I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, I don't own Macy's or the dress and I don't own the Opera Faust either. I only borrowed them for the story. I also have no claim on Queer Eye For The Straight Guy. I certainly hope that all will take this parody with the humor in which it was intended.

Christine's dress comes from Macy's online catalog. Charmeuse is a fabric made with a satin weave, thanks to Silk Road Textile Merchants for the description. 'The Jewel Song' is from Marguerite's aria in Faust. I've found the lyrics on Charlotte Church's Lyrics Web site.

A/N Aaaah, fluff! Well, now it's up to me to continue the story. Erik-muse is terribly jealous and felt Tory didn't give him enough attention he felt this story deserved so he left her and came to me. Although I'm very grateful to Tory and him, Erik and I are still getting used to each other. Thank you Tory for your help! BTW, if you see mistakes please point them out to me so I can correct them!

Author – MJMOD

Tory's Note – (MJMOD is in love with this Erik, btw the pickup line that Erik uses… all MJ's doing) MJ: Yes, I wuv this Erik, of all our Erik's he's my favorite!

The Science of Love

Chapter 7

Christine was terribly embarrassed to have been caught staring at Erik's butt. She couldn't believe what she had done! What was wrong with her? Still, he DID have a nice butt… Gah, where did these thoughts come from? It wasn't like her at all to look at men's butts.

Meg was looking at Christine's red face and trying very hard not to laugh at her friend. These two were so cute together! Who'd have thought shy Christine had it in her? And Erik who never really noticed women before was now trying very hard to have her best friend notice him and it worked.

"Come on, Christine", Meg said impatiently. "We've got to go now if we want to be to the store in time to choose your dress for the ballet", she added.

"Yes, Meg. I'm coming", answered Christine while looking longingly at Erik.

Arriving at Macy's Christine was impressed by all the beautiful dresses there were in the windows but when she looked at the price tags she was horrified. "Can't we go elsewhere, Meg?" Asked Christine. "These prices are way too high, I don't want you to put so much money on a dress I won't ever wear again," she said mournfully.

Meg looked exasperated at her friend. "Christine, please, it's my pleasure to spoil you for Christmas, you need to look your best for your evening with Erik and you want to make him proud to be seen with you, don't you? The way you dress will reflect on Erik, you know. Many of his clients will be there too, with their wives dressed to the nine. The women will look at you and talk to their husbands," Meg insisted shamelessly.

Christine admitted to herself that Erik's opinion mattered very much to her. She wished that he'd noticed her, that he'd find her beautiful and she certainly didn't want his clients to think badly of him because of her scruples.

"Alright," Christine said. "But only because it's for Erik."

Meg smiled at Christine. Noticing a saleslady she signaled to her. "I want a dress for my friend here. It needs to be sexy and classy too. She's going on a date with her new boyfriend. They're going to the ballet tonight and she wants to make an unforgettable impression on him," Meg whispered to the woman.

"Of course", the saleslady nodded. "I have just the thing here. It's in tissue-crepe with a wide charmeuse inset below the bust. It's a sassy and sexy imported creation with a back zip closure. It's a sophisticated halter dress with a surplice V-neckline and it also has charmeuse traps tie at the back of the neck. It's fully lined with an A-line skirt that falls to mid-calf." The saleslady showed the price label to Meg, "Plus it's very reasonably priced." She was Macy's best saleswoman and no wonder.

"Try it on, Christine," said Meg. She asked for the deep red one and pushed Christine into the booth with the dress.

Christine wasn't so sure about this dress. It was very beautiful but it showed more cleavage than she was used to. Still, since she was here and they didn't have much time she decided to try the dress on anyway; then she looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe her eyes! Was it really she in the mirror? She sang to herself her own version of The Jewel Song from Faust. 'Ah, I laugh to see myself so beautiful in this mirror, is it you, Christine, is it you? Ah if only he were here! If he should see me thus like a lady, he would find me so beautiful, Ah! Like a lady, he would find me beautiful'.

Meg called to Christine, "So how is it? Does the dress fit? Show us how it looks on you," she added impatiently.

Christine got out of the booth and twirled on herself smiling.

"This dress looks wonderful on you, Miss," said the saleswoman. "Your boyfriend will love it."

Christine surely hoped so.

"Wow." Meg exclaimed. "Perfect, we'll take it," she said to the woman. Erik will melt when he see Christine in her new dress, Meg thought smugly to herself. It was made for her. Meg paid the dress and they got back to the car.

"Thank you, Meg, for your gift." Christine said softly. "Are you sure Erik will like it?" she asked anxiously.

"Like it?" Meg said! "He'll drool on you, girlfriend," she exclaimed.

Christine looked uncertain. "Are you sure it's not too much? I don't want him to be ashamed of me, you know."

Meg looked at Christine and shook her head. "Don't worry about Erik, I keep telling you he'll love your dress. Trust me on this," she added.

