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 is that of Phillipe Caruso.

"Dance As If Noone Is Watching…"

Christine had not gone to her dressing room as her mysterious rescuer had instructed and had remained in the hallway, waiting for the safe return of Madame Giry. As she waited she pondered on the identity of her saviour. She had seen him before, she knew it. Could he be… her Angel of Music?

Christine jumped in shock as he re-emerged around the corner without warning, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Madame Giry being pulled along, with his arm interestingly around her waist. However, she paid little attention to this little detail as she threw her arms around the older woman. Antoinette smiled and held her tightly.

Christine pulled back after a moment, tears staining her face. "Oh that was horrible! I thought you lost Madame!"

Antoinette chuckled. "We were just separated, my dear."

She ushered her towards her dressing room gently, to which Christine stopped her after a moment, and turned to her rescuer. "I want to thank you, for your help… and ask you your name?"

The man looked confused. "Philippe Caruso… We just met several moments ago, on the stage."

Her face fell. "Oh. I see."

This did not go unnoticed by Madame Giry who ushered her into her dressing room; Christine went inside without a fuss.

Antoinette turned to Philippe. "Thank you for your help."

He smiled. "You're welcome, Madame."

Their eyes remained locked a little longer than necessary.

"Madame?"

The spell was quickly broken by the soft voice of Christine. Antoinette smiled hastily. "I must attend to Christine. Again; thank you Monsieur Caruso."

He held up a hand. "I beg of you; call me Philippe."

She chuckled. "I'll try… Philippe. Goodnight."

She entered Christine's dressing room leaving Philippe in her wake. He tilted his head thoughtfully for a moment, and then left around the corner as quick as he had appeared.

Christine gazed in wonder around her dressing room which had obviously been re-decorated since she had last been there. It was now covered in roses. Madame Giry let out an amused chuckle at her young companion's awe. She herself had been the proud receiver of dressing room's full of roses when she had been a Prima Ballerina.

Her worship of Ballet…

The triumphant bow…

The adoring fans…

Men falling at her feet…

Erik…

And the accident that ended it all.

Antoinette preferred not to think back to her glory years.

Giry saw that Christine's attention became focused on a single rose, one bounded with a simple black ribbon. A rose she realised she had received before, and unexpectedly felt a small twinge of jealousy. It was from Erik.

She shook off the absurd feeling of envy and moved towards Christine, smiling at her. "You did very well my dear. He is pleased with you."

Christine smiled.

"He is?"

Antoinette nodded. "How could he not be? You were marvellous." Her voice was warm with maternal pride, as she gently brushed Christine's face with the back of her hand.

"Oh, Madame, I love you!" Christine proclaimed and threw her herself into Antoinette's arms.

Tears pricked at the ballet mistress's eyes.

"And I love you, Christine. More than you could know."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You're serious!"

"Oh yes! They couldn't pull their eyes away from each other!"

The room erupted into giggles as they considered their strict and proper ballet mistress swooning over a man and vice versa. Meg had delighted in telling her friends the tale, and the girl's had been delighted to hear it. Years of vigorous ballet training had created strong bonds between the ballerinas. They had all grown up together, in more ways than one.

"I'm so very hopeful they fall in love. Madame Giry deserves a bit of happiness." Little James smiled.

Meg took her friends hand and smiled at her. "She's been alone for too long."

"I think it no wonder Giry is alone. She's such a horrible cow."

Despite the bonds that existed, there was still always one.

Meg's eyes flashed dangerously

"I know you're new, Emily, so I'll ignore you this once." She smiled deceptively sweetly. "I hope I don't hear you insulting my mother again."

Emily blanched.

Meg smiled her eyes hard. "Yes. My mother, dear."

Antoinette would be proud.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madame Giry had left 10 minutes ago, and Christine had swiftly found herself reunited with Raoul; her somewhat childhood sweetheart. Christine smiled as she remembered the laughing teenager standing by the sea, his blonde hair flying wildly in the wind.

He had not changed much.

Christine had also noticed how handsome he had gotten, and her heart had unexpectedly thudded in her rib cage as he had invited her out for supper.

Just as she pulled on her robe, and moved her hands towards her hair to fluff it out she stopped suddenly.

Something was going to happen…

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

…She knew it.

Antoinette moved swiftly back towards Christine's dressing room, only to freeze and quickly conceal herself behind a curtain as she saw the black figure at the young Soprano's door. She silently cursed herself for her stupidity in leaving her Christine.

Damn you Erik, what are you up to?

She knew not to confront him; yet.

She was not suicidal.

She checked the room 10 minutes later.

Christine was gone.