Wow! Thanks everyone for all of the great reviews. They all really made me fell good. Sorry the update took so long. I am the slowest typer in the world, and it really stinks some times. Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: Guess what I still don't own? You've guessed right. I still don't own Phantom.

Chapter Two
Son of a Fop

One hour left. One hour more hoping that Aria wold change her mind about the date. Although he knew that wouldn't happen, it never hurt to hope. Christine sat in a chair in their room, a well thumbed copy of Faust in her hands. She watched him warily from the corner of her eyes, not trusting him out of her sight.

She would not tolerate any more murders in her house.

Erik got up from the finances he was settling to move to the floor next to their bed. She looked curiously at him from across the room. Humming softly he pressed something that just looked like a nail in the floorboards to her. As he pressed a trapdoor in the floor sprang open. She glared at him. She had assumed that he had gotten over his obsession with hidden springs.

He didn't even look at her as she got up to see what he was doing."Erik?" She called cautiously.

He was still humming softly. Completely ignoring her as she made her was over to where he was. Her breath caught, and her eyes bulged as she saw what her husband was dragging out. She cursed in French, Persian, Russian, and Italian. Erik smiled. He had always assumed that she didn't pick up on his multilingual phrases. "What are these!" Her voice shook

"What? These?" Erik asked as he picked up a lethal looking sai. It's twin still gleaming in it's emerald studded holster. He turned the oriental weapon over fondly in his hand before putting it down. He disappeared before returning with another cache of weapons."Yes these!"Christine exclaimed. "Nadir would have your head if he saw these!"

Erik smiled, infuriating her."Hence the hidden trap door." He laid the various weapons down on the bed. Forgetting herself for a moment she picked up a ceremonial dagger. The weapon seemed more like a work of art than an instrument of death. Diamonds no larger than specks of dust covered the hilt, shinning like the Persian sands it was made to resemble. She scolded herself for her momentary lapse. That didn't excuse anything. "You're insufferable." She whispered. "Do you know what would happen if someone found these?"

Erik shrugged. Not really caring. It wasn't like he used them anymore. They where simply souvenirs from the past. He hadn't had cause to harm anyone in a long time. He had promised to many people. Yet he had kept these for just this occasion. Interments perfect for causing fear instead of inflicting any real damage . . .

It was his best insurance that that miserable punk kept his hands to himself.

Christine must have read it in his eyes. "No. I forbid it. You can't, Erik."

"Can't what?" He turned innocent eyes on his wife.

She glared at him. She knew him way to well. She turned her gaze to the assortment of various knives, daggers, swords, sai's, lassos, pistols, and other exotic weapons that she couldn't identify. Her blue eyes turned smoky as she picked up one of the tools. He wouldn't dare! "Is this what I think it is?" She demanded as she picked up a cauterization kit.

Erik laughed as he took it from her. "Lets just say that the Khanum knew some of the finner points of torture. Thank-You, I was looking for these."

Christine looked at him furiously. This could not be happening. She didn't trust Erik's temper enough to have these weapons and Aria's boyfriend in one house. This had disaster written all over it. "No Erik. I will not allow this! These weapons all have to go. I'm sure Nadir, or any one of your numerous contacts will love to take these over for you." She paused thoughtfully. "Now that I think about it, Nadir would demand to have them."

"I bet he would." Erik agreed, yet he made no move to dispose of the weapons. The argument would have continued, had Aria not called softly from her parent's doorway. "Mom, Dad . . . I'm ready."

Christine looked at Erik threateningly. This was not over, her eyes told him softly. Not by a long shot. Her flashing eyes calmed as she looked over to where her daughter's voice came from. "I'm sure that you look lovely." Christine said warmly, yet Aria still didn't enter. "Why don't you show us?" She encouraged. Erik just sulked moodily.

Aria came hesitantly as Erik waited in silent dread. She came into full view, and all of his worst fears came true. She was beautiful. A long, elegant dress, the deepest shade of crimson swirled as she walked with a graceful, unhurried stride into the room. The dress was off at the shoulders, and dipped way to low for Erik's taste. That boy better be keeping his eyes on her face, and not any lower. Her long black curls where drawn up into an elegant chignon, a few strands breaking free to frame a angelic face, so much like her mothers. Intense greenish-gold eyes stared out from beneath long lashes, silently piercing as she looked for approval. The only jewelry she wore was the only touch she needed, a crystal rose, on a long silver chain. The same one he remembered giving Christine years ago. He had to fight back a sudden wave of emotion. His little angel was growing up.

