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Christine Daae looked up at the Opera Populaire feeling as though her heart was going to burst. It had been five years since she had last seen it but the building was still as magnificent and beautiful as she remembered.

She shouldn't be here. Raoul had forbidden her to return to the opera house after the whole affair with the Phantom had been completed. But Christine had known that she would have to return one day and now was the perfect opportunity since Raoul was going to be gone on a business trip for two weeks.

Something tugged gently on Christine's hand drawing her out of her thoughts. Turning from the opera house she looked down at the little boy by her side.

Her son, Charles de Chagny, was five years old and he looked very much like her. His soft, innocent looking face was framed by dark chestnut curls that refused to be tamed and his equally dark eyes that peered worriedly up at his mother threw thick brown curling lashes. His full little rosebud mouth—which looked like it should belong to a girl and not a boy—was currently twisted downwards into a frown.

"Are you alright, Mama?" He asked in his sweet bell like voice.

Christine felt guilty for making him worry about her and squeezed his hand gently. "I'm fine," She said. "I was only remembering the memories that this place holds." She smiled at him. "But would you like to go inside now?"

Instantly Charles's face broke out into a huge smile. "Yes!" He said releasing his mother's hand and rushing up the steps. Christine laughed and ran after him opening the door for them when they reached it.

Meg where waiting for them in the main hall when they walked in. She rushed forward when she saw them embrace Christine tightly. "Oh, I've missed you!" She said.

"I've missed you too," Christine said hugging her friend back. "You really should come visit more often!"

"I know," Meg said, "but I've hardly been able to get a break. Its just one opera after another. But hopefully I'll be able to take a break and come visit soon." Releasing Christine, she looked down at Charles with a smile.

"Hello, Charles," She said. "Have you gotten taller?"

"Yes I have!" Charles said proudly. "I'll be as tall as Papa soon!"
"I don't doubt it," Meg said ruffling her hair. "Would you like to go watch the rehearsals?"

"Yes, please!" Charles said excitedly.

Meg nodded with a smile and took his hand. Christine followed them allowing herself to be lead through the maze of dressing rooms that she still remembered by heart.

When they reached the backstage all eyes turned to them. Christine did her best to ignore the whispers circulating around her and focused her attention of her son instead who was currently watching the people onstage with a fascination in his wide eyes that made her smile.

"I have to go onstage now," Meg said laying her hand on her shoulder. "Well you be alright here alone?" Christine nodded. "I'll meet you after I'm done then and we can go out to dinner."

"Okay," Christine smiled. Meg smiled back and rushed off to join the other dancers onstage.

Christine sighed as the music started up and the ballet dancers began to move beautifully across the stage. She had missed all of this so much! She still longed to be on that stage singing but it would be impossible. She couldn't sing onstage now that she was married to Raoul and Erik was probably still lurking around in the shadows like he always had…

Something brushed against her legs making her give a start. Looking down her eyes widened in shock.

A cream colored Siamese cat sat there looking up at her with calm blue eyes. And around her neck was a collar studded with huge diamonds.

It was Erik's cat!

"Ayesha!"

Christine's head snapped up from the cat to see a boy who she was sure was only perhaps a year older then her son, running towards her. When he reached her, he bent down and scooped the cat up into his arms. "I'm sorry, mademoiselle, she got away from me," He said in a voice that made Christine gasp. It was so beautiful, this voice, it was like he was singing as he spoke.

But when he looked up at her apologetically, allowing her to truly see his face for the first time her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth.

The boy's face covered by a mask of white cloth which was identical to the mask Erik use to wear around her.

The eyes that peered out from the holes in the mask were a beautiful burning indigo and his hair was a mass of deep black curls. He was dressed in a finely tailored little black suit with a black cape fastened around his neck.

He looked down at the ground now and shuffled his feet, feeling nervous under her stare.

But a voice like the tinkling of a small bell brought his head back up.

"Hello."

Charles was standing by his mother's side now and was giving the boy before him a friendly smile.

"I'm Charles de Chagny," He chirped cheerfully. "What's your name?"

The boy gave Charles a shy smile. "I'm James," He said.

"Hi, James," Charles said his smile widening. "Do you want to watch the rehearsals with me?" He began to move towards James, holding out his hand for him to take, but a sudden iron tight grip on his shoulder made him stop.

He looked back at his mother surprised to find her face completely white. "Mama…?" He asked.

"We have to leave now Charles's," Christine said quietly her eyes locked on James.

"But, Mama, they haven't finished the rehearsal yet!" Charles bemoaned. "And I want to play with James!"

"I'm sorry, Charles," Christine said, "but we really must be going."

James looked at her in confusion but when he saw the terror in her eyes as she looked at his mask, everything clicked.

His eyes narrowed and his tone was clipped and cold when he spoke. "I understand, mademoiselle. You don't want something like me hanging around your precious little boy. I'm sorry to have intruded upon you both." He bowed his head to Christine well the cat in his arms eyed her with contempt and then he slipped back into the shadows.

Christine's grip on her son's shoulder loosened allowing him to run after the other boy. "James!" He cried. "James, wait!" But the boy was already gone.

Charles rounded on his mother looking up at her angrily. "You scared him away, Mama!" He said. "I wanted to play with him!"

Meg came offstage at that very moment full of smiles. Her smile faded however when she saw Christine standing there white faced and a furious Charles glowering at her.

"Christine?" She asked laying her hand on the woman's arm.

Christine clutched her hand and turned to look at Meg, her wide eyes filled with fear.

"Let's go to dinner now," She whispered.