Disclaimer:I only own the plot, the name Davies, and any unknown things/characters.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, waking Christine moments before her alarm clock went off. When the latter performed its annoying beeping, she coshed it with a nearby book and swore into her pillow. Something about that Erik Roberts had intrigued her; something other than that mask.

"Looks like someone isn't a morning person," a masculine voice stated.

Christine started and, with a muffled yelp, wound up kissing the lint-ridden carpet. After muttering some expletives, mostly Irish, she propped herself up un her elbows and glared at Erik. "And what, by chance, do you think gives you the right to just barge in here and wake a body up?" she demanded, her hands gesturing wildly.

Erik smirked down at her and offered a hand. "Antoinette gave me a key and wanted me to make sure the two of you were up," he answered, nodding at Meg's empty bed.

Shoving his hand aside, Christine helped herself up and grumbled. "Stupid bint," she mumbled, not really knowing if she meant Erik or Antoinette, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Meg appeared in the bathroom doorway, toothbrush in hand. "Did you just call my mother a bint again?" She realized who was in the room and smiled. "Oh. Hi, Erik," she greeted, her words muffled by the foam.

Christine glared at her. "Your little boy-toy here decided to add 'B&E' to his list of 'How can I get Chris Davies to hate me even more?'," she said and shoved past Meg into the bathroom.

Meg exchanged a glance with Erik, nearly spitting out her toothpaste. "Chris...he's not my boy-toy. That's just gross."

Erik nodded. "Yeah. You see...she's my sister. And for your information, I did not break in."

Christine came out of the bathroom, toothbrush in hand. "Sister? Meg's an only child. I know this because I lived with her for the past four years."

Meg ran into the bathroom and spit out her paste. "He's my brother; more like a father figure, but still my brother," she said, wiping at her mouth.

Christine eyed the pair of them. "Are you going to tell me that Antoinette had some affair with a 'tall, dark, and handsome' type?"

"That would be an interesting story to tell my grandchildren, Christine, but no," a voice answered, as another 'player' entered the game.

Erik grinned, a rare sight on his face. "Morning, Mum," he said, shooting a wink at Meg.

Christine turned and faced her teacher/surrogate mother. "The pair of them are mad. I don't think Meg should go clubbing anymore. She picks up the weirdest guys, enters me in a contest, and gives them a key to our room."

Antoinette couldn't help but smile at the girl. "Christine. I gave Erik the key; with specific instructions to bring you two coffee," she said, glancing at Erik.

He nodded towards the girls' end table. "I put it there so I wouldn't end up wearing it." He smirked. "I also picked up one for you, Mummy Dearest."

"If I wasn't a proper woman, in the presence of students and family, I would tell you to...what's the term? Shove it?...but that's just me," she said, taking the cup from him. She settled down on her daughter's bed, gesturing the other three to do the same, and began to tell her tale.

"I once was a dancer at the Opera Populaire in Paris. Dancing, like it is with you girls, was my life. Just days after being granted the principal dancing role in a ballet, I suffered a fall. Unfortunately, the fall did something to my leg and I could not perform up to the standards that my ballet mistress required of me. I left the company and ended up settling down with an Irish lad who was just passing through."

"Woah. Wait a minute, Mama," Meg said, interrupting the feel of romance. "Dad was just passing through? You mean to tell me that you had a one night stand?!"

Christine looked at Erik. "Was she like this as a child too?"

He nodded. "I wanted to wring her neck many times."

Meg, who was sitting in between the two, elbowed them both. "I'm still sitting here, thanks."

A stern look from Antoinette quieted them. "It was not a one night stand, as your father and I were married within the next week. Now if the three of you don't shut-up, I'll add more to the girls' workload and take away your car keys Erik."

Erik stared at her. "You can't do that."

"Do you, or do you not, live in a house that I helped pay for, even though you are a big shot recording tycoon?"

"Wow. She's really strict on him, huh?" Christine whispered to Meg."

Meg nodded. "Yeah. I used to get away with more than him. Mama really does love him, though."

After they got settled again, Antoinette picked up her tale.

"As I was saying, your father was just a lad passing through. I was a serving girl at the local pub, and I guess you could say that we'd hit it off. I had been offered a multitude of jobs to teach dancing, but declined, due to being in the 'family way.' Erik Samuel Roberts, wipe that smirk off your face this instant."

Christine sighed. "Something tells me that we'll never finish the story." She reached behind her, under her pillow, and produced the folder that had been presented to her the night before. When the other three gave her a look, she explained, "I wanted to sleep on it. Anyways. I still don't know why I should sign."

Antoinette stood up. "I need to prepare for this morning. I'll see you three later," she said and left the room.

Meg, sensing her mother's plan, stood up as well. "I promised Jen that I'd meet her for breakfast." After kissing Erik's's unmasked cheek, she said to Christine, "I'll see you in warm-ups. Try not to kill each other."

Christine glared after her and sighed. "This is their way of telling me to go for it."

Erik sipped his coffee and looked at the girl. "Christine. I was basically re-raised by that woman. I run an honest business."

She nodded. "I just don't want to push aside my dancing. I've dreamt of Juliard, since I was a little girl. I worked my butt off for the audition and the full scholarship I received. I don't want to lose that."

Erik studied the girl before him. Meg had informed him of the loss of Christine's's parents, but he didn't know the details. "Tell me about your parents."

Christine, who had not been expecting this, stiffened. "Buy me breakfast and I just might tell you," she said, throwing on her slippers. Dear God, was she flirting with him? "I have an hour until warm-ups."

Erik nodded and stood. "Sounds like a plan." Was she flirting with him?

As the two walked down the hall, the same thought was on their minds; why had Erik's's mask not come up in conversation?

A/N:So yeah...a bit more of attitude from Christine. It just seemed natural for her to be guarded when it came to Erik.

Hope you liked it!