Author note: Well. . guess it's time for an update. Sorry people, blame school. 7 hours of creative draining boredom. Oh, and I just got over a really big emotional gap in my life so I'm in a really, really good mood!

Reviewers:

Twinkle22

Nyasia A. Maire

Erik'sTrueAngel

Lady Wen

Gracias

TheDragonEye

Seeking Help

Erik groaned, massaging his temples as the annoying ringing of the phone resounded in his ear. Eventually he heard the operator on the other end and he told her exactly where he wanted the phone call to be transferred- Italy.

There was more of that annoying ringing and Erik felt as if he should just take the phone and whip it to the other side of the hotel room. Perhaps it would work too, had the phone not been attached to a coiling, plastic wire. So he just had to sit there, quite flustered and annoyed at himself. Especially after seeing Christine after so long- he just had to back out again, didn't he!?

"Raoul?!" he demanded as soon as he heard the line pick up and a 'hello?' be asked.

"Err, no. . this is his brother. ."

"Oh. . shit, I'm sorry Philippe. It's Erik. . Erik Destler, is Raoul around?" Erik asked, nearly smacking himself on the forehead.

"Yeah, he's about. . somewhere. . or not, who knows? Perhaps I stole his cell phone?"

Erik clenched his teeth together- this was the reason why he hated Philippe. He was too different from his brother and never really liked or got along so much as Raoul did with Erik.

"I DIDN'NT DIAL HIS CELL PHONE! NOW GIVE HIM THE PHONE!"

"Erik, please don't yell in my ear." It was a new voice, a different one.

Erik scowled, another black mark against Philippe in his book. "Sorry, buddy. Your brother was being a ass hole."

"So I've heard, it's nice to hear from you. Now, what's up?" It was easy to tell that Erik wouldn't have the time to call unless it was something really important. From what he had last heard from Erik- he had been busy in his musical in London for a while and then left.

"I. . . I blew it again!"

Raoul merely looked at the phone strangely before replying. "Elaborate on that, Erik. What happened?"

Erik sighed and closed his eyes before beginning his story.

"Christine? Christine Daae?"

"Erik?!"

Christine turned to look at him and her entire face seemed to cross so many emotions until it just completely lit up- probably more than all the lights in New York City combined into one.

"Oh my god. . Erik!" She instantly leapt from where she was sitting and in a matter of milliseconds her arms were wrapped tightly about his chest, nearly squeezing the life from him. And his arms were around her- probably succeeding in squeezing the life from her.

"It's good to see you again!" Erik grinned.

"Likewise." Her voice slightly squeaky and airy. Erik instantly loosened his grip around her and she smiled toothily up at him anyway. "I never thought I'd see you here. I mean. .when I heard that Ms. Sabor had a new client from Jack, I never thought it would be you! I thought you were in England! I read all about that!"

"You did?" Erik couldn't believe it. So he had been heard from many parts of the world, and Christine had seen. "Well, yes, it's me. And whoever that Jack is must not have described me well to you."

Zero cleared his throat behind them both, "As much as I hate to interrupt this. . I'm Jack. You didn't really think my real name was Zero did you? It's just a system Ms. Sabor set up by-" he frowned and scowled when either of the two didn't make any sign that they had heard them.

"You brought 'Nirvana' here?! Oh wonderful! I've wanted to see it!"

"Well I brought the musical script with me. It'll take a while to get rehearsals and casting and everything put together, Christine."

"I don't care." She stuck out her tongue. "I'd wait fifty years to see it. . but it probably won't take that long anyhow."

"Only fifty?" They both laughed. Erik truly never realized how much he had missed the sound until it came past her lips. "Maybe you could manage a audition?" Erik suggested and Christine nodded.

"I'll keep it in mind." She replied with yet another nod of her head.

Erik could nearly feel his heart pounding in his chest, 'Now, NOW!' he willed himself. "Christine, look, there has been something I've been meaning to-"

"To do? What Erik? Oh, whatever it is we should surly talk about it some time, but right now I can see Ms. Sabor tapping her foot near the corner of the room. We'll have to do something when you're not busy. I was just about to step out with Amy- or Mrs. Allegan as Jacquelyn introduced her as- again. We actually only just stopped by." She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'll find out where you're staying and swing by later, alright?"

Erik nodded numbly, so it had been them he had seen on the street. "Yeah. . I'll see you later." He called after her as he watched both of them begin away. Christine gave a wave to him before disappearing past the door he had just entered through not too long ago.

"Now. If you please Mr. Destler. We have things to do." Jacquelyn spoke.

"Yes. . of course." He replied quietly, a thousand thoughts obscuring his attention.

"I keep letting her walk away!" he exclaimed into the phone once he was done with the story and slumped down once more onto the bed in his hotel room. "Why?! Why am I so afraid to say anything?!"

Raoul, who had remained silent all throughout Erik's story gave a small sigh. "It's because you are afraid that she will not return anything. You're afraid that you'll always be considered a friend or even a brother in her eyes. But that's because you won't get your sorry ass up and say anything. How can she know if you don't say anything?!" he asked.

Erik was silent a minute before he asked, "Would it be too much trouble to come out here sometime? I mean. . like old times, and possibly some moral support?"

"It's not too much to ask, just a bit too much money Erik. Chip in half- and I know you have the money, and you have a deal." Raoul grinned. "I'll pay you back someday."

"Fine, fine. . deal!" Erik replied.

"ALL RIGHT! VACATION!"

"Philippe! GET OFF THE OTHER LINE!" Both men hollered into their phones.

"But you two honestly wouldn't think of leaving me out of the picture would you? I mean, I'd love to see New York and I could help ickle Erik out with his love problems, and other problems. Sheesh you're one insecure man, you remind me of this one chick I used to know, except she wasn't ugly and she-"

Erik looked up as a knock came from the door. "Raoul, I have to go, call me back sometime soon, alright? Bye!" he hung up the phone. Damn Philippe. The last thing he wanted was for him to manage to tag along on the plane.

He gave a groan and shook his head. "Coming!" he called as another knock came from the door. Now was some time to see if he could manage this on his own without Raoul.

Ending Note:

YAY. . .shorter. . but yay! None the less. Raoul and Philippe coming into the picture is a reason to be happy right?

Review people! Gracias por leyenda! (ugh. . my Spanish skills are awful)

TheDragonEye