I am so sorry for the delay in this update. Writer's block struck, and it struck hard. I know I ended on sort-of a cliffie, and this chapter may not be all that or - or good, for that matter - , but please enjoy. Thank you to all of my reviewers and shoutouts to SailorSedna052, Ari Kiki Windchester, Mrs. Riddle 16, ToxicFireStarter, and pinkyndx. Enjoy!

Chapter 20

I stiffened, my eyes wide in surprise at the kiss. Thought were flying through my head one after another. Was this a dream? Was he really kissing me?

But as soon as his lips touched mine, they moved away. I was still rigid in shock.

He looked sad at the look I must have had on my face. "I told you so." He said as he started to walk down the hall towards his room.

I broke out of my temporary mental paralysis and got up. "Erik, wait!"

When I walked over to him, he leaned heavily against the wall and slid down slowly, a tear lingering on his face. "I can't do this," he whispered. "It happened with Christine, and now it's happening with you."

I sat down beside him and hugged him to me. "What's happening?"

He took a shaky breath and breathed, "Rejection."

"I would be rejecting if there was something to reject. But that has been nothing, so far."

He looked up at me, doubt in his eyes. "Then what was that emotion written all over your face when I kissed you?"

"That was shock. I couldn't believe that you were… you know…" I said, a slight blush covering my face.

Realization lit his face. "So you weren't disgusted?"

My eyes widen in shock once more. "Of course I wasn't! You have never disgusted me, and you aren't about to start now."

"I just can't help but feel…"

I interrupted him. "Listen to me: I love you, nothing will change that, especially not appearances. Do you really think that I would judge by appearances even though I'm just as scarred as you?"

"People can't see your scars, Sabrina." he said.

"But my future husband would, if I were to ever marry. Do you think that someone would want a scarred, ugly woman such as me?

His eyes grew serious. "Don't you ever say that again. You are beautiful...inside and out."

Tears sprang to my eyes as I heard this. "Thank you, Erik."

He brushed a tear off of my cheek with his thumb. "Why do you cry?"

"Because I'm not used to compliments like that." I said, sniffing.

He smiled. "Well you deserve each and every one of them, plus more." Then, he started singing.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…"

I couldn't believe he was singing this to me. Did he really mean it? I sang back to him.

"Lead me, save me from my solitude…"

"Say you'll want me with you here, beside you…"

Our voices began to meld together.

"Anywhere you go, let me go, too,

Love me, that's all I ask of you…"

He kissed me again. This time, I kissed him back.

After we pulled ourselves off of the floor, we went back into the sitting room and worked on some more music. I studied Erik at the piano. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't even realize that I had went over to him before I put my hand on his shoulder. He jumped a little, but relaxed under my touch.

"What are you working on?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "Nothing, really. A melody came into my head and I felt like I needed to write it down. But I can't come up with any words. I was just about to put it up."

I glanced at the sheet he had been writing on. "Do you mind if I help?"

He gestured to the empty space beside him on the bench. "Go ahead."

I took my seat beside him and he slid the paper towards me. As I looked at the music, words were writing themselves in my head.

"It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside,

I'm not one of those who can easily hide,

I don't have much money, but boy if I did,

I'd buy a big house, where we both could live,

So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do,

See I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue,

Anyway the thing is what I really mean,

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen,

And you can tell everybody this is your song,

It may be quite simple, but now that it's done,

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words,

How wonderful life is now that you're in the world,

If I was a sculptor, but then again no,

Or a girl who makes potions in a traveling show,

I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do,

My gift is my song, and this one's for you,

And you can tell everybody this is your song,

It may be quite simple, but now that it's done,

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words,

How wonderful life is now that you're in the world…"

"You will never cease to amaze me, will you?" Erik asked, shaking his head as I finished playing.

I shrugged. "It's nothing special, really. I doubt they're really that good."

"Sabrina, they weren't good. They were great. Not only that, but that is exactly how I feel. I just wonder how I didn't come up with it myself."

"Well, maybe you just needed another's take on it to make sure you got it right." I suggested.

"Maybe you're right. But that was beautiful. Do you think you could sing it for me again?" he said with a sheepish grin.

I did exactly that.

The songs used in this chapter are All I Ask of You by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Your Song. I used the version by Elle Goulding, but I don't know who originally wrote it. Credit goes to where it rightfully goes.