From this point on I will be following ALW rather closely, and adding Leroux and Kay also. Although, of course, Christine and other characters' thoughts and the dialogue will be altered considerably.

And in chapter 11 ( a spark also burns) I fixed a part right after Erik's note is read. It is addressed in this chappie, so i suggest reading it. just fyi :)

Enjoy! R&R!!!!

Dress rehearsals were always chaotic, especially with Carlotta factored in. Even as the finale raged on about her, she still insisted for her precious and revolting pet poodle, scaring the poor girl out of her wits when the dog was not brought quickly enough. The maestro cringed but bravely continued waving his baton as the music crescendoed into the final chords.

Suddenly there was an unpleasant shriek. I craned my neck to see what had happened and Madame Giry tossed me a sharp and hopeless glance as I was not on my mark. It seemed that Carlotta had managed to rip her extravagant, almost completed costume gown. I tried very hard not to smirk.

It was then, thank God, that the run-through ended.

The managers walked onstage. "Very... excellent work, ladies and gentlemen. Perhaps one more time through it will be perfect."

Carlotta sauntered up to them, seething. "Are you joking, monsieurs? Nothing is acceptable at all! And my dress is useless because someone didn't finish it!" She shot a pointed and malevolent glare behind her. "I cannot stand it! I am leaving!" She turned on her heel and stomped away, calling for her assistants and demanding her dog once more.

The managers looked at each other and then immediately rushed to her side, praising her excessively and promising countless pleasures if she was to remain. Finally they managed to calm her down and she returned to center stage, still rather disgruntled. I faked a cough to hide my laughter.

'Now," Andre contined as though nothing had happenened. "I can promise you all that everything will be completed and perfected by this evening, am I correct?"

Carlotta humphed and turned to the ladies surrounding her, hissing commands at them. I felt a twang of pity for the unfortunate women.

"And there is an announcement." Andre exclaimed, a wide grin upon his lips. "There is a new patron who is on his way today to see our progress. Make sure to perform your-" A stagehand raced up to him and whispered something frantically in his ear.

"Merci," Andre muttered, then announced the news. "It seems that Monsieur de Changy is here at this very moment."

I froze. De Changy... I remembered that name. But it couldn't be...

And, right from my memories, my old friend Raoul de Changy strolled across the stage to shake hands with my employers.

---

"It's Raoul," I murmured to Meg, stunned. She seemed a bit confused.

Memories flooded though my mind, unrelenting and poignant. "From the house by the sea." I smiled at something that Raoul had said to me the last time I saw him- more than ten years ago. "I- I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts."

Meg grinned knowingly at me. I could tell that she wished desperately for me to be happy again. "Oh, Christine, he's so handsome."

Raoul spoke to the cast, his familiar light brown gaze warming my heart as I reminisced. It was good to see him again after all this time. My lips parted as I surveyed my lifelong friend. He had changed so much, and yet he was still the same. Obviously he was taller, and his shoulders were broader. But the noble, straight nose was still there, along with those warm and comforting eyes. I truly had missed him.

"I will be here later tonight to share in your great triumph." Then he was moving towards me. I held my breath as he drew nearer and found myself desperately hoping that he would remember me.

But I was disappointed. Raoul didn't even spare me a passing glance. "He probably wouldn't recognize me," I murmured.

Meg stroked my hair reassuringly. "He didn't see you."

Suddenly there was a loud crash and an earsplitting scream. I snapped my head around to see what had caused it.

The heavy backdrop had fallen- the ropes holding it neatly severed- right on top of Carlotta, causing her to fall as well. I noticed that Raoul was being profusely dusted off by some of the cast, although he told them calmly that there was no need, he was perfectly all right.

Then a strange but familiar twin amber glow from above caught my attention. I gazed up at a tall, dark form standing beside the scene of the accident. I gasped and my heart leapt up in my chest. "It's him."

The shape then disappeared, and Meg tugged on my costume. "Who, Christine?" She asked, looking about blindly.

I smiled and fingered the sparkling necklace at my throat. "The Phantom of the Opera."

Hope you liked it! Review please!!!!