Christine had tears glowing in her eyes as she went over to envelope her daughter in a tight hug. "You look wonderful dear! Oh my goodness, you've grown so fast . . ." She wiped at her eyes. "Sorry, I'm getting all choked up." She sniffled, and hugged Aria tighter.

Aria squirmed out of her mother's embrace, as she looked to her father for approval. Her eyes glowed uncertainly. He thought for a moment before speaking. "You look very nice." He said, Aria smiled triumphantly, then he continued. "I just do hope that there is more to that dress."

Aria looked confused. "What?"

"You heard correctly." Erik said walking up to her. He paused thoughtfully before moving the shoulder straps up her shoulders. Covering as much flesh as possible. "It just needs a few adjustments. It's a dress I'd love to see on your mother, just not on my daughter. Especially on my daughter, who's on her first date, in a dark auditorium."

Aria turned crimson as the straps stubbornly refused to stay up, much to Erik's chagrin. "They're meant to stay off the shoulder. They won't stay up."

Erik glared at her. "Then you find a way to keep them up. Unless you want me to be the one to pick out your outfit."

"Dad!" Aria exclaimed in horror. Christine bit back an acidic retort. Her patience with Erik finally running thin, and the date hadn't even begun yet!Aria folded her arms across her chest self-consciously. Unsure of what to do next. Then she noticed all of the weapons spread across her parents bed. "Uh," She started uncertainly. "Where you and mom having a fight?"

"Not exactly." Christine began, Erik had to try to hide a grin.

"Then why are they out, no, first of all, where did they even come from?"

"Nowhere." Erik answered hastily. "I've had them for a long time."

Aria was starting to figure things out. "Why did you pick now to bring them out?"

"I'm not sure," Erik said casually. "They where starting to get dusty."

Aria raised a skeptical eyebrow at the gleaming weapons. They didn't look very dusty to her. . . Yet, it wasn't her place to question her father, especially since she was supposed to be on her best behavior. . . "It's nice that you are catching up on your exotic weapons maintenances, and all, but may you be sure that you keep them out of site when Phillipe gets here. He isn't exactly the bravest person I know."

Erik didn't bother to remark that any boy who had enough courage to ask out the daughter of a over possessive, trained killer, must be at least slightly brave. He was to busy dreading the next fifteen minutes. Christine was the one that answered Aria, "Don't worry dear, they'll be out of sight." Christine glared at her husband, "Won't they?"

"Nowhere in sight." Erik answered perhaps a little to quickly. His gloved hands clenched the lasso he held even tighter, if that where possible. Trying not to imagine himself snapping that infernal boy's neck. He was cut out of his pleasant thoughts by the piercing sound of the door bell ringing. So this was it. He was here, and time seemed to stand still. He decided that he didn't like this. Not one bit.

Aria's whole face lit up, and he tried not to notice it. Why did she have to be so exited about this. it was nauseating. Before he could say anything Aria sprinted out the door, and down the stairs. A wondrous feat in her many layers of skirts. Leaving her parents to stare apprehensively at each other. It was time. "Mom! Dad! He's here!"She called as she realized that she wasn't being followed. "Come on dad! You used to be a Phantom! How come now you go so slow?"

Erik sulked down the stairs after Christine. Not nearly as exited as Aria was. He was still hoping that her date would fall out of the carriage and break his neck. It would save him another murder. Even though he didn't think that Nadir would mind this one . . . He shook away his tempting thoughts as Aria opened the door.

He held his breath . . .

The words he had been dreading all night finally came. "Good evening Monsieur. I am the Vicomte Phillipe De Chagny, son of the Comte Raoul De Chagny, and I'll be taking your daughter out tonight."

The world seemed to spin as a thousand horrid memories came flooding back. No. It couldn't be. . .Oh no . . . Why . . . Only one thought escaped his mouth as the retched words began to sink in . . . This wasn't a joke, was it. it had to be. . .

"Son of a Fop . . ."

So was I really that see threw? Well people, you guessed right. Now to see your reactions . . . (And Erik's reaction coming up next . . . HeeHeeHee . . .)