Horse King (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 19 - A Question

Alexis' POV:

I looked into his eyes and gasped. I couldn't say a word. I had prepared myself for his death but not for his life.

I found my energy and ran over to his side. Grasping his hand, I whispered,

"Oh, Erik, I thought you were a goner." I pulled off the mask and he smiled slightly at me. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

"It takes a lot to kill me, Alexis." He took a deep breath and said,

"How long have I been here?" I squeezed his hand and kissed his cheek before responding.

"About twenty four to thirty six hours. Not too long. But they seemed like forever." He laughed slightly and said,

"When can I leave?" I rubbed his cheek with a gentle movement and looked into his eyes for a moment before I said,

"I don't know. They never told me. I wish I knew. Jewel and Grandmother are back at the house. They were exhausted. I managed to get a cot put in here. I didn't want to leave you." He smiled and said,

"I don't know what I did to deserve you. Would you do something for me?" I smiled.

"What do you want?" He chuckled and lifted his hand to behind my neck.

"Kiss me," he whispered. I blushed and leaned down. Our lips met in a explosion of sparks and we kissed until we both needed air. I pulled back and he grinned at me.

"Thank-you, I thought those were gone when I met that bullet. I thought I was going to die. I thought I would never see you again." Tears came to my eyes as I said,

"You won't ever lose me. You don't know what I felt when Squall came over that hill without a rider. I almost panicked. Oh, Erik, without you, I don't know what I would do." He chuckled and said,

"Oh, Alexis, the same for me. You have saved my life more than once." I didn't bother to respond. I just laid my head on his chest and listened to the rhythmic movements of his heart.  They were quite comforting. Suddenly, he said,

"Alexis, I know we have only been together for a little while and I haven't known you very long. I can understand if you would prefer to wait. I will wait as long as you want. Alexis, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Would you marry me? I understand if you -" I had been listening with baited breath as he kept going on and on. I guess what he might be asking. RIght now, I was in complete shock. He wanted to marry me. He wanted to marry me. When he kept talking, I cut him off with a kiss. When we parted, I said,

"Yes, YES! I will marry you. When you get better we can marry. If... are you sure you want to raise another man's child?" Erik looked at me in shock. He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger and said,

"Alexis, I have long forgotten that Jewel was anything other than my own daughter. She and I see so much alike. I love her as my own. Her father missed much when he left you and her." He pulled me gently down to kiss him.

I was completely relieved. Erik did treat Jewel as his daughter and would always treat as such. She would be his. When we parted, I said,

"Thank you, Erik. I just wanted to be sure you wanted her. Some men wouldn't want a daughter who was another man's and different. But you understand her." He traced my cheek with a finger as he said,

"I was worried you wouldn't accept me. Loving me is one thing but marrying me is another. And we have known each other for so short a time. I thought you would want to wait a while." I laughed and said,

"Erik, I have wanted to marry you since I first loved you. I was just waiting for the day you would ask me. Erik, my answer was always 'yes' and will always be 'yes.'" I bent down and he kissed me again.