Disclaimer: I don't anything to do with POTO.

A/N: The minions were engrossed in an intense game of POTO trivial pursuit. It was down to angel of mystery and Willow Rose. Things were heating up as Willow's unruly alternate personalities were becoming violent in their enthusiasm…or rather, one of them (Kat) was becoming violent and the other two (Kathryn and Kate) were struggling to restrain her. Captain Marianne served as moderator.

It was down to the final question: What real life soprano was the inspiration for Leroux's Christine Daaé?

Solecito dragged Kat into her little tent house behind the living room couch to keep her from giving Willow the answer. Angel of mystery looked poised to answer when the front door banged open, sending a gust of wind roaring through the foyer and living room. The minions leapt to their feet, outraged at the disturbance...until they realized who the newcomers were.

"I'm BACK!" Misty cried, striding into the house, looking slightly sunburned and sporting a few angry mosquito bites. "Hope you all missed me!"

"Of course!" came the dutiful answer. Captain Marianne greeted the Authoress and the Gerry, who followed in her wake, looking perfectly tanned and buff…shocker. He was greeted by good amount of fainting, squeeing, and Robin tried to glomp him, but Masque of Chaos—the Gerry's appointed bodyguard—took her down.

Misty marched straight into the den, where Savvy dozed on the Gerry's couch.

"Ah, right where I left you," Misty said with a smirk as she passed her snoring best friend. Savvy snorted and woke as if on cue.

"Have a good trip?" she mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Yup. I fulfilled two of my life's ambitions: I fed ducks by hand and jumped off a bridge."

The Gerry wasn't far behind. He bolted into the room and threw himself at Misty for protection…she had no objections whatsoever as she started on a new update.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'M SO TIRED I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT

A Blipic

Anna found Erik hunched at the organ in the master bedroom, scribbling away at Don Juan Triumphant. Not surprising. He didn't turn or acknowledge her presence in anyway. The redhead doubted he even knew she was there; his music so totally engrossed him. At the moment, Anna didn't care. She was preoccupied with concocting a way to convince Erik to let her and Brooke traverse the streets of Paris…in broad daylight, during business hours…speaking of; they'd probably need money, too.

Anna grimaced. This wouldn't be easy. Eventually, she decided to change out of her haunting apparel and marched straight into the Lothlorien tent. Her movement caught Erik's eye.

"Back already?" he called.

"It's almost dinnertime, Erik," Anna returned from within the tent.

Erik squinted at his pocket watch. "Oh, yes…I got caught up in composing."

"I noticed."

Erik glanced at the white cotton tent and choked on his own breath. The hazy blue electric lights strung up behind the fabric provided an excellent backlighting source so that Anna's slender figure was silhouetted against the canvas…and it was obvious that she was undressing. Erik tore his eyes away, his heart pounding in his ears. Mentally, he slapped himself over and over again to erase all images from his mind.

"Erik, will you lace me up?" Anna asked. The Angel of Music started at the sound of her voice so near. He whirled to find the girl clad in her chemise, drawers, and petticoats, holding the whalebone corset in her grasp. Silently, Erik went to her and began to assist her with the troublesome undergarment. He had done this plenty of times by now…but some how it felt different this time. Suddenly, in his mind's eye, Erik saw himself and Anna performing the same mundane ritual…only they were in a real house…with windows and it was snowing outside…they were getting ready to go out…as husband and wife.

Erik nearly died of shock. Fortunately, Anna didn't noticed as he continued to weird himself out. She thanked him once he had done with the corset and disappeared back into the white tent only to return moments later dressed in her old coral day dress…one of
Erik's favorites…by no mistake.

AGGGGGGGH! MY COMPUTER IS RETARDED! sorry…had to get that out…

Anna cautiously approached the Phantom, who had gone back to his composing. She had thought over various methods of persuasive arguing and had concluded that, while being straightforward was the most honest and artless way, the flirtatious use of feminine wiles was by far the more fun. Anna decided to improvise and do a little of both.

She tiptoed to Erik's side.

"Erik?"

"Yes, mon merle?"

Anna's mouth twitched in a small smile at the nickname. "I have a favor to ask of you." She toyed with the lapel of his jacket and eyed him coyly. Erik turned from his work, giving her his full attention…and allowing her to wedge herself between his knees. Erik gulped.

"Well…it's a rather big favor…" Anna whispered, not quite looking him in the eye.

"What do you want?" Erik said, dryly.

"Brooke and I want to go shopping tomorrow," she said rapidly. Erik gaped at her in horror.

"But you've never walked around Paris…not even at night!" Erik cried.

"I know! But we…kind of…well, we miss the interaction and everything."

Erik's heart sank. "Why do you want to leave me?"

Anna sighed with exasperation. "Erik, it's just a little field trip to the surface. We pulled it off in Perros!"

"But I was with you then. I can't be there this time."

"So sic Nadir on us."

Erik chuckled, "I'm sure that would be his ideal day."

"He owes us one for patching things up between him and Meg," Anna reminded her friend.

Suddenly, Erik narrowed his eyes at the petite girl. "And whose money will you be spending?"

"Yours of course."

"Naturally," Erik muttered. And Anna knew she had won out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: "That was short," observed the Gerry.

"I know…but I just got home and that Dramamine hasn't worn off yet," Misty drawled, stretching her tired limbs and yawning.

"Care for a cat nap?" the Gerry offered, purringly.

"Oh, please!"

They were about to exit the den and head for Misty's room when a stampede of minions broke past the blockade of patrol socks.

"I might need to take Melissa Aminta up on her offer of her cookie crisp army," Misty muttered as she positioned herself to defend the honor of her Gerry.

"I'm sorry, Mistress Misty," Masque of Chaos growled. "I couldn't hold them back."

Captain Marianne shouldered her way to the front of the crowd. "We have an emergency," she said, her voice deadly quiet. "Apparently, someone"—she cast a burning glare at the gaggle of minions—"Someone found a plot hole in chapter 35 of your story."

"The one with Paddy?" Misty whispered in horror.

"Exactly…and now…we have a naked fop on the premises."

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUN!

Such a nasty idea…I'm giving myself the willies just thinking about it. (shivers) On to sexier things…and sleep.