They arrived home without another word. Meg was eager to dress up Christine in her new dress and to make her up. It reminded her of when she played with her dolls as a child. It'd be a lot of fun.

She called her mother. "Mom, we're home! I've found Christine's dress, now we need to complete her look for the evening."

Marie came hurriedly in the kitchen. "No need to yell, Meg." She said impatiently to her daughter. "I can hear you very well you know." She beamed at Christine. "Now hurry up and change, then meet us in your bedroom. Meg and I'll do you hair and make-up."

While Christine climbed the stairs hurriedly, Marie turned to Meg and whispered, "How was it? What dress did you find?"

"Wait till you see it, mom," Meg answered. "It's a very nice red dress with just enough cleavage to have Erik's eyes boggling."

Marie looked worried, "Meg, please tell me you haven't bought something unsuitable for Christine's personality."

"Mother," Meg exclaimed! "Christine is my best friend, I'd never do that to her." She looked hurt.

"I'm sorry, darling," Marie said softly while they were waiting in Christine's bedroom. "I know you'd never hurt either of them. It's just that I want so much their first date to be a success."

"So do I, Mother, so do I," Meg assured her.

Christine got out of her bedroom and looked nervously at Marie. "What do you think, Marie? Will Erik like my dress? Is it appropriate for an evening at the ballet?"

Marie looked at Christine with tear-filled eyes. "My dear, I know Erik will be very proud of being your date tonight."

"What did I tell you?" Meg laughed. "Now sit down, relax and let us work our magic."

Marie and Meg put up Christine's hair in an upswept swirl and applied some light make-up on her face.

"Now," Marie said softly to Christine "look at yourself in the mirror and tell us what you think."

Christine didn't know what to say. She had no idea she could be so beautiful. She continued staring mutely at her reflection.

Meg was getting nervous. "Well, Christine, don't keep us waiting. What do you think?"

"Oh, Meg", she began with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, and Marie too. I don't know how to thank you both for what you've done tonight. You transformed me from an ugly cygnet to a beautiful swan."

Meg rolled her eyes happily at Christine's compliment and Marie smiled at her daughter's friend. "Thank you Christine, however we only helped showing your natural beauty, dear. And now the final touch." She put a diamond pendant around Christine's neck. "This is my Christmas gift to you, my dear."

Christine didn't know what to say anymore. She was bewildered by so much kindness and generosity on Meg and Marie's part.

"Well, Christine," Meg said. "Ready or not, it's time to meet Erik for your outing."

Christine swallowed nervously. She felt shaky and she feared she was going to be sick.

Marie saw Christine's paleness and she intervened before the poor girl fainted. "You'll see, Christine. Everything will be all right. No need to be nervous, you know," she said kindly.

Christine smiled to her friends took a deep breath and went to meet her date.

Erik was dressed in a black tuxedo with a white shirt and a black cummerbund. He was as nervous as a teenager on his first date. It WAS his first date and it was very important to him. Maybe that explained it. He dried his hands on his pants and got out of his bedroom after checking himself one more time in his mirror and taking Christine's gift. He saw Nadir smiling at him.

"How do I look," he asked Nadir anxiously.

"You look fine, Erik," Nadir assured him. "Christine will like you, don't worry about it, my friend."

Erik saw Christine coming towards him, smiling. His breath caught and he rubbed his eyes. Surely he was dreaming! This beautiful woman was smiling at him and seemed happy to see him. He kept staring at her, mouth wide open and tongue-tied.

The others looked on the scene with amusement and bemused smiles.

Christine looked at him wondering what was happening. "Is there something wrong, Erik?" She asked worriedly.

"Erm, wrong? No, no, of course not! I'm sorry, you're so beautiful you took my breath away," he reassured her.

Christine blushed at his compliment. "Thank you, Erik. You look very nice too."

He suddenly remembered the gift he wanted to give her. "Here, let me put these on you." He took out beautiful diamond earrings matching the pendant Marie had given her. He looked at Christine happily. "Now you've got the set. Merry Christmas, Christine," he said.

She was feeling rather embarrassed. "But Erik, I've got nothing to give you."

"Your company tonight is the greatest gift you could ever give me," Erik told her.

She smiled happily and kissed his cheek. Surely he was on fire, his cheek was burning from the touch of her beautiful lips.

He suddenly kneeled before her and declared while closing his hand with nothing inside and giving it to Christine who took it looking surprised, "It's my breath from when you took it away" as he opened his palm towards a very moved Christine.

Meg and Marie were looking at Erik then at each other with shock. What was happening here?

Nadir took Erik away by the arm and told him "Erik you're embarrassing the man club!" "Stop it!" He said in a low voice. Erik answered him back "Well, Christine likes it! I'm sure she felt it was very romantic."

Nadir stopped himself before he hurt his friend. Explanations could wait. Tonight was Erik and Christine's night. He smiled at him "Well, if Christine likes it, then it's all right, Erik. Forgive me. Have a good evening, my friend."

Erik nodded and proceeded down the stairs with Christine on his arm.