so sorry for my prolonged abscence.. I have been as you all no very very busy. sorry... well enough with the excuses I'll spare you my borring drawling and post already lol.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to POTO in any way shape or form.. I think i have said all that needs saying then havent I?

I READ AND FINSIHED THE POTO BOOK.. LEROUX ISA FREAKING GENUIS!

Once we were inside the parlor we were calmly talking about the success of Antonio's music shop until an awkward silence fell. That was until it was broken by Laura.

"Who wants to play a game that Christina taught me called Truth or Dare?" She said mischievously as I choked on my drink laughing.

"Laura I d-" Before I could finish everyone was shaking there heads in agreement liking the sound of the game. Including Mother Giry.

"Okay then lets begin." Laura said clapping her hands, the look of mischievousness still in her eyes.

ALL IN CHRIS' POV!

Only one thought ran through my mind at that moment and it was the least effective thought I could ever have.

"Uh oh"

I just looked into Laura's eyes and I knew that she had something up her sleeve and that I of all people…I was doomed!

When I felt a small tug on the inside of my head I looked up to see Erik bowing.

"Excuse me but I feel that I must retire for the evening. You know where your rooms are. Good night." He said shortly before kissing my head and disappearing.

I sighed sadly, Erik had given up so much over the last few months and I of all people new it most. To invite a complete stranger to stay with us because he was my best friend's fiancé was out of his character. But as were a lot of things that he did now that we had moved and were a married couple. I regretted it dearly too. I missed the time we had spent together alone in the lair. But I guess being parents forced us to have to change our ways. This brightened my mood a little as I lovingly stroked my growing tummy.

"Only two more months and this damned morning sickness would be over and done with. Yay!" I briefly thought to myself joyously.

"Well then lets begin. Just because he isn't playing doesn't mean he can't be apart of the game." Laura then said with a twinkle to her eye.

Part of me was thankful that she knew that Erik's face and mask were off limits or I would be very, very, very scared at that moment, also upset to think about it. Thankfully Laura new that I had a temper not to be contended even by Erik.

"Okay I will go first then you, Antonio, and Madame Giry." Laura announced as she then smiles even more mischievously if that was at all possible at that moment in time.

"Okay Christina… Truth or Dare?" She asked me.

"Truth" I said feeling like I needed to see exactly what she was capable of before I did a Dare.

With this she winked at Mother Giry and then looked to me.

"Okay Christina… Is Erik as good as he seems. I mean… does he kiss like a god or not?" She asked winking at me.

At this I flushed and blushed the brightest shade of red I think humanly possible. My eyebrows shot up into my hairline and my eyes were as wide as melons as they flashed there gold Wolf like predator color at her.

"Well… of course he is… yes… what kind of question is that?" I said scratching the back of my neck, and embarrassed as I blushed and stuttered.

Everyone in the room laughed loudly at this as a groaned and glared at Laura dangerously. She only laughed harder and I swore I could feel Erik chuckling as I looked up to see his silhouette behind the mirror above the Fireplace. I just rolled my eyes and glared at him daring him to keep it up.

"Okay my turn. Antonio... Truth or Dare?" I asked him knowing he would pick dare since he was a man and would be an arrogant one at that if I was right.

"Dare!" He said holding his head high looking much like a man taking on a pathetic hero pose. I half expected a cape to unfurl with his hands on his waist like that.

"Okay then… I want you to stand up and kiss Laura up the arm and back down again while holding it gracefully and saying 'Mortishia' over and over again." I said trying to bite back my laughter as his arrogant look soon faded into nothing. Actually his head shrank and his arms fell flat against his sides with the cutest dumfounded look ever.

Along with his look it was now Laura's turn to blush like crazy. She had her mouth opened wide like it had come unhinged at the jaw… and Mother Giry was smiling evilly behind her handkerchief.

"I do not think it proper that you keep this up Christina" Said Mother Giry behind her handkerchief.

