This is my apology for posting so late on the last chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Erik or Christine. They are the wonderful creation of Mr. Leroux – but ALW gave them depth and humanity – as did Kay. I do not own any lyrics that are used; they will be credited at the end of the chapter in which they appear.

I do however; own the plot and any original characters, which appear from the dark caverns of my mind.

Character portraits:

Erik – Gerard Butler (There is no other – not for me!)

Christine - Scarlett Johansson (with violet eyes, and a little more of a mature look)

Meckenzie -Emma Karwandy (from Butterfly on a Wheel)

Vince - Pierce Brosnon (slightly shorter)

Karen -Bette Midler (only about ten-years younger, seven inches taller, and long, brown hair)

Ms. Jennison-Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny from the latest Bond movies)

Mr. Lynch - Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly from the first X-Men movie)

All other original characters, you can use your imagination.

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 5

"Don't ever make me do that again." Vincent instructed as he sat down across from Erik in the dining room of Karen's apartment.

Erik chuckled modestly, knowing that his uncle was distraught over the whole thing. "Oh, come now…you survived." He jested.

"Erik, that young lady wanted you – not me…she was highly disappointed in my voice and my appearance; I think she expected someone much younger." Vincent suggested.

"That may be so, but it's better to be disappointed in a voice or someone's age, rather than being frightened by a ghoul when you're expecting a man." Erik responded.

Karen glared at him and raised her brow, "Erik, there will be none of that here – you are not going to set there and openly berate yourself as long as there is breath in my body."

Erik dropped his eyes and piddled with the food in front of him. His appetite was pathetic, he knew that; but food really had no appeal to him, and for some reason, he ate to keep from starving to death.

"And there will be no thinking those things, either." Karen chastised, knowing his thoughts were as derogatory as his words. "You need to realize your own worth, Erik – you are a magnificent young man with a wonderful future ahead of you…you're educated, articulate, artistic, generous, gorgeous – and there are many women out there who know this."

Erik shook his head, without realizing he was doing so; Karen had a way of making him feel as though he was ten years old again and she was his favorite aunt, scolding him for smoking behind the barn.

"Really?" Erik responded; his voice held doubt and bitterness – much more than he intended it to. "Where are these women, Karen?" He challenged. "They sure aren't beating the door down to find me."

Karen smiled humorlessly, letting Erik know what she thought of his self-loathing, "That's because you put them off Erik…you ignore their flirting and scoff at their smiles – how do you expect them respond to that?"

Erik glared at her, his sea-green eyes afire with an inner torment, "I'd only disappoint them."

Karen fought back the tears, knowing he was weary of the subject. She would continue to stress his attractiveness to him, no matter how long it took.

She mumbled quietly, just enough for him to hear, "The only person you disappoint, is you."

Vincent sat quietly as he watched his nephew once again fight his demons. Every so often, his self-loathing seemed to reach a peak, and then it buried itself again. He had no idea what caused the fluctuations.

"She was beautiful; Erik…just like you pictured her to be." Vince finally stated, knowing Erik needed to hear what she looked like. "Long, thick, waves of golden blond hair; the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen – they were violet – I've never seen violet eyes on anyone."

Vince happened to glance at Karen and saw her regarding him with fiery eyes; a warning dancing in their chocolate depths.

"She had her daughter with her. Little Meckenzie is a miniature version of her mother; in every way." Vince added with a smile on his face…he loved it when Karen was jealous.

"I really don't need to know any of this." Erik emphasized, hoping Vince would stop his description of the woman.

"Yes, you do." Vince added.

Erik jerked his eyes toward his uncle and stared at him with cold determination. He didn't know why he wasted his energy doing it, Vincent was not effected by it in the slightest.

"Where is the father?" Erik finally inquired.

"She mentioned a divorce – a very bitter one, I might add." Vince reported.

