I'm sooooo sorry about the wait, I know I said it was going to take only a week or two, but I had some AWFUL writers block. But, after watching the movie the other night, I got some much needed inspiration to finish the chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 20

Only a day after Christmas, and their first true kiss, Evey and V were curled up together in Evey's room, sleeping. It was Evey's first day back to work, and she had returned to the Gallery exhausted. After dinner, they had sat together to listen to the new record player and talk. But Evey's eyes had started to droop, and she was soon slumped over on V's shoulder, barely managing to stay awake.

Unlike most nights, Evey was the one to actually suggest that they retire, not the other way around. V had helped Evey up, and she went about her usual nighttime routine. She first put on her pajamas, which consisted of the shirt V had given her for Christmas, and a pair of flannel pants. Afterwards, she went to the bathroom and brushed her hair and her teeth, and washed her face. Meanwhile, V sat in the living room and waited for her, while he listened to the music that was playing. Finally, when Evey had finished, she returned to the chaise to fetch V. It was indeed one of the everyday routines that both V and Evey found comfort in.

It had been a normal, quiet evening. Now V was resting with Evey curled into his side, arms wrapped tightly around him. This had become a common routine as well; V hardly felt any anxiety about sleeping with Evey anymore, and it had become an unnecessary question to ask if he would stay. Now, V was drifting in and out of consciousness. He hadn't felt at all tired, but he found that he usually did sleep with Evey by his side, as her rhythmic breathing and warmth brought him into a sense of tranquility he simply could not explain. The usual silence and darkness of the Gallery had enveloped them both, and V was certain he was moments from sleep.

Suddenly, Evey's small arms clamped down powerfully onto his torso, and he could feel her fingers clawing into his back, while she let out a terrified scream. Before V even had a chance to react, her grip had faltered, and she was ripped screaming into the inky blackness of the Gallery. The last thing V heard was Evey's bloodcurdling screams, echoing inside the high ceilings of the Shadow Gallery.

V shot up right, and leapt from the bed. He was surrounded by pitch blackness, and all he could do was scream Evey's name. V whirled around in a desperate attempt to catch his bearings, but he couldn't see anything, although he had sworn he had left a small light on in the hallway. His mind was racing, and it felt as though his heart was about to pound right out of his chest. How on earth had someone gotten into the Gallery? And more importantly, how had they been able to sneak up on them undetected?

V was spinning around madly, trying to find any sort of landmark to base his search off of. But it was hopeless; the darkness was pure and absolute, and not even his heightened eyesight could penetrate it. V continued to desperately call out for Evey, but was answered with only the echo of his own voice.

Pressing his palms to his head, V tried to force himself to calm down and think logically. It was something V had learned to do with great skill, but now, he couldn't even begin to rein in his pounding thoughts. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he calm down and just think?

For the first time in a very, very long time, V began to panic. What was happening? Evey had just been kidnapped, and he couldn't even think straight!

While V was frantically searching the dark void he was in for any sign of Evey, or a way out, he could suddenly hear Evey again. She was whimpering quietly, and would occasionally call out for help in a very meek, scared voice. V was taken aback at how familiar the sound was. It was exactly how Evey had sounded when he had kidnapped her, and she was waiting in the fake interrogation room. This was not the fearless Evey he had created and come to know; however, there was no mistaking that it was indeed Evey's voice.

"Evey!" V screamed again, desperately hoping that wherever she was, she could hear him and know that she would be safe.

After several more minutes of fruitless search, and hearing Evey's terrified pleas for help, V squeezed his eyes shut and let out a frustrated yell. It was something he had often done early on from his escape from Larkhill. Often, the hatred and anger that consumed him would become too much to handle, and he would have to scream and let it out. After this, he would take three very deep breaths, and open his eyes once again. He had found it to be an incredibly effective exercise to calm him down and help him regain focus. Hopefully, it would do the same for him now.

After his three deep breaths, V opened his eyes. When he did, he immediately had to shut them, as he was blinded by the brightness of the room he was now standing in. After a moment, V slowly opened his eyes again, and was both horrified and outraged at what he saw.

