A/N: Sorry, I know I am a few days behind. Its been a very very long weekend, and hopefully I'll be able to catch up tomorrow. One way or another, I swear to all of you that this will be finished on Christmas day. This story will get fluffier, and the chapters will get a little longer as they progess. Thank you all for your reviews and interest in my story!! Enjoy!
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
It had been a long, tiring day shopping with Meg, and the sudden weather change did not help the young ladies commute home. The constant downfall of snow made it hard to see a few feet in front of them and did not help whatsoever with carrying multiple bags and boxes without losing one's footing.
Christine loved the snow. She always had since she was a little girl. Her and her father would play in the snow until it became too cold or too dark to continue. She appreciated its natural beauty and the way it seemed to make everything stand still. When the pair finally reached the opera house, they went their separate ways; Meg to find her mother, and Christine to her dressing room.
Upon entering her dressing room, Christine walked right to the divan and let all her purchases fall out of her arms. She immediately sorted through everything, making piles of which gifts were for who. She only had a few people to buy for and took care of them all today. Madame Giry, Raoul, a small token for Firmin and Andre, and even Meg without her noticing. She was unsure of what to get Erik, because no matter the tension between them for his deceptions and her uncertainty, he still made an impact on her life for the better, and she couldn't imagine her life without him.
In the midst of all her organizing, piling, and moving of the gifts, she failed to notice the carefully wrapped package by the mirror, and laid down on the finally cleared divan to take a much needed nap.
An hour later, Christine woke up. She smiled as she remembered how much she had completed for Christmas. Then, as her eyes wandered around the room and towards the mirror, she saw a tall red box with a green bow. Curiosity consumed her and she walked towards it. To Christine the tag read. She lifted the box cover to find a small pear tree with an ornament of a bird on its branches. She found a note at the bottom of the box and read it aloud with a tremendous, dreamy smile: "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me- a partridge in a pear tree. Christine, I hope you enjoy your first day of Christmas, and I apologize that the opera house was no true place for the partridge the song calls for. Merry Christmas, Your True Love." While she stared in awe and disbelief at the display before her, there was a mask behind the mirror, heart hammering away, watching her enjoy his secretive and creative gift from the heart.