January 9,2005- Happy New Year everyone! So I went to see The Phantom of the Opera last night and I have to tell you, it was an awesome movie! It was so good that I felt inspired to write this fic. I hope you enjoy it and may this year and the following ones be filled with happiness for you and your loved ones.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of POTO. I wish I owned the Phantom!

Love after Loss: La Femme Noire

Emily de les Anges frowned as she approached the door of L'Opera in Paris, France with her suitcases in her hands. She couldn't understand why she thought that she was good enough to tryout and be apart of the most respected company of her time. Her mother told her she had a beautiful voice, but her mother died a few months ago from something the doctors could not diagnose. The biggest fear was that the disease was hereditary, but they reassured her that if Emily had not felt any odd symptoms , then she was fine. For the past months after her mother's death, Emily seemed to be walking in a world full of darkness, which she greatly accepted it as her home until death claimed her. She began to dress in all black, and her faced was disguised from the world with a thick, black veil. On the days that she roamed the streets of France, people would stare at her and whisper, "Look, it is La Femme Noire!" When she heard it for the first time, she was not offended, on the contrary, she embraced it. It would allow her to have all the privacy in the world, since she did not want to socialize with anyone here. If it had not been for the love she had of participating in Opera, she would have preferred to live by herself and have no connection with the outside world. But obviously there she was, standing at the doors of the theater. She took a deep breath and entered the theater. She walked up the stairs and headed towards the three men who were on the stage,

"Excuse me Messsieurs, but are you three in charge of the auditions?" The youngest of them shook his head,

"No Mademoiselle, Messieurs Firmin and Andre are in charge, but they are away on business and will return tomorrow." He explained while he checked her out in mild curiosity. The other two men where whispering to each other as they stole glances at her. Emily sighed, but she curtsied,

"Thank you monsieur." She turned to leave but the young man called out to her,

"Mademoiselle! you may use one of the dressing rooms for tonight since you are already here. Just give me your name and I shall put you on the list."

" I am Emily de les Anges from Toulouse."

"Very well Mademoiselle de les Anges, your name is on the list and you may take room number 17 as your own for tonight."

" I appreciate this very much. Good day Messieurs." She curtsied and headed to dressing room 17. When she reached it, she went inside and put down her suitcases on the floor. She looked around the room, it was beautifully decorated with lavish furniture. She took off her veil and revealed a beauty with pale skin, waist length raven hair, and green eyes. She checked herself in the full length mirror. She looked extremely tired after the long day traveling across the country. She then saw the beautiful mahogany piano in the corner of the room. She walked over and hit one of the keys and a beautiful, pure sound filled the room. "Maybe I should practice for tomorrow." She told herself. She then hit her desired key. After listening to it for a moment, an angelic voice came from Emily's mouth as she sang a couple of scales to warm up and then music she carried around with her everywhere she went. After she finished the last song, she looked at the clock which read nine o'clock at night. She decided that getting extra sleep for tomorrow was the best thing to do. With that Emily blew out all of the candles and went to sleep.

Emily roused from her sleep at an early time so she could get ready. After getting dressed and finishing with her toiletries, she went downstairs and found two men standing on the stage. She walked up to them and they sort of stared at her in shock, but she ignored them,

"You are Messieurs Firmin and Andre, are you not?" The man with white hair and moustache bowed,

"We are mademoiselle, I am Monsieur Andre and the man with black hair and moustache is Monsieur Firmin."

"A pleasure," Emily curtsied, "I am here to tryout for a spot in your company."

"Of course! your name please." Firmin said as he held up a clipboard.

"Emily de les Anges."

"de les Anges...de les Anges," Firmin repeated quietly as he scanned for her name, "Ah ha! there you are, there is no need for you to tryout. Our composer has said he wanted you to be apart of our company. Congratulations, L'Opera is your new home and these people are your new family."

Emily's eyes widened, she couldn't believe what she has heard, "Who is this composer you speak of?"

Monsieur Andre lowered his voice as he explained, "In this theater, there is a man who grew up here, he is a complete genius in play production and singing. But this man has a horrible malformation on the right side of his countenance which he hides with a mask. He is known as The Phantom of the Opera. He insists that he be paid twenty thousand francs and that the box five be kept to his private use only. Hardly anybody sees him. He only communicates by letters of his demand to us. But God forbid if any of us ignore his demands. Then there is a price to pay..."

"But let us not frighten you. Rehearsals start tomorrow. Now, go and celebrate."

Emily walked away happily. But Firmin called out to her once more, "Mademoiselle, not to cause any offense, but you must get rid of your black clothing since you are now apart of the company and we don't want the others to feel uncomfortable around you."

She sighed, "Of course Monsieur, we wouldn't want that, now would we?"

Firmin and Andre chuckled, "That's a good girl." Emily walked away to her dressing room. On her way she bumped into a young woman with long brown, curly hair. She smiled,

"Hello, you must be Emily, I've heard that you are a new member, welcome! I am Christine Daae." She looked at Emily's dark clothing, "So, um, Erik said you have a beautiful voice."

Emily cocked her head to the side, "Who is this Erik person?"

Christine laughed, "Silly me, Erik is the one who writes our plays. He heard you sing last night."

Suddenly an ugly woman with a huge nose and too much makeup walked up to the two women, "Christine, where is my costume?" She saw Emily, "So, is this the young lady who made it in with the composer's request." She gave Emily a mean look, "Tell me you little whore, did you sleep with him to get in this easily?"

Emily's eyes opened widely, "I beg your pardon? I would like to let you know that I didn't sleep with anyone here! It seems that I have the voice to make it in this company. But if you'll excuse me, I have other business to attend to. It was nice meeting you Christine." Christine tried to apologize for the ugly woman,

"Emily, don't let Carlotta upset you." Emily nodded as she headed towards her dressing room. Then she turned and faced Carlotta once more,

"Here's a tip for you, why don't you ease up on the makeup, you still look like something a rat threw up anyway." Carlotta gasped as Christine tried to stifle a laugh. Emily walked back into her dressing room and shut the door behind her. She smiled as she jumped up and down. She had made it! She was part of L'Opera! She grabbed the portrait of her mother and smiled at it,

I knew you had something to do with this Mother. Thank you...

She then frowned as she put it on the mantle, of course everyone was uncomfortable with her way of dressing herself and now she had to do what they wanted in order for this job to be secured. She took off the black dress she was wearing and actually for the first time grabbed a red dress. She held up the black dress after she put the red one on, "And so ends the tale of La Femme Noire." She put the dress on and headed out to meet her new family.

A/N: So, what did you think? I hoped you liked it, Please RR! Ideas are welcomed! See you next chapter!