Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I managed to find some time since my muse went into overdrive and this is a two part chapter as due to being huge.

Thank you for following me and I hope you will enjoy this instalment.

I do not own anything by Gaston Leroux, Susan Kay or Andrew Lloyd Webber, everything else is my own work.

Take me out and get me completely Plastered!

Faust had almost completed its run and Nadir was getting nervous, his and Delphine's impending marriage was arranged two days after Faust closed, ensuring that all his friends were well rested and able to celebrate with the happy couple. However, Nadir was not sure he was going to enjoy that day and his nerves were starting to show. Especially as he was sitting in the office with a small break before the next task, drumming his fingertips on the desktop.

"I say, can you not at least tap in a reasonable rhythm?" a peeved voice echoed from Erik's office, before the owner of said voice poked his head out of the door with a moue of annoyance behind his mask.

"Excuse me for not being rhythmically minded!" Nadir grumbled still haphazardly tapping his fingers on the desk.

Erik grinned evilly, "I wonder if tapping your fingers is the only thing you do without rhythm?" he enquired mischievously, as Nadir's face went from a nervous expression to one of embarrassed annoyance.

"Erik!" Nadir yelled, looking like he was about to launch into a scolding retort.

"On second thoughts, maybe I do not want to know!" Erik added chuckling as he looked at Gilen sitting at his own desk trying to appear unaffected by his bosses latest bickering session but failing miserably as his shoulders shook with silent sniggers.

"Do you not have some letters to deliver?" Nadir waspishly enquired of his amused office assistant.

Gilen promptly stopped sniggering, "Y… Yes, Monsieur Nadir!" he squeaked before quickly grabbing the letters from his out tray and dashing for the exit, barely grabbing his jacket from the coat rack as he shot out of the front door.

"And you have the cheek to say I scare our employees!" Erik remarked still chuckling.

"I did not scare him, just reminded him of his position!" Nadir grumbled indignantly.

"You just keep telling yourself that!" Erik remarked sarcastically, "even though I know the truth!" he added heading back into his office.

ooo

Over the course of the next couple of hours, Erik quietly observed his normally calm and taciturn friend turn into his own version of the Opera Ghost, even throwing a letter opener at the front door of the office, in a fit of pique.

ooo

Gilen was currently regretting his very recent return to the office, as he froze in the doorway gulped and stared at the still vibrating letter opener wedged in the door frame, next to his head. Gilen turned pleading eyes to Erik, who had appeared from his office yet again, in reaction to this, the latest of many Nadir created disturbances to interrupt the creative flow.

Surveying the scene; it was more than obvious that something was really bothering Nadir, and Erik had a feeling it would take more than mortally wounding their office assistant with stationary for Nadir to let on what it was. Taking a deep breath, he made a snap decision.

"Gilen, in my office now!" Erik barked, ignoring the fuming Persian, and heading back to his sanctum.

Gilen scurried into Erik's office to be met with a thin long fingered hand holding a few bank notes out to him. "Firstly, fetch me a couple of bottles of our normal guest's brandy, bring them back here then take the rest of the money and disappear until three o'clock, do you understand?" Erik asked a now incredibly nervous Gilen.

ooo

In the short time Gilen took to dash out of the office and return with the requested alcohol, Erik had all but kidnapped Nadir to his private office and as Gilen came through the front door, Erik was calmly waiting for him.

"It appears that our groom to be is suffering a few pre wedding nerves," Erik told the shaken young man proffering him the requested bottles, "Turn the sign on the door to closed, and have a nice afternoon, finish your work this evening instead!" Erik directed as he took the bottles from Gilen, the shocked office clerk then turned the door sign to closed and took his leave as Erik shut and locked the front door behind the vanishing young man before he wandered back into his office.

"Can you tell me why I have a Persian Phantom of the Opera stalking my office?" Erik enquired rhetorically as he cracked open the brandy and poured two full glasses.

"A Persian Phantom!" Nadir snapped back as he snatched the glass of brandy Erik offered him and downed it in one go, "That was your job not mine! I was just the poor sap that had to try and fix every crazy thing you did." Nadir snapped.

Erik drew up short at his friend's reply, "What!" he questioned, "Are you calling me crazy?" Erik growled.

Nadir seemed to come to his senses and realised he was now treading a very thin line between breathing and a lasso around his neck, in fact he could see Erik still had the afore mentioned lasso up his sleeve. "I… I… I am sorry, I am a little stressed right now." Nadir sighed, as Erik refilled the Persian's empty glass whilst watching his friend closely.

