Disclaimer: I don't own POTO or any of its characters, or any of the LEG characters (not even Jane Greystoke as she's been written about too!) Though would be more than happy to own Gerard Butler…. LOL. So there is no copyright infringement intended, nor do I intend to tick anyone off – so please don't sue me, I'm poor enough already! But I do own the story itself…. :O)

This is my first phantom phanfic. It is mainly based on the 2004 film and the book (unfortunately, I've never seen the stage play).

I saw the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen recently and an idea started playing around in my head; I just wondered about a cross-over between the two stories….. It is nothing but fluff, so if you don't like romance and stuff please don't read it!

All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.

Anyway…on with the show!

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Erik and the Gentlemen:

Chapter One - Reunions

"What are you doing here! Who are you, and why do insist on invading my home!" hissed the voice from the depths of the shadows; seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

The ornately dressed Asian man stepped forward and spoke steadily; his even tone not betraying the trepidation he felt, as the other man's somewhat infamous reputation had preceded him "My name is Captain Nemo. I have come to ask for your help." Unsure where to look, he directed his gaze where he thought the voice was emanating from.

"Why would I help you? Leave now before I….."

"Erik…." A woman's voice breathed from the darkness behind Nemo.

"Jane! Jane Greystoke!" Erik stepped forward involuntarily, but not enough to be seen; 'Dear God it had been a long time since he had heard her English tones, seen her deep blue eyes.' If anyone had been able to make him forget Christine, it was her; but like Christine, her heart belonged to another…

She stepped into the light, she was wearing breeches and a shirt…not clothing normally accepted in 1900 Paris, but this was her usual attire – he could see she still cared nothing for convention and still refused to conform. Somehow it was both amusing and a comfort.

She was still the same; maybe a little older, but then weren't they all? It had been 8 years since they'd last seen each other. But the smile that lit a room was still there; and her slender frame was still the same, as were her deep blue eyes that would spark fire and go an almost blue/black when she was angry.…which could be often, he remembered, as she had as quick and vicious a temper as he.

"Hello Erik…it's been a long time; it's so good to see you old friend. You're as hospitable as ever I see!" She smiled in amusement at their private joke, something she had said to him frequently during her one and only visit to the Opera Populaire, and he could not help a wry smile in return; knowing she could see him, even in the shadows.

With that he stepped out into the light, and Nemo realised that, unlike Lady Jane Greystoke, he had been talking to a wall…..the Phantom was on the other side of the room.

"Why are you here?" he grumbled, completely ignoring the outstretched hand of Nemo.

Jane merely raised an eyebrow; Erik scowled and gave the man's hand a perfunctory shake - though still not looking at him. She grinned and put her hand on his arm "and still such a gentleman…!"

"How is John?" He asked, changing the subject; he hoped she was happy….he remembered…remembered so much, how she had helped him heal as much as he had helped her escape them….

Immediately the smile faded, she cast her eyes downward as tears filled them but she would not let them fall. "He…..he is…dead" she whispered finally.

Erik started as if he'd been slapped "When…how? I'll kill them!" Who would dare to kill Lord John Greystoke, better known to the entire world as Tarzan?

He cursed that friend of John's, Edgar Rice something, who insisted on writing those damnable stories; he was sure they were the cause of his death. Adventurers searching for the legendary 'king of the jungle' would've been responsible for this outrage.

She raised swimming eyes to meet his "it is too late; they have already met their fate…" there was a fire behind the tears in her eyes, and an icy tone to her words; he knew she would've had some hand in it. But she blinked and then composed herself, the fire quickly dying "we can discuss all this later. For now…."

"Mama? Mama, where is Baloo?" a small child, the exact duplicate of her mother, stepped out from behind her.

"This is Erik, Marguerite, say hello; and as for Baloo, he will not be far from you little one."

"Mama please call me Maggie - you know how I hate that long name! Hello Erik, Mama said you are our friend yes? Are you are as fierce as Mama too?" she asked in a quietly lilting voice that completely captivated him.

Eyes as blue as her mother's stared up at him, and through him; he found himself wondering how many hearts she would break as she got older, though knowing that, like her mother, she would be no betrayer like Christine. Christine, it had been minutes since her name had come to his mind. But didn't Jane always have that effect on him…..if only…

"Yes, I am your friend Maggie, and actually I am much more fierce than your mother!" he growled, only half joking. If he had been expecting her to be shrink back in fear, he was to be sorely disappointed; Maggie merely laughed and growled back at him; only she sounded exactly like a wolf.

So much so that Baloo came trotting out of nowhere concerned that his little friend had a problem; hackles raised he bared his teeth at Erik. "No, No Baloo - we are playing!" and she made growling and whimpering noises that seemed to placate her canine companion.

Erik was amazed, this was the largest wolf he had ever seen and yet it behaved like a puppy around the small girl. He looked at Jane and raised an enquiring eyebrow.

"She has inherited her father's ability to commune with all wildlife, they are her willing slaves, added to which she also inherited my complete lack of fear – so you will not find her easily fearful of you Erik.

She does not even fear Edward Hyde….I think she actually called him a 'big teddy bear', on being confronted with him for the first time. Of course, even one such as he was lost to her after that…it appears she can tame even the wildest heart and darkest soul." She smiled with great pride at her daughter.

"She is like her mother then…." He muttered, and then more loudly "and you how are you? Did you develop your affinity with animals further?" He remembered her way with his horse, which was completely under her spell the first time her small hand touched him…..just as he had been. Had it really been so long, since that small hand had been held in his, since her soft voice and soothing touch had calmed his raging soul and eased his broken heart?