Evey was sitting alone in a bright, white room. It was a small, confined interrogation room that looked startlingly like the one v had created. Evey was chained to a cold, metal chair that had been bolted down to the floor. Evey was trembling, and her red, puffy eyes darting around the room in terror. V wasn't sure if he was relieved or horrified that the black bag was not covering Evey's pale face. After a moment, she struggled feebly against her restraints, but just as quickly, she broke down and started to cry, calling out for help once again.

V suddenly found his voice, and called out to her. He tried to run to her, and free her from her restraints, but found that he could not move any closer to her. Every step he took only propelled Evey another foot away from him, and when he called her name, Evey gave no reaction.

That was when V realized what else was so horribly wrong with this image before him. Evey's hair, which she now kept cropped well above her shoulders, was once again long and flowing below them. She was no longer wearing his old shirt, which V knew she had been wearing that evening. The scar she sustained from her latest kidnapping had vanished, while the scar Dominic Stone gave her was still red. The more angular features and dark circles under her eyes had disappeared as well. She looked like the young woman he had saved from Jordan Tower, many months ago.

V was dreaming.

V thought that once he had realized this, he would have the ability to wake from the nightmare, but he was unable to. V found himself trapped firmly within the hold of the dream, and was forced to watch it unfold.

Suddenly, the door leading into the room opened, and Evey's head jerked up. V watched as the look on Evey's face went from one of fear, to one of genuine relief. When he looked back to the door, he realized why.

He was standing there. Or at least, a version of him was standing there. Evey seemed quite surprised to see him, but there was no denying the relief that was on her face.

"Oh, V! Thank God you're here!" Evey gasped; almost in tears she was so relieved.

However, rather than rush to her side to untie her, the facsimile of V simply stood in the doorway, head cocked to the side. He was staring intently at Evey, and for a few very long seconds, there was an eerie silence that filled the sterile, white room. V looked at Evey once more, who began to squirm in the chair, uncomfortable under the false V's powerful gaze.

"V? What's wrong? Untie me," She spoke softly, with the beginnings of fear began to creep inside her voice once again.

Again, there was no response from the man who stood before her, and V was suddenly acutely aware of how menacing the imposter's posture was. This was how he would have approached an enemy, not Evey. V tried once again to go to her, but to no avail. After he gave that up, V continued to scream her name in hopes that she would hear him.

After a few more tense seconds, Evey finally let out a choked sob, "V? Please, help me!"

This time, the replica of V had a response, albeit a physical response. He took a few steps forward; they were quick and decisive, and V certainly took note of how aggressive they were. Evey visibly shrunk back in her chair, as though to get away from him. Although it was only a dream version of himself, it was devastating for V to see Evey react in such a way. It was one of his greatest fears: that Evey would one day be terrified of him.

"V please, you're scaring me!" Evey pleaded, more tears streaming down her face.

That sent the imposter into a fit of laughter, which only seemed to startle Evey all the more. V, or at least that version of him, was almost doubled over with wicked, jeering laughter. Finally, when he had caught his breath and composed himself, he leaned in close to Evey.

"I'm scaring you, Evey?" V sneered. "Perhaps that is because I am a monster."

Evey's eyes widened, but she shook her head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You said so yourself, my dear. I'm nothing but a monster." The false V raised himself to his full height now, and slowly reached his hands towards the satin ties of the mask. The real V's eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doing?" Evey whispered, although the answer to her question was fairly obvious. Now, Evey began to struggle against her restraints more noticeably.

But still the pretender would not answer. He only continued to slowly untie the strands that held his mask on, until finally, they dangled limp and he was left cradling the mask. Evey had frozen the moment she saw the ties fall, and V grabbed the mask.

Finally, V simply let his mask crash to the hard, tile floor, revealing his disfigured face in the harsh light. The imposter's wig concealed his visage, so the true V was unsure of how distorted his dream had made the truth.

