A/N: Thank you all for reading and the comments. I hope you all like this chapter and I'll try to get the next chapter up real soon. Thank you my beta, Halley, for a great job and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 26: Countdown to Chaos

Madeleine's stunned expression rendered her speechless, allowing Etienne to explain without interruption. He told her everything—Stephanie waking in his bed to their near fatal kiss to his motive for courting Jeanette LeBlanc.

She listened aptly, soaking in the events that led Etienne to fall hopelessly and deliriously in love with the Modern-Day Angel. The girl… woman who was responsible for their parents' marriage was here. Actually here. She had to meet this incredible woman. Not because of what she did for her father, but how smitten her brother was with her.

Madeleine feared Etienne would never experience the joys of love. It pained her to see her best friend still trapped to the bounds of bachelorhood. To learn that he is in love was the grandest of news! But to know she was tied to another was dour news indeed! Even though the "other" was the man she been in loved with for so long…

She pursed her lips firmly together, her mind whirling with ideas. She is here at last… but why now? Papa said he only went because it was his destiny to be changed. Could it be applied to her as well? If so why is Etienne involved? The timing and circumstances led to one possible conclusion. And one that Maddy definitely approved of!

As his sister became enlightened, Etienne was busy rambling. "I can't get her out of my head! I can't! She has cast some spell over me, bewitching me with her dazzling jeweled eyes and impertinent opinions! I hate her… I love her. I-uh damn her! Why did she come to torment me?"

Maddy clicked her tongue, chiding softly. "Come now Etienne. Enough of this. Have you not already figured it out? If not, then I shall begin to rethink about your genius brother."

"Yes. To poison and drive me maddeningly insane!" Etienne retorted with conviction.

It took everything in Maddy's power to not clobber him and scream the truth. He was a big boy now. He could formulate the correct answer on his own…but she took pity on him and decided to give him a push in the right direction.

"Does she wear a ring?" Judging by the incredulous look, she assumed she doesn't. "Makes sense to me but what about you? What can you conjecture?"

"Simple. M. Shaw hasn't found his perfect moment," was the sardonic response.

Maddy sighed. "Or… there could be something else. It would seem Fate has a plan in store for her."

"Like what?" Etienne grumbled.

She laughed and winked at him. "That, my dear brother, is for you to discover. Let's hope your absence of intellect will be regained in due time. Now, shall we head down for dinner?"

xxXXxx

So far the evening had not been a disaster.

Stephanie was able to meet Erik and Christine's children, their spouses, and their offspring. She was introduced as an old friend; her true identity was to be concealed until dinner as a surprise. It was Erik's idea and Stephanie decided to humor him.

The rest of the Destlers' were charming and agreeable, more so than Etienne. The twins, Charles and Elizabeth Stephanie, took after their mother—chestnut curls and walnut-colored eyes; the other daughter, Madeleine, Stephanie noted, took after Erik when she came down to sit with Etienne following her.

Their eyes met briefly, but Stephanie tore her gaze away. She refused to acknowledge him; in fear she will forget herself and make a spectacle. Unfortunately, she had not counted on Etienne sitting across from her, which forced her to converse with him. His sister, Madeleine, sat on the left of her.

Their party consisted of thirteen total—ten adults and three children. The two older ones were Madeleine and Johannes' while the little girl (who was no more than four) was Elizabeth's and her husband.

Earlier, Erik told her some necessities about the rest of his family. Charles was an architect and recently married to Chantal Aston, a bright-eyed girl, a dancer from the Populaire. Their courtship, Christine had said, started when Charles accidentally left a blueprint for remodeling the rooms for the chorus girls. Chantal found it and noticed some errors with the measurements, so took it upon herself to correct them. When Charles saw the mistake he done, he was surprised that a ballet dancer knew where he erred. Her father had been an architect and though he was not blessed with sons, he shared all that he knew with his daughter. After that, the couple fell in love.

Elizabeth Stephanie, known as Lizzie, was a lover for plays. She wanted to act and did by her parents' encouragement. She met her husband in the company she was part of and both still continued to perform with their daughter assisting whenever possible. Her hubby, William Groves, was a cross between Orlando Bloom and Adrien Brody, something that Stephanie couldn't get over.

Maddy was multi-talented. She could sing, play any instrument, write, and was well-versed in any subject. What she loved most, was to help her husband in his work and then writes it out in journals or articles. The Dietrichs' were well-known for their teamwork.

"It's so good to meet you," Maddy said to Stephanie as they were given the first course. "I have heard quite a bit about you." The dark-haired woman gave Stephanie a secretive smile just as Erik announced he had news to tell everyone.

"I was going to wait until after, but I'm afraid this cannot be held out much longer. I'm sure, children, you've been wondering who our guest is and some of you might have thought she looked familiar if you think long and hard about it. I shall not hold you in suspense much longer."

He rose from his seat and gestured to Stephanie. "This is Stephanie Larson, my Modern-Day Angel."

The audible gasps went through the room. Even the spouses were astonished, having known the story from their loved ones. All at once voices raised with surprised and questions, completely amazed of their guest sitting among them.

Stephanie blushed, not used to the attention she was receiving as everyone wanted her to confirm she was who Erik said she was. Then they wanted to know how she came here and how long were she to stay and how did her side of the story end.

Maddy had to suppress the laughter that was bubbling within her as Stephanie answered her family's questions one by one, leaving out the part that she appeared in Etienne's room. As she talked, Maddy stole glances towards her brother.

