A/N: I know these first chapters aren't quite as action filled as you might like. But the development of the story is necessary, so bear with me:o)
Raoul stood at the window, watching Christine. He knew something was wrong, knew that for some reason she was not fully his, even after all that had happened. He loved her and knew that she loved him.
'She loves him too' he thought bitterly. It was true. She had chosen Raoul, had left the Phantom behind…and yet, despite the terror that man had caused and lives he had ended, Christine still loved that…thing.
Raoul looked up as he heard the door to his study open. It was his oldest sister, Marie.
"I notice your chorus girl has left to be alone again…perhaps she desires more luxury than we can afford and that makes her upset?" She said cruelly. "I have asked you not to speak about my fiancée in that way. She is a beautiful, kind and loving girl. Something you wouldn't know anything about being" Raoul said angrily.
"Little brother, forgive me my rudeness, it's just…how can I make you see how far beneath you she is, no matter how 'kind' she may be?" Marie asked. "You cannot, because she is not. She's better than any member of this family, myself included. And she deserves to be talked of better and treated better than how you and Claire are" he said.
Marie's eyes widened. "Raoul, we are very nice to Christine, no matter how we may feel. It's our duty to welcome her, since she is our guest. She's a lovely girl, in her own way. She knows nothing of how Claire and I truly feel, we say nothing to her face!" She protested.
"And that makes it okay? Besides, how stupid do you think Christine is? She knows, she picks up on it the same as anyone else would!" Raoul spat out, turning to face the window again.
"Forgive me, I see you are in no mood to discuss anything of importance at the moment" Marie said, and Raoul heard her leave, shutting the door behind her. He looked down at Christine again, who was standing up. She began to walk the shore, still looking deeply troubled.
Raoul decided to walk down and join her, though he felt that she probably preferred being alone. As he reached the edge of the beach, Christine stopped walking suddenly.
Raoul rushed forward, confused. Christine sank back down to a sitting position, looking up to see him."Raoul!" She said, clearly surprised.
"Christine, are you okay?" he asked, sitting down next to her. "I'm…fine." She responded, sounding anything but fine. Raoul raised an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe I'm not fine. I don't know how I am, honestly." She admitted.
"You're upset, I know you are. Who wouldn't be? But you'll move past it in time…and maybe then you'll be ready to plan our wedding" he said, adding the last part hopefully. Christine raised her hand, putting it against his cheek gently. "Raoul, I've been thinking about that…I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready for that. Not now…" she trailed off.
"It's because of HIM isn't it?" Raoul asked angrily, standing suddenly.
A/N: Wow, sorry, I didn't realize this was getting so long, I just couldn't find a good place to cut if off sooner, so now you get a cliff hanger, lol. Thanks for the review I've already started to get, you guys are great!