But Evey's reaction was telling enough. Her eyes widened in shock, and immediately, she began to scream in horror. V was frozen. Was this the reaction he would receive if he ever chose to show Evey his true face? Was this a prediction of the future? A warning?

But what was worse than Evey's reaction was the doppelganger's reaction. Immediately, V saw his posture change from one of taunting dominance, to one of pure rage. V watched in dismay as his double coiled his arm back and let loose a devastating blow to Evey's face. Her head snapped back, and when Evey slowly raised her head again, he saw blood streaming out of her nose.

"You said you would love me!" The duplicate screamed, unleashing another furious blow. At this point, Evey was so shocked, all she could do was tremble and take in ragged breaths.

For his own part, the true V was trying desperately to break the hold the dream had on him. He tried to move towards Evey with all of his might, but was still blocked. When that failed, V tried to force himself to wake, but soon that failed as well. For the time being, V was forced to watch the next nightmare unfold.

His double was now circling Evey in a predatory manner, and V was quick to notice that the pretender had his knives drawn. Evey's eyes were wild with fear, and were darting around the room in search of any means of escape. When she spotted V's knives, she began to scream and struggle hopelessly against her restraints. V was in agony; it truly was his worst nightmare.

The double now seemed to be much calmer; although now an air of cold maliciousness was oozing off of him. Finally, he stopped in front of Evey once again, careful to make sure the real V could not see his face.

"Well Evey, now you know."

In spite of her terror, a look of confusion did manage to appear on Evey's tormented face. V laughed viciously, and explained.

"Why, my dear," He seethed, "Now you can see the face you kissed."

With his final words, V watched as his double suddenly kneeled in front of Evey, and violently trapped her in a kiss. Unlike the kiss they had shared the night before, this kiss was vicious and full of hatred and aggression. She struggled against him, although it was futile; his strength was overwhelming. After what seemed like an eternity, it was over, and V watched his replica rise slowly and turn as if he was going to leave the room. Tears were pouring out of Evey's eyes, and she was wailing uncontrollably.

The replica hadn't even taken a step when he sudden wheeled on Evey, impaling her with the blade he had been twirling in his hand. In that instant, V thought he felt his heart stop. He was so completely appalled at this vision that he simply crumbled. It would have been less painful to take the brunt of the blow himself; and in that moment, V certainly wished he had.

Evey's eyes were wide with shock, and for a few brief moments, it appeared as though she didn't recognize that she had just been stabbed. Finally, she glanced down and saw the blade protruding from her chest. Her own blood had now soaked through her thin cotton shirt, and it continued to flow freely.

Slowly, Evey looked up at her attacker, and let out a cough of blood. She took in a long, ragged breath, before giving the false man a harsh glare. V was much more familiar with the hard stare of this woman, and it shocked him to see the dramatic change in her demeanor. V watched as Evey gathered enough energy to spit blood in his general direction.

"Monster," She snarled, using the last of her strength to condemn the man before her.

The monster's own reaction was to thrust the blade deeper into her chest, and give it a powerful twist, all the while screaming in rage. He waited, watching as Evey coughed up a few last spurts of blood, before the light faded out of her hazel eyes and her head rolled to the side, completely limp.

"Evey! No!" V began to scream, desperately trying to get to her. But it was futile, and he was forced to struggle against some unknown might that held him back, and watch while Evey bled out before him.

In the midst of his despair, V suddenly heard her voice. He snapped his head up and looked at Evey's limp body, but did not see any signs of life. Had he imagined it? He thought he had heard Evey calling out his name, but her lifeless body had not moved in the slightest.

Suddenly, he heard her voice again, desperately calling his name. He spun around, trying to locate the voice, but was met only by pure darkness. V suddenly could not see Evey anymore, no matter which way he turned, and was now beginning to panic once more. Her voice was growing louder, which provided only a small comfort after what he had just witnessed.

"V! Wake up!"

Finally, V was ripped from the darkness. He shot upright, letting out a yelp as he did so. Quickly, V took in his surroundings; he was back inside Evey's room. Once he realized this, V's hands immediately flew to his face, ensuring that the mask was secure. After Evey's reaction in his dream, V was absolutely petrified about what her true reaction would be. V knew he could not risk that.

