Disclaimer- I don't own the phantom...

Chapter 16

After the opera, Orianna went straight to her dressing room and began packing; she didn't even change out of her costume. Finishing her packing quickly, she changed into a light blue dress. She grabbed her cloak to match and double checked that she had everything she needed. Feeling satisfied that she had packed all her things; she took a second to calm herself down. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked up; the mirror stood in front of her. She had forgotten about it until now and she had the feeling she was being watched. She heard a knock at that door which diverted her attention.

"Who is it?"

"Raoul." She thanked the lord in heaven and rushed to the door, throwing it open. Raoul had all his things ready to go and she smiled. "Are you ready?" She nodded and motioned to her two bags sitting on her couch. "You pack quickly." She laughed.

"I was just so excited, you know." He smiled and took both the bags. She slipped the cloak on and checked one last time that she had everything she needed. Raoul left first and Orianna looked at the mirror, she mouthed a goodbye and snuffed the candles out, quickly leaving the room.

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It had been two weeks since Orianna had left the opera house with Raoul. She enjoyed spending time with Raoul's family. She sat at the breakfast table, laughing and joking with his father; His mother a sweetheart, was joining in. The only person Orianna didn't like was Raoul's brother, Philippe; he seemed quite arrogant and gave off a vibe that Orianna didn't like. But, other than that, she was enjoying the time she was spending with Raoul's family. They had spent many nights together in their study, just hanging out. Orianna and Raoul's mother would alternate between playing the piano and singing. While Orianna played his mother sang and vice versa. Some nights his parents sat alone while Raoul and Orianna read books to each other. Orianna couldn't believe how perfect everything was.

But, thoughts of her angel always tugged at her mind. When she went to bed at night, her thoughts drifted back to his face and his words that night on the rooftop. He looked so crushed and she hated herself for making him feel that way. As she sat at the breakfast table, she found her thoughts drifting to her angel. She needed to make it up to him somehow. That's when it hit her; buy him a Christmas present. She needed to shop for gifts anyway.

"Christine…?" She looked up and smiled.

"I'm sorry Raoul, what were you saying?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to take a walk with me through the park today."

"Actually, I intended on doing my Christmas shopping all day." Raoul looked a little disappointed.

"May I accompany you?"

"Certainly not; do you want to see your present?" He shook his head and Raoul's father spoke up.

"Raoul, Christine can take care of herself. We'll send a carriage and servant to accompany her."

"Yes, of course." Raoul said, trying to be happier, but she could tell he was upset. Raoul's mother sensed the tension and changed the subject.

"Aren't you excited for the holidays, Philippe?"

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Orianna had asked the driver to take her into town for shopping. He left her at a corner and she asked him to stay there; she wanted to shop alone. She went in each store and found gifts for Meg and Madame Giry; she bought them each a hair pin that had a ballet slipper on it. She bought Raoul's mother sheet music and his father a notebook to write his stories in and a bottle of wine. For Raoul she found a new jacket for him, a sort of music box that had a couple dancing on the top and a new book for them to read together. She visited each shop and found little trinkets for the ballerinas and such who were kind to her. But, she could not find a present for her angel; it was impossible. As she was about to go back to the carriage, she heard something that caught her attention. It was a store full of music boxes. She smiled and entered it. There were thousands of music boxes with all different things. She looked around for the one she heard playing and followed the noise. Sitting on its own shelf, she stopped and gazed at it.

It was a music box with a single rose on top of it. At first, she thought it was real and she reached out to touch it, the rose petals were silk and the rest was wooden, painted to look like a rose. It looked like the one she had seen in her angel's lair except it had a rose on top. It was perfect. The song coming from it was beautiful. She had to have it. She went to the cashier and he helped her put it in a box and wrap it up nicely with a black bow.

"Would you like to write a message on the card?" She smiled and nodded, knowing exactly what to write. She made her way back to the carriage stopping off in a store to buy blank parchment for her angel so he may write songs on it. She was satisfied with her gift. She knew he would love it.

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On Christmas Eve, the house was filled with people. The family was having their annual party with all their close friends and other family. She met Raoul's cousin and uncles and aunts and close family friends. She tried to remember everyone's names but their was so many people she could hardly breath. After dinner, everyone retired to the study to laugh and tell stories but Raoul pulled Orianna aside.

"What's the matter?" Orianna asked. Raoul looked unusually pale and she didn't like it. "Do you need to lie down?"

"No, I need to ask you something." She nodded.

"Ask away." He pulled her into the library.

"Christine, I love you." She half-smiled.

"Raoul, what's going on?"

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Christine. I want you as my own. I want to call you my own Christine." Her jaw dropped and she felt her whole body tense up. He grabbed her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "Do you feel the same?"

"I…I...this is all so sudden Raoul."

"I know." He let go of her hand and got down on one knee, taking a tiny box from his pocket. She gasped and tried to hold in her tears. "Say you'll marry me." She felt like she couldn't breathe and she swallowed hard.

"Raoul, you don't understand how difficult this is for me."

"Why is it difficult? Those things we said to each other on the rooftop were not just words for me Christine, they were real feelings. I want to spend my life being with you. I want to grow old with you." She shook her head. She wasn't even supposed to be here. This wasn't her life, this wasn't her. Even though she had spent weeks being Christine, she could be brought back into her own life again just as quickly as she was put in this one. Then again, Christine really seemed to love Raoul, the things she wrote in her diary. But, what if Orianna stayed like this forever and she turned down Raoul. She'd be miserable forever. And what about her angel? Would he still love her if she married another man? There were so many ifs, ands or buts that Orianna couldn't decide.

"Raoul, there are going to be consequences and problems if I say yes."

"Let them come, I want to face them with you." She calmed down and tried to think rationally. It was only an engagement. Who knew if she would actually marry him?

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The day after Christmas the whole house was quiet. Christine had accepted Raoul's offer under the condition that they would wait at least a year before getting married. She put the ring on a chain and wore it was a necklace instead of on her finger. She wanted it to be secret for now. She had decided that today was the day to bring her angel his present. She had gotten dressed before the house was awake and asked one of the servants to bring her to the opera house. When she got there, it was quiet and empty. Most people had left for the holidays to visit family and other things; she knew that some were still there. She made her way quickly to Madame Giry's room and found her awake and stretching.

"Madame?" She looked up and smiled and sat down on her bed.

"Ah, Miss Daae, how was your Christmas?"

"Very pleasant, did you get my gifts?"

"I did. The hair pin is beautiful." They smiled at each other. "If you wanted to see Meg, she is with one of the ballerinas families in London and won't be back until after the New Year."

"Oh, actually I wanted to see you."

"About what, my dear?"

"This." She motioned to the box she held in her hand. "It's fragile so be careful with it."

"Who is it for?"

"My angel…the phantom." She stiffened up a little and nodded.

"I understand." She took the package and placed it on her bed. "I will give it to him as quick as possible."

"Thank you, Madame Giry." She nodded and Orianna quickly left. She knew they were not alone in that room; she felt his eyes watching her the entire time. It didn't bother her; it actually gave her a sense of calmness. Even though she was engaged, she would not forget about her teacher.

((Sorry for taking so long to update! I had major writer's block and I hate that! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Raoul is a little sensitive but I think it's a sensitive subject. Like Patrick Wilson said, "In those days, you died young so when you really wanted something you went after it." So that's the kind of thought I had in my head writing this! Next we are moving on to the masquerade scene! HOORAY! My favorite! Please review! THANKS!))