Thick As the Fog (Giselle)

[Christine Giselle Daaé]

Giselle remained where she was and she watched him carefully. A small smile remained upon her face. She loved him with all her heart and she was so happy that he felt the same way she did with her. The young woman said nothing and she looked upon him as he spoke.

Her eyes stared directly into his. "Of course, I understand" she said softly. "But believe me, I will not run away" she informed. Soon Giselle slowly pulled off his mask and her eyes widened. Then she gasped softly and then put it back on his face. "I....I can't..." she said suddenly. "I..." she paused looking down not meeting his eyes. "I'm not leaving you, I couldn't dare to do it...but... I can't .. move right now" she said. The reason why Giselle couldn't move was because she was still in shock upon what happened.

[Erik Carriere]

For one... brief moment.... he thought he was that she was alright.... after the mask was removed and his horrid face was naked to the eyes of the world once more. But the moment was gone when he saw here eyes suddenly widen and she sharply inhaled before she quickly placed the mask back over his face. 'I...I can't....'

Erik didn't know what to do now. Each time before now she had fainted, but this time was different. Whether it was better or worse, he could not yet tell. He quickly retied his mask then held her to be her support. "Do you need to sit down? I'll run in and get some tea ready for you if you wish." He spoke with worry evident in his voice. His heart suddenly began to ache as it balanced on a fine line of thread. It was too early to tell if it will fall or make it to safety.

Erik now pleaded to every sort of higher entity that he could think of; that he had read; that he had ever even heard of, he pleaded that this was not the end of them. She said she wouldn't leave him but anything was possible in this moment; in this time. He hoped he hadn't done a dumb, foolish thing. But how could he of, was it now bound to happen some time? Unless it was too early... unless this was a second chance for him to forever keep his face from her and she would never ask to see. Maybe he should not have let her toke the mask off. Now he may have forever scared her and given her nightmares.

But she had reacted differently then all the other times. Didn't that mean that perhaps, the outcome of whatever was to pursue after this moment, would be different then all other times as well? Was there not anger and depression before when his mask had been taken off and now... only nerves and worry? What was to come out of all of this now? Erik closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm his racing and overly active mind. But there was so many questions that will be answered over time, though he wished to know them now. And from this moment on..... everything will have changed. Either for the worse or the better. He could only hope that it was for the better. After all.... she said she loved him.... and indeed.... Erik loves her.

[Christine Giselle Daaé]

Giselle's eyes were still wide upon what she saw for that one brief moment. It was horrid for her to look at his face. She couldn't breath for a moment nor could she speak. "I....I think I need to..please, Erik.." she said sighing nearly holding onto his arm for support as he placed it around her. Giselle said nothing for a moment. "No.. No water is needed" she told him. "I'm fine really, I'm so sorry" she said nearly on the verge of tears.

Remaining standing she looked up at him. "Forgive me please Erik. I don't know what I was thinking.. Perhaps I was just a little too ... naive? for asking to see your face from behind your mask?" she asked suddenly. "I've just always wondered was underneath and why you wore it!" she said breathing heavily. Then she soon calmed herself slowly sitting on the ground. "Just stay with me please, I don't want you to leave" she said staring out into space.

"I don't know what I was thinking...." she whispered. Seeing the markings on his face of his deformed face. Her eyes closed and she buried her face in her dress that she wore. Her blonde hair covered her back and she said nothing for several moments. Soon turning over to wrap her arms around him burying her head in hist. "Forgive me." she whispered to him underneath her breath. Her hands came to his back and she said nothing again. Then suddenly came the words: "I still love you, I just.. I suppose I wasn't ready for what I was about to see" she whispered to him.

[Erik Carriere]

Erik continued to help support her, he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to clear his head and think clear and steady thoughts. She didn't wish for any water, he was afraid that she did have it, that she might not even be able to hold it down. He wanted to look at her, with all of his heart, but for some odd reason, his eyes refused and remained looking at the ground.

She asked for his forgiveness, blaming herself. The thing was... this time... she had not asked. He had let her. And he wasn't sure if that hurt more or less. He held her ever so slightly tighter when she breathed heavier, explaining that she had always been curious... and now she had seen it again.... not that she knew it had been the second time.... or even possibly the third! He felt her calm down and then was finally able to look at her when she pleaded for him to stay with her.