"I am sure you will be right as rain soon, not long until your wedding day!" Erik cheerfully stated as he handed Nadir the refilled glass and watched his Persian friend's skin turn a sickly pale colour. "Ah wedding nerves, I see!" Erik declared, sagely, "I think we have found the crux of the problem now." He added as to his horror, Nadir then burst into tears.

The former Opera Ghost stood stiff and mute as his sobbing friend reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out something Erik had not seen in many years. A silver dirhem turned into a pendent that once graced the neck of Nadir's first love, his long deceased wife Rookheeya.

"I feel like I am betraying her!" Nadir sobbed, as he placed the coin back into his pocket. Erik knelt on the floor beside the chair his stricken friend was sitting on and then hugged Nadir.

"I recall the day she passed." Erik quietly stated, I had just made her a pain relief draft and after she drank it, she made you promise to find another lady to love." He added softly, you are not betraying Rookheeya, you are following her final wishes." Erik finished as he dug into his waistcoat pocket and gave Nadir his handkerchief.

A watery smile graced the Persian's face as he nodded slowly, "I deplore your memory sometimes, but not today!" Nadir commented as he dropped his now sodden handkerchief on the floor and blew his nose on Erik's instead. "Do you know what I actually remember of that day apart from the pain of losing my love?" he asked Erik, who merely responded by shaking his head. "I remember you cleared four jars of Torshi seer, from my pantry whilst trying to calm me down and sort everything out for me… Every last clove." Nadir added with a weak chuckle, "Darius would not go near you for a week because you stank of Garlic so badly."

"And I just thought Darius did not want to be near me because I scared him." Erik replied with a gentle grin, before the two friends fell silent for a moment.

"You truly believe that I am doing the right thing, and that I am not betraying my Rookie?" Nadir asked solemnly.

"Yes I do believe you are actually doing what she asked you to do, and you are not betraying her." Erik replied.

It was like the weight of the world had been lifted from Nadir's shoulders, "Very well, I will marry my Delphine and love her as I loved my Rookie." He said to himself as Erik extricated himself from the floor and returned to his own chair behind the desk.

ooo

It was three o'clock that afternoon and Gilen was just returning from his enforced day out, when Thomas joined him at the front door of the office.

"Should you not be the other side of that door?" Thomas questioned as he watched Gilen putting the key in the lock.

Gilen sighed, "It has been a weird day, I have only just returned from an enforced day off!" he cryptically replied as he unlocked the door and on opening it indicated Thomas to enter first.

"Pardon?" Thomas questioned as both young men entered and Gilen shut the door behind them.

"I shall explain later." Gilen replied as a rather lopsided mask appeared from the doorway to Erik's office.

"Ah, our two intrepid young staff have returned!" Erik happily declared, followed by a hiccup.

Thomas and Gilen looked at each other and then at their slightly bleary eyed boss.

"Can we be of assistance?" Gilen asked cautiously, as he watched Erik swaying in a non-existent breeze, as he leant on his office door frame for support.

"Yes, the Daroga is rather tiddly and requires coffee, then I have a job for you both!" Erik declared before ungraciously turning around and staggering back into his office.

"I suspect Monsieur Nadir is not the only one who requires coffee." Thomas whispered under his breath, as he and Gilen made their way into the back room.

"I am drunk not deaf!" Erik called back from his office as his apprentice and Nadir's office assistant started to make coffee for two.

ooo

Four pots of strong coffee later, and a rather sotto voce explanation from Gilen to Thomas about why there was now a letter opener wedged in the front door frame, Erik seemed back to almost normal as he located Thomas and Gilen in the back room.

"Thank you both for your assistance and understanding today." Erik started as he held out two sealed letters. "Gilen, if I recall correctly, The Vicomte de Chagny is at his townhouse today, please can you take this letter to him." Erik instructed, handing the first letter to Gilen, "Thomas, please can you go to the opera house where you will find Monsieur Castalot de Barbazac backstage, and do the same please; once both letters are delivered finish any outstanding work from today and take tomorrow off. I am going to get Monsieur Nadir back to his apartment." Erik announced as Thomas and Gilen got to work.

ooo

Christine had just gotten back from her afternoon rehearsal when Erik came through the front door behind her. "Good afternoon Angel." He called as she folded herself into his arms.

"You smell like strong coffee!" she replied, before kissing him.

"A necessary evil I am afraid!" Erik replied before kissing her back.

"I…" they both said together and stopped abruptly each one not wanting to interrupt the other.

"You first Angel." Erik then said with a smile.

"Erik, I know this is rather cheeky of me, but could you do me a great favour and find out what is going on, it would very much help a mutual friend." Christine asked cautiously.

