I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, although I do rather enjoy borrowing them from time to time.

Special A/N Hey everyone, were back….in resposnse to the complaints I received about the new site, I have decided to post in both location for your ease and comfort. So choose the site you like best, I welcome readers on both worlds.

A/N Welcome to my new story. This idea came from Terry aka Abear4. She suggested using a variation on the theme of the movie Sabrina. I instantly thought of numerous directions in which this premise could play out. So a very special thank you to Terry for offering me such inspiration.

Author – ToryD

Beta – MJMod

Christine

Chapter 1

"Now I want you girls to be on your best behavior," Charles instructed his two daughters as he drove through the impressive gates that guarded the Dexter mansion as the rainy Seattle weather opened up with all it's glory.

"Oh daddy," sixteen-year-old Ashlynn whined as she smoothed a wrinkle from her white skirt. "You act as though we have absolutely no manners at all."

Charles looked over at his first-born daughter and gave her a knowing look. "I was very lucky to obtain this position, Ashlynn, and I want your promise to be respectful and polite to Mr. Dexter and his staff."

"Yes daddy," Ashlynn complied with her father's request as she rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Christine?" Charles called to his thirteen-year-old daughter seated directly behind him.

Several blips and beeps emanated from the back seat as Christine tried valiantly to obtain the top level of Kicking Combat Four.

"Christine!" Charles called out in a firmer tone to garner his daughter's attention.

Christine missed the critical portal at her father's interruption. "Daddy! You've just killed me!" she cried in an irritated tone that caused a slight smile to hover on her father's lips. Christine switched off the game with a sullen face as she had spent the last forty-minutes working her way up to the highest level of the most popular video game out, only to be sidelined at the last possible minute by her intruding father.

"Well, be that as it may Christine, I want your word that you will behave today," Charles instructed, as he looked at her angry little face in the rear view mirror.

"All right," she said with a sigh as she settled back against the seat.

"Thank you," Charles replied as he pulled the car to a stop before the large red brick mansion.

Ashlynn jumped out of the car and looked excitedly all about her. "Look Christine, a pool," she said as she pointed to the direction of the large pool.

Christine climbed out and put her hand held game into the front pocket of her denim overalls. "Awesome," Christine said as she walked over for a closer look.

"Girls," Charles called to bring them back to his side.

"Come on," Ashlynn said grudgingly as they both fell into step beside their father.

"Now remember what I told you about Mr. Dexter's mask, I don't want you to ask about it or to stare at him. Just be polite and answer any question he may ask of you," Charles explained as he ascended the polished marble stairs that led to the massive double door entrance.

"You never did say why he wore a mask daddy," Christine asked as she followed her father.

"Because it's none of my business, just like it is none of yours young lady," Charles admonished her as he rang the bell.

"I'd bet he is horribly disfigured under it, that or he has a really bad case of acne," Ashlynn offered in an off handed manner that had her younger sister dissolving into a girlish fit of the giggles.

"Ashlynn," Charles threw over his shoulder in a fatherly warning.

"Sorry daddy," Ashlynn apologized as she adopted her patented innocent angel look.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Erik, they have arrived," Marie called out to her young employer as she passed his opened study door.

Erik's heart dropped at the thought of meeting new people, especially when those two people happened to be young girls. Inhaling a deep breath, he entered one last piece of code on the game he was currently working on. Pushing himself back from his desk, he rose as he mentally prepared himself for one of the varying reactions he almost always received.

"After you meet with Erik, I will show you to your rooms," Marie offered kindly as she escorted the Daae family through the impressive house.

Christine decided that she liked this housekeeper all ready. The last housekeeper that her father had worked with proved to be a disinterested dried up old woman who hated children, whereas Marie, as she had insisted they address her, was nothing but welcoming.

"Do you know when school starts Marie," Ashlynn asked as they followed the casually dressed Marie down a long hallway.

"I believe that it begins in two weeks dear," Marie responded with a smile.

"Two weeks," both girls groaned in unison for two entirely different reasons. Ashlynn couldn't wait for the new term to begin so that she could start accumulating her much-needed teenage male admirers. Christine on the other hand viewed the two-week period as entirely to short, for she had still several hours of game play needed to become master of her latest game.

"Girls," Charles called to them in a fatherly warning as he shared a knowing smile with Marie.

"Ah, here we are," Marie said as she opened the door to reveal a large state of the art kitchen. "Please have a seat, Erik will be here shortly. Would you girls like some lemonade, I just made it this morning."

"Yes thank you," Ashlynn responded prettily as she gracefully took her offered seat.

"What grade levels are you entering into this year?" Marie questioned Charles' daughters.

"I will be a sophomore while Christine is entering the eighth grade," Ashlynn supplied helpfully.

