And your wonderfully reclusive author has an update! It's about time, but I hope that it worth the wait. I really had fun writing it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. So anyway, here's chapter three, where fops are insulted, Erik struggles not to strangle people, and his career as a stalker is officially revived!

Chapter Three
Like Mother, Like Daughter

This couldn't be happening.

Anything but this, she could have brought home any bum off of the streets. Anyone would have been preferable to that . . . that . . .that fop of a boy!

He stood glowering next to Christine. Eyes burning as they glared at the insolent boy. Christine's firm, unyielding grip on his left arm preventing him from grabbing the lasso, and Punjabbing the . . . He broke off the tempting thought as he listened to Christine wish the happy couple a good time.

He didn't trust himself to speak.


Aria looked questioningly at her father. Searching for his approval. She had chosen well, hadn't she? Phillipe was everything that a father could hope for his daughter. He was sweet, smart, handsome, it also should have helped that he was from one of the oldest, and most respected nobel families in all of France. He should have been happy for her . . .


He should have been happy for her. Look at her. . . She was so happy . . . The was she looked up at him told him all that he needed to know. Her golden eyes glowed happily as she hung on his arm. A ever constant smile curving the edges of her painted lips. She looked so . . . so . . . so like Christine did years ago. Yet, he couldn't be happy for her. Why a . . . a . .. he forced the word threw his mind. A Chagny.

Anyone but a De Chagny.


He had finished greeting Aria's mother, and turned with slight apprehension to meet her father. A lump formed in his throat as he met the man's intimidating stare. His eyes where the color of golden flames, just like Arias. Yet Aria didn't make him feel like a . . . he searched for the right word, like a fop every time that she looked at him. It was bad enough meeting his girlfriends father, yet he didn't exactly expect the man to be like this.

He gulped and moved forward to shake the man's hand. He hid an embarrassed flush as her father's arms remained firmly at his sides. Not showing one sign of budging from his rigid position. he tried to ignore the breech of etiquette as he said, "I'd like to thank-you for letting me take your daughter out tonight, monsieur. I know that you must be hesitant to part with her."

You have no idea. Erik thought, yet still he said nothing, afraid that if he did he would end up doing something rash. The insolent boy showed no fear as he gazed up at him. His bright blue eyes where bright, and piercing as he evenly held his gaze. He was impressed despite himself. A awkward moment of silence passed as he was actually at a loss for words. Aria eventually spoke "Well, thank-you for letting me go." She tugged slightly on Phillipe's arm, silently urging him to leave, before the inevitable interrogation began.

Yet her parents where silent to her surprise as she turned to leave. Erik watched them go, desperate to stop them, yet completely at a loss for what to do. Christine saw her husbands silence, and elbowed him hard in the ribs. He let out a whoosh of air as he called after them, "And have a good time!" Christine nodded in approval as she led him back into the house, not trusting him to be able to walk unaided. Erik sighed in relief as Christine removed her claw like grip from his arm. Not even noticing the angry red marks he nails had left behind.

He glared at no one in particular as he moved towards the kitchen. "I need a drink." He rasped from a suddenly very dry throat. All of the beauty had drained from his voice, leaving it cold and metallic.

"Let me join you." She mumbled.

He opened a bottle of something. At that moment he didn't exactly care what. He winced as the burning liquid scorched his throat.

He was going to need something stronger.

"This is quickly transforming into one of the worst days of my life." He rasped.

"If it's as bad as you look, then you better keep drinking, " Christine suggested, yet took the bottle from her husband. The last thing she needed was a drunk Phantom on her hands.

Erik didn't even notice the lose of the liquor, he only had one thing on his mind. Aria and Phillipe. This was a disaster. It was bad enough before. Aria liking any guy was trouble. Yet this was unacceptable. He could have handled any other boy but this one. Any other boy he could have just strangled. This was a special case.

The father knew to much.

"This is all your fault, " He grumbled.

Christine looked up in surprised, cut from her own thoughts. "How do you figure that?" She asked.

"She's your daughter. I'm sure that she didn't get her love of the fop from me."

Christine sighed in annoyance. "Lets not start that again Erik. I chose you."

"Yes," He agreed. "After I threatened, begged, and dropped a seventeen ton chandelier for you."

Christine nodded fondly at the old memories. "Yes you did get rather protective."

Erik nodded absently, the only good thing about Aria's choice in men was that it was going to make presenting his case to Christine so much easier. It would have been harder to get her to agree with any other boy but maybe, just maybe . . ."Then you know why I must go after them."He said softly."

Christine's bemused expression fell as she heard his quiet statement. "You're joking right?" She said, trying not to laugh at the pure idiocy of his statement. Her humor slowly left as she saw the quiet serious expression on her husband's face. "You're serious aren't you?"

"Perfectly."

"No. You can't. I forbid it Erik I absolutely forbid it!"

Erik cocked his visible left eyebrow as if daring her to try. Christine flattered at the determined look that had filled his burning eyes."Oh no! You can't. You'll be arrested! Or caught, or noticed! Or be subjected to some really unnecessary questions!"

Erik looked wounded at his clearly livid wife. "You insult me. Do you really think me to be that much out of practice? Stalking two oblivious teens really shouldn't be that hard! I used to accomplish far more difficult tasks then this in that same building."

"Yes. Eighteen years ago!"

"It's like riding a bike, you can never forget how to stalk!"

"I don't believe I am having this conversation!" Christine exclaimed. "You are going to stay away from Aria and her date, or so help me, you will sleep on the couch for the rest of your life!"

Erik didn't look the least bit fazed. "Worth it. Now I really must be leaving. The last thing I need to do is be late for the first act. If it really bothers you that much, just think of me as a unofficial chaperon, not a stalker."

Christine sighed in frustration as she saw him grab his cloak, and seriously plan to leave. Silently she considered her options. If she couldn't stop him, then the very least she could do was tag along and make sure that he didn't do something stupid. She sighed in defeat as Erik looked expectantly at her. "I'm coming with you."

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