Erik looked at his wife in a rather old fashioned way, "What has de Changy gotten himself into now?" he asked sceptically.

"Delphine, not de Chan…Raoul." Christine corrected, "She is worried about Nadir, he has not been quite himself lately and she is frightened he is getting cold feet!" Christine informed her bemused husband, "I mean he has made Darius cry twice in the last week!" she added, as Erik suddenly grinned.

"Erik, it is not funny!" Christine snapped, "Nadir does not want a stag night and has not even planned their honeymoon!" she pointed out.

Erik dropped the grin and sighed, "I was not smirking at the situation you have told me about but the fact that I already have the answer that you are seeking." He stated, "sit down and I will explain."

ooo

A little while later Christine wiped a tear from her eye as Erik hugged her. "Oh the poor man!" she exclaimed.

"Poor man?" Erik asked, "The only poor man is poor Darius, he was most confused when I left the Daroga with him earlier."

"Why?" Christine has to ask.

"Well despite the large amount of coffee I poured down his neck, Nadir was still slightly drunk when I took him back to his apartment and when Darius opened the door, Nadir grabbed him and hugged him whilst sobbing apologies for being so mean." Erik explained, "It was all I had not to laugh at the sight!" he finished with a chuckle, before becoming serious. "Which leads to the question I wanted to ask you." He added.

"Before you ask, what do I tell Delphine, she is popping in to see me after the show?" Christine asked.

"The truth, Nadir was concerned about being untrue to both his current love, our fair Delphine and his first love Rookheeya." Erik answered, "That was what was causing his concern and his odd behaviour, the man has far too many scruples." He added.

"Thank you for sorting that out, you really are the most sweet and caring man." Christine exclaimed as she gave Erik yet another kiss.

"Well I am not so sure about that but at least I have saved him from killing our office staff." Erik replied glibly.

"You are sweet and caring and I will not hear another disparaging word do you hear me!" Christine stated.

"You may not think so once you hear what I have to ask." Erik said with a sigh.

"Erik you are now starting to worry me. What do you want to ask?" Christine requested a frown appearing on her face.

"Would you be terribly angry with your loving husband if he did not attend your performance tonight?" Erik asked wringing his hands nervously.

Christine let go of the frown, she did not know whether to laugh or cry, even after a year of happy marriage Erik still held the fear that she would get angry and leave if his life did not generally revolve around her. "Oh Erik, see, I told you that you are a sweet man, no I would not be angry, heavens you have fitted your work and life around attending every performance I am in including the matinees. I am more than happy for you to be doing something else tonight." She calmy replied before kissing Erik soundly, then asking "What are you planning to do tonight if you do not mind me asking?"

"It is Nadir's stag night!" Erik replied with relief, "I suspect we shall end up back here after the restaurant and gentleman's club." He added.

"Ah, then I have a few little requests." Christine responded, "No road signs, no Cats and No police uniforms, and no waking me up if you get back late, that is all I ask." She informed Erik as he cocked his head to one side in thought.

Soft wax encased in rubber, should provide ample mouldable noise reduction and I still have some material from when I made the first few dresses in your wardrobe… Humm Perfect!" Erik stated happily as he headed off into his laboratory.

ooo

If Christine did not already think her husband was an absolute genius, an hour after he vanished into his lab she was totally convinced when he reappeared with two tiny off white bubbles and a satin and black lace eye mask in his hand.

"The eye mask is lovely!" Christine declared with a huge smile, "But what are the two little bubbles?" she enquired.

Erik grinned, "Mouldable earplugs they will shape to your delicate ears and prevent any noisy celebrating from waking you. He informed his incredulous wife, as she took them in her hand then hugged him. "Now I must be getting ready, as the best man it would not do for me to stand the groom up on his stag night." Erik declared as he then kissed Christine and strode into their bedroom to change.

ooo

Seven o'clock sharp saw Erik entering Nadir's flat; lock picks in hand, to be greeted by a now non-discombobulated Darius. "What on earth happened earlier?" he whispered before Erik had even had chance to put his lock picks back in his cloak.

Locating the correct pocket, Erik slide the lock picks back in their correct place before answering, "Your master and I had a long talk about what was bothering him and sorted it all out." he replied.

"Oh thank the mercies, do you know he cried on my shoulder for five minutes after you left!" Darius replied with a huff, "he made my waistcoat shoulder all soggy!" he added.

Erik hid the snigger threatening to appear at the eunuch's apparent plight as he headed into the sitting room to see Nadir relatively sobered up and ready to go out. "I have just one thing to ask," Nadir started as he turned to face Erik, "Just take me out and for tonight get me completely plastered please?" he begged.

