I was hoping that Cindy would not be rude.

Erik sat rather uncertainly on my bed as we tried different swatches of foundation on his arm.

"He's definitely an ivory 4." I remarked.

"Yeah he's very pale." Cindy agreed, she seemed very chill considering what we'd gone through recently.

"You try living underground for a century and then we'll see who's tan!" Erik hissed defensively. 

"I meant no offence!" Cindy replied her hands pulling away from him defensively.

"Cindy maybe you should get started on the filler..." I muttered.

"I- good idea..." She sighed.

As Cindy went over to the kitchenette I put some concealer on my finger and smiled at Erik.

"Would you mind taking off your mask?" I asked gently. 

"It's not like I have a choice..." He growled. 

"Hey I'm not gonna judge." Cindy remarked as she continued to stir the gel.

"You can't promise that..." He muttered darkly. 

"Alex didn't." Nadir pointed out, sitting down on the bed next to Erik. 

"Yes, thank you Nadir!" I smiled, bringing my hand up to Erik's face.

I smeared the concealer around on the outside of his angry red scar, it seemed to be slightly larger than the last time I'd seen it.

"That's different, Alex is different." Erik smiled, his blue eyes gazing into mine.

"Thank you." I blushed, breaking eye contact. 

"Well, the gel is done, let's see what I have to work with here..." Cindy chirped.

I could feel Erik tense up as Cindy neared us with the gel.

I reached for his hand, holding it gently in mine.

Cindy looked up from the cup of putty, her eyes locking onto Erik's face.

She sucked in a big gulp of air, then let it all out at once. "Oh..."

"Go ahead, say it..." Erik practically dared her. 

"...Well you're no Kardashian but neither are they." She shrugged.

"I'm no what?" Erik snarled.

"They are celebrities who have tons of different surgeries. For aesthetic purposes."

Erik's face was pure confusion. 

"SURGERY... just to look nice?!"

"Yeah, lemme get a pic."

"Should I start applying the gel?" I asked.

"Yeah." Cindy replied. 

I took up the popsicle stick and started layering the gel into the indented scars on Erik's face.

"How's the temperature?" I asked.

"It's warm, not hot."

"Good." I smiled, trying not to notice how intently he was watching me. 

I finished the first coat as Cindy sat down on the bed on the other side of Erik.

"Here's a before and after of some of them."

"Wow. These women are beautiful why did they feel such drastic things were necessary?!" 

"It's simply society, besides Cindy that's way less impressive than some of the facial reconstruction from WW1 and WW2 ... We should show him some of those."

Cindy put on the second layer of the gel as I looked up the photos.

"Here you are." I smiled handing him my phone.

Cindy gave me the cup back and walked over to Nadir, whispering in his ear.

"We'll be right back." he said.

"Okay." I nodded.

I watched as the door closed behind them then turned back to Erik.

His eyes had filled with tears.

"Some of these men look worse than I do." he uttered. 

I gently took the phone from him.

"Are you okay?" I asked, gently smoothing back his hair.

He leaned into my touch, then pulled back. He shook his head, blinking back tears.

"I feel like I was imprisoned and you came in and unchained me." he breathed. 

I smiled as I covered the last layer of gel in the concealer.

"I think with a bit of blush and possibly bronzer, you'll look like a new man."

"I bet I already do." he replied as I led him to the bathroom mirror.

I turned on the bright florescent light. Watching Erik's face intently. 

His eyes widened, and...he smiled at his reflection, gently laying his hand on his cheek.

"I look... normal!" he gasped. 

"Normal is relative, you don't look like you." I shrugged.

He frowned at me, his eyes darkening. 

"What I'm saying is... I like the real Erik." I clarified leaning against the counter. 

"But I'm broken." He looked down into the sink, holding the onto the edge for dear life. 

"We're all broken, some of us just hide it better." I smiled.

Erik shook his head at me, his mouth slightly agape.

"You... are a wonder Alexandra Griffin."

"Thank you."

His eyes drifted down to my lips.

"Erik!" I exclaimed. 

He jumped, "What?"

"We... we need to talk." I blinked rapidly. 

"About what?" he asked, leaning against the door frame. 

"Last night."

"Ah."

" I'm sorry for running away... It's not you... It..." Erik looked at me, his eyes glowing, golden. 

I took a deep breath to clear my mind. 

"I'm not over what happened with my ex. I just don't think I can have another relationship so soon. It wouldn't be fair to you to let you think otherwise."

"I- see." Erik clipped.

I looked down at my shoes, screaming internally at myself to say something to break the awkward silence.

Thankfully I didn't have to.

Nadir and Cindy opened the door. Erik stepped back out of the bathroom. I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"So! We got the ID for Erik. We weren't sure what last name to give you so we though you could share Alex's" Cindy chirped with a sly wink at me. 

"You what?" I squeaked. 

"Yeah all we need is photos of you two and then we can go." Nadir replied uncomfortably. 

"I don't understand why would we share a last name?" Erik asked. 

"Alex, meet Mr. Erik Griffin. Your husband." Cindy smirked. 

Erik and I gasped simultaneously.

"It was the only story we could think of at the time." Nadir said apologetically.

"Oh well, there's nothing we can do to change it now..." I sighed.

"That's the spirit!" Cindy giggled. 

Nadir and Erik grabbed their bags, as did us girls, and we headed downstairs to check out at the lobby.

We checked out without any problems and found a cab to take us to the Train station.

As we stood in the line for the train, Nadir checked his watch impatiently, and Erik looked nervously at his new ID.

"Relax Erik we'll be fine." I smiled reassuringly.

"You can't fault me for being nervous my love." He smiled charmingly.

I felt my face flush and had to tamp down my emotions, reminding myself that he was only playing his part in this narrative.

I patted him affectionately on the arm of his suit jacket. I was having a hard time looking at him in his modern clothes, he just looked wrong...

"I don't mean to freak anyone out but isn't that one of the guys who was chasing us the other day?" Cindy stage whispered to the group.

"Crap have they seen us?" I worried.

"I don't think so, not yet..." Cindy replied.

"What do we do?" I gasped.

"Pray." Nadir replied.

"I have a better Idea." Cindy smirked.

Uh oh I knew that face.

"Public displays of affection make people uncomfortable."

"Yes and?" Nadir huffed.

I held back a giggle as Cindy grabbed a very confused Nadir by the face and Placed her lips on his.

"What the hell?" Erik said quietly.

I pulled myself to Erik, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face into his chest.

"Wha- what are you doing?"

"Covering my face.The only face here they haven't seen is yours. Now hug me back!" I demanded, my voice muffled in his jacket.

Erik slowly wrapped his arms around my waist. I could hear his heartbeat quicken.

"I mean your new face..." I muttered. 

He tightened his hold on me.

"Are they gone yet?" I managed.

Erik cleared his throat. "Yes, they looked over here briefly, but must have not recognized us."

I looked up at him again.

His face was very red.

I pulled away from him, immediately missing the contact. I was in no way surprised to see Cindy and Nadir were still locked in an embrace.

People were starting to stare now...

"Cindy..." I hissed.

"What?"

"We don't want any more attention..."

"Oh um yeah r-right..." She stammered.

Nadir's face was aflame, and I heard Erik choke back some laughter beside me. 

"Oh that's our train!" Cindy exclaimed, grabbing Nadir by the hand and dragging him toward the train.

"Shall we my dear?" Erik chuckled. 

"We shall." I giggled. 

Erik laid a possessive hand on the small of my back, and helped guide me through the crowd towards the train.