SUPER UBER GOOD NEWS! by some freaky miracle, my computer fixed itself only hours after i posted that little note. so, if you didn't read the note and it's gone and you have no clue what i'm talking about, don't worry. and if you did, then, YAY!

Rebecca

Alright, I made this slightly different, in that you get to see what Erik is thinking! If it turns out well, then I may continue to show thoughts in future chapters. There is also a minor flashback. Tell me what you think! Ah yes, and this is a bit of a sappy chapter, but you knew it was coming, so better get it over with now! Oh, and the ending is really lame, but hey, a little lameness never hurt anyone…or did it?

Rebecca

Chapter 9: Deformity

Five days passed in the cave, and Rebecca did not wake up. Erik was a constant presence at her bedside and continually checked her pulse and made sure that she was still with him. Finally, on the fifth day, she woke. "What happened?" she asked when she opened her eyes.

"You fell out of the boat and hit your head on a rock beneath the water."

She felt the bandage covering the sore on her head. "Is it bad?"

"Not as bad as it could have been. Don't worry, the scar should not be too terrible," he said, trying to comfort her.

"Alright," she sighed, and laid back on her pillows. "Speaking of scars, when are you going to show me yours?"

Erik's face immediately hardened, and anger flashed through his eyes. "You were told not to ask that question."

"I know," she said calmly, "but, I've been here for a week now, and I've been very patient. Please, just show me!"

Erik gave out a long, exasperated sigh before finally giving in. He knew that if he didn't show her now, she would never shut up about it. Slowly, he pulled off the white porcelain mask to reveal his face of death. He turned to face her and closed his eyes as he awaited the screams of terror. When he heard nothing, he opened one eye to peak at his daughter. She was just staring at him, and appeared…angry? Yes, she was most undoubtedly angry. "What is the matter?" he asked, opening both of his eyes.

"This, is what you left us for? This is what my mother was so afraid of? THIS is the reason you live in a lonely Opera House basement! I can't believe you!"

Needless to say, Erik had NOT been expecting this response to his scarred face. He marched over to Rebecca and fumed, "What do you mean you can't believe me? Look! Look at the face of death! Look me in the eye and tell me you are not frightened."

Rebecca stood up from the bed, and stepped closer to Erik. She then looked him straight in the eye. "I am not frightened," she said boldly. "And you are a fool to think that I would be."

Both were quiet and only stared at each other for nearly five minutes. Finally, Erik turned on his heel and left the room, leaving the white mask behind. He went to his room and sat down in his armchair to think. She did not fear me. There were no shrieks of terror, no crying, no fainting. Why? Why did she not fear me? He simply could not figure out why the girl was not scared of him and his deformity. He stood up and pulled the sheet off of a nearby mirror; he needed to make sure that the malformed skin was indeed still there. Sure enough, the deformity was there and as monstrous as ever.

He put his fingers up to his face and felt the rough, taut skin. He closed his eyes and recalled when he showed Penelope his face.

…

"Penelope, please!" Erik was on his hands and knees begging his love to understand.

"I-I just can't!" she cried, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. He had only moments before revealed his burns to her, and the look in her eyes had been of sheer terror. He almost wished that she had said something or at least cried straight out, instead of just looking at him in that way.

The next morning, he packed his bags and left, leaving only a short note for his beloved. He said goodbye to the little flat, and then left her and the unborn child forever.

The next day was spent mostly in silence for the pair. After yesterday's happenings, the two felt very awkward with each other, and neither knew where to start. Well, that isn't true; Rebecca knew exactly what she wanted to say, she just wanted Erik to make the first move. She couldn't understand why the man wasn't happier that she did not fear his face, and that made her angry. She knew that if someone told her that they were not frightened of her face, she would be quite pleased.

Later on that day, near dinner time, Erik finally decided to speak, "Why do you not fear me?"

"Because there is nothing there to fear," she replied coolly. "Yes, your face is not exactly beautiful, but it is not something so horrible as to haunt my nightmares or cause me to flee in horror." She sat down next to the troubled man, and placed a pale hand on his arm. "Erik," she said, taking in a breath.

"Yes Becca?" he said, lifting his head to look at her. Her eyes were moist and her expression one not of pity, but of care and love.

"I," she began hesitantly, "I love you Erik." She offered him a shy smile, and a twinkle of her eyes. Ever since first meeting the man who was her father, she had dreamt of telling him this. Though it was true that her stepparents did love and care for her, she had always felt an emptiness inside. She hoped that if perhaps Erik could return this love, that she would become whole.

Erik's heart nearly melted into a puddle on the floor when he received these words. He had not heard them uttered in nearly seventeen years, and had secretly yearned for them ever since. It had been so long though, could he find it within himself to say them back? Did he indeed feel any love for his daughter? "I love you too Rebecca," he finally said returning her smile.

Then, in a moment that can hardly be described by words, father and daughter shared the tenderest of moments, and began a new chapter in their lives. They embraced, and Rebecca whispered into his ear, "Father."

This new chapter in their lives would hopefully be one filled with love, happiness, and a great bond between father and daughter that nothing could possible break. Nothing perhaps, except…

Christine Daae.

End Part 1

Lame-o ending or what? lol. Yeah, so please review and I shall giveth you all marmite sandwiches. For some reason I've always envisioned Erik enjoying a marmite sandwich.