The couple woke to warmth and soft caresses the next morning. The air was damp with the smell of fresh lake water, coming off the misty water below them. The curtain sway softly as a breeze wafted through the lair. Christine opened her eyes to find her Phantom's mask had come off in his sleep. She found in lying under the sheets and smiled, setting it on the small table to the side.

She never understood why he still wore it. He knew his face did not bother her, and it never would. She sighed and carefully lay her hand against his normal cheek, looking over his deformity. She had not seen it in some time. He had been careful not to show her over their time together. His eyes fluttered open, revealing to her his soft sea green and blue eyes.

Realizing that his mask was missing suddenly, his expression of happiness turned to worry and fear. Christine kissed his deformity and held his face close to hers. "You need not worry my dear. I have told you once before, your face holds no fear for me." His breath calmed and his heart beat turned normal, as he looked into her eyes, surprised. "Christine...I remember that night. The look of fear in your eyes when you first saw my face. Damn you I had said...And then you cried full of pity for a monster of a man, not even worthy to be called a man."

Christine was surprised with Erik. "You sang to my soul, told me that it was distorted. You opened my eyes to compassion."

Christine was confused, and honestly, a bit worried as to where this was going. "I do not truly believe that my face holds no fear for you Christine. Somewhere there...there is fear for a monster that somewhere here," he held her hand to his chest with a pained look on his face, "still lies within the darkest parts of my soul. Oh Christine how I wish I was not that monster, but this face Christine, it is the opening to the evil in my heart. The cause of my loss, my pain. Your fear of me. Do not tell me these things Christine. For I know better."

Christine was angry now. He did not believe her! "Erik...how could you say such things? I love you. With all my heart, my soul. My voice. You know this Erik!" He winced at her harsh tone. "Christine..." She cut him off, sitting up in the bed quickly. "No! No Erik! I did not cry for your pity! I cried for your soul! your loneliness! Your sorrow! I cried for You! And you have the gall to lie there and tell me that I cried because I felt pity for you!"

Erik's heart began to race. He had upset her for words he thought were true. He'd made, yet another helpless mistake. "Erik...I am ashamed. Why would you think these things Erik? After all we've been through? I came back for you Erik...not out of...pity," it pained her to say these words, for she was pained that Erik would think them true, "I came back for you Erik, because I love you. You."

Erik began to tear up, and he looked down at his mask on the beds silk sheet. "Christine, please do not be upset. I did not wish to make you angry. I only wanted to tell you how I felt...Christine for so long, I have lived in my own fear of my own face. Knowing that anyone who crossed my path would cower in their own fear. Fear of me. I grew up alone Christine. You must understand...I am not accustomed to the fairness of the love of a woman. Nor the generosity of one's presence, without fear but with love."

Christine shook her head. "Erik, you question my trust. And until you think you can trust me without question, until you can walk freely among me without wearing that...mask of yours, I will not come back."

Erik gasped softly and looked up at her. "No! No Christine you cannot leave me again! Not again Christine, I beg of you!" She turned to keep him from seeing her tears, and she stormed from the room. "Christine!" His pained cries followed after her as she rushed to gather her cloak and gloves. "Christine, wait! Please, Christine don't go!" She could hear him crying as he called after her.

Christine cried as she lept into his boat and shoved off before he could reach her. Trembling knees, she looked back to see him lying in a heap on his knees on the shore, weeping into his hands.

The sight ripped at her heart and she tried to control her feelings but she could not. The sight of her Phantom spilling himself onto the ground. She wept as she pushed across the lake, listening to Erik's sighs and sniffles.

Just before she was out of ear shot, she heard him yell out one last time. "Christine!..." She fell to her knees, at the sound of anguish and pain in his voice. Trying to find her strength she climbed to the top of the staircase and ran for the entrance of the Opera Populaire and burst into Meg's room.

"Christine!" She lept from her spot and took her friend in her arms. "Christine what has happened?" She was very worried. Had the Phantom done something? "Oh Meg, Meg it's horrible." She lay in her friends lap and sobbed as hard as she thought she could. She had broken his heart...again.