Then, V heard a very timid voice behind him. He turned, and saw Evey propped on her knees, staring worriedly at him. Her eyes were shining with fear, but mostly they were filled with concern. However, V was most relieved to see that she was not bleeding, and was very much alive.

"V? Are you alright?" She whispered. Evey had been sleeping contentedly in V's arms when she had been awakened by V's arms clamping around her like a vice. The air rushed from her lungs, and her breathing had become constricted. It was like having two steel cables wrapped around her. It took her several minutes to squirm her way out of his grip. Once she managed to get free, Evey had watched him for a few minutes, thinking that the dream had since passed. She had laid back down next to him, and was about to fall asleep again when V began to call her name. It was when V began to shout that Evey had become very concerned, and tried to wake him.

V, who was breathing heavily, was still trying to recover from the dream. When Evey placed her hand softly on his shoulder, V was still so rattled that he quickly shied away. Evey considered trying again, but decided against it, not wanting to upset V anymore. However, she would offer her words as comfort, if he would refuse her touch.

"It was just a dream, V. Everything is alright. I'm right here," Evey soothed.

V didn't respond, as he simply couldn't find the words. They stayed in silence for a few moments, while V's heart rate slowed, and his breathing regulated. V couldn't even look at Evey, but he could feel her eyes boring holes into his back. Finally, Evey broke the silence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, softly. She scooted slightly closer to V, and once again attempted to put her hand on V's shoulder. This time, V did not shake her off, but he remained rigid and defensive.

"No, Evey. It was just a dream. I apologize for waking you. You should return to bed." V finally replied in a low, strained voice. Suddenly, he rose from the bed, letting Evey's hand fall back to the bed. "I think it might be best if I returned to my own quarters this evening."

Evey was shocked at V's abrupt behavior. What was so bad about his dream that it made him react in such a way?

While she sat looking hurt and confused on the bed, V decided to make his leave. He couldn't bear to see her this way, but he also knew that he needed some time to sort out the dream on his own. V didn't think he would be able to repeat the nightmare in his own mind, let alone tell Evey about it.

Evey, however, would not allow V to escape that easily. She knew that if V kept this bottled up inside of him, it would only cause him more distress. And Evey would admit that she was quite concerned about what happened in the dream; after all, he had called out her name many times.

Before V could take even a step away from the bed, Evey reached forward and snagged his arm, "Not until you've told me what this is about. If you tell me and still think that would be best, that's fine, but you need to talk about it. You can't just bottle it up inside."

V turned and looked at Evey, and the determination on her face. She was so different from the woman in his dream; she was strong and confident. But those two women could very easily have the same reaction if the mask ever came off. However, the way the Evey in front of him was clinging onto his arm made him reconsider his previous statement.

"Please, V. Let me help you," Evey pleaded, snapping V back to attention.

V let out a sigh, "Evey, I don't think…"

"If the roles were reversed, you wouldn't let me walk away from it. You would tell me the exact same thing that I'm telling you. Don't you trust me?" Evey asked.

"It is not a lack of trust that holds me back, Evey." V replied in a soft voice.

"Well then what is holding you back?" Evey rose then to stand in front of V, who kept his head tilted away from her and avoided meeting her eyes. Evey tried to coax the mask to look at her, and when that failed, she contented herself with grabbing V's hand while she waited for a response.

V was silent for several minutes, gathering his thoughts. Evey was correct; if she was the one to have the nightmare, he would not have let her drop the subject and avoid it. But if he told Evey about the dream, it would surely point out his weaknesses, which was something he refused to do. It would also indicate that he subconsciously didn't trust her; after all, he knew that dreams were gateways to the subconscious.

"I was in it, wasn't I?" Evey prompted. V's head snapped to face her then, shocked. Evey gave him a soft smile before explaining, "You said my name in your sleep. Several times."

