Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

The Deadline

"You said what?!" Antoinette exclaimed in frustration, her voice almost echoing off the walls.

Erik cringed at the volume of the madam's voice and her words. He had a feeling that her anger was not going to go away anytime soon. "That I, ah, care for them."

"Are you serious? Really Erik? You care for them?" Antoinette growled in disgust. The sound of her pacing, more like stomping back and forth, clearly heard by Erik.

"I know!" Erik groaned, placing his face in his hands and his elbows on the table. "I panicked."

"You panicked? Erik, these two have been in love with you for months. Months! And you knew that! Now you're telling me that when they finally tell you that they loved you again, you panicked?"

Erik did not lift his face from his hands, not wanting to face Antoinette. She was easier to deal with when mad when he was hiding behind something, even if it was only his hands. "Yes?"

He heard Antoinette make a frustrated sound and a picture formed in his head of her throwing her hands in the air.

"I'm done! I'm too mad at you right now! Nadir! You talk to him!"

Erik heard Antoinette's footsteps stomp away towards the living room and the angry pacing she was doing inside. Erik paused a few moments, waiting to make sure she was not coming back right away. When he was sure that she wasn't, he carefully lifted his head. "I did not do it on purpose, I truly did panic."

He heard Nadir's sigh from the wall with the refrigerator and heard his footsteps coming his way. They stopped on what Erik knew to be the other side of the table Erik was sitting at. The chair across from him was pulled out and he heard Nadir sit down.

"I'm sure she will be fine in a few minutes." Nadir offered, yet there was a tone of amusement that Erik did not like.

"Yes, but to only calmly lecture me, she's too frustrated to do it at the moment." Erik replied dryly. A giggle rang through the room and Erik rolled his eyes. "I am glad that you are amused by this, my pearl."

"Sorry." The smile in Meg's tone obvious. "But you got to admit it's a little funny."

"I believe I would find it hilarious if it was someone else." Erik admitted with a grumble. "But since it is me, I only find it mortifying."

"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad." Meg protested, her voice coming closer and Erik felt her hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe not, but that does not stop it from feeling that way." Erik countered, leaning back in his chair and into Meg's hand.

"What happens now?" Meg asked curiously.

Erik shrugged and was going to reply but was cut off.

"I'll tell you what he's going to do," Antoinette declared, coming back into the kitchen. "He's going to tell them the truth."

"Technically, I did tell them the truth." Erik pointed out. "I do care about them."

Antoinette let out an annoyed huff, Erik was sure she rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. Tell them you love them back."

Even though the words were true, Erik felt a slight heat come onto his cheeks at them being said out loud. "That is easier said than done, my dear."

"Not nearly as hard as being the first person to say it." Nadir replied in amusement. "Erik, they love you, all you have to do is say it back."

Erik let out an exasperated sigh.

"Have you ever said you loved someone?" Meg cut it, questioning.

"Not in this way." Erik answered. "The only people I have are you three, which is a vastly different type of love. I have never felt this way towards anyone else before, it's a little daunting."

"Well yeah, but that's love!" Meg exclaimed the last word in excitement. Her other hand came to Erik's shoulder and she squeezed them. "It's scary and exciting! It's warmth and makes you shudder! You feel like you can fly yet also the most down to earth you've ever been!"

"And what makes you so experienced in how love feels?" Antoinette's voice cut through with suspicion.

There was a pause but Meg patted Erik's shoulders. "We are talking about Erik, let's not get distracted."

Erik smirked, knowing that the madam would not let the topic go lightly. He was also curious as to his pearl being able to describe such an emotion that easily, but he knew he would not get an answer there. He turned his head towards his niece.

"Either way, that was an accurate enough description." Erik stated before turning towards Nadir and Antoinette. "It's not like they are expecting an answer anyway. I have time to work on my courage."

"But why would you wait? There's no point in it." Antoinette countered.

"Maybe I'm not comfortable with them knowing yet." Erik replied abruptly but softly. The cut off of sound told him that they all heard him.

There was a silence that descended over the room. It lasted long enough that Erik started to wonder if he should have admitted that last part to them. Finally, Nadir broke the silence that had engulfed the kitchen.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked slowly with a hesitant tone.

Erik faltered for a moment. The confession was already out there, Erik might as well explain it.

"There seems to be a sort of…finality sense at the thought of me admitting my feelings for them as well." Erik confessed, turning his head towards the table in front of him. "There is a strange thought that plaques my mind constantly. That if I were to be with them, I would have to give up you."

More silence. Erik was startled when Meg moved her hands from his shoulders to wrap her arms around him from behind, her long strands tickling the side of his face as she placed her head on top of his.

"Erik, you're not going to lose us." Nadir finally spoke, a softness in his voice that Erik did not hear often. "Just because you are with them, does not mean we won't be together anymore."

"If anything, we are going to be more involved." Antoinette added with a lightness in her tone. "There is no way I'm going to let you not tell me everything going on between the three of you."

"And mom will tell me everything so that I can talk to you about things when I come back." Meg joined, talking into Erik's hair.

Erik sighed through his nose and raised his hand. He rested it on where Meg's hands were intertwined on his chest.

"Besides," Antoinette continued. "Apparently, the three of you are soulmates, it would be hard to not be with them the way you are supposed to be."

"That's true." Erik admitted, Antoinette's words reminding him of the bond they shared and tried to ignore the tugging in his gut to find the only two people that could make the sense go away. But he still couldn't help but think about the possible outcomes of him admitting his emotions towards the couple.

"Alright!" Antoinette suddenly declared, startling Erik when she slapped her hands on the table. "You're going to tell them, and you have until New Years to do it!"

Erik blinked than straightened in his chair, breaking Meg's hold on him. "Why on earth are you setting a deadline? And, really, one that's less than a week away?"

"Because if you didn't have one, you'll never do it." Antoinette countered, the smirk in her tone.

Erik scowled. "And if I ignore your deadline?"

"Then I will tell them." Antoinette announced triumphantly. "And I do not think you want me to be the one to do it."

Erik gulped and knew without a doubt that he was going to have to find a way to tell Christine and Raoul how he felt.

Later that night, Erik laid in his bed thinking. Ayesha was curled up against his side, purring like a motor while his hand absently stroked her fur. He had no idea how or when he was going to tell Christine and Raoul his true feelings. The fact that his madam had given him a deadline made him more nervous about it all and the last thing he needed was more nerves. Maybe he could wait until the last minute…no he could not do that, if he did his mind wouldn't think about it and when the last day came, he would panic.

He was trying to avoid panicking, especially after that mess up last night.

The thought of last night brought back all they did together that evening. It had been a lovely night that Erik was sure he would remember even without the embarrassing conclusion. And then Christmas when he had given them his blood. Their reactions had been amusing and heartwarming, Raoul expressing childlike glee while Erik could tell that Christine had almost been overwhelmed.

Erik put the thought of giving his blood again to the side for a later time. He did not know how often he would be able to do it, but he could figure out that part later.

At that moment, he had to worry about how he was going to tell the two vampires that he loved them.

Hello again my dear readers! I told you I would be back and so here I am. I'm actually here later and earlier than I should be but whatever. I hope everyone enjoyed the new chapter and will leave a review. Next chapter will be in Erik's POV and it will be the second to last chapter. See ya then!