Christine knocked on the fancy white door. After a few moments it was answered by a woman with long blonde hair twisted into a simple bun.

She looked at Christine for only a moment before she recognized her.

"Christine! How are you? Come in!"

"Thank you, Adele, I... have been better. But it is so good to see you again," she greeted her as she was ushered inside.

"It's been too long - we have so much to catch up on. We were just about to get ready for dinner, won't you please join us?"

Christine smiled warmly. It had been several years since she had seen Raoul's older sister, but she still had such fond memories of her. She was the only one of his sisters that had married below her station, and she also happened to be Christine's favorite because she was the only one of Raoul's family besides himself who treated her with anything more than polite stiffness.

"You are too kind, Adele. I saw Raoul this afternoon."

"Oh? How lucky - he so rarely gets days off nowadays. Training keeps him so busy."

Christine helped her set the table before they all sat down to dinner. The last time she had seen Adele's family, her little girl had just been a baby, but now she was an adorable little girl who could walk and talk and Christine was delighted at the nonsensical stories she would tell. Adele's husband, Pierre, was friendly and good-natured, just as she remembered from the previous time she'd met him.

She smiled as she watched the little family interact, the obvious joy and affection that seemed to radiate from all them warmed her heart. She had always secretly admired Adele for the very same reason that so many others shook their heads and tutted when they spoke of her. In the minds of others, she had thrown away her chance for greater riches and an improved station. In Christine's mind, she had been exceedingly brave in following what her felt was right - she loved Pierre, so nothing else had mattered, not the opinions of strangers or how her own family had all but disowned her, not the fact that they would have to live in a smaller house or that she would only have one or two fine dresses, that she would have no servants to help her with the house or the baby - nothing had mattered to her expect how she felt about Pierre, and how he felt about her. Christine admired that kind of bravery. Looking at them all around the table, she knew that Adele had made the right choice for her life, even if very few people would agree.

And it wasn't just the three of them that got along well - they all made sure to include Christine in their stories and asked her questions. For a little while she managed to forget her troubles and become lost in the camaraderie around the table. She hadn't had such a lovely time at a dinner table since before her papa had died. That thought occurred to her, and it felt a little bittersweet. If her mother had lived, would they have had dinners such as these? She had never known her mother, but she liked to think they would have. Would she have family dinners like these when she was older and married? She quickly pushed that thought from her mind. She couldn't even imagine being married. When - or if - she found someone to spend her life with, she hoped they would be as happy as this, but that future seemed so far off and unreal. She wasn't ready for anything like that anytime soon, she knew.

She helped clean up after dinner as well, despite Adele's protests. It was in the kitchen when she was drying the dishes that she shyly ducked her head and broached the subject that had brought her there.

"I must admit, things at the opera house recently have taken a turn that's left me quite rattled... When I spoke to Raoul earlier, he made mention that I might stay with his family for a little while... So I thought perhaps I would ask if you minded very terribly if I stayed here for just a few nights?"

"Of course you may stay, dear!" Adele beamed at her. "I consider you practically family, you know."

Adele gave a little wink and Christine's cheeks colored. She knew Adele was thinking of the days when she and Raoul had first met all those years ago, of how they had been inseparable companions to the point that his siblings had taken to teasing him by asking when the wedding would be. It had started off as a mere jest, but Adele still held the not-so-secret hope that the two would eventually be together, if for no other reason than how happy her little brother was when he was around Christine and how well she got along with her also.

"Thank you so much, Adele - I promise I'll help around the house in any way I can!"

"Don't fret over it, love. But I do hope everything is okay with the opera house situation?" she frowned. "You can always talk to me about anything."

She nodded.

"I think I just need a little time to clear my mind," she replied.

Adele did not push for any more details, and Christine was grateful.

It was the next day when she was strolling the little garden behind Adele's house that it happened. She was admiring the many crocuses in their varying shades of purple when all of a sudden a little bird with golden feathers landed on the path in front of her. She held her breath, not wanting to frighten it. It peeped a few times and scratched its feet in the dirt before it looked straight at her then flew off once more.

The thought passed through her mind as it often had when something interesting or unusual happened to her - I can't wait to tell my Angel about this. But on the heels of that thought came a pang of sorrow. She'd never again get to tell her angel about her day, never hear his kind words for her, never laugh at his little jokes or hear that warm chuckle when he was amused at her stories. Had all those happy moments truly meant nothing, then?

She couldn't stay with Adele forever. She would have to make some sort of a choice sooner or later. If she chose to leave Paris, she'd have to rely on Raoul's funding, because she had nowhere near enough money to do so on her own. It wouldn't be so terrible to do so, but it did make her uncomfortable. She hated the thought of owing someone something, the feeling that the course of her life depended on the whim of another, that everything could come crumbling down if she displeased them. Raoul was sweet, though, and he would never expect anything in return if she did accept his offer, but to her the feeling would still linger. When it came right down to it, she didn't want to have to leave Paris, at least not yet. Her friends were here, her job was enjoyable, her papa was buried here. Her entire life was here, and she would feel lost if she suddenly had to start over elsewhere.

She didn't have to see her former tutor again if she didn't wish it. Surely he would comply with her wishes if she ordered him away from her forever - and if he didn't, well... he wasn't a specter or a genie, he was only a human - and humans could be forcibly removed from locations if the need arose.

She wrung her hands in anxiety, suddenly picturing the gendarmes trying to capture the ghost from the opera house. Would they harm him? Would the ghost give a long chase, determined to outwit them, and would the gendarmes become impatient? She could picture one raising a rifle, picture the blast ringing out in the theater, picture the ghost falling to the ground, and she put her hands over her face.

She didn't want him to be hurt! Even after all he had put her through, she still didn't want him to be injured or killed - she prayed that he would stay true to the benevolent personality he had showed her these past years, that he would accept the ending of their acquaintanceship with grace and understanding instead of raging at her or stalking her, because if she truly felt her own safety was in danger, she would have to go the gendarmes and she knew it wouldn't end well after that.

She sighed. Perhaps it would be easier to simply leave. She could start over somewhere new. Her voice was not the best, but it was better than it was two years ago. Did she even want to sing anymore? How could she use the techniques he'd taught her without thinking of him constantly? She wiped away a tear, but she couldn't say for certain why it was there. Because she'd been manipulated? Because she'd lost her angel? Because she was considering not singing again? She wasn't sure. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do, either. Should she even go back to the Opera Populaire?

Christine ended up staying with Adele and her lovely family for the entire week. It was quiet and peaceful there, away from the harsh stage lights and hustle and bustle of rehearsals and the shouts of directors. She slept easily at night and rose early each morning, cooking meals and washing laundry and sitting in the garden and playing games with Adele's daughter.

A life like that certainly had its charms, Christine thought. How easy it was to fall into such a domestic situation.

By the end of the week, Christine Daaé had made her choice.