The de Changny Estate, October 1876

"All right, now, one more push."

Scrunching her eyes closed, Christine pushed with all she had, a long scream escaping her lips as she did so. She was rewarded with a tiny cry as the infant exited her womb. Breathing heavily, she leaned her head back against the pillow.

A few minutes later, the contractions started again. The nurse bit her lip.

"Looks like it's twins. You'll have to do it one more time, dear."

Christine screamed in reply as she had another contraction. The nurse continued to utter words of encouragement as she began the laborious task of pushing the second child out of her body.

"Last one. Almost there, now push!"

Screaming, Christine gave one last push and then was silent. So was the second child it seemed.

"A boy and a girl. They are a boy and a girl."

Christine looked over at the two bundles in the nurse's arms.

"The boy was first," the nurse continued.

"Let me see," Christine breathed.

The boy was still screaming, but the girl was silent. Christine looked at her first and her breath caught in her throat. The girl was almost a perfect mini-me of herself. Except for her eyes. Her eyes were golden like her father's. Turning away from the young girl's stare, Christine looked at her son.

He had perfect blue eyes and a dark head of hair again like their father. They were opposites, these two. The girl looked like her mother with her father's eyes while the boy looked like his father with his mother's eyes.

"What will you call them?"

"Gustave for him after my father..." Christine trailed off as she tried to decide a name for her daughter.

"Mélodie-Rose for her."

Just then Elizabeth, Christine's private maid, came in.

"Liz! Liz listen, I need you to do something for me."

The nurse left the room so the two could have some privacy.

"What is it, Christine?"

"Take my daughter. No, listen to me. Raoul isn't the father of these children. I'm not proud of it, but it's true. Now listen, I think I can pass my son off as Raoul's, but there's no way I can do the same with her. Take her far away from here. Change her name, do whatever you can to keep her safe."

"Where do I take her?"

"Anywhere. Just not where Raoul will find her."

"Are you sure about this?"

Christine nodded as she handed her daughter to Elizabeth. Taking her, Elizabeth made to leave then turned back to address one last question.

"Who is their father?"

"Erik Destler, also known as the Phantom of the Opera."