Erik sat down on the bed, creating a pfff sound. Sighing, he glanced around the ornately decorated guest room that belonged to the Count de Chagny. It was so… light and pretty, which in the former phantom of the opera's mind, was utterly disgusting. Ignoring the servants' departure from his room, Erik stood up and started pacing, when he was interrupted by muffled voices. Erik, being the sneak he is, immediately crouched down on the floor, a cup at his ear to magnify the sound. Right away he could recognize a male and female voice, talking in a slightly raised volume. Soon after, Erik realized that he was currently eavesdropping on a conversation between Christine and her beloved fiancé. Erik smirked, he loved this. So, for the next couple minutes, Erik listened into a conversation held between his host and hostess… about him.

"Raoul…" that was Christine's voice. "He's not that bad."

"Christine! He kidnapped you! Then he threatened to keep you forever in the dark and kill me! How can you say that he's not that bad?"

"You just don't know him like I do. Plus, you promised to take him in, you can't just put him out in the cold."

"That's not what I was suggesting. I just think that maybe, we shouldn't let him stay here forever. He's extremely unpredictable, and I don't like that fact that any look from you can turn him into a madman! It's very dangerous having him here."

"Just think, my dear," This form of endearment made Erik gag. "He is in our house now. He doesn't have all of the tricks he did at the Opera."

"Yes, true true. I guess you are right. Maybe it won't be so bad… But do I have to talk to him?"

Christine's tone of voice turned into that of a mother's. "Why yes of course you must talk to him…" Erik heard no more. He had gotten off his hands and knees and resumed pacing. If his plan to kill his enemy were to succeed, he needed a plan. And what Christine had mentioned was entirely true. He wasn't back at the opera, and while he could install any undetectable trap at night, it could take a while, being in a large house with many many people. Erik wasn't used to that. He pfffed back down on the bed and closed his eyes, he needed music… Mid-thought, Erik's ear picked up a soft knocking on his door. Sighing again, he strode over to the door and flung it open to reveal Christine standing there with a fake smile on her face.

"I thought I should come get you myself… Dinner is ready in the dinning room. Do you want me to show you the way?" Her eyes became hopeful at the possibility of a positive answer, but she only got a grumpy, "No. I will come down in a few minutes." and a slammed door.

"Damn it." Erik cursed. He wasn't ready for a social interaction with Christine or Raoul, but he couldn't say no. He needed to get an idea of the house layout, plus, his stomach had been begging for food for the past half hour of pondering. He slowly put on his dress clothes and descended down the grand stairs into the foyer, where he turned and saw the long dinning table. As he got closer, he could recognize the white, bright, table cloth and the sparkling tableware. "Ugh." That was the icing on the worst cake Erik had ever had. He missed his home in the dark.

Erik walked straight into the dinning room. Raoul and Christine, who had been patiently waiting for him to arrive, turned their gazes upon him. He shook Raoul's hand, and bowed to Christine right before he took her hand and placed a lingering kiss upon it. While Christine was making Raoul behave, there was no reason Erik couldn't tease him a little bit, right? Erik smirked as he turned his back to Raoul's glare and sat down.

Tentatively, Christine cleared her throat. "We are having chicken as our main dish… is that fine with you Erik?" She seemed to shrink back as she finished this statement. While Erik loved to torment and frighten people, he turned into a puddle of Erik goo at the sight of his love's uneasiness. Once Raoul was dead and gone, he could ease up on the sarcasm and the meanness, well, he would do anything for Christine. A look of pain came across Erik's face as he said, "I am sorry. I shouldn't treat my hosts as I have. I beg your forgiveness." Christine and Raoul's eyes connected, and a look of awe came upon both of them as they turned to look at Erik. Looking at Raoul, Christine nudged her head in Erik's direction. Raoul gave her a pleading look, but gave in very easily. He cleared his throat.

"Ahem." Erik looked up from his meal in Raoul's direction. "I, we, accept your apology." With that Raoul concentrated on his dinner once again. Christine gave a little cough, which caused Raoul to look up at his fiancé. Christine gave him that you-had-better-keep-going look and Raoul continued talking to Erik.

"Of course, I should apologize to you also." Erik almost spit out his food. "I should have treated you, my guest, better than I did. I… don't want the past to… hinder our relationship." He said it very cautiously. Erik, who had managed to close his mouth by the end of Raoul's response and resumed chewing, received a look from Christine, and continued to make small talk with Raoul, who, on Christine's prompting, responded with equally cordial response. This went on for an hour and a half, all through dinner, with topics such as the weather, the house, and the state of the country being discussed quite thoroughly. Dessert came, to both Erik and Raoul's delight, quite quickly and, after wolfing down the entire course within five minutes both excused themselves from the table with a bow to Christine and rushed off to their respective rooms.

