Disclaimer: Christine DaaƩ and Erik belong to Gaston Leroux. The song 'The Phantom of the Opera' is not mine either. It's the theme to the musical. Enjoy the story.

***

Christine DaaƩ softly kissed her daughter as she tucked the blankets around her tiny being. 'I love that story,' young Margerita mumbled, as Christine laughed softly. She had just recounted the adventures of Gwen and her Angel of Music, Margerita's favourite story.

The beam of the silvery moon bathed her in its full light, as she padded across the Music Room to her bedroom. She was enjoying the tranquility of the night, feeling no hurry to return to her bedchambers, knowing that her beloved husband would not be there. Erik had stayed up late that night to finish off a score he was composing for the next performance of the Opera House. She glided through the room, skillfully avoiding familiar silhouettes but something caught her eye.

A grand piano stood in the very centre of the room. She trailed her delicate fingers over its cracks. This was the very same piano which had been in Erik's underground abode, the one he played on during her stay there. In her mind's eye, she could still envision him, sitting at the piano enveloped in the gloom of darkness. She allowed memories, good and bad, to sweep over her, sliding on to the wooden seat. 'I wonder...' she mused, her eyes scanning the score sheet that stood in front of her. Written on it was the title, 'THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA'.

She grasped the paper and glided over to the large stage built in the Music Room. She closed her eyes and began to sing, her sweet soprano voice filling the empty silence,

'When in the Opera House, I know he's there, He's with me on the stage, He's everywhere, And when my song begins, I always find, The Phantom of the Opera is there, Inside my mind.'

She allowed the notes to fade away, took a deep breath and was about to begin the second verse when...

'Sing once again with me, Our strange duet, My power over you, Grows stronger yet, You'll give your love to me, For love is blind, The Phantom of the Opera is now, Your mastermind.'

Christine spun around and smiled as her husband materialized from amidst the shadows. He had never failed to surprise her, even after all this years. As his baritone voice faded away, she took up her lines once more,

'Those who have seen your face, Draw back in fear, Behind that mask you wear'.

Erik took her hands and gazed at her lovingly.

'It's me they hear'.

Their eyes met even as both their voices became one.

'Your spirit touch me voice, In one combined, The Phantom of the Opera is there, Inside my/your mind.

Sing once again with me, Our strange duet, My power over you, Grows stronger yet, You'll give your love to me, For love is blind, The Phantom of the Opera is now, Your/my mastermind.'

As the last of the enchanting notes faded to nothingness, Christine and Erik stood there gazing in silence. 'That was the song...' whispered Christine, stroking Erik's cheek, her eyes misting with tears, overwhelmed by her emotions and memories, 'you sang with me on stage.' Indeed it was the one and only time Erik ever walked the stage he loved so much and it was then, an entrancing tale of love and hatred unfolded.

Erik cupped his wife's delicate chin, his eyes filled with love. 'Come my dear,' he murmured, 'let's go to bed.' With that, he led Christine out the door and to the sleeping chambers.

Unbeknownst to them, Margerita stood outside, eavesdropping, a beaming grin stretching from ear to ear.