Mari could tell by the look on Josh's face that something wasn't right. "What's the matter?" She asked softly.

"I miss Matt," Josh sighed honestly. It wasn't a complete lie. These last couple weeks had been harder than most.

"I must go. They'll wonder where I am. Come with me, Josh," Mari said, taking his arm and brushing a stray tear from his cheek.

He smiled softly and sighed. Those blonde curls sparked something within him he had thought long since dead.

Mari and Josh returned as Catherine began singing Think of Me.

As it turned out, Ben had to leave early, forcing Cath to perform alone. She didn't mind too much, but the entire time she was wishing Matt was there. "I should be singing Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again," she thought with an internal laugh.

When she finished, everyone clapped and she returned to her cousin's sided. "You were perfect," he whispered in her ear.

"I wish Matt was here," she mumbled back. "Let's go talk with Mari and Josh."

"Alright."

The two moved over and Catherine greeted, "Hey guys. I think we might be heading out soon."

Suddenly, a hush came up over the crowd, a wave of mummers rose and fell in great tides.

"Why so silent, good messieurs?" A low, booming voice echoed through the main hall.

Catherine turned her head slowly. "Is that-"

A tall, masked man with a death's head upon his shoulders made his way down the stairs. A long, dark cape of velvet fabric went trailing behind him. "Miss Daei," Matt's disguised voice thundered, "I believe you owe me one last dance."

Catherine knew immediately it was Matt. How should she respond? What should she say?

Carlos interjected, "I don't-"

"It's fine," Catherine said, cutting her cousin off mid sentence. She stepped forward, not saying another word.

Matt's voice cracked for just a second.

There she was in all her glory, the lighting illuminating every sparkle of her dress and eyes.

"You look gorgeous," he smiled, outstretching a hand as everyone watch in awe.

Cath took his hand as a wide smiled spread across her face. "Thank you."

"Before we start," Matt whispered in her ear tenderly, "I need to ask you something."

"What is it, my love?" Catherine whispered back with large, sparkling eyes.

She took his arm, and as it appeared Matt was going to spin her around, he turned and dropped to one knee, a frenzy of shouts and whispers surging up from the crowd in mass intrigue and panic.

"Matt," Cath whispered, "what are you-"

Matt closed his eyes in pain. "Hear me out here, Cath."

Hear him out? Why did she need to hear him out? Why did he make an entrance like that when he could have easily slipped in a back way? Oh god. Was he leaving her? Was that it?!

"What's going on?" Catherine whispered.

"Alright," Josh said begrudgingly, pushing the crowds away, "Everybody out, make some room. Go find another masked freak to observe."

Everyone was so confused that they just obeyed and fled the opera house.

Catherine's eyes turned back to Matt. "What's going on? Josh told me you were sick. You had me worried...Why do I need to hear you out?"

"Catherine Daei, I haven't known you long. Not long enough to hold or determine all the feelings I seem to be discovering anew every hour. But Cath-" He took her hand and looked up with shining eyes. "Cath, I once loved a woman, loved her dearly, and I had to let her go...let her go without knowing she was loved." He rose to his full height and pulled put a long necklace box. "Well," he said firmly, "not this time."

Catherine looked up at him, feeling tears welling in her eyes. "What?" She breathed.

Matt's hand trembled dreadfully as he pulled off his mask. "Catherine, I'm asking you, here and now, if in one year you will meet me at this exact spot. And should nothing change, should our affection only grow, I want to ask you to be my wife."

Catherine felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. This was the last thing she had been expecting. She put a hand over her mouth, eyes closed, and nodded.

—————

Josh leaned up against the wall, arms crossed, a small sad smile sweeping across his face. "All I ever wanted," he whispered to himself with a laugh, "was to see him happy again."

—————

Catherine threw her arms around Matt, holding him tightly. "I love you."

Matt kissed the side of her cheek gently, making his way to her lips and holding her there tenderly for some time. "I love you, my Catherine Daei," Matt smiled.

—————

Josh sighed and gave a small salute in Matt's direction before beginning to walk away. "Doesn't need me anymore," he thought to himself. "But that's okay."

—————

"I've never been happier than I am at this moment," Catherine smiled through tears of joy. She kissed Matt passionately.

Matt looked around the room sheepishly and took a deep shaky breath. For the first time in their time together, he sang out with his full voice, deep and booming, as it ricocheted off the walls and into every corner of the opera house.

People outside stopped and shuddered. The ghost, some laughed, had returned.

"Anywhere you go let me go too! Catherine, that's all I ask of you!"

Catherine pulled her boyfriend closer. "Always," she whispered before kissing him again.

Matt brought one hand to the small of her back and the other cupped gently to her cheek. "You want to go home?"

"Sure," she beamed.

"Catherine Collins," Matt said aloud for the first time, the name rolling off his tongue. "Bonus points for alliteration."

Cath smiled widely. "Mari says it sounds like an Austen novel."

Matt smirked. "So you've discussed it already."

Catherine blushed. "Maybe once...or twice...or every day for the past five months."

"Chase Collins," Matt chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Who?" Catherine laughed.

"It's stupid," Matt replied, blushing red. "Stupid thing me and Mel used to do."

"What is it?" Cath asked, her curiosity peeked. "Tell me."

