Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom in any way, shape or form. (or Gerry Butler for that matter, dreamy sigh) Songs belong to Andrew Lloyd Weber and Haley Westenra.

A/N Thank you PhantomLover07 for reviewing! This story is inspired by the movie version and the little town I now live in.

There was an elderly woman on the stoop before me. Her white hair was pulled onto a bun and it caught the light like a halo. She had one white rose tucked in the snowy strands. She was dressed in vivid violet with lace at the cuffs and a pair of tiny, gold-rimmed spectacles balanced on her delicate nose and her large blue eyes looked at me and twinkled. "Well m'dear, aren't you a sight standin' out there this time o'night 'neath the light of the moon and smelling of roses." She said with a dancing lilt to her voice that made me think of green hills and thatched cottages.

"Well, I was-"

"You're a traveler by the look o'that valise in your hand m'dear. Looking lost in the night for a place to rest."

"Yes, is there a hotel I-"

"Look no further. Follow me then." She stepped aside and I went in. The walls were painted a rich gold and the ceiling of the entryway was carved plaster and gilded figures hovered around a large crystal chandelier that was lit with candles.

"Excuse me Madame, I have some money for …"

" Oh Pish-posh. You hold onto that bit you have my dear. I have a different idea in mind. Are you handy with a needle at all? I've needed someone to help poor Nellie in keeping up the costumes and fittings. The dear, she's not as young as she used to be." She turned to me and I tore my gaze from the statuettes lining the walls and we went up the stairwell of marble that opened into the main theatre. The room was large with three levels of balconies, the private boxes dripped with gold curtains. The ground level lay before us and the dark wood of the stage was aglow in the warmth of the footlights. The red velvet curtain was closed casting shadows across the empty space. The only other light came from a huge chandelier hung in the center of the painted and gilded ceiling. It was five times the size of the one in the lobby.

"Oh…I'm really just passing through." I said quietly. She just blinked at me waiting for me to answer her question. "Yes, I mean yes I can sew. I used to make my own clothes and made costumes in my college drama class. I'm also handy with a paint brush and have some artistic talent."

"Did set design too did you?"

" I've loved the stage for as long as I can remember. It's just that I am always behind the curtain more often than center stage."

"Hmm. Sometimes the most fascinating, most mysterious things happen behind the scenes in the shadows rather than in that spotlight." She whispered almost more to herself than to me. "So if you're interested here is a job offer. Help Nellie with the costumes for the summer. Be here for the dress rehearsals and all shows, costume malfunctions are inevitable. You will also be of use in other areas as well. I can offer you a room in the tower, used to have dormitories for the ballet back in the day but they are now storerooms. You can stay as long as you need to. Besides the room and board I can offer you a little money on the side for your work."

I considered. A place to stay and a chance to save up the funds to get a ticket out. And getting to work in a fascinating opera house besides. " I would love to. Thank you…?"

" Maeve Ghering, but everyone calls me Madame. Welcome to the Rose and Thorn Opera House my dear. Come I will show you your room." She turned from the lobby and went into a tiny office and pulled a skeleton key with a tattered gold tassel dangling from the end of it out of a desk drawer and walked down a corridor. We emerged on stage. I saw a violin case opened and a music stand held a yellowed handwritten sheet of music. "Oh, that was you playing the violin. That was beautiful! Who was on the organ?"

Madame paused for a moment. "Organ? Sorry my dear, we don't have an organ here, see?" She gestured down at the orchestra pit. A sea of chairs upholstered in red velvet and a forest of empty music stands. "You must have been mistaken. One hears all manner of strange sounds and echoes in an opera house, especially one as old as this. Come along.

I followed her up a shadowy stairwell and into the dark. The stairs creaked beneath us as we ascended to the left of the stage and found another corridor. The carpet was old and fraying and the dark wood of the walls was hung with old paintings. Tapestries graced the walls as well and rippled slightly in a breeze I couldn't feel. Cobwebs were caught in the same draft. "It is a little hard to keep the upper rooms spotless as you can see. Here we are." She slipped the skeleton key into the door and with a small groan the door swung open to reveal a tower room where the ceiling beams were lost in darkness. Several round windows set in the curved walls showed the dark of night outside. One large arched window was set in stained glass depicting red, pink and white climbing roses. A full size bed was covered in a gold duvet and a small, mirrored dresser stood against one wall. A dark tapestry hung by the bed but the light was too dim to see its design. A small fireplace and mantel took up the wall opposite the foot of the bed. This room was cozy and charming despite its being empty for a while.

