A new start

Prologue: A new life and a new opera house

Twenty-two year old Christine de Chagnay smiled warmly up at her husband, Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagnay. He smiled back and gently brushed his wife's dark brown curls back from her pale face. She had just given birth to their new born baby daughter, whom they had decided to name Marie Claire.

"She's beautiful, Christine, just like you." said Raoul, lightly running his fingers over his daughter's cheek.

Christine laughed.

"She really is beautiful, but I think that might be because you're her father." she said slyly.

Raoul shook his head and laughed.

"Well dear, no matter who she looks like, she's still beautiful, and everyone will be so excited to see her. I daresay Meg and Madame Giry will be by soon."

"I don't doubt it." said Christine rolling her eyes. "Madame Giry will be all over me. She's always tried to be like a mother to me, and I love her dearly, but sometimes she's more like a pecking hen."

"Well she's got a lot on her mind, what with the new opera house almost ready to open. I think she worries that what happened with the Opera Populaire will happen with... nevermind." said Raoul, trailing off. He didn't want to bring up that subject on such a happy day.

Christine's eyes met Raoul's and their thoughts connected.

"You mean she's worried that the Phantom will come back?" Christine whispered.

Raoul sighed.

"Yes I think she worries about it. She rescued him from those gypsies, and she wants him to have a normal life. But I wonder if he could ever lead a normal life. Can he adapt after living in the opera house alone for all of those years?"

Christine looked down at Marie Claire. Perhaps if the Phantom's own mother had loved him, his life would have been different.

Raoul could see that Christine was beginning to look worried. Not wanting to worry his beloved on such a blessed day, he changed the subject.

"Come dear, let's talk of this later. After all, its not every day that your baby daughter is born."

Raoul reached down and tickled his tiny daughter and she laughed. He then gently kissed Christine on the lips and she embraced him.

"I love you Raoul." said Christine softly.

"And I love you." he said to his wife with a warm smile.

"And of course I love you." he said grinning at Marie Claire.

And so the happy family greeted the visitors that came to give their congratulations to the new parents. Andre, Firmin, Madame Giry, Meg, and everyone from the opera house came by. But neither Christine or Raoul could stop wondering: would the Phantom haunt the new opera house? Would he haunt them? And of course the ever present question, would he haunt Marie Claire?