He was taking it in stride, not once allowing his emotions to betray his thoughts. Though his countenance was solemn, his eyes were undoubtedly engaged with the woman across from him. Madeleine did feel bad for Etienne that he held Stephanie in high esteem and she did not return the sentiment. But she noticed her neighbor slip, quite often, the olive green and brown eyes looking at Etienne.

They're going to need help, Maddy thought. She saw her mother's wandering gaze from Etienne to Stephanie and knew her mother felt the same way. She suspected something when Christine told her about Jeanette and after what Etienne told her, she knew why she was enlisted. Maddy was enchanted by the future woman. She was smart and amiable, everything her father had said and more according to Etienne. Yes. I believe Etienne found his other half.

As the main dish was being brought out, Stephanie's throat was running dry from all the talking. She was thankful that Etienne didn't speak a word to her, but she desperately wanted to avoid the question she was dreading, the one which everyone wanted to know.

What happened between you and Dan?

"I think we know the answer. They're engaged!" Lizzie exclaimed.

Stephanie's mirth faded when all eyes were on her. Looking down at her left finger, she forced a tiny smile and replied (what she hoped was good-naturedly); "No we're not."

No one pressed her into knowing why and for that she was grateful. But she couldn't shake away the quizzical stare she was getting from Etienne.

"Perhaps later," Chantal said. "After all that Charles has told me, I daresay, how could a man not want you as a wife!"

"Indeed." The gruff voice could have come from only one person.

Stephanie looked at Etienne, his stance tense and eyes gravely dark. It was the first thing he said all evening and she had a feeling it wasn't going to bode well.

"But since he has not," Etienne continued. "He's not very much of a man. Or a man in love one may suppose."

"Etienne!" Christine gasped, mortified by her son's outburst.

The attention was on Stephanie. Her fist clenched together, her eyes narrowed towards Etienne.

"And what do you know about love, sir?" she spat. "I have failed to hear about your endeavor in the matter."

His jaw dropped slightly, his eyes wide. He had not meant it as an insult to her if that was what she felt. But the malice in her tone was not mistaken and as she assumed wrong of him; Etienne lashed out, without thinking.

"Then enlighten me with your wisdom, madam. Wouldn't a man in love propose to the woman the first chance he gets so no other male could claim her?"

"Not unless he or the 'woman' isn't ready," Stephanie replied. "And if they are, the man could be waiting for the right time to surprise her. Timing is key."

"Of course… though eight years seems long enough for me."

"He could be scared!" Her eyes were glittering, her voice rising. No else in the room was present at the moment as she and Etienne stared one another down. "How would you know? You don't know him and you have never came close to that commitment yourself!"

"I would know when I met the right woman. I wouldn't dance around the subject unlike someone else!"

"How dare you!" Stephanie cried. "Dan's more a man than you'll ever be!"

"Oh yes, I would love to become a man who cannot decide what he wants in his life!"

"ENOUGH!"

The entire table and silverware shook from Erik's bellow. The Phantom of the Opera, in all his glory, stood with his visage taut and red as he dangerously gazed to his son.

"I will have no more of this in MY house!" Erik yelled. "I will not tolerate this insubordinate behavior from you Etienne."

"Erik…" Christine murmured, placing a hand on his rigid arm.

Etienne, ashamed of his actions, looked to Stephanie… his heart twisted with self-loathing for what he said to her.

"I'm—"

"Stuff it," Stephanie curtly responded. She pushed herself away from her chair and ran out of the dining room.

No one spoke a word. There was no need to when disappointment was everywhere Etienne turned. He should have kept his mouth closed and temper controlled, but once more he allowed it to get away from himself. He was still continuing to drive that wedge between them farther apart.

"I should check on her," Christine said.

"No Mother. I will," Maddy volunteered. "Finish your dinner. Excuse me."

She sent an I'm-going-to-kill-you look to Etienne before chasing after Stephanie. It didn't take her long to find her—she was sitting outside, her back to the glass doors.

Carefully, Maddy opened the door and stepped out into the cool air. Stephanie's head whipped around to see who it was interrupting her solitude.

"Sometimes Etienne can be an ass, but it's in his blood I'm afraid," Madeleine spoke with some humor. Catching her stunned expression, Maddy chuckled. "I'm not into propriety like my parents would have liked. I prefer behaving what I believe in front of society."

"That makes two," Stephanie said at an end of a sigh.

"I send his apologies though I know it would mean more from his own mouth than my own." Pause. "He shouldn't have said those things—"

"Yes he should," Stephanie whispered. "He's right. The son of a bitch was right."

Maddy raised a brow. "Mlle Larson…?"

"Please. Call me Stephanie," she interjected. "I'm a normal human being no matter what your father says."

"Then you must do me in the honors of calling me Maddy," the raven-haired beauty told her. "Stephanie, you must excuse Etienne. He speaks before he thinks… a family trait that we're cursed with. But he is a good man with good intentions."

"Tell me about it," the auburn-haired woman snorted.

"Etienne's methods are unorthodox, Stephanie. But one must see through the lie for the truth. I'm sure he will be better if he has the right person to show him the way."

"Then I shall pass it on to Miss LeBlanc."

Maddy shook her head. "Good God no! Etienne can't stand her. If you have met her, you should know why."

"But…?" Her face crinkled in a frown. "Really?"

"Yes. You weren't wrong when you said about his 'failing endeavor'. If I were you, I would rethink about what has happened and listen to your heart."

The secretive smile appeared once more and Maddy was gone, leaving Stephanie to decipher what she meant. She knew what her heart was telling her, but what it the right choice?

There was only one way to know…

TBC…