Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoys my new fanfic please read and review.

Inspiration: Best Friend by Lisa Loeb

Best Friend

He went through the secret passageway again watching Jennifer for the opportune time to come out of hiding. He wanted to try something that's been on his mind lately. Soon her back was turned as she bent over to get something out of the oven. It was the perfect moment since she was distracted. He came out of the passage keeping his footfalls silent as the dead. As soon as she stood up placing the sheet tray on the stove he stopped waiting for her to turn and jump when she saw how close he was.

"I'm glad you came early tonight I have something new I wanted you to try." She turned to face him smiling.

He stood before her scowling. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"How is it that you know I'm behind you every time?"

She laughed. "Is that what's bothering you? Do you want me to be scared of you?"

"Well no. But why is it I can sneak up on anyone else, but not you?"

"Well probably because most people just go about their business not paying attention to their surroundings and most aren't expecting you to show up. I on the other hand am expecting you. Plus I can hear you when you come in the kitchen. That's not to say you won't ever sneak up on me it's been known to happen but it's rare."

"You can hear me? How is that possible I walk so silently?"

"Your feet aren't the only thing that makes noise. You cape swishes as you walk, and if you rushed here your breathing becomes audible. Also if you're not trying to be quiet your foot steps do make slight noise. You see when I was little I was extremely near-sighted and my hearing improved because of it."

"But you do not wear glasses at least not that I've seen."

"No, I don't need them I went to a doctor and he helped me with exercises and other methods."

She didn't want to have to explain one of those methods had been laser surgery and that she had been as blind as a bat with astigmatism, so she hoped he would drop the conversation. Thankfully the new food stuffs distracted him.

"Interesting. What are these?"

"They're petite quiches. I wanted to try my hand at making them before the gala night to make sure that they would come out good. I also made these little onion and goat cheese tartlets. Let me put some on a plate for you."

He watched as she picked out a few of the best ones, put them on one plate, and then got a plate with some of the worse ones. He wasn't surprised not that he deserved anything fancy. After all, she probably didn't expect him to have a refined enough palate to be able to properly enjoy them. He couldn't complain much after all he had never had such treats before he wasn't sure if he would even like them. She placed two cups of tea on the table before getting the plates. What happened next did surprise him. The plate with the best looking appetizers was placed in front of him not her like he expected. He looked up at her with wide eyes but she didn't seem to notice his surprise.

"Try a couple and let me know what you think. For example do they need more salt or pepper or do they need to be trashed. Be careful though they are still a little hot so blow on them."

He watched as she blew on one slightly before taking a bite. She made a little mewl and closed her eyes making it obvious that she liked them. He felt an odd stirring when he saw her eyes closed licking her lips but soon dismissed it as nothing. He tried one of the mini quiches and soon understood her expression it was good. The goat cheese and spinach made an excellent combo and the breading was soft and buttery. Next he tried the onion and goat cheese tartlets. It was even better the caramelized onions were sweet and smoky and the goat cheese was tangy. The crust was flaky and crispy an excellent pairing for the softer ingredients. After he tried a bit of both he looked over at her to see she was looking at him expectantly. It was almost as though his opinion mattered to her, but that couldn't be. Could it? He decided to try something by teasing her as she had to him the first time they met.

"So what do you think?"

"I don't like either of them."

"Is it the type of cheese you don't like I know a few people that don't like goat cheese?"

"No it is not the cheese it's the overall product. Both are not up to standards for gala dinner."

He watched as her eyes became sad and she spoke softly. "Oh I see, well I do have some more ideas perhaps those might be better suited for a high class event. I'm sorry I made you try them."

Part of him felt odd almost guilty that he had hurt her with his words. It wasn't often he cared what others felt by his criticisms. Even Christine had cried on many occasions when he told her she was getting a note wrong or wasn't putting enough emotion in her voice. The woman before him didn't look like she would cry only that she was hurt by his disappointment. He realized that she indeed did care about what he thought. He grabbed her wrist once she got up before she could remove the plates.

"I am sorry mlle. please forgive me I only meant to tease you as you did to me the first day we met. I did not realize my opinion would matter so much to you."

"Of course your opinion matters, you're my friend. Why wouldn't it?"

"Because it matters to no one else."

"It matters to the managers and it matters to Christine."

"It only matters to the managers because they fear angering me and Christine fears disappointing her angel and father. You care about my opinion because I am your friend not for any other reason."

She smiled at him before hitting his arm softly. "Good, then don't do that to me again. I don't mind you teasing me but just let me know when you're doing it."

"Very well I promise mlle."

"Call me Jennifer I think we've known each other long enough. Besides, I usually call you phantom and not monsieur. It only seems fair."

He thought about his new friend and that he wanted to do something nice for her, for all she had done for him. But what could he do. He could sing for her she might like that but what song he didn't know her taste in music yet. He couldn't take her out anywhere even hiring a carriage was hard to get without being seen. Perhaps something they could do in the opera house. Suddenly a stupendous idea came to him he knew exactly what to do. He would only have to plan it out ensuring everything was well taken care of. Her attire would do since they wouldn't be seen but he did hope she would dress up if only for the occasion however, it would be too much to think she would dress up for him.

