Summary: My take on the 2004 movie… with an added character. Not an Erik/OC, Erik/OW if that's what you are worried about, or thinking. Erik and Christine's relationship remains the same as it did in the movie, with nothing to complicate it… and I may let them be together in the end… It depends on how big a response I get from you, the readers. Madame Giry will feature in this more strongly than the other characters.

Disclaimer: I own nothing; everything belongs to Sir ALW, and Gaston Leroux. The only character I own in this is that of Philippe Caruso.

A/N: I'M SO SORRY! I'M HORRIBLE! I WILL UPDATE MORE... or try, from now often. But it's so hard not to think "I'll do it tomorrow..." and then not do it at all. If you review this, THANK YOU for sticking by me, even though I'm awful! Love you all, and enjoy these chapters!

"Dance As If Noone Is Watching..."

Meg Giry made her way through the crowds of excited opera house members, searching for her dear friend, Christine Daae. She had not seen her since she had performed her debut in Hannibal, and wanted to congratulate her.

Meg weaved her way through the masses of celebrators, and slipped into a quite corridor. Meg rolled her eyes at the couple passionately exchanging saliva in the corner, and ascended a flight of stairs, towards the one other place in the whole building that Christine could be.

"Christine?" She called.

She delicately and carefully made her way down the steep winding staircase, going deeper into the opera house. She frowned as she almost lost her balance on the damp stairs. Luckily her Ballet training helped her to stop herself from tumbling down the stairs.

"Christine?" She called again, a little more desperately.

She finally reached the bottom of the staircase, and saw a dim light in the next room, which confirmed that Christine was in fact inside the room. She slipped into the room, and Christine lifted her bowed head, and smiled at her friend who kneeled down besides her grinning.

"Where in the world have you been hiding?" Christine smiled and shook her head. She'd been hiding here of course. Meg could be silly sometimes. The blonde ballerina continued.

"Really you were perfect!" Meg giggled as Christine blushed furiously, and took her hand in her own.

"I only wish I knew your secret… Who is your great tutor?"

Christine's smile melted from her face, and she looked away for a moment. When she turned back to face her friend, her eyes were dancing wildly. Meg felt a sickening sensation in her stomach. Christine crawled closer to Meg, and took her other hand in her own, grasping them tightly, as if they were a lifeline… or a link to her sanity. She leaned forward conspiringly.

"Meg… When your Mother brought me here to live…"

She continued her wild fairytale, and Meg's eyes widened. Surely Christine did not believe this tale; she'd thought her much more sensible than this. She let go of her hands.

"Christine…" She picked her words carefully. "Do you believe? Do you believe that the Spirit of your Father is coaching you?"

She hoped to God that Christine would laugh and tell her she was being silly again. She did not.

"Who else, Meg?"

As Christine extended her voice to the heavens, and sang of her Angel of Music, Meg despaired, feeling helpless as her dearest friend drove herself crazy with her insane belief.

"Christine, you must have been dreaming. Stories like this can't come true. Christine, you're talking in riddles, and it's not like you."

She reached for Christine's hands and flinched at what she felt.

They were ice-cold.

"Your hands are cold…" She looked at her beautiful face and gasped.

"Your face, Christine… It's white."

"It frightens me…"

Meg almost cried, and began to lead Christine to the safety that was Madame Giry. There was little Meg could do as Christine's eyes darted about her surroundings like a terrified field mouse.

She tightened her grasp on her hands, and said the only thing that came to her mind.

"Don't be frightened…"