Okay, LISTEN FREAKIN' CAREFULLY! For Lent this year (I'm Catholic), I have decided to sacrifice using my computer for all 40 days. –sniffle- It'll be a challenge, but I survived sacrificing chocolate, didn't I?

So mark it on your calendars: APRIL 16! Yeah, I know, it's a while, but suck it up and read some other fics if you're bored. xP

Note: I won't return to writing immediately; Lent won't have a point that way. I'll draw it out, so just keep checking after Easter.

EDIT OF DOOM: I switched from entirely computer to just Neopets now, due to schoolwork. And stuff.

oo0o0oo

Tori pattered up to Erik, hands behind her back. Erik, who was now quite used to this, turned around to face her.

He looked her up and down curiously. "What is the matter? You are up quite earlier than usual."

Tori let a tiny smile play onto her lips. "Well, Erik, today is my birthday."

To her surprise, Erik leapt up suddenly, causing her to step back in confusion. "Of course, how could I have forgotten! Go back to sleep; I'll wake you up in a moment."

Tori, not wanting to disobey him, quickly went back to her room and got into the bed. She watched him fuss about for a moment, then turned to her side and finally fell asleep.

"Wake up, my dear Tori! Wake up, you silly girl, open your eyes!"

She awoke suddenly to find Erik standing above her. She bolted upright, looking around. Everything was…exactly the same.

Erik seemed to read her thoughts, because he then held out a small, black, velvety box, grinning. "I've gotten you a present."

Now, Tori had always been reluctant to receive presents. Maybe it was because of her toddler days, when her brother had given her a box which exploded with paper snakes as soon as she opened it; she had nightmares and cried for the rest of the week. Maybe it was because she would much rather give than receive. Maybe it was because she didn't want people spending their money or making a big deal because of her.

Maybe it was simply because the Phantom of the Opera was giving her the present, rather than Meg or Madame Giry or Raoul.

She eyed the box nervously, then, hesitantly, took it and opened it.

She gasped. Inside was a gorgeous diamond necklace, with the diamonds hanging off of a gold chain and the largest diamond in the center. It must have cost Erik a fortune, it's so expensive! This necklace is probably the most expensive in Paris! Not only that, but all of France!

Tori stuttered, "Oh...Lord…I don't know what to say."

But after a moment or two of staring at the necklace, she did something unexpected for a girl like her: she gave a great shout of happiness and smothered Erik with a hug, tears of joy streaming out of her eyes.

"This is the first present I have gotten in so long! THANK YOU! I adore it to pieces! Thank you so very much, Erik! You are the most thoughtful person in all of France and…"

Erik wriggled from under her grasp. "Tori, you are suffocating me," he said with a small laugh.

She let go, her eyes still shining with joyful tears. She took one last look at the necklace, then closed the box carefully and gave it to Erik. "Put it in a good place. I shall wear it another day."

He nodded and took the box, taking care to tuck it safely into a hidden drawer in Tori's vanity.

Erik sat back by the bed and studied Tori closely. She seemed to be deep in thought about something, but what? It seemed to be troubling her.

"Do you not like it?"

Tori looked back up at him, back to her quiet, shy self. "It's not that, but…It's always been my custom to give a present back to someone on my birthday because they gave me one.

Erik shook his head. "Nonsense. This is your birthday, not mine. You do what you like."

"But it's MY birthday, and I want to give you a gift, Erik."

"Is that what you've been thinking about? What gift to give me?"

Tori nodded, and the two fell into silence.

After about 15 minutes, she said simply, "Take off your mask."

Erik's head snapped up. "What?"

"Take off your mask, please." Her eyes pleaded with his, which turned stone cold.

"Tori, I've said it many times: no."

She started trembling again. "But…why not?"

Erik sighed. "I would rather you not see what's behind my mask…You would become even more frightened of me and then you would run away."

Tori looked down. "I promise not to be. Whatever is under there, I won't run away from you."

Erik narrowed his eyes. "I don't trust you."

"How could you not trust me? I've been living with you for a month now and I believe you can trust me enough." She was slightly terrified of the sudden cold look that lay in his eyes and remained etched on his face.

Erik was quiet, then he whispered, "Do you promise me, Tori?"

Tori contemplated her options. He was really putting up a fight about what was behind that mask. If he was so reluctant to take it off, it must cover something best kept hidden; it must really be terrible, not just something HE thought was terrible.

Was it really worth covering?

Tori nodded. "I do," she replied, a little hesitant.

Erik started to reach up to take the mask off, but Tori stopped him.

"No, no, let me do it."

She held out one hand and touched the mask gently, then looked into his eyes, asking him silently if it was okay.

He nodded, and she took the mask off slowly, so as not to startle him.