I thought I would drop this one early. I will not be able to drop a chapter tomorrow, so I felt so inclined to do so today. Thank you for the reviews.

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 Brosnan (slightly shorter)

Karen -Bette Midler (only about ten year's 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 14

"Well, what do ya think?" Karen asked as she drove down the main boulevard.

"I suppose you are asking about Erik?" Christine teased.

"No…the man on the moon…" Karen bantered as she sat in the drivers seat at a stop light and gave Christine the most wicked look, "…of course I mean Erik!"

Christine chuckled and then Karen followed, "He's gorgeous!" Christine sang. "I mean, that's certainly not all there is to him, but he is very easy on the eyes!"

"I think so, too." Karen stated with a smile. "Of course, Erik doesn't see that, he insists he is hideous beyond words, and the only woman he has ever let into his heart, drilled that thought into his head with her rejection of him."

"He was rather aloof at the school when I first met him; he stayed hidden and would not allow me to see him. He spoke with a clipped tone and seemed rather irritated with me." Christine stated.

Karen shook her head, "Yes, that is common behavior for him, he acts that way to push people away from him…he was like that with me at first, until he realized he did not scare me or intimidate me." Karen reflected, "He's uses his psychology expertise and what he knows about human behavior to create a chasm between himself and humanity."

Christine listened to Karen's every word, "Have people really been scared of him?" She asked with surprise in her tone.

"I can't say…I think most of it is in his head." Karen reported, "He expects people to react that way after what Summer did to him and the many kids in school who treated him like some sort of freak show attraction."

"There are many who treat Meckenzie the same way…" Christine added, "…I just don't get some people."

They arrived at Target and shopped for about an hour. Christine bought a couple of new dresses for work. So far, she had only worn older pant suits that she had, but she found that she had a desire to dress up for work now. She smiled as she realized what affect Erik was already having on her.

She also bought a cute outfit for Meckenzie and a rug for her bathroom. Karen didn't buy anything, she was enjoying having someone to shop with that didn't complain about every aisle they walked down.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Erik, stop moping around…she seems completely besotted with you." Vince stated.

Erik threw him a quizzical look, "Have you gone senile?" Erik jested. "She was just being kind after being thrown into the awkward situation of having to be around me and eating at the same time."

Vince rolled his eyes, "Erik, you're not too big for me to throw over my knee and spank for your insolence and self-deprecation."

Erik laughed. It was a full, deep, pleasant sound and Vince could not help but smile. "I'd like to see you try." Erik stated while he laughed some more.

"Well, I'll settle for a game of Parcheesi. This time, I swear I'm going to beat you!" Vince boasted.

Meckenzie had been practicing her piano technique while Vince and Erik listened. She had taken a break to go to the restroom and was now headed back down the hall toward their voices.

"Mr. Erik, what are you doing?" She asked as she made her way toward him.

"My uncle is determined to win at this game and he has yet to do so in the twenty-five years that we have been playing." Erik stated, smiling broadly at Vince as he rolled his eyes.

Meckenzie leaned on Erik's knee, causing his heart to leap…this little girl treated him in all ways as though she could not get enough of his company. Erik could not remember a time when he had felt more normal.

"Instead of playing Parcheesi, uncle, let's play something Meckenzie can play, too." Erik suggested, knowing the little girl wanted his attention.

"Why can't you just teach me to play par…" she stumbled over the pronunciation and Erik picked up on it.

"Say par…" she imitated him, "…and then cheesy." She repeated after him and then said it faster, "That's it!" Erik affirmed with a gentle pat on her shoulder.

Vince watched as Erik turned his full attention to the miniature version of Christine and graced her with every charming attribute that he should have given the adult version.

It was at about that time that Christine and Karen returned, and the old façade of detachment and mystery enveloped Erik once again. He became a different person when his supposed ugliness was visible…and it pained Vince to witness it.

