Over the next several years, Christine grew very ill and Erik was aging. Christine grew so weak that Erik couldn't take care of her, even with the help of the twins and their spouses. In time, Gustave, Bella, and Athena moved back to the catacombs. When they were not enough, Pierre, Catherine, and their children too moved back to the catacombs, along with Demetrius and Mia.
   These years were filled with sadness, yes, but they were also filled happiness and romance and joy. Despite Erik's old age and Christine's illnesses, they were still close and loved each other very much. They shared many romantic moments and much laughter. Even in their advancing years, they still knew how to have a good time.
   One day, Erik woke up particularly early and sat down with a cup of coffee. Thirty-two-year-old Catherine sat down next to her father, her own coffee in hand. The father handed his daughter a section of the newspaper. Both put on their reading glasses and began to read. After a few minutes, Catherine asked, "Do you have everything planned?"

   "I have most of it planned. The only thing I haven't figured out is how I am to give her this," Erik said as he presented a velvet box to his daughter.

   "It's beautiful," Catherine said breathlessly when she opened the box. Inside was a heart-shaped, gold pendant with a red rose in the center. Small rubies adorned the edges of the heart.

   "Do you like it?" Erik asked.

   "I love it. More importantly, Mother will love it."

   "I hope you are right."

   Erik at that time pulled out another box and said, "Perhaps this one is more your taste."

   "Oh, Papa, you didn't," Catherine said with a smile.

   "That I did. Go on, open it."

   Catherine opened the box. Inside, she found a pink heart pendant with small diamonds delicately placed around it and a white gold chain to finish it off. "It's wonderful! Thank you, Papa. I love it!" The girl exclaimed, throwing her arms around her father and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

   "I'm glad," the father replied.

   Just then, Aphrodite entered the room. She asked why they were up so early.

   "My dear sister, have you forgotten? Today is Mother and Father's forty-seventh anniversary," Catherine reminded.

   "Of course I haven't forgotten!" Aphrodite exclaimed. "I was just wondering if that was the reason for your early awakening."

   "Yes, it was," Erik confirmed. "Come, child. I have something for you."

   "What is it, Father?" Aphrodite asked with excitement.

   "Open it," Erik said, pulling out another box that was identical to the others and he handing it to his daughter.

   Aphrodite opened the box, revealing a necklace with a small red rose made of white gold for a pendant. "I love it!" The girl exclaimed. "Thank you, Father."

   With that, the three came up with a plan. The two girls were going to take Christine out to the shops while Erik prepared for that night's celebration.
   Erik had been planning this night for months. He had found the outfit she wore when they first met in the storage closet. That was when he got this idea. He was going to reenact the night that he first brought her to the catacombs. This time, instead of showing her around, he would have dinner set out on the table, and they would eat together, and he would give her the necklace. The night would be perfect, Erik would make sure of that.

Author's Note: In the picture above, the necklace on the left is Catherine's, and the one on the right is Aphrodite's.