Chapter 3 - Charlotte

"Milady."

Christine looked up from reading her book to see the straight-backed butler Eduard standing in the door of the sitting room. The older man bowed, inclining his head enough for Christine to see the combed down greying hair that remained on his head. She turned herself to face him so he could see he had her attention.

"Your husband the Vicomte has returned from his business," he informed her. Christine had barely processed the words before there was an excited squeal behind her.

"Papa!" the voice cried. She smiled and turned her head to the ground where her three year old daughter was getting to her feet. The girl scrambled up and bolted for the door, almost knocking Eduard down in her attempt to get out of the room and the house to see her father. Fortunately, Eduard had been a part of the household since Raoul had been a little boy and was used to the antics of children. He sidestepped the toddler just in time. A rare smile passed over his face as Christine stood and followed.

By the time she reached the stairs at the end of the upstairs hall, her daughter had already descended them and was at the door, a maid trying to wrangle her into her shoes. Keeping up the premise of the graceful Vicomtess, she moved down the stairs and to the door just in time to open it for her child.

The little girl, her hair flying back in the breeze, charged toward a pair of horses who were trotting up the gravel path which led to the house. Christine couldn't help her laughter as her daughter shouted "Papa!" and ran with her arms outstretched towards the men.

The one in the lead, Raoul, immediately pulled his chestnut horse to a stop and jumped from the saddle. "Charlotte!" he called, closing the distance between them by reaching down and swinging her up into the air. He spun her around in the air for a moment before settling her in his arms. A stable boy who was on the scene took the horse's reins and led it off to the stables so Raoul wouldn't have to worry about it. Raoul nodded his thanks before turning to Christine who just reached him and kissed him. Raoul returned her display of affection happily for a few moments before Charlotte's giggles reached their ears.

"Me too Papa! Kiss me too!" she cried, twisting her tiny mouth into a pout. Raoul laughed and consented, giving the younger of the females in his life a kiss as well. Christine couldn't contain a chuckle at her child's antics and she continued smiling as the three of them moved toward the lawn patio.

Before they reached their destination, however, Charlotte squirmed out of her father's arms and dropped to the manicured grass below, sullying the edge of her dress. Laughing, she darted behind Raoul and hid behind the small bustle of her mother's skirt. Immediately, Raoul chased after her and she shrieked in excitement, racing out into the open across the lawn. Christine laughed as her husband sprinted after their daughter.

Lowering her head, she moved over to a lawn chair one of the servants had set up for outdoor tea. Once she was sitting, she smoothed her skirts and looked out at the happy scene before her. She could hear Charlotte's laugh, tinkling bells on the crisp afternoon air.

Things had changed so much in the last five years.

She sighed at the thoughts of the past that suddenly captured her mind. No matter how she attempted to will them away, they wouldn't depart from her.

No matter what she did to rid her mind of the haunting visage of the man she once called "Angel."

Just thinking about it, about him, tore the smile from her lips and caused a pit of some black feeling to pool in her stomach.

Her Angel of Music.

The Phantom of the Opera Populaire.

Nothing more than a man, when you got down to it.

After the fact, she had often wondered how she could have been so foolish. She had been a naive child then. One willing to trust in anything, giving over her mind and heart without a second's consideration. What a stupid girl she had been.

She praised the nines that Raoul had found her again. The boy she loved. The man she loved. Loved more than anything. More than singing. More than life itself.

But you loved him too, a traitorous part of her brain whispered. She shook her head. That wasn't the same! I was made to believe that I loved him!

Her warring thoughts were jarred and shattered when something warm ran into her and wrapped its arms around her.

"Mama! Papa brought back macaroons from the city! Can we have them with the tea? Please…?" Charlotte begged her. Christine couldn't help but revive her smile as she stared down at the light rosy cheeks and slightly crooked teeth of her daughter.

"I'm not sure, can we?" she replied, doing her best to put on her confused-sarcastic face. Charlotte giggled and tried to roll her eyes, without succeeding.

"May we Mama?" she reiterated. Christine laughed and gave her daughter a nod.

"Yes mon cheri, we may have macaroons with our tea."

Charlotte tore herself away and skipped off to Raoul, who was approaching them at a leisurely pace. She hugged his leg and informed him in her high-pitched voice that they would be having the cookies. Christine heard him say "Oh really?" and then scoop her up again, swinging her around. Christine laughed, the sound reminiscent of her daughter's own enchanting tone.

Yes, things had changed a great deal in the last five years; and yes, she would greatly enjoy returning to the stage to sing.

But she wouldn't trade this time with those she loved most dearly for the universe.

Not for any amount of roses.

Not for any number of singing lessons from a false friend.

And most definitely not for his possessive love.

"Christine!" she heard her name being called and she once again snapped back to reality to see Raoul holding their daughter in one of his arms, smiling his crooked smile at her. She grinned affectionately at them both before gliding toward them. Raoul slung his free arm around her shoulders and she wrapped her arm around his back.

She couldn't possibly be more content than in that moment.

She had her family.

Raoul, my love.Charlotte, my daughter.

A/N: Alright, here we are with the next chapter. This one is a change from the others. Not only is it shorter, but it is also touching on our other main character Charlotte. I'm sorry that this is shorter than the last two, but I was trying not to be biased against Raoul and Christine. Frankly, she's great, but seriously...I'm not much of a Raoul fan. Anyway, I'm about three quarters through writing the next chapter, so I might post that later this week as I am considering changing the update day to Wednesday.

Also, Read and Review guys! This gets a lot of views, but only has one review? I wanna know what you guys think of this, though of course constructive criticism is always nice.

Thanks for reading!

IMSP