The Match©2006

By Phantasmarose

Disclaimer: I lay no claim to any of the original POTO characters such as Erik, Christine, Meg, Raoul, and Madame Giry. These belong to Leroux, and ALW. The settings outside the lair and all original characters to this story belong to me.

Pawn to Queen's level 4

"Please Raoul. I don't know what happened to Madame and Meg after the fire. Please, I am so worried about them."

Christine sat with Raoul in the parlor settee. This room looked somber with its dark wood furnishings. She had been here before when she'd agreed to be his wife. Raoul had tried to tell her the history behind every piece. The furniture had belonged to a Chagny, long dead, or had been brought back from some exotic location by another Chagny equally dead. Christine had found the lectures exasperating.

Even with his eyes, closed Raoul could see how well Christine fitted in this setting. He had brought her into this room so she could see what she was giving up but Christine did not even seem to notice her surroundings.

Christine was walking around the parlor trailing a finger over the furnishings trying to compose her thoughts. The possibility that her only family or near family might be needy, hurt or worse. Brought tears to her eyes. You have to convince him to go get them Christine. You have to. She walked up to a spinet piano in a corner and fingered the ivory inlays on the wood cabinet. What a beautiful instrument. An image of Erik sitting in front of his organ came to mind and she felt a delicious feeling in her stomach. As beautiful, as this instrument was it would not be able to reproduce the rich resonating sounds of his church organ.

"I'm sure they are fine Lotte." She was such a delight to look at. His sister's frocks looked wonderful on Christine's curves. Even without a corset she had the tiniest of waists.

Christine walked back to Raoul, sat daintily on the settee by his side, and placed her small hand over his. "How can you be sure Raoul? Please find out what happened to them."

"For you I will go tomorrow," he said. She threw her arms around his neck and then realizing her action, disentangled herself and lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry Raoul. That wasn't proper of me."

"You were just enthusiastic, that is all. And I didn't mind." For a moment it had felt like the old days before the Creature took over her.

"Will you really bring them here?" Christine touched his arm lightly, and gave him a sweet smile.

"If I can."

Her smile dropped at his balking. "Oh do Raoul; you would make me so happy."

"If that would make you happy I will bring them to you." If it took an army to bring Madame and Meg Giry to Christine then he would procure one. He was desperate to please her in any way he could. If he pleased her enough maybe she would…no, he would not hope.

No longer the brash young man of a few days ago Raoul tentatively asked her "Would you like to go for a stroll in the garden Christine?"

She smiled and her brown eyes widened as if in anticipation. It looked to him as if she might say yes. Then she shook her head and said "Thank you Raoul, maybe another day. I need to go check on Erik now."

Erik! Erik! Damn that infernal Creature back to his Hell!

He cleared his thoughts, modulated his voice, and said "All right Christine perhaps tomorrow."

"Perhaps Raoul" She smiled at him and blushed just a little. Three days ago, he would have taken her in his arms and crushed her to him. Only three days ago, Christine would have responded to his kisses, shyly but with pleasure. His arms ached for her small waist and his lips felt cold. When exactly had he lost her? My Little Lotte.

Madame Giry strode into the room as Erik sat up in bed reading. Christine sat on a chair nearby brushing her hair. He looked up from his book and weakly smiled at Madame. Christine grinned, rushed up to the Ballet mistress, and kissed her cheek.

"Madame Giry, Raoul brought you! Where is Meg?"

"She had to stay with the younger rats, but she sends you her love my dear."

She caressed the girl's cheek and then walked up to Erik. His eyes widened a little and then she slapped him fully across his cheek. "How dare you do that? The girl is gone for a few moments and you decide to end it?"

Christine cried out, her hands flew to her own throat expecting him to pull out his Punjab lasso, to return Madame's slap or at least to respond with a few choice words. His reaction was a total shock to Christine. Erik winced at the blow, looked at Madame in abject shame, and began to weep. Madame sat on the bed next to him talking to him agitatedly and making her point with a curled fist or a wagging finger. After a while, she calmed down and began to smooth his hair and his weeping ceased.

Christine stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed, not daring to move from her spot. Madame whipped out a lacy handkerchief and wiped his tears. They talked quietly for a while and then Madame took his head between her hands and kissed his forehead. He smiled at her and they continued to talk softly. Christine pushed her back a little further into the wall. She hadn't thought that there was anyone in the world who would dare strike and reprimand the Phantom. Still in her spot, her breathing was as shallow and noiseless as she could make it. At one point Madame pulled a mask out of her bag and handed it to Erik, he kissed her hand lovingly. Before she left, she put a set of keys on the table by the bed, rearranged his hair, and kissed his forehead again. "Sleep," she said softly. "You need to rest." And Erik closed his eyes. Quietly Christine followed Madame out the door and filled her lungs with air. At least Erik had not crawled onto Madame's lap.

They went downstairs and Madame entered the kitchen and gave instructions to the cook. The women in the kitchen began to do what she asked of them. She wheeled around and walked out with Christine on her heels.

None of the kitchen staff thought to question who the new Mistress was. The younger Mistress followed her about and accented by nodding her head. It was best for them not to ask too many questions. If the Master thought, it was all right for these women to run his home, well, so it would be. Within minutes of Madame Giry's visit to the kitchen, the soup was on the stove, the meat, and vegetables in the oven and tea was brewing.

The two women walked into the parlor and took seats facing each other. Madame caressed a small statue of a cherub on a nearby table as if it brought back a memory then said, "Well my dear, we can have a little chat now." She sat herself erect on her chair. When it arrived, Christine poured the tea. "Child, your eyes have a thousand questions in them." Madame Giry took a sip of her tea, and balancing her teacup in her hand said, "Let me start at the beginning".

Sorry to leave this as a cliffhanger but I can update faster this way.

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