Note- Okay, this is now a little more closely based on PHANTOM. For those of you that have read it, you'll know. I don't want to ruin the surprise for the others!

"Charles! Charles, don't go near there! I swear child, you won't see the age of ten!"

Christine was inside on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. They had just come back from church, and Raoul was taking a nap while Christine was preparing the traditional Sunday dinner.

"Charles? Didn't you hear me? Please, darling, step away from our lake. I don't want you wandering around there without your father!" Christine cried. "Why don't you go and play by the garden?"

"Okay, mama."

Christine was cautious about her son, Charles, who was too adventurous, and curious, for his own good. She knew he had received those traits from her, since Raoul rarely got out of line or did anything spontaneous... Except for... Long ago...

Christine stepped away from the window and shook her head. "Oh..." She ran a tired, goose juice ridden finger through her curly hair. She walked into the living room, but was silently banished by her husband's snoring on the living room couch.

"I have to get away..."

Despite her efforts, Erik had wandered once more into her thoughts. She remembered his long fingers, his mask, and his music... There were only so many records she could buy, and Erik was right when he said, "You see, Christine, there is some music that is so terrible that it consumes all those who approach it. If you heard such music, you would lose all your pretty coloring and nobody would recognize you when you returned to Paris..." She laughed. He was right. No music ever sounded the same after she heard Erik play his Don Juan Triumphant... But her pretty coloring had vanished long ago, despite that.

She watched Charles play in the garden. He got up and yelled, "Mama! I found a spider! Come and see!"

Christine sighed heavily. "I can't stand spiders, Charles. You know that."

Charles got back on the ground and continued to play.

Christine stepped back from the window and began to make a salad. "If only you knew Charles... If only..." she sighed.

"If only he knew what?" Raoul said as he walked into the kitchen and put his hands on Christine's shoulders.

Startled, Christine replied, "That I... That I was once bitten by a spider. A poisonous spider. It nearly killed me." She lied.

"Spiders?" Raoul asked, confused.

"Yes, Charles is outside playing in the garden, messing around with spiders. Why don't you go make sure he doesn't get bitten too?"

"All right..." Raoul began to make his way out of the room, then stopped and looked at Christine, "You never told me you were bitten by a spider!"

Christine gulped. "It happened a long time ago... I hardly remembered it."

"I see." Raoul said, then left.

Christine hated lying to Raoul. She hated lying to anyone. Raoul was so dear to her... It always seemed like every time she thought about Erik, she would end up lying to Raoul.

With the couch free, the goose cooking, and her two boys outside playing in the garden, she could have a moment's peace. She wiped her brow with her apron. "I really must forget about you, Erik," she thought, "But every time I look at Charles... I just... I never knew how much I loved you... And now you're gone..." Silent tears caressed her cheeks. She sighed and headed for the kitchen, afraid that Raoul might walk in and see her in this state.

After a few minutes, Raoul and Charles came back. "Go wash up, Charles." Raoul said.

Charles scurried upstairs and Raoul reentered the kitchen. "Do you need any help, darling?"

"Yes, would you mind setting the table?"

"Not at all."

Raoul gathered up dishes and forks and made his way to the adjoining dining room. Christine continued to work in the kitchen. They worked silently until Raoul looked up at her. "Christine? Why are you so quiet tonight? Is something the matter?"

"Nothing. It's nothing." Christine muttered.

Raoul peered at her, but decided to drop the subject. He wished her to be present for dinner tonight, instead of running to her room in tears.

Angelica woke with a start. "Mama!" she cried. "Mama!"

Erik jolted upright in his bed. "Angelica..." he breathed. After replacing his mask, he got up and put on his silk robe, then dashed to Angelica's room.

Angelica was breathing heavily when Erik entered. "Who are you?!" she cried.

Erik's brow furrowed. Then he sighed and turned on the light. Angelica was relieved.

Erik sat down on the end of the bed. "Are you all right? I heard screaming."

"I had a bad dream..." Angelica replied as she wiped her eyes. "Do I have to go back to sleep?"

"Of course you don't... Why would you ask me that?" Erik questioned curiously.

Angelica looked up into Erik's eyes, as if reassuring herself. "Well, sometimes I get up and sit with Mama for a while. Then..."

"Then?" Erik smiled. "Go on, I'm listening."

"Then... Then they come..."

"Who?"

"I don't know... I hear them, and Mama does too, and she tells me to go and hide and pretend to be asleep..."

Erik frowned. He thought to himself, "This child has gone through some very hard times..." He clenched his fist, ravenous for revenge. But he still didn't know enough about "them" to do anything... "Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Yes. I guess I am."

"Splendid. I'll make you some breakfast. Come with me."

Erik held out his hand, and he honestly didn't expect Angelica to take it, but she did. She smiled at him and he felt a very warm feeling gush inside of him. He hadn't been this happy in a very long time...