'Do you know if the middle school's sports teams are any good?" Christine couldn't stop herself from asking.

Smiling Marie placed the tray she had prepared upon the large wooden table. "No, I'm sorry dear, I don't," she replied as she handed Ashlynn a frosty glass of her freshly made lemonade.

"Christine was the sports star at her former school," Charles said in way of an explanation.

Marie smiled at Charles' youngest. "You know now that I think about it I do remember seeing something in today's paper regarding upcoming tryouts for a girl's lacrosse team," Marie stated with a pensive look.

Christine brightened instantly while Ashlynn rolled her eyes in disgust at her sister's passion for sports. "May I see the paper Marie?" Christine asked in a rush of words.

"Certainly, I will get it for you after you meet Erik," She responded to an ecstatic Christine.

The kitchen door sung open to reveal a tall, thin half-masked man, Ashlynn couldn't stop the gasp of fright that escaped her lips at the sight of Erik, for he was dressed all in black, which made his pale skin appear almost ghost like.

Christine, who was still reveling in her daydreams of becoming the next star lacrosse player, paid no attention to the new arrival.

Rising from his chair, Charles extended his hand to his new employer. "Mr. Dexter," he greeted in a professional manner.

Erik who was only twenty-two felt strange at having someone address him as such, "Please call me Erik," he replied as he shook the older man's hand.

"I'd like for you to meet my daughters, Ashlynn and Christine," Charles introduced.

Erik nodded towards the apprehensive Ashlynn careful not to frighten her anymore than he could help. As he turned towards the younger of Charles' daughter, he prepared himself for a similar reaction. To his surprise, he saw a young girl dressed in overalls holding out her hand in a polite greeting.

"Hi Mr. Dexter," Christine greeted with a sincere smile.

Erik tentatively took her hand and offered her a slight smile; for this was the first time he could ever recall where he actually was greeted without a look of fright or disgust. "Christine," he said as he released her hand. "Did you have a pleasant trip across country?" Erik asked as he took an empty seat in between Charles and Marie.

"Here dear," Marie said as she handed Erik a glass of lemonade.

"Thanks," Erik responded as he took in Marie's reassuring look.

"We made incredible time, Christine is quite the little navigator," Charles boasted of his youngest daughter's map reading skills.

Erik allowed himself a long, thoughtful look at the two very different sisters, while Ashlynn appeared to be everything a proper young woman should be, she had a calculating look about her that denoted years of utilizing her undeniable beauty to her advantage. Whereas the younger Christine looked as though she was as honest as the day was long, clearly a tomboy as indicated by her dress, she appeared totally oblivious to her own as of yet untapped beauty.

"Geez Daddy," Christine said as a pink flush graced her cheeks at her father's embarrassing praise.

Erik chuckled at the typical teenaged response.

"Will you be needing the car anytime today, sir," Charles asked.

"No, I don't think I have any meetings scheduled today." Erik said frowning as he still felt a small bit uncomfortable at the thought of being chauffeured around.

Marie shook her head at her employer, "You will have to give Erik some time to get used to the idea of a chauffeur," Marie offered.

"Why?" Christine asked before she remembered her promise to her father to behave politely today.

Marie tried but failed to wipe the grin from her face. "Well dear, I'm afraid that Erik's driver's license has been taken away by the state of Washington," Marie said with an unsuppressed humor.

Both Christine and Ashlynn turned surprised eyes on a scowling Erik. "I surrendered it Marie," Erik inserted to correct the wrong impression that Marie was portraying.

"Very well then, surrendered," she said in way of placating her bristling boss. "Surrendered at the very strong request of the judge I might add," she said after a short pause as she braved her boss' stern gaze.

"Why?" Christine asked again without thought of her father's earlier warning.

"Erik is not the type of driver that is wanted on the roads of our fair state. I lay the blame on all of the video games he creates, he just can't control himself behind the wheel of a real vehicle," Marie stated in a matter of fact voice that caused Erik to issue an affronted "Humph," as he crossed his arms across his thin chest.

Charles watched with amusement, as his Christine's eyes grew large with wonder at the mention of the video games. "I haven't mentioned to the girls that Erik is the owner and founder of Creative Play Games," Charles said as he watched Christine's face transform to that of delighted awe.

"YOU OWN CREATIVE PLAY GAMES?" Christine all but yelled out in her excitement.

Erik gave a start to the young girl's loudly worded question, "Yes, I started the company while I was in college four years ago," he responded.

"In level eight of Kicking Combat Four, you have a centurion from sector twelve that always ends up killing me, what am I doing wrong?" Christine asked with a keen interest totally ignoring the other occupants of the room.

Shaking his head slowly from side to side, Erik watched for the first time the effects of his work on his intended target audience. "Have you tried using the death ray sword as your weapon?" he advised in a knowing manner.

