It was a cold, snowy afternoon when a carriage arrived to the elegant villa of Ms Desmond. The young vicomte lent a hand to his lovely fiancé and together they reached the door. "Are you ready?"

"Raoul, I'm more than ready, I can't wait to see everyone!" they rang the doorbell.

"Erik, dear, can you go open?" Norma asked while polishing the decorations with Antoinette. "Why me? I have to keep holding the ladder for this idiot." The masked man scoffed. "Idiot?" Ché looked down from near the top of Christmas tree where he was trying to fix the lightning. "It's not me nobody trusts with the lights, you moron." All the ladies in the room laughed. "Okay, I'm going, and you may as well fall."

"No way." Eva entered from the kitchen. "He may be an idiot, but he's my idiot, and if he falls, I will kill you. I'll go get it." Norma nodded. "It's not as if she does something around here." Erik mumbled. "Watch for the oven!" Eva yelled, hearing that.

(AN: Dear lost argentinian reader, or history puritan, don't say I didn't warn you.)

"Evita! Long-time no see! You're alive, healthy! I'm so glad!" Christine squealed as soon as the former first lady opened the door. "If it isn't the divine soprano." She smiled at the younger girl. "Eva, we heard some stories that you were sick..." Raoul started as he helped Christine out of her coat. "Oh, that is a long story... I will tell you later." They entered the main hall where everyone else was preparing for the meeting.

"Meg!" "Christine!" the two friends ran towards each other. "My... angel?" Erik turned around, letting the ladder go as Ché stumbled. "Jesus Christ, Erik!!!" He yelled and caught a branch of the tree. "Seems to me as you can't be trusted not only with lights, but also with helping others set the lights." Mme Giry stood up. "I'll hold the ladder for you, son." "It's alright; I think it should work now." Ché stepped down.

Raoul stopped the conversation with Eva as he saw Erik approaching Christine. "Christine, how are you, I haven't seen you for so long!" Christine almost didn't notice him as she was talking to her best friend. "Ahem, Erik, hi..." it was slightly embarrassing for her. Raoul approached them "What do you think you are doing? She doesn't want to talk with you." "Who are you to talk for her?!" Eva caught the glance of Antoinette and said: "Ahem, girls, would you mind helping me in the kitchen?" Both of them nodded and followed her to the kitchen. "Check this out, you two." Meg stopped them under one of the chandeliers on the way here. There was small mistletoe hanging down from it. "Kiss your man under it and you'll be guaranteed true love." Eva looked up. "Wait. I kissed Norma on the cheek when we arrived. Is she my true love now?" She said as the other two laughed. "Don't worry; it's only if you kiss on the lips. While...you may dance tango with him and lead him here." Christine suggested as Eva chuckled again. Meg sighed. "I wish I wasn't single..."

In the main hall, Erik and Raoul were arguing. "Insolent boy! How dare you suggest that Christine would be scared of her angel of music?"

"...of a murderer!" Raoul went off on him. Ché closed the step-ladder as he whispered to Norma: "This wasn't a good idea to invite these two at once, Ms Desmond." The actress smirked. "Oh but it's Christmas! They will get on somehow." Ché mumbled something like "I don't believe that." But put the ladder aside, deciding not to interfere with them. However, Raoul decided he's going to ignore Erik for once. "Hey amigo. Long-time no see. Why aren't you wearing a dress suit?" "Now great, the fop criticizes the scum." Ché just rolled his eyes. "This shirt was Eva's idea, you like it?" pretending to ignore Erik. Antoinette was losing her nerves listening to them, but she was sitting still. "Now what did you just called us?" Raoul turned towards the Phantom. "No, don't drag me into your arguments, seňors." Ché said. Antoinette stood up. "Exactly. Erik, Raoul, you argue like kids over nothing." "He began!" the rivals pointed at each other. "Now this is entertaining." Norma didn't seem to realize this wasn't a theatrical performance. Then the doorbell rang again. "I'm going for it!" Ché said, relieved he can leave the room that was getting tense.

"Hello dear friend!" a big smile covered in a coat full of colours appeared behind the door. The Argentinian shrieked a little. "Why are you dressed in Cuzco colours?" The man in the coat looked at him funny. "This is a coat from my father." Norma called from the main hall: "Oh that sounds like Joseph! Come on in, dear!" "Joseph... Joseph!?" Ché realized who was standing in front of him. "That's right buddy, the one and only!" Joe circled around him and went inside to greet Ms Desmond. Erik and Raoul stopped another one of their countless arguments and stared at him. "Now what the hell is this guy wearing..." but before anyone could react, a screech was heard from the kitchen. "Ahem, Ms Desmond, can you come collect your cats here?!" it was Eva's voice. All the people in the main hall turned towards it. "Now is anyone going to finish the decorating here, or is it just on me?" Mme Giry complained. Joseph turned to her. "I will help you." "Thank you darling, I'll go check on Meg." She grinned as she followed the rest of the group. "Wait... what am I supposed to do here?" Joseph called but everyone ignored him.

"Eva, what the hell is this...?" Ché laughed as he peeked inside behind Norma. His girlfriend looked like she was about to have a heart attack. There was a cat on every single piece of furniture in the kitchen. "Come on, puss puss, give it back..." Christine was talking sweetly to an orange tabby, which had its paw on a silver lid, refusing to let it go. "Where is Meg?" Antoinette asked. Her daughter quickly put back the candy she was just eating. "Oh, sweethearts, these aren't my cats!" Norma told them, petting a reddish queen cat that then ran beside Evita. "Then what are they doing in your house...?" Erik asked, backing away from an older, greyish cat. This one looked up at him. Her coat was dirty, but she had two big, beautiful, sad eyes. She fixed her gaze with the Phantom for a moment, and then went to sit in a corner of the room. Norma shrugged. "Sometimes they come visit me, and then they go." Everyone exchanged glances with each other as they were wondering why the actress just lets the animals inside.