Disclaimer - I don't own the characters or the general idea of the story. They were originally created by Gaston Leroux and have been used by much more creative people than myself since then including Andrew Lloyd Weber, Ken Hill, and many others. I am not making any money from this story. I am merely borrowing the characters for awhile.

Author's note - This is my first attempt at fanfiction. Constructive criticism is welcome but no flames. This story is based off a random dream I had about a year ago that wouldn't go away until I decided to write it up. It is going to be R/C and it will be a mix of versions. ALW will probably dominate but others will be thrown in there and hopefully I'll manage to put in something of my own.

Chapter 1

"Christine." At the sound of the teacher's voice a small, curly haired brunette lifted her head.

"Yes, Madame Dufarge?" she replied.

"The main office just called cherie and they want you to go down there and bring your things with you."

Under the envious eyes of the other seven year olds who wished they were the ones leaving class, Christine slid her pencils and books into her backpack. She rose from her chair and grabbed her blue windbreaker from her locker as she left the classroom.

As Christine made her way through the empty hallway she wondered why she had been called from class.

"Maybe Papa is trying to surprise me!" she thought and she sped up hoping that when she reached the office her father would be there. She reached the office, pulled open its heavy wooden door and stopped when she saw the short, wiry, brunette woman waiting for her.

"Aunt Antoinette!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" Antoinette Giry knelt down to look Christine in the eye.

"It's your father Christine. He was at rehearsal and didn't feel well. Then during the middle of one of the pieces he, well, he fainted." Christine's normally fair face turned bone white.

"Is he okay?" Christine whispered.

"I don't know" Antoinette replied. "They took him to the hospital and I came to pick you up so you can go see him, all right?" Christine nodded her head and reached out to take Antoinette's hand. Antoinette stood up and looked at the secretary. "Do you need me to do anything else to take her?"

"No. Monsieur Daae has you listed as someone who can pick Christine up and you've already signed her out. You both can go," said the secretary. Antoinette nodded her thanks and led Christine out to where her car was parked. As she started the car, Antoinette looked over at the silent child sitting with hands clasped tightly together in the passenger seat.

"We'll be there in a few minutes Christine," she said reassuringly hoping for a response. Instead, Christine just nodded, looking out the window. Antoinette sighed and backed the car out of the parking spot.

Less than 15 minutes later Antoinette eased into a spot in the hospital parking lot. Christine was already out of the car, waiting by the driver's side door by the time Antoinette had removed her seatbelt and opened the door. She grasped Christine's hand and together they walked into the hospital and up to the nurse's desk.

"We're looking for Gustave Daae. Can you tell us where he is?" Antoinette asked.

"He's been moved to room 314. Are you family?" the nurse responded.

"This is his daughter and I'm a friend and co-worker. Can we see him now?" The nurse nodded.

"All right. Just take that hallway to the elevator and go up to third floor. 314 should be just a couple of doors to your left."

A few minutes later Christine and Antoinette entered into a small hospital room. It was a typical hospital room. White walls, hospital beds, and a TV mounted in the corner. One of the beds was empty, the blankets neatly folded in a pile at the foot of the bed. The other bed was occupied by a man in his mid-30s with wavy dark hair and soft brown eyes that lit up when they saw Christine.

"Angel!" he cried holding out his arms for his daughter.

"Papa!" Christine cried jumping onto the bed and giving her father a hug. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now that you are here. How was school?"

"Good. Madame Dufarge liked the picture I drew."

"And what was the picture of Little Lotte from the stories you tell me. She was waiting for the Angel of Music to come and sing songs to her."

"You'll have to show me this wonderful picture soon. Maybe instead of being an opera singer when you grow up you'll become a famous artist!" Gustave teased.

"Of course not Papa! Because if I become an artist then the Angel of Music will have no need to visit me" explained Christine seriously.

"Well then," chucked Gustave. "I'll guess you'll just have to keep working hard then so that . . ." He trailed off as he noted the somber looking doctor standing in the doorway of the room.

"We've had a chance to look at some of your x-rays Monsieur Daae," he said while giving a meaningful look at Christine. Gustave took the hint.

"Christine why don't you go ask the nurses if they have any crayons and paper than you can use to draw me a picture of Little Lotte".

"All right Papa. I'll go and when I get back then I'll draw you the best picture ever. I promise." With this, Christine sped from the room in search of art supplies.

"It's bad," commented Gustave flatly. The doctor hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"You have a tumor growing on your left lung and it's become attached to your heart Monsieur Daae. That resulted in pressure on both your lungs and your heart and that was why you passed out today."

"Is there anything you can do?" Gustave pleaded.

"Unfortunately, it seems from the x-rays it seems like the tumor is to entrenched in your heart tissue to make it inoperable. We'll do some more tests, but I'm pretty they will just confirm what we already suspect." The doctor paused. "I'm sorry."

"How long do I have left?"

"A month or two, maybe three." Gustave leaned his head back on the pillow and looked despairingly up at the ceiling.

"What am I going to do?" he whispered. He brought his gaze to bear on a pale Antoinette tears sparkling in her eyes. "Antoinette, what am I going to do? I don't have any family. I'm all Christine has. Who will take care of her?" His voice broke, "What will she do when I'm . . .dead."

Antoinette swallowed hard. "I am as close as any family. I am Christine's godmother and she and my Meg are as close as sisters. I will take care of her as I would Meg, and as I know you would care for my daughter if I were in your place."

"Thanks you," breathed Gustave. "Thank you". Antoinette smiled sadly at her friend walking to the bed and placing her hand on his right shoulder.

"But how are we going to tell Christine?" she asked.

"Tell me what?" Christine asked entering into the room.

"Christine!" exclaimed her father. "I, I didn't think you would be back so quickly. At this point the doctor decided to leave them alone.

"I'll be back later to discuss the rests of the tests with you. As well as what you can expect over the next couple of months," he told Gustave. Gustave nodded wearily as the doctor left the room.

"Just that . . . just that . . . just that they need to do some more tests and so I need to stay here for a few days." Gustave said, smiling weakly as Christine climbed back next to him on the hospital bed. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Can I stay here with you then?" she asked hopefully as she wrapped her arms around her father. He gave her a tight hug and shook his head.

"No Angel. You'll stay with Aunt Antoinette and Meg tonight. And then tomorrow after school, you can come see me again."

"But why can't I come see you before school?"

"Because I need to get my sleep. But how about you can call me when you are finished eating breakfast? Will that work?" Christine nodded her head. "Good girl. Now why don't you and Antoinette head home so that Meg isn't lonely, all right?"

"Okay Papa. And I'll call you as soon as I can tomorrow" promised Christine.

"I know you will" Gustave replied. As Antoinette and Christine were walking out of the doorway, he said, "I love you Angel." Christine grinned and ran back to the bed and gave him a fierce hug.

"I love you too Papa." Gustave watched them leave and when he was sure that they were gone, he laid back, closed his eyes and let the tears start to flow.