Hola! So I'm sorry I didn't post this sooner, busy busy busy. But I also wasn't motivated: Come on guys, what happened to all my reviewers? I need reviews. Ok not really but they are greatly appreciated. So could you guys please review? Erik will Punjab you if you don't. Haha so thanks, and enjoy!

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Christine awoke to a very strange yet mouth-watering smell drifting into her room. Her shoulder still ached, but she could feel the fever was gone.

She suddenly realized there was someone there clasping her hand. Looking over, she saw it was Erik that held her hand in both of his. He was leaning his head on the side of the bed, breath deep and rhythmical. He is sleeping. She smiled and brushed a stray hair softly from his brow. She found it hard to be mad at him even though he had kidnapped her.

"Christine, I… I love you." She remembered the words he had whispered to her the night before.

" Erik, I-" But she was thankfully interrupted before she could finish. What was she even going to say to him? " Erik, My heart tells me yes but my head tells me no."? He wouldn't have understood… He couldn't understand that her heart was solely his… but her head couldn't cease telling her she loved Raoul. But she also knew that she only thought she loved Raoul because it was comforting to do so… that she had since they were children. He was like some sort of beloved teddy bear: A childhood love that was too hard to give up.

But now… could she take a leap of faith and live out what she knew was right? Could she cast away the whims of her childhood and learn to love again? To truly love?

But his face…She didn't know if she could ever truly love him if she couldn't love the man behind the mask. She wanted to love the man behind the mask.

" Erik," She said softly. " Erik, wake up. I think your friend made us breakfast."

" No," He mumbled into the sheets, but then his mumblings grew louder. "Master, Please! I was only hiding my face from the crowd, please don't beat me for it! No, don't whip me again, it hurts!" He began thrashing about, accidentally hitting her shoulder in the process. As soon as his hand connected with her flesh she let out a quiet groan, causing him to jolt awake in horror. She rubbed her shoulder, trying to ease the breath-taking pain. He paled, realizing what he had just done.

" Oh Christine, please forgive your Erik! Strike him! Just like he struck you. Punish him for doing that to you!"

Christine cupped his cheek. "Shhh, it's alright angel, you were just having a nightmare. You didn't mean to."

"I'm so sorry…"

" Now now, none of that. But Erik, I did want to tell you something…"

"Of course."

" Well, you see, since we are going to be here together for a while, I… Uh… I was wondering if you could-"

" Good morning!" Nadir walked in, interrupting her. " Breakfast is served."

" Damnit, Nadir! Can't you knock?" Erik growled. " Christine was right in the middle of telling me something."

" It's getting cold… and it's your favorite…" the daroga taunted.

" Damn you, man." He scowled. " Do you mind Christine? We can talk later, I swear. If it weren't for a certain persistent beshoor, we could have an actual conversation." He glared at his old friend.

She was disappointed, but agreed graciously. "Alright. May you please help me down to the table?"

" Of course!" He lifted her from the bed and carried her down to Nadir's Persian style dining room. Cushions lined the low table and spicy incense was burning all around. He gently sat her down and that was when she realized she was still wearing her ruffled and somewhat soiled Don Juan gown. She regarded Nadir.

" Excuse me, Monsieur, If it isn't a problem, you wouldn't happen to have a gown anywhere, would you?" The Persian almost spit out his soup.

" Goodness Allah I almost forgot! I have a few gowns left over from my late wife Rookheeya… She was about your size. I'll set them out for you after breakfast."

" Thank you. And I'm sorry about your wife."

" Oh, it's been a very long time… since before I knew Erik. But thank you."

She nodded and looked at the orange creamy looking soup before her. " What's this?" She asked.

" Ash-e-jow, It's a Persian barley soup. And my favorite." Erik said, nodding his thanks to Nadir.

After breakfast, Christine bathed and found gowns awaiting her on the bed. They were all the same style in different colors. Christine slipped on the dark blue one and marveled at how soft the silk was against her skin. She brushed through her dark curls and headed downstairs.

"You look lovely in that, Christine." Erik smiled at her.

" Yes," Nadir nodded approvingly. " I'm glad to see it put to good use after all these years of saving them."

Christine blushed slightly at their praise. "Thank you very much." She touched her soar shoulder. " Monsieur Khan, would you be so kind as to re-bandage this for me?"

" Of course. Follow me."

