A/N: Only one review in the last chapter. Not too happy about that. :( I don't know the name of Christine's mother so; I just used a random name that popped into my head. Please R&R!
Always and Forever
Chapter Two
Christine
Paris, France 1863
Gustave was holding four year-old Christine's hand. He was looking for a job. After his wife's death, her side of the family took everything they owned. They even tried to take Christine, but on that he fought back. They had no place to live and only a few to eat.
"Papa? Where are we going?" Christine asked. Gustave looked down at his daughter. She looked so much like her mother. Her beautiful blue eyes, and curls but, his brown hair. He smiled down at her and playfully scooped her into his arms, causing her to giggle. Then, placing her head on his shoulder. He never wanted her to see that he wanted to lose hope. But, every time he saw her, he decided he didn't.
"Don't worry about it, my child. You just rest." Christine snuggled into her father's arm and closed her eyes. He remembered when his wife, Elizabeth, would hug him. He went and sat in an alley to rest for the night. He put his jacket over Christine and looked at her. She looked just like Elizabeth did when she slept. He closed his eyes, remembering how she was in pain at the day of the labor…
xXx
Upsala, Sweden 1859
Elizabeth was crying and screaming as the baby was coming out. Gustave was on her side holding her hand. He kept whispering things in her ear trying to calm her down. The midwife was telling her to push, and Elizabeth did. Until finally the baby came out.
A baby girl…
The midwife cleaned and wrapped a blanket around the baby. She placed her in Elizabeth's arms, which weren't moving. Gustave didn't feel her hand holding his, he looked at her and her eyes were closed. He placed his hand on her neck.
No pulse…
He put his hand under her nose.
No breath…
Gustave place a hand over his mouth in disbelief. No, she couldn't be dead; she was alive a few seconds ago. The midwife placed the baby in Gustave's arms. "I'll go get a doctor!" she said and ran out of the room. He was alone with his wife. And his new baby girl. He looked at his wife and her name appeared in his head.
Elizabeth Christine Daae.
He looked down at his baby and smiled. "Christine." He whispered. He cuddled little Christine and tears rolled down his cheeks. "Hello, Christine. I am your father." He gasped when he knew this wasn't normal, little Christine opened her eyes. He smiled, realizing that she had the big beautiful blue eyes that Elizabeth had.
He told her a story that he vowed he would tell her when she is older. "Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her hair was golden as the sun's rays and her soul as clear and blue as her eyes. She wheedled her mother, was kind to her doll, took great care of her frock and her little red shoes and her fiddle, but most of all loved, when she went to sleep, to hear her Angel of Music."
He looked down and saw that little Christine was sound asleep. He whispered "My Little Lotte." And placed a kiss on her forehead.
xXx
Gustave woke up when Christine placed a kiss on his cheek. "Come on, papa. It's a new day!" she said happily. He smiled of how excited she was. Indeed, she will live everyday like there was no tomorrow. Christine began poking Gustave in the shoulder. "Papa? Look what I found!" she gave him a paper that was crumpled and dirty. But, luckily the words were visible.
Help Wanted!
We are in the need of new servants.
We need servants of any age except three and under.
We are providing a nice home, food, and clothing.
Place: De la Lara Mansion
"Do you think you should work there papa?" Christine asked. He looked up from the paper and smiled at her. But, not liking that she will have to work too in order to stay with him.
"I believe so. Would like to help me work, Christine?" He smiled when she squealed and gave him a big hug. She seemed like she liked the idea.
"Really papa? I could work with you?" He nodded and she jumped up and down happily. She settled down quickly and made a serious face. "I mean, it would be a pleasure to work with you, monsieur." She gave a little smile at the end of her sentence making Gustave laugh and play along.
"Then come, mademoiselle! Let us be off to…" He stopped and looked at the paper, looking for the place. "Ah! De la Lara mansion!" She gave a fit of giggles when he scooped her in her arms and tickled her stomach. Then, he placed her on his back, while she wrapped her arms around his neck, and her legs around his body. Gustave grabbed her legs, and held her tight. Then quickly
He walked across the village asking for directions but, no one would listen to him. Finally a man told him to go right up a hill. Gustave began climbing the hill while Christine kept telling him that she could see the mansion.
"Oh papa! It's beautiful! I can't believe it!" He smiled and set her down on her feet. She frowned, still wanting to be on her father's back. But, the smile was still on his face.