"Well," Matt smiled softly, "We used to- it sounds so dumb when I say it out loud. We'd each choose a baby name, and kinda build up this story with their whole life and future and then we'd swap at the end of the day. Chase Collins. That was Mel's little protégé. Played violin at age three in her mind. A mom's boy all the way." Matt gave a sad smile and looked up at the roof of the opera house, marveling at its beauty. "Course, she never got her real Chase Collins."

"That's actually really cute," Catherine smiled. "I've always wanted to name my child after my sister. God knows what I'll do if I end up with a boy. I might torture him and make Charlotte his middle name."

"Wow," Matt said wincing in fear. "You're cruel."

Catherine laughed. "Maybe a little."

"What about Charles?" Matt asked after a moment's thought. "That's like the male version of Charlotte, isn't it?"

Catherine shook her head. "That was my father's middle name."

"Well then," Matt shrugged, "wouldn't it be good to have some happy memories associated with that name for once?"

Catherine shrugged. "I don't know...I'm hoping for girls anyway."

Matts face drained of color. "Girls?"

"You just want one?" Catherine laughed.

"I just never considered more than that before," Matt stammered, pausing in his tracks. "I mean, with Mel, one seemed impossible let alone-" He turned to her with intent eyes. "You want more than one?"

Cath nodded. "Now is probably a bad time to tell you that twins run in my family," she chuckled.

Matt stumbled over the edge of the stairs and jerked forward, attempting to catch his balance. "Geez, someone should fix that."

Catherine grabbed his arm to prevent him from falling. "Look, I'm okay with one, if that's what you want. I'm just saying that we may not have a choice, should we choose to have children."

Matt stared at her blankly. "Is it hot in here to you?"

"No," Catherine laughed. "Are you afraid of having children?"

"Honestly?" Matt laughed nervously. "Death and kids are right up there next to each other on my fear scale."

Catherine slipped her arm around Matt's waist, pulling him close and kissing him on the cheek. "Fear can turn to love, you'll learn to see," she quoted. "Matt, what are you afraid of?"

"Let's talk about it later," Matt said softly, coiling his hand around hers.

"Alright," Catherine smiled, pulling him closer.

—————

Catherine sighed in relief as they reached her apartment. "I can't wait to get out of this dress."

She had just slipped out of the corset and pulled on a t-shirt when there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?"

"Raoul. I've come to steal you back from Erik," the man called from the other side of the door.

Catherine ran to the door laughing. She opened it and asked, "Alex, what brings you by?"

"I've come to drop this off," he said, handing her a red ballgown.

"I thought I was wearing a suit for the wedding."

"You? In a suit? Major faux pas! I cannot allow that. Try it on."

Catherine hastened to her room and put the dress. She stepped out as she said, "This dress is gorgeous."

"So are you," Alex smiled. "Twirl."

Cath did as she was told just as Matt entered the room, not wearing his mask.

"Breathtaking, Catherine. Really," Alex grinned.

Catherine spun around and noticed her boyfriend. "Matt, I would like you to meet my friend Alex."

Matt quickly spun on his heels and muttered a quick hello.

Alex cleared his throat. "It's nice to finally meet you. Catherine mentions you frequently."

Matt gave a small nod. "Nice to meet you as well. Catherine..."

"There's my cue," Alex laughed. "Angel, it's been a pleasure, as always."

"We've gotta stop meeting like this, Alex," Catherine sighed with a smile.

"If Matt can spare you, I'll take you out to dinner sometime, alright?"

"I'd love that. Thank you."

Alex gave Catherine a kiss on the cheek. "See you soon, love. Call me if you need anything."

"I will. Goodbye, Alex," Catherine smiled.

Alex gave a quick glance to Matt as he hugged Catherine, and she closed the door behind him. She leaned against it. "Do you want me to make a pizza?" She asked after a moment, walking over. "Matt, are you alright?"

"It's just...sometimes everything feels so normal. You look at me, and it's just me. And then other people come and I'm reminded of my place."

Catherine put a hand on his shoulder. "Matt, you will always come first. I've just known Alex for a long time. I love you, remember? Just because I'm friends with Alex -or anyone else- it doesn't change that." She wrapped her arms around Matt's waist. "I don't want you to think that you're second best. I chose you. I could have easily chosen Alex, or Caleb, or someone else, but I chose you. That says something. You're number one. Always."

"Just Alex-" Matt sighed. "He's not used to hideousness of my degree."

"You are not hideous by any means," Catherine smiled, putting a hand to his cheek.

Matt shook his head. "Perhaps not in your eyes...but still."

"Matt," Catherine sighed, "don't worry about Alex. He doesn't get phased by that kind of stuff. Trust me, he's seen a lot."

"Well, now he thinks I'm a freak."

"No, he doesn't," Catherine laughed. "I'm going to go change and then we can do whatever you want. Sound good?"

Matt nodded and Cath immediately went to her room to slip out of the dress. She pulled on a pair of short shorts and a pale blue t-shirt. "What do you want to do?" She asked as she rejoined Matt. She had taken off her makeup, but her hair was still in curls, though slightly messy. She looked beautiful.

Matt smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "I want to stay like this."

Author's Note: The picture to follow shows the necklace that Matt gave Catherine.