" The blankets are clean. My granddaughter Meg teaches ballet and she has been keeping this room aired and tries to keep it dust free. The fireplace is safe to use and the lavatory is two doors down the hall."

"Do you live here in the opera house?"

"No, I have a cottage behind the Rose and Thorn just down the path in the trees. There is a kitchen down stairs off the office as well that you can use. But how about you have breakfast with me tomorrow?"

"Thank you, I would love that."

"Here is the garret key and a spare front door key." She handed me two skeleton keys.

" Don't you have a security person, a night guard or something?"

"No. We never have had a need. There has never been a problem with break-ins or vandalism. The Rose and Thorn takes care of itself."

I turned and looked at her but didn't speak. What does that mean? I thought.

"Here leave your case and come have a cup of tea with me before I walk home and call it a night."

I placed my suitcase and backpack by the bed on a little hand woven rug. Madame walked over and crouched in front of the fireplace and began to lay fresh logs on the hearth. I noticed that the firebox was full of wood. This room had been ready. Like it knew someone would have stepped off that bus and would end up here. Like it waited with anticipation. Don't be ridiculous, I scolded myself. It is just exhaustion talking ,like the organ music I swore I heard earlier. I went and drooped to my knees beside Madame and together we got a fire going. We placed the fire screen up and I noticed the andiron and implements had rose buds on their handles. Good things roses are my favorite flower, I thought. Otherwise I'd be sick of them. After all I'd landed in Rose Haven. I warmed my hands in the heat from the happy blaze we had started.

"It may be summer but the Opera House is drafty and I'll not have you getting sick." Madame said sternly. We went back down the hall and descended the stairs. After going from the light of the fire and the lamps in the tower the hall was anything but brightly lit to my eyes. Shadows lay in corners and shrouded the eaves in darkness. Plenty of places to hide, to watch and remain unseen, I thought. Goosebumps rippling up my arm. Cut it out. Madame wouldn't leave me here if I were in danger. But my thoughts didn't dispel the feeling of someone watching me. At the same time I felt welcomed by the Opera house, if such a thing were possible. I scoffed at myself again. Seriously.

We went through a door in the back of the office and into a little kitchen complete with a tiny stove and fridge. Madame set a battered black kettle on the stove and turned the heat up. Then she took down two delicate and mismatched teacups from a cupboard and a tin of loose tea. She handed me a china cup with tiny pink rosebuds on it and a gilded handle. I noticed the tea was from Bewley's of Dublin. Madam's cup had a single red rose in full bloom painted on the ivory china. Magically she whisked a plate of muffins from somewhere and a crock of butter. I tried to eat slowly and fought the urge to stuff half of the cranberry pastry in my mouth. Wouldn't be very lady like or human like for that matter. Soon enough I had a steaming cup of Irish blend at my elbow and Madame and I sat together in a rather companionable silence considering I'd only met her about an hour ago.

"So my dear girl, what has brought you to out quaint little town?"

"To be honest, the bus!" I laughed. Madame joined in, her laugh danced like her voice did. Her eyes sparkled. "The Rose and Thorn is an interesting name for an opera house Madame."

"Hmm, Yes quite. But in a town called Rose Haven you shouldn't be that surprised. It was the name of an Inn my great- grandfather had in Ballycullaugh County Kerry, the prettiest village in all of Ireland to my mind. Rose Haven was founded in the 1800s and so was this opera house. When my family came over from Ireland we took over and restored this place and bestowed upon it the name of my grandfather's beloved Inn that laid an ocean away. So I raised my children here and now they are raising their children." She said a sad note coming into her voice.

"I didn't mean to pry Madame."

"Oh, don't you mind…good gracious, what is your name child?"

I had completely forgotten that I never gave her my name. "Aria Rose Reynolds."

"Ah, beautiful. Aria –an air or melody. See I knew it was more than a Greyhound bus that brought you here."

Some time later I rinsed out the cups in the sink and helped Madame tidy up. Then she took down a pale green shawl with Celtic knots woven above the fringed edges. "Dear Aria, I am heading home. My number and emergency numbers are by the phone should you need them. Welcome to Rose Haven my dear. Goodnight." She gathered up her violin and headed for the door. "Oh, other thing. Don't be alarmed at the noises you may hear. This is an old place and nothing here will harm you. And I'd stay away from the cellars; they go deep past the foundations. Stories say that there are caverns down there and an underground lake. May you be blessed with a good sleep and peaceful dreams Aria. Lock up behind me."

She shut the heavy door behind her and left. The silence closed around me as I stood bathed in candlelight from the chandelier.