I'm sorry a lot of this will be repeating a lot of the stuff from the movie, but I felt that it was essential to continue the relationship between Christine and Erik. This mostly tells things the movie DID NOT point out, and I switched some things around to my liking. The whole story is not going to be a repeat of the movie, so please read on. :) By the way, this is where things get... mature. I'm going to continue this story, past where the movie ends. I do not own any of the characters, songs, or ideas.
Their visits to each other for voice lessons did indeed continue, but they slowly turned from and everyday thing to weekly, and then two a month, once a month, until he stopped visiting her altogether.
It wasn't that he no longer wanted to see her, but quite the opposite. He felt inappropriate around her, ad she was going through an awkward stage in her life anyways.
It was the night of her sixteenth birthday when she finally saw him, the Phantom of the Opera. At first, she thought she was just imagining things, but then she realized that it couldn't be. It just couldn't be.
That morning, Christine woke up to see her friend Meg shaking her awake. "Hurry, Christine. We're going to be rehearsing this morning. Hannibal, remember? Mother wants us to be there right away", she said when she saw Christine's eyes open.
Christine, remembering the rehearsal, threw back the covers and hurried into her light, gossamer costume for Hannibal.
Meg led her at a fast pace to where her Mother and the rest of the ballerinas were waiting impatiently.
"Meg, Christine. As ballerinas, you are expected to be prompt at the exact time you were asked to. I told you two, along with all the other ballerinas who did do as they were asked, to be here ten minutes ago", Madame Giry scolded them.
They hung their heads, ashamed. It was her fault for not getting up in time, and Christine promised herself to apologize to Meg later.
But still, she was amazed that all the other ballerinas were able to make it on time. She knew what the majority of them did at the night, just to earn more money than they already earned. It was a wonder that Madame Giry hadn't scolded them yet for selling themselves as prostitutes about every night.
"Now, go put rosin on your shoes, and expect you to all be at the actual rehearsal after you have done that. Go now", Madame Giry commanded.
Excitement fluttered through Meg's and Christine's minds. It was always so wonderful, feeling pride that they were able to be in the famous Opera Populaire. They fled down the swirling iron stairs and dipped their feet into the powder that kept them from slipping as they danced.
They looked at each other in disgust as they heard the lead soprano, Carlotta, warming up. Her croaking voice echoed throughout most of the opera house. Christine giggled with Meg when they both saw the maids stuffing their ears with cotton to keep out the noise.
Right before their cue came on, the ballerinas were interrupted by three men that walked in. One of them was the current managers of the opera house, but the other two, no one recognized.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Sorry to interrupt today's rehearsal, but I have important news that will effect each and every one of you", he raised his hands to stop all of their chattering and Carlotta's singing.
"As you know, there has been rumors of my apparent retirement. Those have all been true.." he continued, and was interrupted by Carlotta.
"Ha! I told you so!" she said, sticking her nose in the air. No one commented on how it certainly didn't help her appearance.
"And so I bring to you, the two new manager of the opera house-Monsieur Firmin, and Monsieur Andre!" he said with a flourish, motioning to the two men standing next to him.
Monsieur Frimin had slicked back black hair that was starting to grow white next to his face. Monsieur Andre had a goatee and all of his hair was white. He was quite a bit shorter as well.
"Thank you so much for that warm welcome. May we introduce our new Patron-the Vicomte de Changy!" Monsieur Firmin introduced.
Christine clapped along with all the others, but when she saw the Vicomte, her heart almost stopped. "It's Raoul", she whispered.
"What's that, Christine?" Meg asked.
"It's Raoul. We were friends when he lived by the sea", she looked him up and down-he had changed! "I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts", she blushed and looked down.
"Oh Christine, he's so handsome!", Meg whispered. Carlotta walked up to the Vicomte and offered her hand to kiss.
Out of politeness, he did so, but the look on his face didn't show any affection.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your rehearsal. Please forgive me, and let me allow you to continue", he said, and walked right past Christine without noticing her.
Meg looked sympathetically at Christine. "He wouldn't recognize me", Christine said softy.
"He loves me. He loves me, loves me loves me", Carlotta said about Raoul. "Let me sing an aria for you", Carlotta said to the two new managers.
Christine had almost completely forgotten about her Angel by now, but he stood in the shadows, watching her. This new man, this Raoul de Changy. He wouldn't let Christine get involved with this man. Not now, not ever. She was his.
Carlotta's screeching voice filled the opera house once more, and he knew it was time to act; time to show his protégée to the world.
He quickly undid the ropes that held the scenery with nimble, experienced fingers. The stage soon came collapsing onto Carlotta, who was still singing her aria to the new managers.
"Ahh!" everyone screamed except Carlotta, who hadn't seen it coming and it had already hit her before she realized what was happening.
Everyone rushed to the prima donna, knowing that if they didn't now, they would have to explain why they didn't later.
The two managers looked at each other, knowing that this was what they had bargained for when they got the job.
"Mademoiselle Carlotta, these things do happen!" Monsieur Andre assured her, putting his hand on her arm. She shrugged it off cruelly.
"'These things do happen'. Mah! These things do not happen. Piangi, lasciamo!" she said, her native Italian tongue coming out in her anger.
