Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera (much to my dismay), Christine, Raul, Erik (I wish!), Madame Giry, Meg, or any other characters at this point. But I own this story, which I hope is good….

I try to keep lyrics close to the original, but sometimes I have to change them. So ya know.

Review? Pretty Please?

Chapter 1

"Brava, brava, bravissimo…"

The young singer looked up at the sound. Christine smiled, realizing who it was, but before she responded she heard another voice drift to her in the small chapel.

"Christine, Christine…

Where in the world have you been hiding

Really, you were perfect

I only wish I knew your secret

Who is your great tutor?"

"Meg," Christine said, turning to her best friend, "When your mother brought me here to live, whenever I come down here alone to light a candle for my father a voice from above… and in my dreams… he was always there… You see, when my father lay dying He told me I will be protected by an angel. An angel of music."

"Christine, do you believe? Do you think the spirit of your father tutored you?"

Christine, hearing her speak, somewhat came to her senses and refrained from telling her the truth. So instead, she stuttered, "Who else, Meg? Who?"

"Father once spoke of an angel,

I used to dream he'd appear.

Now as I sing, I can sense him

And I know he's here

Here in this room he calls me softly

Somewhere inside hiding

Somehow I know he's always with me

He, the unseen genius…"

Christine smiled softly, looking around her. She did feel him, her Erik, and knew that she would talk to him later that evening.

"Christine, you must have been dreaming

Stories like this can't come true

Christine, you are talking in riddles

And it's not like you…"

"Angel of Music Guide and guardian

Grant to me your glory"

"Who is this angel. This…"

"Angle of Music

Hide no longer

Secret and strange and angel…"

"He's with me, even now"

"You seem happy…"

"All around me!"

"Your face, Christine, it's red…"

"I'm overjoyed."

"Whatever you say…"

"Christine?"

"Yes, Meg?"

"Who is really teaching you? You can tell me."

They were on their way back to the dressing rooms, the corridor seemed empty, but Christine doubted it.

"Meg, why do you think I'm lying?"

She laughed, "Christine, as fantastic as you are at acting, your like my sister. I can see past your false words. I can also see that your blushing."

Christine turned to her, "He made me promise, Meg. It's a secret."

Meg raised her eyebrows as they continued walking, "A man who asks you to keep him a secret? I think you may have a suitor on you. And with the Vicomte looking your way…" She said, looking pointedly ahead of them at Christine's new dressing room door, where he waited for her along with many others, "Tell me about it later! I must take my leave, my chemise is becoming quite itchy."

Christine sighed and walked over to her old dressing room that Meg just disappeared into.

The ballet girls' dressing room was connected to the female lead's dressing room by a locked door, to which Christine had the key.

Fumbling with the small piece of iron, she unlocked the door to her dressing room where Madame Giry was waiting for her.

"You did very well, my dear. He's pleased with you." They shared a knowing smile as she handed Christine the rose and motioned for her to turn around. Unknotting Christine's corset, she mentioned breezily. "I do think he enjoyed it, I bumped into him earlier while you and Meg were talking in the chapel. May I say, it was quite clever to say you believe your father's ghost is tutoring you."

Christine smiled, "Well, it wasn't a complete lie. I used to think that until he told me who he really was."

"Well, I hoped you didn't believe that after he wooed you with his 'Music of the Night'." They laughed, and Madame Giry finished loosening her corset. When she tied it again, Christine turned to her questioningly.

"You have a guest outside, and I don't think it would be proper to not where it. Shall I send him in?"

Christine thought a second, and replied, "Yes, I suppose so. Thank you," and returned to twirling the rose in her fingers. She truly hoped that Raul didn't plan on wooing her and that he was just an old friend paying a visit.

Raul entered the room with a large bouquet of flowers in his hands and a grin on his face. Christine sighed inaudibly, thinks don't always turn out the way you want them to, do they?

"Little Lotte let her mind wander,

Little Lottie thought: Am I fonder of dolls or of goblins of shoes?"