I knew though that she was saying it for proprieties sake alone and nothing else. But I would not go back on my dare and I wasn't about to start acting proper just because Mother Giry told me to. I was a modern-day girl prone to modern day actions! I just shook my head at her as I lye back more relaxed into the red velvet rocking chair letting my feet be warmed by the fireplace in front of me.

After Antonio had taken the time to straiten his jacket as he gently lifted Laura off the seat and then held the tip of her hand with one hand, her shoulder with the other one, while kissing her arm down and then up again saying the name while blushing.

The look on her face and his caused me to fall out of my chair laughing at the comedy of the moment and how un-Adam's Family like it was even though that's what I had based it off of.

"Okay, okay enough, enough before I die of laughter." I said before I soon did die.

Antonio sighed after blushing and then returned to his seat awkwardly slumping as Laura sighed regrettably and took her seat as well looking at her dress becoming fascinated with the small lace pattern on the hemming.

"Alright then. Madam Giry… Truth or Dare?" he asked tiredly.

"Truth" She said shortly as she kept her seat obviously not stupid enough to even try and attempt the dare he would have in store for her.

"What is you personal opinion on Christina." He said glaring at me dangerously and then smiling triumphantly.

The only thoughts that ran through my head at that exact moment were, "Oh bullocks!"

Madame Giry looked at me with a smile and then at Antonio as she raised an eybrow.

"Are you sure you want me to answer that monsieur?" She asked innocently and I seriously questioned what the women had up her sleeve this time.

"Yes… quite sure indeed Madam." He said still glaring at me but I knew he was only doing so to intimidate me as I promptly gave him a quick glare daring him to keep it up as my eyes flashed responsively.

"Well… I find Madam Destler to be a very proud child who is prone to the modern day personality of an artist and musician. She can be as stubborn as an ass and as independent as a scorpion. Along with the temper of any musician that is not to be challenged, not even by even Monsieur Destler!" he said very harshly and then a twinkle returned to her eyes.

"But she is also very smart and a very devoted wife and even though she is very emotional at times she is one of the most loyal people I have ever come across in my time. She has her flaws Monsieur DuBois and she is far from perfect… but she is proud to be herself and has loved Erik like no other... and for that I shall always look down upon her as my daughter and a member of my family." She said matter of factly as she looked at me and then nodded her head.

I didn't know what to say having never heard of her opinion of me until now as I nodded at her afraid that I was going to cry for a second as I only smiled at her and held my tears for later. Looking up at the mirror above the fire place I smiled at it and winked letting my mind tell him that I did indeed love him like no other… along with that I was very much thankful that he didn't constantly refer to himself in the third person as I inwardly chuckled. I could almost see him raising an eyebrow at me.

Looking at Antonio then I smiled as he too smiled and nodded at me. We were at terms again and that made me happy.

"I think it is my turn is it not. Laura Truth or dare?" Asked Mother Giry as she took the initiative and started to finish the game. Only one more round and we would be done thankfully.

"Um... Dare!" Said Laura not to my surprise as she looked at Mother Giry proudly looking fully ready for what she had in store for her.

"Alright then Mademoiselle I would love for you to demonstrate for us the meaning of Nyah hah." She said impersonating Laura's little victory expression. Recently every time that Laura one something or was right about something she would raise her hands in the air saying it. It made me laugh but seriously annoyed the already agitated Giry.

"Oh pish that's simple… it means…" and with this she stood up and cleared her throat motioning for all who had delicate ears to cover them, "Hell yes!" She said in an accent that would make the sailors blush. While doing this though she jumped in the air and through her hand up like she was cheering. I smiles and laughed heartily.

Laura really doesn't belong in this time! I thought to myself laughing as everyone else joined in.

Laura then sat down again straightening her skirts and smiling as she took on that graceful Victorian air. Looking at how easily it came for her to turn on this façade I smiled at her and then readied myself for what I knew was next to come.

"Alright then Christina… Truth or Dare" she said in a dangerous low voice that bordered seductive and lethal all at once… I smiled fearlessly.

"Dare" I said nonchalantly even though I very much feared for my sanity.

The spark in her green eyes made me raise an eyebrow. This was not going to end well for me and I knew it.

