Hey guys, I'll be writing a lot this week but i won't be able to post till next sunday or monday. But things may change. okay well i hope yuo like this chapter, thanks fo rthe reviews.

Chapter 8 "You are so Beautiful"

Lizzie got through the passage way and expected Erik to be by the piano or the lake. But he was at neither place. She walked farther into the lair and went towards the swan bedroom, and there he was. He was in a sitting position, leaning against the pillows with his mask off. His face frightened her a little, but she forced herself not to say or do anything about it. She had vowed to herself not to run or flee. 'It is only a face. Me running away is the last thing he needs. I refuse to be like my mother…'

Lizzie walked out of the room and went the way Erik had when he had made her tea. She walked into a very small kitchen. There was a lit fireplace, a pantry, a few shelves with cups, plates, pots, and such on them then a table and chair. She smiled and walked over to the shelves. She grabbed a pot and poured some water, from a bucket, into it. She opened the pantry and poured a cup of coffee beans into it. She set the pot over the fireplace. Lizzie assumed Erik had lit the fire place to keep the rest of his home some what warm. The water and beans had gotten to a boil and turned a dark brown. Lizzie pulled the hot pot out of the fire and sat it on the stone floor next to her. At that moment Lizzie thanked God that their maid Lucy had taught her the basic skills of the kitchen. Lizzie could not necessarily cook a meal but she could handle making tea, coffee, crumpets and bread.

Once the coffee cooled a little she filled two of the porcelain tea cups with the liquid. She took the two cups out of the kitchen. She sat down one of the cups on a small table by the piano and continued into the swan bedroom with the other. She sat down, on the bed, next to Erik's sleeping body. He looked so innocent, even with out the mask. How could those gypsy's use him as an attraction to make money? The world was so cruel.

She gently tapped Erik's arm and his eyes quickly shot open.

"Oh, Lizzie… I'm sorry I slept so late." Lizzie gave him a quirky smile. 'Should I tell him his mask s off? No, I'll let him realize that beauty means nothing to me.'

Erik suddenly realized that the right side of his face did not feel concealed. His had shot to his face and he confirmed that the mask was not there. The fear that she would never see him again grew. As he stood up and tried to hide himself.

"Lizzie--" He began to yell, but she interrupted.

"Erik," She said raising to his level. "Erik it's okay, I'm not going to run away from you because of your face."

"You lie." He said still turned.

"If I cared what you looked like, do you think I would have stayed long enough to make you coffee?" He turned to face her. Once their eyes met she smiled. Lizzie handed him the cup and grabbed his mask off the nightstand.

"You can wear this if you want to, but I'd rather you didn't. It must be terribly uncomfortable."

"No, not anymore." He turned from her and pressed the mask on to his deformation. "Thank you for the coffee by the way."

"No Problem." Lizzie was surprised how quickly his mood changed. It was like with his mask came his confidence. Which did sort of make sense.

They walked together out of the swan bedroom. Lizzie grabbed her cup and took a sip. They sat down, he in his throne chair and she on the piano bench.

"Did you have a good day yesterday?" Erik asked out of the blue.

"Yes. Fredrick made me a picnic." Lizzie said dreamily.

"In the snow?"

"Well… sort of. He put a thousand candles on a frozen pond, and in the middle was a picnic. It was all terribly romantic."

"You must love him now." Erik asked. Not quite sure what answer he was hoping for.

"I…don't know…I think so." Lizzie said. "I have to Love him."

"Your father has total control over whom you marry?" Erik said cynically.

"Well I suppose if I went to him and told him I hated Fredrick, he would not force me to marriage. But I could not do that to him or Fredrick."

"Lizzie you need to choose for your self. If you don't Love him…" His sentence trailed.

"No, I do…I do Love him. Even if he is not the perfect man for me. Perfection is a hard thing to come by."

"Yes that is true."

"What did you do yesterday?" Lizzie said setting down her cup.

"Played music."

"That's it?"

"Yes."

"Wow, I've never seen someone so devoted to music as much as you." Lizzie said.

"You've also never met another man who lives alone, beneath an Opera house."

"Yes I suppose your right." She said smiling. "Well what song were you working on?"

"It does not have a name yet, but you can sing it if you'd like."

"Yes that would be lovely." They both stood up. He took his place on the piano bench, and she stood beside him. He placed a piece of music on the stand and she skimmed over it.

"Are you ready?" She nodded and he began to play the intro.

Who will give me wings?

Even Wings of the smallest bird?

Who will give me wings?

How long will my wounded soul wander?

Ahh…

Her soul pulled into the run of notes that lay before her.

Who will give wings?

Even Wings of the smallest bird?

Who will give me wings?

How long will my wounded soul wander?

Who will give me wings?

Ere my soul will surely die

Who will give me wings?

Wings that I may Fly!

Ahh…

Who will me give wings?

Even Wings of the smallest bird?

Who will give me wings?

How long will my wounded soul wander?

Who will give me wings?

Her last note faded to a piano (very soft) After he stopped playing, neither of them spoke. Both in awe of the beautiful music they had just created.

"Erik…that song was…beyond words can comprehend."

"Really? You like it?"

"Yes, but it was so…sad." Erik nodded and bent his head, so he was looking straight at the organ keys.

"Yes, so it is." Erik said looking her in eye once again.

"I like it though. It suits you." They sat in silence for a while until Erik asked:

"Lizzie? Did you mean it when you said that, even I have a true love?"

"Yes Erik I did. Why do you ask?"

"How do you know? I mean how do you know someone will love me for who I am?"

"Because I do."

You are so beautiful

by: Joe Cocker

You are so beautiful
To me
You are so beautiful
To me
Can't you see

You're everything I hoped for
You're everything I need
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me

You are so beautiful
To me
Can't you see
You're everything I hoped for
You're every, everything I need
You are so beautiful to me