As much as I love the version of the completely reformed, nice, loving, romantic, perfect boyfriend/husbandErik, I really don't think its very realistic! I am a EC fan, butI think its more real if Christine and Raoul end up together, so, here goes

To Cure a Mad Phantom

Chapter 1

Sunlight flooded into the sitting room as Raoul, Le Vicomte de Chagny, pulled open the thick, green curtains that were giving the room an air of mustiness. A sunbeam fell across something he hadn't seen before. Christine was standing in the doorway watching him with a look of mock confusion.

"Yes, Christine?" Raoul said with a smile playing over his lips.

"I really don't like those curtains!" Christine managed to giggle out.

"What have I done to amuse you so?" Raoul laughed back.

"I never would have expected a vicomte to be opening his own curtains!" she stated, knowing that Raoul did not act at all like his older brother, the count, had wanted and expected a viscount to act.

"My dear" Raoul exhaled, "You know very well that I believe myself capable of doing the most 'menial' tasks."

"Oh yes, I know, but can't I tease you just a little bit?" Christine responded with a huge grin on her face.

"Oh, I suppose, but I imagine it wasn't your dislike of my curtains that brought you in to see me. Do you wish to talk?"

"Yes…" Christine replied almost… reluctantly, Raoul thought.

"Well, my dear, sit down, sit down. What is it you wish to talk about?"

"Raoul… it's… it's only been a week and…"

"Christine," Raoul interrupted, "Could we please not get onto this subject again? You know I love you…"

"And I love you Raoul! I would never leave you for him, especially after what he did to me, to us. But you can still be friends with someone without loving them, in that way at least. I still care for him."

"I know Christine, I know, he was your tutor for ten years, he protected you, taught you. I understand how very close you were to him… but the man is mad. I can't put you in that danger again, Christine, especially since we are to be married in a matter of months. I care for you more now than I ever have!"

"But that's my point, Raoul! He has problems, he needs us. He has no other friends. The one man he thought to be the closest thing to a friend betrayed him by showing you where to find me!"

"He never considered me a friend Christine, and what makes you think he still thinks of you as a friend?"

"Raoul, you never fully understood his love for me. It is a type of love you can't just erase by one bad experience. And didn't you yourself reassure me that he was nothing but a man? It's only been a week Raoul, he might still be there. He wouldn't harm me, I know."

"I would feel much better if you took someone with you." Raoul said softly after a minute of silence.

"Raoul, really?" Christine questioned, but without the tone of someone who was happy to have won an argument. Truth be told, Erik still scared her to death, and she didn'twant to go see him without Raoul to protect her, but it had to be done. "You know it can't be you, right? As you said, he has never been fond of you, and you were the one who took me away, remember?"

"Yes, I know." Raoul sighed. "Take one of the servants, no, two actually. Inform them that should anything happen to you, one of them is to stay with you and the other is to go get help, and then find me. I won't let anything happen to you again Christine."

"Yes, Raoul, I know. I think it is a wonderful idea. Whenshould I leave?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, I think would be best. It will give you some time to rest once you get there. I don't want you to stay at the opera house though. He has all access to you there, and I couldn't sleep at night knowing he could be right there watching you like he used to do."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Christine said showing a slight smile. Raoul smiled back.

"I haven't been fair to you, treating this trip like it is a huge deal. I know nothing will happen to you Christine, I just get so worried."

"You have your right to be worried Raoul."

"Well," he sighed again, "I suppose I need to get back to work. And you should go pack. Only pack your… modest clothes." Raoul said with a chuckle. "I don't want him to fall madly in love with you all over again." Christine laughed.

"Of course dear!" Raoul turned back to his desk as Christine walked towards the door. "Wait, Raoul?"

"Yes dearest?"

"Could I… bring him here?" Christine flinched, ready for a "no!" to come flying back at her.

"Well, there really isn't anywhere else, as we are his only 'friends.'" Raoul said with a fake smile on his face, trying to be strong for Christine and cover up his great dislike of the idea.

"Oh thank you!" Christine rushed over to her fiancé and gave him a huge hug before rushing out the door to pack. Raoul smiled to himself, he loved her so much. As Christine walked back to her room, the only thought running through her mind was how difficult this task was going to be. She had no idea how she was going to convince Erik to come and stay with them, and she couldn't stand to lie to him. He would know anyways. He knew everything about her. She also understood how hard this was going to be for her, even if she convincedErik to go with her. She had come so close to loving that man, he had the power to bewitch her. She just hoped it wouldn't ruin her relationship with Raoul… but they were in love, right?