"Mommy, Mr. Erik taught me some more chords and how to match pitch better!" Meckenzie harped.

Erik was standing in the darkened living room with this back to them, facing the window. He was certain the last thing Christine Daae needed to see before returning to her home, was his ugly features.

Christine sensed the stiffness in him more than she observed it. She noticed how he seemed to pull into himself when she was around and avoid any open conversation or eye contact.

He truly felt as though she were a coiled viper ready to strike him down with her disdainful looks or degrading words.

She walked toward him, trying to be as quiet as possible so that he would have no chance to move away.

She put her hand to his elbow, touching skin on skin, and felt him jump at the contact; he spun around and regarded her with guarded eyes. In the shadows of the room, all she could really focus on was the mask, but she ignored it and looked into what she knew were his gorgeous, green eyes.

"Thank you for keeping Meckenzie occupied, she seems quite taken with you." Christine admitted.

Karen switched on the light and Erik's expression did not change, but Christine could see the storm raging in his eyes. She decided to take a different angle with Erik and appeal to his sense of propriety.

"What is it about me that disturbs you, Mr. Trudeau?" She asked, using the formal language to capture his full attention.

Erik's head cocked upwards and to the side as he contemplated her question.

"Disturbs Me?" he repeated, "Whatever do you mean?"

Christine slightly smiled, feigning unease, "My presence seems to bring out the worst in you." She drilled, "Where is the man that Karen speaks of? The man who presented them with an amazing wedding gift; the man who has enthralled a five-year-old girl in such a way that she feels as though she is on top of the world; she man who makes such beautiful melodies come from a piano – that's the man I want to see."

Erik turned back toward the window to avoid her eyes. "I apologize if I seem rude." He stated, quietly. "You do not disturb me…" he murmured, as he turned to look at her. He finally allowed a hesitant, captivating smile to play about his mouth, "…at least not in the sense you are thinking."

There is was; her proverbial foot in the proverbial door. She smiled brightly and again placed her hand upon his elbow. His line of sight changed as he looked at her hand upon his flesh…his look told her that he was not used to being touched, but found it pleasurable.

"I'm really happy to know that, Erik…I would very much like to get to know you." She announced to him, "And it just would not do if you could not stand to be around me."

"You want to get to know me?" He repeated, "Why?"

Christine looked down at Meckenzie as she put her little hand into hers. She smiled at Karen and continued,

"Oh…" she chuckled, "…there is no time tonight for me to get started on that list."

Erik wrinkled his brow, thinking she was avoiding his question, "What list?"

Christine smiled and raked her violet eyes slowly up his tall, lithe, masculine form, "The list of reasons why I want to get to know you."

The shock was there, deep in his eyes. He could not come up with words to express his surprise. This beautiful, intelligent, down-to-earth woman, wanted to get to know him. What was the world coming to?

"See you tomorrow." Christine whispered as she and Meckenzie walked out the door.

It was a good five minutes before Erik's legs allowed him to move.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

On the way home, Meckenzie's eyes were heavy from invading sleep, but she hummed a beautiful melody.

"That sounds beautiful, Meckenzie – where did you hear that melody?" Christine asked.

"It is a song Mr. Erik wrote, he says it's about his life." Meckenzie answered.

"Do you know the words?"

Meckenzie shook her head, sadly.

"No, he played it on the piano for me…he said the words were sad and would make me hurt, so he didn't want me to know them." Meckenzie murmured.

Christine reflected back on the memory of his eyes. She had seen such sorrow rooted in their green depths, such sadness and loneliness that made her want to reach out to him in friendship; or, if she was honest with herself, much more than friendship.

She felt an immediate connection to him; his voice, his obvious intelligence, the generosity she knew he possessed – everything. It didn't hurt that he was wonderful to look at, either.

His smile drew her into him; hidden in its reserved beauty, she saw a man who was reaching out for acceptance and unconditional love...but the words would not leave his mouth; at least not yet.

TBC