Erik watched Christine leave then ducked outside to the servant quarters out back. It was a bit musty, so he opened the windows and looked around. It was a quaint two story house with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and upstairs contained a loft room. He was making plans in his head… Christine loved books so he wanted there to be some sort of a library… Everything had to be perfect.

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" Ok… Now step up…. Good…." Erik clasped Christine's hand in his.

" Erik, Where are you taking me?" Christine giggled. She tried to pull down the black handkerchief over her eyes, but he gently stopped her.

" It's a nerve-wracking thing, you know." She smiled

"What?"

" Trusting you."

He stopped and grew silent, unsure what she meant.

" But it's a good thing." She quietly assured him.

" Alright… you can look now."

Christine opened her eyes and they had to adjust to the sudden light. What met her gaze brought a delighted gasp. They were in a small, simple house, obviously the Daroga's unused servant quarters. It had been cleaned up with everything from new rugs and fresh flowers to a fire in the cozy fireplace. The bedroom contained two beds placed across the room from each other. It was a small house, but it was perfect.

" Oh Erik… This… This is for us?" She looked at him, smiling wistfully.

" Yes, well until I figure out what else to do. Follow me, there's more." She followed him up the winding staircase to the loft. Once there, she looked around, tears forming in her eyes.

One wall was a bookshelf full of clean books, tempting her to caress their smooth pages. On the other wall, there was a cushioned window seat, covered in pillows and a wool blanket. There was also a tiny fireplace and finally, a piano with candle-sticks resting on the worn surface.

" Oh Erik… I don't know what to say… Thank you!" On impulse, She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. He stiffened for a moment, but then gently returned the embrace. They stood like that for a while, until Christine felt him beginning to tremble. She quickly pulled away, dismayed to see tears running down his cheeks.

" Erik…. I'm… I'm sorry… did I do something wrong?" She tried to step away but he pulled her to him again and let his tears fall in her hair.

" No, Not at all… It's just… I… I've never been hugged before…"

She gasped. " Never? But you have to be at least ten years older than me!"

He blushed and clenched his jaw. " Well we all can't be as lucky to be beautiful and loved like you, Christine."

She bowed her head, ashamed. Poor Erik. Had no one ever shone him the slightest bit of love?

" Erik… C-could you take off your mask?"

He tensed, eyes flashing gold. She was treading on thin ground. " Why would you ask such a thing of me?"

" I… Well, uh…" She was starting to regret her question. " Erik, you want me to love you, but how could I not only love the mask if I don't know the man behind it? If I'm going to love you, I want to love all of you."

He sighed, shaking his head. " No one in all of my life has loved me for… me, let alone the mask. I doubt you'll be any different."

" Please Erik…"

He sat on the window seat and Christine followed him. " Christine, close your eyes."

" But-"

" Just do it." He said, sounding tired and very defeated.

She slowly complied. " Now what do you want me to do?"

" Give me your hand." She put her hand out and he took it in his cold one, secretly relishing the warm softness of it in his own. He made sure her eyes were closed, then took off his mask. " I'm going to put your hand on my face, alright?" She nodded and he placed her angelic little hand over his monstrosity of a face. " Wh-What does it feel like to you?"

" Like warm… Uh…" She mumbled, trying to find words for the strange and secretly thrilling sensation. " It feels dry and cracked, like it's so fragile it could fall off at any moment. But it's also quite warm."

" And what about my lip?" He traced her slender finger down to his swollen red lip.

" Soft… like, like any other lip." She marveled.

" How do you feel about me with my eyes closed?"

" I… I think I love you."

His heart swelled, But he knew she had yet to see his face. " Now that my face doesn't disgust you with your eyes closed, you may open them."

She slowly did so and bit back the urge to gasp. It was just as deformed as before, skull looking cracked and exposed on the side without the wig. His eyes sought hers, readying himself for the cry of terror which never came.

She lifted her hand and gently placed it on his sensitive, mangled skin. " You must understand, Angel, it will take me a while to become accustomed to you without your mask." He turned away, disappointed and fighting off tears. " But," She hooked her finger under his chin and made him meet her eyes. " I want to become accustomed to it. And I will in time, I promise." She smiled sincerely at him and he slowly returned the gesture.

" Are you sure?"

She took his hand. " Positive."

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A/N: So once again so sorry for the wait. I should update again soon. Please review! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. By the way, if you like Wicked, My friend Allygraced and I are writing a new Phantom/ Wicked X-over. It should be up soon. Thanks again!