"Why so silent my good phantom?" Her words broke through the details and planning going on in his mind.

"I was thinking about how to repay you for your kindness."

"I told you that you didn't have to. Your friendship is more than enough payment for me."

"Nonsense I want to do this for you."

"Very well if my friend insists upon it, then who am I to argue."

She thought about it for a second then decided to speak to him while he was in a good mood. "Is it true they plan on doing Polyeucte next week and two other works by Gounod for the gala?"

"Yes it is true. The gala is the night that everyone will be amazed."

"Yes I suppose they will be. What other works are they expected to do?"

"Romeo and Juliet, and Faust."

'Hmm, while she was good as Juliet it was Margarita that made her shine and be noticed maybe if I can change his mind on at least that role.' "So I guess Carlotta will be playing Juliet and Margarita? I can sort of see her playing Margarita I doubt anyone else will."

"Surely you jest I think you would be a better singer for the role than Carlotta."

"But you have never heard me sing."

"Exactly, anyone would be better than her."

She chuckled softly. "Well, think about it Margarita falls for the devils friend, falls for some pretty jewels, gets impregnated by him then kills her own child and gets her brother killed. Sounds like Carlotta to me. What woman in her right mind would play such an unsuspecting harlot? Certainly not a young woman pure and innocent, I think Carlotta is ideal for the role unless you had someone else in mind."

"While you paint her as a harlot, she was unsuspecting and innocent as to the man she was with. She fell in love with him and gave her self over to that love she had no idea the man was friends with an evil sort. She didn't mean for the deaths to happen they are as much his fault than they are hers. A woman who is innocent would be the more ideal choice. I had pictured Christine for the role."

"Christine? You can't be serious. Do you really think she's ready for such a role the singing and acting it entails? Why not wait for the next performance for a better role that would let her shine. Give you more time to polish her. Surely you believe she could use more tutelage."

"I do believe that but I also believe she is ready enough for the role. I will have Christine sing."

"I think it's a bad idea you should wait and do you think Carlotta's just going to step aside. She won't give up her Prima Donna spot so easily. I think you should wait."

"She's been doing quite well on the sidelines thus far, what will a next performance matter?"

"I have ways to ensure Carlotta doesn't interfere."

"What do you plan on doing?"

"I will inconvenience her she will become ill on that night preventing her from singing and Christine will become an understudy taking her place and proving to those managers that she should be the true Prima Donna."

"I still say you should wait until the next opera."

"Why do you wish me to wait so much? Is there something you're not telling me?"

'Yes I'm from the future and if she sings Raoul will see her and they will fall in love.' She knew she couldn't say that not without him thinking her mad. "No just that I don't think the role is right for her. Promise me you'll at least think about polishing her a bit more before you put her on stage."

She had put her hand on his, after a month he had become more accustomed to her touching his hand on occasion. He always wore his gloves so she never touched bare flesh for which he was grateful. For one he didn't know if he could handle the soft innocent hands of such a caring friend to touch the cold unfeeling hands of a murderer. Would she feel his crimes through his flesh? A silly though he knew but he always worried his new friend would suddenly realize the man he was and run away in horror. If she knew his past she wouldn't have wanted to touch him even if it was only the leather of his gloves. He felt indebted to her not only had his health improved greatly his appetite was returning as it was when he was a young man in Persia. His strength has also grown. This woman who spent almost every night sharing supper with him when she could have been out with anyone else, even the one night she was out shopping for toiletries late one afternoon and came back tired she had ensured his dinner was warm and waiting for him. No one had ever shown him such consideration even if it was as small as ensuring his soup was warm for him. His own mother hadn't cared if his food was cold or even if he ate regularly. She only fed him to ensure he wouldn't die leaving him scrapes on the floor in a bowl like he was a dog. But even dogs would get affection from their masters his mother showed him none. No this woman was special, someone who's company he had begun to treasure if she only asked him so little and only that he thought things over, who was he to deny her. Her voice full of concern broke through his thoughts.

"Phantom?"

"I'm sorry I was lost in my thoughts. I will do as you ask I will consider it but I doubt it will affect my decision." He saw sadness and a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

"Very well I guess that's all I can hope for." She brought their dishes to the sink.

"Well I guess you have thinking to do over the next week and I must get my rest. Will you be joining me tomorrow night?"

"Yes mlle. I look forward to it." He didn't know what possessed him but he took her hand in his and placed a small kiss on her knuckles. Instead of pulling her hand back like he half expected or a blush like most women, she looked at him oddly before smiling and shaking her head slightly.

"Sometimes I forget how gentlemanly you can be monsieur phantom. I bid you goodnight." She curtsied to him holding out her imaginary skirts while smiling broadly.

"Goodnight Jennifer." He found he was smiling as well and continued to do so all the way to his lair.

A/N: So what does Erik have planned we'll have to wait and find out. Isn't he the sweetest? When he wants to be of course. Don't worry to those of you who got to hear tidbits of the type of Phantom he would be the Gaston version with a bit of others thrown in for good measure, I promise the crazy punjabing phantom will make appearances later on. For now, he doesn't have the provocation but he'll get there but there will be a little more fluff before it goes straight to hell so to speak. As always read and review.