Hi everyone! Sorry this chapter is late I had a very busy weekend and my internet was messing up. I would like to dedicate this chapter to deanna37. The unmasking scene in her story Drowning in Illusion inspired this chapter. Also the song All I Need by Within Temptations (which she introduced to me) was a big influence on this chapter. I HIGHLY recommend checking them both out. Anyway on with the chapter.

He placed her hand on the edge of his mask silently and closed his eyes. It hurt her heart to see the fear etched into his face and feel him stiffen beneath her hand. She stayed still for a minute unsure of what to do. She wanted to pull the mask away and finally see what lie beneath it but she hesitated because of the sight before her. He was clearly bracing himself for something he feared. But what? Did he fear her reaction to the sight of his face? Surely it couldn't be that bad. He opened his jade green eyes and she felt her heart break at the sadness they held. She wanted desperately to take that sadness away and replace it with joy. He lifted his hand and her eyes flickered towards the movement. He raised it slowly and she saw it shaking and realized his whole body was trembling. He pressed her hand to his mask, his eyes telling her to go on and get it over with. She slipped her fingers beneath the porcelain and he closed his eyes again. She slowly lifted away the mask and she felt him freeze. Her eyes immediately started to study his face. There were lumps near his temple. His cheek was sunken in below his cheekbone and beneath that there were parts of his cheek that were raised up slightly. She set the mask down gently and reached up to caress his face, wanting to feel it beneath her fingertips. His eyes shot open and he looked at her in shock. She saw that his lower eye lid of his right eye drooped a little showing more of his eye. His eyes were filled with tears which made a lump form in her throat. She moved her fingers to his temple and felt the way the lumps rose and fell as she moved her fingers across them. He reached up and started to pull on his hair which, to her surprise, turned out to be a wig. His real hair was a more honey blonde color that suited him and his deformity continued to just above his ear and there was no hair growing there. She moved her hands to feel where the wig had been then she slid them back down to roam his cheek then she traced his nose then down to outline his lips. "This face doesn't… you aren't scared?" He whispered, his voice barely audible. Instead of answering she stood on her toes and began to kiss everywhere her fingers had touched. She kissed away the tears that were making their way down his cheeks. She gently kissed his eyes and made her way to his lips. His trembling grew worse as she kissed his face. When she pressed her lips to his gently his legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground. His shoulders shook as he silently wept. She dropped beside him and pulled him close, he buried his face into her shoulder and she rocked him back and forth like a child. Oh Erik, what kind of life have you known? What horrors have you gone through? She thought as she ran her fingers through his hair. Tears made their way down her cheeks but she ignored them. "I'm sorry Christine." He said, his voice hoarse. "Shh, Erik it's okay." She cooed and continued to rock him back and forth. He shook his head and continued to apologize. She pulled him back and he looked at her seeming to brace for rejection. "There is no need for apologizes Erik. I love you, and I want to help you however I can." She told him. "You… you still love me? Even after seeing this wretched face you still love me?" He asked in disbelief. She nodded, "Yes Erik I still love you with all my heart." She said and he smiled. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." He whispered over and over again then he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers softly. She kissed him back wanting nothing more than to kiss away his pain. "I love you." He whispered every time their lips parted. He broke away and stared into her eyes, "God you truly are an angel." He whispered.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Please review! I'm not sure when I will be able to update again but I promise I will update as soon as I can! Have a wonderful day.