I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, although I do rather enjoy borrowing them from time to time.

A/N So everyone likes Nerdy Erik. Thanks for all of the great reviews. Yep poor old Pluto was downgraded from planet status so I guess poor Erik was destined to meet the love of his life in Christine. Here is the next chapter. Let me know what you think in your reviews.

Author – ToryD

Beta – MJMOD

The Science of Love

Chapter 2

Christine stood back with a slight feeling of envy as she watched Meg hug her mother tightly.

"Oh, let me look at you," Marie said as she pushed Meg back to hold her at arms length. "You're to thin." She declared with a frown. Turning towards Christine, she gave her a quick once over as well. Shaking her head from side to side, she admonished the two young women. "You must eat to stay healthy! How do you expect to do well in your classes if you do not eat properly? Hmm?" she said as she gave each of them a stern look. "I bet that you are living off the occasional slice of pizza am I right?" She asked with a measured look.

Christine looked down at the floor to hide her amused smile as Marie accurately described their dinner of last evening.

With a heavy sigh, Marie motioned for both to follow her. "Come, I have dinner nearly ready." She said as she began to stride off in the direction of the kitchen.

Meg looked at Christine with a sheepish expression. "We'd better do as she says," she said as she shrugged her shoulders and began to follow her mother with a bemused Christine falling into step beside her. As they entered the large professionally designed kitchen, Christine could not hold in her gasp of delight at the sight of the latest advances in kitchen appliances.

Marie gave Meg an inquiring look as she nodded her head ever so slightly in Christine's direction.

Smiling, Meg informed her mother of Christine's secret passion. "Christine is a fanatic when it comes to cooking. She is forever watching the food network and dreaming of the day when she will have her own show." Meg said with an exaggerated sigh.

Christine felt a blush grace her face at Meg's comment. "I just admire all of their creativity Meg." She responded in a soft voice.

"Ah, a girl after my own heart. Meg couldn't even boil water if you gave her a pot full of water and set the temperature on the stove for her." Marie said as she gave her daughter a disapproving look. "I too, love cooking Christine. Perhaps you would like to make a meal for us one evening during your visit?" Marie said as she opened the oven door to check on her Cornish game hens.

Christine's face brightened at the prospect of using the best tools available to prepare a dish. "Oh Mrs. Giry, it would be my pleasure." She said with such gratitude that caused Meg to roll her eyes in a mocking fashion.

"Just let me know what you will need and I will send Darius to the store." Marie offered as she shut the oven door. "Meg, dinner will not be ready for about thirty more minutes. Why don't you show Christine around the house?" Marie suggested.

"Ok, come on Christine." Meg said casually as she hopped down from her position on the kitchen counter.

Christine followed Meg out the double doors and saw that they were headed towards the grand foyer at which they arrived. "I can't believe that you actually live here Meg," Christine said as she lightly touched the polished mahogany wood of an intricately carved antique table.

Turning to look at her friend, Meg saw that Christine was looking about the room with something akin to awe shining in her eyes. Knowing that Christine had not had the most pleasant upbringing, Meg almost felt guilty that she was so lucky to have such a wonderful family as her mother and Erik. "Yes, Erik has been very good to Mother and I." Meg said with a gentleness that displayed the depth of her gratitude.

"Mr. Korvin is a scientist I think you mentioned?" Christine asked as she looked up at the grand crystal chandelier that hovered over the massive cherry wood dining table.

"Erik is a research scientist. He is currently working on something involving stem cells." Meg said offhandedly as she walked through the dining room towards the elegant salon that had several priceless works of art adorning the walls.

"I wouldn't think that research work would pay so well." Christine said as she followed Meg.

"It doesn't. Erik makes his fortune by playing the stock market. He set up some computer program that watches the stocks and then it tells him when to buy and sell. He says it's a hobby. Just think what he could do if he did it on a full time basis." Meg said with a resigned sigh. "But he insists that his true calling is research. Speaking of the devil," Meg said as she heard Erik and Nadir's footsteps on the stairs. "Come on, I'll introduce you."

Christine fell into step behind Meg as they made their way back towards the staircase. With a smile on her face, Christine watched as Meg raced up the few bottom stairs that separated her and Erik to throw herself into his outstretched arms.

"Why weren't you here to meet me when I got home?" she asked in an exaggerated tone.

Erik smiled down at Meg's upturned face. "Believe it or not Megan, the world doesn't revolve around you." Erik said with a sarcastic edge to his deep voice.

Pouting, Meg punched his arm playfully. "Erik, you have to be nice to me! It's Christmas, and I will only be here for two weeks." She said insistently.

Sighing dramatically Erik placed his arm around her shoulder. "Two whole weeks, I don't think I can do it." He said with an amused glint shining in his green eyes.

"Try," Meg said sternly before she turned and greeted Nadir. "What's up with you Nadir?" she asked casually.

