Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! It means so much to me, and they kept me going and inspired me to update as fast as I could and to write a longer chapter. In response to questions, Erik will most definitely be appearing in this story. I'm almost finished setting the scene and then the drama will begin!

Chapter 3: Tainted

Christine woke up several times during the night, worried for Raoul, but heard only the soft sounds of him sleeping beside her. Sighing in relief, she curled up closer to him and went back to sleep.

The next morning Christine woke when Raoul did, and he smiled at her in appreciation. She made him breakfast, cooking eggs as best as she could, and he winked at her when he saw her struggling, not quite the perfect housewife that she strove to be, but her efforts making him love her even more.

"Be careful today, Raoul," Christine said as he got ready to leave, leaning against the doorframe and looking at him with concern.

Raoul looked back at her and saw the worry on her face. He crossed to where she was standing and put his hands on her slim shoulders. "I'm fine. Believe me." He kissed her forehead, making her close her eyes and smile softly. He folded her into a gentle hug, making her believe that everything would be fine. And she believed him. "No need to worry. It's just a cough."

"Alright, alright. I'm not worried at all! So there!" She stood on her toes and kissed him, then pushed him towards the door.

"Have a good day, Christine," he threw back over his shoulder as she pushed him out, laughing.

That day passed, as most of her days did, with Christine spending her day in further ventures of becoming a well-balanced young woman, and culminating with her and Raoul going out for the night. That night he seemed a little more tired than usual, and they excused themselves right after dinner and came straight home. Christine was tired as well and they both went to sleep immediately, and she didn't have any time to spend worrying about Raoul.

The next day was the same as the last, and the days slipped by so quickly after that, and looking back on them later Christine wondered where they went. She was still concerned for Raoul's health but she only noticed weakness in him as a cough here and there, or a weary looking smile at the end of the day.

About a month after Raoul's initial symptoms had surfaced, he and Christine were attending a dinner party that Christine had been worried about because as a well-versed socialite would put it "everyone" was there. All eyes were on them as they entered the ball, and Christine smiled as she took Raoul's arm. He smiled back at her as the walked together, mingling with other couples, who complimented them on their attire and conversed about the politics of the city and various other topics. After a few minutes Christine's jaw was clenched and she could see Raoul was already tired of the small talk.

Dinner was served, and Christine managed to eat and pretend to pay attention at the same time. When someone wasn't talking to her and asking needless questions about being Countess, or commenting snidely about her lower-class origins or short-lived opera career, she watched Raoul, seeing how easily he made conversation. She saw why he was so easy to talk to, to trust, and to believed. He spoke with such conviction, no forced or empty statements for the Vicomte de Chagny. She saw so clearly why everyone loved him. And, more than she even knew was possible, why she loved him.

The music started to play, and Raoul rose and extravagantly offered Christine his hand to dance. She smiled and nodded graciously playing along, making him smile at their joke. They were so much more than this social scene and both of them knew it, everyone else knew it too, she supposed, as Raoul had married her, an orphan raised at the Opera Populaire.

"How have you been feeling tonight?" Christine whispered to him.

"How am I supposed to be feeling?" he asked flippantly. "Excellent, of course!"

"Don't joke, I could see you quite clearly from where I was sitting. You're tired again, aren't you?" she asked, seriously.

"No more tired than any other day," he replied, with a look on his face that she couldn't identify. "Stop this, let's dance, it's the best part of these nights because I get to do it with you."

Christine couldn't help but smile and laugh, letting him spin her out on to the floor. One hand on her waist, the other holding onto her hand, they moved easily across the dance floor, in time with the music.

"I'm glad I'm here with you," Christine told Raoul. "You're the best dancer here."

"There's no one in the world I'd rather dance with than you," he said softly, interrupting the rhythm of the dance to kiss her quickly on the lips. The look in her eye told her that he wasn't satisfied by one chaste kiss, and she laughed.

"Really, Raoul, in front of all these people?" He was about to respond when he suddenly halted and started coughing. After a few hacking coughs escaped his lips he doubled over, coughing uncontrollably. Christine put her hand on his shoulder, unsure of what to do. He shot her a panicked glance but was unable to speak, and she guided him over to the side, grabbing the first glass of water that she saw and helping him drink it. Raoul managed to choke some of it down, stopping the onslaught of coughs, momentarily. He looked so pale and weak, suddenly, that Christine helped him sit down. She took off one of her long gloves and felt his forehead, alarmed at how warm it felt.

"Oh, Raoul," she breathed with worry. "I'm going to call the carriage, will you be alright if I leave you here for a moment?" Raoul nodded, but didn't speak, just looked back at her weakly.

Frowning and swallowing hard Christine rushed to the door and called for their carriage. She hurried back to where she had left Raoul, and found him staring transfixed at his gloved hand. "What is it?" she asked. He folded his hand up quickly as she spoke, and rose to follow her.

"Nothing, it's nothing, dear."

"Raoul, what is it? What's on your hand?" She pulled at his arm insistently. "Let me see your hand."

"No, Christine, let's just go," he told her, starting to walk away.

Suddenly frightened, Christine grabbed his hand and turned his palm towards her. In an instant she dropped his hand, gasping and covering her mouth.

Raoul's white silk glove was covered in blood.

Oh man! Please review! Let me know what you guys think, and I'll update as soon as possible!