Raoul, who had pretty much run off to his study plopped down in his favorite arm chair and exhaled. He stood up when an extremely annoyed Christine stalked in, an excuse already on his lips.

"Christine! I'm sorry, but I don't think I could have stood his company for another minute!"

"You know the delicate place his mind is already in, you could've invited him to have a drink with you in the sitting room or something! I would have left you two alone, you know that."

"Christine," Raoul breathed out. "Do you really think it is a good idea to leave the two of us in a room alone? I know where all the weapons in this house are, and I am not afraid to use them on the likes of that pond scum!"

"He is not pond scum, and the only way you two will ever be friends is if you spend some time together, without the thing you two fight over, me!"

"Christine," Raoul sighed, as he sat down and took her hands in his. "I don't think I can ever be friends with that man, not after what he did. In my eyes, he is despicable."

"You promised to try, at least." Christine reminded him.

"I know, I know!" Raoul said exasperatedly. But if it is going to happen at all, it's not going to happen over night. Also, I was being nice to him. I relieved him of company he really didn't want." Raoul chuckled as he said this last sentence.

"I suppose." Christine admitted, but for now, could please just humor me?" Raoul pecked her on the check.

"Of course my dear. Now, I have some work to do, are you going to be okay by yourself?"

"Raoul, I'm not a little girl any more, I'll be fine!" she laughed.

"Of course, well, I'll see you later tonight." With that, Christine left Raoul to his own devices and decided to check up on Erik.

Meanwhile, Erik was listening into the conversation in the study which was conveniently directly under Erik's room. He huffed at what he heard.

"Me, despicable? I think not!" he breathed to himself. At least Christine was supporting him in a way… but he was not in a fragile state of mind as she seemed to think! And, in addition, he really didn't want to spend more time with that horrible, feminine-like man! They would never be friends, because if they were, then how could Erik kill him? Never having had a real friend, Erik didn't know. He stood up and started pacing as he had before the meal, thinking about how he would create the untimely demise of the fop. Frustrated, Erik slammed his fist down on the desk. He couldn't think straight in this house, without any music. Besides, what is he supposed to do in-between eating, sleeping, and planning murder? Suddenly, a knock at his door pulled Erik out of his thoughts. Once again, he saw Christine standing there, looking curious.

"May I come in?" she asked hopefully. Erik glanced into the room behind him and sighed. He couldn't refuse her.

"Of course you can, please excuse the darkness. I can open the curtains if you would like. He grimaced at the idea of actually performing the action he just mentioned. The last thing he needed right now was light. Christine saw his expression and understood immediately.

"No, really, it's fine the way it is." It was crazy, she thought, about how nice he was being. This was not at all how she expected him to act, especially after she left him or another man. "Erik, can I ask you a question?" Erik looked at her and nodded his head. "Will you promise not to get angry with me?" Erik noticed the warning signs. What kind of question was she planning on asking, and was he prepared? His curiosity got him in the end and he once again nodded. "Thank you. I noticed a… a change in your behavior." Oh God, here it comes, Erik thought to himself. "I was just wondering, why you are being so nice and polite to Raoul and I?"

"Do you not think me capable of having good manners?" He delivered this response a little roughly, and Christine, instead of shrinking back this time, seemed to push herself forward. She raised her voice and responded,

"You promised to stay calm, Erik." Erik sighed. He hated what she could do to him.

"You are right. I apologize."

"You see! That is exactly what I mean! You never treated me that way when we were at the opera. So why are you now?"

"Christine… I love you." He moved over to her and took her hand, which she promptly pulled away. "I would do anything for you, you mean too much to me and this could be my last chance to get you back." He looked directly in her eyes. Christine began to grow nervous for a good reason, because Erik leaned in to try to kiss her.

"I'm sorry," she retreated to the other side of the room. It was a mistake to come up here to see you. Please remember that I have a fiancé! I love you…" Erik looked up at her face, "but only as a friend." The words stung him. It was a mistake to show his feelings for her again, but, maybe while she was here, he could make her listen.

"Christine, please! Tell me why you do not love me like you love your count. I can change!" He was pleading with her! The Phantom of the Opera was pleading, again! For the umpteenth time in the last two weeks! What was wrong with him?" Christine turned and walked out of the door. Erik leaned his head out of the door.

"Christine?" He asked. Without even turning around and in an annoyed tone, Christine responded,

"What now, Erik?"

"Do you have a music room?"

Sorry it's a kinda crappy end to this chapter… I will try to update soon, the joy of spring break!