"Not much Meg and yourself?" He asked as he joined them.

"Just school and work, nothing new." Meg said as she reached Christine's side. "Christine, I want you to meet Erik Korvin and Nadir Khan, his business manager. Erik, Nadir, this is my roommate Christine Daae."

Christine smiled up at the two men. Holding out her hand, she greeted Mr. Khan. "Hello Mr. Khan."

Nadir took the beautiful young woman's hand and smiled. "I know that I am perhaps old enough to be you're uh…much older brother," he said as he winced at the thought of his advanced age over the two younger women. "But please call me Nadir." He said as he released her hand.

Laughing softly Christine nodded her head in agreement. Turning her attention to Mr. Korvin, she was slightly taken aback by the intenseness of his stare.

Erik stood frozen in place, as he looked at the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon. He felt his heartbeat accelerate to an immeasurable pace, his palms were sweating and his stomach felt as if a flock of butterflies had taken up residence.

Christine felt a strange sense of unease as Meg's 'brother' continued to stare unblinkingly at her. "Mr. Korvin, thank you for inviting me to your home," she said in a soft voice as she held her hand out to him.

Erik shook his head in order to focus on the words that Christine had just said. Rubbing his sweating palm on his navy polyester pants, he took her offered hand and felt an instant jolt to his heart at the feel of her touch.

Meg and Nadir both watched the strange exchange with quizzical expressions on their collective faces.

Christine smiled up into Erik's scarred face, she knew that Meg had warned her earlier that he was grotesquely scarred, but to her surprise, she found him oddly attractive, not in the customary physical sense, but he had an unexplainable aura about him that pulled at her. She was starting to feel very uncomfortable by his unrelenting stare as he continued to hold on to her hand as thought he were frozen in time.

"Erik, you can give Christine her hand back now." Meg said flatly.

Erik jumped slightly at the sound of his name. With a slight blush accenting his cheeks he abruptly released Christine's hand and turned on his heels to make a beeline for the privacy of his library, as three pairs of shocked eyes stared after his rapidly retreating form.

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Erik paced the room as he tapped his forehead nervously. "Idiot!" he berated himself aloud. Hearing a knock at the door, he called out angrily. "Come in!"

Nadir tried unsuccessfully to hide his amusement at the agitated state of his employer. "Do you want to tell me what just happened out there?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"NO!" Erik said as he sank down onto a red leather chair.

Taking the matching chair directly opposite of Erik's Nadir sat down and began to drum his fingers rhythmically upon the chair's arm. "You were quite rude to Meg's guest." He said simply as he watched Erik closely for any reaction.

Erik grimaced at the accurate description of his previous behavior. "I know," he said with a resigned sigh.

"Erik, may I ask why?" Nadir probed gently.

"I umm…I…" standing up abruptly he began to pace the room. "She made me feel strange." He said in a rush with his back to Nadir.

Nadir bit his lower lip to keep from laughing aloud. Here stood the greatest scientific mind of the century. Which incidentally had one of the highest IQ's ever recorded, and yet the mere sight of a beautiful woman had sent him into a frenetic stupor. Smiling smugly to himself Nadir revised his observation, for it wasn't just the sight of a beautiful woman but the sight of a particular beautiful woman who had caused Erik to act so uncharacteristically. "Well Erik, I think that you may have hurt her feelings." Nadir said quietly. "When I left her and Meg, she was saying that perhaps it would be better if she stayed in a hotel."

Erik felt as though he was punched in the stomach at the thought that he had hurt Christine so much that she would seek shelter elsewhere. "No!" he cried anxiously. "I…Nadir, tell me what to do."

"Well the first thing you're going to do is to sit down and tell me why you acted like you did." Nadir instructed as he motioned to the chair.

Erik crossed the room and reclaimed his previous seat. "I don't know what happened. When I saw her standing there, my mind when blank, my heart began to beat faster and my hands started to sweat. My stomach got all queasy and I couldn't move." Erik related with a pained expression.

"Oh boy, do you have it bad." Nadir said with a shake of his head.

"What?" Erik looked up in alarm.

"You've fallen for her." Nadir said simply.

"That's ludicrous, I don't even know her." Erik scoffed at his manager's suggestion.

"Ok Erik, when have you ever acted like that before?" Nadir asked with a smug expression.

"I…I…it doesn't matter. There is no way that someone could fall in love at first sight, it is scientifically impossible." Erik said with an authoritative tone.

"All right Mr. Science, then how do you explain your behavior? I have seen you around beautiful women before and you have never acted out like that. Nadir said with a knowing look.

Frowning, Erik had to agree with Nadir's assessment. "There is no such thing as love at first sight." Erik said in an irritated voice.

"Well whatever it was, you owe her an apology." Nadir said as he rose from his chair. "And as it is time for dinner, you have the perfect opportunity to make amends."

