Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.

Taking a Chance

As Erik finished reading the last email, he remained glad that his mask was currently on. All the more able to hide his expression from the attentive eyes of Mme. Giry and Meg. He logged out of his account and closed the app before handing the phone back to Meg. When she took it back she had an expectant look on her face but he did not say anything. Apparently she was not pleased with that because only after a few moments she spoke.

"So, it totally looks like they love you right? I mean, those were pretty specific and detailed emails there." Meg probed, trying to get him to speak.

All Erik really wanted to do right now was sink into his floor and not ever come out. However, Mme. Giry would certainly never allow for that to happen. If he were to do that, she would just dragged him back out and then scold him after allowing Meg to do so first.

"Erik, they seem to be very serious about this." Mme. Giry continued from her daughter. "After reading those emails, I no longer have any doubts, and neither should you. Come now, what are you going to do?"

"Tell them to stop sending them." Erik mumbled almost inaudibly, the two ladies heard it however and both opened their mouths to protest. He hurriedly put his hands up in a placating gesture. "It is not what you think! I will no longer deny that, yes, they appear to be serious about this it's just…"

Mme. Giry scowled at him. "Just what?"

"It is embarrassing!" He blurted out. "While I will admit pretty flattering, there is only so much someone could take before one feels more embarrassed."

Both ladies giggled at the reply, Meg openly, Mme. Giry covering her mouth with a hand.

"Really? You embarrassed? Say it isn't so!" Mme. Giry retorted, smirk on her lips.

"It is a perfectly natural reaction!" Erik protested, causing Meg to giggle more.

"Uncle Erik is finally going to be in a relationship!" Meg practically squealed, suddenly bursting with enthusiasm. Leaping off the couch she runs over to him and jumps into his startled arms, throwing her arms around his neck.

"What do you mean finally?!" he demanded good-humoredly, pulling Meg away to have her sit on his lap.

When she was settled, Meg placed both of her small hands on Erik's masked cheeks, unexpectedly looking a lot more serious for a young girl.

"Because I want you to be happy! You, more than anyone I know deserves to be happy!"

He blinked at that, amazed sometimes by just how unselfish his niece could be.

"Your mother is not your first choice? Or yourself?"

She rolled her eyes. "Me and mom are already happy! We got each other, dad, when he's able to come home, and you."

He shot a glance towards Mme. Giry who shrugged in reply, a content smile gracing her lips.

"So I was not happy before then?" Erik asked, this time more teasingly.

He knew she could tell because she huffed and smacked his masked cheeks lightly in punishment.

"You know what I mean." she grumbled. She proceeded to take her hands off his mask and tucked herself into his chest, her head lying under his chin.

"Apparently, I shall not be moving from this spot anytime soon." Erik remarked to Mme. Giry.

"Noo, she has made herself quite comfortable already." She answered, settling herself back onto the couch, watching them.

"What are you going to do after the break, once they return?" Mme. Giry questioned after a few moments of silence.

Erik knew Meg was not asleep but at the moment seemed comfortable with only listening. He took at piece of her long hair and twirled the strand between his fingers.

"I do not know as of yet. It is quite the situation after all." When Mme. Giry nodded in acknowledgement he continued. "I suppose it will have to come to that since I cannot hope to be with them if they were to not even know the truth. However, it saddens me that if they were to change their mind, I would probably be unable to continue being even Miss Daae's tutor after."

He felt Meg's fist that was holding onto the opening of his coat tightened, but she did not speak.

"They will not change their minds Erik." Mme. Giry reassured. "And if they are stupid enough to do so, after everything they have told you, what is it that Meg and I always tell you?"

Erik sighed heavily, curling the strand of Meg's hair a couple times more before letting it go.

"That they did not deserve my love in the first place. That still does not make it any less painful should it occur, my dear Madame."

Mme. Giry's eyes took on a sympathetic tint. "No, my friend, it does not."

Hours later when it was in the early evening and Mme. Giry and Meg had left, Erik went into his bedroom where he found his dead phone sitting on his bed. After searching for the charger, which took more time then he had thought it would, he plugged in his phone. The phone eventually turned back on and as he opened up his email app he took a glance at the clock on his nightstand.

5:09 pm

All the emails that had been sent were at 6:30pm. To Erik that seemed like a random time at first, not having paid attention to the time when Meg had him read the emails, but then soon realized that it was the time that Miss Daae's lesson would begin. Clearly, the two had put some thought into everything. Again it was very flattering but the lingering feeling of doubt is a strong one.

He turned his head and saw his frame in the mirror that hung on his closet door. Erik raised his hand and traced his finger along the bottom edge of the mask. He had to admit that they sound most sincere, accepting not only his older age, but his more complicated sexuality as well. But could they accept such a face? One that cursed him ever since the day he was born? One that not even a mother could love?

Mme. Giry and Meg came to mind and he exhaled, taking his hand away from his mask.

Yes, Mme. Giry and Meg. Two wonderful females who had shown that such a face can be loved and accepted. Mme. Giry who had, as a child basically saved Erik from himself and all the darkness that had begun to brew when he had been alone. And Meg, dear little Meg, who had never once recoiled from him since the day she was born. He had been awfully nervous when Mme. Giry somehow convinced him to reveal his face to her seven months old baby. Mme. Giry had held the beautiful child in her arms in front of him and he had taken his mask off for the first time in front of the child. Two large brown eyes had stared at him for a few moments, then she had giggled and began reaching out to him with her tiny limbs, "Un, un!" she insisted since she could not say Uncle just yet.

Erik remembered crying as he held her and she patted his unmasked face, a huge smile beaming up at him.

Coming out of his thoughts, he took another look at the clock, now seeing that it was 5:37pm. He unlocked his phone, his email showing on the screen.

Opening a new email, he put in both Miss Daae's and Mr. de Chagny's email and began typing. After he was finished he read it over a few times, his thumb hesitating over the send button. Forcing himself before he could stall any longer he hit the send button, putting down the phone with a long exhale out of his nose. It is done. There is nothing he could do about it now.

Erik left his phone to charge and began to walk out of the bedroom. Stealing one more glance at the mirror before walking out. He felt somewhat lighter in his step, he was finally taking the opportunity for this kind of happiness. While he knew it can go terribly wrong when all was done, at this moment he did not find himself feeling any regret.

He was giving himself a chance.

Dear Miss Daae and Mr. de Chagny,

I would like to ask you to please stop with the emails that you have been sending for the past week. I am neither upset nor angry with them or with the two of you. We shall discuss what had happened when both of you have returned from your break, when Miss Daae's first session is scheduled to begin again. As such, I expect you both to be at the theatre the first Friday of your semester. Same time as always.

Erik

Hoped you enjoyed the read! Short and sweet! Next chapter will begin with a short part in Erik's POV but then switch to Christine. I'll be thankful for reviews I receive and hope I'll get to read your thoughts on this one!