The room that was to be his quarters was just as gloomy as the rest of the building. Gustave tried to make out the color of the blanket that lay on the bed that was from now on his. Dark brown perhaps, he thought to himself. He walked over to the bed and carefully deposited the weightless bundle that he was carrying in his arms.

"And… I will try to find a small bed for the child, but I really don't understand how you will manage to work and care for the girl at the same time."

"It's no different to what you do." He responded and quickly regretted having done so. "I'm sorry Madame Giry, I didn't mean to sound rude."

The Ballet Mistress smiled in acceptance.

"I shouldn't have questioned your ability to do so. I am a widow with a daughter of about the same age, that is true, and I manage to get it done somehow. But I am a woman and, forgive me for saying this but, I have never seen a man care for a child the way a mother does."

"It's not easy I'll admit. But I have been doing it since the day she was born. You see, my wife died in childbirth. I am all Christine has, and she is all I have." He said stroking his four year old daughter's curly black hair.

"That is an admirable thing to say Monsieur Daae. I am more than sure that you are a great parent."

"Gustave, please call me Gustave."

"Very well then. Gustave, dinner is served at 7:00 sharp everyday, except on performance days. Then it is served right after the show. Come with me and I will show you the way to the dinning area." Gustave looked worriedly at his daughter.

"She will be okay." Madame Giry assured him.

He kissed Christine's forehead and murmured to the sleeping child. "I will not be long."

Madame Giry walked out the door and into the hall. She spoke as she walked, making few pauses between sentences to catch her breath. It appeared to Gustave that there was a lot of information she needed to get across. He walked behind her and nodded occasionally to let her know he was listening. She was younger than him, but she had a mature nature, a mother's knowledge that could not be hidden.

Madame Giry introduced him to several people on their way to the dining area, and they stopped at a few corridors that she said led to the other musicians' quarters. She continued talking as she walked and he listened as he followed. All this time, trying to take in the darkness of the place that would allow him to raise his daughter and still be able to play his music. The Opera Populaire manager had been kind to him. While he didn't quite understand Gustave's need to care for his child himself either, he at least didn't ask him to choose between Christine and his passion for the violin. Gustave was to be the lead violinist, and Christine would be allowed to remain at his side as long as she behaved like a proper young lady. There will be no complains, Gustave thought smiling to himself, my Christine is an angel.

"Once you get past the eternal night of the place, you will find that it is quite pleasant to be here." Madame Giry offered sincerely.

"I like it already." Gustave answered.

"Good. We are here. You may sit anywhere you like." In that instant two dancers passed by them almost knocking them off their feet. "I guess I had better say, anywhere you can."

Gustave laughed whole heartily and Madame Giry smiled at him. A small blond girl, close to his daughter's age, approached them with a curious look on her face. She smiled at them and seemed sincerely comfortable and happy. That child had a confidence about her that he longed to one day see in his own child. The lost of her mother and the solitude that had surrounded them afterwards had made his daughter a fearful and shy child. She was never at ease unless she was next to him. Gustave returned to the present as he looked at the blond girl, and smiled at last noticing the resemblance between the girl and Madame Giry.

"Hello" he saluted the young girl.

"This is my daughter, Meg. Meg, say hello to the new lead violinist, Monsieur Daae."

"Hello Monsieur Daae." The child repeated.

"Monsieur Daae has a daughter himself. She is about your age, perhaps you two can play together later today. That is, if it's okay with you."

"I am sure Christine will love that. We haven't been in one place long enough for her to socialize with other children."

"I can show her to dance mother." Little Meg offered.

"Yes, you can show her." Madame Giry said as she fixed a strand of hair on her daughter's head. "But, for now you must return to your table and finish your meal."

"Yes, mother. It was a pleasure to meet you Monsieur."

"The pleasure was mine Mademoiselle." Gustave answered. "Such a beautiful daughter you have." he said as he watched the girl walk away. "She seems so happy."

"Thank you." The woman responded; a little confused by the saddened expression on the man's face as he made the comment about her daughter's happiness.

"I beg that you excuse me, the trip here was an exhausting one. I will head back to my room now."

"Yes, you are excused. Do you want me to walk you back?"

"No, Madame. I can find my way back. Thank you."

After walking in circles for what seemed like ten minutes, Gustave finally found himself at a corridor that looked very similar to the one which contained his quarters. He entered it and walked slowly, holding on to the walk for balance. The floor was just as black as the path before him. He wasn't able to see where he was stepping. Suddenly he heard a familiar cry in the distance. Christine! Oh God, she was awake! Gustave let go of the wall and ran toward the cries. There was no one but him walking the halls, they were all at dinner. No one had heard Christine's screams. How long had she been screaming? He found her sitting on the bed hugging her knees and crying. My poor scared child.

"Father!" he screams echoed in the dark.

Gustave ran into the room and sat next to her, taking a deep breath... She was sobbing and trying to make out his figure in the dark.

"It's okay Christine. I am here now; there is nothing to be afraid of. Come here." He offered his arms to her, lightly touching her shoulders, and she came into them frantically.

"It's dark father. So very dark."

"I know Christine, it will always be dark here. And I know you are afraid of the dark, but after you get to know the building you won't be so scared."

"No, father, dark is scary. There are monsters and ghosts."

"Christine please!" He held her a little apart from him so he could look her in the eyes, but was unable to do so, the room was just too dark. The single candle that rested a few steps from them was overpowered by the shadows.

"I have told you many times that those stories you heard somewhere, are not true. There are no monsters and certainly, there are no ghosts, here. From now on, this will be our home and the dark will always be here. You have to learn to live with it. Understood?" Gustave looked at the child and waited for her response. "Understood?"

"Yes father." Christine answered while hugging the dark figure from which her father's voice emerged, in the shadows of the room, she could not see his face.

You'll learn to love the dark. Gustave wordlessly told his daughter as he firmly embraced her. One day, you will no longer be afraid of the night.