Author's note: Thank you to Sam0728, partygirl98, NotMarge, KEZZ 1, NicoleR85, ZabuzasGirl, Rasha007, Paige Charles and Torchwhovian for the reviews! Glad you guys enjoyed Alex giving Hank a pep talk, in true "Alex" form. I wanted to use Alex to point out something that has always bugged me about love stories. It always seems like in movies and books one or both of the lovers have this belief that they don't "deserve" their partner. And to me that's kinda an insult. You're basically saying there's something wrong with your significant other's judgment for being with you, and that's not cool. Just trust them, and learn to love yourself! Hank is getting there, slowly but surely...

Ok, rant over. And please don't hate me for this chapter ;-)

Revelations

The drive to Zoey's apartment, which had always felt too short whenever I took her home after dates, was suddenly interminable. My heart was in my throat as I worried and fretted over whether she would accept me as Beast or not.

I wasn't even sure what I would say to Zoey. I'd hoped to think of some sort of little speech, but I couldn't make sense of any of the thoughts swirling around in my head. I just had to start off with an apology and go from-

My stars and garters, what if she doesn't even let me inside? What if she's decided to move on already?

Begging.

I would grovel on my knees if I had to. I needed to get Zoey to give me a chance to explain everything, so she could see the Beast and hopefully decide that she still loved me.

The alternative didn't bear thinking of.

Once at the apartment building I sprinted upstairs before taking a moment to compose myself in front of her door. I was freshly showered and shaved so I wouldn't offend her senses, but I imagined I still looked rather haggard after the past few days.

Belatedly, I wondered if I should've brought flowers. I'd been too much of a rush to think of such things, though. I wanted my Zoey back.

It was already past ten, but I saw the glow of a lamp seeping out from underneath the door. She was still awake, or had fallen asleep in the living room.

Well. Here goes everything.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Listening carefully, I heard her footsteps on the tile of the foyer cautiously approaching and then the soft scrape of wood.

That'll be her baseball bat. Oh good heavens, she's armed.

"Who is it?" Zoey called out hesitantly.

"I-it's me," I stuttered through the door. "Hank."

Please, please open the door.

I heard a soft thunk, like she was putting her bat down. I suspected she had grabbed it in the first place due to the lateness of the hour.

And then the door opened, and there she was, my love, looking like she'd seen a ghost and wearing sweatpants, a tank top, and fluffy bunny slippers.

The past few days had been rough, I could tell. There were dark shadows under her puffy, red-rimmed eyes, and her nail polish- always immaculate- was chipped in several places.

Despite that, I'd never beheld a more beautiful sight. Just seeing her again felt like the release of a breath I hadn't known I was holding.

"H-hi," I said, as eloquent as usual.

"Hi," Zoey whispered. She swallowed thickly, her face slightly puckered in a painful expression. "What are you doing here, Hank?"

Her voice broke a little on my name.

"I came to apologize, and talk," I said hopefully. "C-can I come in?"

Zoey looked completely nonplussed, but nodded and opened the door wider. I stepped inside and went into the living room, noting the small tub of ice cream on the coffee table.

Chocolate therapy. How's that working for you?

I remained standing because I was too anxious to sit. Zoey followed me in and stood too, eyeing me warily and waiting for me to speak. She looked so forlorn, and I knew it was I who had made her that way. It was painful to contemplate.

Come on, McCoy. Say something.

"I'm sorry," I blurted, after a very awkward pause.

She stared at me blankly.

"I'm sorry for hiding from you for all this time and automatically believing that you would be afraid of me," I elaborated. "It was an injustice to you, thinking you would be that shallow when you've done nothing but show me the complete opposite the entire time I've known you. I've been- so scared to lose you. But now I realize that if I don't show you Beast, I've lost you anyway. And I can't- I can't-"

I took a deep breath.

"I can't handle being without you. These past few days have been agony, Zoey," I told her honestly. "You said you want a chance to love all of me, and I want that, too."

"But I thought that's not who you want to be," Zoey replied softly.

To her credit, even though I was offering Zoey what she asked for the last time we spoke she didn't jump at the opportunity. Her first thought was of me, and what I wanted. She was truly awe-inspiring. How could I ever deserve her?