"I think, Little Lotte that you should be on your feet when you introduce yourself. I want them to see you as a big girl, if you are going to help me." Her frown turned into a smile. She really wanted to work with her father. She wanted to show him that she was good enough to help him.
Gustave rang a bell that was connected to the door. After a few seconds a man in a red shirt and ripped pants answered the door. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"Yes! My daughter and I are here to apply as servants." The man gave a wide grin and opened the door fully, so they may enter.
"Oh, of course! Come on in!" Gustave and Christine walked in happily. "I am Jean Claude by the way. I just go get Lady de la Lara." Jean Claude scurried away. Gustave turned to Christine and began fixing her hair and dress while Christine was placing Gustave's hair in place. Then Jean Claude appeared with Monsieur and Madame de la Lara. Followed by Mademoiselle de la Lara.
Gustave gave a bow and Christine gave a curtsy. The de la Lara's' just stared with disgust but, they needed new servants. Monsieur de la Lara spoke before anyone could go any further with the silence. "I am Charles de la Lara, this is my wife Beatrice, and my daughter Carlotta." A little girl with a pink dress was looking at her nails like nothing interesting was happening. Christine took her father's hand and hugged his arm, hoping this was the right choice.
"My lord, I am Gustave Daae and this is my daughter Christine Daae." Carlotta finally looked up and gaped at the girl who was standing in her home. She was actually…pretty! No way was she staying here!
Charles whispered something to the servant and the servant nodded. "You are our new servants. Jean Claude will take you to your rooms and sort out everything." Then he, his wife, and daughter walked away. Jean Claude approached them and smiled.
"It's good to have new servants around. Come, I will show you to your rooms." Jean Claude led them to a basement that looked like a dungeon with a candle in his hand. Christine gasped as she saw the place and Gustave picked her up in his arms. Jean Claude stopped and unlocked a room that had four hay beds and a few candle sticks to light the room. "This will be your rooms but, you are sharing with two other servants." He closed the door and spoke once more. "I will show you you're positions." He led them back upstairs.
"Okay, you." He pointed to Christine. "You will have to be Carlotta's personal servant. Here, I will take you to her."
Jean Claude led Christine to Carlotta's room. He knocked on the door. "Carlotta? I have brought you your personal servant your parents requested."
Her red hair was in a long and wavy and she was sitting with a boy who was about three years older. The smile she had on her face began to fade as she saw who it was. The boy turned and a smile appeared on his face. "She is going to be my personal servant?" she asked with a frown on her face. Christine's brows furrowed.
"Yes, now you must tell her what to do. She is your servant." With that Jean Claude left. Carlotta gave Christine a nasty face before returning to the boy. It was the boy who seemed more curious about Christine.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" The boy asked. Carlotta groaned and rolled her eyes. Christine couldn't believe the attitude this girl had; she was the same age as her! Carlotta thought gave an annoyed sigh. "Raoul, this is Christine Daee-"
"It's pronounced Daae." Carlotta gave her a glare and began to speak once more.
"Christine, this is Raoul de Changy. My family and his family had made us a arrange marriage before we were born, we only met last year." She said and then pulled Raoul to make him sit again. "Go and tell Jean Claude to make us some noshes!" she spat, trying to get rid of Christine. Christine nodded and left the room.
She went down the main stairs and looked for Jean Claude. She walked around and bumped into another little girl and Christine fell to the ground. "Oops! I am terribly sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." She helped Christine up and smiled. "Are you new here?"
Christine felt a little shy. "Um, yes I am. I am Christine Daae." She said above a whisper. The girl smiled and held out her hand.
"I am Marguerite Giry but, I prefer Meg." Christine smiled and shook her hand. She had beautiful long blonde hair. "Come, I want you to meet my mother." Meg took Christine's hand and gently dragged her to the kitchens of the castle. There in the kitchen was an older woman with her air in a long braid and an old lavender color dress. She was washing some dishes and humming a little song.
"Maman! Did you meet the new servants?" Antoinette turned around then grabbed a rag from the counter and wiped her hands.
"Yes, I met the older man a while ago. He did mention he had a daughter." Her eyes turned to Christine who seemed to be a backing away a little. "You must be Christine. No need to be frighten child. I will not harm you." Antoinette assured with a smile. Christine seemed to relax a little.
"Carlotta, asked me… well, more like told me to bring her noshes." Meg rolled her eyes and groaned.