Erik swallowed hard at the prospect of seeing Christine again. "Wait!" he called frantically to Nadir who had paused at the doorway. "What do I say to her?"

Nadir carefully schooled his expression as he considered Erik's question. "Just tell her that you were called away on an urgent matter and to please excuse your rudeness. Then compliment her on something." Nadir said as he opened the door.

"What?" Erik cried with a squeaking tone.

Sighing, Nadir turned to once again see the fear plainly written across Erik's face. "Tell her you like her hair or shoes or something. Just be yourself Erik." He advised as he walked towards the dining room. "Come on, we don't want to insult her further."

Erik nodded his head nervously as he joined Nadir. Urgent business, urgent business, hair, hair, hair he repeated silently within his head.

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"Meg, I really think that I should stay at a hotel," Christine said quietly as they helped Marie transfer the various dishes to the dining room.

"Christine, please don't say that. Erik already said you could stay here for the holidays." Meg said with a pleading look.

"I know Meg, but I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable in his own house." Christine explained as she placed the steaming bowl of rice upon the sideboard.

"Christine, I love Erik, but sometimes…he can just act so weird. I guess with all of his genius you have to take some of his nerdyness as well," Meg said with a resigned look. "Tell you what; if he still acts stupid at dinner then tomorrow we will both go to a hotel."

"No! Meg, I'm sorry I am being so selfish. I will just stay out of his way. I don't want you to be away from your family." Christine said hurriedly as she reminded herself that she should be grateful just to be here.

"You're the most unselfish person I know Christine," Meg responded with a hug. "This is your Christmas too Christine, and if Erik can't get over the bug he has up his butt then we will just have to have to celebrate without him." Meg said with a conviction that had Christine wincing in guilt.

"But," Christine began only to be cut off my Meg.

"No buts, Christine. Let's just see how things go." Meg said as she made her way towards the kitchen. "Come on, if I know my mother, she has a few more things for us to do."

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Erik was relieved that the dining room was empty upon his and Nadir's arrival. Urgent business, hair, urgent business, hair, he kept repeating silently to himself. Hearing the sound of voices, he tensed.

Nadir watched with glee written plainly across his face as Erik took on the most frightened look.

Christine used her back to push open the swinging door that separated the elegant dining room from the kitchen. As she supported the serving platter with one hand, she held the door open for Meg.

Erik seeing that Christine was loaded down with a heavy platter rushed to her side to relieve her of the burdensome weight. "Here…umm, let…me take…that," he said in an unsteady voice.

Smiling, Christine let him take the platter from her. "Thank you Mr. Korvin." She said softly.

Meg watched Erik as he helped Christine with the food. With a furrowed brow, she tried to recall the last time he had ever offered to help her with anything.

Erik placed the platter down with a shaking hand. Turning to face Christine again, he knew that he needed to apologize for his earlier behavior. "Christine," he said as he looked down at her.

Christine felt his nervousness and wanted to put him at ease. "Yes Mr. Korvin?" she asked in an attentive tone.

Swallowing hard, Erik found it difficult to concentrate when she looked up at him. "I…I…I just want to say that I…umm was called away for some…" he stopped abruptly as his mind went blank.

Christine continued to smile up at him. Knowing that he was at a loss for words, she filled in the gap to ease the uncomfortable silence. "Mr. Korvin, I just want you to know how grateful I am that you have invited me for the Christmas holidays." She said simply.

Erik felt a strange comfort in her words. "I want you to feel welcome here. Oh and uh please call me Erik." He said in a rush as he looked towards the floor.

"All right Erik," she said as she tested out his name.

Erik looked up sharply at the sound of his name on her lips. With a stunned expression on his face, he blurted out his rehearsed compliment. "I like your hair, even though it is not symmetrically perfect." Seeing the confusion on her face, he rushed on. "The right side is three millimeters shorter than the left." He said in his confident scientist voice.

An amused smile spread slowly across Christine's face as she digested the strange yet sweet compliment that Erik had given her. "Thank you," she paused as she took in his appearance to try to find something in which to return his compliment. Seeing that his hair was an uneven uncombed mess, she continued her search to his clothing, which was a rumpled plaid short-sleeved shirt, threadbare in places, teamed with navy polyester slacks. Continuing her search to his feet she saw that he wore a pair of well-worn Docksiders, that were popular about twenty some years ago. "You have the most incredible green eyes," she said with an honesty that earned her a look of joy on Erik's scarred face.

Unable to utter a word, Erik held out his arm to escort her to her seat, oblivious to the dropped jaws of the other two occupants within the room.

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A/N Erik needs a make over! Does anyone watch What Not to Wear, or Queer Eye for the Straight Guy? If you do please let me know which team of professionals you would like to help Erik. Please let me know what you think in your reviews. Thanks!