"I would like for you to… now there are two parts to this dare…" she said making sure I didn't confuse this with the whole dare. "Call Erik and make sure he is here for this." She said waging a warning finger at me.

I shivered wandering what malevolent little plan she had in her scheming subconscious.

"Um Erik! Could you come out here for a second… or two." I said nervously making sure he knew that this might take a while… hoping he caught my warning undertone.

In seconds he appeared behind me glancing warningly at the trio as he then placed a protective hand on my shoulder. He didn't say a word as he then proceeded to keep a keen eye on or little arbiter.

"Right now for the second part of my dare… I want you to pinch his visible cheek while cooing to him like a baby 'my 'itlle wittle beautiful bouncing baby brat arnt you the cutest 'utest thing in the whole wide world' and then proceed to kiss him repeatedly like an old lady." She said and then clasped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Only succeeding in looking more ridiculous because of it.

I stared in horror from her to Erik as I closed my eyes and groaned knowing that what little sanity I had left was going to be tested thanks to this little performance I had to put on. I would get Laura back for this one day if it were the last thing I do.

Once I had collected all my strength I got out of my small recliner chair in front of the fireplace and then turned around to face the blank and yet dumbfounded Erik.

Placing my hand on his cheek while pinching it I then proceeded to say repeatedly, "My 'ittle wittle beautiful bouncing baby brat… arnt you the cutest 'utest thing in the whoel wide world." After which I kisses him five times rather hard like an old lady, the entire time in the most unenthusiastic and monotone voice. The voice I used could have put that of even Ben Stine to sleep. Of course that made it all the more comical.

When I was done with my tyranny of Erik's face I pulled my hands away and through my self on the recliner chair with my hands covering my face as I felt, rather than heard, Erik's hasty retreat of the Salon. Which had now become none other than our own Rosy Hours of Christmas Eve.

Two hours later and very close to midnight Mother Giry sent us all off to bed. I feeling more exhausted mentally and physically then ever. Laura looked like she was about to collapse already from her fits of laughter, and poor, poor Antonio was looking like a beaten dog. He being the only man playing had suffered the worst of the dares.

When I finally dragged my tired self to my bedroom I wasn't surprised to see Erik already curled up in bed with Riegal at the foot of the bed. The sight made me smile as I slipped out of my breeches and poets shirt only to throw on one of Erik's shirt. The cotton and the musky smell of soap all being that of Erik's trademark aura to me now.

Once I had changed into my nightclothes I slipped noiselessly next to Erik in bed and curled up beside him as he rolled over and threw an arm possessively around my waist.

"Remind me never to allow you to play that ridiculous game again Christina." He said in a warning voice that made me smile. I just cuddled closer to his warm and taut chest.

"mmm" was all that escaped my lips as I felt him chuckle a little only to be accompanied by his sweet voice humming me off to sleep.

In theses moments I knew that my life had finally been complete and I had found where I belonged.

I paced the damp cold floor of the cellar I had turned into my study as I looked at the millions of pictures that covered my walls of Madame Christina Destler as I scowled my fury at being beaten by a mere teenager, a child compared to my years of life.

How had I let myself slip like that! Of all people how had I allowed myself to get lost in my thoughts of glory and of having her? I had seen her that night by the river at the pier. I had seen her fire and her fury and had been more drawn to it than any other paramour I had taken on and new she would be mine. Years of walking this sullen planet lost in my lonely thoughts. Years of wandering the dark places of the world thanks to this curse I had been given.

Three hundred years and I had allowed for myself to be outwitted and then beaten like a dog by a girl no less than 17 years old and pregnant at that! Of course it had only fueled my need for her even more.

"Soon enough I'll get rid of that bastard ugly husband of hers and then I'll take her as well."

UH OH! lol poor poor Christina she will never be free will she? lol well now that we have finaly introduced our new climax of the story i shall depart and apologize for my abscence yet agian.. and regretfully inform you that i might have to take another one. TIll then my locey fans please R&R. and

Erianna Abyss (you can Aim me with that name and IM me with yahoo as long as you put an underscore inbetween the two names)