"My ability, whilst much stronger after nearly 8 years in the jungle, will never match hers; but I am…coping… without John…we are coping, are we not Maggie?"

"Yes Mama; we miss Daddy, but he is with the angels now – and so we must be content that he is at peace." The child stated with a quiet resignation that broke his heart. Many tears must have been shed by her for this to become her mantra.

"When…..when did he die?"

There was an imperceptible sigh "three years ago" seeing his startled look, knowing he was immediately wondering why she had not come sooner, she added "I promise you Erik, we will discuss all our successes and our….our losses later. But for now I must know if you will help us?" she indicated Nemo; who had been standing silently throughout this exchange, transfixed by their unspoken connection.

Much must have transpired here between these two in the past, he realised…and he felt that that connection would be strengthened should Erik (he had never realised that the 'Phantom' actually had a name) decide to join them on this latest quest.

Erik ignored the other man, but kept his piercing blue eyes locked with hers "If you need me Jane, I will follow….did I not tell you that?"

"Yes, you did…and that is why we are here. But we need to leave now!" She spoke urgently.

"I will gather a few things and join you in the foyer….."

"Thank you Erik, I will feel much…happier…knowing you are nearby. You always were my knight in shining armour" She smiled at him and, for a mere moment, Nemo could swear the other man actually blushed!

'Hmm' he thought 'this particular escapade could prove to be interesting on many levels!'

As they turned to leave Jane caught his arm and pulled him out of the way of an older woman who was walking through the door. On seeing Jane, her face lit up and her normal steely reserve melted away "Oh Jane! You are returned to us and how good it is to see you again after such a long absence! Are you here long? Does Erik know you are visiting, he would be sorely disappointed if he knew he had missed you after all these years away from us?"

"Madame Giry! How are you, still teaching the ballet rats their plies and arabesques?" she smiled in obvious genuine delight at seeing another old friend. "Unfortunately, no I will be leaving almost immediately. But I assure you I will return soon enough and then we must have a reunion!"

"I am well enough my dear, well enough. Yes, yes – still teaching; Erik ensures both Meg and I retain positions here; since it was refurbished after that shabby rebuild at the hands of the de Chagny's. I never got the chance to thank you so much for ensuring the funds were available for that and for ensuring that the new managers were more….amenable to Erik's 'little ways'. Things have been almost boring here in recent years!" she laughed.

"It is a shame you won't be able to stay tonight…we have a new opera opening and the lead will be played by the diva Nellie Melba, the opera is La Dolores, both are huge successes and we are most fortunate to have them…but" and here she dropped her voice to a whisper "she makes Carlotta seem almost humble and demure!"

"Now that I cannot believe! I cannot believe anyone could out demand and scream La Carlotta! Is she here? Perhaps I should say hello…" laughed Jane mischievously.

But she quickly regained her senses, no time to reminisce now, nor to torment old adversaries "I am so sorry, we must go, Erik is accompanying us on a….trip and I must meet him in the foyer; you know how he hates to be kept waiting!" she smiled playfully, knowing full well that Mme Giry knew of the screaming matches between her and Erik, whenever she strayed from the catacombs and returned too late, the last time she was here.

She thought for a brief moment; was it nearly 8 year ago that he took her in, saved her from her family and helped her find her way to John, even accompanying her to ensure she arrived safely – albeit reluctantly at first? 8 years since she had found her first true friend; though in the beginning he was more demon than man, such was his grief at the betrayal of Christine Daaé.

Christine – her mere name made Jane want to find the girl and kill her for the pain and torment she'd put Erik through. Still, fate had a way of balancing the scales; as John had often said God pays back debts without money, and he had paid it with interest to Miss Daaé.

She was trapped in a loveless marriage to man who merely viewed her now as a trophy; Jane knew she was utterly miserable, but had got used the comfortable life she had and so stayed with Raoul de Chagny. She knew in their social circle divorce would be unthinkable; after all she came from the same background. But why stay with someone you can barely tolerate? Surely better to defy convention and be happy, than to conform and waste your life; they were both cowards and richly deserved each other.

Erik, who had loitered momentarily the other side of the mirror, smiled and remembered the argument that Jane had had with the original 'diva' of L'Opera Populaire! All because she had dared to say, as Jane was passing, that the 'opera ghost' was nothing more than a murdering madman and she was glad he was dead.

Jane had ensured that Carlotta knew he was very much alive and breathing, and should watch her tongue if she wished to keep it in her mouth…and the taker would not be the 'Opera Ghost'. Carlotta never spoke ill of Erik again; just in case, like the Phantom himself, Jane was lurking somewhere.

He too, had been on the receiving end of Jane's temper more than once – it was that refusal to surrender to him, and a refusal to watch him wallow in self pity because of his disfigurement and the loss of Christine, that both enraged and saved him.

She refused to allow him to call Christine his 'angel'. "No 'angel' would leave the one they owe so much to, that has offered them their heart and soul" she had spat at him once "she was a fickle child Erik! Accept it – she chose money and looks, over heart and substance…..no true angel would be so shallow!"

He had thought at that moment he would kill her where she stood, to speak of HER like that! But…..somewhere deep in his very soul he knew she was right; and it was at that point that Erik began the slow climb back from the very depths of his despair.

For that he would follow her to the ends of the earth if need be……………