Here we go, a rather long one in which everyone's favourite Phantom puts in his first appearance.

Encounter at the Daae Residence

Raoul was just in the process of smoothing his hair when the door opened.

"You're earl… oh, bon jour monsieur" Christine Daae's smile slipped slightly as she opened the door- but Raoul tried not to feel to put out by this.

"Bon Jour Christine" he smiled in reply and bowed over her hand, letting his lips linger for just a moment longer than necessary and as such he put Christine's shudder down to the coldness of the late December day.

"Sorry" Christine frowned. "Pardon me for asking monsieur; but do I know you?"

Raoul frowned, not expecting his beloved to ask that. "Christine, it's me- Raoul, Raoul de Chagny"

She looked at him blankly for a moment; head cocked like a curious little bird- she looked beautiful in her merry red dress, her long beautiful brown hair pulled into a simple tail down her back. "Raoul…?" she mumbled.

"When met in Perros, as children" he relented- she'd been the first to recognize him before the wish.

She gasped suddenly. "Oh yes, I remember you now- you were the kind boy who ran into the sea after my pretty scarf"

"Yes that was me" he nodded proudly

"We never saw each other after that day" she told him. "Didn't your governess take you back to your parents the morning after?"

"No" Raoul frowned. "I'm sure that we spent that summer playing together"

"Perhaps" Christine shrugged in a frankly unladylike manner. "Look it's very cold with that door open; would you like to step inside? I'm sure my father would be pleased to see you."

The Daae residence was both cheerfully yet tastefully decorated for the upcoming holiday- there was everything required for a traditional Christmas- except mistletoe. Christine led him through to a comfortable sitting room where the aging Charles Daae sat in an armchair by the fire, reading.

"Papa" Christine cleared her throat. "We've a visitor"

Charles surveyed Raoul with his sharp dark eyes, not recognizing him, but he greeted him cordially enough. "Charles Daae my boy- and who might you be?"

"This is Monsieur Raoul de Chagny, Papa" Christine told him. "You remember the kind boy who went into the sea for my scarf when we were staying in Perros?"

"Ah the young vicompte" Charles nodded. "I remember you. Got into bother with your Governess for running into the ocean fully clothed as I recall"

Raoul blushed- yes he had been severely reprimanded by Mlle for that one.

There was another knock at the door and Christine scurried off to answer it leaving the two men alone in the sitting room.

Christine was blushing slightly when she returned to the room.

"Erik is here Papa" she announced with a smile

"Well show him in ma Cherie" Charles chuckled

Raoul wondered who this Erik fellow was and was answered but a moment later by a horribly familiar voice.

"Bon Jour M. Daae"

Raoul spun and found himself looking at a young man- maybe a year older than Raoul- with black hair which was just too short to tie back. He had warm green eyes and a smile aimed at Charles. On the right side of his face was a slim flesh toned mask.

"Erik dear boy" Charles rose and hugged the Phantom in a fatherly sort of way. "How many times must I ask you to call me Charles- you've known us long enough"

"Very well… Charles" Erik the Phantom nodded. "Before I go and give Christine her voice lesson I have to thank you for agreeing to stage my Opera"

"Erik your thanks should go to Messieurs Andre and Firmin- they're the managers"

"Those two fools?" Erik scoffed- displaying a shadow of the man he had been before Raoul had made the wish. "Mo…Charles those two do not know the first thing about the arts- I shall defer my gratitude to someone who understands"

Charles laughed. "My dear boy, have you ever met Monsieur Raoul de Chagny?"

"No" Erik announced simply and stuck a gloved hand out towards Raoul. "Erik Destler- artist, composer and part time vocal coach"

"Raoul, Vicompte de Chagny" Raoul stuck his chest out importantly.

"If you don't mind" Erik addressed Charles. "I do not want to keep Christine waiting"

He turned and swept from the room.

There we go another chapter :) Merry Christmas.

I'm not sure if I'm going to post again until Boxing Day (AKA the 26th)

Please R&R