V dropped his head and let out a defeated sigh. He knew that now, he could not avoid this. If she had any idea of what the dream was about, V knew that she would start creating her own scenarios about what the dream could have been about. At this point, he wasn't really sure if that would have been good or bad. Finally, V sat down on the bed, taking Evey with him.

"Yes, you were Evey." He relented.

"And I take it that something bad happened?"

"Yes," was all V could manage.

Evey pursed her lips. Although V had finally relented, he was not being at all forthcoming. Something truly awful must have happened in the dream to make him act so defensive, which made her all the more curious and concerned. Evey was very concerned; the walls she had been meticulously taking down brick by brick were suddenly springing back up to their full height.

Slowly, Evey shifted closer to V, and rested her hand on the mask. Every one of V's muscles was rigid, and V kept his face pointed forward, never moving even a fraction in Evey's direction. Evey knew that this would take work to get out of him, but that it would be well worth the effort.

"What ever happened in your dream was just that: a dream. I'm still right here, and I always will be. You know that. No matter what happened in the dream, that won't change!" Evey soothed.

The last bit of resolve came tumbling down, dragging the walls V had spent decades building up with them. V dropped his head into his hands, cradling the mask that had betrayed him in his own mind. Evey wrapped her arms comfortingly around him, patient and caring as always, waiting for him to speak.

"You were taken from the Gallery, and I was left in complete darkness. I could not see where you had gone, or who had taken you. I could not see anything, for that matter. It was pure, absolute darkness that I had been submerged in."

The mask tilted ever so slightly to the side, to glance at Evey. She nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"The next thing I saw was you, as though you had been returned to the false prison I had created for you. It was like a snapshot directly out of the past. You were terrified; it was as though I was relieving the past. But when I tried to go to you and release you, I was frozen. You could not hear me. It was then that I walked into the room."

Evey furrowed her brow, "I'm confused."

"My apologies, Evey. It was a version of me that walked into the room with you, while I was forced to observe." V clarified. Evey nodded in understanding, and motioned for V to continue. "You were initially relieved at my arrival; however, that quickly faded. I refused to help you."

"Go on," Evey whispered.

"You became nervous, and understandably so. After a few moments, you said as much, which is when I finally spoke. I replied, saying that it only made sense you were so scared, because you thought I was a monster. It was then that I…removed my mask." V stopped then, needing a moment to collect himself before he continued with the most chilling part of the dream.

"And then what?" Evey asked after a few minutes of tense silence.

"You screamed. You were terrified." V managed to choke out. Next to him, Evey felt her heart plummet to the pit of her stomach, and she let her head drop. Did V really think that could ever happen?

"V…" Evey began, desperately hoping to comfort and correct his man's horrible assumptions. But V cut her off.

"Evey if I do not finish now, I fear I will never be able to." Evey's eyes widened. This nightmare got worse? It was no wonder V was in a panic when he woke.

"Of course, V. I'm sorry for interrupting."

"My double was enraged with your reaction, which prompted him to wield my knives and use them against you. It was after this that you woke me." That was all the detail V was willing to go into, although he felt like it was more than enough. Going into all of the details would have been excruciating.

After V had finished summarizing his nightmare, Evey moved to sit behind V, so that she could wrap her arms firmly around him and rest her head on his shoulder. V was completely rigid; Evey hadn't seen him this tense in many long months. It took V several minutes to even slightly relieve his taught muscles, and even then, Evey was not satisfied. They stayed locked in that tight embrace for a long time; V's sharp breaths had quieted, and had synchronized to Evey's slow, rhythmic breathing. When Evey felt that V was calm enough, she spoke in a soft, soothing voice:

"None of that would ever happen, you know. No matter what happens in our lives, know that I love you, V. And those horrible things will never happen." Evey paused to place a soft kiss on V's tense shoulder. "The woman in that dream wasn't me, just like the man wasn't you. They might have been, in a different lifetime. But you and I both know that that isn't who we are, and that would never happen."

V wanted to believe Evey, and a large part of him actually did. He trusted Evey more than anyone, but V knew very well that humans were unpredictable. If that fateful day should ever arrive, he could not predict her reaction, and he was inclined to believe the very worst.

