PART FOUR

Christine peeled his mask completely away. She had seen him before with out his mask but that had been six months ago. She wasn't afraid of it and she didn't think him a monster when she saw it. But his scared face had a few fresh scars. "What happened?" Christine asked him. Erik sighed deeply. "I was born like this. My father disowned me but my mother loved me. Part of my life I spent in Paris and the rest all over the world." Erik explained to her.

Christine was so interested in hearing Erik talk to her and tell her about his past she had forgotten they were still on floor and she had forgotten Erik was still inside of her body.

"She died when I was eighteen. I came from a wealthy family so when my father died I was left everything. My mother changed his will before he died so that I got everything. My face has always been my weakness. Every time I've been caught a new scar has been added. My face wasn't always this awful. I used to be able to go around with out wearing a mask. But when people started cutting me I had to wear one." Erik paused once more.

He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed deeply. "You said you used to be married." Christine said to him, wondering about that woman. Erik shook his head. "Yes. Her name was Cora Grace. We were married for three years until… she died." Erik said sadly. He looked away from Christine's eyes for he could not face them.

Christine reached out and cupped his face in her hands. "How?" she asked him. She knew it was painful for him but he needed to get his feelings out. Bottling them in wasn't healthy for him. "She died… in child birth. Our… daughter didn't survive either." Erik said. He pulled out of Christine and sat up. He fixed himself and stood up and walked into the kitchen. Christine reached out and grabbed Erik's shirt and put it on and followed him into the kitchen.

"I've never told anyone, Christine." He admitted. He sighed deeply and ran a hand over his face. Christine walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Erik, you're a wonderful man." She told him. Erik laughed and pulled her to him. "You wouldn't say that if you knew the whole, me." He said to her sighing. Christine nodded her head. "Maybe so, but I still care about you. Erik, I want to yours and only yours." She told him.

Erik looked into her eyes and kissed her lips softly. "I wish it were that easy, Christine. I really do, but its not." He said gently to her before pulling away from her. "I don't want to leave you, but I can't be with you either." He said sadly. He leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Know this, that I will always, always love you." When he pulled back Christine looked into his eyes.

He gently pulled her back to him and kissed her once more. Christine wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back deeply. Their tongues slowly caressing one another

Christine made a low purring noise that Erik could feel against his lips. Erik finally pulled away. "This… can no longer be, Christine. I am sorry. I… love you." He whispered to her against her lips. Erik and Christine leaned their heads against one another. Christine knew their "relationship" was doomed from the very beginning. "Erik, was it you who killed O'Neal that day at the courthouse?" Christine asked him.

No one had found out who had killed O'Neal but Christine always had a feeling it was Erik. Erik shook his head. "Yes." He answered her. Christine laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

When she woke up the next morning she was alone in bed. But there was something on her spare pillow next to her. Erik's half white mask.

Three long years later

"He asked you to marry him?" Meg Gary asked her friend Christine Lennox. Christine shook her head and sighed. "It's only been six months!" Meg said happily. Christine shrugged her shoulder. "I didn't say 'yes' Meg," Christine said sounding gloomy and sad. Meg sighed and reached out and touched her friend's hand. "Christine, Nick is a wonderful man. Sure he risks his life a lot but-" Christine held up her free hand. "Meg, it's not his job. I don't know if I… love him the way I should." Christine said.

Meg tightened her grip on Christine's hand. "You should follow your heart." Meg said to her. Christine cell phone then went off. Christine looked at the caller ID and it turned out to be Nick. Christine let him leave her a message. After lunch Christine took a cab to the Melody's Day Care Center where she picked her up her three year old daughter, Sage.

When Christine arrived Sage's teacher Tanya asked to speak with Christine alone. "She's a very brilliant young child, but some of the other children are… afraid of her." Tanya said. Christine scoffed. "She's a three year old child." Christine informed Tanya, who sighed and stood up from her desk. "Yes, I realize that Miss Lennox, but Sage intimidates them and scares them. A lot of parents are taking their children out of the center because of your daughter." Christine felt she was going to be sick.

Christine stood up. "Well, until I hear a positive and urgent reason why my daughter should leave she's staying I don't care how many kids you lose. Sage is a perfectly normal child and if the other children are afraid of then so be it." Christine said bitterly before leaving the office. When she came into the playroom she saw the children huddled together starring at a rabbit that Tanya had brought in.

But Sage was no where to be found. Christine glanced around the room until she spotted the dark haired girl sitting in a corner looking at a book. Christine smiled and walked over to her daughter Sage. When Christine sat down next to her she saw what book she was reading, 'The Ugly Duckling.' Christine took the book from Sage. "Don't you want to hold the rabbit?" Christine asked. Sage shook her head. "Miss Corner won't let me." Sage said. Christine looked behind herself and saw Melody Corner standing with the other children.

