Being the avid Phantom of the Opera fan that I am, I have decided to write my first Christmas Phantom fic, and seeing as Carlotta is my favorite character, she shall be my "first victim"!

Disclaimer: I do not own most of these characters, just a few here and there that I have made up somewhere along the line, and you'll be able to pick those out easily. I do not own any of the songs in the story either, I just really really love them and find that often songs just fit in too well in my stories. I don't own any of the Shakespeare either. Please read & review, I am always open to any ideas and suggestions. On with the story!

Her Tosca was hailed as the best ever. Her singing was the most moving that anyone had ever heard, and her acting was heart wrenching.

Carlotta had Lucio to thank for it all. He had brought order back to her chaotic mind, and he was someone who she knew would, unlike Ubaldo, be there for her.

As she made her way to her dressing room for her fourth performance of Tosca, she couldn't but wait with anticipation the gift that she was sure would be there awaiting her arrival. First the exquisite journal, then the chocolates, then chocolates, then pearls?

She had told Lucio after the last performance that as much as she loved them, it wasn't necessary for him to keep showering her with the extravagant gifts. He had looked at her funny and had claimed to not know what she was talking about.

She turned the knob to her dressing room and the first thing that hit her was the scent of fresh-cut roses. Her dressing room had been filled with beautiful bouquets of bright red roses. She gasped as she walked in.

How had Lucio managed this?

She spotted the card on her vanity.

Like stepping on the air so blindly
I trust you will be there to find me
Like reaching through the blue
I place my faith in you
I do believe
These tender hearts of ours
May be endlessly naive
But we grow strong if we believe
This fragile world of ours
Spins us off into the storm
Hold on to me and I'll be warm
As roses bend through breeze, unbend me
As the rose bends to the sun
And in the darkness, please defend me
Two in love become as one
As waves lean on the sea, my love come lean on me
I do believe in you

Love ,

Your Secret Admirer

P.S. Remember, mia Cara… I am closer than you think.

Carlotta pressed the card to her bosom. It was so beautiful. She was suddenly so confused. This person, this admirer, he seemed to understand her in a way that no one else did; not even while engaged had Lucio written her anything so romantic, let alone said anything so poetic.

How could Lucio be its author? He just couldn't… but it had to be, she told herself, it just had to be!

She sighed.

She had always been the type who thought that she was in love with any one who paid her the smallest bit of attention.

And then there was Lucio. He had entered into her life at a moment when she had been particularly vulnerable and he had pulled her out of her depression and helped her move forward with both her career and her personal life. Finally she had reached the point where she felt that he was holding her back, and she had left him.

She had come to Paris and to the Opera Populaire, where she had immediately risen to the role of leading soprano, and it seemed that nothing could ever stop her.

And then she met Ubaldo. There was something about him that made the girl inside of her blush at his mere presence. She had fought her heart for over a year until she was convinced that she felt nothing for him, but that kiss…

That kiss had awakened Carlotta's deepest and darkest thoughts and desires. Ubaldo's kiss was so different from Lucio's. Lucio's kiss was filled with passion, while Ubaldo's had been filled with passion and sincerity and love, not just carnal desire.

Oh, what was she to do?

Before Carlotta could peruse the matter any farther, there was a knock on her door.

"Come in".

The door swung open, and there stood Ubaldo., and Carlotta did not manage to raise her personal shield fast enough.

"Yes?" she said when she finally found her voice.

"Just came to see how you're doing…"

Carlotta looked down.

"I'm good… you?"

"Same… listen, Carlotta, that's not why I'm here, we both know why I'm here…"

"Per favore, Ubaldo, not now, I have a lot on my mind…"

"Si, Carlotta, now. We have to talk about what happened... you've been distant ever since… I'm sorry for my behavior, what else can I say?"

You can tell me that you love me, she found herself thinking, and she gasped out loud.

"Cara? Are you all right Cara?"

Suddenly Carlotta looked terrified, more terrified than she's been in a long time. She looked at Ubaldo.

"Please, Ubaldo, per favore, please go… I can't…"

"You can't what, Cara?"

'"I- he - "

"Who? That guy you walked in with last night? Who is he?"

"Luiciano Barcellona, hey, what's it to you?"

"Well I see how you look at Yvette-"

"Who?"

"Chorus girl".

Carlotta made a sound.

"What does that mean? What do you have against Yvette?"

"What do you have against Lucio?"

Just then, Lucio walked in.

"Carlotta?"

Carlotta let out a small shriek.

"What is it, my dear?" asked Lucio as he approached Carlotta and put his arms around her from behind. Carlotta was instantly uncomfortable and released herself from his grip.

"Nothing, caro, nothing… you scared me… that's all…"

Lucio stared at Ubaldo.

"Ubaldo Piangi", said Ubaldo.

"Luiciano Barcellona", said Lucio.

The two men glared at each other, and their instant mutual loathing was obvious. Ubaldo was the first to move.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get in costume. I'll see you later, Lotta".

With that he left Carlotta and Lucio by themselves in her dressing room, but her had not gone far when he heard the one-sided shouting.

"Who was that?"

"Ubaldo".

'I don't give a damn who that was, who is he!"

"He's the principal tenor".

"A tenor, no least! What was he doing, Carlotta? What were you doing!"

Lucio's voice only kept escalating in volume, while Carlotta's remained at the same volume. She began making her way through her dressing room to get ready.

"I do not appreciate you interrogating me in this fashion, Lucio".

"I don't give a damn whether you appreciate it or not, Carlotta, there's something I don't like that man, and I forbid you to be alone with him again!"

"You forbid me?"

Carlotta started to laugh.

"You forget who you're speaking to. I'll do as I please. You can't forbid me to do anything."

With that, Lucio lunged at Carlotta and grabbed her by the wrists and pinned her up against the wall.

"You will do as I say when I say, hija putana, or else!"

At that moment, Ubaldo, who had heard everything, could remain silent no longer.

"Let her go! NOW!"

Lucio turned his head and saw Ubaldo standing in the doorway. He flung Carlotta to the floor by the wrists and lunged at Ubaldo.

Being a rather hefty tenor, it was not long until Ubaldo had managed to pin Lucio to the floor. In the meantime, he had also yelled for security, and they had come, and as soon as they had, he had rushed over to Carlotta.

She was unconscious.