A/N: Before I get another comment about pedophilia, let me say that there are couples who marry 20 years apart. I realize that yes, Christine is only 15, but she is turning 16, and there are lots of stories of girls that age, dating men much older. My parents for instance, are 13 years apart. My mom met my dad when she was 13 and he was around 26. In some warped way, they developed feelings for each other and started dating when she turned 16, and married as soon as she graduated. I don't intend for Erik to be some major creeper in this story, so I apologize if he might be coming off in that light.

As for timing issues, each chapter takes place quite a different time from the previous chapter, as everything is supposed to be going fast, that was my goal. As for chatting a lot, it's supposed to be a kind of an instant connection, and solace they seemed to sub-conciously realize in the other. I've had conversations like that in real life, so I know that they do in fact, occur.

-EFH

xoxo

Chapter 3: Formaldehyde and Happiness.

"I will always be with you…"

- - -

Wednesday, January 29, 1992.

"It's snowing!" Christine smiled, holding out her gloved hand, as a snowflake landed square on the palm of it. She turned to Erik, who was walking along beside her and she began giggling like a five year old.

Erik shook his head, but couldn't help but smile at Christine, who seemed so innocent right now. "You realize this is about the third 'bout of snow so far this winter." he reminded.

She just giggled and nodded her head. She passed him her cup of coffee she was holding and started dancing in the snowflakes, giggling as she spun around. She loved forgetting she was fifteen for just a few moments, and acting like the kid she knew was deep down.

There was something about being a kid again that made the world feel ok. When you were young, there was no misery in life, everything was happy and one great adventure after the next.

It had been a little over a month since Christine had met Erik, and she couldn't recall spending as much time with anyone else, the way she did with him. Every morning before school, she went into the coffee shop and had coffee with him, and then he would walk her to school. After school, she'd meet up with him at the coffee shop again, and then they'd hang out till her curfew.

Her parents knew their daughter had a close friend, but they didn't know exactly who this person was. Christine's excuse for never mentioning Erik was, they never asked. She knew one day though, they would, and she wasn't looking forward to that day. Erik was a bit eccentric for them…

Till then though, she would enjoy every moment with him. She usually did all her homework at night time, so she could spend as much time with Erik as possible. She knew it was insane, but it felt nice to have a companion and a best friend that she was so close to. She told him virtually everything about herself, and vice versa. They had nothing to hide.

"Yes, but I absolutely love the snow!" Christine exclaimed to him as they drew nearer and nearer to her school. She found that she absolutely hated school now; more than the average teen did. It took time away from her and Erik.

One day when she had completed her assignment in class early, and had nothing to do, so she decided what she was going to do with the rest of her life after high school. Naturally, she was going to go to college and university. But she had decided she was going to become an embalmer like him, and join him in his profession. She knew she wasn't exactly comfortable around dead bodies… but at least Erik was there. I think I can contain my urge to vomit.

She giggled.

Erik looked at her, feeling a rush of emotions. "What are you laughing about? You sound like some little six year old who knows what she's getting for Christmas before everyone else does."

He couldn't help but admire her though; she was a gorgeous little creature. The way her hair full, the way the cold tainted her cheeks so they were rosy red… and watching her prance about like that in the snow.

She came to a complete stop, and then resumed step with him, as they moved along the sidewalk. There was a more calm and mature presence to her, as she boldly claimed, "I've decided after school ends, I want to become an embalmer and work with you."

Erik felt his heart stop for a fraction of a second. "You know what embalmers do, right?" he smiled. Of course he knew, that she knew.

Christine swatted his arm that her backpack was slung on. "Of course I know!" she exclaimed, pretending to be mock annoyed. She started to giggle again, but quit, as she felt slightly dizzy.

He smiled as they continued walking down the sidewalk. As they drew nearer to the school, more kids passed them.

Erik turned at the sound of a couple of girls laughing behind them. He saw four girls and a guy laughing, one of them was pointing at him. Erik looked at Christine, but she seemed totally oblivious to it. He wondered how used to it Christine was, and how long it had been going on.

He couldn't even fathom why she'd be teased; she was such a beautiful girl. The only thought he could even reason with, was they were all just very envious. Ha, I love that. He wondered when she'd be asking about the mask though. It must bother her that is face was half obscured by a cheap plastic blockade.

