"Christine!"

Christine puts the last pin into her hair to form a chignon at the back of her head, her son tugging at her skirts. He exclaims 'mama' over and over until she holds him and snuggles him into her chest. Christine puts a blue bonnet on her head and leaves the parlor to see Raoul standing beside the front door, "Finally," he kisses his wife and Gustave grabs his small mustache, "All-right, all-right."

Raoul squeezes Gustave's hand off and adorns his top hat, leading them outside. Christine took to the carriage, sitting Gustave on her lap as Raoul stepped inside. The carriage began to move and Gustave cheered happily at the bouncing cart, "You forgot to tell me where we are going, Raoul."

"I want to surprise you."

Christine held each of her son's hands, realizing how big they were for a child his age. Her boy was growing up rather quickly, "There are only a few places I know where people must dress this nicely."

"You are an upper-class lady, now, Christine," he smiled at her lovely features all brought out by the expensive gown she dawned, giving her another, "You look marvelous."

A fake smile crossed her lips and she looked down at her child once again. Gustave looked up to her and grinned, leaning into her belly. Raoul looked at his child and felt proud to father such a magnificent boy - an intelligent and sweet babe. Gustave looked to the window outside and saw the many stars stretching across the sky all around what seemed a large, unmoving cloud, "Star!"

Raoul looked at the child questionably, taken aback by his sudden ability to speak. He glanced up at Christine who seemed exhausted, "Have you taught him to speak?"

Christine observed Raoul's amazement, but did not know how to explain her child's sudden ability to verbalize. Gustave smiled at his mother and she nodded, "Yes. He knows only two words."

The carriage stopped at a small building and Raoul stepped outside to help his wife exit. Christine set Gustave on the ground and took each of their hands as they went towards the small building. Several people dressed in various statuses entered and left the building and Christine saw two paintings - one on either side of the building's doors. It was death and a lady.

"Children come free! Ten francs per couple!"

Raoul handed ten francs to a man in blue uniform and brought his family in what Christine recognized as a theater. Gustave looked around in awe at the small, but lovely building. He gawked at the various instruments on display - the violins, flutes, and clarinets. Statues of characters from the work of operas, paintings from the renaissance, and a pair of golden curtains led to box one of the homey theater.

"Well we are most definitely in a theater building," Christine held Gustave on her lap and Raoul sat just beside her, "but what are we to see?"

"A piece from one of your favorite composers. I am sure you will enjoy it. And if Gustave is anything like you, he will be entirely enamored."

Christine watches as a bassist begins to set up his instrument, 2 cellists following. She glances at her son who stares brightly at the instruments on stage, the violins and violas catching his eye most. The musicians are seated on stage and everyone awaits the concert - especially Gustave. A D minor chord, then triplets down to four. As the chord sang again, Gustave sat on the edge of mother's lap and watched the musicians more carefully. Christine steadied her child as he leaned forward to see the musicians through the barred rail of the box. He was obsessed with the music - interested in every note and curious about the instruments they played.

Everyone clapped at the first movement, Raoul smiling over at Christine, "Do you like it, darling? I see Gustave is quite happy."

She nodded and on went movement two. Three was a quick scherzo that lead up to four and Gustave was in awe the entire time. The audience stood and applauded the string group, Gustave grabbing at the rails and watching as the curtains close on the musicians. Christine holds her son who makes little-wanting noises as he extends his hand to the stage, "Music!" he cheers.

"I suppose the boy is hooked," Raoul laughed, taking Gustave from Christine and hugging him tightly, "They are going to have a full orchestra for Schubert's eighth symphony if you would like to see that."

Christine looks at a man with a violin case with an odd feeling in the bottom of her stomach. He turns around and she realizes it is the principal violinist from the performance. She turns her gaze to the sparkling jewels at the bottom of her skirts, then back to her son and husband, "That's just fine. I believe Gustave and I have had enough excitement for tonight, anyway."

"Suit yourself."

The family heads outside for their carriage where Raoul sets Gustave in Christine's lap once they are seated. The night sky is filled with stars as they head off towards de Chagny manor. For some reason or another, Christine is glad that she left the manor for a bit. However, she also becomes more curious about her son - how could he know the word music without her speaking about? In that very case, how was he able to speak at such a young age?

"Are you alright, dear? You seemed worried in the lobby."

Christine nodded as she looked off through the window - watching as the poor struggled to stay out of the now pouring rain. She looked down at her son who happened to fall asleep on her lap, "Yes, Raoul," the sudden coldness had filled her heart again and she knew her mind would suffer through the night, "Hopefully I'll endure."