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CHAPTER 26

It was around midnight and Gerry was starting to get tired, but Christine, of course, was wide awake. And asking a million questions, making sure she knew the name of everyone Emmy knew and how she should act around them, as well as what to do with common modern devices. Gerry surprised himself with the amount of patience he had with her, calmly explaining everything she asked. When she could think of no more questions about the time period, or basic information about Emmy's life, Christine started asking about Gerry's life.

"Have you always been famous?"

He snorted. "Hell no. I was pretty much at the bottom of the barrel for a long time."

"What does that mean?"

Sighing, he said, "I had an alcoholic, depressed stage through most of my twenties. I kind of attempted suicide a few times but never did anything that would definitely kill me, because I wasn't really determined to die. I just didn't care if I did or not. Eh…I think I got kicked off a cruise ship at one point because I was hanging off the edge of it by my knees, drunk off my ass, singing 'We are Sailing'…."

Christine giggled quietly at this mental image and he shook his head, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah. I was pretty pathetic."

More seriously, she asked him, "Well, what drove you to becoming that way?"

He shrugged. "A variety of things, I guess. But mainly it was because my father just died."

Christine's eyes widened at this, immediately feeling strong sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

"Well, I actually didn't meet him until I was 16 because he up and left when I was a baby. When we met again, I thought I would hate him afterwards…you know, for abandoning us, but instead I kind of clung to him. Six years later, he died. It was too soon. I didn't know him long enough."

She nodded, looking down sadly. He glanced over to her.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to just spill my whole life story to you."

Shaking her head, her eyes moved up to meet his. "No, I don't mind."

Going silent for a moment as he noticed her eyes were ever so slightly glistening, he thought. Guess she can relate…no wonder this dead dad talk is getting to her. Damn it, now I've made her depressed too….Better cheer her up then.

"So…I bet fame is less demanding in the 19th century, hm?" he asked unsurely, wanting to beat himself over the head right after saying it.

Lame, lame, LAME!

Apparently, Christine didn't mind the random subject change. "Well, perhaps, since the media is much less accessible and less widespread than you say it is here…but it still is rather stressful, because I always sing in front of a live audience. I see their reactions as I perform. There is always the chance, however small it may be, that something will go wrong, or that they will be displeased and humiliate me."

"Ah…yeah, that is kind of scary. I started out with stage roles, so…I know."

"You did? They still have stage roles?"

Gerry chuckled. "Yes, everything isn't COMPLETELY taken over by technology. People still appreciate live theatre."

This seemed to comfort her a little. Yawning, Gerry took off his jacket and spread it out on the cold tile floor before flopping down on it. Christine watched him in amusement as he tried to get comfortable on it.

"Is it bed time already?" she asked, covering her almost laughing face with her hand.

"Yes! Don't you ever sleep?"

Shrugging, she shook her head. "Not much, as of late."

"Then I think it's about time for you to catch up on it," he muttered, finally settling on his back, as it was the only way to not feel as if the floor was digging into his skin.

"Ah, alright, alright."

Christine stood and went to the other corner of the break room, awkwardly trying to settle down on the floor as well. Watching her, Gerry sighed in mild annoyance.

"What are you doing?"

She gave him one of her famous innocent, doe eyed expressions. "Just going to sleep, like you told me to."

He rolled his eyes. "I mean, why did you go all the way over there?"

"Um…I…uh…"

"Come here," he said simply, waving her over as if calling back a dog that had strayed away. Hesitantly, she stood and approached him, stopping a few feet away then laying back down again.

Only mildly horrified that a woman didn't immediately want to cozy up to him, Gerry decided he'd do the rest of the work himself and inched up closer to her until her shoulder became a nice makeshift pillow for him.

"What are you doing?" she said as bluntly as he had before. He didn't budge.

"Using you as a heating pad and pillow, what does it look like?"

"Gerry. I'm a person."

"Silly Christine, pillows don't talk…" he murmured, eyes closed as if he was half asleep but still grinning. Pushing him off her shoulder (at which, he whined pitifully) Christine rolled over on her side, away from him—mainly so he wouldn't have the satisfaction of seeing her smile. It only took about 2.5 seconds before he was back to snuggling up against her.

"Alright, alright, if anyone is going to be used as a pillow, it's you," she finally said, turning over and resting her head on his chest. This arrangement Gerry could live with.

"Me, pillow, you, heating pad. Eh, close enough."

/

Erik was still furiously pacing in the office, trying desperately to figure out who the voices are and what they wanted.

"It's obvious how we get back in our original bodies, just one more kiss and you and Christine will swap back, but how do we stop the cycle from happening?"

Emmy shrugged. "Avoid kissing?"

He shot her a look but didn't answer, just kept pacing and thinking. Madame Giry sighed and stepped forward.