Christine stood up, took Sage's hand and brought her over to the other children. The smiling and laughing stopped when Sage and Christine came over. "Sage would like to hold the rabbit," Christine said to Miss Corner. "No! She'll hurt it!" a little boy yelled. Sage wrenched her hand free from her mother's grasp and ran out of the room. "Sage!" Christine called running after her daughter.

Sage ran out side and crashed right into Nick Fox. "Hey, slow down Sage." Nick said picking Sage up and kissing her cheek. Sage wrapped her arms around Nick's neck and cried into his shoulder. Christine came running out after her and saw Nick holding her. "Oh, thank God. Sage, don't ever run away like that." Christine said touching Sage's back. Sage didn't say anything. She just cried silently. "I think we should get her home." Nick said holding out his hand to Christine.

She starred at his briefly and then took it. Nick leaned forward and gave Christine a quick peck on the lips and then walked with her to his car.

From afar a familiar face watched the three persons get into the car. Hot rage and jealousy shot through out Erik Damon's body when he saw Nick Fox kiss Christine. And seeing the little girl with his deformity caused Erik to see flashbacks of his childhood. There was no doubt that the little was Erik's. She not only bared his deformity but also had his pale blue eyes and dark hair.

In Erik's eyes, that little girl was the most beautiful creature in the entire world. He had to contact Christine. He knew she wouldn't want to see him and she would fight to keep him away from her daughter but Erik had to see her. He had to know what was going in her life and he had to just hear her voice one more time.

Christine returned home with Nick and Sage and made Sage dinner. After dinner Sage went into her room to play while Christine did what little dishes there were in the kitchen. When she finished she felt Nick come up behind her and wrap his arms around her front and pull her gently to him. His lips grazed on her neck and the sensitive spot under her ear. Christine moaned softly and leaned back against him.

Nick reached down and took her hands in his own. "My hands are wet," she whispered. He chuckled. "So?" he said back to her. He turned Christine around and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. Christine wrapped her arms around Nick's neck and pulled him closer to her body. "You haven't asked me what my decision is yet," Christine said when he pulled away and started kissing down her neck. "You'll tell me when you're ready. I don't want to nag you." He told her as he continued kissing her.

Christine smiled softly. That was just like Nick. He was such a good man and earlier Christine had made her decision. Christine looked into his eyes. For a moment his eyes reminded Christine of Erik's. They both had pale blue eyes that were very sexy. But Christine quickly forgot about Erik. "Yes I will marry you." She whispered against his lips.

Nick didn't move for a moment. He was still thinking about Christine's answer. She had said 'yes'. YES! Nick pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. Christine smiled and laughed. "God, I love you Christine. I promise you that I'll make you happy." He told her. Christine smiled and pressed her forehead against his. "I know you will. I'm already happy with you." She said him lovingly.

One week later

Christine had begun planning the wedding with Meg since Nick had asked her. She had called Meg right away and the two immediately went to work on setting a date and everything else that had to do with the wedding.

One evening, while Christine was home alone with Sage (Nick was working late) a knock came to her door. It scarred Christine a little and she was hesitant about opening the door.

Christine opened the door a crack and gasped when she saw who was standing out side her door. She couldn't move, she couldn't speak she could only see and hear. Erik Damon, her former lover, stood out side her door as if the three years that had passed never had.

Christine began backing up. Erik pushed the door open and closed it behind her. Christine continued backing up as Erik approached her. "Christine, you look like you've seen a ghost." Erik said calmly. After Erik spoke Christine came back to reality. She shook her head a little. She starred into Erik's eyes and was insulted by his calm gaze and attitude towards her.

With out thinking, Christine lunged at him. Erik caught her wrists quickly, he had a feeling she would try something like this. Erik pulled her hard against him and twisted her arms behind her back, still holding her by the wrists. "Let me go you bastard." She spat at him, she wouldn't raise her voice because she didn't want to wake Sage.

Christine starred into Erik's eyes once more.

Erik was wearing a different mask. It was black and covered the right side of his face. Instead of his trademark half white mask he had a half black mask. He had left the white one to Christine before he left.

Before the two even thought about it they lunged at each other. They had crushed their mouths against each other. There was an unlimited amount of emotion, passion and above all love in the kiss. Erik swept his tongue across Christine's bottom lip and then pulled it into his mouth and sucked on it. Christine moaned loudly as Erik did this.

Christine returned his kiss just as hard and passionate. But then Christine remembered Nick. 'No!' she yelled in her head. She wasn't going to make the same mistake she made with Nick. She had cheated on Paul with Erik three years ago and she had broken Paul's heart. She wasn't about to break Nick's.

