A/N: This is how the Women of the Opera challenge began. The challenge is to write three romantic stories with Erik for each of these women that are NOT Christine. Anyone interested can read my three stories and join in the challenge :) Have fun!

Women of the Opera

I've always been fond of girls' nights out. Unfortunately, this Friday, none of my girls were available and I was too broke to go out anyway. So, instead I was having a night IN, watching the Phantom of the Opera. And for lack of other girls, I was having Carlotta, Antoinette Giry and her daughter Meg over for dinner.

"I'll never know why Erik went so head over hills for Christine." Meg commented, stuffing popcorn in her mouth. "I mean, I love Christine and all and I don't want to be mean but... well, for one thing, she doesn't have any boobs. Or at least not as big as mine."

"But her voice is bigger, dear." Mme Giry pointed out.

"Hah." Carlotta spat, grimacing.

"But that's silly!" Meg insisted. "The fact that she has a beautiful voice doesn't make her right for him. Any sensible man would realize that!"

"Sensible man?" Carlotta cocked an eyebrow. "What is that?"

Mme Giry chuckled.

"She's right, dear. And even if there were such a thing, Erik of all man could hardly be called sensible. Trust me, I know him."

"Come to think of it, Antoinette," Carlotta began thoughtfully, "given your history, I would have thought it logical for him to have an affair with you instead of that little prat."

"What can I say?" Mme Giry sighed. "I did have a thing for him but he picked a girl twenty years younger."

"Ungrateful batsard! After all you did for him, mamman!" Meg said angrily, putting the bowl of popcorn down with a force that sent its contents flying all over the couch. None of us cared because we all agreed with her.

"Men are always like that." Carlotta said wisely. "It's better to use them before they start using you. But I'm starting to think women often deserve to be used! Look at you two, mooning over him. And is he worth it? No!"

"Do you mean to tell me you are not attracted to him at all?" Antoinette asked mischievously.

Carlotta made the mistake of meeting her gaze and blushed almost as red as her hair.

"Err, well, he has a rather nice figure, I have to admit. But he has no sense of music. Especially when it comes to recognizing talent..."

"I do believe he would have been better off if he had chosen any of us three instead of Christine." Meg declared convincingly.

I had abandoned the movie which I knew by heart anyway and I was listening to their conversation with growing interest. An idea was sarting to form in my mind. Many fellow fan fiction authors have imagined Erik with one of them. (Well, usually not Carlotta). But has anyone tried to imagine him with EACH of them and make it work?

Thus, the Women of the Opera challenge was born.