"I think it is more imperative for everyone to decide where and who they want to be before we attempt to decipher the point of all of this."

"This all is still pretty fascinating to me, so I don't want to go back that soon, but I can't stay here forever. I have my own family and friends to think about," said Emmy honestly.

"And I'm sure you all can figure out which body I would rather be in," Erik muttered.

"But with whom?" Nadir asked quietly.

Turning back to look at his friend, Erik noticed everyone's eyes were fixed on him. He was silent for a long moment before shrugging and looking at Emmy.

"Well, seeing as I can't turn back time and change the fact that I ruined my chances with Christine forever, I suppose I'm stuck with you."

He didn't mean this seriously, but Erik was never good with humor. In an instant, Emmy had stormed out, almost hitting Raoul and Meg outside with the swinging office door. They stared at her in shock but made no move to follow her.

"What was that all about? What did he do?" wondered the Vicomte aloud (automatically assuming the cause of any lady's distress was Erik's fault, of course.)

"I have no idea…"

They stood and entered the office to do what Madame Giry and Nadir were already doing: simultaneously giving Erik the most disapproving of scowls.

/

"This is…interesting."

Christine jumped to her feet at the familiar voice. Gerry didn't even budge. It took her a moment to register that the man in the doorway was merely an actor, not her fiancé. Feeling stupid, as she knew he had caught them asleep together on the floor, she quickly explained.

"Someone locked us in here."

Patrick gave her a strange look. "Who?"

"We don't know…"

Gerry, remembering what Emmy had told him outside the torture chamber, groggily muttered, "It was Miranda…"

"Miranda? Why would she do something like that?" Patrick asked.

"I don't know!" Gerry sighed, forcing himself to sit up.

"Well…you do realize you guys aren't supposed to be on set anymore, right?"

Christine looked confused. Gerry slapped his palm to his forehead and groaned.

"Damn…I missed my flight…"

The Victorian lady was compelled to ask what he meant by that but kept quiet in Patrick's presence.

"Yeah, I have one scheduled tomorrow. I just have to do one last bit today," said Patrick, who then checked his watch. "If you don't need anything, I should probably be getting ready for that scene now, so…later."

With that, he was out the door and out of sight. Christine looked at Gerry.

"Flight?"

"I'll explain later. We have to get packing for now."

As it turned out, Gerry ended up packing for both of them, since Christine knew nothing about Emmy's belongings, let alone where to put them in a suitcase. Gerry barely knew himself, but he had a slightly better grasp of the idea. As he packed, he attempted to explain how airplanes work to Christine. She looked terrified. When he found Emmy's phone, which had about fifty missed calls, he inwardly cringed.

"Oh, Emmy's mom is probably flipping out as we speak…you'd better call her. This is a cell phone, by the way. It's a communication device. I'll dial the number, it'll ring, just ignore that, then you'll hear her voice, and you just sound like a good little daughter and say that you got locked in a break room and missed your flight. Then say I'm helping you schedule a new one today. Can you do that?"

Christine hesitantly nodded, feeling uncomfortable with this but she knew it had to be done. So, Gerry found Mrs. Rossum's number and dialed it, then held it up to Christine's ear. She bit her lip and wrung her hands nervously as it rang, then gasped a little when she heard a hysterical female voice.

"EMMY! Why haven't you answered my calls?! Why aren't you HERE?! What's happened? Are you alright?!"

"I-I'm fine, I just missed my flight because I got…locked in the break room. I don't know who did it…" Christine answered timidly.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry…you didn't have your phone with you?"

Gerry shook his head and Christine took the hint and said, "No…I'm sorry. But I'm rescheduling a…a flight today. I will be home as soon as possible. Please don't worry."

He nodded to show her answer was acceptable. Apparently, Mrs. Rossum thought so too.

"Good, good. I'm so happy you're okay! I was worried sick…"

She went on for this for about ten minutes, like any typical mother. Gerry just continued packing and Christine held the phone awkwardly, just listening until Mrs. Rossum finally stopped herself.

"I'm sorry, you should be getting ready. Is someone helping you with the tickets and everything?"

"Um…yes, Gerry is."

At his name, Gerry turned around with wide eyes, worried that he would sound like a creeper or something to an overprotective mother.

But Mrs. Rossum just said, "Oh. That's nice of him. Well, I should let you go, then, sweetie. Can't wait to see you! I love you."

"I love you too…goodbye," said Christine unsurely, quickly giving Gerry the phone. He hit the 'End' button for her.

"Gerry…am I going to be flying to New York all alone?" Christine asked pitifully. He hesitated.

"Um…"

It was impossible to resist such an innocent, helpless expression—especially paired with big brown doe eyes.

"Agh. Fine. I'll go with you."