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 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!

Carlotta awoke in a bed lined with green and gold velvet. She looked around and realized that the bed was not hers, and that she had no idea where she was. She then saw Ubaldo's body on the other side of the room and as she painfully breathed in, she smelled the scent of his cologne.

She was without a doubt in Ubaldo's bed – but why was she in Ubaldo's bed? And what had happened? She breathed in again and this time began to cough immediately.

Ubaldo horridly walked over to her and took her hand in his.

"Good morning, mia Cara".

"Ubaldo… what am I… why does… it hurts when I breathe…"

Ubaldo nodded.

"You took quite a tumble… rather you were given quite a tumble… you had a concussion and you have a few bruised ribs from what you landed on… it's a miracle that he didn't break your wrists."

Carlotta looked down at the sheets.

"Cara, who is that man?"

Silence.

"Please."

Carlotta sighed.

"Luciano Barcellona was my fiancé before I came to the Opera Populaire".

"WHAT!"

"Ubaldo, per favore… we've been through a lot, he-"

"Don't you dare defend him, Carlotta! He pinned you up against a wall and then hurled you to the floor!"

Carlotta was silent.

"The doctor thinks that it's best if you just rest for the next few days… I brought you here because you rooms were swarming with people and I figured you could at least get some rest over here seeing as no one's going to look for you here."

She looked up at Ubaldo.

"Thank you".

Ubaldo nodded and stood up.

"Something was in your dressing room early this morning… I took the liberty of bringing it to you seeing as you won't be going anywhere any time soon…"

He kneeled and when he came back up again, he held a basket with a black toy poodle inside and an envelope taped to the basket.

"Oh!"

"I couldn't just leave him there… plus I think he'll help you feel better sooner…"

"Oh, he's adorable!"

Ubaldo placed the dog in Carlotta's outstretched arms as if he were a doctor handing a new mother her newborn son. After a few moments, he reminded her that she had a card.

"Oh… read it to me, caro, read it to me…"

Ubaldo opened the envelope carefully and eyed the card before reading it aloud.

"My beloved Carlotta… it pains me deeply to see you in this state, unable to move and confined to your suite. How I shall miss you on the stage tonight. Remember always that you need not search outside your own four falls for the true love that you seek. Hopefully Figaro here will be able to protect you from attacks in my absence. Love always, Your Secret Admirer".

Carlotta closed her eyes as she smiled.

"Your Secret Admirer? You have a secret admirer?"

"Si… some men do find me attractive, you know".

"I don't doubt that for a moment, Signora… any clues as to who it may be?"

"A few… but for now I'm going to keep my theories to myself… thank you, Ubaldo. For everything."

Ubaldo nodded once again.

"No… I mean it. I haven't been honest with you, Ubaldo… I've been a total prick ever since opening night, and I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Cara-"

"No, it's not okay! I've been downright nasty to you, and I'm sorry. I had too much to drink and I jumped to conclusions after that night and I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you. You're my dearest and closest friend, Ubaldo."

Ubaldo gazed into Carlotta's eyes. He understood.