DISCLAIMER: I do not own POTO, nor do I claim to!
Christine, Erik, and Nadir sat down on the couch with their drinks. "So Nadir. What is it that you do?" Christine asked him. Nadir gave a sidewise glance at Erik, who gave a slight shrug that said, "She's not a stupid female, but make something up if you must." "Well, madam, I work in a…" Nadir thought quick "book store over on the west side." Christine let out a small gasp. "Then you aren't a preacher?" Christine looked at Erik with a frown. "That too. I'm a man of many trades, Miss Christine." Nadir said quickly, noticing the 'look' that Christine was giving Erik. "Oh. Alright then." Christine said, giving them both a shrewd look. Just then, a timer went off. "Oh my dinners about done. I'll go check on it." Christine said, giving Erik a quick kiss before heading to the kitchen. "I told you she was quick." Erik said. "You could have ruined everything with that, you know." Nadir replied, "Erik, I didn't think she was THAT quick. No wonder you fell in love with her so fast. She can read your thoughts before you can think them!" "That's why you have to be careful about what you say around her Nadir…" "Ok you two! Dinner is ready!" Christine called from the kitchen. The two men stood up and strode to the kitchen. They could smell the wonderful cooking that Christine had done, and their mouths began to water. "This smells wonderful, my dear." Erik informed her, planting a kiss on her lips, making Christine blush. Nadir took a small bite of the creamed corn, and pronounced it "Delicious! If you weren't already married, I'd marry you myself, just for the cooking!" Christine looked down, and then excused herself from the table. She thought that Nadir was a kind person, but now all she thought was that he was a man who would become a slave driver. "Nadir! WHAT were you THINKING!" Erik growled. "You have just insulted my wife and I. Now get out before I show you my newest invention…" Nadir got the hint, and quickly left. Erik watched him go, and then went to the room where he could hear Christine sobbing. He went to her and placed his arms around her. "There, there, my sweet Christine. He's gone now, and just us two can eat a peaceful dinner together and not worry about anyone else interrupting us." Then they heard light footsteps echoing throughout the room. "Who is that?" Christine asked, her voice trembling. "Madam Giry, I suspect." Erik told her, trying to sooth her, and sure enough, Madam Giry walked though a door Christine didn't even know existed. "Christine Daae…" Madam Giry started. "I'm not Christine Daae anymore, Madam Giry." Christine said softly, blushing. "Oh my." Madam Giry thought, "Erik must have contacted Nadir." "Well, congratulations are in order then dear." Madam Giry told her, enfolding her into a tight hug. "Congratulations to you also, Erik." She said over her shoulder. "Christine? I was wondering if you ever told the Viscount about your…illness…." Madam Giry winked at her. "What illness?" Erik jumped up from the couch where he had been sitting. "Erik. I was kidding. Christine is in the best of health." Madam Giry said, impatiently. "Then what are you talking about then?" Erik demanded. "If you let me talk Erik, then I will tell you!" Madam Giry said in her commanding voice. "Now Christine. The Viscount has made attempts to see you. The first time, I told him you were on sleeping pills, and would not awake for a long period of time. The second time, I told him that you fainted on stage. I told him I would contact him if the worse to occur. I think that, since you are the person that we are discussing should go lye in a bed, and we will powder you up so you look like death itself, and let him see you, and you tell him that you are dying, that way he will stop all his comings to the opera house." Madam Giry told her. "That is a wonderful idea Madam Giry!" Christine exclaimed. "We shall do this tonight." She declared to the astonishment of them both. "That way, he will stop bugging the cast." So it was planned. Christine would play the part of a dying chorus girl, and a closed casket funeral would be held.
"She is in here." Madam Giry whispered to Raoul. He dreaded this moment, when he would have to see the girl of his dreams laying there in a bed, dying of an illness she had never told him about. "Be careful of what you say to her Viscount. We are trying to keep her from being troubled." Madam Giry warned him. "Yes Madam Giry. I shall." Raoul whispered back. Madam Giry left him in the room, and quietly closed the door behind her. "Christine? Can you hear me?" Raoul whispered. "Raoul? Is it really you?" Christine asked, hoping that her voice sounded frail. "Yes Christine, it's me." Raoul replied. "Raoul, you have to let me go. It's my time to leave." Christine said, trying to make her voice sound weaker by the second. "No Christine. There has to be something that can be done!" He started to shout, and then stopped as he noticed that it made her wince. "No Raoul. They have tried everything that could possibly be done, but it's too late. It's my time." Christine let her hand go limp and closed her eyes. Raoul gasped, and ran out the door. "Madam Giry! Madame Giry! It's Christine! Something's wrong!" Raoul shouted as he ran in the hallway. Madam Giry came running, and pushed him out of her way, as she and two doctors that were in on the ruse came rushing down the hallway. They ran into Christine's room, and there, he heard Madam Giry start to sob. Then he fled the building, knowing that he would never go back, because his Little Lottie, his Christine would never act or sing on that stage again.
"…We shall always remember Christine as a good friend, a hard worker, and a wonderful actress. She has now gone to her mother and father, and may she rest in peace with God." The preacher finished at the graveside. Meg wept openly, even though she knew that Christine was alive and pregnant with a baby. Everyone from the opera was there, including people who were often at the opera's. Each person laid a rose on her casket, and then the dirt was thrown on top. Each person turned and left, and wept tears over the young girl whose life was too short…or so they thought…
"…and it was so lovely Christine, and so many people attended!" Meg informed Christine and Erik later that day. "If I hadn't known about it before hand, I would have thrown myself onto the casket and declared I would be buried with you. Oh wait. I DID do that anyway!" Meg said, making Christine giggle. "You're the best Meg, though if I were to die, I would hope you would continue to enjoy life." Christine informed her. Erik pulled Christine tighter to him. "If you were to die Christine, my life would be over. I would have to join Meg on top of your casket and be buried with the both of you." Erik declared. "You two are too much, but I'm flattered just the same. But hey, let's talk about something more pleasant. How about…the baby!" "Oh Christine. How many more months left?" Meg asked. "Meg. I have 7 months left to go." Christine laughed laying her head on Erik's shoulder. Then the clock stuck midnight. "Oh My! I have to go. Talk to you later though! Bye Christine! Bye Erik!" With that, Meg dashed out of the room and up the stairs to the mirror in Christine's old room, which was always locked.
Raoul sat in a chair, brooding over the day. Christine had never told him about any illness, and certainly her father would have told him! Then he got a thought: what if Christine WASN"T dead? What if it was a trick? What if she was now living with her 'angel of music?' He decided to go BACK to the opera house, and pump Madam Giry for information, even if it meant threatening her life.