I do hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, mine was quiet and relaxing…but I did get a great idea for a new Phantom fic…so I started on that also. So now, I have my "Dear Frankie" fic going and this Phantom fic and my new one…I am a sucker for punishment, aren't I?

Be patient – no improvements on my Internet dilemmas are in sight.

CHAPTER 25

Erik arose early the next morning, left a note to Karlie, and headed to the opera house. He needed to make some changes, and there was not time like the present to do so.

He needed to get out of the opera house and purchase a home. He had never actually owned his own home and was anxious to venture out into the world of the living. For so long, he had lived under the ground, as if he were a mole; but it was time to face the daylight, especially with Karlie in the picture.

Karlie's reaction to him had taken him completely by surprise. He had not expected her to return his affections, no one else ever had. But she wanted him as badly as he wanted her, and he no longer felt right living under the same roof as she did, even if it was an opera house.

He gathered his coat and hat and hailed a cab, he had seen an estate on the outskirts of town that looked like something he would be interested in. He had would go and take a look at it and then get with Demi on the financing side of it. This was a whole new experience for him, but he was looking forward to having a place of his own.

OOOOOOOOOO

When Karlie opened her eyes to the sunshine beaming through the window, she could not help the huge, satisfied smile that graced her face. If Erik did not know how her feelings were headed for him, then he was completely dense; and she knew he was not that.

She put on a simple, but elegant day dress and headed down the stairs to see Erik. The note he left was not an adequate substitute, but she understood his need to go back to the opera house and get started on his work, but what really peaked her curiosity and her ire…was that Meg was gone also.

OOOOOOOOOO

Erik headed down the corridor toward the exit, when he collided right into Meg Giry. She looked at him with her hazel eyes and smiled.

"Erik, I really need to talk to you." She said with a slightly breathy tone.

Erik quirked his eyebrow at her, "What about?"

Meg blatantly pinned him against the wall and pressed her body into his, suggestively. She was tired of admiring him from a distance and watching while Karlie manipulated his time.

"About the possibility of you and I getting to know each other." Meg crooned.

Erik could not believe this, 31 years he had gone without any woman even paying him a mind; and now, he had two wanting to spend time with him…but Erik knew in his heart that he only had the desire to spend time with one of them…Karlie.

"Meg, I am truly flattered by your attentions, but my heart is leading me in another direction." He stated, trying to sound as persuasive as possible.

"Erik, you can see us both, nothing says you have to limit yourself to one woman." Meg suggested.

Erik tried to hide his annoyance, she really was being a bit to overpowering for his taste; he thought of her as a niece or a younger sister, not a lover.

He gently pushed her from him and firmly placed several inches of space between them, "Meg, you are Audrey's daughter, and I think of you more as a niece or a little sister, than anything else." He watched as tears gathered in her eyes, "I have watched you grow from the time you were born…you just didn't know I was watching."

Meg looked at him with understanding in her eyes, "I see…where does that leave me?" she asked, not wanting to sound forlorn or scorned.

Erik cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her head to look into her eyes, "Meg, you are an attractive young woman with a great deal to offer any man who is lucky enough to win your heart." He said with a smile. "I will always be here, as an uncle, a brother…even as a father figure if you need one, but I cannot give you any more than that."

Meg smiled through the tears and gave him a hug. She would never stop loving this man, she would just have to redirect that love and allow it to blossom in another way. She needed him in the capacities he mentioned. She had never known her father, and she had no uncles or brothers…she could accept his terms.

Erik put her in the cab and carried her back to Demi's, where her mother was waiting on her. Karlie had been a nervous wreck, wondering what Meg was up to, but trusted Erik; even though they had not made promises to each other, she knew he would not be seeing another woman while kissing her like he had. She knew how he felt about her…it was in his kiss.

Erik smiled at Karlie; just the sight of her warmed his heart. He did not know if she wanted everyone to know that they were seeing each other, so he did not say a word; he left that up to her.

"Meg, I had no idea where you were." Audrey harped.

Meg looked chagrined and apologized to her, "I needed to talk to Erik so I followed him this morning."

"Needed to talk to him about what?" Audrey asked, her voice calmer than it had been.

Meg glanced over at Karlie, "I wanted to let him know that I cared about him." She said without hesitation and then walked away.

Audrey looked over at Erik and his eyes assured her that everything was all right. He walked up to her. His voice was low and whispered, "I had to tell her that I only think of her as a little sister or a niece; nothing more." Erik softly smiled, "I cannot believe that I have gone this long without females even noticing me, and now they are coming from all angles…" he looked out the window, avoiding eye contact, "…it baffles my mind."

"What are you talking about Erik?" Audrey asked with a sly grin, as she followed his line of sight to where Karlie was standing, desperately trying to avoid looking at them.

Erik winked at her and whispered, "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell."

Audrey had the decency to gasp quietly, "Erik…you and Karlie?"

Erik glanced over at Karlie and motioned for her to come over to him, which she did…gladly.

He rested his hand in the small of her back, which made Karlie feel so special…it was a sign of intimacy, whether he knew it or not.

"Karlie, please talk to Audrey, she wants to know answers that I have no right talking about." He said lightly, and then walked over to talk to Roland.

Karlie was a little surprised, what could he possibly not be able to tell Audrey?

"You and Erik are seeing each other?" Audrey stated with a knowing smile. It didn't take words for her to read the answer in Karlie's eyes, "It's about time."

All Karlie could do was nod her head "yes", and smile with tears in her eyes.

Audrey gave her a motherly hug and assured her that Erik had set Meg straight on where she fit in.

Erik saw the hug and deciphered that it was safe to move back into the calming presence of Karlie. He approached her with such adoration in his eyes, that Audrey just about cried herself.

Erik turned to Karlie and asked, "Would you like to go with me to find a place for me to live? I can't stay in the opera house any longer."

Karlie reached up and placed a kiss on his cheek, "Yes I would, anything to be with you; but don't feel that you have to move out on my account."

Erik tweaked her nose, "I do, it is not proper for a man to reside under the same roof as the woman he is courting…" he jested, "…besides, I have been wanting a place of my own, anyway."

Karlie smiled and took his hand; while they walked out the door and stepped up into the cab, her thoughts dwelled on one thing; how long should she wait to let him know that she was in love with him.