Christine giggled, "Raoul."

"Or of riddles and frogs?"

"Those picnics in the attic…"

"As we ate chocolates…."

"Father playing the violin."

"As we read to each other dark stories of the North."

'Just like old times… perhaps it is nice to catch up on some things.'

She smiled, "No - what I love best, Lottie said, is when I'm asleep in my bed and the Angel of Music sings songs in my head!"

"The Angel of Music sings songs in my head!"

"Oh, you sang like an angel tonight," Raul said embracing her softly.

"Father said, 'When I'm in heaven, child I will send the Angel of Music to you'. Well, father is dead, Raoul, and I have been visited by the Angel of Music." She said lightly, using the excuse she used with Meg earlier.

"Oh, no doubt of it - And now we'll go to supper!"

"No, Raoul, the Angel of Music is very strict." She said, praying that he would catch on. "Well, I shan't keep you up late!"

"Raoul, no…"

"You must change. I'll order my carriage. Two minutes - Little Lottie."

"No, Raoul, wait!"

She sighed and rolled her eyes, getting up to get changed and knocked five times in a pattern next to the door to the ballet girls' dressing rooms.

"Finally!" Meg said, from the other side of the door and Christine let her in.

"Did you hear the conversation?" Christine asked her, to which Meg nodded vigorously.

"Most of it, at least."

"What am I to do, Meg? I can't give him false hope, yet he's my old friend, I don't want him to feel badly." Christine said, sitting on the bed next to Meg.

"Well, maybe you should go and make sure he realizes that you are not interested in him in that way?" The smaller girl said.

"How do I say that to our biggest patron, though?" She sighed.

"I'll go!" Meg said, laughing.

"Yes, I do wish you could."

Meg frowned at her friends discomfort, "Do you want me to retighten your corset for you?"

"Yes, please, Meg." She said, sighing, and standing up, removing the large dress and standing before her dresser, Meg went to tighten her corset while Christine pulled out what she would wear.

"What do I say, again?" She asked Meg.

"Make it clear that your just friends, that's all. Say how happy you are to see your 'old friend' again, or how happy you are to be 'friends' again. Or maybe even speak of your tutor… I do hope your picking up my hint, Christine." Meg said, tying the corset into a tight bow.

Christine raised an eyebrow and slipped the dining dress over her head. "Meg, it's a secret… Okay?"

"Christine, you've known me for years, you can tell me anything! We are sisters in all but blood."

She glanced at the clock on the wall, "Meg, he'll be here in but a moment, let's talk later. Please?"

Meg followed her glance, and nodded, "I'll see you after. I'll be up, so feel free to knock," her eyes told her differently, that she had to knock.

They hugged, "Good luck." And Meg exited out the door.

Christine sat back down at her desk. Her chair faced away from the mirror but it was to the mirror she spoke, "Erik, I know you're there. Might you come out now?"

Silent as a mouse, she did not hear him at all, he moved to embrace her from behind, whispering into her ear, "Insolent boy, this slave of fashion, basking in your glory."

"There is no need to be too harsh on him. I suppose it's my fault." She said, hanging her head.

"Your fault? By being so beautifully tempting? Do not fret so."

They shared a moment of peace, "He'll be here soon, and I know how you hate to share." She said, quietly.

"Will you go with him?" He asked, solemnly.

"Not because I want to." She said, resting against him.

"Then why go at all?" Erik asked, with her ear against his chest she could hear his soft, deep voice vibrate in his vocal chords. She smiled a little at that. And leaned into it some more.

"Do you really want me to have a suitor that is not your self?"

He rose suddenly, "You do have me there," He whispered, and motioned to the door. "I'll be here when you come back. Have your chat with Meg first, of course." He leaned down and captured Christine's lips in a soft kiss, "Love you." He said, and disappeared into the mirrors revolving frame. "Love you, too." She said to the air.

Then there was a knock on the door.