Erik was at a loss for words, his mouth dry and all he could do was nod some. Christine then turned and wrapped her arms around him and he closed his eyes tightly, his heart thundering on. After she asked forgiveness again, there was a long moment of quiet, or perhaps it was not long at all, and was in fact seconds, or maybe it was even years that they were standing there like that, before she spoke again, her voice almost distant feeling but warm and had attached each word to each beat of his heart. She loved him still.... but it was too early. His heart sank for a moment.

There was a bench near by and he opened his eyes for only a few moments to gently guide her too it and sat them both on it. For a moment, he had her eyes, her attention again. He was still afraid of not being able to look into those eyes... seeing the warmth that he had once seen that seemed so long ago already. Erik then embraced her again, his right hand gently holding the side of her face while he put his masked face beside hers, his breath warm so close to her shoulder. "I am so sorry..." He spoke ever so quietly. He struggled to keep himself from shaking. "It's all my fault.... I should never of had.... God.... am sorry Christine...." He said, the knot in his chest growing. He felt like he had ruined everything.... had he?

[Christine Giselle Daaé]

Keeping her arms around him she buried her head in his chest and she sighed deeply. Something about this seeing his face, she knew it wasn't a good time. Though she had been curious upon why he wore it. Giselle pulled back and wiped her eyes and breathed then she looked up at him as he spoke to her. "No!" she whispered to him. "Don't apologize. I should have waited till the time was right" she whispered to him. Constantly stroking his mask a little with her hand and looking at him. "I a little naive as some would say" she told him. "And very curious upon what lies beneath your mask. I ... I don't know what was wrong with me" she said sighing placing her head back on his chest.

Once on the bench, she leaned against him and she felt his arms around her and she felt his hand upon her face. Giselle looked at him and said nothing else for a moment. "Its not your fault..." she whispered kissing him longingly at first. Then breaking it. "Both of us weren't ready and we were just rushing things it seemed" she explained to him. Giselle said nothing for a moment. "Breathe, relax..." she whispered and she nuzzled him a little. Resting her head underneath his chin. "Erik..." she whispered again. "Easy. Just breathe..." she told him.

After moments of relaxing him she looked up at him in his eyes. "Are you alright now Erik?" she asked softly staring up into his eyes. "Perhaps maybe we should wait again to try it once more. But for now, we should let it slide and be together for now..." she said kissing him once more to relax him. She knew how to work around him now. Giselle nuzzled him a little and she sighed resting her head on his chest. Just sitting there with him staring off into space.

[Erik Carriere]

Christine continued to blame herself, even though it had been Erik's own fault. But now... he was almost starting to not care who was to be blamed, not that it should have even mattered in the first place though it had seemingly been important just moments before. All he wanted to do was for her to be happy, and to be with her always. And if she did still love him as she said she did, even after the too-soon reveal of his monstrous face, then things should get only better after this.

The knot in his chest loosened and he was able to finally completely subside the threat of shaking as he listened to Christine's caring and soothing voice. He almost felt like a horse after being frightened by a loud noise and had to be calmed down by the gentle voice. Anyways, he was successfully able to be calm again, as he had recently calmed her. Just as long as she was still in his arms... still spoke to him with care... that was all he really needed for the moment. Just her gentle soul and beautiful personality and heart. Christine then looked into Erik's eyes and oh how his heart fluttered as he did not see fear nor anguish nor being disturbed.

Erik's blue eyes then widened when she went on to say that later they could try again. Had he heard her correctly? Had she just not moments before seen his horrid face, given her infinite nightmares that will forever scar her every time she closed her eyes? But she had said it and then she had kissed him, almost as if she hadn't just seen the mass of crimson that he could hardly call a face. She then just held him... looking off... though she didn't seem to be thinking about what his face looked like anymore because she looked almost more peaceful than that, considerably more calm. Erik smiled, things were going to be most definitely different indeed. He held her back, sighing slightly, if things could start going well again this quickly... then they must have a chance... they had to.