Readers and reviewers, I am depressed, and in the words of Donkey "I think I need a hug" Two days ago I was forced into the car to visit friends of the family when we stop to do a little shopping before we arrive. What should I find in Sanity for a mere $50 but the SPECIAL EDITION TWO DISC ORIGINAL LONDON CAST DIGITALLY REMASTERED ENTIRE PERFORMANCE RECORDING!

And...

And...

AND I DIDN'T BUY IT! I COULDN'T! (Collapses into a tortured heap) ERIK FORGIVE ME! YOU KNOW I WANTED TO! (cries)

I think I need a cookie...

Erik wasn't quite sure how to answer that. Admiring…him?

He was tempted to tear off his mask and confront her with his true self, but found himself resisting the thought. This girl was the first human contact he had had since Christine, unless you counted Madame Giry, who left him baskets of food every week, whether he wanted it or not, and he had no desire to chase her away. She looked at him as if she already knew what lay behind the mask. Like she knew and didn't care…he found that notion almost fearful.

Erik was saved from having to form an answer to Adriana's challenging grin by an indignant yowl from the main room.

"Ayesha!" Erik exclaimed, darting outside, Adriana followed, grinning like a loon.

Erik was holding a now purring Siamese cat, who was butting her head against his fingers, "Forgive me, my dear one," he murmured to the feline, "I did not think to find you before we left." Ayesha gave a grumbling purr in reply and turned her green-gold eyes to Adriana.

"Hello you gorgeous creature," she said, stretching out one hand to rub behind the cat's ears. Ayesha closed her eyes and purred in ecstasy.

"You like cats?" Erik asked, "Ayesha trusts but a few."

"I have one at home," she replied, "A little black and white miniature, Chianti."

Erik raised his eyebrows, "You named your cat after Italian red wine?" he enquired, "Why not? Actually it was all part of my master scheme to con Dad into letting me keep her" she grinned.

"What breed is she?" Erik queried as Ayesha started gnawing on Adriana's fingers, she snorted.

"Farm cat, anything and everything mixed up into a little sharp-clawed minx about…" she snatched her fingers away before Ayesha started a fresh attack, she placed her hands about 8 inches apart, "This big, not counting the tail," she grinned again, "I call her my Jelical cat."

"Why?" Erik chuckled, glancing at her palms as he set Ayesha down, he blinked and took a closer look as he glimpsed the red marks and dry scaly skin. "What's wrong with your hands?"

Adriana looked down and blushed, "Oh," she said, hiding them behind her back, "Nothing, they're just demented."

"Let me see." Erik reached around and took her wrists, she resisted for a moment then gave in and allowed him to draw them out and examine them. Adriana sighed, closing her eyes, torn red skin marked her palms, contrasting with the white dead skin that was obviously caused by attacking fingernails. Little bumps or blisters covered the unmarred skin, each one holding little sacs of fluid.

"How long have you had this?" Erik asked, frowning.

"About three years, on and off," she answered, wincing as he bent her fingers back to check her dexterity.

"And you don't know what it is?" he turned her hands over to check the backs of her palms, they were clear.

"I know what it is," she sounded slightly offended, "Supposedly its siriasis, but nothing the doctors ever give me works."

"Hmm…" Erik released her hands and she looked down at them.

"It's not that bad," she tried, "They've been worse, really. I know I'm in trouble when it gets to my fingers."

"Do you know of anyone else who has had tis?" Erik was examining his own long-fingered hands now.

"It's not contagious," she reassured him, "Mum had it, but hers is gone now."

"How did she lose hers?" he was watching the shadows from the candles play on the ceiling thoughtfully, Adriana looked amused.

"Ever wanted kids, Erik?" she grinned.

"Uh…no" Erik flushed, "But I may have something that might work."

Adriana's face lit up, Erik found he was enjoying her smiles.

"Wait here." He slipped away and into his room as Adriana stared at her hands. This rash, or whatever it was, had been plaguing her for three years now, she would give anything to see it go. Erik reappeared with a small flask and a wad of soft wool. "This well sting," he warned, dabbing clear liquid onto the fluff.

"Uh oh," Adriana muttered, holding her palms up, Erik held the wool over her hands, then paused.

"You may want to sit down first he said apologetically.

"Oh God." That was a loud prayer as Adriana righted a long couch with a grunt and a heave of her shoulders.

"Your stronger than you look," Erik noted, she flashed him a grin.

"3 brothers" she quipped, at Erik's puzzled look she shrugged, "I have to hold my own somehow."

"Ah," Erik screwed the lid back on the flask and set it by his feet. Gently he took one hand and straightened her fingers, "Your not allergic to anything are you? This holds some fairly volatile substances."

"Only cashews," she replied,

"Cashews?" Erik echoed, "But they're delicious!"

"So people tell me, and they're beans."

"Really?"

"Yes, get on with it Erik."

"Very well." The Phantom pressed the wool to Adriana's palm and drew it in smooth strokes over her hand. He heard her give a choked gasp and saw her eyes go very wide as she muttered unintelligible words under her breath.

"This is a PG-13 phic" he reminded her, reaching for her other hand.

"That's why I'm not screaming." She retorted, staring off into space, "And I'm singing, works better."

"Singing what?" Erik sounded amused as he continued to administer vast quantities of pain to her hands.

"Prima Donna," she muttered, "I'm mentally sending all this pain to Carlotta."

"Good choice," Erik approved.

"Thankyou,"

"You are most welcome. That should do it." Erik lifted a roll of bandages out of his pocket and proceeded to wrap her palms firmly. "There."

"Thankyou Erik," Adriana replied, "Apart from the pain, that was quite kind of you." Erik blinked at her flippant remark, then threw his head back and laughed. After a moment, Adriana joined in, struggling off the divan in her bandaged hands she looked around at the mess of the Phantom's lair. "Right then," she said, analysing the dust, "I do believe it's time to get to work."