I hope all my readers of "The Phantomess of the Opera" will enjoy this and continue to read. Enjoy! ^^

Chapter 1

Belle sighed as she breathed in the winter air and stared up at the cloud-filled night sky. She often sat on the roof to clear her mind. Within the last year her life had changed dramatically. For as long as she could remember, Belle had always been alone and unloved. Then she met Charles Daae. Handsome, intelligent, great in bed, he had saved her from her solitude. He was her Angel of Music, and she was his. Now they were living together under the Opera house. Well, Charles was the lead tenor at the Opera Populaire, since El Carlos and La Piangia went back to Spain, and had his own room, but he spent all his nights with her in her home. Lately, though, he had been acting strangely. They always talked before they went to bed, and recently Charles would start to say something but would stop. 'I wonder what's bothering him. I wish he would tell me.' When she heard the door open, she swished her cape and hid behind a statue.

"Belle, oh Belle, come out, I have something to tell you," came the excited voice of Rachel de Changy, the Viscountess. Recently, her and Belle had become like friends. At first, she was trying to keep Charles from Belle. But after she realized she didn't love him like that anymore, she let him and Belle be together.

Belle stepped out, nearly scaring Rachel. "Hello, Rachel. What is it?" She didn't try to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Rachel pouted. "You thought I was Charles didn't you?" She walked over and gave Belle a hug. "What I have to tell you, you can't tell a soul."

She looked at Rachel. "Who am I going to tell? I talk to three people, and I'm sure two of those three already know."

Rachel squealed. "Matt proposed!"

Belle smiled and hugged her. "That's great news, Rachel. But you two have only known each other for two months. Don't you think-"

"Oh, who are you to be a stickler for tradition, Belle. I mean look at you and Charles. Is there anything traditional in kidnapping the person you love, send threatening letters to get them parts, you know, all the things that you used to do."

Belle smirked. "I still send the managers my letters."

Rachel sighed. "That's not the point. You sleep together and you're not married, you live under an opera house..."

Belle covered Rachel's mouth. "Enough! So we don't live a normal life, what of it?" She had been slightly irritable lately and Rachel was irritating her.

Rachel, with her mouth still covered, gasped and started laughing.

Belle removed her hand and walked away. "What is so funny?" She walked over to the edge and stared out over Paris. She sighed.

"It cannot be! Have you told Charles yet?"

Belle visibly stiffened under her cape. "Told him what?" She didn't want to see Rachel's face. She knew what she was hinting at.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I thought you had been acting strange these last couple of weeks, but...Oh, it's so sweet!" She ran over and grasped Belle's arm. "Your...You have to tell him! It's not fair for him if your not the one to tell him."

Belle kept staring. "How can I with...this..." She gestured to her mask. "What would he say?" Tears slid down her face.

"Oh Belle...Charles will be so happy, I know it." She took out a handkerchief and held it out to her.

Belle took it and wiped her face. "But what if-"

Rachel stopped her. "If you worry yourself with 'what ifs' , they are sure to be. Think positive!" She hugged her. "Now, are you going to tell him, or will I have to tie you down with your Punjab and make you tell him?"

Belle giggled. "Alright, but I don't know how. He's been acting strange himself. It confuses me."

"You just come out and tell him!"

"Oh, so I sit him down, look him in the eye and say 'Charles, I'm pregnant.' That's it?" She gave Rachel a puzzled look.

Rachel sighed happily. "Exactly! See how easy it is?"

Belle started to smile. "Yes, but what if-"

"No, no, no! Stop it. Tell him and then when the time comes then you deal with it, not before." She hugged her once more, looking at Belle's stomach. "It will be okay. Charles will love this baby no matter what the outcome. He loves you."

"You're right, I shouldn't worry about it."

Rachel nudged her. "What do you want it to be?"

Even in the dark Rachel could see her blush. "I-I don't know. But I do know I want it to be perfect and musically talented." She gave Rachel a defiant smile. "And it will be! No child of mine will live without music."

They both laughed. Rachel interlocked arms with Belle and together they walked to the door. Just when they reached it, Charles burst out and looked at the two women. "Hello Rachel." He took her hand and kissed it. He turned to Belle. "Hello, mon ange." He embraced her and kissed her lips. He smiled. "Did you like the performance?"

"Oh, well, I didn't listen to the whole opera. I-"

Charles put a finger to her lips. "It's okay, I understand." He fidgeted a bit. "Belle, I wanted to ask you..." He looked away.

Rachel sauntered away. "I'll leave you alone."

Charles stopped her. "No, stay." He pulled a little box from his coat pocket and got down on one knee. He smiled as both Rachel and Belle gasped. Opening it, he took out a beautiful diamond ring. Putting it on her ring finger he looked up at her. Belle, will you marry me."

Belle looked at him. Tears came into her eyes. She embraced him, knocking him down to the ground, "Yes! And a hundred times yes." She sat on his stomach and bent down to kiss him. "I love you..."

Charles grinned. "I love you too, mon ange!" He sat up and hugged her.

Rachel was jumping up and down. "This is the best night ever! Oh, we should have a double-" She slapped her hand over her mouth and looked at the couple on the ground. "Oops!"

They all laughed.

"Well, that's not even the best-" Belle jumped up and covered Rachel's mouth. Rachel giggled.

Charles stood up slowly and looked at them. "What's going on?"

Belle blushed. "N-n-nothing! I'm so happy." She let go of Rachel, grasped his hands and kissed him. "Come on, lets go home."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out the door and down the iron spiral stairs. Rachel followed them.

}{

Monsieur Firmin and Andre wrote up a letter to send to the Phantom. It went something like this:

Dear Mademoiselle Phantom,

We would be honored if you would consider singing in the next opera. Your performance in 'Don Juan' was unforgettable and breathtaking. Please take this offer into consideration.

Sincerely, Monsieur Firmin and Andre

Based on the rumors of the stagehands, the managers left the letter in Box Five.

"I hope this works, Firmin," Andre sighed.

He shrugged. "Don't fret, Andre. Just think of the results." Firmin rubbed his hands together.

They laughed.

}{

Madame Giry sat in her room and read a book. Matt burst in and hugged his mother.

"Guess what, mother?"

"You asked the Viscountess to marry you and she consented?" Her eyes never left the page she was reading.

Matt looked dumbfounded. "How..."

"The way you've been acting."

"Well, you're completely correct as always, mother." He laughed and walked out the door.

As he closed the door, a smile played upon Madame Giry's features.

Tada! Some great developments in the first chapter. Should Charles and Belle have a girl or a boy first? Keep sending ideas. R&R!