"That girl is so demanding! She's just as bad as that de Changy boy!" Meg said. Christine's brows furrowed. Raoul didn't seem so bed yet, she hasn't known him that much to judge. She was a little curious towards him but, knew that according to Meg she must stay away.
Antoinette began to make some tea and placed some biscuits on a plate. Then, she placed the biscuits, tea, and cups in a tray and handed it to Christine. "Here my child. Take it slowly." Christine nodded and began to take it slowly when she walked up the stairs. Then Carlotta came running down and pushed Christine, making her drop everything.
"Now look what you did you stupid fool!" Carlotta yelled at her. Christine glared at her and quickly stood up.
"You pushed me! I shouldn't be to blame for something that you did! You should be kinder to your servants; maybe that's why no one in this place likes you!" Carlotta gaped at Christine. No one has ever spoken to her like that in all her life. Christine raised her chin and walked off to the kitchen.
As soon as she walked in Meg began laughing. Christine raised a brow in confusion. "I have never seen a person talk to Carlotta like that! I like you, Christine!" She said giggling this time. Christine smiled and began to walk over to the counter to grab the dinner to place in the table.
Before she could even touch the trays, Gustave picked her up in his arms and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Papa!" she squealed. He gave a chuckle and placed her down on the ground. "I'll be right back, Papa." She said before she grabbed a tray and went to the main dining room.
Carlotta was sitting in the dining room with Raoul and her family. She saw Christine come in and pulled her foot out of underneath the table. Christine tripped and fell on the floor with some of the dinner falling to the ground. Monsieur de la Lara stood up angrily.
"What is the matter with you, you stupid, stupid girl! I ought to send you to sleep in the barn!" He yelled making little tears and whimpers come from Christine. Gustave came in and picked Christine up in his arms.
"Do not yell to my daughter that way, sir. It was merely an accident!"He said defensibly. He patted Christine's back gently to stop her crying. Madame Giry and Meg came in when they heard Christine's little cries.
"You, monsieur, do not speak to me that way!" He yelled at Gustave. Gustave merely glared at him and made Monsieur de la Lara angrier. "Jean-Claude!" he called and Jean-Claude came rushing in. "Take Monsieur Daae to the yard, you know what to do to disrespectful servants." Jean-Claude nodded his head.
Gustave placed Christine in Madame Giry's arms and said, "Take her to bed, I'll be back to tell her a story." Madame Giry nodded her head and took Christine and Meg to the basement. While Gustave went with Jean-Claude to the yard.
Paris, France 1866
3 years later…
Christine was lying in bed waiting for her father to return from his chores. She couldn't wait to hear the story again of her Angel of Music. She loved hearing that story over and over again. It is her favorite story.
Just then, Gustave came walking in the bedchamber and she squealed with excitement. Somehow, he already knew which story he wanted to hear. She was under the blanket ready to hear the story, so Gustave began, "Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her hair was golden as the sun's rays and her soul as clear and blue as her eyes. She wheedled her mother, was kind to her doll, took great care of her frock and her little red shoes and her fiddle, but most of all loved, when she went to sleep, to hear her Angel of Music." Christine smiled, imagining herself hearing her Angel of Music but, Gustave went on. "Little Lotte let her mind wonder. Little Lotte thought 'am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or shoes… or of fiddle or frocks… or of chocolates."
"'No, what I love best,' Lotte said 'is when I'm asleep in my bed'" Christine said before softly singing, "And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head, the Angel of Music sings songs in my head…" Gustave smiled.
"That's right my Little Lotte." He said and Christine gave a little hopeful smile.
"Papa? Do you think that the Angel of Music will visit me?" She asked quietly.
"Yes, Christine. I believe he will. But, if he doesn't, when I am in heaven, I will send him to you." Christine gave a big smile and Gustave smiled too before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, Little Lotte."
"Good night papa."
Christine was out in the garden picking flowers that Carlotta requested. Not looking where she was, Christine had begun to wonder off. She was so concentrated on when her Angel of Music would come to her. Maybe if I sing more, he will come! Or maybe he won't because I'm singing too much… she thought.
She finally came out of her thoughts and found herself in traveling fair, gypsies. She didn't know where to go, so she just began to see the magical and bizarre things that gypsies could do.
One was putting a sword down his throat while there was a woman with a beard! She was utterly fascinated by all of this. Then all of that was ruined when a man came out of the tent and called to her.
"Come! Come, come inside! Come and see The Devil's Child!"
Review? Please? :)