Erik just nodded his head. All around him, people were marrying and divorcing – enjoying relationships with one another – and he stood aloof, as though in another dimension, and observed them….alone.

The rest of the meal passed in silence, and then Erik obtained the name and address from Vincent. He looked at the handwriting and noticed she wrote elegantly and legibly; two things he admired.

He drove over to the school, and spent the rest of the night perusing the paperwork Christine had left with Ms. Jennison when she had visited the school.

She truly was a child protégée, as he was at her age. He would enjoy teaching this young girl to become all that she could – and even more.

He finished his appraisal; and placed the paperwork, complete with the acceptance letter from the CEO and President of the school, Erik Trudeau, on Ms. Jennison's desk. It would be the first thing she would see on Monday when she came to work.

He left instructions for her to call Ms. Daae and let her know that her daughter's tuition, fees, and matriculation costs were covered and Meckenzie could start when classes began next week.

That done, he sat about composing another masterpiece for his students to perform.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

He had done it. He had done exactly what he said he would do and had gotten Meckenzie into the school. Christine could not stop rejoicing.

She immediately started packing what few belongings they possessed and in just two short days, she was on her way to Boston.

The first thing she was going to do was find "The Phantom", take him to dinner, and thank him for all that he had done for them.

She supposed she would have to call him on the air again, for she knew nothing about him, including his identity; she just knew that she needed to thank him in person.

Meckenzie was so happy. Christine could not remember seeing her daughter this excited about anything. She was going to be able to pursue her young dreams. Even if she never went into music as her career, Christine knew it had been worth it just to see her happy.

They were sitting in their newly acquired apartment on Dublin Street in Boston, eating Chinese take-out and laughing at the silly antics of some sitcom on the small television they were able to maintain.

Meckenzie may have been unable to see the actual picture on the screen; but most of the time, the picture in her head was far more amusing than what was showing on the television. Christine loved to listen to her describe the events as they transpired.

Tomorrow, Christine would go in search of a job. Their needs were simple and she knew she was a skilled receptionist, so she shouldn't have any problem. She only prayed that she would like her boss, whoever he/she was.

"Thank you, Mommy." Meckenzie suddenly chirped.

Christine looked at the animated features of her daughter, "For what?"

"For doing whatever you had to do to get me into this school." She replied.

Meckenzie walked over to Christine, her unseeing but beautiful violet eyes never leaving the area where she knew her mother to be. She wrapped her slender, little-girl, arms around her mother's neck and squeezed gently.

"I love you, Mommy."

Christine felt the tears pour down her face as she held her daughter close. She thanked the Lord above for placing "The Phantom" on the radio at the exact time when she needed him the most, and then allowing him to be willing to help her.

"I love you too, sweetie." Christine replied. "What do ya say we invite "The Phantom" over for dinner one night, and thank him for going out of his way to help us?"

Meckenzie smiled brightly and clapped her hands, in a rare showing of her age. "That would be wonderful…he seemed so nice…was he handsome, Mommy?"

Christine chuckled, picturing the older man's handsome features, "Yes, he was…but he struck me as more of a fatherly figure than a romantic interest…you little matchmaker." Christine teased.

"Just asking." Meckenzie replied, with a sheepish grin.

Ever since her last relationship had ended so badly, Christine had not allowed any men into her life…she would watch the handsome actors on the screen and talk to Meckenzie about the type of man she dreamed about, but she never actively pursued anyone.

"Maybe he has a son just waiting around for you." Meckenzie chaffed, hearing her mother's gentle laugh.

"Kenzie, you are too young to be thinking about fixing your mother up with anyone…" Christine reached over and pulled her daughter into her lap, tickling her profusely. "…besides, men have proven to be more trouble than they are worth."

Through her giggles and defensive tickles, Meckenzie managed to voice her next retort, "You say that now, you just wait."

After another round of tickling, they decided to have some ice cream; they giggled like school-girls and finally fell into Christine's big bed and slept soundly.

TBC