Erik smiled sweetly back as his mind started working overtime, "Yes I think we can do just that!" he replied airily as Darius showed Jean and Raoul into the sitting room.

ooo

With the group complete, the friends set off, first to the Tower Argent for a fine dining experience and then onto the Gentlemen's club for drinks and celebrations of Nadir joining the rank of husband along with his other friends.

ooo

The fun began as soon as the friends arrived at the club, with Raoul announcing to all the other members that it was Nadir's stag night. Before Nadir had even sat down, drinks bought for him of both celebration and commiseration filled the table.

ooo

By the time the entertainment started, Nadir had already decided to challenge Raoul to a drinking competition, and so Erik and Jean sat there watching as the Daroga and the Vicomte were matching each other brandy for brandy before Nadir upped the stakes with a bottle of Absinthe. The waiter sighed as he brought a large bowl of sugar cubes for the men to use with each drink.

ooo

It was barely ten o'clock that night when with a little help from Jean, the bottle of absinthe was empty, and Nadir and Raoul were very much the worse for wear. Erik decided that before the pair became completely soused that getting the party back to the lake house was a good idea.

ooo

Arriving back at the Lake House was much safer than the last time the friends made the journey drunk, Erik had disarmed the traps on the rue scribe path before they left so the four friends, singing crude songs through the corridors, made it back unscathed.

ooo

Christine was finishing her evening tisane, post show when the drunken heap comprising of Erik and company fell through the front door and slithered into the sitting room. Erik managed the extract himself from the mess and promptly staggered to the liquor cabinet where he located four glasses and the brandy, before wobbling to his chair where he proceeded to pour the drinks as Jean, Raoul and Nadir untangled themselves and collapsed in various heaps on the floor as Christine rose from the couch and surveyed the chaos before her.

"Did you all have a nice night?" she asked as Erik unsteadily handed the glasses of brandy out.

"It was magni… magnifica… Yes we had a lovely time." Erik answered, as Jean nodded in agreement and Erik slumped back down in his chair.

Christine nodded as she picked up her empty cup, "Did you have a lovely time, Nadir?" she asked carefully as she watched the Persian struggle to get off the floor and onto the couch.

"Ah, Erik's angel." Nadir slurred, "yes we had a great time, in fact I feel…HIC! So much better!"

"Thank you for asking Christine," Raoul interjected, "It was most agreeably." He added as he to struggled to sit on the couch, "In fact Nadir and I are best fiends now!" he finished as he finally made it to the seat of the couch.

Erik sat in his chair smiling drunkenly as Christine; ever the lady, suppressed a snigger at Raoul's choice of words, but nearly lost her composure as Nadir threw an arm over Raoul's shoulder and hiccupped loudly in the Vicomte's ear. "I feel so manly next to him!" Nadir declared loudly as he then released Raoul from the partial hug and to Christine's amusement, Nadir started to undo the buttons on his own jacket.

"In fact next to him I feel so manly…" Nadir started as he stripped off his jacket and threw it across the room, "A… fi… Fi…manly dogra like me does not need clothes!" he declared as he start to take his waist coat off.

Christine was almost crying holding in her laughter as Nadir's waistcoat joined his jacket on the floor, and she looked to Erik for a reaction as Nadir started to struggle with his shirt studs.

Erik fixed his sweet wife with what he thought was a loving glance, "The dogra is hairy so no competit.. titcomp… You like me better my angle!" he declared sloppily as Nadir finally got the studs undone on his shirt and started to remove his trouser suspenders. Christine sighed, at least there were no road signs, no cats, and no stolen police equipment this time; and as she witnessed Nadir's trouser suspenders fly across the room towards where she now stood in the hallway to the bedrooms, she sniggered, there were going to be some serious hangovers in this house in the morning, and with that she headed to her dressing room for a bath.

ooo

Exiting her dressing room after a long soak in the bath and now ready for bed, Christine noted the men were still carousing in the sitting room, and though tempted, she did not peek as she heard something slump onto the floor. Shaking her head and grateful for the eye mask and ear plugs Erik had created for her, Christine left the men to their shenanigans and went to bed.

ooo

Meanwhile in the sitting room Erik's evil mind had finally conjured up how to achieve the prank he planned earlier, especially since the groom was now a inebriated heap on the floor.

"My Dear Dogra!" Erik announced drunkenly to his friend's currently unconscious; and thanks to Nadir's own earlier efforts now nude body; you shall receive your full true wish, Raoul, Jean give me a hand."