Disclaimer: See first chapter

Chapter 2

Within a week tests had confirmed the doctor's original diagnosis – the tumor was too entrenched in Gustave's heart and lung for it to be removed surgically. Even treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy would only extend his life by a few weeks. Wanting to spare his daughter as much as possible Gustave decided to forgo treatment and instead returned to the small apartment he shared with Christine.

While Christine was at school Gustave spent his time trying to get his affairs in order. He worried constantly about Christine's welfare once he was gone. He knew that Antoinette would care for her as she did her own daughter but Antoinette was just the ballet mistress at the Opera Populaire and while it provided a steady income it wasn't not a large income and Gustave felt guilty giving her another burden. He had some savings set by from his earnings as the principal violin at the Opera Populaire as he and Christine had never needed many material possessions. And he had a small life insurance that he had taken out after his wife had died from heart failure when Christine was just two years old. He would not be leaving his beloved daughter destitute, but still he worried.

What worried him most was how Christine would react to losing him. They were each other's whole world. She had been the only thing that had kept him going after his wife's death and they had developed a close bond as a result. They were more than just a father and daughter: they were friends. Gustave didn't know what Christine would do without him. So he tried to give her many happy memories to look back upon. After school and on weekends, he would create fun activities for them to do whether it was seeing the sights around Paris or watching rehearsals backstage at the opera house. And at night Gustave and Christine would lie on her bed after he tucked her in and he would tell her stories. Some stories were ones he from his childhood in Sweden and others were ones he would make up for the occasion, usually featuring a beautiful princess named Christine of course. But whenever he let her choose a story, Christine always asked for one about the Angel of Music. And it was shortly after the start of summer that these stories that gave Gustave an idea about how to break the news of his death and how to comfort his little angel.

"Christine, remember how I was in the hospital a few weeks ago?" he asked one night.

"Yes Papa," she replied snuggling closer to him.

"Well, the doctors weren't able to fix what made me sick and . . . ."

"Then how did you get better?" Christine interrupted.

"I didn't get better Angel. And, well, I'm not going to get better. And someday soon when I get too sick the angels are going to come and take me to live with your mommy in Heaven." Gustave told her, reaching out to stroke her hair,

"Is she going to take me too?" Christine asked, tears starting to form as she realized what her father was saying.

"No sweetheart. Only people who are sick get taken to heaven."

"But . . .but . . . . but I don't want you to leave Papa!" Christine cried.

"I know. I know Christine. I don't want to leave. But it is going to happen. But I promise you, that you are never going to be alone. You are going to go live with your aunt Antoinette and Meg and be part of a new family with them. And I am always going to watch over you. Remember how the Angel of Music always looked after Little Lotte?"

"Yes Papa," Christine whispered.

"Well, I am going to send you your very own Angel of Music. So anytime you are scared or alone, you just have to think of me and sing a song like we do now and the Angel of Music will be there to protect you and be with you. But remember, the Angel of Music can't be seen. But just because you can't see him doesn't mean he's not there. Because any time you hear a violin play, or remember a song we sang together or anytime you sing it will be the Angel of Music reminding you that he is there taking care of you and reminding you how very much I love you. Okay Angel". Christine nodded.

"When are the angels going to take you away Papa?" she asked. Gustave hesitated for a moment before replying,

"Soon sweetheart. Very soon. But until then you and I are going to spend a lot of time together and have lots of fun. So that you can always remember how much fun we had. But now it's time for you to go to sleep so that you are ready for all of our fun plans tomorrow."

"Sing for me Papa, please?" Christine begged. Gustave nodded and started softly singing a lullaby that his wife had sung to Christine and that he had continued to use after her death. He mentally made a note to teach it to Antoinette so that Christine could have one familiar comfort after his death. Shortly he felt Christine's body relax as she drifted into sleep. He eased himself out of her bed and started to head towards his own room. When he reached the door he stopped and turned to watch Christine sleep, her bed illuminated by the moonlight streaming in through her window. Tears welled in his eyes as he realized how soon he had to leave this wonderful little girl and he prayed (as he did many times a day) that his little girl would be taken care of and that she would find happiness and love even without him to guide and guard her.