"You cannot predict the future, Evey."

"Of course not, V. And neither can you. Which is why sometimes, you have to trust that things will be alright, and you have to trust the people around you."

V turned then, so that he could face Evey. "Do you doubt my trust in you?"

Evey heard both the hurt and the concern in his voice. She hadn't intended her statement to be taken that way. Slowly, Evey raised her hand and cradled Guy Fawkes' enamel cheek. The black eye screens were staring intently at her, and she met the full force of V's stare.

"No, I don't. But it sounds like you do."

"I trust you more than anyone, Evey!" V responded, hurt. Certainly she would know by now how much he trusted her. After everything they had been through together, V doubted he could ever trust anyone like he trusted Evey.

"And I know you do, V. But I also know that we have different levels of trust." Evey sighed. "I understand that terrible things have been done to you, and that you have your demons. It's hard for you to trust, and I know that you do trust me, but on your own level. It is going to take time to reach the complete level of trust. I understand that, V, and I want to be here for you every step of the way."

V stared at Evey for several moments, taking in her determined expression, and her soft eyes. He was always amazed at how much emotion could be played out on Evey's face at any given time. For instance, now, Evey's brows were furrowed and her lips were pursed. Those alone would have been indicators of nothing but determination, and a little bit of frustration. But her eyes were filled with nothing but caring devotion. Never before had V seen someone who could look so intimidating while at the same time being so tender.

"I only wish you did not have to wait for that day, Evey." V responded with a regretful sigh. He was about to mention once again that she deserved much more than what he could offer, but he knew she would not accept that.

Evey smiled, and then gave V's enamel cheek a soft peck. "You're well worth the wait."

Finally, V allowed Evey to wrap her arms around him, and he returned the embrace. V let out a large sigh, and whispered his love to Evey. His muscles finally relaxed, and he melted into Evey's arms once she returned his sentiment. Her warmth and devotion helped calm and comfort him, and V berated himself for not accepting her healing embrace earlier. After several minutes, Evey managed to cajole V into lying down once again.

V wasn't sure why he doubted her, and himself, when everything kept telling him not to. Evey was always so diligent in breaking down his barriers, and supporting him the entire time. V didn't know why everything had to be so difficult; but, V did know one thing: Evey was right when she said it would take time.

However, it comforted him to hear her say she would be with him to overcome those obstacles, no matter what they were. It was something that deep down, he had always known, but never fully believed. Now, with Evey wrapped tightly in his arms, V could finally start to believe it.

A/N

First things first, thanks for putting up with me. I'm just the worst, and you guys are the best. And what makes you guys the best? Besides your wonderful reviews, you guys helped this story break 10,000 views! I love you guys. You're the best readers I could have asked for!

On a completely different note, this chapter was inspired by an Alex Clare song: "Sanctuary" I love Alex Clare, check him out. (He did that really popular internet explorer commercial song, "Too Close") Aaaaand on to the shout outs!

Nancy ng: Thanks so much for both of your lovely reviews! I'm glad this story is worth the trouble of translating it, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter! (I wish I was on the coast of Veracruz. Its cold where I'm from)

MissVforVendetta Brazil? Why are all of you guys making jealous that its COLD here! Anyway, thanks so much for your review!

Broken As always, thanks for your reviews! And UGH I can't believe I forgot about Henry Mancini and Glenn Miller! I was trying to remember an example, and for some reason I could not for the life of me think of it! (which is ridiculous, because I have their albums sitting on my shelf. yikes.) Also, thanks for pointing out my typos, I'll try and go back and find them!

AkanePandora I'm glad you enjoyed it! I've always been apprehensive about it as well, but I'm very pleased that it got a good reception. And like I said, for fan fiction, I'm in ;)

Tomboy895 Hmmmm...you think? ;) Thanks so much for your review, I'm glad you liked how it turned out!

GUYS. I hate to beg, but reviews honestly keep me so motivated. If its been a while, leave me a message to help me out! Love you guys, R&R!