Thank you to my reviewers of the last two chapters- this one's short and I'm sorry; but the next one will be longer I promise

Well, on with the show

(One Year Earlier)

She took another sip of her wine waiting for the tone deaf numpty to finish butchering Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer- why was it that she was the only person with any vocal talent who went in for karaoke nights. She'd been singing since she was tiny- had the lead in all of the school shows she'd been in, from year seven upwards, all she needed was her big break.

Finally the song came to an end, Christine put her glass down and sauntered over to the stage where the microphone was waiting for her to show the rest of these talentless no hopers that they had no right to attempt these numbers.

"Excuse me" a man began. "But I believe it is my turn to take to the stage"

"I've been waiting for over an hour mate" she replied, turning to look at him her jaw dropped at the sight of the gorgeous masked man standing behind her.

"Although" she fluttered her eyelashes demurely at him. "I certainly wouldn't mind a duet with you handsome, Christine Daae"

"Erik" the man replied. "Erik Calvier"

"I remember you, you went to St James' Primary School" Christine looked over the man before her, he was tall and lean- not a bit the scrawny boy he'd been back then. "I like the new mask"

"Thank you" Erik smiled slightly. "Now, about that duet"

Over the subsequent three months Erik and Christine developed a relationship which blossomed quickly- at the start of the fourth month Christine started throwing up in the morning. She bought herself a pregnancy test and stared at the resultant blue strip.

Erik went down on bended knee as soon as he found out that he was about to become a father.

"Are you sure about this Meg" Erik asked again, as his friend hefted her rucksack from the boot of his black Aston Martin DB9. He held Maddie's carrycot in one hand and fumbled in his pocket for his keys. "I mean you looked after her all week at the hospital…"

"Erik, really- I couldn't leave you to raise Maddie alone; and Mum's agreed to help too"

Erik rolled his eyes; but he couldn't deny the small smile that pulled at his lips- Antonia Giry was a godsend; he'd probably have given up on the human race if it weren't for that kind woman. She'd been the one to foster him when his parents had abandoned him when he was nine.

Meg favoured him with a large cheesy smile- the same smile he'd came to dub the 'You know I'm right- go on admit it' grin.

He opened the door, carried Maddie inside and said.

"You know where the kitchen is- While I'm getting Maddie settled upstairs why don't you put the kettle on"

Erik was rather proud of Maddie's nursery- he'd put it together himself. Admittedly he'd been intending to surprise Chris… her with it when they brought Maddie home together; but the room was just too perfect to change.

The walls were a cheery dark yellow and decorated with fairy tale scenes. The large window was dressed with net curtains and opaque yellow curtains. The cot which stood opposite the window was simple enough soft yellow and white blankets were folded at the foot of it. Beside the cot was the changing table and it was there that he placed his daughter.

Maddie looked up at him- her wide blue eyes reminded him horribly of Christine's brown ones- he found himself wondering how much like her mother she would end up.

"You won't end up like her will you, little bird?" he murmured as he finished changing her nappy and held her close to his heart. "No, because you won't be spoiled like she was"

Maddie yawned and he laid her on her back in the cot before turning on the baby monitor. "Sleep well Madeleine, I love you"

Hope you liked it :)