A/N: So...my first Phantom fic...how about that?

Alright, so this is mostly Leroux based with a bit of Kay but not much.

Christine is eight at the start and Raoul is nine. I'm adjusting Erik's age a little bit so it will work with the story. Erik is going to be seventeen at the start. I plan for this to span a few years, so each character will become older.

This takes place during the summer of the "red scarf incident" and Christine and Raoul are not only playmates but they have become very good friends. Erik is living with the gypsies at the time.
And little Christine and Raoul will just so happen to cross paths with a young man know as "The Living Corpse"

The story will later go into to romance...now it is just too early.

There you have it! I hope you enjoy the first chapter and possibly give me your feedback?

Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera

Little Christine Daaé ran up to the tallest tree next to the de Chagny family's summer home. She blew away the blond curls that blew in her face as she ran. She grasped the lowest branch of the tree, pulling herself up. Christine sniffed the night air as she began climbing up to the highest window of the home. She took a pebble out of her sleeve and threw it lightly at the window, only tapping it.

Before Christine knew it, the window opened. A boy who was not much older than Christine opened the window. His blue eyes were tired, his hair was fair and a bit of a mess. He let out a yawn, "Christine?"

She smiled brightly, "Get dressed, Raoul!"

Raoul, clearly just had woken up from a deep sleep. He was ever so confused, "Wha?" He yawned again.

"Get dressed!" She climbed through the window and into Raoul's room, "We're going to the fair!"

Raoul raised his eyebrows in confusion, "But it's nighttime," he fixed his hair with his hands, "Daddy Daaé said he would take us on Friday. It's not Friday, Christine."

"I do not want to wait until Friday!" She pouted, "Please! We can go by ourselves. We are almost ten years old, that's practically grown up! You must come with me!"

Raoul looked a bit nervous. He stuttered a bit, "B-But there are g-gypsies! Philippe t-told me that they're d-dangerous!"

Christine rolled her eyes, "Has Philippe even seen a gypsy before?"

Raoul shrugged, "I-I don't know…"

"Then we do not know if they're dangerous!" Christine exclaimed, "I bet they aren't even dangerous at all."

"If you say so, Christine, " Raoul then asked, "I'll go with you. But I need to get dressed. Can you close your eyes?"

Christine nodded, covering her eyes with both hands as Raoul got on his clothes. She did not look at all. She did not even peek once.

"You can look now," Raoul alerted her, "I'm just putting on my shoes."

Christine took her hands off of her eyes. She saw Raoul struggling to tie his shoes, "Oh Raoul, you always take so long," she knelt down and took one of his laces, "I'll do it."

Raoul whined, "Christine, I can tie my own shoes."

Christine giggled, "Sure you can…there we go!" The strings were tied neatly in a bow. She adjusted the locket around her neck and grabbed Raoul's hand, pulling him out the window.

The children were so used to climbing down this tree, they had been doing it almost everyday for the entire summer. Their grips did not slip and their feet did not slide. They climbed down the tree with ease.

"I hear that there are animals of all sorts!" Christine beamed, pulling Raoul along, "And there are dancers too! Oh, I bet they are lovely!"

Raoul was slipping in the grass, "Slow down! I don't want to fall!"

Christine let out a chuckle, "I'm sorry, Raoul. I'm just so excited!"

Raoul showed a small grin, "I guess I'm excited too. I've actually never been to a fair before."

"Then you are in for a treat!" She ran with Raoul on a cobblestone path and onto the road, "There is music and dancing and food and all sorts of people!" Christine whispered, "One time I was at a fair with Daddy and I saw a woman with a beard!"

"Sounds like my governess," said Raoul, letting out a small chuckle.

Christine and Raoul now were laughing hysterically. Now that Christine thought about it, the bearded lady did look a lot like Raoul's governess.

Raoul adjusted the sleeves on his jacket, "How faraway is the fair?"

"Not too far," Christine answered, "Daddy and I walked past it while heading back from the market."

Raoul nodded, "I hope the gypsies aren't dangerous."

"They probably aren't, Raoul. Stop being silly."

"You know, Philippe has been teaching me," Raoul puffed out his chest, "If I had a saber or something I could protect us both if they were dangerous."

Christine started laughing, "I've seen you with a saber."

He crossed his arms and huffed, "I'm getting better!"

"Of course you are, Raoul," Christine messed with his hair, "Of course you are."

"Ack! Christine! My hair!"

"I think it looks better that way," Christine pointed out, "It makes you look all rough and tough."

"But I am rough and tough!"

"As a butterfly," Christine then pointed out to the lights in the distance, "I see it! I see it! Come on!"

The children ran as fast as they could towards the lights of the fair. They already knew that it was going to be a night that they would never forget.

"Next time you scream at the customers, " a gypsy man shouted with anger, "I will whip you into next week! Do you understand, corpse?"

Erik hid his face in his hands. He spoke in a whisper, "Yes."

The gypsy held the rusty cage door open with his hand, "Yes…what?"

Erik clenched his teeth, "Yes master."

The cage door was slammed shut and a dark tarp was put over it. Erik was used to the darkness. He actually liked the dark better than the light. That way no one could see him.

And he did not scream on purpose. When there are children throwing things at you…what else is your reaction? A boisterous laugh?

Erik felt around for his mask at the floor of his cage. He picked it up and put it over his face. His "mask" was actually a burlap sack with two eye holes. He had made it after the mask his mother made him finally broke. Even though Erik was alone, he felt more comfortable with his face hidden. He did not know exactly why, but he just did.

Outside of his cage he heard the laughter of children and the loving words sweethearts. How Erik longed for one. He saw plenty of boys his age walk around the fairgrounds with their ladylove. He wanted a ladylove. He wanted any love that he could take.

Erik touched a tender bruise on his shoulder blade. It stung like a wasp, so he quickly took his bony finger off.

Now was his time to rest. His next "show" was in an hour. He definitely was not looking forward to it. Maybe it would be better if he could keep his mask on and just sing to them. He had been told that he had a nice singing voice, but Erik knew that his master would not allow it. What the people wanted was a freak show, not an artist.

Erik curled up in a ball at the corner of his cage, holding his knees for a little bit of warmth. At least he knew that he could be safe inside of his dreams.

A/N: What did you think? Did you like it? Love it? Hate it?

Leave a review and let me know :)