Christine found the strength to pull away from Erik and he released her wrists. "No. Erik, I can't do this. I'm… getting married." She told him. Erik stepped away from her and then turned his back on her. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You are a remarkable woman. A remarkable… single mother as well." Erik said as he walked around her new apartment.

A little girl's toys were everywhere to be seen. "So? I'm a mother but-" Erik turned around quickly and held up his hand. "Don't try it, Christine. I've seen her. She's the spitting image of her… rotten murderer father." Erik said coldly. Christine sighed deeply. "Don't talk about yourself like that." Christine said to him. She walked pass him and began cleaning up the toys.

When ever she got nervous she would have to clean, she didn't know what it was but when she was nervous she realized what a mess the house was. "What's her name?" Erik asked as he watched her clean. "Sage," Christine said blankly as she continued to clean. "Her full name Christine," Erik demanded. "Sage, Maria Lennox." Christine said to him, sounding annoyed.

As she continued to clean she kept glancing at the clock. "You need to leave. Nick will be home soon." Christine said as she put Sage's toys in a toy chest by the sofa. Erik came up to her but Christine turned around quickly and moved away from his grasp. "I'm warning you, Erik. I will tell Nick that I know who you are and what you've done. Erik, I'm not going to make the same mistake twice." She told him.

Erik stopped his advance on her and just stood there. "I did not realize you thought that I was a mistake. You saying that leads me to believe you think that Sage was a mistake." Erik said to her. Christine felt like she had been slapped in the face and beaten with a club. Christine marched over to him and slapped him hard across the face. "Get out. Now!" she said angrily and raising her voice a little higher than she wanted.

Erik rubbed his reddening cheek. "So, here we are saying goodbye again. Well then, Christine my lady," Erik paused and bowed a little to her. "It's been a… time." Erik said before turning away from her and leaving the apartment.

One month later

Christine was in her bedroom getting ready for a formal Christmas party her father was throwing at the Metropolitan Opera House. Nick was standing in front of a mirror trying to tie his tie. Christine saw he was having trouble so she went to him. She stood behind him and took the tie in her hands and began tying it.

"You seem nervous, any particular reason?" Christine asked him. Nick shrugged. "We're telling your father we're engaged, how could I be nervous?" Nick asked her sarcastically.

Christine chuckled a little and finished with his silver blue tie. He turned around and took her into his arms. "Hmm… you smell good." She whispered sensually into his ear. He smiled at her and began kissing her neck slowly. Christine closed her eyes and let him work his wonderful magic on her.

As Nick's lips slowly made their way down her throat he could feel her every small moan against his lips. "Mommy?" they broke apart when they heard Sage's little voice. Christine pulled away from Nick and looked toward the door at Sage who was in her Sponge Bob Square Pants pajamas. "Honey, you're supposed to be in bed," Christine said walking toward her daughter.

"Will you sing to me before you go?" Sage asked. Christine nodded her head. "Of course, baby." Christine said carrying her into her bedroom.

Nick watched from the doorway as Christine sang her daughter to sleep. A few minutes later the babysitter came and Nick and Christine were off to the Met.

When they arrived the place was already bustling with action. There was music and dancing and costumes everywhere. Every year for the pass four years, Raymond Lennox would hold a Christmas Masque Bal. He was a theater director and composer for the Met. And every year when he would open with a new show he would have his actors arrive in the costume they would wear most in the play.

Christine worked for her father now and was hired as the costume designer at the Met. She wore a simple red dress with a matching red mask with a flowing in her hair. Her dress was strapless and sleeveless and she wore matching red high heel shoes. Nick wasn't one to dress up in elaborate costumes so he just wore a nice suit and tie.

As the party went on Christine was having a wonderful time. But when a slow song came on she expected Nick to come and dance with her. But Nick never came. She was about to go and look for him but someone grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. Christine was about to argue when she saw the man before her who was forcing her onto the dance floor.

It was Erik. She recognized his eyes anywhere. He wore a black mask that covered his face on both sides but left his mouth and chin open to view. He wore all black 19th century clothing a gentleman would wear. He had a flowing black cloak, dark, dark red vest, and a black silk cravat that was tied perfectly. As the song went on Erik and Christine danced sensually to the song (think of the scene in Van Helsing when Dracula is dancing with Anna, if you've seen the movie).

"What are you doing here?" Christine asked him in a low voice. "I knew you were coming. I wanted to see what you were going to wear." He whispered to her. Christine felt like hitting him and kissing him. He spun her out and then pulled her roughly against his body. "I hate you," she whispered to him. Erik smirked. "You love me." He said back to her. When the song ended Erik stepped away from her and walked away.

Christine felt like chasing after him but she decided not to. If she was going to get over Erik she had wait until he was gone.