Disclaimer: I don't own POTO, WHAT? You didn't know? Well why else would I be writing on Sorry I had a bad day.

Review replies:

IflyNAVY: Keep it coming? Right-o!

Remus'Fiance: I will try to not make Christine too ditzy. I never really saw her as ditzy; naive, confused, (personally I think she's a little crazy, still believing in fairy tale when she's old enough to get married?) and not deserving of Erik's devotion sure, but not ditzy.  Don't worry no ditzy.

SuniMoon: glad you like. Even though ALW version was the first intro I had to the phantom universe, I'm trying to incorporate as much Leroux as I can.

Mrs. Malfoy: thank you so much for the definition. (Hands over large patch of fresh baked brownies, don't worry not burned). Now I know what to avoid. Thank you so much for your compliments, I think I read a Mary Sueish story once, your right it almost made me want to puke. No creativity at all. Any-hozits, here's the new update hope you enjoy.

Kathy.L: he maybe stuck with her, but can he control her? Hmmm… maybe? Maybe not?

obsessor-of-inuyasha: you can come out of your dark corner now. You're really enthusiastic aren't you? Welcome to my world, it's insane and fun. Here's the new chapter.

Miss Christine Daae: 3mily, do you mind if I call you 3mily, it's just so hard for me to say something nice to she-who-must-not-be-named, real or otherwise, not you personally. Glad to have you as a reader. Hope you enjoy.

JediKnightMaraJade: I agree, frankly I think her dad messed with her mind. Hope you like the new chappie.

Corsets and Musings

Her eyes fluttered open, untangling herself from the red blankets she sat up. Her eyesight quickly adjusting to the candle light she saw Ayesha curled at her feet, fast asleep. She grinned, so it wasn't a dream after all.

Dark furniture, some she swore she saw in a museum once, both large and beautiful was spaced around the room. Some she thought was made from cherry wood, or maybe walnut, Erik didn't seem a cherry kind of guy.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, glancing at the side table the ring winked up at her. She stood and wrapped a dark dressing robe around her white silk night gown.

Last night when she had given him the ultimatum, she believed she was inches from him throwing her out the door, and consequently in the lake. In fact she didn't harbor any shadow of a doubt when it came to that fact. Whatever convinced him to let her stay, she couldn't say. She was just thankful; and she prayed that, whatever it was, for it to stay for a while.

She crossed to the large wardrobe, adjacent to the bed.

Seeing her lack of preparation for her trip, He had given her leave to wear whatever she could find until they were able to find some of her own. She had already planned, in her mind, several trips to the costume room. Most of the clothes were meant for Christine who was a few inches taller, and plenty of inches thinner.

Reasonably so, she had steered clear of the white wedding dress. Erik probably would have strangled her if she thought about looking at it, let alone touching it. Instead she selected a dark green morning dress, and the appropriate under clothes. She had to give him credit, he really had good taste.

Stepping behind the dressing screen, she dawned a white sleeveless chemise that fell to just beyond her knees. That done she guessed, having watched her grandmother make period costumes, and pulled out the long whale bone corset. She frowned. Dang, she wasn't counting on wearing one of these in her life time. Since asking Erik to help was out of the question, she had some decency; this was going to take some creativity to put on.

Leaning around the screen she caught a glimpse at the bed. She grinned, an idea formed in her head.

XxX

He had no idea what had come over him. He leaned back in his chair; he had abandoned his book on the side table giving his thoughts free reign.

Normally no one, besides Christine, would be allowed in his home. Nadir didn't even come here, Erik normally found him. What was he doing allowing a young female stay in his home?

Did she not know who he was? The fact that she hadn't flinched when he had questioned her was a point in her favor. She acted as if she knew about this place, she even knew about Christine's lessons.

Yet when it came to every day things, like cooking, she was lacking. The pile of what was supposed to be a treat testified to that fact.

His supposed it was his curiosity that let her stay. She had made it down to his lair without injury or getting caught, that couldn't be accomplished unless she was very cunning, or she had an odd form of luck. Either way he was determined to find out just how she made her way down here and why she was here.

XxX

Cursing every Snickers tm, Twinkies tm, or Milky Way tm bar she ever had, Tammy laced up the front of the confounded piece of clothing. That just left tightening it. With clumsy fingers she tied the back two stings to one of the bedposts. Tugging in the strings slightly she made sure they were secure. She made sure the corset was in place and took a deep breath.

She took a starting position from her short lived hurtle career (Never try running under hurdles, they hurt!). Here goes nothing, literally.

She lunged forward and gasped. The bed must have either been too heavy or bolted to the floor, she achieved the desired effect. The two halves of the corset came together quickly, but two tightly. She slumped against the bed.

"Air... NEED oxygen!" her eyes widened. She fumbled with the ties on the bed, creating a bigger knot. Letting a few unladylike words drop from her lips she tore at the strings. Never again would she try tying this thing on her own.

Finally unraveling the strings she let them slack until she could breathe again. Taking in some well deserved breaths she tied a firm knot. Never again.

Standing on wobbling legs, the lack of oxygen obviously affecting her already poor balance, she looked in the full length mirror. Her waist wasn't tiny like she had seen in portraits, but it wasn't half bad. She smiled; her grandma would absolutely love these clothes.

She grabbed only two petticoats, more than that seemed over kill. Pulling them over her head she tied them around her waist.

She gently lifted the green dress from the chair, the green silk was soft and smooth in her hands. The full skirt reached the floor, the sleeves were small and poofy, and she made mental notes too do something about the lace later.

She slipped in on and struggled with the buttons, but eventually got them all done up. She dismissed the white gloves the came with the dress, but slipped on the green slippers.

When that was done she stepped back and admired her reflection. She loved period costumes when she had the chance to wear them; it almost seemed sometimes that she was born in the wrong time period.

She laughed, irony was a fickle thing. Quickly running a brush through her red curls, she left the room.

XxX

He was deep into his musing, when she came into the room. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and she looked uncomfortable, but the clam smile that seemed to normally adorn her features was in place. She paused in the doorway, almost unsure of what to do or say.

So there were chinks in her façade.

His amber gaze took met her aqua one and motioned her to sit. Her chin inclined slightly, but she sat in the chair across from him. She definitely had courage, or she was very foolish.

She glanced at him, "Thank you."

"You didn't give me much choice," his replied, "besides I have a few questions."

She knitted her brows, "Please I have nothing to hide, ask away?"

"How did you get here?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

"Fine. You want the abbreviated version or the long complicated version."

He paused, "Long version will suffice."

She sighed, "I probably should get this out of the way. I'm not really all that normal."

He raised an unseen brow. "And how is that?"

"I'm not from this time."

"What?"

"I'm technically from 130 years in the future, give or take a few years."

"Impossible."

"It's true." Her eyes flashed, "Do you want proof?"

He nodded; she glared and stomped out of the room. She was only gone a few seconds, enough time for him to come to the conclusion that she was mad. She stalked back into the room and tossed a small piece of plastic at him. He caught it easily and examined it.

"That's my diver's license; if you check the date you'll see I'm right."

He read the small print "renew February 2006". "The picture doesn't look like you."

"I had a bad head cold that day and it seems that, as a rule, these pictures have to be bad."

He had to give her credit, this was indeed proof.

"Now," she sunk in to the chair, "Would you like the full story?"

Hope you enjoyed that, more chaos to come. Please review!