A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera. Most characters belong to and are based off those attributed to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leroux, or Susan Kaye.

Chistine and Raoul: Journey into Madness

Christine was three months in her grave, and with her their unborn child. Their only child. Raoul, her husband, was completely unhinged by grief. "How could this be? How could fate be so cruel?" he lamented out loud though no one was present to witness his grief. He had been so desperately in love with her, they had overcome such adversity to be together, only to have it all taken away without warning. They had led such a charmed life upon settling in Sweden. She seemed to blossom under his doting devotion. They had finally conceived a child and it seemed that they were finally leading the joyful existence that destiny had meant for them. Then, like a thief in the night, the typhoid sickness came to her, invading her lungs, stealing her breath. Just like that, her life was snuffed out.

In the days following her interment, Raoul wandered about like a lost soul. He lay in their bed holding her clothes tightly to himself, trying to capture any remnant of her that remained behind. He searched through drawers and closets looking for pieces of memorabilia that would prove her existence. He didn't want these empty reminders, he wanted HER, whole and restored! During one of these foraging expeditions he came across a locked diary. He found one of her hairpins, sprung open the catch, and began to read his wife's most secret thoughts. Would that he had never discovered this treasure! There in her final entries he read the following:

"I learned today from my dearest Meg that Eric still lives and is in fact benefactor to her and Madame Giry. Oh what balm it is to my troubled soul, that I may go to my grave content that he is safe. Leaving him that day was the hardest thing I've ever been asked to do, and may God have mercy on my soul for the pain I may have caused him. He is always in my heart and I pray that he finds happiness. I only wish I could have seen him one last time"

Raoul sucked in his breath in horror and astonishment. How dare she deceive him like this? Was it not enough that he just lost his reason for living, but to learn that her love had been tainted? This was more than his fevered mind could handle, he was no longer in control of his thoughts. All he could focus on was exacting revenge in any way possible. The damnable Phantom needed to pay for sullying his memory of Christine. All he could think of was killing Eric, who was now the prime target of his anger, and if anyone knew where he could be found it was that damnable Persian fellow, Nadir.

Raoul secured passage back to Paris and finalized his plans. Once in the city he would pay a visit to Eric's old acquaintance and make him an offer he couldn't refuse. The Giry's would make excellent bargaining chips. With his success thus assured, Raoul left for Paris to set his plans in motion.

The slow rail journey from Stockholm to Paris gave Raoul time to perfect the details of his little scheme. Once in Paris he would inquire as to the whereabouts of Nadir, or the Daroga as he was sometimes referred to. Since Raoul still had many friends among the local gendarmes it should not be particularly difficult to obtain an address. He would then pay one of the locals to discretely keep surveillance on the man's residence and report back with the details of the Persian's daily routine. In merely a few days, Raoul was ready to institute the second phase of his plan.

Armed with the knowledge of Nadir's daily comings and goings, Raoul lay in wait for him. He knew he would be returning alone to his little apartment in the financial district any time now. As the unsuspecting man fumbled with his door key, Raoul stepped from the shadows and accosted him. He held one hand over Nadir's mouth preventing the man from raising an alarm, and jammed a pistol in his back with the other.

"Be very quiet and listen carefully. I have it on good authority that your friend Eric is alive and well. I DEMAND that you take me to him at once!" he hissed.

Raoul loosened his hand from Nadir's mouth to allow him to respond.

"Who is it that makes these absurd demands?"

"It is Eric's worst nightmare, Daroga, it is Raoul De Chagny and I seek vengeance. If you refuse to cooperate, you sign Madame and Mademoiselle Giry's death warrants. Unless you wish to be responsible for their demise, you WILL obey!"

"Very well, Vicomte. I will take you only if you promise to leave the Giry women unharmed. May Allah take mercy on all of us. Come this way."

" Do not try anything foolish, old man, as this gun will remain pointed at your head to insure your friendly compliance."