A Porcelain Deformity

A/N: Okay… I haven't done any multi chapter fanfics in at least two years, (last time I did one was on my old account, my pen name was "Tani"), so I'm not sure how well this one is going to go. Also, I've only read Leroux once, and I'm bad at remembering small details, so this will be based mainly on ALW's musical. In this fanfic Raoul has passed away, (it was the only way I could try and put Christine and the Phantom together without making Raoul OOC), however, I just want people to know that I am not a Raoul basher, so if your looking for a fic that bashes him, it wont be this one.

Summary: Christine and Adele are heartbroken after the loss of Raoul. Can Erik provide comfort? Or will he only make matters much worse.

Disclaimer: The only things I own are characters you do not recognize. The name of Christine's daughter was borrowed from the name of the little girl in my favourite book, "Jane Eyre".


The coach rolled away noisily, as mother and child ran toward the building, rain pelting down all around them. The mother grabbed the knocker in her hands, which were numb from the damp October air; hoping as she did, that a servant would come quickly and let them in. Soon enough the old oak door swung open and the pair dashed into the warm little flat as quickly as they could.

The mother helped the little girl, who was the tender age of five, remove her water logged petticoat. She then gently shook out the child's damp brown curls. She had nearly removed her own coat, when a great shaggy brown dog leapt onto her with an excited "woof!" She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Down Plato!" sprang exasperated from her lips. The name did not fit the mutt, who was ridiculously and utterly stupid. She had to love the beast though, he had been a favourite with her husband, and Plato, as much as she disliked admitting it, had become dear to her also.

"Will the flowers we left for papa last?" The little girl asked sadly, obviously worrying about the torrential rain.

"I do not know Adele." The weary young mother whispered, continuing to remove her coat, now that the dog had settled.

"Oh good your home!" The maid's cheery voice rang out as she approached them, taking their coats, and hanging them up. Her name was Molly Parker; she was a plump little old English woman. Molly was industrious, sweet, she did her job exceedingly well, and had helped the little family out a great deal when the master of the house died, and his rich upper class parents abandoned his former "Chorus girl" wife, and innocent child. However, for all the women's goodness, it was not quite clear if she would have job much longer. Money was scarce for the little family, and having no other relations, or inheritance to fall back on, and with the mother working a low paying job in a local store, (for she could not bring herself to sing), it was getting exceedingly harder to afford the sweet little maid.

"I put the kettle on not too long ago, Christine, it should be ready shortly. Oh, and I baked some biscuits, which if I may say so, are scrumptious." Molly's smile was usually infectious, but today it did not rub off on Christine.

"Please, do not bother to pour me any Molly, I'm tired from the trip to the cemetery, and I'm going to have a lie down. But by all means, give some to Adele. She was complaining of being famished in the coach." Christine then proceeded to climb the stairs without saying a further word.

Molly turned to Adele. "Well, just because your dear mother is not having any, doesn't mean you and I can't have a cup of nice tea. Come along dear." She took Adele's hand and led her into the kitchen, frowning when the child said nothing, but only followed mutely. Adele had always been a happy child, full of life and energy, yet she, like her mother, had seemed so empty since her father's death.

"This poor family," Molly thought frowning to herself. "it is almost like they have forgotten how to live in their grief, they need someone to teach them how, I only wish I could be of better help to them."

After having tea, Adele crept into her mother's bedroom, easing the door open slowly. It was as dark and silent, as a tomb. Yet even with such lighting conditions, she could barely make out her mother's form on the bed, which was far too big for one person, her dark ebony curls sprawled out on the pillow.

"Mamma?" Childhood's whisper echoed in the stillness of the room. Her mother made no reply, and little Adele moved towards Christine's still form.

"Mamma?" She again whispered. Once at the foot of the bed, she lightly tapped the adult's arm, knowing intuitively her mother was not asleep; it was much too early for sleeping. She could hear the pitter pat of the pelting rain hitting the window.

"Oui Adele?" Christine's broken voice finally replied, with an empty heaving sigh. She had her back to the girl.

"Mamma, something has happened to "Angel". Look!" Christine sighed and rolled over, facing her child, who had a sad and worried look on her face.

Adele held up her favourite plaything, a porcelain doll, with ebony curls almost exactly like Christine's, and soft downy angel's wings. It had been the final gift the child had ever received from her father, when he was in the mid stages of the illness that took his life.

Christine secretly loathed the thing that her child coveted (and happily dubbed), "Angel". She had been quite angry with Raoul when he had given their baby, an Angel, of all things! Yet, he had soothingly taken her hand, caressed it with both his own, and explained to her that he knew he had little time left, and he wanted to give his girl the "Angel" that her mother had been promised, but had never really received. "Also, I want the doll to be a little way of showing her that I am always with her, in her heart at least."

When Christine looked at the little doll now, a chill ran up and down her spine. Several cracks had appeared, going down the right hand side of the dolls face, ending just by its lips; a porcelain deformity. Outside, thunder crashed.

A/N: Okay…. So the first chapter is short, but there is more to come! Luckily its summer too, so I should be able to update more frequently. Also, I just want it to be known that this is NOT going to be another one of those "Christine's daughter gets taught how to sing by Erik!" Fan fictions, however it will be E/P (or if you prefer E/C).