Silently from above, he chuckled at her expression. He left with a swish of his dark cape.
Christine looked up, wondering who could have done this. She gasped as she saw the movement, and caught a glimpse of his face.
It was her Angel! Meg pointed up, seeing the same thing. "It's him. The Phantom of the Opera", she said, her eyes wide.
Christine felt her own eyes grow wide. The Phantom? No, it couldn't be. It was her Angel, her Angel of Music. He would never do a thing like that to anyone. Besides, she had only caught a glimpse of his face, so she couldn't be sure that it was her Angel.
But in the back of her mind, Christine couldn't deny seeing that white mask...
"Amateurs!" Piangi said, and than stormed off with Carlotta.
"What are we going to do?!" said the conductor.
"Well surely there must be an understudy for her", Monsieur Firmin reasoned.
"Understudy?! There is no understudy for La Carlotta!" the conductor said, taking a handkerchief out of his breast pocket and wiping his brow with it.
"Christine Daae could sing it, Monsieur", Madame Giry spoke up. Christine blushed and looked down. She could still remember when Madame Giry had caught her singing an aria her Angel had taught her.
"Really? A chorus girl? Nonsense", Monsieur Firmin shook his head.
"She has been well taught", Madame Giry persisted.
"Fine, let her sing. Who taught you?" Monsieur Andre asked, his eyebrows raised.
Madame Giry gently pushed Christine forward. She looked back at the motherly figure. How was she supposed to answer? Surely they wouldn't believe her if she said that her Angel had taught her. And she had not practiced in so long...
"I... I don't know his name, Monsieur", Christine said, her blush deepening.
"Alright then. From the beginning of the aria, please", the conductor instructed.
"Andre this is doing nothing for my nerves", Firmin quietly said to his business partner.
"Well she's very pretty", he said back .
"Think of Me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me, once in a while-please promise me you'll try", Christine sang. She looked back at Madame Giry, who smiled at her and motioned for her to move up farther.
She did and continued to sing. "When you find, that once again, you long to take your heart back and be free-if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me".
Below her, her Angel was back in the catacombs and listened to her beautiful voice stream throughout the opera house. He had waited for this day, the day when his loving protégée would be known to everyone. She deserved it.
Andre and Firmin looked at each other as she hit her high note, impressed.
They waited until she was finished and applauded as loud as they possibly could for her. Christine rushed back to her spot next to Meg and Madame Giry. I only did as he taught me, she thought modestly.
The owners of the opera house decided to have Christine play the lead part in Hannibal, but also wanted her to sing that same song at the end of the performance.
The play went smoothly without any flaws, and at her last part Christine hurried to change into the beautiful white gown that she was to wear as she sang Think of Me.
That also went by without flaws, and after her final bow, Christine went to the chapel to light a candle for her father.
She leaned to light the candle, her white gown pooled out around her as she sat on the floor. "Brava, Brava, Bravissma" came a soft voice. It was filled with love and sounded like her Angel. But she hadn't seen him for so long, she didn't even know if he was still there anymore.
"Christine? Christine! There you are", Meg said, walking over to sit by her dear friend. "Christine", the same voice echoed. From above, her Angel looked on lovingly at his protégée, watching her small figure surrounded by her white skirt. She looked beautiful.
"Where in the world have you been hiding? Really you were perfect. I only wish I knew your secret, who is your great tutor?" Meg sang.
"Meg. When your mother brought me here to live, whenever I'd come down here alone to light a candle for my father, a voice, from above. And in my dreams, he was always there. You see, when my father lay dying, he told me I would be protected by an angel. An Angel of Music", Christine confided in her friend.
"Christine-do you believe? Do you think the spirit of your father's coaching you?" Meg said, a worried look on her face.
"Who else Meg? Who?" Christine asked. She wanted Meg to believe her so badly, but now she wasn't even sure of it herself.
"Father once spoke of an Angel. I used to dream he'd appear. Now as I sing I can sense him, and I know, he's here! Here in this room he calls me, softly. Somewhere inside, hiding. Somehow I know he's always with me, he the unseen genius", Christine said, her thoughts on her Angel pouring out in a song all at once.
"Christine you must have been dreaming. Stories like this can't come true. Christine you're talking in riddles, and it's not like you", Meg sang, looking at her friend worriedly.
"Angel of Music, guide and guardian. Grant to me your glory", Christine sang, her voice echoing throughout.
"Who is this Angel, this..." Meg said, unfinished.
"Angel of Music, hide no longer. Secret and strange, Angel", they sang in a duet, their voices harmonizing.
"He's with me even now", Christine said as Meg led her slowly out of the chapel.
"You're hands are cold", Meg whispered as she warmed her friend's hands in her own.
"All around me", Christine said, her eyes wide with fear.
"You're face, Christine, it's white". Meg was really worried now.
"It frightens me".
"Don't be frightened", Meg assured her friend.
Meg led Christine to the room where the prima donna was supposed to stay. Christine told her faithful friend that she didn't have to stay with her, but Meg went hesitantly. Madame Giry wanted all ballerinas to come for rehearsal, as tonight's performance was "awful".
Christine looked down at her table and gasped. There was a rose, tied with a black ribbon. It was her Angel. And he was still there, guiding her. He wasn't gone after all.