Christine's face brightened with enlightenment. Pulling the game from her front pocket she accessed the options panel to select the afore mentioned weapon.

Charles seeing that he had lost his daughter for at least the next hour drained the last of his lemonade and rose to take his and Christine's glass to the dishwasher.

"Christine, why don't you play the game on my system, you will have a much more realistic experience on a larger screen." Erik offered to the young girl.

Christine instantly switched her hand held game off and rose to await her father's boss without so much as a word.

Erik hid his amusement as he rose to lead the girl to his extensive state of the art media room.

"Christine, perhaps you would like to help us unload the car first?" Charles quietly reminded his daughter.

"Oh, sorry daddy. Mr. Dexter, can I play with your game later?" she asked with a hopeful expression.

"Of course, you may play it any time you want, in fact as soon as you pick out a room, I'll have one of my techs come out and install an identical system," Erik suggested with a happy smile that was so rare for him.

Marie watched as Erik beamed at the prospect of bringing such joy to Charles' daughter.

"Thank you!" Christine said gratefully as she rushed over to give Mr. Dexter a hug.

Erik stiffened at the feel of her slim arms around him, for he was not accustomed to affection on any level. "You're welcome Christine," he replied as he patted her back awkwardly.

Ashlynn felt disgust wash over her as she watched her sister embrace the strange masked man. Leave it to her sister to find someone as weird as her to be friends with, she thought to herself as she took her glass to the dishwasher.

Marie motioned for the group to follow her up the back stairs, "There are two staircases that lead to the other two floors," she explained as they made their way up the first flight of stairs. "I have selected the four rooms on the west side of the second floor for your personal quarters."

Christine followed behind her sister and father as she grabbed Erik's hand to speed up his slow process. "Can you show me which room you think would be best for the gaming system?" she asked the expert in residence.

Erik was impressed at such a young age Christine had a real grasp for the intricacies of proper game system placement. "Yes, of course. I think I know the perfect room to house your system. It has only one window so the glare will be minimal, it also is decorated in a green tone, so the lighting will not affect the visual affects of the system," he said in a knowledgeable manner.

Ashlynn felt a spark of jealousy envelop her as she listened to her sister prattle on about her stupid gaming system. As they made their way down to the end of the hall, Ashlynn decided that whichever room Christine wanted was the one room that she would decide that she herself just could not live without. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mr. Dexter indicate the second door to the left as the room he had expertly chosen for her sister. Rushing forward, she quickly entered the room and declared it the loveliest room that she had ever seen. "Oh Marie, this is the most perfect room," she said as she twirled about the soft green carpet.

Erik frowned at the actions of Christine's older sister, for this was indeed the perfect room for the little girl who so trustingly held his hand. "Perhaps you would like to see the corner room at the end of the hall Ashlynn, it's a bit larger and has a bank of window that I think you might like," Erik said in a small coercive way.

Ashlynn knew instinctively that he wanted her sister to have this room, so she set herself up for a must win battle. "No this is the room I've always dreamed of," she said in an enchanted tone that she knew would ensure her sister's cooperation.

Christine, used to having a sister who always got her way, just shrugged her shoulders as she walked on towards the larger pink room. Looking around she knew that the large floor to ceiling windows would pose quite a problem with the glare, but overall it was a beautifully decorated room that most girls would die for. "This is a very nice room Mr. Dexter," she said in an accepting manner that cut at Erik's heart.

Looking about the room, he knew that it would prove next to impossible for her to have the proper gaming experience. "Charles, would it be all right if I showed Christine another room that would be more appropriate for her?" he asked Christine's father.

"Erik, I don't want you to go to any trouble on our behalf," Charles said as he looked at the hopeful expression on his youngest daughter's face.

"It's no trouble, it is just at the other end of this hall," he said as he pulled Christine along after him.

Ashlynn felt a resentful anger bubbling up inside her at the special treatment her sister was receiving.

Erik opened the door to a taupe colored room that like Ashlynn's had only one window. "I think this would prove the better choice for you," he said as he ushered Christine into the room.

Christine walked about the room slowly, lightly trailing her fingertips across the smooth polished surface of the antique cherry wood furniture with an appreciative reverence. She felt so lucky to have been offered such a room of her own. Turning she faced the man who had made her wildest dreams come to life. Racing across the room she launched herself into Erik's unsuspecting arms. "Thank you Mr. Dexter," she said as she bestowed him with a soft kiss upon the unmasked half of his face.

Christine's bright smile filled Erik's heart with joy, for in this one short moment, he felt an absolute connection with her. As though they were destined to be joined in some strange way in the years to come. Lifting her up, he spun her about her new room, secretly pleased that in some small way he had brought about some small measure of happiness to this very special little girl.