Author's Note- alright, finally got my sis to write her half of the chapter (the Mary/Raoul one…). Enjoy!

The Mouse in the Opera House- Thank you much! Glad it made you laugh!

AngelUndertheOpera- Thank you!

Tallacus- yeah, he is a fop…but my sis loves him, heheh…the taco was her idea I think…and heheh, anything is possible with the remote! Glad you like the story!

Chapter 4

Couples

The sound of people in the dining room began to fade and Jen turned to Erik. He was still watching the water. "What you thinking about?" she asked. He shrugged. "This ship is going to sink, you know."

Jen rolled her eyes. "No, really? Never would have guessed." It was Erik's turn to roll his eyes. "I don't need sarcasm."

"Well stop stating the obvious!" Jen retorted. Erik glared. "I'm NOT stating the obvious!"

"Yes you are!" the percussionist yelled back with equal fury. "Am not!"

"Are to!"

"Am not!" Erik was getting angry, Jen smiled darkly. "Are to." She said calmly, looking back out at the ocean. He growled and watched her angrily. He couldn't stand her, no matter who she was! "Well, it's only obvious to you." He argued. Jen rolled her eyes. "So? I'm the only one listening."

"Well, I think we should tell someone what might happen!" He suggested, not sounding any calmer. Jen scoffed. "You wanna tell? Go ahead. No one will believe you though. Remember the movie- this is the Unsinkable Ship. No one thought it COULD sink." She told him. The waves below glistened in the moonlight.

"Movies make things up. Surely someone has to think differently." Erik replied, finally beginning to calm down. His green-grey eyes still burned with annoyance though. Jen shrugged. "Maybe, but doubtful. That was one thing the movie didn't make up."

Erik didn't reply. Jen sighed. He wanted to help them, she knew. "Don't beat yourself up over it, Erik. We can't save them, but maybe we can save some." The Phantom watched the waves silently.

After a long while the deck was silent save for the soft lapping of water. Erik turned to her. "Should we go?" Jen shrugged, then smiled. She had an idea. "Follow me." The Phantom gave her a strange look then did as told. Jen lead him all the way across the ship, smiling to herself. He muttered something about 'the ship being big enough' sarcastically under his breath. Jen chuckled lightly so he wouldn't hear. She finally reached her destination and grinned at Erik. He grimaced.

"Are you thinking…" he began. "Yep." Erik groaned. He couldn't resist though. Whether it was him or his Titanic persona, he felt a pull to her. He loved her, he realized. The thought almost sickened him. This was the girl who made his life a living nightmare. She annoyed him, tortured him, confused him, and argued constantly with him. They couldn't love each other. It wasn't possible. But, he reasoned, Erik Destler on the Titanic, not Erik Destler, Jen's muse, loved Sarah Leskay, not Jen. It was confusing. And annoying. No, he corrected himself- Jen was annoying.

Almost without thinking the Phantom walked up to the rail of the ship and stood behind her. Jen was doing like Rose in the movie, more cautiously though. She grinned at Erik who attempted a smile and braced her. Jen outstretched her arms and Erik smiled. He could come to like her perhaps. Perhaps. Time passed and they stood there, imitating Jack and Rose from the movie. Erik felt some form of attraction, and he wasn't sure who it was for. He smiled and began to hum the music from Titanic. Jen laughed softly and joined in, slightly out of tune. They stood there together for what seemed like hours, just content being together.

Jen began to turn to kiss him, and he let her. The ship hit a large wave and sent them both flying back, landing on the deck. "Oooouch…" Jen moaned, sitting up. Erik's expression said the same. She sighed and stood up, groaning the whole time. "That hurts…stupid ocean…" Erik rolled his eyes as she continued to complain and whine. No matter how old she looked, she always acted about ten years younger than her actual age. It annoyed him to no end.

"Alright…now that we have done that…was rather romantic, wasn't it Erik? Anywho…what now?" Jen asked, her perkiness returning. Erik shrugged. "Beats me." Jen thought for a moment, then a devious grin spread across her face. "We could…go back to the room…and you know…you ARE an artist…you could draw me-"

"I see where this is going and NO. I will NOT draw you like in the movie." Erik glared at her. The idea was absurd! And, for some reason, it didn't surprise him one bit. "Fine." Jen pouted.

"You know I pout better than you." Erik told her, watching her with an amused expression. Jen glared. "I don't care."

"You never do."

"I know." She let a small smile appear, then a grin. "Oh, you know I love you Erik! Let's just go back and play a game or something…"

"As long as it isn't the triangle game or Oklahoma game…" Erik muttered. "Fine, fine…we will play something else…" Jen agreed as the couple walked back to their cabin.

XxXxXxXxX

As Erik was obviously gone, Raoul was lucky enough to finally speak without fear. Mary sat near him in the first class dining room. She was exhausted and sat half asleep, listening to Raoul's endless conversation. There were only about three groups of people left- most of them men. The women had left and were settling for bed and tucking young ones in. Rose's mother was the only other lady in the room, which of course, was not much comfort.

Candles and lanterns strung the walls outside, guiding proper people to where they belong. Mary was quite sure that she wasn't one of the proper girls, but hardly cared due to the need for sleep that filled her. She saw all the other girls in proper, upright positions and laugh when necessary, and she did the same, but she couldn't be one of them. Why, it was impossible to be so accurate so long!

"And then he tied me to his gate!" Continued Raoul, unaware that Mary was not listening to a single word. It seemed that he could talk on and on and have no idea what was going on around him. That explained his constant smiling.

Mary began to walk outside into the cold night air and watch the water and the stars. "Miss Mary, have I bored you? You seemed to be in a hurry. Why did you leave me?" Mary turned around to see Raoul in the coming towards her. Why, I've upset him, she thought.

"I'm sorry, I've forgotten my manners," she began softly. "It's just that I'm tired, and Rose's mother is terribly getting on my nerves."

Raoul stared blankly at her, and she turned away. Raoul came to her and took her hand. He was as proper as any well-brought up man should be. Then together they walked down to the first class rooms. "Well, I'm here." Mary told him as they stopped at the door. "If you see Erik and his little friend, or Rose, tell me alright? I can't lose them you know."

" I'll tell you straight away." He then took Mary's hand, kissed it, and went silently away.

XxXxXxXxX

It was a bright morning when Mary awoke. Even in such a dark room as hers, the sun peaked through the window. Looking around at her room, she saw a closet in a far corner, and a dresser full of expensive things. She silently crept out of bed and went to the closet. Inside it was filled with an assortment of clothes. Even a thin off-white and laced nightgown. Then, sifting through each dress, she managed to find the perfect outfit for the morning dining. A long dress with light yellow lace, and material as light a green as spring meadows.

Attempting to put on the dress and looking crazy as she tried to tie the strings in the back, a knock at the door made her jump.

"Mary, Miss Mary, are you still here?" Mary recognized the voice as Raoul's. Oh, she tried to look confident and normal as she opened the door. Raoul came in, and examined her loose dress trying not to laugh.

"Here, let me fix the strings," he told her in a humorous way, smiling at her.

"Thank you Raoul." She said quietly, still rather embarrassed. As he tied, thoughts stirred her head . Oh, what am I doing here! Can't I be a little more like myself? Oh, if only I knew where everyone was! But, then what would I do? If only I could-

"Finished." Exclaimed Raoul, who broke her train of thoughts.

"I do hope you are ready for breakfast Miss."

"I am."

Author's Note- Alright, hope you enjoyed, and please review!