a nervous smile slid over her face and she stood up carefully, hands searching until they found him. Erik was given pause when Emily undid his shirt front and ran her fingers over his bare chest, but, his hesitation didn't last long. He stroked the side of her face, gently planting a kiss on her cheek, his shirt was pulled slowly off and found its way to the floor, Erik felt a blush creeping into his face, he was no longer as muscular or lean as he once had been, a bit of a tummy had situated itself around his middle in his advancing age, but, Emily didn't seem to mind, her hands were on his hips and she leaned forward, resting her head on his chest. Erik smiled and gently lead her to the bed, his whole body tingling in anticipation, Emily reached up and slid her underskirt off her shoulders and let it fall away like a shroud unveiling a marble statue and Erik couldn't hold back a moan when his body responded,

"You'd think . . . I was an adolescent again." Erik chuckled shakily, swallowing and trying to remember how to breathe, Emily smiled but said nothing as she once again reached out and took his hips, her deft fingers sliding under the waist of his trousers and carefully sliding them off. Erik winced and closed his eyes, his own hands were on her shoulders, hesitantly sliding down to caress her soft body, feeling tears prick the corners of his eyes, "I love you."

She smiled, taking his hand and kissing his palm, "And I love you."

Erik slid to the bed, taking her with him, their lips meeting in a slow, needy press of flesh to flesh, opening to each other and both begging for the other's attentions, Emily moaned softly as Erik pushed her back onto the bed, his strong hands holding her fragile, soft body. His eyes closed and he felt waves of pleasure rolling off his body, it was time, he thought, it was time to finally be complete.

Emily gasped as Erik pushed in, her eyes widening and then closing, her hands went to Erik's shoulders and there was no sound, just the music in Erik's ears as he hugged her to his chest, reveling in how she responded in kind, kissing his neck and whispering the sweetest, most loving words Erik had ever heard even though he could not comprehend them fully, tears rolled down his face as he continued, moving his lips to hers and kissing her deeply, her softness pressing to his mouth with a desperation they both shared. Emily tangled her fingers in his graying hair, kissing his ruined cheek and it lit Erik on fire to no end for her to pull back and smile at him,

"Tell me you want me forever with you."

"I do . . . " Erik moaned, arching his back and shifting his knees, "God knows I love you."

" . . . Then that is enough for me." Emily smiled again, her fingers tracing a scar along Erik's side and there was silence between them, no sound . . . no words . . . only feelings and scents and harsh breath.

Erik cried out and threw his head back as his arousal finally reached the pinnacle and he was flung over the edge of oblivion into the dark abyss of ecstasy, he was only vaguely aware of Emily's own sob of pleasure before he was falling down to Earth again, landing in the soft matress and feeling dizzy and happy and warm. Emily curled up next to him, her long black hair falling behind her like soft wings, her breath leaving a hot, damp spot on Erik's shoulder.

Erik felt her slowly rise, wrapping a robe of his around her body, he watched confusedly as she moved to the window, her sightless eyes staring out at a world she could not see. Erik stood and moved to stand behind her, the robe fell to the floor and he pressed his naked body into her back, kissing the top of her head. He felt a shy bit of joy at how she leaned back into his embrace, her hands clasping his arms, he truly was Don Juan Triumphant this day.

"Is something wrong, my love?" Erik murmured.

"No, nothing's wrong, it is going to rain though." Emily smiled, kissing Erik's hand.

Erik blinked at that, but then, the weather seemed to turn and certainly fat drops of water were hitting the windowpane and it sounded all the world like applause, applause for him, for his new angel, for his old angel. Erik smiled and nuzzled into her hair,

"Is that a magic trick? Are you psychokinetic?"

Emily laughed airily, "No, I can just sense such things. Erik?"

"Hm?"

"I would know you, your past."

Erik sighed, "Someday I will tell you who I once was and how I came to be the man you now know, but . . . for now, let me be enough, let the present be enough. I cannot change what and who I was, but . . . "

Emily nodded, turning around slowly, "Life must go on."

Erik nodded and they kissed, Erik was happy, happier than he had ever thought possible and finally, finally he understood what Christine had meant. Erik had to bleed and sweat and learn to live before he could ever learn to love, she had taught him that by giving him a son and letting it be his, she had given him her last words, her last kiss . . . she led him here, whether he believed in heaven or angels or not, he knew that she had been watching over him and that she had known the right time and place and people that Erik needed. He had friends, family, and was successful . . . if Christine was in heaven, he hoped she would smile down at him as Emily smiled up at him.

"Yes . . . life must go on." Erik whispered, enfolding Emily in his arms and closing his eyes.

A/N: Le Fin.