"Doesn't that bother you?" he asked, looking back at the kids who appeared to be pointing at him. "That they're laughing at you because of me?" he secretly hoped her answer wouldn't be a yes…

She looked at the kids laughing at her, and then Erik in the eyes. "No, it doesn't bother me at all." she said it with a certain air to her voice, that even he couldn't question her. "I don't care what anyone thinks Erik… I care about you."

Erik said nothing more, just smiling to himself.

They finally walked up to the entrance of her high school. "Have fun learning, and go grab that education!" he laughed, teasing her. He really didn't know what else to say. He didn't even know if he should hug her. They were good friends now, but still… he didn't want to look like a pedophile.

Pedophile? Did I honestly just label myself as that? He chuckled to himself. He realized that yes, there was an age difference… but when had that stopped anyone before?

He didn't have to worry about that question anymore, Christine embraced him out of nowhere and whispered in his ear, "see you after school." she pulled back, smiled and practically pranced into the school.

Erik felt himself dazed and smiling. He looked around and saw lots of kids staring at him, which kind of destroyed his mood. He looked around and noticed how even more kids were beginning to point and laugh at him, now that Christine was gone.

He turned and rushed away from the school, but looked back, only because he remembered that Christine was still in that wretched building. She'd be in there for another two and a half years. He knew she hated it as much as he did. This past month he couldn't help but notice how much she hated talking about school, or how if she did, it was usually a negative comment towards it.

Still, he couldn't help but feel sad to the quite different age difference they had. She was only fifteen right now, and well, he wasn't… that almost seemed like a blasphemy. He wouldn't deny it, he was really attracted to her… in an usual short amount of time. He always knew himself to be one of those people who didn't believe in love at first sight… .

He kicked a pebble, squeezing his hands as he made his way to his car parked at the coffee shop, to drive to work. Something he had been neglecting quite a lot since he started spending more time with Christine. His partner Jamison, hadn't been too impressed as of late with his work attitude.

As he drove up the long famous hill to his work, her face was permanently engraved in his mind. She was so beautiful.

He pushed down on the break pedal, as he realized just how much he liked her right now. Letting the car idle at its half way point up the hill, he just sat there and thought about her. He'd been thinking about her a lot since a month ago, when he first met her. Even a lot was an understatement. She was constantly on his mind, the smell of her always burning in his nostrils.

He desperately wanted to touch her. Did that sound monstrous? It didn't even have to be something sexual, he just wanted to hug her, hold her hand, anything.

"I don't care what anyone thinks Erik… I care about you." Those were her exact words. She cared about him… and he cared about her too. A lot more than you'll ever know. He thought wistfully.

He put his face in the steering wheel and just sighed. He didn't know what to do… it wasn't until he pushed his face hard enough and a loud honk came from the car, that he sat up with a jolt.

Glancing in the rear-view mirror, he saw two cars behind him, looking at him in annoyance, and one even honked them self.

Driving forwards, he parked and went inside.

- - -

"So the man with no life finally comes to work!" Jamison joked as Erik finally made his way down into the basement, dressed in his work attire- a lab coat and a pair of surgical gloves.

Erik glared at the man who had always been sort of a friend to him, and his partner in his career. They had helped put both each other through schooling and always stuck together even after, when applying for a job. At first the funeral home only had one position open and for Jamison, but after he refused and refused and stated he worked only with Erik, they became desperate enough and knew Jamison's talents were outstanding, they took the two into their family.

"Oh shove it Jamison, I'm not in the mood." he growled, grabbing all the equipment he'd need.

Jamison raised his hands and replied, "whoa! Calm down, I'm only saying I've never seen you this way before, over anyone." Oh Jamison knew all about Christine. Erik tried hard to keep it silent, but one slip up, and Erik's face, told him everything he'd need to know. Erik was falling hard.

Erik bit his tongue, as he took a look at the dead body that they'd begin on. He sighed. "I don't know what to do, I really like her… but what about…?"

Jamison knew what Erik was talking about instantaneously; the mask. It had never really been a problem between the two of them, because Jamison never really cared. "Erik, if she really cares about you, I don't think one mask is going to make a difference."