Don't think like that, I scolded myself. What matters is that she thinks I deserve her. Or at least, she did...

Despite her objection, I could've sworn I saw a flicker of hope pass over her lovely face.

I stepped closer, holding my breath.

She didn't move, so I hesitantly reached out and took her hands in mine.

And Zoey didn't pull them away. I exhaled.

Just tell her. Take a chance.

"Beast is me, and I am Beast. The strong instinct to protect you, the rage I feel sometimes, how I want you so much it's hard to think of anything else-"

At my words, Zoey's cheeks turned pink. My own ears felt like they were about to fall off from embarrassment, but I soldiered on.

"-I've blamed it on Beast, because I've always clung to logic and reason, trying to be a scientist first. But I'm starting to realize that the things I feel are just normal. Part of being human. Maybe they're a lot more intense for me because I'm a feral, but part of being human is controlling the impulses we get. Alex, of all people, pointed that out to me," I explained, with a wry grin to hide how nervous I was.

Zoey smiled faintly in return. My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't stop the faint flutter of hope that bubbled up in my chest.

"So, you can't force me to be something I already am," I concluded, almost facetiously. "I'm always the same person on the inside, even if my face is different."

"But do you still hate yourself?" she asked quietly.

The question immediately sobered me.

I looked at our hands entwined between us, deliberating. I was not a man to make grand speeches, but I was fighting for the love of my life here. Finding the words to properly express myself had never been more important.

"Well, you like me. At least you did," I muttered uncertainly.

Please, love me still.

"And you're the smartest person I know. So I'll trust your judgment."

Zoey let out a startled giggle, to my bemusement. I was trying to be serious.

But still, the sound made a warm glow surging through me, down to my fingers and toes. Like a spring thaw overtaking the winter ice around my heart. Words could not describe how much I had missed her laughter.

"That's a start, at least. I'll take it," Zoey murmured, with a tiny smile. There were tears in her eyes. "Oh, Hank. I missed you so much."

"Missed?" As in, past tense? Yes!

She threw herself into my arms, taking deep, shuddering breaths while I held her tightly. It sounded like she was trying (and failing) to hold back tears. I buried my face in her curls, inhaling her sweet scent while we both took a minute to recover from the ordeal of our separation. It felt like I was forgiven, and I was practically drowning in an overwhelming sense of relief.

I must not cry, I must not cry.

"Me, too," I croaked, my throat constricted with emotion.

After a few minutes Zoey's breathing calmed. She stood on tiptoe to press a soft, salty kiss to my lips before pulling away from me and wiping her eyes furiously.

"I must look a mess," she muttered, sniffling loudly.

She did, but I wasn't about to tell her that.

"I don't care," I replied instead. "You're beautiful to me anyway."

Zoey laughed, a hint of a blush on her cheeks.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my courage. This enchanting angel wanted to love all of me, and even though I was still wary, I needed to give her that chance.

"I don't want to hide from you anymore, Zoey," I said.

My voice came out much more self-assured than I felt. I wasn't confident- truthfully, I was on the verge of panicking. My palms were sweaty and my hands shook slightly as I took off my glasses.

Zoey nodded. She looked nervous too, like she was holding her breath. I couldn't say I blamed her for being apprehensive.

This is it.

I stepped back from her, closed my eyes, and let go.

I let go of my carefully cultivated self-control, and for once welcomed the feral side of me. The side from whence my darkest impulses came, the side of myself that had scared me for so long.

But it was a part of me, and if I was going to have Zoey in my life I needed to accept and embrace that. Mutant, feral- the entire human experience in all its pure, raw intensity would be mine. And for the first time I was looking forward to it, because my love would hopefully be at my side.

I shivered a little as I felt the change sweep over me, like I was bursting out of my own skin. Blue fur sprouted all over my body and my muscles expanded, while my teeth became fangs and my nails grew into claws.

I was Beast, metaphorically laying myself at Beauty's feet.

What would she think of me?

Zoey let out a small gasp. Like she was drawing breath for a scream.

Oh no.