"But we have never left the children alone on New Year's Eve before – except for that one time," Christine says, carefully folding her new gowns, a pale blue crepe de chine with a chiffon overlay, placing it in a leather suitcase. A cloth bag containing matching shoes, her sewing kit, a small jewel case, underwear, nightgown and robe, slippers and a simpler day dress complete her packing. "So much for two days away."

Finished with his own bag, Erik sits on the bench at the end of their bed and watches her pace the floor now that the chores are finished. "We could stay home."

A sense of relief floods her until she sees Erik's shoulders slump slightly at the possibility of her agreeing sinks in. Shaking her head with a quick negative. "I just feel, well, so selfish – as if I am running away from my responsibilities."

"You are!" he exclaims, relieved. Jumping to his feet, he lifts her in his arms, spinning them both around. "We are going to spend New Year's Eve at the Hotel Astor and watch the ball – a brand new ball, mind you – being dropped in Times Square as we did the first year you were here."

"The trio watched over Gustave."

"And now the little ones will be watched over by Gloria, Kathleen and the nanny. Gregory lives here, so there will be an adult male in the household. Gustave said he would check in."

"I suspect he would like to go as well," she says, catching her breath as he sets her back down on the aubusson rug. "He looked at me with such longing when I told him about our plans."

"You really want your son and his wife to accompany us?" Erik asks, bemused. "I was, well, hoping for a romantic vacation – leaving all the children."

"Well, he was not able to see the ball the first time we went – and they did not have real honeymoon."

"Christine!"

Laughing, she tweaks his cheek. "I am teasing you. You were becoming so distressed."

"Even now, there are times, my dear, when I am not entirely certain…" Turning away, he goes to the armoire to retrieve his suit coat.

"That I love you with my whole heart?" Following him, she wraps her arms around his waist. "I do, you know. I did not mean to be cruel with my little joke. Sometimes, because our life is so good, I forget what you suffered."

Holding his hands against hers, he looks over his shoulder at her. "Do you remember that visit?"

"I do."

"This is so different from Paris…or any of the other cities Papa and I stopped in when traveling."

"The city is alive, you can feel the energy," Erik said, leading her onto the rooftop garden of the hotel, already crowded with hotel guests waiting for midnight. "I remember the first time I came to the city – I felt as though I belonged…odd looking as I may be. But more than that, anything seemed possible for me here."

"Yes," Christine agreed, snuggling up close to him, protecting herself from the cold night air, as she looked over the streets below and the buildings lining Times Square. "Practical," Pappa might have said. None of the ornate architecture of Paris – particularly that of the Palais Garnier. She wondered what Gustave Daae would think of this city – an amalgam of new construction co-mingled with old storefronts papers with advertising. The streets busy with busses, automobiles, horses and people – so many people.

Phantasma would have suited him better though, he was used to carnivals and fairs and would have loved being so close to the sea. This was different, this was a large city – a cosmopolitan…an artistic area, certainly, but also where everyday people worked. The neon lights, advertising everything from theaters to products. Perhaps not so different from Paris in many ways, but this was America – bold, garish, full of life, unashamed – exhibiting none of the snobbishness she encountered during her time in Paris, both as a performer and later as Vicomtesse. One could be anything one wanted to be here it seemed. "I know what you mean."

"Wait until you see them drop the ball."

"Drop the ball? What kind of ball and why drop it?"

Erik pointed to the narrow building at 42nd Street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue. "At midnight, a ball will be dropped to celebrate the New Year."

"No fireworks? Would that not make more sense for such a celebration?"

"No – against the law – that is why they created this new way of celebrating," Erik said. "The group of us came the first year and it was quite exciting. Who drops a heavy wood and metal ball covered with electric bulbs from the top of a building to welcome the New Year? But there it was, and thousands and thousands of people were here to watch. I wanted to share it with you – to watch your face – to bring in the coming New Year with you. The first year of the rest of our lives together."

And it was wonderful. Grateful she was atop the building and not mingling with the crowd below. For all the fun they seemed to be having, she found herself struggling to breath imagining herself to be among so many at such close quarters. When the clock struck twelve, a roar rose from below and she could not help but laugh. When Erik took her in his arms and kissed her, she knew this would be the best year of her life.

"That night I knew my life would be from then on be filled with joy so long as I was with you."

"Really?"

"I told you so at the time." Removing her hands from his waist, she pats his back before dancing away to toy with the items in her satchel. "And I was right. I could not have wished for more."

"And you would like Gustave to have that experience…"

The bright smile on her face is her answer. "They are so young. I just think it would be so perfect for them – to perhaps feel what we felt at the beginning of our lives together."

"It is too late to make reservations for them."

"We could celebrate in the Eyrie," she says, "Watch the fireworks on the beach. Have Chef prepare our favorite foods. Some champagne?"

"The Eyrie? Brilliant!" he exclaims, his face losing any sign of concern. "I will happily give up a plush room at the Hotel Astor and watching you dazzle all the hobnobs in that lovely blue dress, I simply wanted to spend some time alone with you."

"You are right. The days go by so quickly now. With everything we have experienced this past year I am trying to recall when we last spent an entire day together without the children or work."

The amber eyes brighten even more. "So, where better than our hide-away?"

"I do miss my rose quartz bathtub," she giggles. "And I can still wear the dress for you and when I take it off, you can see my new underthings."

"In that case, I will call Gustave and tell him to pack," he says, walking to the door.

"Not necessary."

Stopping, he cocks his head, turning back to look at her.

"I told him earlier today, I suspect they are already gone," she laughs, closing the suitcase, she lifts it from the bed. "We should be going, the children will be getting suspicious."

"We cannot have that," he laughs, taking the bag from her, before picking up his own. "This is definitely going to be a happy beginning to the new year."

"And decade," she adds. "Now let us away."

"Your word is my command."