"Well the face might." Erik complained. He was past the point of getting angry, now he just wanted to sulk. He felt like he had found something, and lost it. Like some Paradise Lost kind of fool. "I may as well just accept it, she can't love me. I'm practically eleven years older than her, my face is enough to be a Halloween special effect found at a second hand store, and she is a gorgeous as they come… ."

Jamison shook his head. The man was love sick and never at work. "So this is why you never to come to work then." he smiled at Erik. "Because of a girl?"

Erik looked over at him and glared at the man. He usually told him pretty much everything, but lately not so much. "Let's just get to work."

Jamison smiled, knowing he was right. He didn't say anything though, and got started.

"What is the man's story?" Erik asked, referring to the dead old man's body lying on the embalming table.

"Car accident, T- Boned." Jamison said, grabbing a bottle and spraying the man's eyes, mouth and nose. The deceased body's eyes opened. He then took some soap and began rubbing the body's arms with it.

Erik nodded, taking a needle gun and shooting it into the man's lips and upper gums.

The two both worked silently on the body, Erik's mind completely elsewhere. He admitted he'd been shirking work quite a bit, but he hadn't completely been ignoring it. He hadn't been coming in as early, and hadn't been staying as late. Those were times he was spending with Christine.

A couple hours passed, and it was nearing two o'clock; Christine was definitely in her fourth class for the day; gym. He knew how much she hated gym class. She said she hated the sweat and the feeling of her heart racing, because it made her feel sick.

Erik massaged the limbs, making sure the blood was flowing out, and the embalming liquids through, and the machine was working properly. He moved a bit faster, knowing she was going to be out of school soon, and made a trocar start to prod at his belly button.

Jamison noticed Erik keep glancing at the clock on the wall and said, "everything is done except for the cream and the makeup, it can be done tomorrow for ol' Mr. Carlton here." Erik knew he was saying this because he was telling him to go see Christine.

Erik smiled. "Thanks Jamison, see you tomorrow." and he bounded out of there.

Jamison watched him leave, cleaning up all the supplies and covering the body. He felt bad for his friend, who had given up on love back a long time ago. He just hoped he didn't get hurt again.

xoxo

Erik kept a fast pace as he passed through a pond Christine had shown him. He decided not to take his car, so he would have to go back to work that night and finish some business. Without looking, he stumbled over a rock.

"Fuck," he cursed, as his knee had gone into the dirt. Standing up, he wiped it off as best as he could. "I wonder if water would help." he thought aloud.

He stuck his hand in the cool midst's of the water and pulled his scooped hand out and put the water on the dirty spot, rubbing at it. He felt annoyed, watching it spread. He didn't have time for this. Christine was out of school in barely even fifteen minutes.

He sighed, wondering if he was getting himself in too deep with her. He knew he had strong feelings developing for her and what if she didn't reciprocate them? He knew that even after a month, it was too early to classify any form of feelings as love, but he just had a strange gut feeling. He had never believed in those corny romance movies, but maybe there was a chance.

He put his arm on his leg, and he saw his reflection in the water, as the pond water stilled once again. He frowned, seeing his hideous self once again. He couldn't even believe she let people see them out together in public! He slapped the water with his hand; he didn't care if he was feeling sorry for himself.

Getting up, he walked fast out of there.

- - -

Christine bounded out of school as fast as her legs would carry her. She hated that place and the people, and she knew Erik would be waiting for her like he always did.

He was the only person she wanted to see anymore. Her parents asked her where she always went, but she just told them it was studying and hanging at the pond; she had always been quite the loner… .

She beamed as she finally saw Erik standing under a willow tree just down the street from her school where they always met. She ran up to him, dropping her backpack and just threw herself into his arms. She sniffed him, loving how he always smelt like cologne and pine mixed together.

"It's been a long day." she spoke into his chest, just hugging him tightly, not that he minded. "I hate school."

Erik laughed, trying not to think about earlier. "Well I got you something." he pulled out a red rose, and he presented it to her.

"Oh my God!" she clutched the rose, sniffing it, and then hugging him again. "Thank you Erik!" she laughed, and smiled at him brightly, realizing just how much she was falling for him.

He smiled, "it's much better than formaldehyde."